Medieval Steel – Gods of Steel Review

By Steel Druhm

Medieval Steel are a classic example of a band that had way more talent than luck. They dropped an EP in 1984 that was well-regarded and earned them attention. I was certainly spinning it often as a surly and belligerent teen since it slotted in well with Manowar, Cities, and Warlord.1 There should have been enough momentum from the EP to build a real following, but Megaforce Records kept them in limbo and didn’t properly promote or support them. A new demo was recorded in 86 but never officially released, and the band soon called it a day. They reformed in 2013 to drop their long-delayed full-length debut, and in keeping with their hardscrabble musical career, it’s taken them 10 years to follow it up. Gods of Steel is that follow-up and it has what may be the most Steel-baity album art of all time. So what does a band out of time and seemingly born to lose sound like in 2024? Let’s rip open this time capsule together.

I mean it as a positive when I say the opening title track hits like a nuclear missile fired from 1986. “Gods of Steel” is like the perfect fusion of Manowar, Saxon, and Liege Lord and my back hair was overflowing with fur bounty even before founding frontman Bobby Franklin arrived to wail and kill. This is so painfully 80s that the nostalgia could clog an artery in a lifer like myself. Big, burly trad riffs and pounding drums are the groundwork for Bobby’s larger-than-life vocals and the song commands respect as it goads you toward war and retribution. This is swordcore done well and you will feel blessed by the favor of Ares. “Kill the Pain” keeps the crusade going with a rowdy, punchy sound full of machismo and testosterone. The meaty riffs cruncha-muncha as Bobby sings of pain, suffering, and redemption. The heaviness factor is quite pleasing and the hooks are real and tough to extract. “Soldier of Fortune” is anthemic 80s magic with tons of references to Savage Grace, Lizzy Borden and Marching Out era Yngwie. It’s catchy as fook with a chorus that sells harder than that Phoof™ guy.

While songs like “Great White Warrior” have grand moments, there are some lesser inclusions here that bring the badass levels down. “Memories” is a sappy power ballad that almost works but is just too maudlin and cringey for its own good. “Maneater” is infused with heavy riffs but it’s a very stock 80s rock/metal cut that Y&T could have come up with, and closer “Satanic Garden” is a bit better but also underwhelming. That makes Gods of Steel a mixed bag of swords and rubber chickens with strong moments sharing space with lackluster ones. Luckily, the balance of the 43-minute runtime favors the bold.

The biggest surprise for someone who loved the band’s 80s output is just how well Bobby Franklin’s vocals have aged over the decades. He had a voice like a laser back in the day and little of the wattage has dulled over time. He sounds meaner and more badass now with a newfound rough-hewn edge, but the highs are still there and he’s still a commanding vocalist with gravitas and power. He often reminds me of Ancient Empire’s Joe Liszt but with more range. New slinger Jeff Miller comes ready for battle with a truckload of hefty riffs sure to plow your brain field. On the heavier cuts he really tears into your ears with thick leads and big grooves, giving the material a biker bar toughness. Chris Cook has been manning the kit since the demo days and his powerhouse war drumming style hits hard and forces you into formation. If only the writing was more consistent, this crew could knock down some walls and take some scalps in the metal world.

I’ll always have affection for Medieval Steel and I’m thrilled to see them active again. When Gods of Steel is good, it’s very good, and when it’s not, it isn’t terrible. Now if they could just deliver the next album before 2030 we’d be getting somewhere! If you like traditional metal done with class and conviction, check out their 84 EP and then give this one a flyer. You just might find a new place to plant your extra swords. Steel on Steel wiolence complete.

Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Self-Release
Websites: facebook.com/profile | instagram.com/medievalsteelband
Releases Worldwide: May 3rd, 2024

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