I AM – Eternal Steel
Release Date: 9th September 2022
Label: MNRK
Bandcamp
Genre: Texas Death, Death Metal, Deathcore, Thrash Metal, Sludge Metal.
FFO: Power Trip, Pantera, Lamb of God, Crowbar
Review By: Eric Wilt
If the first time you saw the cover of I Am’s latest full-length, you assumed that I AM was a power metal band, you would be forgiven. Both the cover artwork, which features a painting of a scantily clad, warrior woman holding a human skull in one hand and the chain of a three-headed panther in the other and the title, Eternal Steel, would be right at home on a new album by, say, Hammerfall. Of course, I AM isn’t power metal, as it would take you about three seconds to discover, but you would not be alone in this assumption. Getting their start in 2011, I AM, which consists of vocalist Andrew Hileman, guitarists Tom Reyes and Chris Burgess, bassist Erik Rodriguez, and drummer Brandon Busa plays what they call Texas Death.
After listening to Eternal Steel a few times, I believe Texas Death is what you would get if Pantera and Crowbar got drunk one night and had a baby that played deathcore. Songs like Surrender to the Blade, The Iron Gate, Infernal Panther, and Heaven on Earth definitely have that slow, brooding Crowbar sludge sound, and Eternal Steel (the song) even features a section where I could’ve sworn Kirk Windstein was doing guest vocals. Other songs like the Vicious Instinct and Price of Pain feature main riffs that have that southern fried crispiness that Dimebag favored back in the day. While the Primal Wave and Manic Cure are a couple of the faster songs on the album that showcase the thrash influence that has made its way into their Texas Death style as well. Speaking of Manic Cure, it features one of the nastiest breakdowns on the record and will definitely snap a neck or two.
Overall, Eternal Steel is a fun listen. The songs are heavy and will get your head banging. Although I AM isn’t breaking any new ground on their third full length, they are adept at writing catchy songs with big riffs and big attitude. If Texas Death is your thing, I AM is here to deliver it to you in spades.
(3.5 / 5)
