STEEL INFERNO
“AESTHETICS OF DECAY”
Album Review By Iron Mathew
10/10
Steel Inferno are a female fronted heavy metal band from Denmark formed in 2012 who released a demo in 2014 and their first full length album in 2016.
Blending speed metal, thrash metal and the classic NWOBHM, the debut album from Steel Inferno is an exhilarating blast of rocket powered songs that will excite, and have you banging your head from start to finish. The title song opens the album in a furious flurry of blazing guitars and thunderous drums. Rampant and relentless ‘Aesthetics Of Decay’ is a fast paced, energetic, thrash inspired romp. ‘City Lights’ maintains the thrash metal feel to the album, as pace increases and heads bang harder. The mosh pit will be a frenzied blur and the atmosphere full of the smell of denim, leather and sweat as the pulsating pace threatens to break free and run amok. The guitar sound as ‘Defender Of The Old Way’ gets underway is a superb nod towards the NWOBHM sound and shows that the band can play more than just speed and thrash metal. The chugging guitars and galloping rhythm are straight outta the mid eighties NWOBHM evolution and will have you head nodding in one hundred percent appreciation of a bloody good tune. ‘The Civil Serpent’ sees guitarist Lars take on lead vocal duties and the entire vibe of the album takes an unexpected turn. The male vocals give the sound a more blunt and aggressive feel and with backing vocals from lead singer Karen, ‘The Civil Serpent’ is high paced and highly energetic.
The rest of the album has Karen returning to take over lead vocals as ‘Merciful Slayer’ stomps aggressively into view. There is mighty guitar riffing and a rhythm racing at full speed to keep your head banging very hard. The pace of the album is ferocious and frenetic but unlike many thrash metal albums, this has no brutality. But then, this is not just a thrash metal album. ‘Infernal Steel Brigade’ is classic NWOBHM played at a terrific pace. Breath taking at every turn, this album is an unending rollercoaster ride. The intriguingly titled ‘Dismantling Fixed Position’ lifts the heaviness and shares many characteristics with the European speed metal genre. A catchy chorus and an infectious rhythm will keep heads banging and feet stomping. There is no let up in pace across the entire album, no sign of a ballad and there is not even an instrumental, so there is no pause for breath as the relentless romp continues with ‘Flashing Reality’.
The energy and intensity levels displayed during ‘Flashing Reality’ are superb with guitars that scream and drums that thunder ferociously. This album is an adrenaline fuelled blast that draws on so many genres that if you listen carefully, you may just detect some of the rawness of the punk genre. Dare I say that ‘Magic Sword’ introduces elements of melodic heavy metal? Well, I just did…’Magic Sword’ is a stomp heavy song that will keep your head nodding and feet stomping. If you’re looking for an album to take your breath away with blistering pace and very heavy songs then this will fit the bill…perfectly. ‘Of Desire And Woe’ increases the intensity and is full of energy as it races on and on. Full of thrash metal tinged riffs ‘Of Desire And Woe’ rattles and rumbles relentlessly. Bringing this very impressive debut to an end is the colossal ‘To End All Wars’ fusing NWOBHM riffing with the European style of power metal. Retaining few thrash elements, ‘To End All Wars’ is the most traditional sounding heavy metal song on the album.
Overall, a fast and furious blend of the thrash, speed and NWOBHM genres, this is an exhilarating and exciting rocket powered metal romp.
This review was written for Frenzy Fire [http://www.frenzyfire.co.uk/fa_steelinfernoreviews.htm]
TRACKLIST
Aesthetics Of Decay
City Lights
Defender Of The Old Way
The Civil Serpent
Merciful Slayer
Infernal Steel Brigade
Dismantling Fixed Position
Flashing Reality
Magic Sword
Of Desire And Woe
To End All Wars
http://steelinferno.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/steelinferno666/
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