Virgin Steele – Virgin Steele I – The Anniversary Edition Review

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It’s no news I’m a 1980’s Metal child, the so called golden age of Metal music. To some extent, it’s not wrong if one thinks Metal’s identity was truly forged in that time. Yeah, okay, I myself say Metal music is older, but when it comes to a true identity it was in the 1980’s that it’s possible to identify a Metal identity. Being an 1980’s Metal child my dear fan may immeadiately think I know Virgin Steele, one cult band from that time. I could, maybe I should or even I would, however, reality really sucks. This is the only the second time I listen to an album of the band. Yeah, true. I remember to have read about them in some magazines back then, but that’s it. It’s also a fact I reviewed their 2023’s “The Passion of Dionysus,” an album pretty far from the albums I’m listening now. Keeping an eye on how important the band is Steamhammer / SPV Records is re-issuing their two first albums: 1982’s “Virgin Steele I” and 1983’s “Guardians of the Flame.”

First of all, it is now a tradition of mine to gather re-issues like this in only one review. It saves me time because there is a possibility my dear fans already know the albums. I do the same with boxes. Second, it’s fun to compare albums because it’s possible to trace the band’s evolution. This gets even more interesting when it comes to first albums like the ones I have here. Ok, so let’s go for it.

First impression is 1982’s “Virgin Steele I” and 1983’s “Guardians of the Flame” are very distinct albums. While “Virgin Steele I” still has the spirit of an independent band, “Guardians of the Flame” is to some extent a pioneer. My dear fan who doesn’t know the band will notice that in “Virgin Steele I” the band is still looking for its own personality and the tracks are very distinct from each other. From the Glam Metal of “American Girl” and “Drive on Thru” a track that could easily be recorded by Poison with all the uhs and ahs to the early Epic Power Metal of the tittle track “Virgin Steele.“ There are also moments of Prog Rock as the intro “Minuet in G Menor” followed by Triumph’s inspired “Danger Zone.” Of course, Virgin Steele are sowing here the seeds of what it would be their stapler. On the other hand, “Guardians of the Flame” is an album of a band that already know what to do. There are moments of pure ingenious as in album warmer “Don’t Say Goodbye (Tonight).” In fact, I feel the album was one step  ahead of its time. The contrast of harsh guitars with high pitched vocals, though very common now, was something new in 1983. Some tracks are still pretty Poisonish as, for instance, “Life of Crime,” what, from where I’m standing is no crime – no pun intended. The vocals and the ethereal atmosphere of “The Redeemer” is also ahead of its time. It’s epic drive plus the classical music moments are very avant-garde for 1983.

So, both are albums my dear child of the night can’t miss.

Virgin Steele “Virgin Steele I” and “Guardians of the Flame” were released on August 23rd via Steamhammer / SPV Records.

Track Listing “Virgin Steele I”:

  1. Minuet in G Menor
  2. Danger Zone
  3. American Girl
  4. Dead End Kids
  5. Drive on Thru
  6. Lothlorien
  7. Still in Love With You
  8. Children of The Storm
  9. Pictures on You
  10. Pulverizer
  11. Living in Sin
  12. Virgin Steele
  13. The Lesson – Bonus Track
  14. Life of Crime – Bonus Track
  15. Burn the Sun – Bonus Track
  16. Hell from Beyond the Stars – New Bonnus Track
  17. The Fire God – New Alternate Version Bonus Track
  18. Virgin Steele – New Alternate Version Bonus Track

Track Listing “Guardians of the Flame”:

  1. Don’t Say Goodbye (Tonight) – (Anniversary Re-Mix)
  2. Burn the Sun – (Anniversary Re-Mix)
  3. Life of Crime – (Anniversary Re-Mix)
  4. The Redeemer – (Anniversary Re-Mix)
  5. Birth Through Fire – (Anniversary Re-Mix)
  6. Guardians of the Flame – (Anniversary Re-Mix)
  7. Metal City – (Anniversary Re-Mix)
  8. Hell Or High Water – (Anniversary Re-Mix)
  9. Go All The Way – (Anniversary Re-Mix)
  10. Chaos Caprice – (Piano-Solo From The Original ‚Guardians’ Sessions)
  11. A Cry in the Night – (Anniversary Re-Mix)
  12. Bonus EP I Am the One – (Anniversary Re-Mix)
  13. Go Down Fighting – (Anniversary Re-Mix)
  14. Wait for the Night – (Anniversary Re-Mix)
  15. Additional Bonustracks: Desert Plains – (Alternate Version Bonus Track)
  16. Dirty Blonde Angel – (New Bonus Track)
  17. The Heaven’s Door Suite – (New Bonus Track)

Watch Virgin Steele live at Wacken alive video here: