White Wizzard - High Speed GTO
Earache Records
Old-School Heavy Metal
7 songs (26:49)
Release year: 2008
Earache Records
Reviewed by Bar
Archive review

What a bloody great EP this was. In retrospect, it seems even more awesome now than it did at the time. Almost five years on, I find myself listening to this EP more often than either of the full-length White Wizzard albums that followed it. For anyone who’s not familiar with the history, the band sadly fragmented into two factions immediately following the release of this disc. Bassist Jon Leon continued on the White Wizzard name with an all-new line-up, while James Paul Luna, James LaRue and Tyler Meahl formed their own similarly styled group, Holy Grail. Both bands have released high-quality full-lengths, but for me none of it quite touches the feeling I get from these 7 modest songs.

The now-famous title track is nothing but pure Maiden worship, but as far as pure Maiden worship goes it is exceedingly well done. The whole package is present and accounted for - there’s the pounding bass gallop à la Steve Harris, twiddling melodic guitar leads and a catchy sing-a-long refrain. Luna doesn’t have a standard Metal voice, he seems more suited to melodic Hard Rock, but I think that’s what gives the song its edge despite its apparent lack of originality. It’s a great vocal performance, and it’s backed up by really solid performances from the rest of the band. Insanely good production for a Metal EP too, every instrument can be clearly heard and appreciated.

The title track is far and away the most well-known song from this release, but I think it’s the eclectic variety of the next six tracks that make this release so great. Nowhere else is on the disc is there any Maiden worship to be heard. Celestina is a hard rock stomper that wouldn’t sound completely out of place on a late 70s Coverdale-era Deep Purple record (lack of Hammond organ not withstanding). In case there’s any confusion, that’s an enormous compliment coming from me! Hard to get this one out of my head for days every time I hear it. Into the Night is a really interesting, theatrical sort of Heavy Metal track that at times is not entirely removed from something like early period Savatage. Meanwhile, Megalodon is a wonderfully heavy and inventive piece of Traditional Metal with a really creepy vibe and Lovecraft inspired lyrics (always a plus).

Again, a bloody great EP that is quite worth a purchase. I can’t help but wonder how good White Wizzard might have been if they’d stuck it out together with this incredibly short-lived line-up. Luna’s unique and soulful singing makes for a downright great combination with Leon’s accomplished song-writing and thumping bass sound. It’s a dynamic that is undeniably missing from the two distinct bands that resulted from this break-up. Oh well, at least we’ll always have these songs to listen to and imagine what might have been.

Killing Songs :
High Speed GTO, Celestina, Into the Night, Megalodon, Red Desert Skies
Bar quoted no quote
Other albums by White Wizzard that we have reviewed:
White Wizzard - Over the Top reviewed by Kyle and quoted 84 / 100
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