Warmachine is metal band based out of Toronto, Canada and I had the privilege of catching them live recently as the opening act of the Helloween, Beyond The Embrace, Jag Panzer show at The Opera House in Toronto. Walking in during their set, I was immediately impressed by the catchy guitar riffs and melodies and the great voice of lead vocalist/guitarist, Joe Di Taranto. They have a great classic metal sound with touches of older Metallica and Megadeth but with the added bonus of a much more melodic vocal style. I introduced myself to Joe after their set and asked him for a demo CD if they had one. Indeed he did and I immediately promised to review it for him here at Metal Reviews.

Formed in 1994 by Joe Di Taranto, Warmachine has built up a very loyal following of fans throughout North America as witnessed by the message boards on the band's website. They've actually recorded a couple of demos over the years and have combined almost everything they've done into this demo CD. It's available through the band's website and so are mp3s of many of the tracks on this demo and I highly recommend that people check them out. (see link above for the band's website).

Playing a style of classic metal that you wouldn't expect coming from a band that ranges in age between 21 and 26 years old, these guys have obviously had lots of exposure to classic bands like Metallica, Megadeth and Iron Maiden. Their songs are very riff-oriented with lots of guitar harmonies and great instrumental breaks. The Megadeth influences can be heard on the tracks Beginning Of The End, Forgotten Demise, To Hell And Back and especially Eye For An Eye with an opening riff that has similarities to Wake Up Dead from Megadeth's Peace Sells...But Who's Buying album. Forgotten Demise was the first track to really catch my ear and with it's excellent riffing, great riff breaks between verses and great soloing, it has all the qualities to become a classic metal song and it's great to hear that this one is going to be on the band's debut album.

Joe Di Taranto's vocals are another major plus for this band. Rather than get someone to scream, shout and growl through the songs, he actually can sing very well and has a great strong and powerful voice. His voice has some of the characteristics of a younger James Hetfield at times and during some of the more melodic moments, similarities can be heard to other great vocalists such as Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween), Andre Matos(ex-Angra, Shaman) and even a bit like Sebastian Bach (ex-Skid Row). Joe's warm vocal style really shines on the mid-tempo and very melodic track Alone. A great building track that opens with lots of great building power riffs, the song is a great catchy metal song that has a mood and atmosphere reminiscent of songs like Metallica's Fade To Black. This one really is a standout track for me and although isn't going to be on the band's debut album, it too has all the right elements and arrangement to be another classic metal tune.

The band is currently in the studio recording their debut album entitled Beginning Of The End after a tune on their demo. It is being produced by none other than Dave Ellefson of Megadeth and with him in the driver's seat at the production helm, I expect that he will bring out the very best in this band. Warmachine is a very ambitious band and one that has lots of great ideas in the construction of their songs and a great overall sound. The sound and production of this demo is the best that I've ever heard in a demo and there's an overall general feeling of quality to all the songs albeit some being far superior than others. They have a somewhat "familiar" sound and are not afraid to show their influences front and center. With the influences from classic metal of the past (mainly 80's to early 90's), the band also manages to forge an identity and style that is all their own. Just when Megadeth breaks up and Metallica starts putting out material that hardly anyone can really understand, a band like Warmachine comes out to resurrect that "old school" style of metal and play it with such a youthful energy that you come to believe that there are people who are still hungry for this style of metal and that the torch has been passed into very capable hands.