Origin:	Chicago, Illinois, USA
Genres:	Traditional Metal

Last update/review:	May 6, 2015

David Shankle Group

One-time Manowar guitarist David Shankle strikes out on his own, with the cleverly-titled band name David Shankle Group, the Manowar connection furthered by signing to Joey DeMaio's Magic Circle Records for the debut release, Ashes To Ashes. The album is perhaps half of what one might expect. Traditional, 80's-style American metal? Absolutely. Manowar cloning? Not a bit -- Trace Zaber sounds nothing like Eric Adams, for starters (the style isn't that different, but his voice his), and some subtle keyboards give the band a more accessible edge, moreover the songs are less anthemic than Manowar. Nonetheless, Manowar fans would probably like this, as well as anyone into the classic sound of the 80's-- granted, this isn't groundbreaking stuff, but it's competantly done and worth a listen. Shankle recruited an all-new lineup for his second album, 2007's Hellborn, and yet another lineup is in place for 2015's Still A Warrior.