The steel city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania isn’t just all about blue collar workers and sports teams like the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates. People willing to seek out some quality metal can unearth some gems – Lady Beast one group that have cemented themselves throughout the global underground since 2009. Releasing two EPs plus four studio albums, the quintet elevates their traditional heavy/power metal platform through this latest release The Inner Alchemist. There’s a lot to dig into – especially for those who love the basic twin-guitar hooks, sharp riff attack, supportive bass/drum foundational elements, as well as the phenomenal, soaring vocal melodies to bring all the songs to headbanging attention.
The fusion of US and European influences (especially on the UK end of things) with an 80s leaning philosophy creates tremendous passages that provide numerous earworms track by track. The forceful nature to the delivery of singer Deborah Levine comes from more of a Dio / Leather Leone mold – sturdy yet injecting the right vicious spirit that could lead battalions to storm the gates in conquering mode. Check out her bold choice of rising notes in “Through the Eyes of War” as an early highlight to her stellar abilities. The axe rhythms, fiery lead breaks, plus hefty twin harmonies / gallops from Chris Tritschler and Andy Ramage will elevate bodies, making many think of classic Accept, Jag Panzer, Mercyful Fate or 80s Iron Maiden (both Di’Anno and Dickinson periods) as main licks from “Feed Your Fire” and the title track circle your headspace to metallic glory. While excelling at standard anthem-oriented material, the band also know how to execute a moody epic cut with the almost seven-minute “Starborn” – between its quieter, cleaner instrumental opening on through to its speedier power chords and Maiden-esque twin guitar action in the back half of the arrangement, hopefully this will be a centerpiece in future headlining sets.
Consistently getting their name out there through shows beyond the East Coast into festivals like Frost and Fire and Headbangers Open Air, Lady Beast embraces all the right tools to become a force in the current crop of pure heavy metal artists parading their skills to the world. The Inner Alchemist properly represents the pinnacle achievement for their already professional-level discography, and should be a benchmark record for others to treasure decades down the line.