Various Artists - 'Heavy Metal Killers'

If you wait long enough, everything will come back in style again. It's the case in fashion, and in music. We're in the midst of a thrash revival, with legions of young bands emulating classic Bay Area and European thrash bands. Earache Records has been at the forefront of the thrash revival, and now they're promoting the return of another classic genre.

Heavy Metal Killers is a compilation of unknown and upcoming "New Wave Of Traditional Metal" bands. Taking their cue from traditional and New Wave Of British Heavy Metal acts, these bands are melodic and bombastic with an eighties vibe. And it seems every one of the singers on this compilation is either a Halford or Dickinson wannabe.

The cool thing about compilations like Heavy Metal Killers is you can be exposed to a bunch of different bands, then further explore the ones you like. There are a lot of similarities between these bands, but there are a few whose songwriting and musical chops stand out more than others. Voltax's "Steel Maker" is my favorite track on the album. It has some memorable hooks and plenty of guitar solos.

A couple other standouts on the compilation are RAM and Enforcer. I prefer the old wave of traditional metal and NWOBHM, but Heavy Metal Killers is a nice showcase of the next generation.

(released March 24, 2009 on Earache Records)