Band:	Duel
Album:	Breakfast With Death
Style:	Hard rock, Stoner rock
Release date:	July 05, 2024
Guest review by:	Blackcrowe

01. Ancient Moonlight
02. Satan's Invention
03. Chaos Reigns
04. Fallacy
05. Pyro
06. Berserker
07. Tigers Of Destruction
08. Greet The Dead
09. Burn The Earth

Reaching The Balance.

Duel balances hard rock and heavy metal with punk and 70s proto-metal, inspired by bands like Thin Lizzy, Danzig and Blue Öyster Cult. Breakfast With Death, their fifth album, again mixes the ingredients that have created their signature melodic stoner rock since their 2016 debut. Duel sticks to the sound that defines them, not taking a new direction or delivering surprises, but this is part of what makes them who they are.

The track "Ancient Moonlight" opens the record, led by a heavy, solid bass guitar, powering double bass drums, fuzzy guitars, and strong vocals. It sets the tone, especially for tracks like "Satan’s Invention", where stoner sounds and dark lyrics mix with a hard, heavy rock style. That intensity is a big part of their identity. Duel meets the standards they’ve set, and that's important to keep in mind because it drives their musical style.

Highlight tracks include "Chaos Reigns", with its solid punk vibe; "Fallacy," my personal favorite; and "Pyro", which shows off Motörhead’s influence mixed with early Metallica-inspired riffing. Then there are more melodic songs like "Berserker" and "Tigers Of Destruction", each packed with strong guitar work.

The cover art by David Paul Seymour adds to Breakfast With Death's charm, with a killer design that matches Duel's own vibe.

While some might prefer their earlier albums, like their debut Fears Of The Dead, In Carne Persona, or (in my opinion, their best work) Witchbanger, Breakfast With Death balances raw energy with melody, and offers a solid take on their career. Duel’s sonority and obscure lyrics guarantee a good time while listening.

Duel is one of those bands you either love or don’t, but with Breakfast With Death, the band starts to consolidate their style and finally find the balance between their influences and their own sound.