Vintage metal - remastered
Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 05/16/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"1983's Guardians of the Flame is the second album from early American power metal band Virgin Steele. The band, which featured guitar wizard Jack Starr and keyboardist/banshee vocalist Dave DeFies, drew obvious inspiration from bands Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Rainbow/Dio/Black Sabbath, and alongside bands like Helstar, Omen, and Warlord played a big part in this country's adoption and adaptation of heavy metal.
Guardians of the Flame is a great, old school, fist in the air heavy metal album that exemplifies the early American power metal sound. You get flashy guitar work, powerful vocals, fantasy subject matter, and a keyboard-driven sense of drama and grandeur that gave the album a more epic, Magnum-like feel, even if it seems a bit silly 25 years later. The lyrics seem to alternate between Priest worship (Life of Crime, Metal City) and Maiden worship (Burn the Sun, Guardians of the Flame) but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Starr's guitar work is impressive, as long as you're not expecting Yngwie-level technicality, and DeFies's vocals are dynamic, but verge on melodramatic at times and may take some getting used to.
Guardians of the Flame is a classic early album from a classic metal band. Is is dated? Yes. Cheesy? Sure. Awesome? If you like old school power/true/traditional heavy metal, you better believe it!
NOTE: Noise Records reissued Guardians of the Flame in 2002. In addition to digitally remastering the album, there are 5 bonus tracks. The first three - I Am the One, Go Down Fighting, and Wait for the Night - come from the rare 1983 Wait for the Night EP. The remaining tracks, which you'll probably never need to hear more than once, are a vintage audio interview and a live version of Blues Deluxe Oreganata (I Might Drown).
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Track Listings (15) - Disc #1
