Scelerata - The Sniper

Brazil definitely carries the torch for NNWBHM, and Scelerata has what it takes to stand out from the crowdEver since I discovered the energetic music of Brazil’s Angra, I’ve had a deep respect for that part of the world as a source of metal music. Bottom line, those Brazilians know their metal and make some damn good music. Following that path are the boys of Scelerata, whose third studio album, The Sniper, easily sits alongside anything I’ve listened to in the last several years as the kind of metal music that bangs your head, brother! Not sure why I just went all Hulkamania on you, but it still stands that Scelerata’s latest album rocks thoroughly.

Like Angra, Scelerata features breakneck rhythms, ripping solos, and powerful vocals, as if someone switched out Iron Maiden’s beer supply for some of Starbuck’s strongest dark roast. But to me, that’s modern metal at its finest: powerful and heavy anthems, replete with guitar shredding, all over a seismic backbeat. The Iron Maiden connection is obvious when you hear this music, but it couldn’t be made more clear than having Paul Di’Anno not only singing but co-writing on the album. Like I said, those Brazilians know their metal roots.

The Bottom Line: Fans of good old fashioned power metal of the South American variety should love this album. If you’re not, but you like modern metal as well as classic NWBHM bands, you should give this a try.

Tracks To Raise Your Fists In Solidarity To: Pretty much the whole record.

- Genghis needs a monitor to put his foot on when he sings along to this stuff…