Winchester Rebels
Warrior
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Winchester Rebels’ new album, Warrior, comes out of your speaker system like a slap to the face. Its overdriven slide-guitar intro showcases the guitarist’s chops right before diving into a Pantera-like riff that drips attitude. You can almost taste the leather and whiskey. Their rock powerhouse sound is a force to be reckoned with that almost demands respect. “Don’t wait for the green light. Just Go!” belts singer Nick Hunt. The band encourages its listeners to rise up and take control of their destiny. “Do it all or you won’t find heaven. I’ll be bold or I’ll be dead,” Hunt follows up, challenging listeners to grab hold of their life and race toward their dreams. What fun is taking the paved and sterile path that society clamors for us to follow anyway?
The band’s fearless lyrics nod and wink at rock deities like Iron Maiden and Metallica, among others. But the Rebels also make a few attempts to get in touch with their more intimate side. On the title track, Hunt poses the question, “In my head I am warrior. Would you like to come with me and roam around?” His melodic vocal lines are laid down over arpeggiated guitar parts backed up with some seriously hearty acoustic strums. Whatever their next move may be, we can be sure that the Winchester Rebels will do it boldly. They boast the confidence and commanding guitar riffs that just about any rock god would be willing to bang their head to.