SERGEANT STEEL – Truck Tales (2021)
Austrian melodic hard rockers SERGEANT STEEL have been releasing some really good music since formed in 2007. They have worked with the likes of Mark Slaughter, Kane Roberts (ALICE COOPER) and Peter Mew of Abbey Road Studios, and toured in support of such great acts as DEEP PURPLE, HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES, THE DARKNESS, SCORPIONS and EUROPE, honing their craft and paying their dues.
Their fourth album, “Truck Tales”, fine-tuned by legendary Michael Wagener in the USA, should be their winning card to conquer the fans of the genre, via their cocktail of ’80s melodic choruses and killer hooks.
The album opens on a definite high note, with the anthemic “Fight Fire With Fire”. From the Eastern themed intro to the last chorus, this song is a fantastic example of a group of musicians who are doing things right. The cut was released as a preliminary single and featured into our Advanced Singles series, to positive feedback from all sources.
Phil Vanderkill’s vocal delivery is obviously influenced by the great Freddie Mercury in his inflection, and musically the band fires on all cylinders. Principal songwriter and lyricist, Jack Power, has done his homework, as the song is tightly crafted from the ground up.
“Backseat Lover” follows, with a funky inspired intro that brought early EXTREME to mind. That gives way into a fantastic swaggering vocal, and more tightly crafted songwriting ability on display. The guitar solo on this song is of particular interest, not a wasted single note and fitting the track perfectly.
Everyone in the band glue as a cohesive unit on this record, with the keyboards and rhythm section as solid as rock.
Highlights abound; “Voodoo Queen”, another stellar track, has an incredible groove to it; as does the rocker “Body Language”, which follows. “Pain In My Ass” shows another side of the band, as it gives way to some acoustic work and a nicely placed humorous slant on things.
SERGEANT STEEL should be ready for a breakout with this new, vital, melodic rocking new album.
Very well done guys.
Highly Recommended
01 – Fight Fire with Fire
02 – Backseat Lover
03 – Dance into the Light
04 – Brotherhood
05 – Voodoo Queen
06 – Body Language
07 – Pain in My Ass
08 – Hunter
09 – The Time Will Come
10 – Nightmare
Phil Vanderkill – Vocals
Jack Power – Guitars, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals
Chuck Boom – Guitars, Violine, Vocals
Ben Bateman – Keyboards
Ronny Roxx – Bass
Cosy Coxx – Drums
Pre Order:
www.sergeant-steel.com/merch
