Review: Venator – Echoes from the Gutter

Do you find yourself craving the good old New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) onslaught of the mid-‘70s to early ‘80s? You know, bands like Iron Maiden, Saxon, Judas Priest, Venom, and Blitzkrieg, to name a few. There’s been a modern resurgence of that kind of music lately and it fills me with glee. Venator, a band from Austria, is a shining example of the revival of this beloved subgenre of heavy metal. Venator released a fantastic three-song EP titled Paradiser back in 2020 and about a month ago they followed it up with their full-length debut, Echoes from the Gutter, on German label Dying Victims Productions.

I got sidetracked with other reviews and never got around to reviewing it upon release, but I’ve listened to the album countless times since and it’s time to remedy that omission from the blog. In short, Echoes from the Gutter is a NWOBHM fan’s dream come true. The band sounds tight with singer Hans Huemer who has great vocal range and it feels like they were thawed straight out of 1983. From the electric opener “Howl at the Rain”, absolutely stellar tracks like “Nightrider”, “Manic Man”, “The Rising”, and the pure delight that is “Streets of Gold” to close things off, this album feels like a greatest hits collection. I kid you not, it’s that brilliant! It’s got hooks galore, riffs for days, tremendous guitar solos to play air guitar to, and instant classic anthems throughout.

Venator’s Echoes from the Gutter is a superbly crafted modern-day NWOBHM classic. This band and its debut album are the complete package, folks. From the cool vintage-inspired album artwork to the thunderous 9-song set without a single dull track, it’s a record that can be played on repeat. I will go as far as pick it as my favorite album of the first trimester of 2022. A bold statement in a year full of phenomenal releases thus far, but I stand by it. What are you still reading for? Go buy yourself a copy right this minute!

Dying Victims Productions’ Echoes from the Gutter Bandcamp page: https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/venator-echoes-from-the-gutter

Venator’s Bandcamp page: https://venatorsteelcity.bandcamp.com/