Hammer of Destruction

I don't get it. I really should love Sacred Steel, given my blatant worship of most other bands of their ilk, but something about them just never gets me too excited. They've got their hearts in the right place, and they definitely don't follow any modern trends or introduce any non-metal elements into their sound, but this just isn't a very exciting album. The formula is pretty standard, with heavy, galloping True Metal riffs out the ass, shoutalong choruses, lyrics about war and the occult and other such topics, wailing vocals, and the whole package, but it doesn't click. This album sort of sounds like Helstar's first couple of albums, as Gerrit Mutz's vocals are very similar to James Rivera's, except Mutz doesn't have near the amount of energy, conviction and charisma that Rivera has always possessed, and the riffing style is a lot like that of Remnants of War, but it's not anywhere near as progressive or exciting as those albums were.

There are no real bad songs here, but none that will make you sit up and take notice either. Sacred Steel are simply a boring band, and while they are a respectable outfit for back-to-basics Heavy Metal, you can do far better than Hammer of Destruction if you're looking for that kind of thing. Passable, but nondescript.

Originally written for http://www.metalcrypt.com

The German maniacs of Sacred Steel will always be a kind of love 'em or hate 'em thing. There's no in between, no "ok" or "listenable". If you don't like the squeaking high voice of singer Gerrit Mutz, stay away from this! And if you don't like pure totaly out of date 80ies Underground Metal, also stay away, you'll hate this!


So for whom is this Album? You like Agent Steel, Exciter, Helstar, Savage Grace, Mercyful Fate? Shredding riffs, straight pounding drums, analog production and a siren instead of a singer? You like leather jackets, denim wests and lyrics about battles, swords and metal? Then get this album, it's a blast!


This is not the typical German power metal known from Bands like Helloween, Blind Giardian or Gamma Ray nor is it in the British tradition. Sacred Steel is pretty much 80ies speed metal, performed by bands which never got the fame they deserved. From time to time, riffs and pace also create a thrashy, or when more slow, a US Power Metal feeling (think of Omen, Jag Panzer...) Strong heavy chords, just a few melodic leads and mostly pretty fast. "Maniacs of speed" sounds like a forgotten Exciter classic and offers a good hypnotic chorus. The short chaotic solo sounds really unique. The title track gives you the same pounding stuff and you're FORCED to shout along the chorus! "Blood and thunder" is fun, 'cause the lyrics are only made of Sacred Steel phrases and titles of all the previous albums. One of my two favorite tracks here is "Imapled by metal". It's not that fast, more in a galloping style like old Omen. I love the verse melody and the lyrics: "Storm up to the front row - Join your brothers in the pit" It's all about being a die hard metal fan against all boundaries. The other outstanding one is "Black Church", a very dark and slow number, pure epic Doom Metal in the vein of Solitude Aeturnus or Candlemass. Again, the chorus is great, fading out in a gloomy latin choir. Also the Jag Panzer cover "Generaly Hostile" should be mentioned. It adds nothing special to the song, but hey! It's 2007, how cool is it to play a song by such a legendary 80ies band, so all the young and clueless metal kids can learn a bit?


Singer Gerrit again has improved his voice (even though I loved his style since the first album), it may be annoying to some people, but it also seems so be unlimited! Shrieking, growling, hymn like singing - he manages just everything! He's the driving force behind Sacred Steel, always looking after keeping it true and honest.


Coming slowly to its end, the album looses a little bit of its quality. "Sword and axes" and "The torch of sin" just can't keep my attention as much as the other tracks. But they're OK, at least, you can scream a long and smash your head against the wall. Listening through the whole album, it's definitely a pleasure getting ear pounded by Matzes drums, no matter which song you choose! He's so fuckin' precise and poweful. Together with the hacking riffs, he's creating a lot of the merciless heaviness of "Hammer of destruction". The sound, for this kind of music, is just perfect. Rawly dirty produced (still every intrument including the bass is audible) by mastermind Harris Johns (Sodom, Saint Vitus), no lame and polished guitars or digital bullshit here! Just Heavy Metal over the top!


Highly recomended, when you know what true metal with a lot of emotion and attitude is about!!! Try to get the die hard edition with the "Pounding Inferno" EP and a great patch for your denim west. And hopefully there will be a vinyl edition soon!