Review DEATH DEALER “Reign of Steel”

Death Dealer is a band from California. This line-up came together in 2012 and is pretty much a supergroup. At least the band members have been around in the heavy metal scene for a while. Stu Marshall, Ross the Boss, Sean Peck, Steve Bolognese and Mike LePond are all experts when it comes to heavy riff attacks.

The guys made their debut in 2013 with a longplayer called “War Master” and have added another two albums to their track record since then. The next release, “Reign of Steel” is ready to be launched and, like the previous albums, the latest studio release focuses on power metal.

It’s been six years since “Conquered Lands” was released, with the new album having ten tracks, kicking off with the anthemic “Assemble”. It starts off dramatic and intro-like, before the tune kicks into an up-tempo headbanger. Like with the last releases, you’ll need to get used to the high-pitched screams of frontman Sean Peck, who can hit some impressive notes.

It’s got that late-80s power metal vibe, like in songs like “Devil’s Trade”, while “Bloodbath” draws on another influence. The rabid metal blast has some thrash metal vibes, which reminds me of bands like Anthrax. On the other hand, songs such as “Sleeping Prophet” are faster and use a more anthemic approach to heavy metal. The sinister “Sleeping Prophet” comes in at a moderate pace, showcasing the skills of all the band members and has a certain Queensryche expression. “Compelled” is dark and sinister before “Dragon of Algorath” makes a thunderous entrance.

The title track is the closer and it’s a faster moment on “Reign of Steel”. The song is an exciting metal track that’s the perfect ending to the album that’s full of energy, as shown in songs like “Blast the Highway”.

“Reign of Steel” is a really craftsmanship-focused album. Traditional power metal blasts out of the speakers and makes you start headbanging straight away. These ten songs show exactly what power metal is all about.