Historically speaking, I consider Speed Metal one of the first forms of Extreme Metal. It was my wish to write an issue about it but I didn’t have the strength to do it. Bands as Slayer, Venom, Exciter, and many others were at first labeled as Speed Metal to then be labeled as Thrash Metal or others. That is a historical fact. In the early 1980s many bands were trying to play as fast as possible. In Saxon’s debut alive album 1982’s “The Eagle Has Landed” they computed the drumming speed, for instance. Motörhead used to play pretty fast, and loud, for their time. So did Iron Maiden, the band which I see had lots of influence on many Speed Metal bands. Highly influenced by the speed of Hardcore music, many Metal bands were trying to set a record or draw the line of fast could a song be played. The winner was Napalm Death’s 1987’s “Scum,” the album that finally draw the line regarding on speed. On the other hand, it’s so funny to notice that most of times Speed Metal bands are more melodic than Old School Heavy Metal bands. My guess is that Speed Metal bands are more interested in the contrast bewteen melody and aggression.
Ok, then, that all said it’s time to go to our band of the day, Traveler with “Prequel to Madness,” an album full of high doses of melody contrasting with the power and the speed of Speed Metal.
It’s useless to say that “Prequel to Madness” is an album highly influenced by the world of 1980’s Speed Metal finest. The songs in the album follows a very interesting sequence which puts the fastest in the beginning and at the end of the album leaving the more cadenced in the middle. The only exception is “The Law.” Grand finale and album tittle track “Prequel to Madness” is a fine piece of what 1980’s Speed Metal had to offer the fan with its seven minute prequel to madness – so, sorry for the pum. As I aforementioned, Traveler proved me right when I said many Speed Metal bands are highly influenced by Iron Maiden. In fact, vocals and the melodic guitars tell this tale. On the other hand, the aforementioned “The Law” has a lot of Saxon’s drumming and soul. “Rebels of Earth” has that epic feeling Running Wild gave to their songs in their early albums as 1984’s “Gates to Purgatory” and 1985’s “Branded and Exiled.” when Running Wild had their share of Speed Metal influences.
I always say that an album as “Prequel to Madness” must be heard by all metallers no matter the genre they listen to. I’d say this album is a historical piece.
Traveler “Prequel to Madness” was released on February 23rd via No Remorse Records.
Track Listing:
- Mayday
- Take the Wheel
- Dark Skull
- The Law
- Rebels of Earth
- Heavy Hearts
- No Fate
- Vagrants of Time
- Prequel to Madness
Watch “Heavy Hearts” official music video:
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