SAVAGE MASTER
“MYTH, MAGIC AND STEEL”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

9/10

Savage Master are a female fronted heavy metal band from the USA formed in 2013 releasing their debut album ‘Mask Of The Devil’, in 2014 and their second album ‘With Whips And Chains’ in 2016. The bands third album ‘Myth, Magic And Steel’, was released in 2019.

Savage Master may come from America, but their sound most definitely comes from the UK, more specifically the glory days of the NWOBHM evolution during the early to mid eighties. The new album offers nine songs of traditional heavy metal, firmly rooted in the aura of the NWOBHM. The album gallops out of the blocks with the title song ‘Myth, Magic And Steel’, echoing the sound of such iconic bands as Saxon, Angel Witch and Raven – all early exponents of the NWOBHM evolution. There is nothing wrong with being old school, because sometimes “old school is the best school”… ‘The Devil’s Ecstasy’ picks up the pace and fairly flies along, “foot on the monitor” providing the head bangers of the world a cracking opportunity to crank those neck muscles and get the head moving back and forth at a very high rate.

Adopting a mid tempo and very heavy foot stomp, ‘The Owl’ is a Black Sabbath style doom driven romp. And after just three songs it is clear that Savage Master are intent on keeping the sound of the NWOBHM genre alive, and boy, do they do it well. I was fortunate to have grown up during the eighties evolution, experiencing the growth of heavy metal, and Savage Master take me back to those joyous times. Pace returns with the highly energetic ‘Flyer In The Night’. The sound of buzzing guitars associated with the NWOBHM, drives ‘Flyer In The Night’, keeping fists punching the air hard in delight. Add a sing a long style chorus and you have one of the best songs on the album. Bristling with energy ‘Crystal Gazer’ gallops furiously on, whipping up a frenzy as it positively crackles and fizzes its way on.

The legacy that Britain started with the NWOBHM movement is clearly in safe hands with Savage Master, loud and proud, and definitely doing the genre justice. Am sure lead singer Stacey Savage has been called many names throughout her career, but lady of steel is perhaps one very apt name – ‘Lady Of Steel’ is a corker, a hard rocking and melodic march of energy, with probably the best vocal performance on the album. And oh man, there’s the buzz sounding guitars again, this time driving another doom laden romp, the highly atmospheric ‘High Priestess’. Epic and majestic, ‘High Priestess’ marches on, no, make that swaggers on, just as if it owns the place. ‘Far Beyond The Grave’ pays a massive homage to the NWOBHM style, big riffing, hard hitting and very melodic. Guitars buzz and rhythms thunder as ‘Far Beyond The Grave’ trots to a finish. The album closes with the eight minutes plus epic ‘Warrior vs. Dragon’. Atmospheric and story telling in nature, ‘Warrior vs. Dragon’ is a climactic end to an album packed to the rafters with some of the best NWOBHM you’re likely to have heard all year.

Overall, galloping, thundering, exciting and above all infectious heavy metal of the traditional nature.

TRACKLIST

Myth, Magic And Steel
The Devil’s Ecstasy
The Owl
Flyer In The Night
Crystal Gazer
Lady Of Steel
High Priestess
Far Beyond The Grave
Warrior Vs. Dragon

https://savagemasterofficial.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/savagemaster666

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