Steel Engraved: Steel Engraved (Rock of Angels, 2019)

German heavy/power metal band Steel Engraved is back after a 7-year absence with a new album, their third overall. The self-titled Steel Engraved album was produced by Mario Lochert and Jan Vacik of Serious Black, and features a guest appearance by Primal Fear’s Ralf Scheepers, who also produced the vocals for the album.

Steel Engraved is a new discovery for me, but their brand of heavy/power metal is right up my alley. The production may have something to do with it, but there is a Serious Black vibe here. The band’s sound also reminds me of Nocturnal Rites, Brainstorm, Silent Force and Gods of Silence. There’s a sweet spot between old school traditional heavy metal and the ultra-melodic European power metal sound, and Steel Engraved definitely found it on this album. The riffs and rhythms have that mandatory heaviness, but the melodies are just fantastic, and Marco Schober’s strong, steady vocals put the whole thing over the top.

Standout tracks on Steel Engraved are album opener “Where Shadows Remain” (if that doesn’t demand your attention, nothing will), “Rebellion” and “One By One.” “Searching For Regret” is another major highlight, as it features Schober trading verses with Ralf Scheepers. “Nightwarriors” is super-catchy, but it bugs me because it’s so similar to Freedom Call’s “Rockstars.” It’s probably unintentional, but once you notice it, it’s hard to look past it.

Steel Engraved is the first big surprise of 2019. This is extremely high quality melodic heavy metal that fans of Serious Black, Brainstorm, Nocturnal Rites and melodic heavy/power metal will not want to miss. They may not be as well known as some of the “name” bands in the power metal scene, but this is an album worthy of top-tier status.