SACRED STEEL – "Hammer of Destruction" (Massacre Records, 2006)

For ten years now SACRED STEEL offer the metalhead a deadly trend-free alternative to blown-up trigger drums, cheesy keyboards and boring clichee sounds which are hyped year after year „the next big thing in metal“. With their debut album „Reborn In Steel“ (first ever German band being signed to Metal Blade) in 1997 alrady the band followed their path, never forgot their roots and emerged their sound! The 2nd album „Wargods Of Metal“ was recorded in 1998 with legendary producer Bill Metoyer (a.o. Slayer, Omen, Sacred Reich) and enjoys cult status at the metal fans since after. With the following third strike “Bloodlust” in 2000 the band proved that they are able to write more matured songs and combining them in an epical concept story. In addition the band acclaimed a high number of fans by intensive touring through all of Europe playing with bands like Nevermore, Wardog, Lefay, Destiny`s End, Nocturnal Rites, Children of Bodom and Primal Fear. The opener and title track of the following album “Slaughter Prophecy” a brutal metal slasher could only have one meaning: a clear and definite statement against a whimpy power metal genre with many bands following cheesy keyboards, boring melody hooks, programmed computer drums and happy metal! Where other bands whimped out the sledgehammer still reigned at SACRED STEEL camp! They weren’t even afraid to include death metal elements in their sound following some of their faves as Morbid Angel or Death. The result was an ultra-heavy dark and raw piece of hate being released with great success by their new label Massacre Records. They followed this path, although a little more melodic on album no. 5 “Iron Blessings, which was released in 2004 and got the best reviews in the bands history.
After five studio albums it was time to catch the raw intensity of the SACRED STEEL live shows and in early 2006 the Live DVD/double-CD “Live Blessings” proved yet again, that SACRED STEEL are a band which does not fit into the usual conventions. No perfectly-set, art-directed performance but a raw, authentic beer and sweat driven show in their hometown Ludwigsburg where you can sometimes not see the band being covered by dozens of stagedivers – that’s exactly the „all for one – one for all“ attitude which keeps the band and their fans that close together! The DVD shows the last gigs of the line up, which has not been changed on all albums. Both founding members and guitarists Jцrg M. Knittel and Oli Grosshans decided to leave the band. Which at first looked like the end of the band turned out into a triumphant rebirth of SACRED STEEL. Bassist Jens changed to the guitar and new members Jonas Khalil as new guitarist and Kai Schindelar on bass could be added within a short time!
Now the first result of the new line up can be heard “Hammer of Destruction” is screaming to be worshipped! Following a vinyl-sound intro the infernal title track hammers everthing down. The massive and organic sound was done by nobody less than Harris Johns, who in the past recorded a lot of the bands favourites like Saint Vitus, Voivod, Kreator, early Helloween or Tankard and is know for his authentic 80’s sound. The high-speed smasher “Maniacs of Speed” was chosen for the band’s first ever video clip which will be included as a bonus on the album.
The new line up already proved their live qualities at shows with Omen and Metal Inquisitor in Germany and will now tour Europe following the release of “Hammer of Destruction” and already preparing another tour in early 2007. SACRED STEEL are a trademark in the metal scene: all metal with an own attitude and pure heaviness!

FACTS:
- The new album by Germany’s leading true metal band Sacred Steel!
- Limited Box Set available including bonus CD (completelly unreleased new tracks!), poster, patch and
originally signed autograph card
- Produced by Harris Johns (a.o. Saint Vitus, Voivod, Kreator, Helloween, Tankard)
- Mastering by R.D. Liapakis and C. Schmid at Music Factory Studio, Kempten
- European tour in connection with album release in November 2006!
- Excellent reputation at press and fanatic European fan base
- European promotion by Gordeon Music, Berlin

FROM www.massacre-records.de
 

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