Vim Fuego There seems to be a stigma attached to metal again, like there was in the early 90s. Back then many of the leading lights of the thrash scene abandoned the music which had served them so well, on which they had built their reputations, and started farting about with other crap instead. It wasn’t grunge which killed thrash, thrash committed suicide. The same thing happens now. Many “metal” bands are being called metalcore, post-this and retro-that, when in reality, they aren’t playing anything special.

Chokehold plays metal. Sure, there are hardcore influences, but to call it anything else would be dishonest or idiotic. It’s so refreshing to hear a band playing metal, proper heavy fuckin’ metal, without hiding behind any –cores, and that makes this band special. Since Pantera’s demise, too few bands play proper metal any more. This is what might have happened had Machine Head not disappeared up their own collective asses after ‘The More Things Change...’, or if Fear Factory hadn’t been replaced with rappin’ cyborgs. Chokehold play big riffs, drummer Lawrence isn’t scared of his second kick drum pedal, and vocalist Graham is gruff yet clear and powerful.

First track ‘Dreams of One’ is an intro of building menace, like a storm brewing. You just know everything is going to let loose, it’s just a matter of when, and then ‘Shadow of Eagles’ strikes in a flurry of kick drums and crashing guitars. Yep, these guys know metal.

Every song is well crafted. ‘Mocking Liberty’ has headbanging breakdowns followed by shredding solos, and would get a circle pit going in any live environment. The band has recorded a video for ‘Faith of Fear’, which was a great choice. It is a solid rhino-charge of a song, and sees the whole band at the peak of their powers. Graham even injects a little vocal melody. ‘Broken Will’ is a huge percussive song, with a drum intro to die for. ‘Fallen’ is a driven epic. There is no filler to be found here anywhere.

A band like Chokehold is a truly wonderful thing for a jaded headbanger, despairing at the current state of metal. ‘The Killing Has Begun’ delivers what has been promised in the past and not delivered (Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying and Shadow’s Fall, please pay attention). Ignore the hype you hear elsewhere. This band is the real thing.