Music: NWOBHM
Website: http://www.blacksteel.com.au
Country: Western Australia
Black Steel plays traditional heavy metal music with a New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) feel. The music is focused on strong melodies, double kick drumming, aggressive clear vocals, and dualing guitar solos. All four members of this band know exactly how to execute this style of music very well, Black Steel's may not convert any new fans to the genre but anyone who already loves NWOBHM will absolutely enjoy this offering. Obviously the band is not playing this style of music for the money, they do it because they love playing and supporting this style of Metal!
Black Steel is a 4 piece band hailing from Perth Western Australia. Guitarist Jamie Page, Drummer Damien
Petrilli, vocalist Matt Williams and Dave Harrison on bass. Jamie Page is credited with recording with the likes of the
late Cozy Powell and has written songs with Queen guitarist Brian May. To date the band has released 'Battle Call' EP in 2000, 'Destructor' CD in 2002, 'Relentless Force' EP in 2004 and their latest full length release, 'Hellhammer' in 2005.
Black Steel's music is pure, straight forward 80's heavy metal. “Hellhammer” is an album that could have easily been recorded 25 years ago. The song structure, the playing style and especially the production will remind you of the classical sound notorious of the beginning of metal, so if you like the NWOBHM sound then this CD is for you without any doubt!
When I first spun this CD I felt like it was 1981 all over again, discovering new amazing bands like Iron Maiden and Def Leppard! Black Steel's album could have easily been released along side these same hard rocking Metal blokes that we loved back in the 80!
Bassist Dave Harrison, one of the founding members of the band recently commented: “Black Steel is all about being true to yourself and not conforming to whatever fashion trend that's happening at the moment. I could care less what's currently popular – we play what we want, without compromise.”
And that's the Gods honest truth! Hellhammer offers up 11 tracks of uncompromising, early-80's NWOBHM influenced
Traditional Metal, and they don't care if you think it sound's dated, irrelevant, or cheesy. You won't find any grandiose keyboards, no dueling guitar solos, no 0rchestrations, no 10-minute long epic songs. It's just dirty, crunching, unabashed, fist-pumping Metal. Any of the tracks could have easily been included on Lars Ulrich's (Metallica) NWOBHM complilation album titled 'NWOBHM '79 revisited'.
Black Steel play their cards on the table right from the start with the opener Annihilate' blasting from the speakers in a fiery, no holds barred display of thundering heavy metal. Powerfully armed with headbanging riffs, solos that are sure to incur facial expressions mimicking grimacing ecstasy! Matt Williams has a vocal style that fits here perfectly with its gritty edge. 'Black Steel' do not profess to be overly perfect in power metal operatics. These Australians have proudly been inspired by Judas Priest and Early Def Leppard rather than Helloween and other traditional power metal bands.
That Was Then, This Is Now' sets the pace with some frantic riffing and double bass drumming and the song is punctuated with a nice piece of lead guitar work from Jamie Page. We're not talking technical guitar wizardry here, instead he offers up real metal solos that hit right between the eyes! The title track Hellhammer' slows things down a bit with some arena style pounding drums and nasty, growling guitars before Grind To Metal' comes along with big guitars, even bigger drums. And, oh by the way, if the title Grind To Metal' give you cause to roll your eyes and think of cheese then you might want to turn back now.
At this point the band offers up a power ballad called Up Against The World' and while it's not the greatest of its kind, it is handled well enough and keeps the album from being too one dimensional by breaking up the pace a bit. Going Down' lacks the venom of the early numbers with its tripping guitar lines and melodic chorus but plenty enjoyable. Relentless Force' may veer into Manowar territory with its acoustic intro and heroic feel, which is the part I enjoy the most! Live For The Fight' and The Holy Devil' are essentially more of the same great fodder. These songs are balanced out by the aggressive Slaughterhouse' and the mighty, classic metal of closing number Death Or Glory'. This one has a strong Saxon feel to it and maybe even a tiny hint of the legendary Manilla Road!
Hellhammer is a worthy and enjoyable offering! Had 'Black Steel' released 'Hellhammer' back in the glorious days of the NWOBHM when the bands were hungry and true to the metal, this would have been great. It's great to hear this genre of music again!
note: 8/10
Tracklist
1. Annihilate
2. That Was Then, This Is Now
3. Hellhammer
4. Grind To Metal
5. Up Against The World
6. Going Down
7. Relentless Force
8. Live For The Fight
9. Slaughterhouse
10. The Holy Devil
11. Death Or Glory.”
Line-up
Guitarist Jamie Page,
Drummer Damien Petrilli,
vocalist Matt Williams
Dave Harrison on bass
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