High Roller
Metalville, 2019
8/10
With band member names like Vince van Roth and Dommy Lee, it’s pretty clear that Balls Gone Wild don’t take themselves too seriously, but their furious and hard hitting rock’n’roll is certainly no joke on this sophomore album.
The title track gets the listen off to a savage start of chunky bass work and a thundering setting of bombastic hard rock as thick vocals guide us through the anthemic setting, and “Leave Me Alone” follows with raw energy in the thumping, guitar wailing scorcher.
Elsewhere, “Keep It Hot” brings us guitar riffs that point at the early days of metal, while “Mofo” gets closer to thrash sounds with calculated fury at a wild pace.
Near the end, “Balls Gone Wild” illustrates a fluid rhythm section where a sing-along chorus helps makes this one of the best tracks present, and the intricate “Flying High” reminds us of all the things we love about Judas Priest and Iron Maiden with a classic feel. “The Devil’s Woman” ends the listen soft and agile, where restrained musicianship illustrate another proficient angle from this German trio.
The Metalville label is never in short supply of powerful, timeless artists, and High Roller is yet another release that fans of metal, rock and even punk will find enticing.
Travels well with: AC/DC- Back In Black; Motorhead- Bastards