VIGILHUNTER – Vigilhunter (2025) *HQ*

This review is not just about another new album or another new traditional heavy metal release. Neither does this album require multiple listening sessions to discover its good elements nor it is a ‘’grower’’ album. This album is absolutely surprising and a pleasant ‘’slap in the face’’ from the very first listening minutes to the very end. This one will totally grab you and will not let you go until the last song is finished. The most probable thing to do next, is to put it again from the beginning and listen to it again….and again….and again.
But let’s take first things first. VIGILHUNTER is a project from Italian singer Alexx Panza, who is the vocalist in the latest HITTEN studio albums and also in the 2022 ‘’Souls Of The Innocent’’ studio album by JACK STARR’S BURNING STARR.
This project has been ‘’kept on ice’’ for quite a few years but now it seems that the time was right, to be proudly fulfilled and to be offered to heavy metal fans. The most important aspect of this album is that it ultimately revives the much beloved and highly appreciated U.S. of the ‘80s. For many of us out there, that distinct sound was the pinnacle of the genre.
And the band’s self-titled debut album “Vigilhunter” delivers in spades. Do you like Queensryche’s first album The Warning? You better grab “Vigilhunter” right now…

“We are obviously very much influenced by them, but we couldn’t write 100% Queensrÿche songs even if we try”… Thus spake mainman Alexx Panza of his new project Vigilhunter, of the fact that yes, it really sounds like he and his band had a bloody good go at doing just that on their self-titled debut album, which is just about to be released on the High Roller imprint.

It would feel as an exaggeration if I describe some of the songs, such as ‘’Disconnected’’, ‘’Titan Glory’’ or ‘’Sacrifice For Love’’ as some of the best Queensrÿche songs that Queensrÿche haven’t written? But this is the sincere impression that I got from these songs, that are coming from the era of the debut self-titled EP or ‘’The Warning’’. It is not difficult to acknowledge that a great deal of crafted musicianship and an astonishing voice is required in order to achieve such an amazing accomplishment.
Definitely we are not talking just for a band that is a Queensrÿche clone.

On the contrary, VIGILHUNTER have a remarkable and wide spectrum on their songs – other bands get a look in too, as you’ll see if you give this album a spin, which I think you should if Eighties U.S. Metal is listed in your ‘interests’ on your social media profiles.
Best track ‘Shadow Rider (Vigilante)’ mixes Crimson Glory with Metal Church to pretty devastating effect, whilst ‘Curse of the Street’ has an undeniable Skid Row swing to it that’ll have you striding around the house, all bow-legged and boisterous, in support.

Panza has a pleasingly flexible set of pipes – if you’ve heard him going about his business with regular gig Hitten you’ll already know that – but he swings the ol’ axe pretty well too, in tandem with Mattia Itala here, and it’s hard to hate on his efforts here, even if you feel the material to be almost uniformly derivative.

Sincerity goes a long way, and there’s no doubting Vigilhunter (rounded out for this album by rhythm buddies Mirko Negrino (bass) and (drummer) Marcello ‘Cell’ Leocani) have bags of the stuff.
That much is evident as they lovingly recreate the grandeur of Rage For Order on semi-power ballad ‘Sacrifice For Love’. This album isn’t a guilty pleasure – why be guilty about enjoying something we all love? – and if it prompts you to go back to the source for an evening of nostalgia, as it did me, then what’s not to love?

To make a long story short, I really feel this is a debut album that has already reserved a spot for my personal best-of 2025 albums list. I am totally convinced that the U.S. Heavy Metal aficionados will agree.
An infectious and robust array of melodic heavy metal with immense passion and drive along with a sky high energy level.
Highly Recommended

01 – Loading… Error 403
02 – Disconnected
03 – Titan Glory
04 – Shadow Rider (Vigilante)
05 – Curse Of The Street
06 – Sacrifice For Love
07 – So Cold… It Burns
08 – Outburst Of Rage
09 – The Downfall

Alexx Panza (vocals, guitar)
Mattia Itala (guitar)
Mirko Negrino (bass)
Marcello ‘Cell’ Leocani (drums)

Pre order:
imusic.co/music/4251267721009/vigilhunter-2025-vigilhunter-cd