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PALACE
The 7th Steel

Massacre (2014)
Rating: 8/10

It’s time to strap on that armour and with sword in hand take to the promised land in search of lost treasure and dragons, and with Palace by your side I’ve no doubt you’ll find your quarry, because this is a high octane dose of driving power metal that’ll have just about every scaled behemoth quaking in its boots.

German metallers Palace are a force to be reckoned with, combining the leather-clad pomp of Manowar with more traditional elements of, say, Saxon with added grit and determination, especially in the vocal delivery of Harald “HP” Piller (ex-Saints Anger).

This quartet is a well-oiled machine fed on nuts, bolts and flights of fantasy too, but before you start thinking that this is a cheese-ridden combo high on sword and sorcery then you’d be wrong. If anything, Palace has more in common with fellow Germans Gravedigger and the likes in that the vocals have that extra snap, and the music sways with melancholy as the posse stirs its mighty cauldron of steely anthems.

It’s hard to believe this skeleton crew formed back in 1990 and yet didn’t release its debut opus – Toy Of Rage – until six years later, but since then it’s been a steady plod for this band of brothers and, as the title suggest, The 7th Steel is the seventh studio instalment.

To be honest, there’s not really a lot to say about an album that does exactly what it says on the tin. As one would expect from such seasoned musicians, this is a rollicking good listen based upon a foundation of sterling solos, riotous vocal chants and shouts, and a steady steely riff tank that remains persistent throughout such tracks as the plodding ‘Bloodshed Of Gods’ and the fantastically ghoulish ‘Blades Of Devil Hunter’ with its atmospheric introduction of sneering vocals and dark majesty.

The riffs remain heavy throughout each and every track, complemented by Harry Reiter’s sturdy drum boom which isn’t afraid of marching into an albeit formulaic metallic gallop. One senses that the band really believes in its style though, and while it’s far from being groundbreaking, one cannot argue with bands which consistently churn out powerful, ball-busting metal laced with demonic overtones. Sure, there’s a feeling of déjà-vu when one becomes wrapped in the iron coils of the melodic slams of ‘Metal Company’ or the catchy trundle of ‘Teutonic Hearts’, but it’s such a pure metal experience from start to finish that if you haven’t sewn a Palace patch onto that tatty battle jacket of yours then you’re clearly in the wrong game.

The 7th Steel is a fine lump of classic heavy metal that will continue barking orders long after you’ve switched the stereo off, because it has that ability to rattle around the backstreets of your mind like all good metal albums should.

Neil Arnold

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