Probably the word Dungeon is one of the most overused in the metal imagination, both for song titles and band names—a glossary where we can also throw in Dragon, Iron, Steel or Hammer. These guys from Minnesota released only one LP and were active between 1983 and 1987. They carved out a raw style, like a sharpened axe crushing bones, blending the best of speed metal and heavy metal in the vein of Manilla Road or Cirith Ungol.

Fortress of Rock is a delightful record; not exactly technical yet far from simple, it shines with its own splendour in an era when glam and thrash metal ruled the American scene, delivering rough and agile gems like “From Under a Rock” or “Dungeon”, alongside tracks leaning closer to straight-up rock and roll like “Permanent Wish”.

“Eternal Contract” carries a hard rock vibe with smart use of pinch harmonics and a reverb-laden whip-crack voice, evoking the ironic falsettos of King Diamond. “Witches Brew” is a well-constructed instrumental, with sections clearly inspired by the NWOBHM, while “Season of the Witch” rides on mid-tempos with a strong solo development that, while not virtuosic, shows plenty of versatility in their craft.