Old school Metal can sound fresh and exciting, but it rarely does. Most bands who follow that strict template either take themselves way too seriously, or are so obsessed with authenticity that they lose sight of the fact that Rock and Metal can be cool, can be fun and can still sound good. Taberah have always put a smile on my face because they get it. They realise that Metal just sounds good, fuels many a good night and you can listen to it with a smile on your face.
Taberah though are also seriously good at what they do, just remember these are the guys that Lemmy hand picked to open for Motörhead. With two albums already under the belt’s – their 2011 debut ‘The Light of which I Dream’ and 2013’s excellent ‘Necromancer’ it’s now time for album number three.
If you aren’t familiar with Taberah imagine a band that plays vintage Metal but who have a very much Rock and Roll attitude. They also have the songs.
Opening with the title track ‘Sinner’s Lament’ things get off to the best of starts, there’s a slow build then the crunch of guitar as the drums build and the onslaught begins. If you think Maidenesque Thrash mellowed by bursts of Melodic Metal you about have it with the addition of a killer vocal and mid-song acoustic breakdown and almost Queen-like melodies! It’s so much more than that though, and it’s hooked me already.
‘Wicked Way’ has a hard job following that but does – imagine an early eighties take on NWOBHM but with soaring almost Power Metal chanted verses, its obviously a lot more direct but does the trick. ‘Harlott’ that follows displays the sort of humour that sets Taberah apart, it’s of course a questionable title (spelling wise of course with the extra ‘t’) but the humour is more akin to The Darkness than Steel Panther. It’s a cliché ridden delight and you can imagine the fists raised and questionable studded leather attire. Like we said – fun – remember that?
What comes next though will have you astonished. We’ve it seems been led in slowly it seems – and ‘Horizon’ really ups the stakes – this is stunning and far more than merely competent, it’s as if the band has had a touch of fun and decided to show us what they can really do. ‘Child of Storm’ continues on that path – another huge song and again those rather Metallic shades of Queen seep in. It’s a comparison you can’t help but make.
The remainder of the album fails to put a foot wrong either – ‘Dance of the Damned’ is exquisitely-framed Hard Rock; whilst ‘Crypt’ picks up that Thrash meets Power Metal sound again before ‘The Final March of Men’ pushes that thought to its logical conclusion. It’s stunning.
The album closes out first with ‘Heal Me’ – a song which starts acoustically and builds to an epic old school Metal anthem. It’s just the right way to close out what has become over the course of nine songs possibly one of the most entertaining and fresh Aussie Metal albums in years. Well it would be if we didn’t close with a rather energetic take on The Eagles classic ‘Hotel California’. Nice.
This is a great album, Taberah’s best to date. One of the Metal albums of the year? You bet. Not bad at all for a band from little old Tasmania.
