When I first listened to the Wings of Steel EP back in 2022, little could have prepared me for the musical whirlwind that would unfold before my eyes and, more importantly, ears over the next 3 years. What was then merely yet another hopeful band in the traditionalist underground metal landscape, has evolved into a thriving live spectacle, with a fantastic debut album and a live record on its back.
Needless to say, my expectations for WINGS OF STEEL’s sophomore album were high. While one must be wary of overhyping in the age of the internet, there are no two ways to go about it: Leo Unnermark, Parker Halub and company smashed these expectations out of the park!
Winds of Time aptly kicks off with the title track, an over ten minute long epic. Starting off one’s album with the longest track (which was also the first single released for Winds of Time), especially with the challenged attention span and reduced patience that characterizes the modern listener, is a rather bold choice. A statement that WINGS OF STEEL do, in no uncertain terms, not lack self – confidence. The track justifies its lengthy duration by offering great alternations between aggression and melody, and an extremely emotive solo by guitar wizard Parker Halub. It serves as a complete re introduction to the band’s full sonic arsenal and warms up the listener for the journey to come.
Immediately after the lengthy opening track, the listener is blasted in the face by the fast and furious Saints and Sinners. WOS’ JUDAS PRIEST influences are loud and clear in this scorching showcase of speedy guitarwork and Leo Unnermark high notes. An interesting element of the song is the presence of a rather anthemic chorus, seemingly antithetical to the song’s overall attitude. However, the antithesis works beautifully and adds a catchy aspect to the track.
Crying slows things back down and this ladies and gentlemen is WINGS OF STEEL in their element, masterfully weaving a musical web of power and melody, in a way that feels oh so natural and flowing, not in the least bit forced. This power ballad feels straight from MTV’s golden age and the band carries the image and stage presence to pull it off. Not that the music needed any help.
The following track, Burning Sands, lures the listener into a false sense of security, with its fast introduction. The PRIEST fingerprints are again all over WINGS OF STEEL, until about the middle of the track. For at about 2:30 minutes in, a slow, heavy dragging riff kicks in, for the heaviest face shown by WINGS OF STEEL so far (spoilers, it gets heavier). The song returns to its speedier style to top it off, perfectly complementing that heavier section. A very strong track among very strong tracks.
The record keeps going from strength to strength, with To Die in Holy War. WINGS OF STEEL flex their Epic Metal muscle, with a track straight out of Epic USPM legendry. The decidedly epic, and at times almost arcane atmosphere, is enrichened with the characteristic WOS flair.
If the reader recalls a warning for things getting heavier, this is the reason for that warning. Lights Go Out is without question the heaviest track of the album. Again an epic element, this time with a healthy dose of dare I say doom vibes. Think WINGS OF STEEL meets MANOWAR’s “Hatred”.
And as one would think WINGS OF STEEL have sacrificed their more melodic side to the altar of US Metal, they are greeted by Winds of Time’s second single, We Rise. WINGS OF STEEL’s rockier, glam – ier side is alive and well. Not only that, but its offering is a strong contender for the best track on the damn album! We Rise is anthemic, chorus heavy arena rock, with outstanding guitar work to boot. I could keep going, but seeing as this track has already been made public, I’ll let the music do the talking:
Winds of Time bids the listener farewell with another long piece of art, titled Flight Of The Eagle. Slow, deeply emotive guitar themes accompany Leo Unnermark on the final power ballad of this sonic journey. The perfect conclusion, to bring the listener back down from the adrenaline filled highs of the record, and to leave him with a deep sense of sweet melancholy.
Track by track reviews are sometimes deemed to be redundant. But in the case of Winds of Time, an album so diverse in its nature, yet entirely harmonious and connected, I believe such an approach was necessary.
If there were any doubters left among the heavy metal faithful, I firmly believe that this album will turn these last few into believers. WINGS OF STEEL are the great last hope of real, authentic Heavy Metal. Winds of Time is a monumental record that, in my humble opinion, firmly establishes WINGS OF STEEL as the soon to be flagbearers of a genre that not only defiantly refuses to die, but seems to be experiencing its renaissance.
Winds of Time will be released on the 17th of October by High Roller Records, on CD, LP and Digital.
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Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
