I can’t help but chuckle as “Extremely Flammable” opens in a melodramatic fashion; yes, the speedsters assuredly extol the ‘80’s, and their sound mimics applicable bands. But, don’t let the cover art scare you off.

“Countdown” contains plenty of thrash-influenced, speed riffage, which makes for a solid tempo. The guitarists are definitely shredders as solos spiral around and around. The vocals, on the other hand, are of the high-pitched variety and they’re very reminiscent of the aforementioned decade. “Extremely Flammable,” the title track, commences with a smokin’ riff as too-low-in-the-mix vocalizations accompany. “Heroes Fall Down” retains a bombastic introduction, and this is perhaps when the drummer’s credibility is firmly established: lots of odd fills and rhythmical challenges occupy this particular song. The breakdown at the 0:53 minute mark is worth mentioning as well. Needless to say, the same instrumentation will reverberate throughout the track. Solos abound here also. “Out of My Role” utilizes double-bass drumming at first, which translates into galloping later on. Punk-esque chants occur soon after the song’s advent. Overall, “Out of My Role” showcases the band’s talents and prowess. “Breaking Point,” “Metalsquad,” and “I Won’t Come in Peace,” are distinctly Solitaire’s works. “Speed Trap” (pun intended?) is a very fast romp, while “Steel Against Steel” is the former’s counterpart concerning tempo. “Boy Without a World” finishes “Extremely Flammable.”

Solitaire craft reputable speed metal in a day when almost no emphasis is placed on the genre in question. I didn’t find this album particularly enjoyable, since I was never really captivated by the genre or any of the bands confined within. If you were – though – you’ll like it well enough.

[This review was first published on the now defunct scandinavianmetal.info webzine]