Kat – The Last Convoy

Kat

‘The Last Convoy’

Pure Steel Records

Heavy Metal

FFO: Kat & Roman Kostrzewski/Sodom/Flames/Evil Blood/Bulldozer

Kat have flown the flag for Polish heavy metal since the mid 1980’s and have become somewhat of a heavy metal institution. Kat returned last year with the album ‘Without Looking Back’ and although it was lukewarmly received, the band undeterred by this are celebrating their 40^th anniversary with the release of ‘The Last Convoy’.

                For Kat fans, ‘The Last Convoy’ contains new tracks interspersed with covers and reimagining of older works with a decent amount of guest appearances to boot. Long-time Kat lovers will be pleased to see that Henry Beck makes a vocal return for a retake of ‘Mind Cannibals’ whilst the band show a different, mature and adult side to the band with the acoustic ‘Dark Hole – The Habitat of the Gods’. Furthermore, the plaudits for this anniversary go to none other than Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens, who delivers a masterclass vocal on 2020 version of ‘Flying Fire’. However, the covers of ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’ and ‘Blackout’ are a little more Saturday night cover band with a few beers and whilst the version of ‘Highway Star’ is musically excellent, the vocals make it feel a little karaoke.

                ‘The Last Convoy’ may leave passing metal fans with a large ‘meh’, but there is enough here to entertain long-time fans, but is it really enough to celebrate your 40^th anniversary with? Honestly? Probably not.

Adam McCann