The new Iron Maiden? Say hello to the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal
I will freely admit when the press release for HeKz arrived in my intray, I was ready to give them the verbal kicking that most cock-rock bands truly deserve. I was wrong. One track into 'Orfeo' and we're air guitaring like we have no neighbours.
If The Darkness had been influenced more by Iron Maiden and Dio than Queen, and worshipped at the altar of NWOBHM, they might have come out sounding like HeKz. The Bedford foursome inject a much-needed sense of fun and showmanship into their brand of traditional metal with some high energy guitar work and powerful vocals. Singer/bassist Matt Young takes great delight in moving from Dickinson-esque blasts to Alice Cooper-whispered growls with apparent ease. The extremely proficient harmonic guitar work of Danny Young and Al Beveridge, and the technical drumming from Kirk Brandham adds a surprising lightness and musical depth that stops the band crossing too far over the line into parody. They are damn good at what they do.
You'd be forgiven for thinking 'When Darkness Falls' is actually an obscure Iron Maiden cover, so close is the musical technique. Hopefully HeKz will grow into their own style and widen their influences, or they risk being indistinguishable from a (admittedly very good) tribute band. 'Breakout' and 'Dead of Night' also fall into that category, but it's still all-the-way-to-11 anthemic metal of the highest standard. It's almost impossible not to just go along with it and just feel silly later. And then, bizarrely, 'Don't Turn Back' is 10 minutes in a more progressive vein (they cite Yes and Rush as influences) letting the music develop a bit more and adding their own style to the constantly changing mood of the piece. So there is hope for the future.
Leading the charge in the New Wave of Traditional Metal, HeKz should be a blast to see on stage if the EP is anything to go by.