I love German rockers. They can be goofy but they live for this shit. They don't care what anyone thinks, they are going to do it their way and their way is full of testosterone and hell-bent-for-leather attitude. They treat rock n' roll like it's a soccer match and you better leave before the riot starts.

The same can be said of 'Bombard Your Soul' the latest release from Germany's GUN BARREL. You can literally smell the blood, sweat and beer coming off this record. It is deeply rooted in the German and British classics. It is angry, mean and triumphant. It's bloody fucking metal, so, "you better get your balls to the wall mannnn!" I knew I was in for a treat just by looking at the MOTÖRHEAD-meets-Sgt. Rock album cover. Musically, many comparisons are being drawn between these guys and bands such as MOTÖRHEAD and AC/DC. MOTÖRHEAD is a no brainer, but the ACCEPT influence cannot be denied.

It is drenched in Wolf Hoffmann rhythms and Lemmy attitude. Check out the crushing riffs on songs such as "Fearing the Fear Of My Fears", "Lights and Shadows" and note the spirit of 'Fast' Eddie Clarke in the title track. The opening lines to the lead off track, "Dear Mr. Devil" sum this album up perfectly, " Four ugly motherfuckers pissing gasoline, sworn to rock n' roll through thick and thin". No slick poetry here. With any other band it might come off as a stupid cliche, but with these guys you just know this is a motto they live by. New Singer Xaver Drexler is one part Udo, one part Lemmy, one part Kai Hansen and one part unfiltered cigarettes. I had heard clips of former singer Guido Feldhausen who sounded similar but possesses nowhere near the power or grit.

The real ace of spades for this record is the incredible drumming by Toni Pinciroli. This guy is a fuckin animal! Combine the best parts of Mikkey Dee and Phil Rudd and you have a sense of what this guy is all about. From the opening to the closing track he plays with the all the stamina of a well-oiled machine, but this guy is all heart. I haven't heard power drumming on record like this in a long time. Guitarist and founding member Rolf Tanzius is no slouch either. His solos on "Dive Into the Flame", "Bloody Pretender", and "On The Road Again" are tasteful, full of fire and attitude. Just what you would expect from a German metal guitarist. My only criticism with him would be that I wished his guitar sound had been more raw and dirty. It sounds a little processed but it is a minor complaint. His overall tone is in fine continuity of a balls out record. The album closes in fine fashion with the MANOWAR-flavored anthem "...Is You". It doesn't get any more metal than that.

The beauty of 'Bombard Your Soul' is that there is nothing new here. You have heard it all before, but sometimes something just hits you on such a basic level it just feels great. Many of the tracks just make you want to slam your beer down on the bar and hit the guy next to you square in the face. Then the guy will thank you for it. If you want something new, go somewhere else. The guys in GUN BARREL will gladly show you the door.

- Peters

OFFICIAL SITE: www.gunbarrel.de

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