Sanhedrin is a metal band Brooklyn, New York consisting of drummer Nathan Honor, guitarist/vocalist Jeremy Sosville & bassist/vocalist Erica Stoltz. Introducing themselves a decade off their full-length debut A Funeral for the World, the next couple The Poisoner & their Metal Blade Records debut in particular Lights On would increase their popularity, returning after nearly 3 years to deliver their 4th full-length studio LP & their 2nd for Metal Blade coming off a couple singles within the last few months.

“Blind Wolf” is this heavy metal opener reminiscent to that of Iron Maiden finding the Brooklyn outfit coming together to share the light whereas the title track works in some chugging guitars to sing about when the wind whips a righteous storm & the smoke blinds the sun. “Above the Law” has a bit of a punkier edge to it showing a rebellious side to Sanhedrin living in a pit full of vipers, but then “The Fight of Your Life” sings about the compulsion to play music no matter what.

To start the other half, “King of Tides” finds the trio leaving all they know behind in order for them to have better lives just before “Franklin County Lines” feels like a cross between Thin Lizzy & Motörhead taking inspiration from the surrounding area in the northern part of New York. The song “Let’s Spill Blood” reflects how fortunate the human race is that most people seek justice as opposed to revenge & after “High Threshold of Pain” angrily calls ego a death wish, “When the Will Becomes the Chain” ends with them singing that the wicked world will leave us torn.

Delivering a diverse collection of songs that wholly captures their wide array of influences with an elevated level of production, Heat Lightning is the fullest representation of the power of Sanhedrin has by handing Metal Blade their most complete offering. When you take 3 seasoned musicians with their favorite handpicked instruments & put them in front of 2 brilliant producer/engineers in a studio stacked with incredible equipment & no outside distractions, this is what you get.

Score: 4/5

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