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I don't know where High Roller keeps digging up these forgotten bands from the days of the NWOHBM, but I'm almost always glad they do. The UK's Deep Machine released several demos in the early 80s, which fell on deaf ears at the labels of the day, and the band split up. In 2012, many of the original members got back together to give it another shot, releasing the EP Whispers in the Black, first on CD and now, in 2013 on vinyl.

As you might expect, Deep Machine play a slightly raw, melodic form of Traditional Metal much like early Saxon or Di'Anno-era Iron Maiden. The twin guitars drive the up-tempo songs with foot-tapping efficiency. The vocals are clear and they way the band uses echo reminds of OZ's powerful, but far away sound. All three tracks are quite good and the songwriting is polished, though the bridge on "Whispers in the Black" sounds suspiciously similar to the one on Iron Maiden's "Wicker Man."

Deep Machine adds nothing to the legacy of the NWOBHM but does provide three more quality tracks to the pantheon. If you can't get enough of that classic sound, then you're going to need Whisper in the Black.