Finnish Speed Metal merchants Ranger haven't needed to employ any musical rocket science when creating their tape and vinyl releases that scream old school 80's denim, leather, Metal and spikes but their career has skyrocketed anyway.
Ranger's debut album was recorded in the autumn of 2014 (they signed to Spinefarm Records the same year) but before we can enjoy the first fruit of that partnership here's something to whet your appetite. Skull Splitting Metal! is a fine collection of all the demos and EPs that these raging, beer-drinking Speed Metal maniacs have recorded thus far.
Skull Splitting Metal! is a fitting title for this collection of Ranger's past material and in case you have missed them thus far it is a great place to start. It offers a perfect cross section of Ranger's entire back catalog. This is fast, furious and vintage-sounding Speed/(Thrash) Metal to the bone, done the old fashion way that respects the very roots of the genre (and reminding me of Agent Steel, Exciter, early Iron Maiden, early Slayer and so on). The best part is that it sounds exactly like it was recorded in the 80's. If this stuff does not sink your miserable boat, then nothing will. Ranger is coming to get you and you can do nothing to prevent that from happening.
