Recent Reviews

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

December 2023

November 2023

[ More Music Reviews ]


Rising Steel: Beyond The Gates Of Hell
Rising Steel - Beyond The Gates Of Hell Album Art

Rising Steel: Beyond The Gates Of Hell

Heavy/Power/Thrash Metal
3.5/5.0

Hailing from the Alpine area of France, Rising Steel arrives with their new studio album, Beyond The Gates Of Hell. Active now for nearly a decade, the band has delivered metal fans one EP and two full length albums, and then toured feverishly around the European theater. Their latest and third album features new and second guitarist Stephane Rabilloud who, some 20 years ago, did a stint with Nightmare, also from the same area of France.

Rising Steel Click For Larger Image

Rising Steel

Much like their previous recordings, Rising Steel offers metalheads a hybrid of traditional heavy, power, and thrash metal. Wherein they find influences from Priest to Maiden, Metallica and Saxon to Nevermore and Slayer. Their metal is driven by the power of twin guitar roaring and, often, punishing riffage, a hasty also bludgeoning rhythm section, ballistic guitar solos, and Emmanuelson's assertive vocals. He's a real screamer.



Speaking briefly to some songs, I found that Rising Steel still maintains those aforementioned influence but may also be evolving in their arrangements. That is to say rather than merely being fast, heavy, and crushing, their songs are mixing up the influences in a "progressive" metal kind of way. This notable within Infinite Pain, Life Awaits, Beyond The Gates Of Hell, and Run For Your Life. Some thoughts on those last two. Run For Your Life is, perhaps, the most heavy song here, blurring the line between power and thrash metal. The riffs are beyond crushing to start. Beyond The Gates Of Hell reminded me, not only of something perhaps more technical, a Metallica like evolution that came with And Justice For All. But I could be just spitballing here. Alternatively, the album closes with We Are Free, a brooding number that reminds more plodding darker or stoner metal.

All said, with Beyond The Gates Of Hell, Rising Steel continues to offer their mix of classic heavy, power, and thrash metal, yet with increasing creativity even, maybe, more technicality. Check it out and support the band.



Support the Artist & Dangerdog Music Reviews: This title is available, with unlimited streaming, via an Amazon Music account.


CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.


The Take Away

With Beyond The Gates Of Hell, Rising Steel continues to offer their mix of classic heavy, power, and thrash metal, yet with increasing creativity even, maybe, more technicality. Check it out and support the band.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity Album Review

Once more we return to multi-national band Lords Of Black which features Ronnie Romero (v), Dani Criado (b), Jo Nunez (d), and founder, guitarist, and principal songwriter Tony Hernando. After a three year ... [ Read More ]

Febraury 2024 Stats
  • Users: 5,129
  • New Users: 4,442
  • Sessions: 10,810
  • Engaged Sessions: 5,917
  • Engagement Rate: 54.74%
  • Source: Google Analytics