Lebel: Pure Steel Records

Date: January 22nd, 2021

In our metal music specific terms are used that denote a geographical, national or cultural heritage of bands and sub-genres. Once upon a time, in 1979, journalist Geoff Barton who later founded Kerrang! launched the term NWOBHM in a May issue of the British  UK weekly pop/rock music newspaper Sounds to describe the emergence of new heavy metal bands in the mid to late 1970’s. Since 1979, a list of those terms has expanded. Teutonic Metal, as we all know, describes stereotypical German bands such as Accept, Grave Digger and Running Wild.

One of those who belong to Teutonic society is Generation Steel. The new generation of German steel will reveal their album “The Eagle Will Rise” to metal masses in January 2021.

The band was formed in 2019 by a guitarist Jack the Riffer (Dead Man’s Hand and ex-Bullet Train). The rest of the band are: Pascal Lorenz (lead guitar, including ex-Oscura, Ex-Corbian), Michael Kaspar (bass, ex-Squealer) and Martin Winter (drums). In the end, with Rio Ullrich who took a mike and completed the formation, they were ready to strike with 13 compositions packed into a debut album. In March 2020, Generation Steel inked a record deal with Pure Steel Records. I would say a smart move for both sides.

Your eye will catch the cover art that irresistibly pulls in the direction of Primal Fear’s album designs, except here we have an eagle. The old school logo can just suggest that after the first spin you will hear traditional heavy metal, infectious lyrics that are covering classic metal themes, sing along choruses, powerful back vocals, melodic guitar riffs and massive sound.

Generation Steel launched the video for the song “The Eagle Will Rise” on October 29th and from the start you can smell an anthem. A bit earlier that month, they also revealed the album teaser, so if you are not familiar with it, beware! Generation Steel are striking aggressive from the start. There is no space left for slowing down, the album perfectly flows in up tempo. If you are searching for anthems, there are plenty of candidates but I point my finger at “Invoke the Machine”. Ask me about the crucial factor on this album and you would be surprised: backing vocals.

All the time the band is flirting with thrash metal (backing vocals in the vein of Death Angel or Exodus on most of songs but especially in the songs  “On My Way”, “Soulmates” or “Generation Steel”, where you can hear a bit of Metal Church influence). Power metal elements are involved too. “Praying Mantis” is the perfect example, Hammer Fall influenced. As Generation Steel intertwines among others with Accept influence too, guitars are in the foreground here as well. For my personal taste, drums might be a bit louder. Speaking of Accept, the most obvious influence can be heard in “Alive”, “Shadow in the Dark” or “The Eagle Will Rise”. If you have any doubt which band influenced Generation Steel the most just listen to the song “Generation Steel”. Besides mentioning their influences like Accept, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Metal Church, Merciful Fate, Running Wild or Rainbow, Generation Steel inserts into the lyrics some song titles like “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”.

If you have gathered the highly experienced musicians supported by Accept’s guitarist Uwe Lulis who signed the production, can you expect a bad album? 

If I had to do an advertising slogan for this band, I would say: when Accept accepted thrash and power elements then Generation Steel was born!

Try to beat Germans! They are the best!

So, ladies and gentlemen, all you can do now is to bang your head screaming:

Generation Steel like a heavy war machine
Generation Steel  a never ending wheel!