Metalfier at Irving Plaza

Andrew Janda

A native of Rzeszów, Poland, Andrew Janda formed Metalfier in New York City in 2007 and soon after the band began playing the local club circuit. Numerous personnel changes have occurred, and currently Janda is the band's sole remaining original member, with guitarist Christian Cos, bassist Reda Woodcock and drummer Ignacio Orellana. Metalfier released its second seven-song EP, Into the Unknown, on May 5, 2017.

Headlining at Irving Plaza tonight, Metalfier recalled the 1980s, when hard rocking bands were outgrowing their blues roots and playing metal for the sake of metal alone. Metalfier showed little interest in more modern genres that often have hyphens in their descriptors. Janda squinted his eyes and crouched a bit into a low microphone stand as his gritty vocals were released from his gut. Metalfier's original songs showcased Janda's fluid guitar leads while the rhythm section played a tight back end. The band also performed a few covers, with Judas Priest's "Breaking the Law" rallying the audience into chanting the chorus with Janda. There is an audience nostalgic for the simpler days of hard rock, and Metalfier may become the band to reunite these old-school metalheads.