Band:	Blood Star
Album:	First Sighting
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	April 2023

01. All For Nothing
02. Fearless Priestess
03. No One Wins
04. The Observers
05. Dawn Phenomenon
06. Cold Moon
07. Going Home
08. Wait To Die

If it's a blend of traditional 80s heavy metal with a hint of 70s hard rock (with an added oomph) that tickles your fancy, then this First Sighting of Blood Star will surely meet your nostalgic needs.

Blood Star are a US heavy metal band that formed recently back in 2017, founded by Jamison Palmer, the guitarist/songwriter for the relatively well known heavy metal band Visigoth, along with Noah Hadnutt (bass) and Madeline Smith (vocals). Well, after a six year wait, and welcoming new drummer Tyler Barrani to the team, the band finally unleash their debut; has it been worth the wait, and what can we expect from this newly established band?

Well first off, I must say the sound quality is excellent, all thanks to a quality production. The bass lines are indeed striking, and you'll find them loudly clear and present throughout the album, which also goes hand-in-hand with the punchy rhythmic drumming beats. The guitar tone has a certain meatiness to it as well, which is ideal for giving off that classic NWOBHM sound. The tone really complements those galloping groovy riffs, which hark back to the early days of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon, and the like. 

The next element to take into consideration is Madeline’s powerfully striking vocal performance. Her style is undeniably exceptional, and truly gives off that traditional old school energy. Being honest, First Sighting is my first real introduction to hearing Madeline's vocals, but if this performance is anything to go by she will surely gain deserving recognition from NWOTHM fans far and wide, and help earn a good spot on the NWOTHM map for Blood Star.

The album begins exceedingly well, with the opening track "All For Nothing". The songwriting is clearly well thought through, from the catchy sing-along verses and choruses, to the quality groovy riffing and pacey rhythms. This is a great opening anthem for the album to begin with, but from here on the album doesn't disappoint, and each track continues in this vein. With albums such as this, it's generally hard to pick out standout moments, let alone standout tracks, but the leading single "Cold Moon" is a particular highlight in this instance. With its highly memorable chorus and melodic riffing, along with its exciting pacey rhythms and energetic performances, this is an instant hit for today's NWOTHM scene.

The album, however, doesn't just run at the same rhythm and tempo throughout; there are moments in which the band mix things up, for instance the acoustic interlude “Dawn Phenomenon”, which acts as an atmospheric breaking point momentarily slowing the rhythm and tempo down. "The Observers" is also a striking track, the only one which features male vocals, but alternating between Madeline’s vocals makes this track not sound one bit out of place. The song begins with a short, slow build-up that breaks into the usual galloping rhythm and pace. The track also contains one of the catchiest choruses the album has to offer, one which is repeated during its outro just enough to keep ringing in your head for a long time afterwards.

All in all, First Sighting is a quality debut for Blood Star, one that succeeds in creating that all-important traditional heavy metal sound and quality, blended nicely with some 70s hard rock influences. It's not breakneck-paced or aggressive in any way, but it's catchy, energizing, easy on the ears, and ridiculously mad fun, and being only thirty-two minutes in length makes this ideal for listening to on repeat for some time.