CAGE – Hell Destroyer

Cage has released albums for some ten years now, which seems shorter than it is due to the wait since the band’s last work, Darker Than Black. Said album came out in 2003 and lent Cage some hard-earned, well-deserved recognition, but for a few years, silence has surrounded the San Diego-based band. Seeing as Cage are often mentioned as being among the premier hopeful’s regarding newer bands to the Traditional Metal cause, the follow-up album Hell Destroyer probably is among the most anticipated releases this year within its specific genre. Suffice to say, the wait has not been in vain. Where musicianship, delivery, intensity, production, and, above all, songwriting is concerned, Hell Destroyer delivers on all said accounts, and even manages to surpass high expectations. Not even little spoken interludes (which are pointed out on the sleeve making it easy to skip them, should you choose to do so) take away from, or derive the sheer power of Cage. The album takes all ingredients previously well-known for the band, and adds yet another level of intensity. On top if it all, of course, Sean Peck’s majestic vocal delivery can be heard.

The screaming, soaring, fast-delivered Metal typified in tracks such as the title track and ”Christhammer” sit well at home with more fist-held, anthemic material such as ”Abomination” and the incredible ”I Am The King.” ”Rise Of The Beast” leaves you pleasantly soaked with its driving heaviness. A track like ”Beyond The Apocalypse” incorporates several passages, turning it into a mini-epic, though remaining up-tempo for the most part, whilst Peck is allowed to further stretch his abilities on a track like ”Fall Of The Angels,” where melodic vocals are concerned.

If there is any justice in this world, Cage (and similar strong bands of the ilk) should be chosen as a support act for a Judas Priest world tour, and be exposed to arena audiences consisting of younglings otherwise too busy catching up with the classic Metal of yesteryear, and jaded old-schoolers too ignorant to be looking up newer bands. But, that will probably not happen; a Nu-Rock band that provides huge amounts of suck-iness will probably be picked for such a tour instead, and thereby bore huge audiences of Traditional Metal out of their minds.

There’s not too much here in terms of actual musical variation, but there’s really no need for that. Cage is a Heavy Metal band; this is their craft and they’ve honed it well. Hell Destroyer is not for the faint-hearted. It might extinct your testicles should you muster the courage to sit on the darn thing. To be on the safe side, let your girlfriend try the trick first. Chances are she might get off on the vibrations at hand.

Vicious Rumors made the True Metal album of the year in 2006. As of now, Cage’s Hell Destroyer may be the equivalent for this year. In any case, it should be a no-brainer purchase for fans of the genre in question.