Reviews

The reviews have now been broken up into three categories - reviews of the "Conquest of Steel" album, live reviews, and other reviews, which includes demo reviews and suchlike.

"Conquest of Steel" Album Reviews

Welcome to the paradise of traditional heavy metal assault. All traditional heavy metal fans unite to conquer and hear the debut album from these 80's heavy metal maniacs. They are hailing from England and after their very successful 12" it is time for their first release through No Face Records. Conquest of Steel, has made a "name" in the underground scene two years ago when they released their 12" and now it's time for their strike.

Pure heavy metal straight from the 80's. Just remember all the good moments from Iron Maiden, Manowar and WASP and you will get a picture of the music of Conquest of Steel. Actually all things are traditional here, the promo photos, the cover the sound and the production. Definitely if this album is released only in Lp format, I bet you will not recognize that it is a 2005 release.

So, here we don't have a review, because simply if you are a fan of this kind of metal and support the underground, you will for sure already know this band and you must have already bought this album. As for the rest, give this band a try and hear their music, they deserve to be in the mainstream metal scene, that's why they have already a record deal. Well done guys.
Album Review from www.metalperspective.com - 8.5/10. Written by Antonis Maglaras

A Neat slab of British Battle Metal - Unlike 80's revivalist goons The Darkness, Conquest of Steel are 100% serious about their passion for pre-thrash classic metal of the Priest/Maiden/Manowar variety. That's not to say they are completely humourless - nobody who writes songs like 'Bitch of Steel' can be accused of not having a laugh - just that they are (mostly) genuine and not some 'ironic' accessory for trendy Top Shop wankers who think that wearing an 80's Saxon t-shirt is a bit of a wizard lark. The production on this, their debut, is presumably the best they could afford and doesn't quite capture the full unexpurgated bombast of their live show, which is an event all about the battle metal. But that's a small quibble: if you can't find something that you love on this album then you are reading the wrong magazine. Perhaps you should try Extreme Pigeon Fancier instead.
Album review, Metal Hammer, May 2005 - 7/10. Written by Tommy Udo

"Conquest Of Steel high voltage debut CD can melt your brain. The first track has the sound of Manowar pumping out hard driving metal. You want to hear some good music pick the Conquest Of Steel CD. They really bring back the days of vintage Raven/Manowar. Track-three has a vibe of Iron Maiden mixed with Manowar, guitars blazing, vocals clearly sounding and heart beating drums. Check out "Metal Witch," starts off with melodic guitar then burst into a power train busting with energy. There is not one song that will let you down. This is an excellent debut by Conquest Of Steel. I recommend that any fan of Iron Maiden and Manowar should pick this up."
rockeyez.com review - 7.5/10

I find it particularly satisfying in this ever increasing plastic, selfish, manufactured music world that a band like the UK's CONQUEST OF STEEL can set out their stall and get a record deal. It's not as if the world and the metal world for that matter needs another back to basics metal band but you see everything comes full circle and perhaps a few years ago this lot of battle ready vagabonds would have been laughed off at by the fickle, fashion conscious Metal music press but as I've said CONQUEST of STEEL have stuck to their guns and delivered a balls to the wall 2004 NWOBHM album without any pretence, irony or parody.

It's clear straight from the off that CONQUEST OF STEEL are big IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, SAXON and MANOWAR acolytes. The foot on the monitor posturing, charging bass, twin axe attack, wailing vocals and true Metal anthems are all there conveying the message that early 80's UK Heavy Metal is not dead and buried. Reports also suggest that the band is a force to be reckoned with live. The song titles read like an invitation to a MANOWAR fancy dress party Ð "Bitch Of Steel," "Hard Rockin' Steel" and quite possibly the best song title ever "Heavy Metal Poisoning"

However let's not overly concern ourselves with the song titles what's the music like? Well if early MAIDEN, Di'Anno era is your bag then this will do rather nicely. Hard, aggressive riffs laid down by DD Danger and Diesel Dave with the steady rhythm of drum and bass of Chris "True Destroyer" Mills and Vic Victory brought to the fore by a twin axe attack that hasn't been seen since Murray/ Smith or Downing/ Tipton CONQUEST OF STEEL are living the Metal life to the max. Lyrically you will howl with delight as singer Dan Durrant delivers a master class on the spoken English word:

"My steel you will feel, your nemesis personified, clad in armour forged in hell. With a sword from Lucifer's hand I'll tear your soul in two"

And that's just taken from the title track! Every song and I truly do mean every song has something similar. You want Metal you got it with the mighty, swords in the air brilliance of "In Victory Or Death", the sheer ludicrousness of "Bitch Of Steel" or the quick fire lead work during "Heavy Metal Poisoning." CONQUEST OF STEEL exude Metal with every breath, every fibre of tissue. Raise the fist to Metal!!

