Record Reviews

Album review: Ignitor “Haunted by Rock & Roll”


Ignitor serves us an extra large portion of terrific heavy metal on its new album.

They say that everything is bigger in Texas. Well, Ignitor is a larger than life metal band with a terrific new album out. Formed in Texas in 2003 by Agony Column guitarist Stuart “Batlord” Laurence and drummer Pat Doyle (The Offenders), Ignitor’s current line-up also features vocalist Jason McMaster (Watchtower, Dangerous Toys, Broken Teeth, Evil United), guitarist Robert Williams (Witches Mark) and bassist Billy Dansfiell (Agony Column).

In addition to eight fab new tracks, the album also features a cover of “Hung, Drawn and Quartered” by NWOBHM legends Raven. There is a 1980s heavy metal feeling to much of this music and that is a good thing. It’s sort of a mix of NWOBHM and some early thrash metal. Blitzkrieg, Anvil and, yes, Raven all come to mind and so does Overkill. But it’s not all old-sounding stuff. On the title track we get a great bridge between old and more modern influences. “Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crown”, perhaps the album’s best track, has a fantastic Dio-esque touch to it. Splendid. No doubt this band will now start making waves outside of Texas. What a great find!

Ignitor’s album “Haunted by Rock & Roll”, with Megadeth’s David Ellefson as executive producer, is out now via EMP Label Group.

www.facebook.com/ignitor.metal / www.ignitorband.com