REVIEW: SPLIT HEAVEN - Street Law

 

SPLIT HEAVEN - Street Law (2011)

Pure Steel Records

Latin America has given us some very good Heavy Metal releases through the years, and the scene continues to produce interesting bands. One problem for a major part of the international metal audience, however, has traditionally been that many of these bands use their native languages in their lyrics, while distribution outside their home countries can also be limited. Mexico’s SPLIT HEAVEN are one of the bands that managed to overcome part of this barrier, with their traditional Heavy Metal approach and English-language lyrics giving their music a wider international appeal.

“Street Law”, released by Germany’s Pure Steel Records in 2011, is an important step in the band’s early development. SPLIT HEAVEN had already established themselves in the Mexican underground, and their 2009 victory in the Mexican Metal Battle earned them the opportunity to represent their country at Wacken Open Air. The Pure Steel connection subsequently gave the band considerably wider exposure beyond Mexico.

Musically, the band moves along the traditional Heavy Metal path, incorporating melodic Speed Metal elements and an unmistakable 1980s influence. Personally, I would say that their influences come mainly from the U.S. Metal scene, and bands such as LIZZY BORDEN, LEATHERWOLF and FIFTH ANGEL seem particularly relevant when trying to place their sound. At the same time, “Street Law” belongs to the wider early-2010s revival of traditional and Speed Metal, when a new generation of bands was once again looking toward the energy, guitar work and direct songwriting of the 1980s. Contemporary reviews similarly placed SPLIT HEAVEN within this old-school Heavy/Speed Metal movement.

Having listened to the band’s previous material, I have to admit that here SPLIT HEAVEN sound more inspired and more assured. The songs are built around strong riffs, nice melodies and a dynamic production that allows the guitars, rhythm section and vocals to display their character without making the album sound unnecessarily polished. Tracks such as “Time Warrior”, “Street Law”, “Lonewolf” and “Night of the Jaguar” represent the energetic side of the album, while the melodic elements keep the record from becoming a simple exercise in retro Metal.

The singer once again performs with passion, and his English sounds very good, something that further helps the songs communicate their ideas beyond the band’s Mexican origins. The material also benefits from the fact that SPLIT HEAVEN do not try to complicate their music unnecessarily. The emphasis remains on riffs, melodies, guitar solos and straightforward Heavy Metal songwriting, which gives “Street Law” an immediate character.

Another interesting aspect of the album is precisely its geographical origin. At a time when much of the international Heavy Metal revival was being associated with Northern Europe, releases such as “Street Law” demonstrated that the traditional Metal spirit was equally alive in Mexico. SPLIT HEAVEN were not simply reproducing a European formula; they were taking the language of classic Heavy Metal and Speed Metal and expressing it through their own scene and experience. Their appearance at Wacken after winning the Mexican Metal Battle was also an indication that the Mexican underground had begun receiving greater international attention.

The album was released internationally by Pure Steel Records on 29 April 2011, with the label issuing it on CD, and it runs at roughly 37 minutes. That relatively compact running time suits the material well: “Street Law” gets to the point, delivers its riffs and melodies and does not overstay its welcome.

If you want to listen to a good Mexican Heavy Metal band and discover a sound that was not yet as familiar in the contemporary Heavy Metal scene as it is today, then you should check out “Street Law”. SPLIT HEAVEN offer traditional Heavy Metal with Speed Metal energy, strong melodies and an evident love for the classic era of the genre. It is the kind of album that can keep you company for a long time!

Nick Parastatidis