Review STAINLESS “Lady of Lust & Steel”

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Stainless launch their debut album, “Lady of Lust and Steel.” The band was founded in 2022 and released their first EP, “Nocturnal Rider,” which is now followed up by their debut album.

Stainless is the brainchild of guitarist Jamie Byrum, and the album blends hard rock with metal influences. Both of these elements are very much present on the opener, “Restless An’ Ready.” The song mirrors AC/DC and has some Accept-like moments. It’s a raw fusion that blasts out of the speakers.

A key asset of Stainless is singer Larissa Cavacece, who has a genuine metal voice. Her singing style and coarse voice exude metal. Her style gives the album rough edges, which complement the screaming guitar during the solo parts. One can’t help but think of Leather Leone while listening to songs like “Whoreforest,” the second track on the album.

“Lady of Lust & Steel” is not an extremely long album. At 36 minutes long, this album offers a more condensed metal experience, as reflected by the pounding “(Don’t Cross Me) Fool,” which has some links to Judas Priest. Regardless of the source of inspiration, “Lady of Lust & Steel” offers music that revives ’80s metal. A strong old-school vibe runs through these nine songs, with the up-tempo “Danger in the Night” being the fastest song on the album.

The contrast with “Take a Listen Mama” could not be greater. While “Danger in the Night” is a furious metal song, the band offers a calmer moment with “Take a Listen Mama.” Equipped with a mesmerizing pulse, the band presents a power ballad-esque rock song with a few metal elements.

An ’80s vibe resonates throughout “Vitamine Tease,” while “Rough Justice” heralds the end of “Lady of Lust & Steel.” This blues-infused hard rocker showcases Stainless’s musical range.

“Lady of Lust & Steel” is a well-crafted debut album. It showcases a hungry new band that picks up the sounds of traditional heavy metal and ’80s hard rock. Fusing these two classic genres results in a vital and vigorous debut album from a band that clearly loves playing heavy music.