Steel Raiser-Regeneration

Pure Steel Records
2013

Alright, so this (photo below) isn't the exact photo that came with the press material for Steel Raiser
(as that one was of the whole band and all), but it still raises the same question. Exactly what are you supposed to think when you've got a lead singer like that staring you in the face? What is that thing on your eye supposed to be? If that was all I had to go by as far as Steel Raiser I'm not so sure I would be able (or willing) to take them serious. Add that to the band's name (which you'd swear would have made them some sort of German power metal act) and the album art (huh?) and it's almost enough to make you go "NEXT"! Thankfully this album (the second from Italy's Steel Raiser) is more then meets the eye...or eye patch thing!

Following in the footsteps of 2008's "Race Of Steel" (which had itself followed a 2007 demo) this new album from Italian group Steel Raiser is an interesting mix-up of traditional heavy metal, power metal, 80's metal and thrash. Lead by Mr. Eye Piece there, otherwise known as Alfonso Giordano (ex-Noble Savage), the band features guitarist Giuseppe Seminara (also of Noble Savage), bassist Salvo Pizzimento,drummer Antonio Portale and finally Gianluca Rossi (ex-Valkija) on bass & guitars. Alfonso Giordano himself sounds like Udo covering Rob Halford

 and doing a damn fine job of it. As for the the band? It's a little of this and a lot of that. Let's examine it more. There is some "Painkiller" era Judas Priest along with influences/similar acts like Metal Church, Accept, Iron Maiden, Steeler (German version), Helstar, Steel Vengeance, Bodine, Obsession and Steel Assassin. Yes, I'm aware of the fact that three of those bands have some form of "steel" in there name. Is it a coincidence or does this album just make me think of steel/metal and/or all things sharp/hard as a rock? With a guitar-driven/"crunch factor" take on the genre (and songs like "Metal Maniac"!) it's easy enough to see why I'd enjoy the 43 minutes worth of material on "Regeneration". It's probably not remotely original and it does sound fairly typical of Pure Steel signings, but I'm glad I gave it a chance. It's a fun, no-frills album with some killer lead guitar work and a vocalist that is tailor made for the metal mic position.