Album review: ROSS THE BOSS – Legacy Of Blood, Fire And Steel

AFM Records [Release date 28.04.23] (LP, ref vinyl, gatefold sleeve)

Guitarist Ross The Boss is best known as a founder member of both The Dictators and later Manowar, and has an extensive discography with both, as well as Shakin’ Street, Heyday, The Hellacopters, The Nomads, Death Dealer, Burning Witches and more.

Ross has also released four albums as Ross The Boss, a band name, between 2008 and 2020. This blood red vinyl LP (a vinyl only release) is a fine compilation of the work so far.

Opener Blood Of Knives from the 2008 debut New Metal Leader has a strong Manowar influence but is clearly a step on, a whole new project. And while it’s heavy and very high paced with a superb shredding guitar solo, there’s a melodic element. Then I Got The Right is a little slower, chunkier, but just as epic. Solid clean vocals with hints of scream and bursts of vocal harmony.

Throughout the material there is a hint of gothic melodic power metal (at times what Rhapsody and Freedom Call have alluded to). Later songs such as By Blood Sworn are just as good and even with a new vocalist in place, the transition smooth, the Viking Metal rocking with aplomb. Hints of keyboards in some songs make for a decent touch.

Having only one or two Ross the Boss albums, this is a fine intro to further material and a wonderful selection and listen beginning to end.

A paper inner, lovely red vinyl, and in the gatefold are track lyrics and credits with line-up for each of the four albums these tracks come from. There’s lots right here.

Well worth checking out, even more so if you’re a vinyl lover. ****

Review by Joe Geesin

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