Sex Machineguns Heavy Metal Commander Review
Sex Machineguns
Heavy Metal Commander
Anchor Records
2025
Given that I’m an 80’s Metal kid at heart, there are a handful of Japanese Metal bands that have always caught my attention. Most people immediately jump to Loudness, but for me it was always EZO. Short-lived or not, the time they were around was enough to permanently burn themselves into my psyche. That obsession made it easy, almost inevitable, for me to dig deeper into the Japanese scene, searching for bands that carried the same fire and intensity. Earthshaker. Anthem. X Japan. Which brings us right to today’s review: Sex Machineguns – “Heavy Metal Commander”.
Sex Machineguns have been cranking out albums since 1998, and while they’ve never exactly been a household name, those who know, know. I had the privilege of covering their “Ignition” album back in the early 2000s, and it still stands out as a high point from that era for me. Over the years, I’ve made a point to keep tabs on the band, snagging albums whenever I’d spot them at a price that didn’t require a second mortgage. That said, it had been quite a while since I last spent time with a new Sex Machineguns release, until now.
Released in mid-to-late December 2025 via Anchor Records, “Heavy Metal Commander” is an absolute no-brainer if Speed Metal and true Heavy Metal still make your blood pump. Yes, some of the lyrics are in Japanese, but that’s never a distraction, the music is front and center, exactly where it belongs. This band is spitting venom and breathing fire from start to finish. The guitar work is downright otherworldly: speaker-melting leads, razor-sharp riffs, and a constant sense of controlled chaos that keeps everything barreling forward. It’s pure, fist-pumping insanity.
Vocally, expect soaring falsettos and upper-register wails that push things right to the edge, exactly how this kind of Metal should sound. If you’re looking for modern trends, polished production tricks, or anything remotely fashionable, turn back now. This music was forged in the fire of 80’s Speed, Shred, and Heavy Metal. But if that’s your lifeblood, like it is mine, then welcome home. Sex Machineguns have a deep, storied discography waiting to be explored, and “Heavy Metal Commander” serves as a killer entry point.
And let me be clear, I’m not talking about novelty or “cute” Metal here. This is legit Japanese Heavy Metal, made by lifers, for lifers. No false Metal to be found anywhere on this record.
Standouts: “Judgement Day,” “Unstoppable Oldtimers,” and “Highway Star.”