Rising Steel are based in Grenoble France who draw their influences from NWOBHM as well as elements of Hard Rock & Thrash.They first released an debut EP in 2014 entitled "Warlord",with their first full length album "Return Of The Warlord" in 2016.Along the way they shared the stage with bands such as Jaded Heart,Sister Sin and Annihilator.In 2020 Rising Steel signed to Frontiers with their second album "Fight Them All" released in September 2020,with the third album "Beyond The Gates Of Hell" released in November 2022 which further cemented their reputation in the European Metal scene."Legion Of The Grave" was recorded in France by Mathieu Gaud and Steel Zard at Studio de la Plaine (KNT) and Lezard Studio. Mixing duties were handled by Staffan Karlsson and Rickard Bengtsson at Sweetspot Studio in Sweden, known for their work with bands like Meshuggah and Arch Enemy. It was mastered by the renowned Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Finland, ensuring a production that's as powerful and precise as the music itself.

Once the opening track "Betrayer" gets into full stride after the bold lead in.TheThrash/Heavy  style guitar riffs and pounding intense drums,along with the vocal acrobatics from Emmanuelson just sound like you are back in the heyday of NWOBHM.Rising Steel are just a straight forward,full on traditional Heavy/Thrash Metal band with no tricks or gimmicks which  certainly makes a change."Kings Of The Universe" is raw heavy & distorted with a more heavy verses allowing for a more melodic chorus."Legion Of The Grave" is a full on onslaught from the first note with heavy melodies with strong aggressive vocal tones,with a cool guitar solo,one of the album highlights.The heavy intensity & momentum carries through to "Nightmare" which packs a very rhythmic punch,the guitars sound immense,the vocals dark,eerie & sinister."Venomous" has that feel,that aura of the greats such as Maiden,Priest and Dio but also with that Rising Steel twist, which shows they can stand with the best of them."Messiah Of Death" is a great Thrash Metal track which any mosh pit would welcome with open arms,which is old school style done the proper way."Dead Mind" is the weakest track for me on this album with a heavy rhythm,melody & vocal it just doesn't measure up to the heavy energy in the tracks before it."Trapped In A Souls Garden" is a return to form more pace.more tempo,energy with more vocal tricks once again."Night Vision" is pedal to the metal,another full on Metal old school barrage of sound which is a fitting album finisher.

"Legions Of The Grave" is a great example of how homage to the NWOBHM should be done.The production has that raw live in the studio feel from yesteryear,no fancy modern day production touches,just a straight forward as they say "It does, what it says on the tin!" Heavy Metal album with great vocals,great rhythm with crunchy guitars.A solid album release from this French Metal band.Check it out if you love your metal old school style!