EAGLEWING is a band from Denver, Colorado, dedicated to reviving the quality of 70s heavy rock, infused with heavy doses of NWOBHM and traditional 80s US metal. They began their musical journey in 2021, releasing their first demo a year later. Their first official release, a self-titled 7” EP, came out just a week ago.
The band’s original guitarists, Kyle Goldsberry and Patrick Ellison, are no longer part of EAGLEWING. The current lineup features Russell Ponder and Andrew DeBord on guitars, Yancy Green on drums, Charlie Miller on bass, and Ross Murphy on vocals.
EAGLEWING is known for being heavy, progressive, classic rock revivalists. Armed with blistering guitar riffs, frantic solos, powerful bass lines, intricate drumming, soaring vocals, and sudden time signature shifts, the band specializes in channeling the essence of classic rock and metal while offering a fresh, contemporary perspective.
“The late ‘70s and early ‘80s were the best time for music”, says guitarist Russell Ponder. “You had some of the best music pioneers in the greatest bands in the world, all with different influences. We’re trying to bring back that same level of passion and fury in a new wave of American heavy metal.”
I would agree, although I would like to hear a little more of the USPM sound in this so-called new wave of American heavy metal. However, despite the clear British influences from IRON MAIDEN, UFO, and BLACK SABBATH, as well as SCORPIONS and ACCEPT, one can undoubtedly detect vibes reminiscent of early LEATHERWOLF, DIO, METAL CHURCH, LIZZY BORDEN, and TWISTED SISTER.
The EP opens with the band’s self-titled anthem, which captures their ethos in just under five minutes of powerful instrumentation and impressive vocals. “This falls right into the tradition of heavy bands writing songs about themselves”, says vocalist Ross Murphy. “For us, it’s about rising from the ashes of creation and knowing that you can and will succeed. You might fall on hard times, but music is your North Star. We’ll all go through peaks and valleys, but that’s what life is about.”
Following “Eaglewing” the band transitions into “Hellraiser Wild”, a four-and-a-half-minute romp that, while less intricate than the opener, still showcases excellent songwriting and remarkable musicianship—it sounds like a perfect mix of Teutonic and British metal legacies. “‘Hellraiser Wild’ is about eating mushrooms in the desert and staring at the stars with no light pollution”, Ross says. “It’s about contemplating the curiosity of existence—where we’ve been and where we’re going.”
An important role in the atmosphere of “Eaglewing” was played by Pete DeBoer, who recorded, mixed, and mastered the EP. “Pretend you’re on stage and turn it up!” advised the band; well, it seems like these Colorado musicians knew exactly how to make it happen!
By drawing on so many influences from the ‘70s and ‘80s, EAGLEWING has successfully captured an epic one-two punch of powerful neo-classic rock, reminiscent of the time when the dam first began to burst and the flood of heavy metal was unleashed upon the world.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t want more of their music; to be honest, this release shouldn’t be called an Extended Play when it contains only two songs. They could have included remakes of their demo tracks, but they decided to leave us wanting more – well, one can only hope for a future release and a proper LP, I suppose…
“Eaglewing” was released on August 9th by King Volume (US) and Jawbreaker (EU), both digitally and on limited 7” vinyl.
Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
You can order the EP here.
