Who will carry the torch when the old gods die? When Priest hangs up their leather, and Saxon gives up their denim? UFO has already called it a day. Where do we go from here? Lots of bands play “traditional” heavy metal, sure, and there are some standouts out here and there. But many of them fail to establish an identity beyond exactly that – being a “traditional” heavy metal band. But one of them stands just a bit taller than all the rest – Sanhedrin. Heat Lightning, their fourth full-length release and second on Metal Blade, cements their status as leaders of the traditional metal movement.
The no-fluff and no-nonsense album opener “Blind Wolf” is a flurry of riffs, showcasing one of Jeremy Sosville’s tastiest solos on record. This was the obvious choice for a single – it’s the right amount of fresh and familiar. However, the band immediately changes gears by the second song. The title track in particular, “Heat Lightning,” is something very special. If you had told me this song was written in the 80’s, I’d believe you without batting an eye. Anchored by Nate Honor’s controlled drumming and hooky fills, Jeremy provides a canvas for Erica Stoltz’s vocals to really shine.
While the band has historically had great vocal melodies and incredibly catchy choruses, “Heat Lightning“ is a new high for the trio vocally, where the riff takes a backseat to well-crafted lyrics and vocal harmonies. Unlike their previous songs with extended clean passages, Sanhedrin really took me off guard, in the best possible way, by keeping the tempo up and not exploring doom territory. I don’t write this lightly, considering my favorite Sanhedrin song has always been “No Religion.”
And now back to our regularly scheduled sick riffing – “Above the Law“ evokes all the best parts of Thin Lizzy’s Thunder and Lightning. This song was written for the live stage, gang vocals and all, and I expect it to become a setlist staple for a long time. “Fight of Your Life“ keeps the streak going hot. Neither song is really meant to challenge the listener, but then again, neither do the greats that they channel through these radio-ready bangers.
But if you’re looking for a challenge, Heat Lightning (and Sanhedrin’s entire catalogue so far) might peak right in the middle of the record with “King of Tides.“ Flirting again with that doom territory that I crave so much, King of Tides gives off vibes of Danzig III by way of Tony Iommi, the most apt comparison and highest compliment I can come up with mid-listen. This is a perfect track, and though it’s only March, it makes Heat Lightning the record to beat for album of the year 2025.
But at the end of the day, Lemmy would say it’s all just rock ‘n roll anyway – and there’s no better example of that than “Franklin County Line.“ As a single guitar band in 2025, there’s no limit to what you can do in the studio – but letting the bass and drums breathe underneath Jeremy’s solo with no rhythm guitar is one of the most rock ‘n roll moves a band could make.
“Let’s Spill Some Blood“ is the most typically-Sanhedrin song on the record. While it ultimately wouldn’t sound too out of place on their prior releases, its purpose is as much to pace the record properly as it is to be a great single. Everything about “High Threshold for Pain“ sounds like a lost early Savatage song and marks one of the heaviest songs on the album. The album closes with a seven-minute feast of riffs, an incredibly dark song – but the energy never drops. Erica’s vocals and bass really shine here, as she really locks in with Nate on a level we just haven’t heard before.
Heat Lightning marks the biggest step forward in Sanhedrin’s career and might actually beat out Lights On as their strongest release yet. The shift is less in sound so much as it is in attitude. In another world, Sanhedrin might have been just another “traditional“ heavy metal throwback band, but the songwriting here rivals the bands they would’ve called contemporaries had they been around a few decades ago. A near-perfect 10, anyone looking for real rock ‘n roll should absolutely spin this record on repeat.
Sanhedrin, Heat Lightning is available to order via this location.
