CRYING STEEL – Stay Steel

CRYING STEEL - Stay Steel
  • 6/10
    CRYING STEEL - Stay Steel - 6/10
6/10

Summary

Pride & Joy Music
Release date: June 15, 2018

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Italian artists, Crying Steel, have been honing their craft since 1982.  Their fifth album, Stay Steel, reflects their familiarity with writing and performing formulaic 80s era Heavy Metal.  It’s no surprise to see song titles such as “Hammerfall”, “Speed Of Light”, and “Road To Glory”. Leaving nothing to chance, the band enlisted Tony Mills (Shy, TNT) on vocals. Production is adequate.  However, uneven mixing is an issue such as the beginning of “Crank It Up” and “Road To Glory” when aggressive guitar intros are squelched the instant the rhythm section enters. Mills’ vocals are particularly favored on such songs as “Blackout” and “Warriors”.

The album leads with three solid, mid to up tempo songs.  They are good, just not memorable; a theme which permeates the entire listening experience.  All elements of Judas Priest/Accept style Metal are present, but creativity is missing.  Songs follow a routine pattern: lather, rinse, repeat.  A melodic power ballad “Born In The Fire” breaks the cycle of sameness and features excellent backing vocals and layered guitar bridges. “Raise Your Hell” and “Crank It Up” provide the other album highlights. They are overtly anthemic in structure and the band executes the metronomic drums, powerful riffs, eager solos, and aggressive backing vocals with swagger.

Stay Steel is an album long on formulaic precision but short on creativity.  Tony Mills’ vocals are over leveraged to the detriment of the overall experience. Recommended for fans of Tony Mills and die-hard fans of 80s Metal.

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TRACKLIST (Highlights: 4, 7, 8 )

  1. Hammerfall
  2. The Killer Inside
  3. Speed Of Light
  4. Born In The Fire
  5. Blackout
  6. Barricades
  7. Raise Your Hell
  8. Crank It Up
  9. Sail The Brave
  10. Name Of The Father
  11. Warriors
  12. Road To Glory

LINEUP

ANGELO FRANCHINI – Bass
LUIGI “JJ” FRIARS – Guitar
FRANCO NIPOTI – Guitar
TONY MILLS – Vocals (Album)
LUCA IRONS – Drums
MIRCO BACCHILEGA – Vocals (Live)

Author

  • Zac Halter

    Zac was a reviewer here at Metal Express Radio, hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. His interest in heavy music began in the 70s with his father’s Johnny Cash albums. After cousins introduced him to Steppenwolf, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, KISS, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, Johnny Cash didn’t stand a chance. The 80s were spent in full pursuit of everything Metal: searching for new music at record stores, listening to albums, studying the covers and sleeves, and attending concerts. In the 90s, he preferred Death Metal over Grunge and hosted the Death Metal Juggernaut on WUPX in Marquette, Michigan. It was advertised as the only prime time Death Metal radio show in the country.

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