Review Summary: Throwing down a gauntlet to the NWOTHM scene
Coming off their 2023 Rock Knights EP, Amethyst’s first full album plays like a lost NWOBHM relic. It really channels the melodic side of the movement, boasting the heft of Di’Anno-era Iron Maiden with the otherworldly tint synonymous with groups like Demon and Angel Witch. Further comparisons could be made to contemporaries like Wytch Hazel and Freeways, opting for a similarly retro feelgood appeal.
The musicians are certainly up to the task. The guitars and vocals do well in respectively delivering high energy harmonies and workman sing-alongs, both served by an echoing reverb-heavy production that gives them a ghostly aura. That early Maiden fervor is especially apparent in the rhythm section as the bass is a steady presence with tight Harris-like thumps while the drums invoke Clive Burr’s tight balance of swing and muscle.
While songs like the blazing “Embers On The Loose” and “Take Me Away” maintain the EP’s fast-paced enthusiasm, moving to a full-length template allows for more dynamic writing. The bouncy shuffle and romantic lyrics on “Running Out Of Time” would’ve fit an old school 7” single quite nicely and “Rock Knights” feels similarly antiquated with slight tempo fluctuations around its catchy earnestness. The band’s hard rock sensibilities are also solidly represented on the Tanith-esque haze of “Stand Up And Fight” while “Queen Of A Thousand Burning Hearts” makes no bones about its Thin Lizzy worship
True to its title, it feels like Amethyst is issuing a challenge to the classic metal world with Throw Down The Guantlet. It’s a pleasant surprise for sure, perfectly hitting that old school vibe with sincerity. The songwriting hits that sweet spot of dynamic upbeatness with plenty of catchy hooks to go around and the enthusiasm in the musicianship is infectiously unwavering. It’s always nice when a simple formula like this can still be so damn effective.
