Virgin Steele question

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[Agis]

Greetings,

I have recently discovered Virgin Steele. I have heard somewhere that in their production there are some 'hard rock years' and some 'heavy metal years'. Could you tell me when did these periods start? Thank you.

[Chris Foley]

Their first two releases Virgin Steele and Guardians of the Flame are a far cry from the material they are putting out these days. However I wouldn't class them as hard rock, they wield a metal edge with these releases - largely due to the influence of then guitarist Jack Starr. With the earlier releases you can hear influence from acts such as Whitesnake and early Motley Crue.

Noble Savage is where we started to see the formation of what would later become their trademark sound. Although still a very 80's metal release in places reflective of what was going on at the time. Age of Consent expands on this sound featuring the awesome "The Burning of Rome (Cry for Pompeii)" which you could say was one of the defining tracks of their youth.

I've yet to hear Life Among the Ruins although judging from the reviews I have read this seems to divide the fan-base out of the hard rock releases you mentioned I would suspect this is it.

I'm guessing you know whats in store from The Marriage... and upwards?

Strangely enough I was listening to these guys before I opened up my internet browser

 Virgin Steele - Weeping of the Spirits

[godzilla666]

Strangely enough, I feel like spinning some Virgin Steele now.

[Phoenix]

Everyone feels like spinning Virgin Steele every time they are mentioned. It's a curse.

[Dragonchaser]

Too true.

 Virgin Steele - I Will Come For You

[Agis]

I was also listening to them in this very moment.    

Chris, thank you for your very complete answer.

I'm guessing you know whats in store from The Marriage... and upwards?

No, I have no idea. I just own The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Pt. 1 and Invictus, and I think they are awesome. I am certainly going to buy more of their music, and I was wondering whereto go next.

[Chris Foley]

Dude the best is yet to come with the awesome House of Atreus albums. I'd say they were probably the most epic material Virgin Steele had to offer the world thus far. The general opinion is that Act I is the superior of the releases although I bear a soft spot for Act II. I would suggest you get them together. If I have time to kill I will listen to them back to back but its some really grand stuff. I prefer these to The Marriage... albums, but in all honesty you can't go wrong with any of them.

Unfortunately I've yet to hear their latest album however it has been reviewed here (along with a decent wedge of their discography) so I'd suggest checking that out too.

[Phoenix]

I still like the Marriage series best, although that says absolutely nothing about the superb Atreus albums, and Invictus is very good too, although not quite as varied.

[Sargon the Terrible]

Atreus Part I is good, the sequel is OK.  Most of VS catalog is uneven.  Almost every album has some great tunes and some lousy ones.  Except Visions of Eden which sucks beyond all imaginable suckage.

[Sextus Loverlord]

Yeah well, a lot of people would differ with you on that.

OK, Visions is not as strong as Marriage but there are a few really strong tracks in there. Yes, the production is terribly flawed and the songs are way too long but to call the album the worst of the worst is not fair, IMO.

[Duffman]

6. On another note, how’s the new album coming?
ANSWER: Great thanks! We are deeply involved, and we hope to have it out by May…It is quite long at least 80 minutes and in fact could possibly be a double album if we actually complete all the tracks…we shall see.

7. Is it a concept album?
ANSWER: Yes it continues where VISIONS OF EDEN left off, and wraps up those lyrical ideas. Musically it features all sorts of moods, from over the top Epic, too doom-like, melancholia…I’m looking forward to its completion and to getting back out and performing more.

From the Virgin Steele site. Hopefully it'll be out soon... and hopefully they'll have better production than on Visions Of Eden.

[Madman]

I like everything they've done, save for Life Among the Ruins which really is as crappy as most people make it out to be.  Visions had a bit of a faltering production job but musically it was awesome. 

[Dragonchaser]

Dude the best is yet to come with the awesome House of Atreus albums. I'd say they were probably the most epic material Virgin Steele had to offer the world thus far. The general opinion is that Act I is the superior of the releases although I bear a soft spot for Act II. I would suggest you get them together.

I also really like Act II. I thought the softer, more orchestral approach was a nice touch.