2008-02-04
2007 saw the return of several mythological metal acts, and US power metallers
Steel Assassin are one of the better bands to do so.
These guys appeared in the 6
th Metal Massacre collection way back in 1984, but never got around to releasing a real full length album before falling apart, with only a collection of unreleased material called "From The Vaults" appearing back in 1997.
Well, they're back, and they sound as if they've been playing together since 1984, their brand of heavy yet melodic old-school power metal is one of the best I've heard of late, with very few others reaching a similar level of success in creating true melodic metal that is both old-school yet updated and relevant.
The band kicks in with Hawkwood, quite a high-tempo number based in a galloping power metal riff. American power metal was always different than it's European counterpart, less kitschy and keyboard-heavy, and Steel Assassin are a great example of all that's good in the American take on the genre. Thundering drums and very Steve Harris-like bass playing, the band's two guitarists really let it rip during the song's lead section.
The band's vocalist – John Falzone took some time, but eventually his delivery grew on me. At first I felt his vocals were too aggressive for the band, his rusty and powerful voice hitting the songs like a battering ram, but the more I listened to him to more sense his voice made, a softer, vibrato-rich vocalist would not be able to hold together the band's material. His delivery in Hill Of Crosses is a great example of how to do it right, the song's chorus is sure to stay with you long after it's finished.
Sword In The Stone shows even further diversity from the band, a low-tempo track that works more on subtle melodies than larger-than-life ones, these guys still make it work. Again the bass playing deserves extra mention, the guy really knows his stuff.
The album ends with the almost prog-rock epic title track, slowly building crescendo which again serves as a showpiece for the band's way with riffs. It may demand some deeper commitment from the listener – but the song's mid-section definitely makes it worthwhile.
Finally, as an old-school metalhead myself, I can find very little to fault here. It's good to see these veteran bands coming back together to release such great albums, with very few younger bands able to do anything even remotely similar. I just hope this isn't a one-time reunion album, they should continue doing what they do so well for years to come.
Alon Miasnikov
