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Unstoppable

      
         
         
         
     
             
Steel Raiser are a heavy metal band from Italy formed in 2008, releasing their debut album the same year. Their second album was released five years later in 2013 with the brand new album 'Unstoppable', released in 2015.    
             
Influenced by the melodic power metal of legendary English metallers Judas Priest, Steel Raiser have put together an album of up tempo metal, played with power, pace and passion. From the moment 'Inexorable' rockets into life with a massive power metal riff, the song thunders off at breakneck speed. Rampant guitars, galloping rhythms and enough power to blow a planet in half, the chorus is catchy and the guitar hooks are memorable. 'Decapitator' is one of the hardest mid tempo hard rock songs I have ever heard and is reminiscent of the Tim 'Ripper' Owens era Judas Priest. Bombastic and raucous, you will head bang yourself silly at this one.    
             
Raise your fists high and punch the air in delight as 'Fast As The Light' rolls in on a short guitar passage and then storms off like a runaway train. Stepping into speed metal territory, the duelling guitars fight like terriers, the drumming is jack hammer-ish in its delivery and the song shouts at the listener "come catch me ... if you can". No time for a breather as 'Scent Of Madness' romps in and stamps itself all over your forehead as it lurches forward menacingly, with some venomous style vocals. Steel Raiser have created a sound that their European counterparts from Germany, the legends that are Helloween, Running Wild, Gamma Ray and Rage would be proud of.    
             
'Dreaming Of You' may sound like the title of a slow ballad from the pop rock genre, but this, it certainly is not. It has the NWOBHM renowned guitar riffing, a thunderous and very heavy melodic vibe that is infectious with an oh so catchy chorus that will be sung by the entire crowd in a live arena. 'Thousand Blades' is another bombastic blast of mid tempo power metal exhibiting a slightly darker vibe, but not too much! Guitars are at their heaviest here and the rhythms and melodies are just to die for. 'Unstoppable' is a very apt title, as the song is full of pace and raging guitars, is as powerful as a tornado and is just breath taking with tempo changes and blistering solos.    
             
'Mole Breaker' is everything that made both British heavy metal and European power metal popular in the late eighties. Okay, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Helloween and Gamma Ray did a very good job too, but Steel Raiser has taken their legacy, added more to the mix to create their own blend of rampant, bombastic, high energy heavy metal. The album ends with 'The Last Tears', the slowest song on the album but still full of power, bombastic riffing and a groove that will have you tapping your feet rhythmically and gently nodding your head in appreciation.    
             
Overall, hard hitting power metal with pace and passion, echoing the sound of legendary bands Judas Priest, Helloween and Gamma Ray.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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