Album Review: TIR – Metal Shock (Gates Of Hell Records)

Trailblazing and traditional metal ensemble TIR emerge with their second full-length in a career that dates back to 1980, “Metal Shock”, an album that challenges the old-school metal status quo by having lyrics sung entirely in Italian.

A year away from their 40th anniversary, Italian traditional metal outfit TIR remains one of the best-kept secrets in the underground. Formed in 1980 by the guitar tandem of Sergio Bonelli and Danilo Antonini, TIR opted for the path of most resistance: Instead of releasing studio albums and seeking major label assistance, they preferred to perform live shows.

Their performances soon became can’t-miss events in Rome. Aided by fire, pyrotechnics and even live snakes, TIR’s reputation spread like wildfire (no pun intended) in their home city, catapulting their lone release of the decade, 1984’s self-titled demo, into the frenzied world of underground tape trading. However, while the metal scene waited for TIR to record a proper full-length album, the band stuck to their guns and simply kept playing live.

TIR would split in 1986, only to reform two years later. It wasn’t until 2011 that the band saw fit to release an album of original material, the appropriately-titled “Heavy Metal”. Eight years later, TIR (who, in addition to Bonelli and Antonini, comprise long-time bassist Dino Gubinelli, vocalist Giuseppe Cialone and drummer Piero Arioni) return with “Metal Shock”, their first release for Gates of Hell Records out on May 10th 2019.

Worth the wait? Without a shadow of a doubt, yes!

The sound of a siren announces the arrival of the destructive power that TIR hold. Gloriously old school metal, fast and heavy, Città In Fiamme delivers a splendid array of riffs. The shred-tastic start is then followed by La Sfida, a more chilled track with a faster finish that showcases the vocal wails nicely.

We then get a bit more hard rock groove with Banche Armate, a punky pace with spitfire vocals on Crazy Mama and a shredding solo from Lasciateci Fare. All very strong traditional heavy metal.

That’s the thing about Metal Shock, it is very much a traditional metal album. So much so that if you were told it actually came out in the 80s you probably wouldn’t be surprised baring an improved production job. It’s fun, it’s fine but it’s not going to set the metal world alight. Just an album that can be enjoyed in a bubble. An old-school, hair-flinging, denim wearing bubble.

Take the title track as the best example of this and throw the horns high.

Happily it doesn’t overstay its welcome and has enough variety to keep things interesting. A personal favourite being the groovy Beat 150, easily the catchiest track on the album.

TIR – Metal Shock Full Track Listing:

1. Città In Fiamme
2. La Sfida
3. Banche Armate
4. La Luna Nel Cerchio
5. Crazy Mama
6. Dentro Il Vuoto
7. Lasciateci Fare
8. Metal Shock
9. Beat 150
10. Mitra
11. Memoria (Faber)

The CD version can be ordered here and the vinyl version here. Find out more via TIR’s Facebook Page.