Originally written for Exclaim.
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Canadian heavy metal legion 3 Inches of Blood, currently based in Vancouver, BC, have been creating NWOBHM-influenced, ’70s hard rock-inspired music since 2000. Long Live Heavy Metal is their fifth full-length release. The band draw upon tales of glorious battle for lyrical inspiration, often with a fantasy or mythological bent. They also write about heavy metal itself, like opening track “Metal Woman.” 3IOB situate themselves firmly within the realm of traditional heavy metal, but it’s often when they reach …