Formed in 2020, Steel Systems is a heavy metal band from Oulu, Finland. The band presents their first EP, Burn to Rock, out now.

Burn to Rock is a more than competent first showing of what Steel Systems can do. While the vocals are occasionally a little flat, this fact only speaks to the quality of the heavy metal that undergirds the singing. Twin guitar leads, engaging vocal harmonies, and a solid rhythm section take center stage on the best tracks here. On repeat listens, the songwriting really shines through, with interesting twists and turns that might not catch a listener’s attention on first listen. While I think the overall tone of the EP shows that Steel Systems could stand to take things up a notch, either by changing up pacing, rhythm, or vocal style, Burn to Rock makes for an exciting showcase for this young band’s talents and promise.  

Review

To kick things off, Thicker than Blood musters forth a fantastic riff and some great guitar solos. However, the vocals will be a little much for some to swallow on this track and elsewhere on Burn to Rock, which is unfortunate because Sakke Kalliorinne’s singing sometimes fits the music perfectly, such as when he approximates Bruce Dickinson’s wail later on this track and especially when the band makes intriguing use of vocal harmonies.

This track does an admirable job of kicking off the EP but also captures some of the pitfalls of this first effort by Steel Systems: the songs could use a dose of wild energy, more attention-grabbing guitar leads, or other idiosyncrasies to add a little flair to the songwriting. That being said, this track and others show that Steel Systems is a promising new force in heavy metal and are more than competent players.

Down in Flames invokes a little more atmosphere and Kalliorinne’s vocals fit this song better. The use of twin guitar leads on this track also grabs my attention. Throughout the EP, the drums and bass do a great job of keeping things moving, but as I mentioned with Thicker than Blood, the tracks sometimes need a change of pace or energy to keep the listener’s attention.

Down in Flames shows a lot of potential in this area, with some nice change-ups of tempo and mood in the middle of the track. The guitars also trade solos on the back half of this track, which is a very nice touch. Down in Flames was a great choice for a single from the EP, showing off the band’s songwriting and the excellent playing of Kalliorinne on guitars.

Seeds of Hope starts off with a slow, clean guitar that is both pretty and moody. On this track, we get a little doom in the mix, both lyrically and sonically, which is a nice change of pace. Kalliorinne’s vocals in the chorus are also at the peak of their power.

A standout track for me, Seeds of Hope shows that Steel Systems is capable of keeping things interesting even at slower paces. Even with its long runtime, this song has enough dynamism to justify the length of the song, the guitars and the vocals trading off parts as the song picks up in the second half.

This EP hits its high point with Nighttime, which opens with grandeur in its twin guitar lead. Kalliorinne’s vocals are also at their best on this track, and the vocal harmonies take this one to the next level. An album of songs that sound like this one would have me instantly hooked. There’s just a touch of power metal in the guitars and a little doom in the atmosphere of the track, and that combination is a real winner for me. The end of this song, with its catchy lyrical refrain and even catchier vocal harmonies, has me excited to see what’s in store for the future of Steel Systems.

Finally, Burn to Rock closes out with Black and White, a screed against the doom-and-gloom of the modern news cycle and of the state of the modern world. The track showcases Steel Systems’ dependable guitar and vocal harmonies and more solid mid-tempo heavy metal.

Like on Thicker than Blood, I think this track could use a little wild energy or other source of dynamism, but all in all it’s another track that demonstrates that Steel Systems is ready to scratch their name into the legendarium of heavy metal.

Conclusion

For a five song EP from a new band on the scene, Burn to Rock shows an impressive range in songcraft within the heavy metal sphere. At it’s best, the EP showcases a band not just worth watching in the future, but taking notice of right now.

Still, what is most notable about the EP is what it promises for the band, who demonstrate without a doubt that they can craft great heavy metal with touches of power and doom metal. I personally would love to see these influences come out more in future releases. To put it briefly: I’m not only intrigued but excited about what comes next for this young band.

TheNWOTHM Score: 7.5/10 

Links

Facebook: facebook.com/steelsystemsheavymetal

Instagram: instagram.com/steelsystemsheavymetal

Out now!

Line-up:
Sakke Kalliorinne – Vocals and Guitars
Simo Sainio – Bass
Aleksi Tiiro – Drums