Black Knight
Master Of Disaster

Does the Canadian metal scene drive you crazy? Are Anvil, Witchkiller, Sword, Exciter, and Annihilator your favorite bands? Well, then, you must also listen to Black Knight, authors of a unique and hard-to-find EP, dated 1985! They are one of the many cult metal bands that enriched the amazing metal scene of the Eighties year after year.

In 1985, after a demo, Black Knight released their only record, which is "Master Of Disaster," consisting of an EP with five songs. The band's influences can be traced back to Medieval Steel and Omen, but also to some American bands, like Motley Crue and W.A.S.P. The current line-up consists of Lori Wilde on vocals, Gary Quaye and Mick Di Anno on guitars, Glenn Hoffman on bass, and Glen Richards on drums. The sound, on the other hand, is a mix between the epic of Manilla Road and the more wild and metallic heavy metal.

The opener is "Warlord's Wrath," which is introduced by a drumroll and the imposing entry of the two epic guitars. This small introduction is then shattered by the singer's high-pitched scream and the "classic" riffing by the talented guitarists. This track easily summarizes the band's original style, characterized by Lori's shrill voice that manages to reach high peaks, while the rest of the group's technique is excellent. As usual, the song is embellished by the inevitable melody and epicness, which culminates in the refrain, inaugurating the small record under the banner of speed. Subsequently, the song morphs into an NWOBHM ride supported by the excellent work of the bassist, revealing itself as fundamental in the interesting finale.

The following "Metal Scream" slightly distances itself from the epic sounds of the previous song, arriving at a catchier and more rock-style. In this song, I find melodies very similar to the early W.A.S.P., especially in the singer's gritty vocal timbre, while the wild chorus makes the song even rawer. "Born To Rock" is a rocky hard rock with an anthemic catchy refrain perfectly suitable for screaming with all the rage at concerts! The solos are phenomenal, while the rest of the track is pure grit and power in the form of music!

The dark "Aaraigathor" is opened by a keyboard intro that seems to foreshadow "The Crown And The Ring" by Manowar, while the guitarists' riffing starts the party. The song takes on a slow and doom rhythm, thanks also to the angry voice that manages to give the song a more evil and imposing tone. Subsequently, we find various rhythm changes, while in the finale the band delights us with virtuosity, arriving at the startling conclusion, which is closed by an unexpected screaming. Sublime! The last song, that is, the title track, almost seems to deny the dark doom of "Aaraigathor," offering a nice piece of wild heavy metal. The bridge in the second minute is beautiful, where the guitarists indulge in irresistible solos, while in the finale the band channels all the energy and passion, concluding this grandiose Canadian metal record at high levels! Exciting, epic, and damn powerful!