Mass was a fairly popular German band a few decades ago as metal music was transitioning from its 70s rock roots, and most of their albums truly embody this bridge from blues based riffing to more aggressive chords and vocals. The band released 8 albums from 1977-86, of which Metal Fighter is the 6th. Despite the luscious cover art, most fans of modern metal would find an album like this inaccessible due to the age of its production and the lack of much heaviness. I am not most metal fans, of course, so I actually enjoy the album for what it was, laid back heavy metal which benefits from the ballsy vocals of Jack E. Burnside.Granted, this band wasn't writing hooks at the level of the Scorpions, Accept, or Judas Priest, but some of the tracks have their charm, in particular the bluesy swagger of "Fire from Hell", the pure NWOBHM of "Break Out", the dirty roadster "Outlaw" and the fist pumping "I Cut Through". Their cover of "Born to Be Wild" manages to be less heavy than the original, and there are a few weaker tunes like the cheesy opener "Metal Man" or the ballad "Leaders Call". I can't really recommend this album except to those who can grasp an appreciation of metal's roots, those shaky years from the mid to late 70s which, despite themselves, manages to lay the concrete foundation for all metal music to come. And even to those few brave souls, there are better albums out there. Metal Fighter is not unpleasant, and it is one of the better records from this forgotten band.
Highlights: Fire From Hell, Break Out, I Cut Through, Outlaw
Verdict: Win [7/10]
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