Duel – In Carne Persona
Release Date: 1st October 2021
Label: Heavy Psych Sounds
Bandcamp
Genre: Heavy Metal, Stoner Metal, Proto Metal, Psychedelic.
FFO: Thin Lizzy, Motorhead, UFO, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath.
Review By: Paul Franklin
If you are familiar with Duel’s previous output then this latest release from the Texan quartet will be just what you were expecting, nine proto-metal sledgehammers, dripping with the influence of 70’s stalwarts such as Maiden, Priest and of course Sabbath.
Wrapping you up in a cloak of heavy riffing and doomy theatricality both the opening tracks, Children of the Fire and The Veil, would provide the perfect soundtrack to a 70’s hammer horror style B-movie. The weighty Anchor and the snarling Bite Back follow, adding some space rock flourishes, and in the case of the later some nice gang-style vocals. All the time never forgoing the opportunity to unleash a twin guitar attack or two. Completing the ‘space rock sandwich’ the trippier Behind the Sound is the creamy filling spread between these two feistier numbers.
Next up we have the superb Wave of Your Hand. Starting with a doomy Sabbath intro it kicks up its cloven hooves into a proto-Maiden gallop towards a glorious sing-along, radio-friendly chorus. It’s a song so colossal and complete in its distillation of late 70’s heavy rock that I believe if Duel had access to a DeLorean and enough road to get up to 88, they could go and give more than a few bands some sleepless nights.
Dead Eyes and Lizard Tongue are solid riff-soaked numbers, perhaps not quite up to the high standards of what has preceded them, but still bloody good. Which leaves the six-minute Blood on the Claw to round things off with a more chilled, expansive vibe.
By bringing a contemporary approach to the echoes of the past, Duel know how to deliver the goods.
(4 / 5)
