Austrian quartet Zepter has emerged with their debut album, which pays homage to traditional metal sounds of the early '80s.

The 10-track offering gets off to a strong start with 'Slasher On The Highway', showcasing a balance between clean vocals and twin lead harmonies.

Tracks like 'Everlasting' feature extensive guitar work, while others, such as 'The Slayer', draw inspiration from Metallica's style before diverging into more unique territory.

Other notable tracks include the Dio-inspired 'The Exterminator' and 'Lonely Night', a lively cover of a Swedish '86 demo.

The album concludes with 'The Lords', built around aggressive guitar riffs.

Zepter shows promise in their first effort, but may benefit from refining their sound within the NWOTHM genre parameters.