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REDSHARK
Sudden Impact

Listenable (2025)
Rating: 8/10

Thirteen years after forming, Catalan metalheads Redshark serve up their second full-length record, Sudden Impact, and it’s the alarm call you need to set you on your way. With feet firmly embedded in the fast n’ furious 80s metal scene, this is an album that conjures the swirling brilliance of Savatage and Judas Priest as the opening title track proves that Redshark is a band which takes no prisoners.

Vocalist Pau Correas has the sort of vocal style suited to late 80s power metal, conjuring echoes of Vicious Rumors and Metal Church as the Spanish combo resorts to borderline thrash exploits hinting at Accept. There’s no holding back here, but the melodies glisten, all bolstered by strong fiery riffs and zipping drums.

‘A Place For Disgrace’ and ‘Fire Raider’ are slightly less volatile than ‘Sudden Impact’ but they channel that tight Judas Priest-esque hammering of precision and power. Both ‘Rip Your Bones’ and ‘Beware Of The Shark’ will quench your thirst if you want scowling speed metal built upon a foundation of pounding percussion. In fact, the whole album is littered with frenzied thrash, but there’s an effortless and rich seamless marrying of thrash n’ power metal that takes in all sorts of influences ranging from Saxon and Iron Maiden, through to Helstar and Malice, as well as Helloween and Running Wild.

‘Your Last Breath’ is another hell raiser, rushing with such crisp abandonment and yet controlled with devastating precision. ‘Whispers Of Time’ is as equally energetic and vibrant, sounding like an accelerated Iron Maiden, while ‘Hypnotized’ evokes the sound of Judas Priest. This is just a pure slice of heavy metal ripped straight from the era of golden gods but executed with such accuracy and power than one can only tip their hat in admiration.

Neil Arnold

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