ALBUM REVIEW: Vol II – Power Drunk Majesty – Metal Allegiance

When you’ve been around the block, or the world in this instance, as a touring musician, you can get supremely bored and the well of creativity can run dry out very quickly. Supergroups are nothing new, you can look at CAMP FREDDY, DIMEBASH, METAL MASTERS or if you’re clutching at straws POWERFLO, VELVET REVOLVER and PROPHETS OF RAGE, quite literally they are nothing new. With 2015’s debut record, METAL ALLEGIANCE, consisting of core members David Ellefson, Alex Skolnick, Mike Portnoy and Mark Menghi, produced a record which was a pick n’ mix of different ideas placed into a blender, here on their sophomore record Vol II – Power Drunk Majesty, there is more of a tenacious and connected feel to the songs.

The album flows from the death howl of The Accuser featuring THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER‘s Tervor Strnad dissolving into the drive of Bound By Silence with former ANTHRAX vocalist John Bush. There are no sudden changes of pace on the record, unlike in previous outings, when the full throttle groove of Randy Blythe blends into the smoked out mellow sludge of Phil Anselmo, it makes for an effective listen indeed. Giving free reign to the vast array of vocalists to contribute more to the project, you get the likes of Max Cavelera producing the triumphant Voodoo Of The Godsend, which rather than sounding like a B-side, could quite happily sit alongside any of his SOULFLY material.

‘Fifth Beatle’ Troy Sanders has again contributed and put his stamp on this record after featuring on the debut, with his distinctive vocals accompanying the industrial stomp of Liars & Thieves, being almost a lucky charm for METAL ALLEGIANCE. Aside from the guest vocalists the band feel collectively more together and sitting more comfortably with each other’s musical abilities. They now feel more like a band, and a touring one at that, rather than some seasoned musicians at an all star jam session.

Vol II – Power Drunk Majesty isn’t perfect though, there are a few lyrics that could have done with a good second look at but you can forgive this minor criticism when the release is this good. On the debut outing, there wasn’t much in terms of a striking front cover artwork but here, the intent of the album is front and centre on the cover. In the shadow of the White House, stands a leader decaying while world leaders watch on as a crumpled hand reaches from the bottom. If you could summarise the way the world is right now, this is it in one snapshot. This is angry music for angry times, a historical document for others to dive into in the years ahead.

Overall, Vol II – Power Drunk Majesty has everything that has made each contributor’s separate bands what they are today, from the Brazilian feeling of Max Cavalera‘s contribution to the glacial vocals of NIGHTWISH‘s Floor Jansen. METAL ALLEGIANCE feel more cohesive as a unit and the whole does feel a sum of its parts. If they were looking to plant a flag in their climb up the mountain to get their music noticed and heard, Vol II – Power Drunk Majesty is a great continuation of the sound of modern metal mixed with a sprinkling of the old.

Rating: 7/10

Vol II – Power Drunk Majesty is out now via Nuclear Blast Records.

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