The fifth album from Slovenia’s Metalsteel, This Is Your Revelation feels like a 9 song step back in time - as this quartet live for the 1980’s traditional, power, and hard rock scenes based on my numerous playbacks. With a vocalist that sounds like a mid-range Ray Alder filtered through a traditional hard rock lens, songs such as “Taboo” and “Godfather of Nothingness” see-saw between Accept, “Powerslave” time period Iron Maiden and also the tougher years of Twisted Sister.
The band prefer to keep the tempos at a comfortable pace, nothing super speedy or out of control, and the choruses tend to be very simplistic to ensure maximum audience call and response action- check out “Man of 1000 Faces” or “New Way of Thinking” as the band just sink the hooks in early and often, never letting go until the final note. The title track has a main riff that is distantly related to “Eye of the Beholder” if given a slower, gallop makeover, while closer “Long Time Ago” features a bevy of crash cymbal/ slow swing antics that The Scorpions or Accept fans would love.
Do I think Metalsteel are the best band in this particular style? Not by any stretch- and yet there is an endearing quality to the tight, compact material that I think keeps me coming back for more. Guitarist/ vocalist Beny Kic often struggles to navigate certain English words with the proper syllable emphasis, and I believe this could limit appeal for those critical to spot on vocals. The production is basic and clear- nothing fancy and keeps things on a down to earth level that is desirable for metal.
This Is Your Revelation will meet with modest approval from the old school brigade.
Matt Coe, HMS
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