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STEEL INFERNO
Rush Of Power

From The Vaults (2024)
Rating: 8/10

These Copenhagen-based rockers are becoming somewhat veterans of the Danish scene having formed in 2012. Rush Of Power is the fourth full-length album by the band and their second to feature vocalist Chris Rostoff who replaced Karen Christensen.

Now, if you haven’t stumbled upon Steel Inferno before then there’s no better place to start than here. The busy guitars on opener ‘The Abyss’ propell the listener into a furious domain of zany speed metal, where the guitars and drums zip along to the soundtrack of Rostoff’s snaps.

There is a genuine fervour to the Steel Inferno sound as the band channels 80s US power metal effortlessly in a bid to scorch the ears. Rostoff adds extra high pitched yelps throughout and such tones transport me back to the smoky arenas of the 80s when bands like Hallows Eve were packing out dingy clubs. The difference here though is that Steel Inferno ups the quality, bringing sizzling track after sizzling track, each one encased in a dazzling speed metal framework of darting axe work, nifty bass and scurrying percussion resulting in a steamy mix of, say, Helstar.

There’s a Teutonic steel about so much of what’s on offer here and the track titles say it all. The likes of ‘Attack’, ‘Electrocuter’, ‘The Blitz’ and ‘Power Games’ could all have spent time on Jag Panzer’s old demo tapes, such is the molten fury portrayed. ‘Cut Down By The Chainsaw’ is as 1985 as it gets, pumped full of old school fuel via a European zip that fuses itself unashamedly to San Francisco Bay Area schlock.

Although less catchy than the material on the last opus (2022’s Evil Reign), Rush Of Power not only bristles with extra energy and charisma but as the album unravels the songs get stronger. It’s a shame the band has taken so long to reach this standard, but hopefully Rush Of Power will enable Steel Inferno to garner a following worldwide due their impressive cacophony.

Neil Arnold

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