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Durbin: Screaming Steel
James Durbin - Screaming Steel Album Art

Durbin: Screaming Steel

Traditional Heavy Metal
4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 12.02.2024 | Released: 16.02.2024

James Durbin made his return to "pure heavy metal" (as he phrased it) with his eponymous project Durbin and first album The Beast Awakens in 2021. This came after an industrious and varied career that began with Hollywood Scars, then continued with American Idol, several solos albums, and a short run as the vocalist for Quiet Riot. Since The Beast Awakens Durbin appeared on Alan Parsons' From The New World in 2022. Also, in the same year, for Frontiers Music, the singer created Cleanbreak which features Mike Flyntz of Riot V on guitar and Robert Sweet of Stryper on drums.

James Durbin - Click For Larger Image

James Durbin

Now, Durbin returns to his signature metal project with Screaming Steel. The album was produced by Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere, Archon Angel, et al) who also plays guitar. Durbin also brings on several lesser known American guitarists for solos, including Jadran "Conan" Gonzales, Taylor Washington, Jon Yadon Jr., Dylan Rose and somebody? band? named MOKSHA.


There's no disguising it: this album is a heaping helping of traditional "keep it true" heavy metal from a fellow who knows the genre well and lives it. From first to last, across this album, you hear the that classic heavy metal sound with twin guitar harmony, groove and gallop in the rhythm section, strong song melody and harmony and, of course, soaring lead guitar solos in abundance. It's a mix of both NWoBHM and classic Eighties American metal. This is self-evident in every song with Hallows, Power Of The Reaper, Blazing High, Screaming Steel, and the obvious ode to metal, Made Of Metal as solid representatives. Alternatively, The Worshipper 1897 can sound a bit doom-ish; Rebirth like power metal.

Then there's the voice. And yes, James Durbin can sound like Rob Halford, perhaps a younger Halford with Dickinson-like salt. Even so, it's Durbin's range and versatility that impresses. This is notable within Where They Stand, Screaming Steel, Hallows, and Beyond The Night where his range ebbs and flows with ease. Durbin is most assertive and powerful when he belts out the lyrics for The Worshipper 1897 over its thick and heavy doom-like groove.

All said, with Screaming Steel, James Durbin once more proves that he is a proficient contemporary interpreter of traditional, keep it true, heavy metal. The genre is in good hands, and voice. Definitely recommended.



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The Take Away

With Screaming Steel, James Durbin once more proves that he is a proficient contemporary interpreter of traditional, keep it true, heavy metal. The genre is in good hands, and voice. Definitely recommended.

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