Ice War is a one-man heavy/speed metal project from Ottawa, Canada, founded by Jo Steel Capitalicide in 2015. After the end of his previous band, Iron Dogs, Capitalicide launched Ice War with a clear commitment to rejecting modern metal influences, focusing instead on a raw, traditional sound that blends heavy metal and speed metal.

Throughout its active years, Ice War has become known for its direct approach, with themes centered around anti-government, anti-capitalism, and native issues. Capitalicide, handling all instruments and vocals, has released numerous singles, EPs, and full-length albums, including Ice War (2017), Manifest Destiny (2018), Canadian Classics (2019), Sacred Land (2021), and Beyond the Void (2022). The latest release, Feel the Steel (2025), further solidifies the project’s legacy.

Review

Feel The Steel opens with some futuristic synth lines that come straight from out of space. Big hungry guitars roar before we get some nice singing guitar leads. What is evident straight away is how raw this sounds. It feels like the production is unpolished, very earthy and avoids the pristine effects of the digital era. The big chorus shouts of the words “Feel the Steel” will be sure to get fans singing along.

Venom picks up the pace with sweeping gallops and quick picking guitar work, even throwing in some nice little melodies. Jos vocals latch on to the music magnificently and the chorus work in particular has this light airy feel to it. It feels very classic and like it was lifted right out of that golden period of heavy metal. When people did not have phones and just focused on the music and the moment. Damn that chorus will be in my head all day now! very catchy indeed!

it is time to raise you swords up in the air Red Fire! Big tom work and woahs start things off before we are transported to ethereal fields where Jo vocals stand centre, soft synths sway in the background and light piano notes drift. Then the heavy metal comes back in with a simple yet effective rhythm guitar pattern to drive things forward. The woahs play as a bed to the chorus lyrics of Red Fire. There is a nice dirty, gritty solo section to break things up eventually leading back to the synths and airy ideas!

Next is the mid tempo number called Memories. It opens with a rough and ready guitar riff before everything else comes in. We get more synths flowing along with the guitar work like a gentle moving river. Jo puts some extra oomph into this song with his vocal delivery really aiming to pack a punch for listeners. You can clearly hear that he is pulling a lot of emotions from his heart and soul! And of course the word memories on the choruses will be left etched into your brain after a couple of listens.

Choice Is Ours is the next piece and things seem to have taken a darker tone. We get more woahs blended with some darker feeling guitar ideas. And as the song progresses the song uses a repetitive guitar riff mostly for the verses to carry things forward. The choruses revisit the dark and unsettling feelings of the opening section of the song but everything is on top a bed of rolling double kicks. Things change up when we reach a chugging guitar section that brings synth leads in to accompany it. It goes on for a bit still retaining that dark vibe with more woah woahs

the next song Shine Bright certainly does that when it starts, especially with its sparkling synth notes. Eventually a big snare roll gathers momentum before the rest of the instruments come in. There is a lot of ripping rhythms and hard hitting drumming present and of course Jo once again gives strong vocally delivery. The solo section has plenty of flavour but i think it’s the later part of the song where there is bass breakdown followed by group shouts that standout the most.

Life in Waste comes at you with a barrage of rolling toms and hungry guitars before a stomping kick pattern and sexy riff appear. The song proceeds to drive forward with some fantastic rhythm guitar sections and personally this feels the most together song so far on the album. Jos vocals feel fully charged and energetic and literally give a lot of power to this track. I love the use of double kick under the bass and guitar work to help this song power forward!

Lost To The Void opens with some lingering semi acoustic guitar scales and an angelic synth acting as icing on top. We then transition into a slow moving section that gives a sense of sadness or deep though. There is that kick pattern of 1 and 2, and 1 and 2 that works in synch with the simple picking of the semi acoustic ideas. The heavy guitars come in and out of the song adding some body and chunk when appropriate. To be this feels a little a bit like a warriors song. Even at moments ever so slightly manowar but ever so slightly. The sad and lost synths come back in for a brief moment before that attitude and grit comes back in. A solo drifts in before we reach the end.

Damnation is the albums closing track and there is a certain stomp going on here. There are quick picking guitars that present feelings of evilness and anger. Jo even gives some big background ahs on the chorus sections and personally the chorus sections I feel are where the song is at its strongest. I also love the big shouts which I am sure will getting people joining in in a live setting. Great stuff

Conclusion

If you love that straightforward classic metal feel with a DIY approach then Ice War’s “Feel the Steel” certainly delivers. Jo has come a long way vocally feeling more in control and on course and there are plenty of interesting ideas going on here musically to make this a really solid release! Well done!

TheNwothm Score: 7.5/10

Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/icewarmetal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icewarmetal

Label: https://ugresistance.se