Violent Horror Stories is the second album from Greece's Leatherhead and after their self-titled debut blew me away, I was eagerly awaiting this one. If you were concerned that the band's sound would change or there would be a drop off in quality, put those fears to rest, this album kicks ass. Heavily reliant on speed, though neither power nor thrash, Violent Horror Stories explodes from the opening track and blazes along with '80s metal fury. The guitar tone is killer, the riffs are excellent and singer Tolis Mekras once again shines as he weaves serpentine vocal lines throughout the album. It is perhaps a purer heavy metal sound the band has achieved this time, with less of the thrash elements that could be heard on the last one. The songwriting evokes what might have happened if Queensrÿche had followed up their debut EP with more songs like "Nightrider" and "Queen of the Reich" on The Warning, with a dose of Arch-era Fates Warning and a pinch of Crimson Glory. So yeah, it is really good.
I get that not everyone digs the progressive leanings of Queensrÿche, Fates Warning or Crimson Glory, and Leatherhead are much closer to traditional heavy metal, but if you DO like those bands, you should be all over Violent Horror Stories (and Leatherhead, for that matter). Even if you don't, this band is the real deal and with their second album, vault to the front of the traditional heavy metal revival movement.
