I don't think that the term NWOBHM needs any introduction. The old British Metal movement sparkled an electric charge to the emerging universe of heavy music that no other mainstream musical movement could achieve. The epic resurfacing of NWOBHM's form may be as well date back to the early 00s, as the late 80s and 90s gave way to other influences to take shape and place in the ears of younger and veteran musicians, attempting to salvage themselves in a rough patch. Loads of bands from various countries striving to the recapture a kind of magic that was probably dead and buried after the mid-80s. Nonetheless, more than a handful examples worldwide showed that the opposite might be the truth, as NWOBHM came back to haunt once again, slowly reclaiming its throne within the current Metal legacy.

Hailing from Southampton, England, which can't be a better spot to carve into the flesh of the old school ways, especially since it was British in origin anyway, I got to know TOLEDO STEEL. First time for me was sharing a stage with the chaps in Cyprus, at the eleventh edition of the Power Of The Night Festival. Right there, I saw something special, a youthful spirit playing musical form of Metal that can never be deemed as outdated. Listening to their second EP "Zero Hour", made me realize that it was only a matter of time until the boys would be signed for a debut release. And it happened. Newly signed to the British Dissonance Productions, "No Quarter", the first official full length, is now seeing light.

As simple as it can be noted, "No Quarter" is what NWOBHM fans are craving for. Traditional, even though quite expected, early 80s NWOBHM style of riffing, more or less formulaic song structures that have been rather common to the movement, yet with a lot of energetic spike. The band is pretty adamant upon preserving the old heritage, the old ways of making melodic, twin guitar iconized Heavy Metal songs, without stirring their gaze sideways. However, although circling themselves within the basis, the profound mixture of influences, at least of what I could sense in a flash, such as Early IRON MAIDEN, SATAN, SAXON, and JUDAS PRIEST, rallied with it a type of songwriting that will enable the listener to bare witness to several points of view within the ancient British Metal swarm that is carved on the boys' skins.

From the album's tuneful opening till the last closing chord of the eighth tracks, TOLEDO STEEL's riff maker and soloist, Tom Potter, ratified himself to be the album's mainman. Through the recording it is easy to notice the utmost motivation and energetic spirit when crushing those majestic Murray / Smith / Wylde driven soloing plunges. The band might have a well-deserved rhythm section and a striking frontline, yet Mr. Potter, in the recording as a lone guitarist, has the strong stance and his influence on the album's success is clear.

I waited long for "Sight Of The Sniper" to see a studio recording, and when it was finally in, I banged my head useless, such a tenacity of proto-Speed Metal with a flaming heaviness and classic vocal execution. To date, the band's strongest track. "Visions In The Fire", a mid tempo early 80s PRIEST guided song, yet with a patch of MAIDEN displaying the basics of Metal by the book. With plenty of conviction the chorus is displayed, serving the royalty of the old magic. The heavier chug comes in hot with "Rock Nights", adrenalized by the sacred time of day for Metal, straightforward SAXONish, even with a tad of BATTLEZONE, persuasion. The self-titled "No Quarter", is bound by its name, no rest for the wicked, no salvation of the untrue. The roughness of the chorus and staggering soloing efforts are the main course and should be digested time and time again.

As far as TOLEDO STEEL are concerned, I never expected anything that would peep out anything groundbreaking, or different than any type of revival British Metal band. Nevertheless, when it comes to laying down the law in the material, these guys, since day one when I saw them live, proved to be the real deal in steel and "No Quarter" is to be rendered as more than just a good start.