MATAKOPAS COMING OUT AHEAD 1987 HEAVY METAL INDIE W/INSERT

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DOMESTIC $ 5 PLUS $ 1 EACH   INTERNATIONAL $ 21 PLUS $ 7 EACH   The New York heavy/power metal scene of the 80s has never been very plentiful .  There were a couple titanic bands like Virgin Steele and  Manowar . Then there were some decent 2nd tier bands like Cities, and Attila. The diversity of the New York scene however offered a few diamonds in the rough in the lower ranks with Matakopas being the best of the them all with their distinctive sound on this lone album.  They were powerful, solemn and consistent which had some similarities to bands such as Cities, Amethyst, and Alias.
Matakopas sound is a mixture of influences with the aforementioned along with a heavy dose of NWOBHM.  The vocals of Shane Parry - who's style is not a typical power metal singer and could be compared to either Banshee or Shok Paris singers. . Matakopas has that cool murky, melodic US power guitar tone going on in a lot of their tracks, that educated listeners will recognise from bands like Cities. The opener track is quick to set this outline up, and in doing so establish themselves as part of the same subset of US heavy/power bands with somewhat of a commercially tinged, highly melodic, charged, yet often solemn style - such as Alias and Amethyst. 
With this style, they rip into some memorable numbers such as ‘Nightstalker’ - a high paced cut again with riffs and guitar tone evoking a Shok Paris vibe. This one’s a snarler with a catchy little galloping, thundering chorus, given an edge by the vocalist’s NWOBHMish, throaty deliveries: Simplistic in lyrics and musicianship, it satisfies while not blowing one away. Another cut ‘Insane’, where the band shows of their particular sub-style. Here we have some well crafted melodies with commercial appeal, NWOBHMish vibes, a ballsy, hooky chorus, thundering pace, and blazing solos - the band knows how to craft a catchy and memorable chorus for sure. Listening to this record, cuts like this one, ‘Thoughts’, ‘Nightstalker’ and ‘For Your Life’ instantly come flooding out with songs with true staying power. 
 This LP is well regarded in underground, and if you like melodic US heavy metal from the period, do check it out, particularly if you enjoy bands like Luv Hunter. with their melodic, commercially edged. Matakopas joins this obscure subset of contemporary acts within the broad US metal framework.  audio clips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBfGvyBuzDc&list=RDhBfGvyBuzDc  whole album download  sound quality much better on record   discog copy $ 120 music stack none