SHADOWS OF STEEL — Shadows Of Steel (review)

SHADOWS OF STEEL — Shadows Of Steel album cover

Album · 1997 · Power Metal

5/5 · 2010-07-30
1967/ 1976

If you love the mix between Symphonic Metal and Power Metal with Speed Metal rhythms and great dynamism Shadows of Steel is you band because the mysterious Wild Steel is the fine man that rewritten the pure essence of 80's Power Metal, Speed and AOR with the touch of 90's Prog Metal with a great musicians that not represent a true band but a ensemble of the more qoted Itaqlian Metal musicians in 1997. Easy that Shadows of Steel represent a true excellence for all Defenders of the Faith!

The album start with a great intro: "Countdown", a Rock intro with great ryhthmic duel by Andrew Mc Pauls (keyboards) and Vic Mazzoni (guitars) with a great Frank Andiver on drums. This track is a double track with "Shadows Of Steel", a great example of 80's Speed Power Metal with 90's treatment (keybord rhythmic riff at start of song and operatic voice... Because Wild Steel is a operatic singer!). Interesting the first solo by Vic Mazzoni that is divided into several parts (rhythm, neoclassical and besides... I lost count of the various lava flows!)This anthem have a great end with a pure neoclassical Olaf solo (mix of Malmsteen and Steve Morse) and first keyboards riff in fading. Is a calm keyboards intro also the start of "The Playing Room IV", another great song. The interior war between the man and his shadow is at peak of duel and the dramatical moment is represented by various musical moods. Great rhythmic riffs in Speed Metal parts and Jaco Pastorius solo by Steve in a soli section with Andrew, Olaf, Andrew, Olaf, Andrew and André succession of soli, also rhythmics. This song is a great example of mix between 80's and 90's with Yes, Genesis and Gentle Giant in mind... Or maybe if Yes or Genesis plays Metal this is a pure Yes or Genesis song!!! Excellent is the intro solo by Olaf in "Journey", the more close to Rock song in "Shadows of Steel" also if this song present the same musical explorations and atmospheres of other songs. "Out Of The Darkness" present a great chorus (as all chorus of this album) with subsequent keyboard style that transform a quiet song in a pure devastating powerful song. Third Andrew solo is a dramatic solo but the song is anthemic. "The Island" is a great atmospheric ballad, not a Rock ballad or POP ballad, only a pure Romantic ballad a la Kate Bush mixed with Wagner and Rick Wakeman!!! The first part of this song is dominated by voice and Andrew Mc Pauls' piano. And Andrew is a sort of Italian Wakeman, so... After second piano solo is the Metal band that takes over, without that the atmosphere being affected. And "Storied Windows" formed a double track with "The Island". This track keeps the same atmosphere of previous track although, essentially, a Speed Metal melodic and dramatic, though cheerful! As the same all the song is great! Another romantic ballad is "Winterland". Similar to "The Island" is a copy of "the Island" but with more Folk emphasis and more dramatic treatment, cause writing style and not for arrangement. "Day as Lions" is a pure 80's Speed Metal, a non-stop ride of a masked knight! another chorus to sing without knowing and without breath soli also characterize this song, dominated by synthesizers but not melodic for sound. For "Fly Away" see the general description of other songs. In this song the best musician is Gianca. Is the drums is an expessive instrument... With Gianca in "Fly Away" this is true. Great the solo by Andrew, steve and andré (a rhythmic soli) that start a sort of New Age part (because too introspective). Melodic or not the last solo by André is a great Thrash style solo. "Kingdom" start with a sinth in a Folk moment but this song is the more close to 70's Deep Purple style in Speed Metal territory. Because this is!!! "Gone With The Wind" is the ending song of this album. A great atmospherical mid tempo song, a sort of a new way for AOR power semi ballad. And all in a new version of "child In Time" in Prog Metal territory!!!

So, if you hate Prog Metal but if for you Symphonic Metal is not a good genre and, at the same time, if you love 80's Speed Power Metal and bands as Stratovarius Shadows of Steel is you band and "Shadows of Steel" is your album!!!

Put "Shadows of Steel" in the CD player. Turn the volume up and enjoy!