I remember it like it was yesterday. I went to the record store, listened to the new albums of the week and made my choice like I always did. So I bought this one straight off the bat. My guideline was that if side one and the first song of side two were good songs, I could buy this without fail. And I never regretted that rule. "Guardians Of The Flame" was the first album I ever acquired of VIRGIN STEELE, and to this day it is a true classic, in every way I can think of. VIRGIN STEELE are from Long Island, New York, USA and make pure US Metal in many facets but with very different faces musically. They started their existence in 1981 and in the beginning singer David DeFeis categorised their music as Barbaric-Romantic Metal. And to be frank, it fits the bill here. I have also reviewed their debut album "Virgin Steele I", and the leap forward from that one is remarkable. Not that they have improved so much in the quality department, as that was already okay on that one, but VIRGIN STEELE has been able to filter down all the angles they were aiming for on that one and brought it down to a few. I'll try and make a reference; just take very early MANOWAR and mix that with very early SAVATAGE, and you will have an inkling as to what direction you can aim at with VIRGIN STEELE. Don't forget to add some Melodic elements and some Power Metal parts to complete the picture. By the way, both bands mentioned weren't released in 1982, so maybe VIRGIN STEELE acted as a bit of a blueprint to them. Like I mentioned, the songs on "Guardians Of The Flame" are high on quality, strong on substance and have power, stamina and that little bit extra that draws you in. And now, with six extra songs, the full album is over 73 minutes long. For me, it only has gotten better, as the sound has improved in comparison to the original, but that thankfully not that drastic that you feel that you are listening to a whole new album. No, this still feels like "Guardians Of The Flame" from the very first note until the last. It just emphasises what a great band VIRGIN STEELE always has been and as they are still active, still is to this day. I have one point of criticism though; why haven't they used the original cover. It is much more beautiful than this drab one.