Heavy Metal

  UK

Released 2nd of June, 2026

The Watford Warriors return with a riotous return to rock’s roots while rewriting rules.

Traditional metal never went away. It slunk back into the recesses of metal at large while the tempo and gain got higher, and the tunings got lower.

It is there that it found itself in a very comfortable and hospitable place. Drummers didn’t need the latest kick pedal mods or heel toe/swivel techniques to keep up.
Guitarists could keep melody over stink face groove, and bassists were better for it by noodling away as long as they knew the root notes.
Even the singers found that operatics, theatrics and presence became niche.

Almost whimsical, some may say.

The trends came and went. Some stayed and became the new staple and morphed into the new norm… all the while, proper heavy metal (by generic definition) maintained and held its ground.

Recently, I did a piece on the NEW WAVE OF TRADITIONAL HEAVY METAL (see it HERE), yet that is a distractive term. Trad metal didn’t undergo a transformation, some metal fans stuck with the original rule book, like how stoner and doom metal religiously abides to theirs, and that is how it is and should be.

But NWOTHM is a thing and, from this global understanding comes an album from the UK that embraces the ethics, as they were there for those early times, and formed with that shared knowledge and love.
KARDINAL X are that band that keep drumming, guitar and bass as they intended. Instruments used by skilled hands to tell the stories that the singer tells with persuasive passion and nuance.

REDEMPTION is their debut album as a now solidified four piece consisting of SHAUN DUNNE on guitar, JOHN KANE on drums, ADE KIELY on bass and relatively new member, NICK MAIJUF on vocals.
THE RESISTANCE opens the album with pomp, power and zero pretensions.

A double kick led charge unto the breach, full of every trick that ticked every classic heavy metal box. Power chords, saucy solo work and lyrical hooks are deployed with military precision.
Without pause for thought, CAGE and EMPTY THRONE continues the pounding power but adds a bit more melody to chew on. It is clear that there is no fear in injecting modern ideas with KARDINAL X.

Countering this, so far, full assault, DARK WATER offers up an epic journey of human darkness akin to Iron Maiden’s Hallowed Be Thy Name, but with Led Zepplin chord wizardry and Sabbath transitions.
After this, some basic trad metal is placed perfectly in the middle in two parts with Wolves. Simply put, a singalong standout that leads to leads to die for.

The latter is the softer approach and, as metal ballads go, A MILLION LIGHT YEARS is up there with the greats. Nick’s emotive singing is enthralling, with restrained and empathic playing from Shaun and Ade that gives the song something to think about.
And when John adds his drums, the piece becomes irresistible.

Of course, a band with such a schooling in the elder dark arts will allow the spirits of influence take a hold, SHADOWS RISING is the spell that transcends time and trend. With Maiden energy with Dio panache it is a showpiece that unleashes their intent, talent and songwriting prowess.

It gets to a point where one wonders how an album that focuses on pedigree and heritage can end, and then one hears the closing track, THE SCOURGE. It begins with a beautiful 12 string guitar that leans toward led zep before evolving into an amalgamation of all that was, into a chunky march of panache and pristine playing.

It’s plain to see on RETRIBUTION where the influences are, but they only show where the band came from as musicians before fans.
Some flavour carries, yet the hands and ears here are of an experience that knows how those dynamics work without mimicking it.

Nor is it refined nor updated…

KARDINAL X have honed a sound that should be passed on. As those that make this quartet where they are now, they are torch bearers that keep the fire of the classic sound alive and make it brighter.
RETRIBUTION is an example of an artisan craft both timeless and captivating, and one that should be maintained with the due diligence that KARDINAL X command. To ensure something is timeless is to teach from experience over repetition. This album is a lesson well learned to any and all.

REDEMPTION is out now and available to stream from major platforms.

It is also available via the KARDINAL X bandcamp (HERE).