It’s funny how our opinion might change in each listening of an unknown album and band. Maybe influenced by the previous album I was listening to write the review, I thought Ice War had a more 1960’s grip. I realized I was flat wrong about that when I heard the album for the scond time today. “Feel the Steel” is an Epic Metal album with that 1980’s grip that their contemporaries of Eternal Champion and others love to perform. On my behalf, I have to say I listened to the first track and I wasn’t very atentive because I was to call it a night.
On second thought, after listening to all “Feel the Steel” for the third time – Yeah, sometimes I listen to an more than 3 times. It depends on how well I understand the band – I realized that the way the album was recorded led me to a misunderstanding. I really don’t know if its production was supposed to be this way. In fact, “Feel the Steel” has so many different vibes from elements of Grim Reaper with “Shine Bright,” for instance, to Viper with opening track “Venom.” In terms of instrumental overtones, I feel a lot of Cirith Ungol, especially when it comes to the occasional keyboards. The ballad “Lost to the Void” has a Manowar intent in it. I’ll elaborate. Musicwise, the track isn’t in any way similar to any Manowar track, however, its lyrics about battles make it very near “Battle Hymns,” the timeless Manowar classic.
If I were to choose only one track to represent the spirit of “Feel the Steel” I would go with albm opener and tittle track “Feel the Steel” for its keyboard intro that intertwine with a big guitar with some different rhythm. I just love the duel between the guitar and the bass repeating the notes I guess with an octave higher. Add to that a catchy and singalong chorus. The perfect track to sum up the album in ony one track. Pay close attention to the homage to obscure and unknown Metal bands its official video pays.
“Feel the Steel,” an album to singalong all songs and get breathless. That’s all about it. Obscure bands like Picture or Thor, just to name a few, from the good old times of Metal music thank Ice War for remembering them.
Ice War “Feel the Steel” will be released on January 24th via Hooked On Metal Records.
Track Listing:
- Feel the Steel
- Venom
- Red Fire
- Memories
- Choice Is Ours
- Shine Bright
- Life in Waste
- Lost to the Void
- Damnation
Watch 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!