Artist description Ripped Speed is ushering in a metal renaissance. Though heavy metal music has fallen from radio airplay and MTV highlights, there are a few bands that still possess powerful lyrics, fast guitar solos and head bangin' drums. Philadelphia's Ripped Speed hopes to bring back the integrity of metal. The band produces truly inspired music with originality and enthusiasm that has been missing in much of today's modern heavy rock. This is not rap-rock or screeching industrial techno-beat. Ripped Speed is classic heavy metal with a modern edge. Singer Shon Pistoll, Guitarist Paul Gonzales, Bassist Alexis Gold and drummer Warren Ryan produce a clean and powerful sound that is fresh without being false. Great musicians and inspired songwriting make Ripped Speed's music something to be heard and felt. In the song "Brothers," the band laments over the loss of a loved one. Warren's signature double-bass drumming drives the song forward as the emotions associated with the pain of death are musically explored. Paul's guitar shreads through some excellent melodies. The head will bang, but the heart is also touched. The band looks inside the mind in the song "Conscience." Shon's vocals explore the inner struggle when one makes decisions between good and evil. The song's fast and slow melodies will mean something different to everyone, but the raw musical imagery is constant. Paul adds some beautiful guitar work on top of Alexis's steady bass rhythm. "Conscience" is a beautiful song that can shows the versatility and range inherent in true heavy metal. "When people hear our music and see us play we want them to have fun," says Warren, "but we also want to produce something that hits the bones." Ripped Speed has energy and excitement. "We're always reaching for new things and fresh sounds," explains Paul. "We can't let metal die." The band is dedicated to producing music that will move the listener. "We put our heart and soul into the songwriting," says Shon. He says the band is looking forward to bringing their unique sound to metal fans everywhere. Ripped Speed - metal that will rip your brain open!

Music Style Fist pumping-Grit your teeth Heavy Metal

Musical Influences Rob Halford - Judas Priest- Iron Maiden - In Flames - many many more

Albums The new EP is comming soon!!

Press Reviews Author: Binks Thrall I type this immediately after returning home from their show at The Blue Moon Saloon in El Cerrito. This place is a tiny bar that couldn't comfortably fit 60 people, I would guess. Great place to watch the ballgame with friends, and the Oriental 40-something barkeep was beautiful, but not a likely place for top-notch heavy metal. Or even bottom-notch, for that matter. Nevertheless, the stools were cleared away, the pool table (yes, only one) pushed to the corner, and the Budweiser light rack over it hung as high as possible. Then during the sound check, it was found that the mike was cutting in and out. So the unlikely venue, the poor mike, and the fact that there were only...I'd say 20-25 people there, and I felt at the beginning that Ripped Speed was going to be the proverbial chef who's been given substandard ingredients to cook with, so I might want to cut this show some slack. WRONG!!! They proved in indisputable fashion that no slack was necessary! Ripped Speed is fantastic! They're quintessentially heavy metal! Sadwing's voice is excellent, as is his clever use of it. He mixed powerful smoke-alarm shrieks, subterranean growls, and a solid midrange, and those veins on the side of his head were looking like lightning bolts under his skin. The drummer is a first-rate thrash metal drummer. He was keeping up the double bass at high speed for long stretches, and during the final song, he did some crafty alternating back and forth from sixteenths to sixlets and back again. All with the most engaging wicked smile on his face. I didn't notice much of the bassist because he was on the other end of the room, but he wasn't there to play games. His hair was whipping everywhere, occasionally giving glimpses of the excellent Mike Ricci-style profile of his. I was nearest to the guitarist and that was great, because during his lead breaks, I could get a good close look at what he was doing. And when he'd close his eyes and look up during a particularly soulful part, he looked just like Lou-Diamond Phillips. Sadwing mentioned before the show that as soon as they started playing, it was likely that some of the folks would vamoose. I honestly don't know if any did, because I forgot all about them, except for the drummer's girlfriend, who I almost accidentally conked a few times, because my arms and fists were flying everywhere. Ripped Speed played this show with a passionate earnestness, despite the less-than-ideal venue. Hell, I've been in bands that took shows on proper stages less seriously. If I were to approach and execute everything in life as Ripped Speed approached and executed this show, what a superior human being I'd be! Sadwing received a very pleasant surprise afterwards, but I said that I'd let him tell you about that. Chatting with Sadwing, his wife, and his bandmantes, before and after the show was an excellent prologue and epilogue to the show. The Ripped Speed community is very friendly and warm, and it was a thrill to be a part of it for an evening! "Let's hear it for HEAVY METAL!"

Location San Fransisco, California - USA

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