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Frontiers [Release date: 18.11.22]
Third album from French traditional (ish) metal band, Rising Steel, who still exist in the last century (in a good way). From their amusingly phallic name, to the way they deploy every rushing, thrashing riff that ever existed, pulling in references from Annihilator (‘Skull Crusher’), Diamond Head (‘Run For Your Life’), Judas Priest (‘From Darkness’) and every NWOBHM band that once took flight.
They are one of a crop of European bands cresting a resurgent wave of old school metal, and in doing so they are breathing new life into a genre that continually looks to the great and the good for inspiration. It’s no coincidence that Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden are both currently reissuing expanded packs of classic material.
The key band members, Emmanuelson on vocals, with Tony Steel and Steff Leadmaster twinning up on guitars, drive the music emphatically toward the DIY bands of the past, who spiked their metal with punk. The music’s cocktail of wiry vocal melodies, pummeling riffs and rhythms is a compelling, pulse quickening mix.
The clanging, thrashing title track’s remorseless riffing succeeds in conveying an underlying sense of menace and unease, which given its title is clearly the intention here.
It’s performed with such vigorous animal intensity that its doomy intro soon evolves into a relentless heavy metal stomp.
‘Death Of A Vampire’ maintains the momentum, bridging the gap between rock and metal. Emmanuel’s vocals soar up through the octaves, pulled back to solid ground by earthy axework.
Elsewhere, the whole “backs against the wall” ethos, a key ingredient of all great heavy metal, is skillfully deployed on standout tracks ‘Life Awaits’ and ‘We Are Free’.
It’s doesn’t take long to see the music is instilled with the confidence of a team of musicians who’ve been round the block a few times. They don’t need no satnav to guide them home. ****
Review by Brian McGowan
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