EP Review: Smoke AxD – Vaya Con Dios (Casa De Roc)

Smoke AxD is the new metal band formed by bassist Hoya Roc (ex-Madball), vocalist Lord Ezec (Crown Of Thornes) and guitarist Sean Martin (ex-Twitching Tongues, ex-Hatebreed). Together, the group have set out to create the heaviest music of their careers, combining a love of big riffs and big spliffs.

The debut EP, ‘Vaya Con Dios’ will be released on May 7th, 2024, via Casa De Roc.

With that much talent in their ranks, there is no doubt that Smoke AxD will deliver something memorable here, but something this good? That’s a very welcome surprise. The promise of meaty heaviness is on full and groovy display from the start with the banging opener, The Codes we Chose. As likely to have you head-banging as it is to have you stomping around with aggressive intent.

The bar is set high, but Smoke AxD are on f**king fine form and follow that start with another absolute beast of a track, From Hate We Came. This is how you do a heavy anthem that bristles with lovable belligerence. If you only have to time for one track, make it this one.

Although there’s no excuse for not lapping up every single second of this EP. Not just because it’s only five tracks long, but because each can be simply described as ‘ragers’. We get to enjoy the chugging intensity of Unstoppable, which has a blistering guitar solo. We get to enjoy the pulsating effects-laden title track, a surprising shift in style even if it still feels so intense.

Before we get to enjoy the pugnacious groove of Smoke All Day. Smoke AxD proudly lay out who and what they are, not just with this track, but with an EP that can be summed up as a ‘heavy metal banger’. What more could you ask for?

Smoke AxD – Vaya Con Dios Track Listing:

1. The Codes we Chose
2. From Hate we Came
3. Unstoppable
4. Vaya Con Dios
5. Smoke All Day

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