Steel Arctus - Master of War

Ascending to the pantheon.

(Originally submitted to the Metal Archives on February 7th 2024) 

When it comes to heavy/power metal, I am always looking for something that manifests what is commonly referred to as “big dick energy”. It needs to have a certain something that I find on the harder-edged works of bands like Manilla Road and Visigoth, to name a few. I don’t actively hunt for stuff like that, seeing as it’s not my go-to genre, but when a release like that falls on my lap I end up getting hooked on it for days on end. Such is the case with Steel Arctus’ sophomore release, Master of War, whose comic book aesthetic made for quite the enticing first impression, and unsurprisingly encapsulated the music therein.
The trio presents us with 8 stomping heavy metal anthems, replete with thundering double bass, crunchy riffing, and gruff vocals that aren’t afraid to soar every once in a while. It’s distilled classic heavy metal essence, and it’s unwavering in its consistency to a fault. From the title track alone, the listener is greeted by some gloriously shreddy lead work, which is then followed by stomping verses, as well as a dramatic chorus that you just can’t help but sing along to, a running theme with this album. It’s such a finely crafted song that makes you think “Man, I hope the rest are as good”, something that actually happens, albeit with a caveat.
Like we said though, Steel Arctus are consistent, perhaps too much so. With the exception of “God of Fire”, “Cry For Redemption”, and “Black Mountains”, every other song (outro notwithstanding) feels like it follows the exact same template down to the tempo. And while none of these songs are bad in a vacuum, hearing a track like “Hear My Battlecry” near the end does inspire a feeling of déjà vu that hearkens back to the beginning. The aforementioned cuts stand out precisely because they break from the stomping anthemic metal mold in some capacity. “God of Fire” for one is a ballsy speedster and a necessary shot in the arm in terms of energy, whereas “Cry For Redemption” and “Black Mountains” are rather brooding, the latter in particular prominently featuring acoustic guitars during its runtime. Though there is some crazy soloing that appears throughout the album, especially on “God of Fire”, I can’t help but wish there was something more in terms of moods and pace.
That being said, even the more plain tunes manage to stick somewhat thanks to Tasos Lazaris’ vocal work. The man channels all of the genre’s greats while still maintaining a character of his own, and he sells the fuck out of those choruses. Whether it’s a gruffer midrange supplemented by choirs on “Midnight Priest”, or the erratic wails of “God of Fire”, he gives it his all and I can’t help but love him. His efforts, coupled with the fact that the band knows how to write catchy vocal lines, help alleviate the fatigue that would appear had a lesser vocalist been in his place.
Though the music is as muscular as the scantily clad barbarian on the cover, I can’t help but wish Steel Arctus flexed their own creative muscles a bit more. Anthemic heavy metal is great and all, and it’s obvious that they know how to write a tune, but you can only have so much of a good thing before you get a little tired of it. That being said, Master of War is an absolute blast while it’s on, and I’d be lying if I said I don’t sing along to every chorus here. Definitely check this out if you need a fix of well-written heavy metal.
Highlights: Master of War, God of Fire, Cry For Redemption, Black Mountains

Rating: 74% 

  

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