Descending Archangels

Since the German underground scene for true classic heavy metal is not big at all, it's easy for a young fresh band, if they get discovered, to release small jewels. Bands like Sacred Steel, Metal Inquisitor or Atlantean Kodex are still underground, but already cult acts for traditional headbangers here and everywhere in the world. Yet, Steelclad from Dresden in the far east of Germany remain obscure - undeserved! Believe me, this demo is nothing but timeless, heroic and powerful heavy metal grandness!

Let's start with the vocals. Singer Michele is not German, but Italian, which is clearly audible. I'm not quite sure what realy IS the special thing about Italien singers but when you listen to bands like DoomSword, Wotan, Holy Martyr, Battleroar (which are greek, but their vocalist is italien) or in our case Steelclad, you'll agree that they all have a certain kind of accent and a unique kind of voice and singing style. More high and very clean, but also very emotional and full of power. So does Michele, or how he call's himself MikeSteel. He hits every note perfectly, manages clean singing, high shrieks and old school rough screaming like in the chorus of the first song "Hellraisers". I've seen them live and he's totally able to reproduce it on stage. Great.

But Metal's not made of the vocals only, right? So how about the instrumentation and the songwriting? Imagine something from the glorious 80ies, combining German and American traditions of classic heavy metal. There's something of early Helloween (but less happy), Running Wild (but less brutal) or Accept (but less dirty) in it and dunked into a shitload of all the things which made the underrated US power/ epic/ heavy metal so damn magical. Most of all it reminds me of Medieval Steel (which most famous song they also play live). Not just because of the vocals but because of the more midpaced, anthemic songs, creating an atmosphere of epic battles, shining armory and knights so kingly it's beyond believe. There's the true metal feeling of ManOwaR, yet it's nowwhere near as weird as maybe Manilla Road or Brocas Helm. More accessible and catchy. The production also reminds me of Medieval Steel or maybe Riot on their "Thundersteel" album. It's crystal clear, very transparent, not much focussed on the bass but more high, yet remains heavy and crisp with a lot of reverb on it - very old school and 80ies like indeed. I love it when heavy metal bands use two lead guitars, doing such incredible melodies, soli and stomping riffs, and that's exactly what Steelclad does. I think they're very skillful in playing as well as in composing good working songs out of great ideas. Listen to the guitar lead at the beginning of "Hellraisers" and then again in the break between the first and the second verse. I'm sure you'll agree that this is exactly the stuff epic heavy metal dreams are made of! And it get's even outdone by the melodie played after the chorus and the solo later! If you havn't played air guitar yet, you'll do now!

The second song "Descending archangel" is a bit heavier and I absolutly worship this riff, which is actually neither complex nor original but it feels so fucking Metal, you know what I mean. A crushing order to bang your skull and raise your fist. It's too bad that this song doesn't have a real chorus, but otherwise it works perfect as it is. Take note of the ManOwaR-like close, like a battlecry of a thousan warriors holding swords and axes much to big, heavy and fantasy-like to use them.

"The iron law" definitly is the highlight of this demo cd, which is the longest and most epic track. The flashy guitar intro could have been taken from a lost Judas Priest track, but after that a fucking monster of stomping, heroic and catchy tune starts which kicks EVRYTHING ManOwaR have done since many years in the holier-than-thou ass! If you don't raise your fist during the chorus, you've never felt the glory of heavy metal. The guitars are creamy, the drums are pounding like war hammers and when you think it's over and done, an astonishing bagpipe melodie is doing a sublime war dance with the guitars until the song fades out. Truly heroic, mighty and touching, yet still metal and old school to the bone.

Last but not least, the package of this three song demo is made pretty good. There're all the lyrics inside, as well as many pictures and the cover is done like an LP jacket (there're also grooves on the cd like on vinyl, nice gimmick). There's actualy nothing to complain for me, except it's too short! I want to here a full lenght of these guys, goddamit, but it seems they're much to slow and not very ambitious. What a shame, because you allready guess it, there's a hell of potential, talent and spirit in this disc and I can't see any excuse for not putting a full album of these warriors on black wax.

Every serious metalhead needs to hear this, especialy when he's into Medieval Steel, old ManOwaR or the new generation of South European epic metal (like Battleroar, Wotan, DoomSword...). You won't be disappointed, so get it wherever you can!