Ottawa based POWERRAGE shares more than just a home city with the legendary EXCITER, considering that with John Ricci and Jacques Bélanger, two veterans of that Speed Metal institution, are at the helm. John Ricci (a founding member and in EXCITER until 2018) mentioned about his renewed intention as “Well, with this band I didn’t want to be another EXCITER 2.0. It was time to move on. Even though EXCITER was based around my guitar style, and it was a successful formula, I wanted to start from scratch and start all over again. Starting over and not depending on your past accomplishments is definitely a very difficult task but I feel confident enough I can make it happen. I am really excited about 2026.” While the ardent followers did not hear very much from him after the live work with the original EXCITER line-up between 2014 and 2018, Ricci is now back with his own band POWERRAGE. Besides him on guitar, it consists of bassist Todd Pilon (formerly of WITHCHKILLER), drummer Lucas Dery and finally vocalist extraordinary Jacques Bélanger, who previously sang on three EXCITER albums. Hinted of what’s incoming with the earlier singles ‘Dark Wings’ and ‘Dragon Man’, these veterans came up with their debut full-length, “Beast”. John Ricci, being the mastermind with creating the music, lyrics, melodies of POWERRAGE, here he chose to push his musical vision headfirst and discharged something beastly. And reflecting that all eight songs forged here are brand new, John mentioned that he was totally determined not to carry forth rehashed riffs from his EXCITER days. And from the very beginning with the extremely heavy number ‘Dark Wings’, to ‘Cremation Damnation’, ‘Dragon Man’, the evocative ‘Haunted Hell’ or the punkish ‘I Torture I Kill’, which spits total Punk energy and is perfect for headbanging, it indeed sounds like a fresh start for the one and only John Ricci. ‘Dark Wings’ surely introduces the intensity with its darker heavier weight of music conducted by some great vocal stylings of the singer. Still, it’s something fullest of hard-edged headbanging energies, that are composed to bring the listeners in and voicing wild and crazy reactions in times of playing live. They are not only bearing original sounding guitar riffs, played effortless across genres, where John and Co. forged balls busting and malevolent screaming Metal that can leave one in many states of shocks. The sonic landscape here is a chaotic, almost like some short-lived whirlwind that possesses fire inside that is impossible to fake or ignore. As done splendidly in ‘Cremation Damnation’, which began in a dark brooding and doomy progression to later shifts into some extremely fast, heavy and solid energetic piece of Metal mania with the exceptional vocals on display by mighty Bélanger. No technical bells and whistles or fancy modern features, instead, the tracks are built on unpolished, morbid strumming and a flesh ripping intensity, soaked with aggression that channels the high intense energy yet soaked with inner darkness. One can imagine that maybe John Ricci kept these long inside, only to unleash them in beast mode now and stunned many watchers. It surely now sounds harder, heavier, brutal and darker than EXCITER, like in ‘Dragon Man’, which strikes with characteristic patterns, and is an excellent example of making composition where simplicity powerfully binds with maddening energy and inventiveness. A sure deliberation of the band’s intention to push forward and also, stay driven and competitive. Rushing ahead with showcasing their amazing variability and songwriting skills, ‘I Torture I Kill’ and ‘The Devil Is Screaming’ are anchored by awesome guitar work despite punkish in energy. Ricci plays very well thought out solos, escalating with firm bass rumblings and drums charges that express rage on all snares, cymbal and kicks like shell charges. Speaking of vocals, Jaques Bélanger is back with full force with his fanatic great vocal range; and his performance throughout the record remains impressive like some black magic show. His almost sorcery like variable vocal switching and their enticing ranges and tones, can give the likes of Halford and Ripper Owens a run for their money now, with dazzlingly frequently veering into high pitched, ear-bud-shattering territory that evokes deep MERCYFUL FATE till KING DIAMOND sensations. In fact, on ‘Damned And Cursed’, the vocal is so spot on that one might mistake the King himself as a guest vocalist. It differs from what he delivered in ‘Cremation Damnation’, where King felt like transported in another shape by the singer. Apart from some sorcery like variations, Bélanger’s sudden piercing shrieks from very low to very high, might be too much for some ears in the early exposure, but isn’t it great to be felt like that in this era? It’s surely something bewitching, bound to remain memorable. The forthcoming ‘Haunted Hell’ will leave ears and minds with the feeling seeing unexpected doom and death, where the soul experienced nothing but helplessness. Noteworthy to know, it was recorded in a storage / rehearsal room with a mobile studio, and the vocals were recorded later in a studio. No doubt, with such raw intakes and later being mixing and mastered with dual effort of John Ricci and of revered Dan Swanö’s (Unisound Studio) characteristic flares – the overall output sounds robust, brutal and potent throughout. Supported by this, from the opening descent of ‘Dark Wings’ to the ritualistic conclusion, POWERRAGE delivers here with commitment, passion and evolution. And decisively that reflects just like that, as this record sounds like some archaic musical entity that prioritizes raw energy and authenticity over calculated precision. No doubt why John Ricci is excited about it and mentioned in an interview that “…in this album it feels like I’m starting all over again, just like I did 40 years ago – combining old school and new school Metal to create songs, without any distractions.” Visually, the instantly arresting cover artwork by Mario Lopez is envisioning a Heavy Metal terminator beast obsessed with evil. Lyrically, each song has a connection to hell or violence. As if the ‘Beast’ meant to catch one way or another, which acutely referring the battle between good and evil. And being so, this record should all together create loads of stirrings to awes and would raise many fists up to these pioneering legends for keeping the wild stream alive and interesting. This should be enough to say, “Beast” is apt to dominate many releases of the year lists and POWERRAGE is absolutely poised to be favorites in the coming days to many eager and astonished followers. This release is now available worldwide through High Roller Records in various formats. To find out more about the band and label, please visit www.facebook.com/powerragebeast, www.facebook.com/hrrecords.