Metal and Hell

Upon first glance Kat seems to be one of the numerous '80s era bands that followed the classic heavy/speed metal approach, heavily influenced by the musical behemoth known as Accept. In reality, Kat possess most of Accept's elements both musically and even stylistically! So much that an overall cynical music fan could categorize them as another band of the norm. However the band indeed has a handful of neat, creative moments that manage to somehow separate them from what I have just described.

OK first of all let's address some really big elephants in the room. Every good -and some not so good- 1980s heavy metal trend is here. Are you in need of standard mid tempo heavy metal songs? Got them! You want some fast double bass drums followed by lightning minor scaled solos? Right here, sir! Oh please did you say something about up-tempo punk/speed passages to wake you up after a somehow more relaxed composition? Here too! Oh I almost forgot the incredibly old school and catchy song titles like "Time of Revenge" or the self-titled track or "666"! Kat, though, blend those well-known techniques and ideas in really interesting ways with smart and attractive riffs and melodies. In addition some small but explicit experimentations are added; for example, the keyboards in the second song or the melodic solos in some more fast syntheses to balance the whole. The cornerstone of this debut, though, relies on its tremendous energy that sparks with each riff or with each slap on the bass or with each hit on the snare drum. Not one note of this album does not scream "RETRO" and I bet even the most unimpressed metal fan, while listening to this, cannot do anything but to stand up and scream HELL YEAH!!!

Sadly as much as I praised this record for its fun and its well-groomed aesthetic there is the obvious limit to how much merit it can get. Of course I was not expecting something to blow me away and with albums like this, one should refrain from comparing it with today's terms. Nonetheless the album has some songs that are nothing but fillers and could be traced in any heavy/speed metal band's album that are not exploited in their full potential. Moreover, the existence of a really appalling aspect drags the overall product down. That could be no other than the production. It is not awful or greasy at all; on the other hand it is balls-down generic and does not boost the album enough.

So my final word - consider it advice - on this album is simple: listen to it as a 16 year old METALHEAD . Grab your old leather jacket, put on your sunglasses, get out your Gibson Flying V and rock on! This heavy metal massacre belongs in the era it was written: the '80s with its flaws and its cliches. I really love the fact that Kat did not follow the same path of many, many bands of that time; which was to quickly disband after releasing a great work. Enjoy this record with a cold beer at a reunion to remember the "good ol' days".

70/100