Savage Master: Myth, Magic and Steel (2019)

Just one look at the album cover here and you can pretty much guess what this album is going to sound like.  How a band like this came about in Louisville, Kentucky is the only real question.  Kentucky is not exactly a metal hot spot, and certainly not for the kind of swords-and-sorcery classic heavy metal that Savage Master represents.

Savage Master is a traditional heavy metal band with one foot planted firmly in the early 1980's.  Think groups like Manilla Road, Cirith Ungol, Omen, Manowar, Dio and more.  They are fronted by a ferocious female singer, so the obvious comparisons to Warlock, Chastain and Bitch will be made.  Stacey Savage has a strong voice, not necessarily a pretty one, but it works to her advantage in this style of metal.  It fits in quite well with the raw, traditional metal riffs.

The songs all have an epic traditional metal feel to them, with elements of doom metal sneaking through at times.  Many of the choruses are anthemic ear-worms that will be stuck in the head for a long time after the album is over.  This is especially true of "Flyer in the Night" and the title track.  The best song on the album is "Lady of Steel" which features guest appearances from two more female metal singers who trade off verses through the song.

This album does not really reinvent the wheel for traditional metal.  Everything here has been done before, but this is a highly competent and enjoyable release nonetheless.  Just do not go into it expecting anything original and it will be fine.