Review Metal-Temple (Greece) : In a glow of Crimson Red

SOULSTEELER: beautiful name and definitely ’metallic’. This quintet hails from the country of Belgium and - the time I got their promo CD at hand - these warriors can gain your interest from the early beginning. A mystic red/grey cover artwork, unwilling to reveal added secrets if you don’t dig deep in the band’s creations. Really, a good portion of (not that) classic Heavy/Power Metal magic.

"Antwerp...the Rubens’ city par excellence, the world diamond centre, a city of fashion designers and fashion trendsetters, a world port and City-on-the-River, a bustling Burgundian city, a real shoppers’ paradise, a gallery of protected monuments and cityscapes, a welcoming and multicultural metropolis with a convivial and chockfull of atmosphere ... and of course a lot more" (source - www.antwerp.be). ’A lot more’, meaning SOULSTEELER, huh! Breathing life (and fire) for six years now, the band had already released two demo CDs prior to "In A Glow Of Crimson Red" mini-CD. With original member Ken Van Steenbergen (bass - later joined Belgium’s Metal legends KILLER) outta the camp from summer 2006, remaining founding members Jeroen Dhondt and Raf Nijs carry on the deeds of some nice music mead by low-profile metallheads in favour of the faith of steel.

This mini-CD has four songs plus an intermezzo ("Prelude To Insanity"). The album has a good but rather ’dusty’ production (private release - it was recorded at Hype Studios, Mechelen). "Break Down The Walls" features rather interesting guitars, flirting with melody whereas the rhythm section is stiff and old-school. Johan Debruyn’s voice is unique: melancholic but - at the same time - lyrical/epic and powerful. The solo could have been somehow more precise but is honest all the way. "Somniphobia" starts off with a fuckin’ great ’retro’ mid-tempo riff a la OSTROGOTH (hail!) while the songs spreads a ’metal way of life’ feeling. Beautiful but rock-sounding keyboards add up to the chorus.

Skipping the ethereal intermezzo, "Crimson Red" slams you in the face with some ’caveman’ drumming plus the guitar riffs are ’Euro Power’-influenced but (due to the ’retro’ sound) seam mainly focused into the mid-80s Heavy Metal attitude. Debruyn sings too melodic yet somehow depressed. A good ’keys’ lead crossfires with a notable solo. "Destiny’s At Hand" sums it up in a similar (with all the other tracks) ’musical’ way, exposing SOULSTEELER’s tendency to please both new and old metalheads with a rather clear style.

And, that’s the summary. SOULSTEELER are applicable for all Metal ages and (non-extreme) likes. "In A Glow Of Crimson Red" is available for purchase here and I’d definitely recommend it to metalheads looking for private efforts from sincere Metal bands.

http:/www.metal-temple.com