BANSHEE – The Madness

Banshee’s style of 80s Melodic Metal was killed off during their first run by fickle record companies, but there’s still a dedicated fan base.  The band reformed in 2010 with a revamped lineup releasing Mindslave and touring in 2012.  Their fifth release, The Madness, is heralded as hard-hitting concept album tackling the stages of mental illness.

Starting off swinging, “Metal Morphosis” overcomes an awkward chorus with a menacing riffs and robust writing.  This song traces its lineage back to Judas Priest’s “Painkiller”, Electric Eye” and “Metal Gods”. “Psychosis” is a full-bodied acoustic ballad that maintains a chilling flow suitable for the lyrics. “Demons (In My Head)” changes direction with nimble and hook laden Groove Metal

After a respectable start, the next three songs struggle to impress.  The title track has a amateurish laugh track and underdeveloped bridge.  “Cerebral” follows with mournful riffs lost amongst a plodding rhythm kept in time with an irritating cymbal. “Ingrid (Ballard Of An Ex Wife)” features decent music ruined by a dirty laundry list of grievance lyrics better left unsung.

The final songs fare better.  “Into The Breakdown” has tepid bridges and a weak solo but is redeemed by the muscular riffing and intense vocals. “Dead Inside” maintains the intensity and is a more complete songwriting effort. “Red Sails In The Sunset” is an 80s power ballad closer.  It begins with acoustic strumming with matched crooning before shifting into arena-sized riffs with plenty of starts and stops to let the song breathe.  An enjoyable Black Sabbath cover from the Mob Rules, “Slippin’ Away” is used as filler. The band stays faithful to the original with the exception of some fuzzed out solos.

As concept albums go, The Madness has a discernable theme if you’re looking for it.  As for the band’s claim of the songs being hard hitting, the music and production are uneven but there are more hits than misses.

TUNE INTO METALEXPRESSRADIO.COM at NOON & MIDNIGHT (EST) / 6:00 & 18:00 (CET) TO HEAR THE BEST TRACKS FROM THIS UPCOMING RELEASE!!!

TRACKLIST (Highlights: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10)

1. Metal Morphosis
2. Psychosis
3. Demons (In my Head)
4. The Madness
5. Cerebral
6. Ingrid (Ballad of an Ex Wife)
7. Into The Breakdown
8. Dead Inside
9. Red Sails in the Sunset
10. Slippin’ Away (Black Sabbath cover)

LINEUP

Terry Dunn – guitars
George Call  – vocals
Blu Davis – bass
Vinnie Parma – drums