ALBUM REVIEW: Treachery - Treachery

TREACHERY (USA)
"Treachery" (Digital album)
(Independent)
Release date: April 2019
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TREACHERY is a hard hitting quartet based in North Carolina, and consists of four gentlemen who have been around the block for quite a number of years, but as a collective they have not been together for long. The band includes guitarist DENNIS EAVENER, bassist RONNIE NEWMAN, drummer MICK MASTERS and TOMMY RUSSO on vocals, and are inspired and influenced by greats such as Randy Rhoads, Zakk Wylde, Terry Bozzio and Neil Peart, just to name a few. Though having been together for just a short period of time, TREACHERY have already released their first self-titled EP, and it's a damn heavy one.

The first track is called "Die Hard", and the intro riff is a doomy variation of Death's classic "The Philosopher", before moving into a verse that gives off a strong Candlemass vibe. Wonderful. RUSSO's vocal lines could use some more variation, as they start to sound a bit similar after a while, but he has a great voice that deserves a bit more presence in the mix, at least on this opening track.

"The Raven" is a faster track with an Anvil'esque type of drive, and "The Mighty Weapon" has a more epic approach. The Italian power metal band Domine, among many others, are well known for these kinds of riffs, and with RUSSO's vocals in sky-high registers I am tempted to mention these Italians as reference. TREACHERY's performance could be tighter, but they have great riffs and ideas that have the potential to crush anything in their path.

"Epic of Ru" concludes the EP, and continues in the same epic (of course) direction as on "The Mighty Weapon". It is a great track, and is an equally great display of RUSSO's vocal abilities, as he reaches heights that Ian Gillan, Rob Halford and Geoff Tate are commonly known for. A worthy conclusion to TREACHERY's debut.

TREACHERY is not the most innovative band in the world, but they create great songs that all have great potential, and if they take more time to refine their ideas and put them into a more balanced production/mix, I'll be glad to lend an ear to these lads again.

★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

Tracklist:
1. Die Hard
2. The Raven
3. The Mighty Weapon
4. Epic of Ru

TREACHERY:
- Tommy Russo, vocals
- Dennis Eavener, guitar
- Ronnie Newman, bass
- Mick Masters, drums