Whoever took the ultimate metal band name was going to have to make damn sure to live up to it. Luckily, Satan played amazing, state-of-the-art British heavy metal.

Blitzkrieg vocalist Brian Ross and drummer Sean Taylor lend their talents to Satan. Like Blitzkrieg, the music is marked by supercharged riffing and fluent, multifaceted, and dynamic songwriting. However, Satan is significantly faster and more technically advanced, with more speed metal strumming and blazingly wild, dramatic guitar solos. Taylor's drumming also sounds cleaner. Future Skyclad members bassist Graeme English and guitarist Steve Ramsey are present. The overall effect is melodic, fast, progressive metal with sometimes high-pitched vocals, like Mercyful Fate/King Diamond but with a less theatrical, more straight-to-the-gut British approach.

"Blades of Steel" is as heavy as Metallica and with more detailed guitar work and far better singing. "No Turning Back" has a more traditional NWOBHM sound, at least until the breathless Priest-style lead tradeoffs. "Break Free" is pure galloping greatness that shows many silly German bands what power metal is all about. The instrumental "The Ritual" is loaded with effective guitar ideas and is a definite precursor to King Diamond's solo work.

Lyrical themes include (in)justice and personal honor, of course examined with a dark outlook.

The worthwhile CD bonus tracks include a version of the older classic "Pull the Trigger" that also appears on Blitzkrieg's 'A Time of Changes'. It's a GREAT song, but also illustrates the progression Satan made leading up to the album.

This 1983 release represents the best traits of the NWOBHM and of the speed metal both Satan and Blitzkrieg helped create.

© 2001 j.s.