Another epos, another shout out for the old school majesty, a greasy reminder of an early movement that came to be strong in the US only to later succumb to a bitter fate. It is not about revamping; it is about what feels right at heart without being driven by mandatory trends. Unknown if whether a live act or merely a studio manifestation to stay, the US Metal devotees, STEEL AGGRESSOR, have been acting as one of the underground for several years now, landing Heavy Metal brainstormed myths. via Stormspell Records, the trio released their third installment, a new epos, taking the same of "A Rival Of The Fittest". It is no matter how strong a person can be, there will always be a rival waiting for the challenge.

Driven by a selection of Metal gods as IRON MAIDEN and ICED EARTH, "A Rival Of The Fittest" comes first as a straightforward agenda. Playing their cards between Heavy, Power and Thrash Metal. Within their endeavors, the band unshackled melodic harmonies, traditional adapted guitar leads, impressive soloing, mid-tempo to fast thunderous blazed drumming that has it in power to shake the world and a set of lungs that appeared to be above the average screaming banshee. Without the ability to point a finger on the theme of the concept written, it actually felt like a theatrical display, proving a talent hidden between the lines. STEEL AGGRESSOR were able to arrange an album that will demonstrate their intense admiration to the late 80s, while also winking at the 90s, and all that without composing marketable hits. Furthermore, turning a wide open glance at Folklore music, the trio upgraded their efforts by the usage of various of instruments to marginally set aside the usual weapons of war that have been serving them. Several chants and instrumental passages were written, bestowing Folk's tools of the trade as Contrabass Balalaika, Tin Whistle, Kettle, Timpani, Gong, Tambourine and Chimes, some playing alongside acoustic guitaring.

I would recommend diving into the self-titled track, along with taking a rest with the charming acoustic instrumentals "Skomorokhi Theatre" and "Wastelands". However, I believe that the album's finest was actually another instrumental, "Alaric I 410 A.D.", which presented a near perfect concordance between American and British Metal. Even if at the finish line the drumming was somewhat inaccurate, the overall end result was good. "Forest of Illusion" is one more great addition to the album's acoustic division. For a person that admires the rudimentary heavy riffs, it might leave you with bafflement concerning the selection of hits, yet I felt the need to show that beyond the usual efforts, better or worse as those may be, there are other aspects worth the mention, meaning the softer to the ear parts. On the other hand, if heaviness and perseverance is what you seek, I would urge you to listen to "Lost In Centauria" and the ending crusher, "Thrown to the Wolves... Obliterator Cometh".

Surely this is not a perfect album, however, I trust that there is enough here to keep you listening more than one time.