Ελληνικά
Genre: Heavy Metal
Country: Germany
Label: High Roller Records
Year: 2026
Kerrigan burst onto the scene from Freiburg as one of Germany’s most exciting traditional heavy metal newcomers, and their second full-length, Wayfarer, proves they’re not just hype—they’re the real deal. Formed in 2019 by guitarist/bassist Bruno Schotten and vocalist/guitarist Jonas Weber, the duo cut their teeth with a killer demo featuring originals like “Intruders” and “Heavy Metal 2020,” plus a nod to NWOBHM roots via Wolf (UK)’s “Rest In Peace.” That tape hit vinyl via Fucking Kill and High Roller, setting the stage for their 2023 debut Bloodmoon, which earned rave reviews with session drummer Jonathan Döring’s help. Now, with Jakob Zeblin locked in on bass and Döring full-time, Wayfarer picks up right where they left off—dreamy, melancholic, and packed with ’80s-inspired fire.
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by the wizard Christoph Brandes at Iguana Studios, Wayfarer feels like a love letter to the golden era of heavy metal, but with modern polish that demands repeat spins. Jonas Weber nails it: “Dreamy, melancholic and pretty versatile,” continuing the Bloodmoon thread—tracks like “Blood And Steel” even trace back to those sessions, while “Surrender” and the title cut brewed in parallel. Bruno Schotten chimes in with the album’s heart: “For me, the record is everything I love about bands from the eighties. Songs that are accessible but have so many interesting details that they never get boring.” And damn if they don’t deliver on that promise.
Opener “Torchbearer” ignites with galloping riffs and Weber’s soaring, gritty vocals, evoking early Iron Maiden crossed with a touch of Jag Panzer’s majesty. “Asylum” ramps up the speed metal assault, twin guitars slicing through like sharpened broadswords, before “The Ice Witch” weaves icy, atmospheric melodies that build to a thunderous chorus—pure hook-laden gold, the kind of track that could headline a festival set. “Surrender” slows into haunting mid-tempo territory, Weber’s clean yet emotive delivery painting tales of defiance amid swirling leads that linger like frost on steel.
The title track “Wayfarer” embodies the album’s wandering spirit, blending melancholy introspection with triumphant hooks, while “Blood And Steel” explodes in orthodox fury—a riff monster Bruno hoped would nudge them toward “modern heavy metal classic” status, and it just might. “Dystopia” channels dystopian urgency with relentless double-kick drive, but the standout “Fighter” flips the script into uplifting anthemic joy, Bruno’s “happy” outlier that radiates pure adrenaline without sacrificing depth. Closer “Red Light Tower” seals it with epic, layered harmonies and a slow-burn solo that fades into victorious resolve.
Adam Burke’s artwork—a lone wanderer under a blood-red sky—perfectly captures the album’s epic, otherworldly journey. Kerrigan’s lineup (Weber on vocals/guitars, Schotten on guitars, Zeblin on bass, Döring on drums) gels tighter than ever, balancing orthodoxy with versatility. No filler, just nine tracks brimming with replay value. If Bloodmoon was the promise, Wayfarer is the payoff—Germany’s torchbearers forging their own path in traditional heavy metal’s pantheon.
Essential for fans of Jag Panzer, Heir Apparent, and modern trad revivalists.
