Sacred Steel – Ritual Supremacy Review

It’s funny how the mind sometimes tricks us in ways not even imagined. The very first chord of album warmer and tittle track “Ritual Supremacy“ immediately brought, I don’t know why, a memory back from Saxon’s “Wheels of Steel.” Maybe it was the single chord played. At least I could say the album started the best possible because Saxon are always a great memory to any Metal band on this sad and lonely and pathetic little planet. “Ritual Supremacy“ is in no way similar to “Wheels of Steel,” however it brings back the power and the glory of the NWOBHM that Saxon still represent so well.

“Ritual Supremacy” is Sacred Steel’s tenth album, however this is the first one to be reviewed here. Shame on us because the band is so good, but so good. Even though I mentioned the NWOBHM when I first talked about the album I do believe “Ritual Supremacy” steps out of its borders – not that I believe they should exist, but, in fact, they do. The album walks with no shame on a myriad of tempos and cadences and moods. Just take a look at the beautiful “Omen Rider” that comes from a slow-tempo track to reach an intricate Iron Maiden inspired guitar riffing. It helps a lot vocalist Gerrit P. Mutz’s eclectic voice that gives the band its personality and versatility. The transition between grand finale “Let The Blackness Come to Me” to album warmer “Ritual Supremacy” gives the fan a shock because they are tracks aside.

It surprises the fact that except for “Ritual Supremacy” there are very few true choruses in the album. “Ritual Supremacy” isn’t the album to singalong with the choruses, but that isn’t a problem whatsoever because the band was able to build its melodies in a very intelligent way. I’ll elaborate. Sacred Steel stress some parts of the song that aren’t exactly the chorus as they do with “The Watcher Infernal.“ It’s a technique some bands use to give their music a little more melody creating the so-called hooks. I have to say the music in here is actually very catchy in its essence. It also surprises the way Sacred Steel mix modern techniques with old ones. Here and there the fan can identify some modern guitar riffs and some drums techniques side by side with the famous 1980’s ones.

“Ritual Supremacy” is an album to remember. At last big hail to “Leather, Spikes & Chains” when Sacred Steel had their Running Wild moment.

Sacred Steel “Ritual Supremacy” will be released on April 28th via ROAR.

Track Listing:

1. Ritual Supremacy
2. Leather, Spikes & Chains
3. The Watcher Infernal
4. A Shadow in the Bell Tower
5. Entombed Within the Iron Walls of Dis
6. Bedlam Eternal
7. Demon Witch Possession
8. Covenant of Grace
9. Omen Rider
10. Let the Blackness Come to Me

Watch “Ritual Supremacy” official music video here: