Artist: Vendetta Album: Tyranny Of Minority Label: Lion Music Website: http://www.vendetta-theband.com Reviewer: Chris Piccirillo

Track List: Archangel (1:08) Generation Kill (4:56) I Executioner (4:34) Doorways of the Mind (4:50) Golden Boy (4:13) Red Skies (5:54) Plastic God (4:12) Bones To Dust (3:37) Lost Cause (4:41) All Fall Down (4:38) No Safe Hall (4:13) Window Of The Soul (6:17) England has birthed many seminal metal bands; from Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden to Judas Priest and Def Leppard. They all had one thing in common – great guitars. Vendetta has 2 of the UK’s best in Edward Box and Pete Thompson. Their two guitar attack brings back the dueling beasts like Tipton/Downing, Friedman/Mustaine, and DeGarmo/Wilton. From the dueling leads and guitar tones to the overall production and feel of this record it’s screams “classic metal”. This isn’t a prog release by any sense of the word but it never pretends to be anything other than a timeless metal album. This CD could have been released in 1985 and would feel just as home as it does in 2007. In fact, if this record was 20 years older, it’d be a genre defining hit. These guys are clearly well versed in their classic metal and it shows. The songs bring you back to a time when riffs were king and bullet belts were the fashion accessory. The lead vocals are firmly in the Don Dokken school of delivery and catchy melodies fitting the music perfectly. Add in a bit of background vox and harmonies to keep it interesting and you’ve got yourself an album that you can bang your head AND sing along to. Lyrically, the album is varied; topics range from social and internal struggles, environmental destruction, mortality and the faltering education system. No love songs here, folks. Guitars are where the band really shines. The intro song “Archangel” is harmony lead guitar heaven and lets you know right from the get-go where this band stands. This track leads seamlessly into Generation Kill, a up-tempo driving number with a Testament (think Electric Crown) style opening riff. The tone of the guitars is another time travel device, no need for drop d tuning to sound heavy. They’re crunchy and articulate, allowing you to hear every note ripping from their instruments. The guitar solos rip on this song, and is one of the highlights of the disc along with the solos in “Red Skies”, the very iron maiden influenced “Plastic God” and the mid tempo Ratt sounding “All Fall Down”. The drums and bass anchor the band down while the guitars are afforded room to take center stage. Never one to upstage the 6 stringers, the solid backbeat never falters and slugs thru these 12 tracks with power and energy. The drums have a total classic sound with fat, low-tuned toms and a nice thick snare. As usual with most metal albums, the bass is sort of hidden, usually duplicating the guitar lines, but you can hear some nice melodic playing, such as the wonderful pre-chorus of “No Safe Hall”. This Album is a tremendous trip down memory lane and made me feel like I was listening on my cassette walkman all those years ago. It’s timeless metal and doesn’t try to be pretentious or too hip for the room. Vendetta is 4 guys playing the music they love and grew up with. I really enjoy this album and highly recommend it to fans of Testament, Metallica, Megadeth and the like. Great job guys, now help me find my bullet belt and flying V guitar! Band Members: Edward Box – Guitar and Vocals Pete Thompson – Guitars Chris Higgins – Drums Gary Foalle – Bass (and Third Guitar solo on Track 11) Drums on the Recording only by Mick Robson