One of the records I meant to get to but never was able to was this modern thrash metal epic from Colorado’s Silencer. This record is a bit of a unique one, actually, but it grabbed my attention immediately because it’s a concept record about the space race between the USSR and the USA from the perspective of the Soviets. Strike you as weird? Yeah, me too. But I was surprised upon giving it a few listens to see that, indeed, The Great Bear is a very ambitious and cool record – but completely unpretentious despite the seemingly obscure and borderline esoteric topic.
Heavy Metal
Paradox – Tales of the Weird Review
Paradox has been knocking around for ages, with few albums resulting. Steel Druhm is here to fill you in on the latest from these Germanic mavens of melo-thrash. Can one of metal’s least prolific bands sway the nostalgic metal heart of the Steel One?
Flotsam & Jetsam – Ugly Noise Review
Flotsam & Jetsam is back to follow up their fairly successful 2010 opus, The Cold. Steel Druhm wanted to see more of the same, but he may have to learn to live with disappointment. Lots of it! At least the title is accurate.
Things You Might Have Missed 2012: Kotipelto and Liimatainen – Blackoustic
Steel Druhm is back with more crap you might have missed due to the many distractions of your busy lives. This time, it’s an all-acoustic set by members of Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica. What? You don’t like acoustic sets? What kind of metalhead are you???
Bloodbound – In the Name of Metal Review
Join us as Steel Druhm takes a short break from power metal to review some crappy power metal with classic metal leanings. Bloodbound is free falling into the abyss of mediocrity and In the Name of Metal is just going to speed the journey to metal’s nether regions.
Orden Ogan – To the End Review
Who doesn’t like Blind Guardian and Rage? Orden Ogan sure as hell does, as their new opus ably demonstrates. Its rich, creamy German power metal all day long on To the End and there are enough layered vocal harmonies here to choke a white whale! That means there are lots!
Seven Kingdoms – The Fire is Mine Review
Through hellstorms, hail and snow, Steel Druhm keeps delivering the power metal like a creepy, metal-obsessed mailman in full battle armor. Today’s package includes the classic power stylings from Seven Kingdoms. If you like the super catchy Hammerfall and Gamma Ray sound, this will blow your mind as it did Mr. Steel’s. It seems there’s no end to the power metal destruction he plans to unleash on these here pages in the coming weeks, so batten down the hatches and prepare accordingly.
Rebellion – Arminus: Furor Teutonicus Review
More power metal reviews by Steel Druhm? When is enough really enough? Rebellion rocks the classic Grave Digger style of Germanic power metal and with several ex Digger members onboard, they usually get it right. This time though? Tricky question.
Kamelot – Silverthorn Review
Kamelot is the Mac Daddy of the power/progressive/pomp circuit, but how will they fare without mega-throat Roy Khan at the mic. Steel Druhm puts on his Sunday best for a night at the opera and brings you his aristocratic musings.
Retro-spective Review: Lethal – Programmed
We haven’t had a retro review for some time and Steel Druhm is here to fix that. Diving deep into the archives, he points an aproving finger at long forgotten, Queensryche-influenced rockers Lethal and their excellent debut, Programmed. With all the spit and shit flying between Geoff Tate and his former band, you’re gonna need this if you want a taste of good, old fashioned Ryche ‘n roll.