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Slavery Or Steel

      
         
         
         
     
             
Dungeon Wolf are a heavy metal band from the USA, formed in 2017 by vocalist/guitarist Deryck Heignum. With the addition of bassist Stan Martell and drummer Austin Lane, the bands debut album 'Slavery Or Steel' was released in 2018, although 'Slavery Or Steel' is actually the second album by this three piece...in 2015, Deryck, Stan and Austin released 'A Dark Formation', under the name 'Stormlurker'.    
             
But let's concentrate on the new incarnation of this three piece, Dungeon Wolf. The band offer forty minutes of heavy metal with plenty of variety, delving into many of the sub genres of heavy metal. Each of the eight songs on the album, offer a slightly different insight into all that is great with heavy metal. For a band from the USA, there is a huge British heavy metal influence running throughout the album, and you would be forgiven for thinking that Dungeon Wolf are actually a British band... Singer Deryck has an incredible vocal range, with every song sung slightly different. Opening gambit 'Hidden Dreams' is a solid slab of traditional heavy metal, mid tempo in pace yet as heavy as a wrecking ball, with the vocal screech and squeal across the chorus break reminding me a little of The Darkness front man Justin Hawkins! 'Last Alive' is a NWOBHM inspired romp, heavy guitars blending with the iconic eighties British sound to deliver a foot stomping anthem. 'Last Alive' is anthemic and atmospheric with superb guitars and an infectious rhythm that will bring a smile to even the most hardened of faces.    
             
The title song intensifies the atmosphere, delivering crushing rhythms that will demolish small buildings, razing them to the ground. A much more trademark vocal style instils the traditional heavy metal sound to the album, an album that is getting better and better as each song rolls on by. Mid song and 'Slavery Or Steel' breaks down into, well, I can't tell you everything now can I, you're just gonna have to take a listen for yourself... A slow tempo, mellow and melancholic, bordering on ballad territory, 'Borderlands' is an agonising foot drag, and I don't mean that in a bad way. I am happiest when the music is thundering, fast paced, heavy and catchy, 'Borderlands' sadly for me, isn't any of these. Heavily guitar led, 'While The Gods Laugh' delves into the doom metal genre, with a much gruffer and aggressive vocal delivery. 'While The Gods Laugh' is foot thuddingly heavy, giving lesser mortals headaches.    
             
Oh, the iconic and classic traditional heavy metal sound makes a welcome return in the formidable shape of 'Dark Child'. Heavy yet melodic, fists will punch the air rhythmically as 'Dark Child' rumbles on, tipping its head and giving a nod to the mid eighties, to say thank you for my inspiration. The word metal makes its way into the title of a song, the six minutes plus epic, 'Worker Metal Night'. An Atmospheric, gather round the camp fire, tell a story feel is spine tingling and chills me to the bone. The visions I'm having of darkness, a fire's glow and a group of heavy metal fans all gathered together to listen to the story that Dungeon Wolf are telling...mesmeric stuff! The album comes to a close with the swaggering 'Lords Of Endless Night' delivering a doom metal punch of the heaviest nature, but with the added touch of melody... A unique and individual mix of styles, Dungeon Wolf have served up forty minutes of intense intrigue, lord only knows what their next album will sound like...!    
             
Overall, a varied journey to every corner of the traditional heavy metal genre, 'Slavery Or Steel' is atmospheric, melodic and captivating.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metalmessage    
             
             
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