Steel Seal - The Lion's Den

Artist: Steel Seal
Release Title: The Lion's Den
Year: 2017
Label: Underground Symphony
Genre: Neoclassical Power Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Never Die
2. Master of Hell
3. Open Fire
4. Break Your Chains
5. Fate (Knocking at Your Door)
6. Lonely
7. A Dream Within a Dream
8. In for the Kill
9. Waiting for the Rain
10. Wake or Sleep

One of the finest groups in the genre, Italian neoclassical power metallers Steel Seal have endured plenty of turmoil within their ranks since the group initially formed nearly a decade ago and has finally curbed itself into one of the top bands in the style. Now finally returning after a seven-year gap between releases, the groups’ third full-length effort was initially released March 27, 2017 on Underground Symphony.

For the most part, this here is yet another stellar offering in the bands’ chosen style of boundless neoclassical melodies being infused with power metal rhythms. This one generates a rather impressive atmosphere from the barreling riff-work that features a steady, composed mid-tempo charge that works incredibly well, allowing for the band to switch tempos rather well. Being able to work in plenty of high-energy, speed-drenched thrash numbers as well as classy mid-tempo marches is a fine dose of variety with the fine amount of speedsters making for a stellar offering throughout here which brings out the shimmering neoclassical melodies to counterbalance the fury. However, it's when the album drops into the mid-tempo range where this one really hits it’s stride, dropping the stellar speed-metal riffing and letting the melodic flurries come to the forefront in earnest. Fueled by the stellar mid-tempo energy of the rhythms, those melodies are taken to the more impressive lead in the tracks where the far more intricate playing during these sections brings up the albums’ stance really nicely here. Combining these into a rather fun whole alongside the stellar vocals it generates the requisite connection to this style, even though it does highlight the overly-obvious minor flaw here in the album losing steam and energy in the second half where it really could’ve utilized some more fire to liven up the back-half of the album. Otherwise, this one has a lot to like about it.

Although it’s quite enjoyable for the most part, there’s a little bit of a lowered energy throughout here with the second half dropping in quality only slight enough to detract from the positives which make this one rather appealing for fans of neoclassical power metal or melodic metal in general.

Score: 88/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://www.undergroundsymphony.it/?page_id=1281

Majesty of Revival - Dualism

Artist: Majesty of Revival
Release Title: Dualism
Year: 2016
Label: Massive Sound Recordings
Genre: Neoclassical/Progressive Power Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Deadlock
2. Awaken
3. Alive
4. Inner Dimension
5. Darkest
6. Failure
7. Days
8. Wolfheart
9. Tongue
10. Perfection
11. When the Night Embrace
12. Serenity
13. Dualism
14. Same Blood

The third full-length from Ukrainian Neoclassical power metallers Majesty of Revival is yet another wholly strong and dynamic effort in their vastly-impressive catalog. Following a year of intense writing and recording, this impressive offering is released June 25, 2016 on Massive Sound Recordings.

Buoyed by the album’s strong riff-work, there’s a strong element charging along throughout the music here as the riffing takes on all series of challenging, progressive work here that offers technically-complex arrangements from tightly-wound speed metal leanings and fine thrash parts to soaring, majestic power metal anthems graced with plenty of fine keyboards running alongside those heavier pieces and tending to give this a widely-ranged and varied effort overall. It’s dynamic and wholly appealing in that there’s a strong attempt at variety here which definitely helps this one keep from overall repetition and familiarity that tends to dominate such material overall, though that plays up the first of the bands’ few small problems. The fact that it includes so many varying elements that the album as a whole is incredibly bloated and overlong, not just with ideas but in tracks as well. This could’ve easily been trimmed down a few songs in the running order to keep it to a more respectable length with this one carrying on with too many tracks featuring their admittedly-enjoyable take on these varied elements being present here and probably could’ve done with some trimming here and there to prune this one down a little. A fine start is the bands’ decision to include some rather obscure elements here as the few attempts at indie rock and more straightforward tracks don’t mesh so well with the more metallic work featured. Still, it’s not as big a problem as the other feature even though taking those out would help the bloated feeling.

There’s a lot of great work to be had here with the band spreading themselves out to include some varied and interesting elements into their core sound for an enjoyable if overlong offering that should really appeal to fans of the bands’ work in the past or those looking to explore the more progressive ends of the genre.

Score: 88/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://majestyofrevival.bandcamp.com/album/dualism