ilosaarirock 
There is a somewhat popular joke that as a rule goes ”Hey, X called and they want their Y back”. In Ranger‘s case, someone might be inclined to ask whether the 80s have have called and asked something back. Not me though.
Ranger is a band of twenty-somethings whose idea of what heavy metal should be does not include Auto-Tune or Pro-Tools or some such but analog, old-school metal sound that lives and breathes. Organic, you know? This being the case, it should come as no surprise that Ranger gigs are fast and loud, and as trash/speed is their chosen genre, they’re packed with impossibly fast riffing, bone-crushing shredding and spine-jerking hooks that practically force you to start head-banging.
The gig starts, and it does not take long for the circle pit to form, and the most enthusiastic metalheads stay in the pit for the duration, which is admirable. And so is the zeal that the band displays on the stage. No recess, no respite and barely a word in between the break-neck speed songs, all with the appropriate panache and denim regalia. Most impressive. The 80s definitely called, but no, we’re not giving Ranger back.
Text: Jari Rytkönen
Photo: Markus Korpi-Hallila
