Here we are again with the rising stars Battle Beast and their newest release “Steelbound.” Even though I do not understand some of the band’s commercial choices, I must say I like their sonancy in general terms. Their approach on Symphonic and Power Metal amuses me. To some extent, they sound a lot as many 1980s radio Metal music did as album first blood “The Burning Within” showcases the fan. The mix this track does shows pretty well how the band blends strong guitars with keyboards bouncing the lead all the time. Though with a foot in the past, the track sounds pretty modern to me. Well, it is undeniable the fan reached a huge fandom around this sad and lonely and pathetic little planet.
As I were talking about the band’s questionable choices for some more commercial sonancies there comes “Here We Are” with, pardon me, Abba sonancy. I strongly recommend my dear fan to skip this track. Tittle track “Steelbound“ also stresses this more commercial verve of the band with some dancing keyboarding. The guitars here are strong, but to some extent, they are obscured by the keyboards. I guess I am allowed to say I like the “Blood Of Heroes” Batlle Beast better. With it the fan gets the best mix of emotion, powerful guitars and screams the band can do. “Angel Of Midnight” follows the same path getting the band back on track again with its tradition. Same happens with the very pleasant grand finale “Watch The Sky Fall,” also a track that balances well the band’s elements.
It is fair to say “Steelbound” has to very distinct facetes. The first is the one we are talking about with tracks that mix emotion, powerful guitars and screams with a dash of Symphonic Metal. The second is with tracks as “Twilight Cabaret” where the band forces the hand and excesses on the questionable choices I said before. There are tracks that are some kind of mix between both Battle Beast‘s facetes as “Riders Of The Storm“ whose sonancy gets the exact dose of each element. As I do not like to speak ill of bands I will only say that I’ve had with “Twilight Cabaret.”
From where I am standing, “Steelbound” is behind the band’s tradition. Well, I guess, it happens with the best bands. Looking forward to the next.
Battle Beast “Steelbound” will be released on October 17th via Nuclear Blast Records.
Track Listing:
- The Burning Within
- Here We Are
- Steelbound
- Twilight Cabaret
- Last Goodbye
- The Long Road
- Blood Of Heroes
- Angel Of Midnight
- Riders Of The Storm
- Watch The Sky Fall
Watch “Steelbound” official music video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!