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As the name Agent of Steel has been put on ice – probably forever – a new incarnation of the band is called Masters of Metal, featuring Juan Garcia (on guitar) and Bernie Versailles (on vocals and guitar) from the original line-up. This line-up is strengthened by Robert Cardenas (Possessed, etc.) on bass and Rico Amezcua on drums.

From Worlds Beyond, the title of Masters of Metal's 11-track debut album, offers a great listen; a mishmash of all kinds of elements from Speed Metal to Power Metal to Thrash Metal. The album is a mixed package of experience, true playing skills and, most importantly, an excellent set of songs that you'd like to spend some time with. The sharp riffs, striking and tasty melodies, well executed vocal patterns (guitarist Bernie Versailles proves to be a gifted singer too), a suitable amount of grooviness and so forth – they are everywhere on this record, basically. What I also find a somewhat remarkable about From Worlds Beyond is the fact they haven't tried to stick to the same musical formula that made Agent Steel such an extraordinary and popular Speed/Thrash Metal force. Masters of Metal have fearlessly expanded their sound towards new musical territories. Everything on From Worlds Beyond seems to have fallen into the right place. From the mean and thrashy sounding "The Mindless", to the heavy, mysterious sounding and teeny-weeny Sabbath-oozing "Doors Beyond Our Galaxy", to the ripping up-tempo-ish "Vengeance & Might" (having James Rivera's guest vocal appearance), Masters of Metal have delivered all the promises made on their 2013 4-track self-titled debut EP (the European version also included four remakes of some old Agent Steel songs a s bonus).

Masters of Metal truly are masters of Metal, as James sings on "Vengeance & Might". Get From Worlds Beyond and let your journey into the heart of the universe begin – accompanied by these Cali-Metallers' very solid debut album.