Release date: November 21, 2025

Iron will, steel, fire, and ice… yeah, it looks like we’re diving deep into some pure, unadulterated manliness today. Hailing from the Australian continent, a land of every imaginable extreme, comes a new metal strike force called FATE’S HAND. The band might have quietly surfaced back in 2021 with a self-titled EP, but now they’re unsheathing their swords in full force. That’s because, at the end of November, their debut LP, Steel, Fire & Ice, is being unleashed—a title that sounds like it was carved into stone by Conan himself.

And their release under the banner of Dying Victims Productions is no accident; it’s a straight-up seal of quality. This label is a beacon for anyone who craves the raw power of heavy, speed, thrash, and the darker currents of black/death metal.

And let me tell you, these guys are no rookies. Far from it, they’re seasoned veterans of the metal wars, who earned their stripes in bands like StarGazer and Mongrels Cross. But they want to be judged purely on the music they’re making now. And they’re right to do so. Their debut album, which doubles the payload of the EP with eight tracks, fully showcases their power and mastery, drawing from ancient Norse sagas.

Review

FATE’S HAND has chosen an unexpected but brilliant constellation of legends for their inspiration. In their own words, their influences are Judas Priest, King Diamond, Destruction, and Bathory. These four entities represent pillars of genres that are, in many ways, diametrically opposed.

“The Quest Spirit” bursts onto the scene as an uncompromising opener. The song delves deep into mythology and the clash with chaos, where the “evil wars of the gods” reign. It has that Viking metal archetype, but at the same time, there’s something fresh and unique about it. It’s not exactly a “change your underwear” moment yet, but it definitely piques your curiosity.

“Fount of All Waters,” on the other hand, is something else entirely. A Priest-like guitar, an intro vaguely reminiscent of King Diamond, and then it all comes crashing down in the spirit of NWOTHM (New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal). The symbolism of water as a source of both life and death gives the track a deeper, more atmospheric feel. The more upbeat “Woven In Space And Time” is in a similar vein, though it loses a bit of steam in the second half. Luckily, a catchy, melodic guitar solo saves the day.

Grave-like silence and a frosty atmosphere arrive with the instrumental “In The Draugr Deeps.” You keep waiting for it to explode, but it’s in no hurry, slowly building tension. The Draugr were undead creatures that dwelled in burial mounds, guarding the treasures they amassed in life. Anyone who was evil, greedy, or vile could become one. As I’m reading about these creatures, I find myself playing the track for the third time, completely sucked in by its magical atmosphere. This is the moment I realize what a powerful mix of NWOTHM and Viking metal FATE’S HAND truly is. Their approach to Norse mythology is far more interesting than many established bands. The very things that often bore me about Viking metal, they deliver with unexpected grace.

This brings us to “The Cosmic Ash,” an epic song about the cosmic tree that connects the heavens, the earth, and the underworld. It is the cradle of worlds, its roots stretching from the past to the future. A few more reviews like this, and I’ll become an expert on Norse mythology. Phew, I just hope I don’t start going to those weird concerts where people dress up like druids and stick on pointy ears—the same ones I’m tempted to steal after my fifth beer. Don’t take that literally; I’m a perfectly pleasant person for the most part. But you’ve got to have a laugh, even when times are tough.

Conclusion

Steel, Fire and Ic, it’s a full-blown metal apocalypse that brutally smashes all expectations. FATE’S HAND has cashed in on their deep experience in extreme metal to forge a debut that is sharper, bolder, and a hell of a lot more alive than most of what you’ll hear in the traditional metal camp today.

This is no cheap copycat act. The band doesn’t settle for replication but instead performs a sophisticated distillation of the genre’s legends into a cohesive, eight-track manifesto that pulls no punches.

TheNwothm Score: 8/10

Links

Bandcamp:https://fateshand.bandcamp.com/album/fates-hand

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/fates.hand/

Label: Dying Victims Productions