I know for sure that there are legions of fans out there willing to back this lot along with other UK bands such as INTENSE. Running at just over thirty minutes CONQUEST OF STEEL's debut is a time warp back twenty five years when Metal albums were short sharp shocks to the nervous system. Simple yet hard hitting slabs of cerebral, dark music that is as relevant now as it was back then.

As they say, all men do indeed play on ten.

metal-observer.com album review - 8/10

"With titles as "Bitch of Steel", "Hard rockin' steel", "Metal witch" and "Can't stop the metal now" (sic) you almost know Conquest of Steel stands for pure metal from the heart. Think of bands as Priest and Manowar touched with a heavy dose of NWOBHM and you're close. Effervescent drums, whimsical bassparts, solid barbaric guitars and strong 'true metal' vocals provide us with easy in the ear rhythms and loads of melody soaked with power and strong force of persuasion. All metal cliches are reviewed, but are done oh so well. After a couple of listenings you automatically raise your fist, bang your head and sing along with these tunes. Damn what can dated music sound so great. This is a real joy for the classic metal fan. Only point of criticism is as a consequence of the dull production they don't reach their monstrous live sound. If this would have been realised, it would definitely be my album of the year. Still this is a must for every heavy metal freak!"
Review by Emilio, www.musketeerofdeath.nl

"Conquest Of Steel have a total lack of pretention and a brutal honestly about the music they produce which is heavy metal, nothing more, nothing less and why should you want any different? I remember the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with fondness, Iron Maiden t-shirts, Saxon albums and over the top antics from bands like Venom, mix all that together with a crystal clear modern production, tight as a tight thing riffs and a totally unapologetic attitude and you have Conquest Of Steel.

Their debut album might have plenty of 'heavy metal cliches' but it does exactly what it says on the cover and apparantly live they are just as good if not better than their recorded material. Musically they do have big dollops of Iron Maiden inspired riffage but with a lot less pantomime than Maiden and the vocals are certainly not as over the top as Bruce Dickinson which makes the whole album listenable.

If you do not like heavy metal this album will not change you mind, if you do I cannot imagine any reason why you would not enjoy these nine tracks."
gogetwise.co.uk album review - 9/10

Having seen Conquest of Steel on their recent UK tour, and having thoroughly enjoyed their performance, I was full of expectancy when their debut album landed on my doorstep. The problem with being so damn good live is that it is often nigh on impossible to recreate that feeling and energy in the studio, and that is a little of what is missing on this recording.

However, this is by no means a criticism of what the album offers - and that is "nine songs of pure headbanging mania!" Hints of early Iron Maiden and latter-era Solstice help give am epic feel to the compositions, and you don't have to look to hard to find a measure of the metal gods Manowar in there. Personally I prefer the 'live' (ahem) material on the Stadiums of Steel split vinyl (with Evanesce), but with anthems such as 'Can't Stop the Metal' and the ever so subtle 'Bitch of Steel' this should find it's way to the collection of many a self-respecting metal fan'. Score - 3.5 out of 6.
Zero Tolerance Magazine 3, January '05. Review by Paul Cain

"Charging gallantly out of deepest, darkest Yorkshire, Conquest of Steel certainly don't fanny about when it comes to heavy metal so unashamedly gumby it probably hasn't washed since the last time Aerosmith headlined Donnington. They've obviously done their homework, studying the works of Manowar, Maiden and Priest, and recreating the best bits in full on tennis raquet guitar hero glory. This is music by metalheads, for metalheads, with none of the boring bits and all of the rocking bits. If this doesn't ring your bell, then clearly you don't have a metal bone in your body. KKKK"
Kerrang! Magazine, November '04

"Conquest of Steel are either Rock Superstars or Piss Taking Northerners. Either way I fookin' love 'em. You see, Conquest of Steel live and breathe pure unadulterated metal. Their sound is a smorgasbord of 50% Iron Maiden, 25% Manowar and 25% cheese. And it's indeed, a glorious feast. Before listening to this album, their debut by the way, my only concern was their ability to transfer the energy of their live performance into the studio. Within the 1st minute of Only The Devil Can Stop Us Now, all my fears had disappeared. This fucking rocks. If you miss the fire created by Iron Maiden's glorious 80s sound, then this album is an essential purchase."
Live4Metal.com review excerpt