Sergeant Steel- Lovers and maniacs

2010


This year has been solid for metal so far. What about hard rock? Let's see the new Ratt is good and Krokus and uh...well... okay it hasn't been the best year for hard rock. Don't despair because there is still hope and Austria's Sergeant Steel are one the bands that make me think that 2010 could still turn out to be fine year for hard rock after all. Sergeant Steel show influences from the mid-70's, early 90's and of course the 80's. They also step over into metal on a few tracks as well. They are not just a retro act and they sure are not afraid to take chances as they blend 80's hard rock along the lines of Van Halen, Bon Jovi, TNT and others with some vocal change-ups that remind me of Queen. Then they step it up a notch and approach a Judas Priest style fury at times. To be honest in a music scene so many bands seem content to just coipy one band it is very refreshing to hear act that's brave and enough to take numerous influences and not just copy them, but rather pull them together and add their own spin on it. What's more impressive it that for the most of Lovers and maniacs actually succeeds in being all that Sergeant Steel wanted it to be. Now that's not to say there isn't room for improvement. They could use some tightening around the edges and a little more direction in places, but in all they are the real deal. So here's hoping that these guys keep pushing the limits, take chances and follow up on the direction that they have started here.