Zepter Self-Titled Review
Zepter
Self-Titled
High Roller Records
2026
So far, 2026 has been overflowing with Traditional Metal, and for someone like me, that’s nothing short of a blessing. It keeps the fire burning in my Rock Warrior heart and feeds the part of my soul that refuses to let go of youth like a crazed lunatic clutching a denim vest. The latest band to stoke those flames is Austrian newcomers Zepter. Formed in early 2024, the band wasted no time dropping an EP, and now their history continues in real time with a Self-Titled full-length debut set for release in the coming weeks via High Roller Records.
Zepter deal in no-frills, straight-up Traditional Heavy Metal, soaked in the blood of the ancient gods of the NWOBHM. This is a total throwback - echoes of Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden, and Tygers of Pan Tang run thick throughout, with flashes of early Speed Metal kicking in when the throttle gets pushed. There’s also a strong Angel Witch and Blue Öyster Cult vibe here that scratches a very specific, very personal itch.
Twin-lead harmonies run rampant across the album, and that alone should get old-school Metalheads nodding in approval, it’s a lost art in today’s scene. Sonically, this record doesn’t sound modern in the slightest. There’s no glossy studio sheen, and that’s clearly by design. This is an album meant to be played loud on a turntable, pumped through a battered old hi-fi system, the proper way to experience Metal like this.
If there’s a weak spot, it’s the vocals, which sit a little too deep in the mix. At times, it feels like the album was cut live in the studio with the vocals riding the same track as the guitars. That said, the reverb and echo applied to the vocals help them cut through enough to work, and honestly, pulling them further forward might rob the album of some of its vintage charm.
As an old tape trader, this album hits me right in the gut. It feels like something I would’ve received in the mail in the early ’80s, a dubbed cassette, a beat-up piece of notebook paper listing the songs, and zero context beyond “check this out.” And I wouldn’t have had it any other way. This one’s for the lifers, the oldheads, and anyone who still believes in the old ways of Metal – it’s home!
Standout tracks: “Slasher on the Highway,” “Hit the Streets,” “Exterminator,” and the cover of Screems’ “Lonely Night”, which is worth the price of admission all by itself.