Warmachine
The Beginning of the End

March 2006
Released: 2006, Nightmare Records
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Rick

I had first heard this band when their demo was making the rounds at Metal-Rules.com in 2001. It made this writer sit up and take notice, not only because this great traditional metal band was from Canada, but also because their sound was so infectious that their songs got stuck in your head for days on end. Her it is now, 5 years later, and Warmachine have finally gotten their first full length out on Lance King’s Nightmare Records. King certainly has an eye for great bands and Warmachine certainly fit that description.



Melodic power thrash is what Warmachine has been labelled as and the opening track of the disc “Betrayed” does its best to fit into this mould. One of the more interesting things to note out this song is that former Megadeth bass player Dave Ellefson is a guest player. He also makes an appearance on “Empty” and “Taunted Souls”. It is a major coup to have Ellefson appear on this release if for nothing more than to help bring the bands music to a wider audience. Ellefson isn’t the only person to lend the band a hand. Former Iced Earth guitar player Ralph Santolla plays on the track “Forgotten Demise” and Harry Hess lends his vocal talents to “Eternally” which just happens to be one of the strongest tracks on the release. While “Eternally” showcases the strong melodic side of the band the albums closers “Dust to Dust” and “Apocalypse” along with the all out thrasher “Taunted Souls” show the bands more aggressive side with contrasts nicely with their more melodic elements.



The promise that the band showed on their demo is fulfilled on this, their debut CD. Though I usually hold little interest in the labels which get stuck on bands Warmachine’s melodic power thrash label seems well suited to their sound. Thrash doesn’t seem to play a big part in the bands sound but it is there giving them an edge some other more traditional bands seem to lack. If you like traditional melodic metal with an aggressive edge then check out Canada’s latest metal machine.