We could use a mental break, right? As I type this, which is well before you read it, it’s just shit wall to wall, fascism spreading its poisonous wings as half the country is in fucking denial? How do you pull yourself out of that mentally? How does one manage to feel good again in the midst of a nightmare?
Well, distractions are nice, and putting on a heavy metal record that reminds you about your heart and fight could be the perfect antidote, at least for a while. That’s where Pittsburgh trad metal warriors Lady Beast come in, and they arrive just in time with their fifth record “The Inner Alchemist.” This band—vocalist Deborah Levine, guitarists Andy Ramage and Chris Tritschler, bassist Amy Bianco, drummer Adam Ramage—always answers the bell when we need a jolt of the pure stuff, and this nine-track offering keeps intact their trademark sound but also scuffs it up a bit, letting you feel the chrome blast right against your head. It’s a heavier, more channeled Lady Beast that breathes fresh air into their machine and makes it more muscular.
“The Oracles Omen” rips out of the gates, Levine’s singing in full command as always, the playing driving colorfully. The soloing goes off as the power consumes, the chorus blazing back, everything ending in a sinister tone. “Through the Eyes of War” has a vintage Maiden feel at the start, I’m talking pre-Dickinson, and the singing snarls, violent imagery spilling over and filling the shadows. The soloing smoke as the pace trudges, dual leads cutting through the void and disappearing into madness. The title track is a real standout, jolting as the guitars surge, Levine shining over a simple chorus that’s expertly sung and full of energy. The leads glisten as the push picks up the pace, bleeding into a classic-style run that keeps your heart racing. “Starborn” starts slower and shimmers, channeling Rainbow, but it isn’t long until the guitars melt, and the beast tears through your chest, smoking like a chimney. “From the stars we’re born, and to the stars we return,” Levine belts, the pace hitting harder, lathering with a vintage stomp that gallops to an abrupt end.
“Crones Crossroads” charges, coming in faster and meaner, the singing even taking on a more ferocious edge. The chorus blisters as the guitars steer toward menace, thrashing as wild cackles reverberate, delirious emotion making your blood rush. “Feed Your Fire” crushes with full NWOBHM authority, the riffs wrestling you down and bending your arms behind your back. Speedy and propulsive, the path is beaten bloody by a rollicking bassline, the chorus whipping you again, and your breath suddenly increasing. “Witch Light” should be a beer name. Instead, it’s an urgent basher, twin guitars ruling, rocky melodies carrying the way. The leads glisten and increase the heat, encircling you in an instrumental metal storm that sizzles with lightning. “The Wild Hunt” pushes the gas pedal but also contains a bit more grit, the pace chewing at bone and muscle, the swinging sweltering. Dual leads flood as glorious spirits rise and carry you into a commanding finish. Closer “Off With Her Head” is a barnstormer, the vocals flexing, a fast, blunt chorus digging into your nervous system. Levine practically spits her words on the verses, guitars ignite and bubble over, and a fiery vengeance pushes everything else to the limit.
Lady Beast are a force, pulling from the roots that generated heavy metal and always packing their music with passion and power that you can’t help but feel in every pore. “The Inner Alchemist” follows the same path the band has been on, but it’s noted there’s an extra sharp cut on their blades, and they sound as explosive as ever, more like how their live shows feel. This is music we need right now when the darkness is at its thickest, and we need something to keep us headed toward the light, where forces of justice can thrive once again, vanquishing the cancer of tyranny.
For more on the band, go here: https://ladybeast.bandcamp.com/
To buy the album, go here: https://dyingvictims.com/index.php
For more on the label, go here: https://dying-victims.de/
Meat Mead Metal 