Virgin Steele
Virgin Steele is a Established in 1981, Heavy metal band from New York. They are one of the most famous representatives of the U.S. Metal 1980s. According to modern reading they are assigned to the Power Metal from the 1990s. They describe their style as barbaric - romantic Metal ( " barbaric romanticism ").
The music of Virgin Steele is characterized by its epic- symphonic elements and borrowings from the classical period. Some releases of the band are concept albums and treat primarily themes of mythology in general and later the ancient Greek and Near Eastern mythology in particular.
- 2.1 Studio albums
- 2.2 Compilations and live albums
- 2.3 Singles and EPs
- 2.4 Remastered and / or re-released
- 2.5 Other
Band History
The Early Years
The band was formed in the early 1980s by Jack Starr, a guitarist of French origin, and founded Ayvazian Joey (drums). Together they were looking for a singer until they found a newspaper ad on David DeFeis, which also brought bassist Joe O'Reilly with the band.
Her debut gave Virgin Steele 1982 with the song Children of the Storm on the compilation U.S. Metal Vol II A short time later, she appeared after themselves named first album with the title track Children of the Storm. DeFeis brought among them is his penchant for melodic and pompous arrangements, while Starr preferred the harder and more direct way. In 1983, the album Guardians of the Flame. After the mini LP Wait for the Night Jack Starr left the band due to disagreements with DeFeis on the direction of the band. Starr committed it, among other things the former Riot vocalist Rhett Forrester and released the album Out of Darkness. He tried to keep the rights to the band name Virgin Steele, but she lost in a trial against the rest of the band to David DeFeis, whereupon the latter his former school friend, guitarist Edward Pursino committed to continue the band.
In 1985 on Cobra Records, the former record company Virgin Steele, the thrash metal album Nightmare Theatre an unknown band called The Exorcist. Neither disk nor band found greater attention until two years later, rumors arose about the similarities to Virgin Steele: In addition to the record label were still studio (Sonic Sound Studio ) and producer ( DeFeis ) identical. In addition, the singing of both bands sounded strikingly similar. DeFeis admitted after initially denying that he or Virgin Steele were behind the exorcist. In 2000, the matter will finally clear: the song Fire of Ecstasy from the album The House of Atreus Act II is a remake ( with other text ) of the Exorcist title Call for the Exorcist.
Difficult times
In 1986 the band released the Noble Savage, but the album failed to meet expected sales figures. It was followed by a European tour in support of Manowar. The next album Age of Consent in 1987 reached, although it garnered good reviews of the trade press, again no more widespread and was not least a commercial failure, because the rest was too low due to legal problems.
After the record company the band stopped their business and bassist Joe O'Reilly decided to leave the band, you could import the time being no further studio albums and go on tour.
Successful new beginning
Only in 1993, after protracted litigation with former management and after a new bassist was found in Rob De Martino, the band could be revived. Virgin Steele received a contract with the record company Shark and published in the same year the album Life Among the Ruins (Life among the Ruins ) on which - for the band quite unusual - influenced by Whitesnake Hard Rock with blues bonds could be heard.
A year later appeared with The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, Part 1, a very progressive oriented, melodic album with Epic metal and the typical for Virgin Steele strong symphonic influences. This album was very well received in the metal scene. Virgin Steele came back to Europe, as the opening act of Manowar and Uriah Heep. In 1995, the album The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, Part 2 was released. After another European tour was released in 1998 with the - musical significantly harder - Invictus Album of the third and final part of the " Marriage" saga. The record sold very well and is regarded by many fans as one of the strongest and most mature VS albums. By now the band in the metal genre was an established global player, although her fame (and its commercial success ) could not compete with that of their eternal rivals Manowar ( what has changed to this day nothing ).
Back in 1999, released their next studio album, The House of Atreus Act I, an atmospheric, multi-layered concept album that deals with Greek mythology.
Shortly thereafter, in 2000, followed by The House of Atreus Act II, the sequel ( the unscheduled even a double album ).
After 2000
In 2002 published two more albums at the same time, but without completely new material. For one, The Book of Burning, which contains a number of unreleased and newly recorded earlier works from the former creative phase of the band. In addition, a best-of compilation called Hymns to Victory with highlights from the band's career. The articles selected for this compilation pieces were re-mixed and partly with new elements (eg intros ) supplemented. Partially known songs were also with a very different interpretation and instrumentation re-recorded (such as Gate of Kings ).
In 2003, the first two VS albums ( which for years were not available more) completely remastered by DeFeis and republished.
In view of its projects DeFeis Visions of Eden, the sequel to The House of Atreus Act II appeared only on 8 September 2006. The album deals thematically with the ancient Near Eastern Lilith myth.
In October / November 2008, five more albums were re-released from the 8oer and 90s. Three of them contain bonus tracks, including various live songs of the band.
For a long time, the release of a DVD is announced the deal with the career and the career highlights of the band and would also include live recordings of concerts.
Discography
Studio albums
Compilations and live albums
- 2002: The Book of Burning ( Compilation )
- 2002: Hymns to Victory ( Best Of)
Singles and EPs
Remastered and / or re-released
- 2003: Virgin Steele (1982 )
- 2003: Guardians of the Flame ( 1983)
- 2008: Noble Savage (1985 )
- 2008: Age of Consent (1988 )
- 2008: Life Among the Ruins (1993 )
- 2008: The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Part I ( 1994)
- 2008: The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Part II ( 1995)