Steel Crown
Night Walk

The Steel Crown is another great Italian metal group that deserves to be mentioned on DeBaser! The band was formed in Trieste in 1977, a historic year for punk, and the initial lineup was composed of Yako De Bonis on vocals, Frank Lewis on guitar, Pino Melchi on bass, and Silver Kid on drums. Their name was Corona d'Acciaio, the songs were sung in Italian, and their style was a powerful hard rock, a beginning similar to Strana Officina. Later, moving into the eighties, the band changed its name to Steel Crown and also changed its genre, choosing the typical heavy metal of that period. In 1983, they started recording their first demo, and in the same year, they included the song "Prisoner In The Box" in the compilation "Heavy Metal Eruption." In 1984, they added another track, namely "Bad Flowers", on the album "Italian Metal," while in 1985, it was the turn of "Riot Into The Fire" in "Metallo Italia." They, together with Death SS, Strana Officina, Vanexa, and Rollerball, participated in the great Festival of Certaldo, a wonderful national event for metal bands.

The Steel Crown continued to perform at top levels throughout the peninsula, reaching even Yugoslavia. Their appearances opening for Mercyful Fate in their Italian dates are famous and very important! The extramusical fame they carried with them was not among the best; they were defined as intemperate, controversial, and quarrelsome, managing not to be fooled by false promises or crooks disguised as producers. The Steel Crown remained consistent in their metal path, setting everything they encountered on fire. In 1984, their live album "Live In The Phantom City" was released, while in 1986, they recorded their first studio album "Sunset Warriors." This album showcased excellent ideas from the whole band, adorned with gems like "My Father", "Drifting In My Mind" and the fast title track.

In 1987, drummer Peter Cosmini joined the group, replacing Silver Kid, and with him, they released the mini LP "Night Walk." This small but beautiful work came out in 1988 and contained four very interesting and surprising tracks! The band starts immediately with the accelerator down from the first track "Crazy For Rage", demonstrating to everyone their technical abilities. This song is the fastest on the record and begins with a powerful and fast riff accompanied by Cosmini's sustained and precise drumming. Yako's voice is metallic and shrill, managing to express all its anger in the defiant and wild chorus. A ride of pure N.W.O.B.H.M. like the most frenetic Accept and Saxon! Noteworthy are the technical and fast solos by Lewis with subsequently a quick melodic variation that is quickly broken by the harsh restart. The title track presents a hard but less fast rhythm compared to "Crazy For Rage", coming to the sounds of Angelwitch and the Saxon of "To Hell And Back Again" and "Suzie Hold On". The guitar part is powerful and precise, while De Bonis's voice is melodic, airy yet at the same time determined and passionate. In the rest of the song, we find a surprising and very beautiful change, embellished by the chords and vocal abilities rich in Yako's pathos, then starting again with a stunning crescendo and the great refrain.

"I Would Rather Die Poor" is introduced by Frank's remarkable arpeggios and solos, which then lead to a riff and a rhythmic section performed in full Steel Crown style. A true rock of pure hot metal, with Yako abandoning the melodic voice and decidedly showing his aggressive and angry side. A piece that would make the early period Maiden envious! It comes to the end of the work with the majestic "Love Lorn" which closes the second and last chapter of the Steel Crown in a masterful and triumphant way. This track has a sound very close to Diamond Head's "Borrowed Time", a truly beautiful piece rich in pathos and melody. The vocalist's performance is incredible and exciting, managing to express emotions from every pore! The refrain closely resembles the great "To The Devil His Due" by Diamond Head. Perhaps Yako De Bonis can be considered among the greatest singers the metal scene has ever been able to have! Listen to him in this mini LP to appreciate his magnificent voice! The Steel Crown does not need power ballads like Poison or Cinderella, because they manage to express melody and beauty in pieces that have ridiculously METAL riffs and rhythmic sections! It's impressive! "Love Lorn" is unfortunately the last track the quartet presents to us, due to the sudden death of the talented Yako De Bonis, who still leaves a void in Italian metal today. He passed away in a car accident while he was reaching the band to play at Verona Rock in 1989. Unfortunately, they too, like Strana Officina, which I have already mentioned at the beginning, lost a fundamental member of the group over eighteen years ago, which decreed the imminent dissolution of Steel Crown.

What else can I tell you? Support and listen to good international and NATIONAL music, because the TRUE ITALIAN MUSIC IS NOT San Remo but THE GREAT HEAVY METAL!!! In other words, all these bands that I wanted to review to pay them a great tribute and honor!! ...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.