When I'm assigned a new band to review and my usual search engines come up empty, it's time to let the record company press release do the talking: It is under the impulse of Jo Capitalice (APHRODITE, AXHEAD, ICE WAR, DEVIL CROSS or ZEX to name but a few), a well-known actor of the Underground world that CANNIBAL was born in 2020 in the Canadian region of Ontario. He is surrounded by Gretchen Steel (ZEX singer), Andy Lust on bass, Chris Disapointer on drums and B.Destroyer on guitar (APHRODITE and DEVIL CROSS). The album "Fire meets Steel" was first released as a very limited self-produced cassette and an even more limited vinyl release, with only six copies being issued. In 2021, the Dutch label HEADBANGERS finally released the CD which was a great success with fans of pure 80's Heavy Metal Underground! STEEL SHARK RECORDS had already contacted Jo in 2021 to release the vinyl, but a project was already underway between the band and a New Zealand label. It was by pure chance that in early 2022, a fan of the band seeing that the vinyl was still not on the market, contacted us.... STEEL SHARK RECORDS quickly contacted Jo who was delighted to find a label! Friends of EMANES METAL and HEADBANGERS are contacted, and they accept to collaborate with our label for this 300 copies release. A new artwork is made for the back cover by STEEL SHARK RECORDS; from now on, fans of early ACID, BITCH or WARLOCK can enjoy these seven tracks that pay tribute to 80's Heavy Metal with sometimes Jo's dear Punk spirit! More Underground and 80's, no way?

Opening right off the bat on "The Warlock" is a fast paced, riveting tempo of punk with riffs and vocals to match, wedge in a few brief slices of meaty guitar solos. "Skulls And Wings" has a more anthem themed sound and chorus, not veering far from the punk spirit. "Gates Of Hell" had me expecting a harder, heavier sound, only to keep consistent with what I've heard so far, they tease with bits of hard rock only to remain embedded in the anguished overtone of punk. Of the remaining four songs only two grabbed my attention, the title track "Fire meets Steel" flirts with a heightened harder vibe throwing some bursts of ruthless, strong guitar work from Capitalice and "On Your Feet", offering up flashy riffs and melodic harmonies with more bold dynamics and a tawdry guitar solo giving the song a raw edge.

My overall assessment of CANNIBAL is they are much more a punk band than an 80's hard rock band. The vocals remained low in the mix with fast tempos, a melodious approach with short-paced songs (entire album is under twenty-five minutes), there are some catchy chorus chunks and shuffling in some nice shredding guitar solos. The above-mentioned press release included the likes of BITCH, ACID and WARLOCK as comparisons, but I'm sorry, I did not hear that, I did however think of the PLASMATICS.