Virgin Steele have always been synonymous with reliability, ever since way back in 1982 when they brought their eponymous CD into the world and began touring America and the globe with their unmistakable fusion of metal and epic orchestrations, so much so that they are considered one of the most influential bands of all time in the epic metal realm. It is important to remember, however, that the band’s beginnings were not exactly on this track, but rather the sound of the four members (founder and singer David De Feis, Jack Starr on guitar, Joe O'Reilly on bass, and Joey Ayvazian on drums) was much more influenced by bands like Texas' Bloodrock and the early works of Manilla Road. In fact, the album in question sounds more hard rock than metal. A raw and fast rock but rock nonetheless.

Once again overlooking a cover that is anything but beautiful, from the first listen it is immediately clear how there are still keyboards (played by De Feis) that will be the band's fortune in the future. It becomes evident from the intro to "Danger Zone" their utility: merging them with Starr’s guitar to create a union between delicacy and power, on which to lay De Feis’s not entirely perfect voice, too caught up in his vocal improvisations. More direct and "commercial" is "American Girl" with its appealing lyrics and vocal lines: a little gem in an album that is not too inspired. Guitar is once more at the forefront in "Dead End Kids", an anonymous hard & heavy song that goes by without leaving a mark, as does the subsequent "Drive On Thru". The page turns decisively for the pairing of "Still in Love with You" and "Children of the Storm". Two tracks where the band's stronger compositional structure is revealed: the first is a romantic ballad where De Feis really starts to get serious, while the second is a song in full Virgin Steele style, with power, pathos, and aggressiveness, typical elements of the "symphonic" sound that will be perfected later on.

No other particular sound shocks present themselves except for the closing title track, another little hard rock gem for rhythm and evocative power. For the rest, Virgin Steele maintains a level of adequacy that doesn’t quite suit the band.

The album is enjoyable to listen to, without grand apotheosis except in two/three cases. The rest is hard & heavy played with understanding and nothing more. Virgin Steele will do better in the future. This remains an acceptable work, heavily imbued with late seventies influences, perhaps a bit distant from the artistic schemes of the four members.

Forty minutes of good rock.

1. "Minuet In G Minor - Danger Zone" (4:28)
2. "American Girl" (2:51)
3. "Dead End Kids" (3:25)
4. "Drive On Thru" (3:12)
5. "Still In Love With You" (6:17)
6. "Children Of The Storm" (6:26)
7. "Pictures On You" (3:29)
8. "Pulverizer" (2:10)
9. "Living In Sin" (3:49)
10. "Virgin Steele" (4:38)

Tracklist and Videos

01   a) Minuet in G Minor / b) Danger Zone (04:28)

02   American Girl (new mix) (02:51)

03   Dead End Kids (03:25)

04   Drive on Thru (new mix) (03:11)

05   Lothlorien (02:07)

06   Still in Love With You (new mix) (06:17)

07   Children of the Storm (06:26)

08   Pictures on You (03:29)

09   Pulverizer (02:10)

10   Living in Sin (new mix) (03:49)

11   Virgin Steele (04:39)

12   The Lesson (demo) (05:58)

13   Life of Crime (demo) (04:28)

14   Burn the Sun (demo) (04:06)

15   American Girl (original mix) (02:51)

16   Dead End Kids (new mix) (03:27)

17   Drive on Thru (original mix) (03:12)

18   Living in Sin (original mix) (03:45)

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