Remember in the late 90s when traditional heavy metal finally saw a bit of a resurgence from the media after dealing with a lot of grunge, alternative, and extreme metal acts garnering the spotlight? German act Sacred Steel have been around since that evolution – bursting onto the scene through their debut album 1997’s Reborn in Steel. They’ve shifted labels over the years (Metal Blade, Massacre, Cruz del Sur Music and now Rock of Angels Records), while shuffling different lineups (welcoming in 2023 ex-Brainstorm bassist Toni Ieva and second guitarist Jörn Langenfeld). Ritual Supremacy as the tenth studio platter may be nine years removed from Heavy Metal Sacrifice – but make no mistake, the purity stays the course to shine through beyond the band’s love for the multidimensional appeal to the genre.
The quintet possesses proper knowledge and understanding of the approach they take – always in service of the song plus atmosphere on hand. No one can go wrong with titles like “Leather, Spikes, and Chains” or “Demon Witch Possession” – the first glance into everything from paying homage to the genre we treasure on through to hellish imagery that could overtake souls. Musically ripping at a speed/thrash tempo, the title track steamrolls between its fierce riff presence, double kick versatility (love the shuffling instrumental transition just after the 3:07 mark), and call to command delivery emanating from the unique voice of Gerrit P. Mutz. Traditional devil horns beyond massive headbanging bring “The Watcher Infernal” into highlight mode, the dual guitar lines and heavy main riffs embrace the spirit of classic Teutonic meets NWOBHM material, while conversely “Bedlam Eternal” channels an 80’s doom spirit, in the vein of Candlemass or Solitude Aeturnus with a riff/tempo template that could shake the rafters.
Unafraid to occasionally inject extreme vocals or musical components without sacrificing the main metal foundation of the group’s sound, the mix of standard tracks along with the occasional epic like “Entombed Within the Iron Walls of Dis” (an 8-minute oriented effort that Judas Priest / Iron Maiden followers savor) keeps the flow of the album dynamic, offering plenty of hidden hooks to absorb multiple times. Producer Benjamin Hölle attains authentic and organic tones – keeping the eyes on the prize where the band shines through catchy riffs, energetic performances, as well as the occasional left-field serene or dramatic twist that seems to be missing a lot in bands of today.
If you haven’t tried Sacred Steel before, Ritual Supremacy would be an excellent entry point for starters. Passionate for the cause, these seasoned veterans may have gone through some significant lineup changes, but it has not sacrificed one iota the quality present. Let’s hope this galvanizes multiple generations to the eternal power of heavy metal.