A new Old School Heavy Metal band called BARRACUDA.
I would be lying if I said I did not immediately think of HEART. I could probably even find a few parallels between the two bands. But I promise to leave it at that and instead share my thoughts.
„Bringer of Hellfire“ wild and immediately in motion. As the first proper banger after the intro, it is a wonderful way to enter the record.The guitars establish one of the EP’s fundamental rules: a lick can be thrown at you at any time. And most likely will be. These range from short phrases flashing between vocal lines to the nearly ninety-second harmonised guitar duel that takes over much of the song’s second half. A brief choral passage eventually carries it into the final chorus. Compared with what is still to come, the vocals remain relatively straight forward.
„Vengeance Is Mine“ and „Gods of Metal“ keep that initial momentum intact, carrying the record towards its real centrepiece. These songs are full of force and show just how alive traditional Heavy Metal remains in the underground. The production deserves credit for that as well. It is balanced and clear enough to let every instrument hit properly, but it never scrubs all the dirt from the guitars. Barracuda may favour a relatively clean sound, but thankfully never a sterile one. They clearly know the rules of traditional Heavy Metal. More importantly, they do not appear intimidated by them. The band uses that familiar language as a foundation, leaving enough space for unexpected guitar phrases and a remarkably approach to the vocals.
And we really need to talk about those vocals.
Singer Elli Fox’s performance is what truly knocked me over, as did the production built around her voice. It knows when to leave the vocals direct and exposed, when to add an ad-lib and when to let several layers open up a chorus. There is no fear of using obvious effects on the vocal tracks either. Whenever a song calls for something bigger or more dramatic, Barracuda simply go for it. There is confidence in the performance, but also a sense of playfulness. The band understands that classic Heavy Metal vocals are allowed to be larger than life.
Songwise „At the Crossroads“ completely steals the show. Its chorus feels built for a sea of raised fists when played live. A slightly progressive opening leads into a bass sound that brings Steve Fossen to mind. Sorry, there it is: the HEART reference. Then Fox gets fancy. The song also contains my favourite drumming on the record. There is a lot happening, but the band never loses control of it. The guitar playing remains just as restless and precise. Licks and solos appear everywhere, moving the song forward, answering the vocals or suddenly opening another path through the arrangement.
„At the Crossroads“ also is a funny title in that regard. It is not the final track, but by the time it ends, the direction seems perfectly clear:
Barracuda created a ridiculously good record that has seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
Hopefully, there is much more to come. Especially since the following „Running Hot“ immediately delivers another highlight. Its riffing brings Tank’s „Shellshock“ to mind, with that same combination of dirty guitars and relentless forward momentum. Always a good thing.
The advance single „Barracuda“ closes the EP and most likely created a good part of the initial buzz around the band. The song worked so well as a first statement. Heard as part of the complete EP, it is not even the strongest song, at least for me. Barracuda reveal a considerably wider range than that advance track alone suggested. That does not make its chorus any less dangerous. I carried it around with me for several days.
Honestly, Barracuda have delivered a genuine piece of Heavy Metal gold, with Zann’s Records giving the EP the physical release it deserves. At just under thirty minutes, the format works extremely well. The songs have enough room for all those riffs, vocal turns and harmonised guitar excursions, yet the record ends before any of its ideas can wear thin.
| Band | Barracuda |
| Record | Barracuda (S/T) |
| Release date | 21.08.2026 |
| Label | Zann’s Records |
| Links | Instagram Bandcamp |