Salem's Wych - Betrayer Of Kings (1986)

It's another of those not so mighty gems from the dank, dusty vault. Guys, if you want the old school metal overdose then the fantastically named Salem's Wych will provide the fix. The titles alone will get the mouth watering - 'Attack,' 'Run From The Devil,' Fight Till The End' and 'Never Ending Battle.' It has all the mystical qualities of say, Dio, but it constantly rages, providing a Maiden gallop on 'Fight Till...' but overall presents itself as a murky power metal force that shines like a beacon through the mist. I was hooked on the cover, but delighted even further to hear the wall of sound within. Imagine how good these bands would've been if they'd had a bit of money and a decent studio ? The riffs alone are enough to send the head spinning and those powerhouse vocals rise like some leviathan hellbent on devouring ships sailing on stormy seas. The cover art sums up the experience, as all good metal sleeves should, and if can't get off on this then metal just isn't for you. 7.5/10