In the glory days of US Metal in the middle of the 1980s, the infamous Shrapnel label of Mike Varney supplied the Metal world with a lot of guitar hero stuff. Aside from boring instrumental albums that showed fast finger picking combined with redundant songs, there were also some bands who knew how to combine good Power Metal songs with a singer and fine guitar leads. David T. Chastain was not only extremely active in those days, he also was at home in both worlds. His most remarkable works were those with CHASTAIN, the band named after him. Their first albums, especially “Mystery Of Illusion” and “Ruler Of The Wasteland” received good reactions in the scene back then and still take their turns on the record players of US Metal devotees. And it was not only the fine guitar leads of Mr. Chastain and the cool songwriting, more focussed on catchy mid tempo and comprehensibility. The most remarkable characteristic of the sound of CHASTAIN was the singing of Leather Leone, her powerful and pretty raw voice in mid to deep pitch contrasted pleasantly with other female vocalists. At the latest from her departure, CHASTAIN sunk to insignificance. Yet, there is hope for CHASTAIN, since not only Leather, but also original bass player Mike Skimmerhorn returned to the band in 2013 to record the album “Surrender To No One” which I haven’t heard yet. With “We Bleed Metal”, the second album of the reformed band now saw the light of day. And it keeps the promise the title makes. From the first chord of the opening title track, “We Bleed Metal” bleeds Metal. Purest Metal, with Leather’s typical vocals and good lead guitars. This sounds not that spectacular, to be honest. But no one expects spectacular albums from CHASTAIN, just high quality Metal. And songs like the cool ‘All Hail The King’, ‘Evolution Of Terror’ or the great ‘The Last Ones Alive’ deliver! Any lover of classic US Metal will be pleased with “We Bleed Metal”, any one interested in good Metal should give this album a chance as well. You won’t be disappointed. For more information visit www.myspace.com/chastainofficial or www.puresteel-records.com