Prowler Inc. - Pay the Fiddler

Reviewed at: pittriff.com

PROWLER INC. is another attempt by Pacific Northwest label MIB Music to make 80's styled heavy metal en vogue again. Much like his band BABYLON Bryce Van Patten has uncovered a band that seems to share his vision. Pay the Fiddler contains 6 tracks that carry a very NWOBHM feel to them, and at times recalls the early days of thrash. This one took me a couple of listens to warm up to, but warm up to it I did. Van Patten seems to live by the mantra of "if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right" when it comes to production. Like his own band BABYLON the sound calls for heavy bottom end, thick as granite riffs with high wire solos, and vocals that are mixed slightly behind everything else. This is the way I like it, focus being on the power in power metal. You can almost hear the MERCYFUL FATE influences on "Mortis". My favorite tracks were "Mountains of Madness" "Marching On Your Head" and the loose and rolling "Minor In Possession". While I don't like this as much as the BABYLON ep I still enjoyed it a lot and would like to see where the bands goes from here.

PITRIFF RATING - 7/10

Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Reviewer: Shawn Gould
Score: 3.5 devils

Reviewed at: Hardrock Haven

by Derric Miller
Staff Writer

Comments: There are a shitload of bands out there that you’ll probably never hear, and aren’t better off for it. While that observation may also work the exact opposite way, a band out of Oregon called Prowler Inc. IS one of those bands you’ll probably never here but should … but you can remedy that after reading this review.

Prowler Inc. is an ’80s style metal band — think Bay Area era — with thrash tendencies. They also seem to have a sense of humor and a disregard for normality. They don’t go that far, but the weirdness of a band like Faith No More pops up in their compositions as well.

Their new EP, called Pay the Fiddler, is a 6-song foray into old school metal, with none of the pissy attitude you find in new music. Take, for instance, the second track, “Marching on Your Head.” It sounds like Metallica at times, vocally, but also Persistence of Time-era Anthrax musically. Basically, it’s heavy, with all the riffs you could ever want, and a shout along chorus. In other words … fun with fun.

“Pay the Fiddler” starts off with the sound of a cash register, and gets into a solo intro, before drummer/vocalist Brad Kubik joins in. The sound is sort of muddy and simple, but that matches exactly what the song calls for. This isn’t Kubik’s best vocal moment, but musically, their strongest track.

Now, for guys obviously older than 21 years old to write a song called “Minor in Possession” is just damn funny. This song is more funky, something similar to really hard Rainbow song, maybe … just a cool groove. Kubik talks throughout the song, and guitarists Al Rhay and Don McBee sound their most expert here.

They end things with “Killer By Night,” and you’ll hear footsteps and heavy breathing to start things off. Kubik’s voice starts off with, “Excuse me ma’am … my that’s a wonderful fragrance you have on,” while the guitars go nutso. This is another heavy riffing song, bass heavy too, allowing Ed Jensen to shine. Lots of evil laughing and guitar solos are prevalent as well. The drum has an odd sound on this song, though.

All in all, it’d be cool to hear a full album from these guys, but this is a good start. So try something you’d probably never have a chance to hear, and buy Pay the Fiddler.

You can pick up this bad boy at Man in Black Music.

Track listing: Mountains of Madness - Marching on your Head - Pay The Fiddler - MIP - Mortis - Killer by Night

Label Link: www.maninblackmusic.net

HRH Rating: 7/10

Behind The Viel

PROWLER INC.
Pay The Fiddler
(MIB Music)

I can't explain how, but the guys in MIB M uisc have the talent to discover groups that seem to be left untouched by the modern trends. Prowler Inc. is another band that gives you the sense that comes straight from the 80s. In the 6 tracks that are included in this release, they deliver to us a good dose of U.S. power metal with some speed elements. To make it clearer to you, I will tell you that if you adore bands like HELLSTAR, HEATHEN, OCTOBER 31, JAG PANZER and METAL CHURCH, then Prowler Inc.'s music will become a sweet oasis for you. However, I don't want to be unfair to them and I have to make it clear that the band is not a simple copy cat or anything like that. What they manage to do is create a personal sound imbued in the above mentioned bands. Finally, the production is good, but it could have been better. Anyway, the power metal maniacs should grab this album and play it loud till you blow your speakers!!!

Nick "William_Kidd" Parastatidis

Site : http://prowler-inc.com http://www.geocities.com/behind_the_veil2001/Main.html

Rocka Rolla

Que bueno que es saber que aun hoy existen bandas decididas a mantener bien alto el estandarte del heavy metal tradicional. Una de esas bandas es Prowler Inc., un cuarteto oriundo de Oregon, Estados Unidos, y formado por Brad Kubik en batería y voz, Al Rhay y Don McBee en guitarras, y Ed Jensen en bajo.
“Pay the fiddler”, su EP debut, contiene seis tracks de metal clásico hecho y derecho, a menudo tiznado de NWOBHM y thrash. Por momentos me recordaron al primer Mercyful Fate, y en los momentos mas rápidos a bandas como Exciter y Abattoir.
Los cinco primeros temas son parejos y muestran la mezcla de estilos que les mencione, mientras que el último track es un medio tiempo donde la dupla de guitarras realmente se luce.
El feeling old-school que envuelve al disco (chequeen la mezcla de la voz para hacerse la idea), lo hace aun más honesto y fiel a sus raíces Si sos un fan del estilo, el disco te va a gustar de una, aunque aquellos que gusten de los sonidos mas elaborados o modernos tal vez deban pegarle dos o tres oídas para tomarle el punto.
En suma, sería muy bueno oír un larga duración de esta banda en la que puedan demostrar todo su potencial, pero este EP es un mas que auspicioso comienzo. Muy recomendable, se los aseguro.

Sitio web:
www.prowler-inc.com

Comentado por Javier (Julio 2005)
http://www.rockarolla.com.ar/ProwlerInc.htm