Rating: NNN
As far as pretensions go, it’s safe to say that Brooklyn’s more than earnest thrash-meets-NWOBHM revivalists have just about none. On their latest four-song EP, the trio don’t get fancy or overthink things. They just rock with balls-out, no-frills metal without any glossy production.
Just as Andrew WK was so likeable, Early Man are unblinkingly sincere in tapping the requisite influences like old Metallica, Priest and Mercyful Fate, and there are plenty of decent riffs and solos to revisit. Unfortunately, Mike Conte’s vocal performance suffers occasionally.
When he’s not doing the piercing King Diamond banshee thing, he can sound less than excited. All in all, it borders on predictable, but at least it’s damn honest.
