Let me introduce you to the next big thing in traditional Heavy Metal. With “Don’t Spare the Wicked,” Fortress are a rising force marching out of Whittier, California. While Fili Bibiano (great guitarist name, btw) shreds the Classical hell out of his solos, it’s the excellence of the songs that makes this album a winner. Fortress keep it heavy, but never sacrifice melody; accessible, while never taking the “catchy” too far.

Vocalist, Chris Scott Nunez keeps the Yngwie parallels going with a fantastic channeling of Jeff Scott Soto. He’s not a copycat, just the next generation carrying forward the greatness of the past. (JSS is still active, still sounds incredible. How great would it be to get these guys on stage together?)
No keyboard player is listed, but I have to say - - I love their use of atmospheric synths. It’s done sparingly, but always tastefully, and always to serious betterment of the songs.
I’ve mentioned the Malmsteen influence, but I also hear some great Power Metal and Classic Traditional Metal connections - - think Helloween, Unleash the Archers, heavy Dokken, Accept, Raven, Iron Maiden, early Anthrax. . .
“Don’t Spare the Wicked” contains eight songs, but the longest clocks in at just over 4 minutes, so the experience is short and to-the-point. That’s fine; not a second is wasted. No listener will feel cheated, but they’ll definitely be hungry for more. The best of the tracks: all of them. OK, OK. . . “Lost Forever,” “Devil’s Wheel,” “Find Yourself,” “The Passage” (a lovely arpeggio instrumental), and the title track.
If Fortress somehow doesn’t blow up (no pun intended), then this album will be a hell of a sleeper for you recommend to impress the other cool kids. Pretty impressive stuff from the suburbs of L.A.