There's something magical about two piece bands. Sure, we all hold the power trio in our collective imagination as a sort of definitive format for what barebones, no-bullshit rock should be, but especially in the past few years, the even more stripped down duo format has shown us that a direct connection between two musicians, and usually between a guitar and a drumkit, can hold all the power and all the straight-from-the-gut intensity we need from proper rock and metal. From Beehoover to Bölzer, from Death From Above 1979 to Darkthrone, examples are plenty and across all genres, and soon Son Of Cain will start to be name-dropped among all those as well.

Guitarist Hugo Conim and drummer/singer Alexandre Mota are both established icons in the Portuguese underground scene, the former rocking out with the likes of Dawnrider, Dragon's Kiss, Clockwork Boys, Patrulha do Purgatório or legendary crusters Subcaos, where he even coincided with the latter in the line-up at one point. Alexandre has mostly helped set alight the country's black metal scene, with Corpus Christii, Morte Incandescente or Storm Legion all emerging from the darkness of his soul, but he's also done his fair share of rocking in A Tree Of Signs, for instance. The two have been friends and musical partners for a long time, and Son Of Cain is where the result of their telepathic connection is finally revealed in all its glory.

After an introductory EP called LowLife 69, which still featured strands of their early beginnings with an extended line-up, Alexandre and Hugo hunkered down, took to the stage as a rock-solid guitar/drums duo, and in the process truly solidified Son Of Cain's musical personality. That is, essentially, what can be heard on this striking debut full-length, Closer To The Edge – a band finding its true voice, and letting it ring out loud in the best way possible. As with all the best two-pieces, Son Of Cain are devoid of any fluff. The riffs are clear, clean and massive, the songs surge forward as powerfully and matter-of-factly as that bright red muscle car the cartoon versions of our guys are riding in the album cover, and the overall vibe is refreshingly uncluttered and uncomplicated. As bluesy as they are hard-hitting, as groovy as they are crushing. The solid, no-nonsense approach of it all makes it hard to pick highlights, but Alexandre's singing – and isn't a drummer/vocalist, from Phil Collins to Chris Reifert, one of the coolest things ever? – might just be the final clincher you need. For a man used to shriek and growl in the most extreme way possible, he sure Danzigs his way through these songs like a true rock'n'roller… and a very versatile one as well – just hear him croon all by his lonesome on Like Stone, for example, after tearing it up on opener Hit The Road.

Fancy genre names be damned, too – though the band will certainly be lumbered with terms like stoner or proto-whatever, this is pure heavy rock, like only a precious few are bothered to make anymore these days. Get in!

Check it on youtube.