STRIDER is a band that formed under the influence of MANOWAR and other traditional Metal bands. Their production sound is very true to the recordings of New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWBHM) and early Power Metal bands of days gone by. If that's what you're looking for, Strider's "Dominion of Steel" is the album for you. However, some hit-or-miss techniques keep this from being a perfect album. While it's fist-pumping, some choices can sound jarring.

"Strike of the Strider" pulls no punches when it comes to the opening. It's hard from the start and intensifies through the intro. The drums and guitars reverberate in a vintage style; your mileage will vary on whether you enjoy this. However, it clears up when the vocalist comes in. His voice is smooth and has an operatic belt. Sometimes it feels a little strained, particularly in the upper range or when he's trying to belt.

The first part of the album is also full of hard-hitting, fast songs that get you pumped. However, they can be a mixed bag. I enjoyed the galloping melody and the choral elements in "Break the Chains." However, I think the hook can be a little repetitive and the falsetto at the end was strained.

In "We Are Strider," the opening melody is impressive, with fast melodies sparse through the riffs. The harmonies in the chorus between the slower, more legato vocals and the sporadically fast guitars capture your attention, as does the soaring main hook in the vocal melody. The guitar solo is also noteworthy; it's full of well-placed sweeps that show off the guitarist's musicality.

"The Ballad of the Broken Sea" also shows thematic musicianship with a gaited riff and vocal melody. However, your mileage may vary on whether you find this to be a unique tactic, or confusing, especially in the first verse. For instance, they have a lovely melody in the middle of the first verse, but the transition can sound a little off. It gets better, though. The lower choir in the chorus give the song its thematic underscore, that of a sea shanty.

The 1980s symphonics make the record sound dated. This is most notable in "Throne of Metal" where the intro consists of reverb and high-pitched guitars that sound like they're straight out of the NWBHM. There's a weird notation where "soars" dips down, and I'm not sure if they wrote it like that to express irony, or to just do the unexpected. The guitar solo has some impressive arpeggios in it, but I feel like those got buried under production until the lead guitarist came squealing in in the second half.

There are also parts where the vocals can be a little too over-the top. "The Elite of Steel" has good guitar work, but the vocals seem too belted, making them too hokey. Also, the repetition of the song title before the solo is too much repetition. I get it's supposed to be a buildup, but it doesn't work; it fails to excite me for the honestly, wonderfully executed and interesting guitar solo.

However, there are songs where the vocals excel. The chorus of "Let Your Blade Shine" feature beautiful, drawn-out notes that suit the singer much better than the previous song. And the harmonies between the vocalist and the choir in the chorus do wonders to uplift and empower the song. I'd conclude that the vocalist is much better when the vocal melody is slower and longer, giving his voice room to breathe and his natural belt to really work for him, not against him.

The closing song, "Prevail and Conquer," begins with a nice bass melody under the down-tuned guitars. The harsh guitars give way to a lovely acoustic melody before the verse sets in. The singer also gets a chance to showcase his upper register and it's pretty good. I love the buildup to the tempo change, with the echoing final lyric. The notes are drawn out in the second verse when he goes back to his typical low-tenor range. As far as closing songs go, this was a good musical choice.

Overall, while the production and some notation choices were a mixed bag, the musicianship was generally top-notch. If you're a fan of older heavy metal, or 1980s Metal, this is definitely an album worth checking out.