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Belgium's Scavenger was signed to that country's legendary Mausoleum Records back in 1985 for their debut album, Battlefields. When Mausoleum unexpectedly folded that same year, Scavenger was cut adrift, not to be heard from again until their 2020 single, "Backslider." 2024 sees the band releasing their second full-length album on another legendary label, Greece's No Remorse Records. Featuring no remaining original members (two were involved with "Backslider" but have since left the group and given their blessing for the band to continue), Beyond the Bells flat-out kicks ass. The modern production does nothing to tarnish the '80s sound Scavenger has so faithfully recreated, from the echo effects on the sneering vocals to the direct, between the eyes songwriting and the tasty lead work. From faster songs like "Black Witchery" to mid-paced rockers like "Hellfire," this new version of Scavenger goes through their paces like seasoned pros that know exactly how to get every single fist in the air. If you can, pick up a version that includes "Backslider" and "Red Hot" from the 2020 single as it is definitely worth the extra effort. Scavenger's Beyond the Bells is a must for anyone into female-fronted, kick ass traditional metal bands like Crystal Viper, Blood Star, and Midnight Dice, but should also be sought out if melodic '80s metal of any stripe has a place in your collection.