Band : Steel Assassin

Title album : War Of The Eight Saints

Record label : Sentinel Steel

Distribution : Hellion

Release date : April 2008

Review : CD

Steel Assassin are an amazing story, if for no other reason than that they are still around.  I remember this band waaaay back. This outfit were present on legendary Metal Massacre VI compilation album 1984 ( The Obsessed, Hirax, Dark Angel, Possessed ,...) with a song called “Executioner”.   With War Of The Eight Saints Boston's Steel Assassin once again bring real metal to the masses and it's a 65-minute quest every fan of classic heavy metal will immediately want to travel.

Listening to this CD takes me back to the mid-80's, this is pure US metal. ”Hawkwood” is a great way to start things off, the riff is simply infectious. “Curse of the black prince” follows in similar fashion, while “Hill of crosses” opens with one of those great Maiden/Metal Church -like riffs that will have your head bobbing immediately. There are two epic tracks namely "Merchants of force” and “War of the eight saints”.  The former is quite involved with a certain galloping Priest/Griffin quality to its scope, while the latter is slower and more intricate, with a bit more of a groove.  The titletrack is the longest track on the album (10min.), but it really manages to sound fresh and doesn't become boring, great song, The guitars are heavy, crunchy and dangerous, pounding away most of the time and then exploding into a fiery lead at others. Another point for the band is new singer John Falzone. As you'd expect in a US power-metal band, the guy can flat out wail but he wisely uses his whole range to full effect.   His performance on scorcher “Barabbas”” and “Blooodlust quest” is especially kickin'.

Production is solid and full-sounding without sounding overblown, thanks to Rich Spillberg of Wargasm fame. .  This is a hugely enjoyable slab of US power metal done with plenty of class and a fair amount of originality. 

90/100

Cosmicmasseur.