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I liked the last release from Frances Rising Steel, 2020's Fight Them All, and am pleased to say their third album, Beyond the Gates of Hell, finds them taking another step forward in their development. These guys just get right down to it, blasting our ears with kick ass heavy metal built around a beefy guitar sound and muscular riffs, pummeling drums and gruff vocals that can also ascend the scale when a high-pitched scream is called for. I honestly don't recall specific songs, so the songwriting isn't yet anything I would call elite, however I did find myself singing along on more than one occasion, so Rising Steel can write a melody and vocal hook. It's mainly a bombastic album, but I have to point out the closer, "We Are Free," where Rising Steel slow it down a bit while keeping things heavy and the singer channels a little bit of Messiah Marcolin, closing out Beyond the Gates of Hell with a bit of a Candlemass vibe. Nice touch. If you are into bands like Ravage, Byfist and even Metal Church, this is one you'll want to check out.