Forming in 2023, Australia’s Fly! swoop in like mad locusts ready to burn through a raw, aggressive early hard rock / metal style on this debut full-length …Or Die!. The four-piece unleash a sound that skates multiple lines to achieve a sound that’s infectious, mean, and ready for ample aural destruction. Nothing fancy, the intention to energize listeners through a savage mix of influences from the 70s and early 80s where the vocals, guitars, bass, and drums bleed for the cause.
The early impressions of guitarist Willy Cox vocally sit between a mix of King Fowley in his best Deceased mold as well as a bit of spitfire Cronos from Venom – rabid when necessary, forceful as well with the right amount of reverb in places to make “The Sinner” and “Freeway Phantom” head swaggering favorites. After a short instrumental / feedback fueled “Into the Wasteland” starts of the record, the Motörhead-ish riffs for “Highway Fiend” roar through the speakers, ‘one foot on the throttle/ one foot in the grave’ a tell-tale sign that this band is out for blood, racing to the hearts of all early metalheads especially those that love some rock and punk influences added to the mix. The twin guitar rhythm passages between Willy and second axe man Malcom ‘Mouldy’ Black travel through aspects of AC/DC, Judas Priest, and Thin Lizzy beyond the faster Motörhead sections – it’s hard not to get motivated to charge battalions when hearing the chugging chord progressions of “Bowie Knife” or “Gasoline”. The record closes with a rambunctious cover of “Sweet Leaf” from Black Sabbath – turning the afterburners up high as to set the song in more of the Fly! mold, where bassist Tom Thompson and drummer Rodney Speedman get some spotlight action in swift instrumental spots.
Would Fly! ever be considered original in style and approach? Hell no… but they really understand their skill sets, push them to the forefront, and won’t let go for the 38 minutes that …Or Die! achieves. One of the albums that transcends time, as it would feel just as uplifting in the current scene as it would 50 years ago.