REVIEW: WARRANT – Ready to Command 2010

 

WARRANT – Ready to Command 2010

Pure Steel Records

This CD is a compilation release by the German power/speed metal band WARRANT, which should not be confused with the American hard rock band of the same name. The German WARRANT first released the EP First Strike in 1985, followed later that same year by their full-length debut album The Enforcer.

Ready to Command brings together material from both releases and also includes two songs intended for the band's unreleased second album. These tracks, "Flame on the Show" and "When the Sirens Call", are both very strong compositions and offer an interesting glimpse into the band's musical direction beyond their officially released studio material. The compilation is further enhanced by the inclusion of two live tracks, providing additional value for collectors and longtime fans.

Among the songs from the First Strike EP, the tracks that stood out the most to me were "Satan" and "Bang That Head", both showcasing the band's energetic speed metal approach and memorable songwriting. From The Enforcer, I particularly enjoyed the anthemic "Nuns Have No Fun" and the title track, which remain some of the strongest examples of the band's classic sound.

Musically, WARRANT deliver exactly what fans of mid-1980s German speed and power metal would expect: fast-paced riffs, powerful vocals, and a raw, energetic atmosphere. While they may not have achieved the same recognition as some of their contemporaries, the quality of the material presented here demonstrates that they were a solid and capable band within the genre.

Fans of old-school speed and power metal should certainly consider adding this compilation to their collection. For listeners less familiar with the band, Ready to Command serves as an interesting and worthwhile introduction to a lesser-known but noteworthy act from the German metal scene.

Ioannis  Kaskamanidis