American vocalist Leather is a bit of a legend wherever metal is talked about in hushed, respectful tones, and quite rightly so. A singer with a knack for melody even when she’s belting out heads-down, double kick-fuelled headbangers, she instinctively know what makes an appealing metal tune. So it should come as no surprise that her new solo album, We Are The Chosen, is absolutely packed with the blighters…

Seriously, it’s impossible not to raise a smile (or a fist, if we’re being honest) when confronted with serially enjoyable romps of the calibre of this album’s opening and closing tracks, We Take Back Control and (especially) The Glory In The End, which is just about as good as it gets as far as trad metal goes in 2022. A grim-faced Teutonic drum n’chugfest, it’s comparatively simple construction is enlivened and enhanced by Leather’s superior belt-it-out technique, transforming what might have been something a bit mundane into a solid gold banger that you’ll have on repeat for many moons to come, let me tell you…

When she’s not in heads-down mode, America’s metal Queen attacks slower, more considered material with similar style and aplomb; The Dioesque doominess of Shadows is another goodie, broodingly menacing thanks to the fabulous guitar work of Vinnie Tex – who plays the key role of Ms Leone’s guitar foil throughout with some great performances – but never simply relying on mood or feel to get it’s point across – this is genuinely good songwriting whatever the style of music; But as far as straight up heavy metal goes it’s absolutely top draw and I guarantee you’ll love it when you get the chance to let your ears be enveloped by it’s grinding charms.

Start to finish, top to bottom and front to back We Are The Chosen is high quality heavy metal, nothing more, nothing less. Get it in your ears as soon as is humanly possible!

We Are The Chosen releases on November 25th.