Reviewed by Kit Burns
Throttlecaster/Restless Journey
For a band that is obviously influenced by Alice in Chains, Metallica, and Nirvana, the ominously named Throttlecaster are actually quite fun to listen to. Throttlecaster are indebted not only to ’90s grunge and hard rock, but also to the spandex metal of the ’80s, especially Motley Crue and Poison. However, Throttlecaster leaves the cheese behind, gorging itself on the gloriously flamboyant pop hooks of those American bands while remaining true to their European rock roots, namely Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and the Scorpions.
The fuzz bomb “Deep Down” is ’80s metal with a post-millennial darkness in its undertow. You’ll hear the ferocious energy and torched riffs of Metallica in its explosive charge although the production doesn’t reach that group’s epic scope. “The Well” features a Middle Eastern tinge in its opening layers of guitars, and vocalist Erko Nomm somewhat resembles Kurt Cobain when he’s screaming. “Performer” is balls-to-the-wall glam rock. “Traffic” takes Alice in Chains’ chugging riffs and puts them in a decidedly upbeat context. This is an enjoyable, toe-tappingly good metalhead bonanza.
