What’s with all these veteran hardcore guys getting their metal on recently? First you have Black Anvil, whose transformation from hardcore heroes to black metal killing squad was complete with the release of their most recent album a few months ago. Now you have Kings Destroy, which features members of such bands as Killing Time, Uppercut and Electric Frankenstein getting together and getting their doom on. Maybe the precedence for this was set years ago with Black Flag’s My War album, or maybe by the fact that SST had Saint Vitus for a bit, but it seems like recently a lot of hardcore guys and gals are discovering the joys of the heavy stuff.

In some regards, there are some similarities between the underground punk and metal scenes (just as much as there are differences, too), but in the case of King’s Destroy, this isn’t crossover music, as defined years ago — this is pure unadulterated Sab worship. And it works wonderfully.

Guitarists Carl Porcaro and Chris Skrowronski, both of Killing Time, bust out the Orange Amps and lay down thick powerful riffs, free of excess, but high on headbangability, while the rhythm section of Rob Sefcik and bassist Ed Bocchino do the slow motion groove thing with the bottom end. On top of this, vocalist Steve Murphy, of Uppercut, wails and moans like a streetwise Ozzy or a city-raised Neil Fallon.

The album starts off with the slow motion pummeling of “The Mountie,” and from there the band just throws out riff after tasty riff, treating the listener to a wonderful doom metal party. This is some classic sounding stuff which should appeal to fans of the genre and fans of metal in general.

It also must be noted that the production by Sanford Parker perfectly captures the band in all its glory. It’s crisp, clean, yet powerful allowing each riff to hit you with maximum force. Along with Kurt Ballou of Converge, Parker looks like another go to guy when you want an awesome production job.

Kings Destroy have made a promising debut, and it will be interesting to see where they go from here.

(Maple Forum, 1 Maple Drive, Boonton, NJ, 07005)