Steel Machine-Purifying Fire

Self-Release/Independent
2018

Lead by vocalist/guitarist Timo Takala (Septure), Finland's Steel Machine previously appeared on this site back in mid-March of 2017 (link). Here it is nearly one year later and this (Motörhead, Tank, and Carnivore influenced!) hard rock/heavy metal/speed metal band is back on the attack and meaner than ever before! Having just loved their 2016 debut EP, "Burning Valves", I jumped at the chance to download this 5-track release. Within the first few moments of opener "Spearhead" I knew that this EP was going to be something really special. By the time the riff-rocking title track closed things out, "Purifying Fire" not only proved my earlier suspicions, but completely blew the hell out of my heavy metal-loving heart!! Whether it is "To the Top" (live Motörhead meets early Tank?) or the almost-Metallica like "Beggars and Liars"*, Steel Machine's second EP is just too damn good to pass up! Released on March 2nd (making it blazing hot to the touch!), "Purifying Fire" is a must have for anyone that loves (raw & real) heavy metal/speed metal, Motörhead, and/or the Belgium band Killer!! With bassist Sebastian Bergman (Chevalier, Decaying, Sodotory) and drummer Juha Forsström (Brainspoon) rounding out the line-up, 2018 should be the year in which some record label realizes just how fucking epic this metal trio is. Until that inevitable moment happens, keep on rocking and rolling Steel Machine.


*As in pre-Black album Metallica.

Chevalier-Chapitre II

Independent/Self-Release
2018

Chevalier is a Finnish heavy/speed metal band that is fronted by Emma Grönqvist. Active since 2016, the five-piece group is comprised of musicians with ties to Decaying, Demon's Gate, and Steel Machine. Like many other critics and fans before and after me, I fell hard for the group first release, "A Call to Arms". Released back in 2017, "A Call to Arms" was a nearly-flawless mimture of epic heavy metal and vintage speed. Early this month it was followed by a 7" split with fellow Finnish heavy metal band, Legionnaire. This twenty minute plus release is Chevalier's latest recording and it features the following tracks: "The Messenger", "Wrath Of Steel", and "The Curse Of The Dead Star". All three tracks run past the six minute mark and there is a guest appearance by Gentry Lord (a talented musician in his own right, Gentry Lord produced and mixed this three-track EP). Starting off with "The Messenger", "Chapitre II" is above all else LOUD! Maybe it is just the way in which it was mixed, but this EP sure seems as if it has been cranked all the way to the top!! Honestly a little mix would have been preferable, but in no way does it take away from the glorious nature of this female-fronted Finnish heavy/speed band. For a group that has only been active since 2016, Chevalier is already near the top of the heap when it comes to this style of hard & heavy speed! With a major label behind them (and a more proper production job), Chevalier would be huge!! It's more than a little surprising then that this group is still unsigned. Had I the funds, Emma Grönqvist and her companions would be in the studio as we speak. I would be throwing all my weight behind this skilled-band and then some. For now all that I can do is share this band with our readers and some PR contacts that I have. This is another promising metal band that is going to make some label look really smart when they pick them up. While we wait for that to happen (and I have no doubt that it will!) why don't you drop everything that you are doing and go snag this EP?  It's well worth the cost of admission...

Chevalier-A Call to Arms

Self-Release/Independent

2017

It's well known that I am a huge fan of female-fronted rock and heavy metal bands. If you are a loyal follower of Heavy Metal Time Machine then you can attest to this fact. For our new readers and/or fans of this up-and-coming band from Finland there is one word that I should probably add to the proclamation. The word in question is "good".  In a overcrowded scene where even female-fronted heavy metal bands are a dime a dozen, Chevalier sticks out from the rest because of it's high-level of talent and skill. Obviously it is not enough to simply have a beautiful woman standing in front of a microphone. You need someone who can actually sing. Extra points are awarded if you can find a lead vocalist with class, style, and substance. When it comes to this (epic metal-inspired!) heavy/speed metal band from Helsinki that would be Emma Grönqvist. Emma has a great voice that is full of power and when she hits some of those high notes then it is lights out and game over! She leads a talented group of musicians that just so happens to include bassist Sebastian Bergman from the band Steel Machine. In addition to Emma Grönqvist, Sebastian Berman, and drummer Joel, Finland's Chevalier features two members with ties to the blackened thrash metal band Demon's Gate. Those two gentlemen are Mikko Ylijoki (lead guitar) and Tommi (lead guitar and backing vocals).

Even though Chevalier is a fairly new name to cross paths with, having just formed last year and all of that jazz, "A Call to Arms" is a great deal more mature than one might expect from such a young outfit! Chevalier self-describes themselves as "Medieval speed metal from Finland" and their influences include Judas Priest, Brocas Helm, Omen, Mercyful Fate, ADX, Running Wild, and Legionnaire. That little bit of information comes in handy when we are talking about Chevalier's studio debut. With the exception of it's rough production job, "A Call to Arms" is a bold new look at epic heavy metal and traditional speed. This six-track EP is the end result of young and hungry band that grew up on a steady diet of traditional heavy metal, vintage speed metal, N.W.O.B.H.M., eighties power metal, and epic metal. Even though I usually fail badly at them, Chevalier's diet is something I can stand behind and fully support! At the end of the day there is some much to appreciate about this new band and a EP like "A Call to Arms". As righteous as this six-pack of true metal is, one can only imagine what would happen if you were to give Emma Grönqvist and crew a proper budget and top-notch producer...