Ruthless Curse Of The Beast Review
Ruthless
Curse Of The Beast
Fireflash Records
2026
Los Angeles, California's Ruthless are one of those traditional Heavy Metal bands that have been flying the flag since the mid-'80s, yet somehow managed to slip past my radar. That's a crime. To be fair, the band's discography isn't exactly overflowing with releases, which is another crime altogether. Their latest effort, “Curse Of The Beast”, arrives July 17th via Fireflash Records.
Prior to this review, I hadn't spent any real time with Ruthless' back catalog, but after hearing “Curse Of The Beast”, that's something I'll be correcting immediately. At its core, this is traditional Heavy Metal, but it's packed to the rafters with Thrash and Groove Metal muscle. The riffs come fast and heavy, the guitars drive everything forward, and the album carries the kind of conviction that only comes from musicians who have been living and breathing Metal for decades.
Maybe it's because both the band and I have a few miles on the odometer, but the influences hit me square in the chest. Every time I caught a glimpse of Judas Priest, Accept, or Lizzy Borden lurking beneath the surface, I found myself grinning like an idiot. This is music made by people who clearly grew up on the same classic records that shaped many of us old-school Metal diehards.
On the surface, “Curse Of The Beast” often feels closer to the worlds of Pantera, Armored Saint, and classic American Metal than pure traditional Heavy Metal, but those roots are always present. Vocalist Sammy DeJohn shifts comfortably between clean and harsher deliveries, avoiding excessive theatrics in favor of power and grit. His approach reminds me a bit of John Bush - strong, commanding, and focused on serving the song rather than showing off.
The real stars of the show, however, are guitarists Glen Paul and David Servantez. The album is overflowing with crushing riffs, but it's the lead work that truly shines. Their solos rip, their harmonized guitar lines soar, and the twin-guitar attack lands with all the force of a sledgehammer. As an old-school Metal fan, hearing those harmonized leads woven throughout the album does my heart good.
Lyrically, the band operates in territory I can always get behind: Horror, occult themes, and warfare. It's dark, violent, and unapologetically Metal - exactly as it should be.
Clocking in at just over 50 minutes and spread across 12 tracks, including a fantastic cover song, “Curse Of The Beast” delivers plenty of value without overstaying its welcome. If you were raised on Heavy Metal in the '80s, this album should be right in your wheelhouse. Ruthless have survived decades in an unforgiving genre, and this release proves they've still got plenty of fire left in the tank. Consider me a new fan. I can't wait to dig deeper into their history, and I strongly recommend giving this one a spin.
Standouts – “Curse Of The Beast”, “Sign Of The Cross”, “Killed By Fate” and “Hallowed Ground”.
~Black Angel