Stallion are a Metal History retrospective for the 2020s. Pauly’s vocals recall Mille (Kreator), Johannes Van Audenhove (Evil Invaders), Rob Halford’s Painkiller voice (Judas Priest), King Diamond (Mercyful Fate, King Diamond), Brian Johnson (AC/DC), Tom Kiefer (Cinderella), and he screamier side of young Joe Elliott (Def Leppard).

And the band’s styles from song to song are as variable as the vocals, sometimes evoking classic Speed Metal, sometimes Thrash, sometimes channeling Blues-based bluster in the vein of AC/DC, while other times cranking out noisy Hair Metal riffs - - including the requisite power ballad. The one thing that’s a constant: the heaviness. With Pauly’s wails and shrieks, alongside the brashness of the guitars, this is what Boomers imagine when they think of Heavy Metal (minus the Satanism). It does sometimes lapse into self-parody (“No mercy toniiiiight!!!”), but the fun and energy always carry them through. Aaron’s workmanlike drums also deserve praise: they aren’t in your face, but smooth out the rough edges, driving like a steamroller (sometimes, a very fast steamroller). It’s Metal with zero crossover appeal. It’s German. It’s a good one for old-school headbangers.