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Liquid Steel: Mountains Of Madness
Liquid Steel - Mountains Of Madness Album Art

Liquid Steel: Mountains Of Madness

Traditional Heavy Metal
4.5/5.0

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Metalizer Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 05.19.2021 | Released: 21.05.2021

It it were not for a recent email from the band, I probably would have missed out on Liquid Steel's latest and third long player, Mountains Of Madness. That would have been a tragedy. Thanks guys. But I'm getting ahead of myself. We last heard from Austria's Liquid Steel five years ago with 2016's Midnight Chaser, a very fine album of traditional heavy metal. That's a long time between albums. But apparently the quintet has been busy, including supporting appearances with Diamond Head, Skull Fist, UDO, and Powerwolf, among others. Now, with the same personnel in place, and inspired by the H.P. Lovecraft novella, Liquid Steel drops Mountains Of Madness, currently signed to Germany's Metalizer Records.

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Liquid Steel

Honestly, this album may be Liquid Steel's strongest effort since their inception. There's nothing I did not like about this album. Once more Liquid Steel offers fans twin guitar driven melodic heavy metal ala the classic New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWoBHM). For many listeners that's enough information to sit up and take notice. And buy the album. But let's add to their formula the abundance of twin guitar harmony, amazing individual guitar lines and leads, rough and tumble rock groove from the rhythm section, and clean melodic vocals. Indeed, its a perfect storm for lovers of "keep it true" classic heavy metal.

Fancy a few songs?

With Victim Of The Night, Traveller In Time, and especially On The Run, you'll hear fast and heavy metal with plenty of speed and groove. On The Run may be the fastest song here. Although the short and speedy metal of Nothing To Lose may give it a run for the money. With Heavy Metal Fire you'll hear the strength of the rhythm section as drums and bass start the song, and bass continues to be heard over the rumble of heavy metal power. But I think my favorite songs came in the middle of the album with Mountains Of Madness, Phoenix, and Alpine Warrior. All three songs start with acoustic guitar introductions before dropping into (generally) fast and heavy, but epic, metal with large guitar parts and vocal and lyrical drama. The latter comes within Alpine Warrior wherein its lengthy guitar-forward first third suggests an instrumental, only to have spoken word narration dropped in at the midpoint. But the fine guitar work continues. But all three songs abound with Liquid Steel's now trademark twin guitar metal muscle.

All in all, if you're a fan of traditional, melodic, and guitar-forward heavy metal, Liquid Steel and Mountains Of Madness is the real deal. You will not be disappointed. Keep it true! Recommended.




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The Take Away

If you're a fan of traditional, melodic, and guitar-forward heavy metal Liquid Steel and Mountains Of Madness is the real deal. You will not be disappointed. Keep it true! Recommended.

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