Speed Stroke - Scene Of The Crime album

Speed Stroke - Scene Of The Crime

Album review by; DeeDee

This 5 piece hail from Imola in Italy and formed back in 2010. Their first and self titled album came out in 2013 and immediately got hearts racing with the amount of sleaziness it contained. After a second album, ‘Fury’ in 2016, it appears there has been a bit of a lull, until now that is and the third on the menu, ‘Scene Of The Crime’. Released earlier this month, the band has re-emerged with 10 new songs, to reinforce their hold on the more glamorous side of Italian metal.

Slowly but with increasing menace ‘Heartbeat’ thuds into view. Like an army approaching over the horizon, there are war cries and a sense of foreboding. Plenty of tension builds, until the rapid guitars strike and Jack begins to utter his high pitched vocals. Strong and stacked with muscle, this is a stormer of an opener. I suddenly realise that Speed Stroke are not just another band of pretty boys trying to be Guns N’ Roses. The title track has a pounding stomp of a rhythm, loads of sleazy grind that reminds me of ‘Bang Tango’ with its chanting layered melody. The third up is ‘After Dark’ and we stick to the hip swaggering vibe, again the vocals are akin to Joe Lesté (Bang Tango), magical stuff. The second single is ‘Soul Punx’ which is electrifying, with more of a ‘Skid Row’ tempo, it saunters into its own. Plenty of guitar twiddling and it goes out kicking and screaming.

‘No Love’ starts with a sweeping piece of strings and you are led to believe this is going to be a mellow ballad. However, the foundations start to rock, as the song continues. Harder anthem like squeals and ultrasonic guitar, make it quite remarkable, then there is the middle 8, if you don’t want me to spoil it for you, look away now! It dissolves with an Arabic theme into a crescendo of delights, gosh, so much going on with this track, has to be one of the best on the album. ‘Red Eyes’ follows, which I find is a bit of an anti-climax after ‘No Love’. Then we switch focus on ‘Out of Money’ as the intro feature is all about guitarist ‘DB’. The Italian attempts rocks answer to ‘The Flight Of The Bumblebee’ with strong drumming from Andrew, coming in to assist. Again it’s a fast chant with backing vocals providing attitude, I guess they are called Speed Stroke for a reason.

Have to love the crash on the rocks that is ‘Who Fkd Who’, a dirty tease that also has strains of Mötley Crüe and Skid Row. Bassist ‘Fungo’ flicks into action and the rhythm guitar of Michael gives the number some solid ground. The no shit attitude carries on straight through the songs’ three and a half minutes and there is a blinding amount of incredible fret licking from DB. ‘One Last Day’ finally sees the band slowing up, with a semi acoustic track. Poignant, haunting and mesmerising and also credit due, they can turn it down on occasion and still hold it together. Final track is ‘Hero No 1’ which bounces along with manic fervour. Speed Stroke end as they began, with plenty of metal and with more twists than a bowl of fusilli pasta.

Described as very much hair, glam and sleaze metal, these guys are all that and more. A succulent and juicy album, ‘Scene Of The Crime’ is a piece of rock escapism that deserves your attention. The album is out now on Street Symphonies Records with Spiritual Beast.

4/5

Track list;

1. Heartbeat

2. Scene Of The Crime

3. After Dark

4. Soul Punx

5. No Love

6. Red Eyes

7. Out Of Money

8. Who Fkd Who

9. One Last Day

10. Hero No.1