Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Virgin Steele
Label: Noise Records
Release: 1982
Duration: 70:39
Rating: 3/5
It was way back in 1982 when a four-piece of killer musicians hit the bullseye right out of the gate with a debut that clearly has its roots in seventies hard rock. What Virgin Steele became over more than 20 years of existence carries a unique stamp throughout, one that has stuck to this day. If you look closely, you can spot a spaceship on the cover, and right below its tail fin the initials NWAHM (could that stand for New Wave (Of) American Heavy Metal?). These four guys had huge self-confidence. They knew how distinctive their style was and surely believed they could break through to the top of the American scene of the time, which was wide open for that kind of thing back then.
A fresh approach, so original, or in other words “virgin-steeled”. Even today, listening to this album, I’m blown away by how much it stood out stylistically for its time and how fresh it still sounds. The production is largely “garage-made,” so the sound is passionate and raw. Its author was already David Defeis back then. A sound with a thick bass line. Dynamic rhythmic steamrolling with constantly varied transitions and tempo changes, like in “Still In Love With You,” with its magical mellow middle section, where you can enjoy Jack’s Sabbath-flavored soloing with a touch of blues. That touch of blues and seventies hard rock (e.g. in the simple bangers “Dead End Kiss” or “Pictures On You”) is felt in every song, like never again in the band’s later career. In their early days, Virgin Steele overcomplicated things way less and just wrote music “in three-four time.” And listen to how they pull off the multi-layered epic “Children Of The Storm,” which brings together what the guys tried to bring in their own way right from the start: blending classical elements with metal.
What stands out and adorns Virgin Steele is the incredible energy, not to say eroticism, of the songs, which burn one after another, largely thanks to David Defeis’s unique singing and the magic between the co-writers of most of the songs, guitarist Jack Starr and David.
Jack Star and his guitar. A Gibson sound. Picture a typical seventies rocker with fast three-finger hammering, a perfect feel for adding all sorts of embellishments (refined half-step string bends, and sliding along the neck goes without saying). Stylistically, Jack is most reminiscent of M. Schenker (in “Children Of The Storm,” for example). For the early eighties he’s incredibly fast in his solos and transitions, and hugely energetic in his open riffing.
The classical keyboard intro suddenly morphs into the souped-up “Danger Zone.” Pomp guaranteed. On top of that, there’s the glam image of the band members, which isn’t surprising at all. Back then, wearing makeup was the fashion. The closing epic “Virgin Steele” in particular sets out the direction the band followed on the next record, “Guardians Of The Flame” (1983).
The “Virgin Steelers,” with their debut and their spotless enthusiasm, sound enraged, passionately erotic and, of course, very much alive even twenty years on.
Lineup
David DeFeis – vocals, keyboards
Jack Starr – guitar
Joe O’Reilly – bass guitar
Joey Ayvazian – drums
Production
David DeFeis
Track list
01. Medley Minuet In G Minor
02. American Girl
03. Dead End Kids
04. Drive On Through
05. Lothlorien
06. Still In Love With You
07. Children of the Storm
08. Pictures of You
09. Pulverizer
10. Living In Sin
11. Virgin Steele
BONUS TRACKS FROM THE 2002 REMASTERED EDITION
12. The Lesson
13. Life of Crime
14. Burn the Sun
15. American Girl
16. Dead End Kids
17. Drive on Thru
18. Living in Sin
