The Rods – ‘Brotherhood Of Metal’ (Steamhammer/SPV)

By DJ Monk

The name of The Rods is, quite rightly, deeply embedded in the history and mythos of the US metal scene. Formed in 1980 by David ‘Rock’ Feinstein, at the time best known as the cousin of Ronnie James Dio, alongside whom he had played in Elf in the first half of that band’s career. By 1982 The Rods had settled on what many fans regard as their seminal line-up, with Feinstein joined by bassist Garry Bordonaro and drummer Carl Canedy. It was this line-up that recorded what is still regarded, not least at ÜRHQ, as one of THE seminal American heavy metal albums of the early Eighties – ‘Wild Dogs’: it was an album that even helped them to bother the mainstream charts, thanks to their manic cover of the Motown classic ‘You Keep Me Hanging On’. Inevitably, as seemed to be de rigeur at that time, things quickly headed south, with their brief moment in the spotlight being just that, as dwindling record sales and label disinterest led to the band splitting in 1986. While Canedy embarked on a career in production (he helmed Anthrax’s ‘Spreading The Disease’ and Overkill’s ‘Feel The Fire’ among many others), Feinstein and Bordonaro virtually disappeared from sight, re-emerging some two decades later when they re-united for what was supposed to be a one-off festival appearance in Norway. Three years later, however, it seemed that the trio were back for the longer haul, with the 2011 release of ‘Vengeance’ and then… well, eight more years of silence, until now!

As one would expect, ‘Brotherhood Of Metal’ doesn’t stray far from the path The Rods trod back in the early to mid-Eighties, as it is by and large a collection of straightforward, no bullshit, no frills, no nonsense heavy metal anthems, with the emphasis on getting fists pumping and necks snapping with unabashed enjoyment. Having said that, it initially takes you by surprise, with the piano intro to the title track, over which Feinstein quickly lays down his lyrical marker: “We stand as one/Our heads held high/Allegiance strong as steel/Truth without a lie”; yep, there’s no messing with the formula in that department – but, then why should there be? A quick guitar interlude hints at what is to come as Feinstein continues his Manowar-esque rallying call to the legions of metallians around the world. Then, it’s boom: a staccato guitar riff kicks in, quickly joined by Bordonaro’s deep, rumbling bass and Canedy’s luscious drum patterns, which hold down the rhythm expertly yet manage to cram in succession after succession of fills and flourishes which help to add a lustre and texture to the overall sound.

As if you need any further clues, the song titles tell their own story: ‘Everbody’s Rockin’’, ‘Louder Than Loud’, ‘Party All Night’, ‘Tonight We Ride’… they all deliver exactly what they suggest – yes, those fists are in the air and pumping like crazy and the old neck muscles are definitely feeling the strain. They may be “nothing that you’re mom will be humming”, as Canedy asserts in the accompanying notes, but they are pure, honest, old school heavy metal of the sort that many younger bands have forgotten how to play.

While in many ways ‘Brotherhood Of Metal’ is a look over their shoulders to their heritage – ‘Smoke On The Horizon’ is a nod to Feinstein’s late cousin, ‘1982’ is a clear recollection of those heady days when they were at the height of their commercial powers, while along the way there are nods to Motorhead, Judas Priest and fellow Noo Yawkers Twisted Sister – it also sounds fresh and energetic, its members clearly re-invigorated and making music on their own terms: after all, they have waited eight years between albums, so they’re hardly churning material out for the hell of it or due to industry pressures to do so… no, they’re doing ‘cos they fucking love it. And while they’re doing so, the brotherhood of metal has a proud standard to march behind. Now, where’s the heat rub?

‘Brotherhood Of Metal’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.

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