The eponymous debut of the Austrians ZEPTER, released under the watchful wing of the historic label High Roller Records, is a statement of intent that leaves no room for compromise. Formed in early 2024 and preceded by the promising EP “Inferno”, the Linz based quartet delivers a record that smells of leather, sweat and fully cranked tube AMPLIFIERS. If you are longing for the twin guitars and anthemic choruses from the golden years of Heavy Metal, you are in the right place. Founder, guitarist and vocalist Lukas Götzenberger promised a mix of THIN LIZZY’s melodies, Michael Schenker era UFO and the very first Speed Metal razor-sharp riffs. The result completely hits the mark: an album that proudly sounds as if it had been unearthed directly from the late ’70s or the explosion of the NWOBHM. The rhythm section, driven by Tobias Hochwagen’s bass and Alex Nemeth’s drums, runs tight and flawless, building the perfect scaffolding for the harmonized phrasing and sharp guitar duels between Götzenberger and Stefan Bolda. In just 34 minutes, ZEPTER condenses eight tracks that cut straight to the chase, with no fillers. ‘Slasher On The Highway’ is the ideal opener. Fast, sharp as a blade and featuring a tight riffing that gets stuck in your head on the first listen (unsurprisingly chosen as the lead single). ‘Hit The Streets’ and ‘The Exterminator’ are the two true street anthems that highlight the rawest, “in your face” attitude of the Austrian line-up. ‘Lonely Night’ is a highly fitting cover of the obscure Swedish band SCREEM, where drummer Alex Nemeth exceptionally steps behind the microphone. Last but not least, ‘The Lords’ is the album closer that shows how the band can also handle more rhythmic and darker tempos, building an epic-flavored track enriched by a smart, never intrusive use of synths. The work behind the console at Support Nothing Studios guarantees the record a deliberately raw, analog#, and genuine production, light-years away from the plastic sounds of many modern Metal releases. Praise also goes to the evocative artwork by Sebastian Frigerio. ZEPTER has no intention of reinventing the wheel, and that is perfectly fine. “Zepter” is an album made by traditional Heavy Metal fans for traditional Heavy Metal fans. A solid, gritty and damn fun debut that bodes well for the future of these guys. Be sure to check the boys and always gem-producer label here www.instagram.com/zepterattacks and here www.facebook.com/hrrecords.