Cry of the Jackal

In an unusual fashion for a reissue of a late 80's obscurity like this one this edition is actually the first time Jackal's sole 1989 album has been available on vinyl as the original release in The Netherlands was only as a self-released CD. For extra attractiveness to collectors and completists the original 6-track 30 minute long album has been squeezed on to the first side of the wax while tracks from their 1987 and 1991 demos make up the flipside, and also rather unusually for rarely heard-of records from that era it also sounds fairly fresh for its time. Rather than taking part in the recycling of decade old ideas that helped to foster Heavy Metal's decline this album fits into the timeframe of where the melodic and progressive sides of the genre were headed at the tail end of the 80's.

Despite the often somewhat simplistic riffs on the album points of comparison can be made to Queensrÿche and Somewhere In Time/Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son-era Maiden throughout, and always for better or for worse Jackal utilise a pretty unique sound. On the first 2 of the final 3 tracks, the ones from their 1991 demo, the similarities to Queensrÿche become even more pronounced while the final song “Enchantress” has a bounce and groove to it whilst retaining metal traditionalism that bridges the gap with the popular acts of the time like Faith No More and Living Color. If Jackal had have been picked up by a label at this time they could possibly have achieved a modicum of success where it not for one massive spanner in the works- the vocals.

There has certainly been worse attempts made on the mic in this genre but frankly they make looking positively on this band as a whole an insurmountable task. On album opener “Pain In The Ass” they are more of a curiosity, though they also show the total flatness and lack of drama that makes “Pharaoh” such an awkward listen. They improve slightly on “The Law” whilst the higher notes managed on “Nightmare” give a bit of a post-Keepers Helloween vibe. It's unfortunate though that the best song on this album is the self-titled instrumental, and with nothing else to say I think that sad fact says it all. [3/10]

From WAR ON ALL FRONTS A.D. 2013 zine- www.facebook.com/waronallfronts