Some times when I enter these lesser known albums I wonder whether I am the Steelemeister or not; it might be one of the folks who commented or rated it before me -- just kidding here, I am the Steelemeister the master of true steel, of the steel, steel, steel, metal, iron, and all the heavy minerals (nanowar reference)

This is pretty basic material, but somehow it manages to hit a sweet spot. A good example how less can be more.

Written by Joppe on 09.03.2024 at 20:36

I am the Steelemeister the master of true steel, of the steel, steel, steel, metal, iron, and ...

Not much doubt on my end. Though I must say that your profile name used to indicate to that self-image of yours more unambiguously some time back.

Written by Redel on 09.03.2024 at 21:16

Though I must say that your profile name used to indicate to that self-image of yours more unambiguously some time back.

Well, I am an old school user of the site and I was visiting here when it was located in Estonia, when it was not possible to comment on albums and there was a metalstorm radio that you could connect to with winamp... (Not to go full Putin here with a history lesson) And what I was previously originated from those times.

The reason why I became Joppe is because as I grew older, and I hope, also wiser, is because I chose not try to control things so much as in the past. So there was this encounter with a dude I barely knew and he called me as Joppe and it sticked ever since (no reference to the Finnish ww2 pilot).

To comment about the album, I don't get your 6 rating as just listening to the song Thor should send massive Manilla Road Crystal Logic vibes all over the organism

Written by Joppe on 10.03.2024 at 14:17

...

Thanks for the details on your personal Metal Storm history, much appreciated.

As for the album at hand, I have just respun it in order to give a fresh comment.
It is an ok album for me. A 6 mirrors it perfectly, that is not a bad rating in my books, it places it in the middle of the road, that is where it runs savely. I may say that it is an upper 6 since I am generally a tad more generous with debut albums.

Overall, I am not a fan of the vocals, and I find the songwriting a bit too generic, considering the entire album, and even for the time. There are too few riffs that stand out and hook.
That being said, Thor is a great song. It clearly is a highlight of the album, my only one though.