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A more than solid investment are the so far three CDs of Canadian HANKER. And the best one is their third, Snakes And Ladders". Unfortunately the albums only are available as import - utopic deal demands from the band so far successfully dampened interest by record labels - but musically the band walks the field of honour in best Maple Metal tradition (see their great colleagues of SWORD, RAZOR, RUSH, TRIUMPH...).
Even though HANKER do not like to hear it, you can best compare their sound with JAG PANZER. While some fast parts in fact do remind me of glorious HELLOWEEN days, as in the great "The Pardoner". I have to say that the Canadians do not steal like magpies, but just let a few inspirations find their way into their songs. Tracks such as the fast opener "Ad Patres" or the epic "Hail To You" with its fine riffing and killer chorus don't have to hide behind JAG PANZER hymns such as "Chain Of Command" or "Iron Eagle".
And I neither can complain about the rest of the songs. "Seven" surprises with a light oriental touch, while the "Save Your Life" starts kind of ballad like, but then slowly turns into a truly memorable killer, which would fit on the albums of KAMELOT. BRAINSTORM and SWORD fans should love "Confidence Man". Generally every maniac of traditional and demanding Metal sounds should have no problems with HANKER at all. And for an own production the sound also is damn fat. (Online January 8, 2003)
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