Out of the heart of Sweden comes a track that punches its way through the speakers like a battle cry. Black Steam's latest single, "Heavy Metal," is a full-throttle tribute to the sound's origins but also reflective in a blistering sort of way. Lead singer Stefan Borg demands attention with a voice reminiscent of a hurricane as it passes over, mixing raw emotion with steely grit. He delivers news with equal measures of sermon and scream, a roar for the faithful. Guitarist Kenne Jansson provides shredding lines that slice through the mix like knives, and Hans Liljebladh's bass pulses with the Earth's bloody heat. On the drums, Uffe Tillman propels the whole thing forward with the force of a Viking slinging thunderbolts from behind the kit.
Black Steam, formed in 2017, has been methodically, steadfastly erecting a temple to metal's golden age, and with this track, they throw open its gates. Carving its bones from the thunder of Iron Maiden and the edge of Judas Priest, the track welds galloping riffs to a firestarter rhythm section and vocals that ring out with clarity. "Heavy Metal" is a way of life. Tempered on loyalty, rebellion, and the unyielding connection between the band and the crowd, this cut smacks of a smoke-filled underground club floor, which is made to be shouted back, a chorus to unite a room full of raised fists.
Black Steam embodies metal. With a live show that routinely straddles the line between performance and ritual, the band has furthered their reputation as torchbearers of the genre. With "Heavy Metal," they make a loud, proud statement that real metal never dies but just gets louder. So, if you're an enthusiastic acolyte or a newly born headbanger, crank it up. Black Steam has arrived, and they're not asking for permission.
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