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Medieval Steel: Dark castle

11/04/14 || Cobal

I’d like to thank Edward A. Armstrong, the band’s manager, for contacting me personally and frankly asking for my opinion on this record. As well, for answering all my questions gently and quickly in spite of the shitloads of work I know he has.

US metal outfit Medieval Steel are back with their first full-length record in over three decades now, and after releasing a couple compilations in the meantime. Now, for a band playing a most traditional form of heavy/power metal that instantly transports the listener back to the early 80s, is still right to release new material? The answer is yes as long as your band has aged with some dignity, you see. In that department, I believe these Gringos are successful.

To begin with, the songs do stick to the cannons of what this old and most amusing form of metal used to be. Simple yet solid epic riffs are the perfect excuse to proficiently sing half-serious, half entertaining lyrics about battles, heroes and swords, and while the medieval thing is in the air, these people have the decency of sparing the audience any evidence of cinematic cheap tricks. Instead, twin guitars, mid-tempos and a number of air guitar moments are at disposal for us to picture ourselves on stage wearing leather and chainmail. Original? Probably not, but who gives a fuck when this is so well done?

Now as it normally happens with this kind of records, the voice is the element that stands out the most. Don’t get me wrong, all instrumentalists perform a hell of a job here, but it’s Bobby Franklin’s voice the one that makes the best of this hymn-oriented album. Notwithstanding, I found the drums particularly clean cut and the guitar solos in “April” and “Stranger in Time” pretty amazing. Unfortunately, bass is probably the instrument that shines the least. Its lines are alright, but rather discreet if you ask me.

Something I much appreciated was the heavier approach in “Powersurge” and “American War Machine”—being the later my fave lyrics as well due to political reasons. While they keep things “normal” in terms of speed, they do add for the overall effect when it comes to bringing some less vintage stuff to the table. They’re… Almost aggressive if you like. Not that there’s anything wrong or boring with the rest of the tracks, but metal requires some more musical violence these days to have some credibility. Just saying.

So that’s it? In fact there’s many details to pay attention to, other than those every-fucken-record should have: there’s the exquisite lute-like arpeggios in “The Lost Quatrain”, the arabesque feel to “The Killing Fields”, the children choir in “Thou Shall not Kill” and some nice surprise in “Tyrant Overlord”. Of course, you should revise your barbarian 80s cinema notes before listening to the later. Trust me, it’s worth it.

To make a long story short, “Dark Castle” is an enjoyable, authentic record and I’ll come back to it whenever I’m in a back-to-basics mood. And you should too.

Cheers.

Information
Released: 2014
Label: Empire Records
Website: www.medievalsteelband.com
Band
Bobby Franklin: vocals
Cary Scarbrough : guitars
Jeff Miller: guitars, backing vocals
Matt Dees: bass
Chris Cook: drums, backing vocals

Tracklist
01. Powersurge
02. American War Machine
03. Circle of Fire
04. The Lost Quatrain
05. The Man Who Saw Tomorrow
06. The Killing Fields
07. Heaven Help Me
08. April
09. Tyrant Overload
10. Stranger in Time
11. Thou Shall Not Kill

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