Swiss heavy metallers Amethyst may have only been around since 2020, but their debut full-length Throw Down The Gauntlet is a gleaming tribute to the halcyon days of the late seventies and early eighties. And make no mistake, despite their twenty first century origins, this album sounds like it could have come straight from the heart of England’s NWoBHM movement. It’s a record that doesn’t just wear its influences on its sleeve – it’s dressed head to toe in them.
Right from the opening riffs of Embers on the Loose, the band’s nostalgic journey begins. There’s something magical about the way they capture the NWoBHM spirit, with pounding rhythms, soaring melodies, and a twin-guitar attack that recalls the very best of Iron Maiden and Saxon. It’s remarkable that these lads hail from Switzerland and not some small town in the UK circa 1981. The authenticity here is staggering, with lead guitarists Yves and Ramon proving that they can go toe-to-toe with their forebears in terms of precision and flair.
Stand Up And Fight is a throwback to the rockier side of early metal, with some groove-heavy bass work from Miguel Sanchez and plenty of punch in the arrangement. The drama is palpable, but the melodic focus keeps it grounded, and frontman Freddy’s vocals shine through, nailing that early eighties vibe with an ease that’s frankly uncanny.
But it’s on Won’t Do It Again where the band really cuts loose. This track is an absolute firestorm of Euro-metal goodness, the kind of boogie-laden affair that evokes Saxon at their boisterous best. Eldo’s drums play a crucial role here, his Clive Burr-inspired fills keeping things tight and driving, yet loose enough to inject that authentic feel. Despite the forensic attention to detail, there’s nothing clinical or forced about the music. The energy is raw, infectious, and, as with so much on this record, instantly transportive.
Running Out of Time taps into the classic heavy metal love song formula, blending heart-on-sleeve lyrics with Maiden-esque gallops. It’s a storming romp, complete with refrains that wouldn’t have felt out of place on Killers. Once again, Amethyst deftly walk the line between homage and innovation, breathing new life into a formula that, by rights, should feel outdated – but in their hands, it’s vibrant and thrilling.
Rock Knights ups the ante even further, showcasing some of the best lead guitar work on the album. There’s a Thin Lizzy-esque intro, complete with clipped, new wave-esque dynamics, before the band quickly shifts gears into full-on NWoBHM majesty. The variety of textures they introduce here elevates the track, making it one of the album’s undeniable highlights.
Queen of a Thousand Burning Hearts gives us a balladic intro before launching into another bass-driven stormer, while Take Me Away stands as the album’s crown jewel. This track perfectly encapsulates everything Amethyst is striving for – it’s heavy, melodic, and emotionally charged, melding all the band’s elements into a cohesive and compelling whole.
Closing things out is Serenade (Under the Rising Moon), a bold and ambitious track that hints at progression but firmly plants its flag in old-school soil. There’s no pretense here – Amethyst know exactly what they’re about, and they make no apologies for it. Some may see this as limiting, but for fans of true heavy metal, it’s a welcome embrace of the genre’s roots.
In sum, Throw Down The Gauntlet is a triumphant debut. Miguel Sanchez’s bass work is a constant source of joy, underpinning the twin-guitar heroics of Ramon and Yves, while Freddy’s vocals hit all the right notes for fans of early eighties metal. Eldo, meanwhile, delivers the kind of drumming that sounds like it was lifted straight from a NWoBHM record collection. This is a nostalgia trip done right, but the question remains – can Amethyst evolve beyond this retro revival and keep the flame burning long-term? Only time, as ever, will tell.
Throw Down The Gauntlet is out now.
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