BYFIST: Adrenalin CD Demo promo. 3 Reverend members. Doesn't get more METAL than this. Check vid

Byfist - Adrenalin (CD demo) 2000

1. "Eternal Damnation" (3:10)
2. "Meltdown" (4:43)
3. "Let It Die" (4:33)
4. "Mary Celeste" (4:50)

Imagine the singer for Agent Steel or Steel Prophet singing on the first two Metal Church albums and you get an idea of what this cd demo sounds like. There are tons of 'big' names listed on the credits. The CD was produced by David Wayne (Metal Church/Reverend), was engineered by Joe Floyd (Warrior) and the vocals are handled by Vikk Real (Fiarro). The band is tight; all four songs contain some speedy licks, fast and furious drumming and hook-laden song writing. Killer high pitched vocal performance by Vikk as well. The recording itself sounds a bit dated, almost like it was recorded in the early 90's. Even the music has that retro-speed metal feel. Is this a bad thing? Certainly not in my book. This demo is excellent!

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Label: Saba
Playing time: 17:17

Vikk Real & ByFist "Eternal Damnation" from REALMS OF METAL on Vimeo.

This is the 4-tracks-demo-preview off the new BYFIST-album to come
First and foremost, let's say that BYFIST ain't a newcomer band. In fact, the guys started out back in 1987, coming from San Antonio, Texas. The band released the "Should Have Known"-EP in 1989 and toured with great bands like SAVATAGE, KILLERS, DANZIG and REVEREND back in the days. They split up in 1991 and now, ten years later, they're back with an upcoming album.

"Adrenalin" is a dead giveaway to these guys' roots, that is to say traditional American Heavy Metal rules supreme throughout the four tracks of the demo. Actually, the lesson taught by METAL CHURCH, OBSESSION, WARLORD and the likes has been well learned by the band, all the songs of the lot leaving very little to be desired for the sub-genre-die-hard-fans. But to be true, BYFIST also bares plain hints to the Bay Area-Thrash of the '80s, mostly for the wise use of guitar riffs, which appear to always be the key element of the compositions. In fact, it's obvious that the cornerstone of the songwriting here lies into the riff-o-rama, on which I suppose all of the songs have been entirely built and developed.

But let's dig into the tracks a bit deeper:

The opener "Eternal Damnation" isn't exactly the best way to introduce the band, being the weakest song on "Adrenalin". The main riff on that one is good and pleasing enough, but the whole track is too simple and basic for nowadays standards. It could be a good song in 1987, but today it falls short. In my opinion, it's a bit undeveloped, but the raw idea is still there, and I think the band can refine it a lot on the full-length.

Track number 2, "Meltdown", is instead an excellent up-tempo, showing a clever balancing between classic and Thrash Metal. The speedy attack which introduces the song is very effective, and made me think of something half the way between early METALLICA and WHIPLASH, coupled with some PRIEST-touches. The riffs on this one are definitely catchy, but still crunchy and heavy, keeping the tradition of older Metal-tunes.

"Left To Die" attests what the band is capable of, showing another powerful performance, topped by the high-pitched vocals of Vikk Real, who doesn't spare his voice at all for the entire demo, screaming his balls off on each and every song.

Next we have "Mary Celeste", the mellower song of the lot, featuring some darn' good vocal hooklines and an effective guitar intro that set the path for a quite interesting listening. And the musicianship completes the job, marking the song as a noteworthy closer.

I don't know hence these songs are the final versions of what we'll hear on the full-length album or the band will rearrange some things here and there, but assuming from what I can hear for sure they're fairly capable to contend with nowadays finest classic Metal-acts. I also wish that the finished album will have a better production. Don't get me wrong, the production of this demo ain't that bad, being held by Joe Floyd (WARRIOR) and David Wayne (METAL CHURCH), but it pales in comparison with the crystal-clear sounding productions of today. Moreover, with a band which can benefit of a triple axe attack (uh, MAIDEN-fashion much?), I was expecting for a quite meatier sound, and I think BYFIST need a fitting production in order to do justice to all of the three guitar-players.

At the end of the day, "Adrenalin", though sounding a tad outdated, raises some rather high expectations for the upcoming album, but I prefer to be cautious in my rating and wait the finished release to properly judge the work on its whole.

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Firmly rooted in the 80's and tinged with a slightly thrashy edge, particularly on "Meltdown", BYFIST rock with rarely equaled Heavy Metal-vigour. BYFIST would get ripped to shreds by the UK Metal-press and that is a real pity. And what have the UK Metal-press ever known anyway? These days you a more likely to get an indie retrospective in a certain Klassic Metal-magazine instead of supporting up and coming talent like BYFIST. Isn't it ironic that the very music that inspired Nu-Metal is actually condemned by the magazines that supported it all those years ago? What will they write about when Nu-Metal disappears? So I say a huge fuck you to those people who dismiss this band and its music. They are not gonna have an easy time of it for sure, but if you are Metal-fan who likes ARMORED SAINT, ANTHRAX, JAG PANZER, METALLICA, The PRIEST and the better Euro Metal-bands, then get a listen to this lot.

Great musicianship and superb vocals with crisp production from non-other that David Wayne of METAL CHURCH-fame. Each song bounds along with a passion and energy and conviction. I don't think BYFIST will win any awards for originality, but what the fuck! Play this load and annoy the neighbours!!!!