I’ll be honest — when I first hit play on Sorceress and heard the opening licks of “Sharp Tongue,” my first thought was, here we go, Steel Panther vibes. The vocals had that same high-pitched, melodic energy — not quite operatic, but definitely in that 80s arena-metal zone. Think Iron Maiden, Skid Row, that whole big-voice, big-riff era.
But the band lists Mastodon and Kyuss as influences, and you can hear that too — a little more desert-rock grit, a bit less glam polish. So it lands somewhere between hard rock and melodic metal, which honestly works really well here.
What caught me off guard, though, was finding out that the singer, Kate Lewis, is female. I never read bios before I listen — I want to go in cold — and I would’ve sworn this was a male vocalist. That’s not to say it matters, but her tone and range sit perfectly in the pocket with the band. She doesn’t just hang up in the high register; she moves through the full range with power and control.
A lot of modern female metal singers either lean into guttural growls or go too clean and airy, but Kate lands right in the sweet spot — strong, melodic, and natural. Her voice fits the music, not the other way around.
Like a lot of the bands I’ve been discovering lately, Beast Eagle are doing something familiar but with their own twist. Sorceress brings that late-80s vocal style back in a way that feels fresh instead of nostalgic. You don’t hear many singers these days who can pull that off convincingly — and she does.
A great surprise from a band I’d never heard before, and definitely one I’ll be digging deeper into.
Sorceress is set for release on November 21 through Golden Robot Records.
Sorceress track listing:
1. Sharp Tongue
2. The Dead Follow
3. Send Me Down
4. Witch Hunt
5. The Demonstration
Rod Orchard is a veteran music journalist and photographer with 35+ years documenting metal, punk, and hardcore. His work has been featured in publications, films, documentaries, and record artwork worldwide, capturing the raw energy of live shows and backstage life.