Drawing from the lineage of metal gods, Raleigh, North Carolina’s own Heavy Metal brigade returns with a cinematic full-length album built on power, prophecy, transformation, and defiance.
Drawing from the lineage of Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Savatage, Crimson Glory, and Queensrÿche, Raleigh, North Carolina’s own Heavy Metal/Hard Rock brigade Crimson Steel returns with their sophomore offering Show No Fear, the follow-up to their 2022 debut Night Creatures, and a cinematic full-length album built on power, prophecy, transformation, and defiance. Produced, engineered and mixed by Wendy Brancaccio and Bill Spears at Vintage Noise Studio, mastered by Anthony Focx at A. Focx Productions, and showcasing an old school artwork by an artist named Jonathan, the new album by Tina Langevin on vocals, David Ryan on the guitars, Joel McGee on bass, and Will Adkins on drums captures a band fully embracing the grandeur of classic Heavy Metal while sharpening its own identity through dramatic storytelling, progressive arrangement, and commanding performances.
The cinematic intro As Above, So Below warns us all a metal storm is about to come in the breathtaking Dark Rider, with Tina already delivering her trademark soaring vocals supported by the pure metal riffs by David while Will and Joel make sure the atmosphere remains as thunderous as it can be. No Absolution is a classic display of Heavy Metal with Hard Rock elements where Joel once again hammers his bass mercilessly, making the earth tremble for our total delight; and David and Joel are on total fire armed with their axes in Purifier, inspiring us to bang our heads nonstop while Tina keeps delivering her classy high-pitched vocals in the name of rock and heavy music, supported by Joel’s vocals.
It’s time for a shredding feast by David in the thunderous Final Phase, supported by Joel’s massive bass lines, sounding darker than its predecessors yet deeply rooted in classic Hard Rock. David then takes care of the sinister acoustic interlude Prelude to the Blade, before we face Century Sword, starting with another solid riff attack and morphing into an Epic Heavy Metal feast led by Tina’s storytelling vocals. Then we face Bleed into One, featuring guest vocals by James Rivera of Helstar, a dark ballad by Crimson Steel that feels a bit disconnected from the rest of the album (not to mention Tina should have had a bigger role in it). Fortunately, there’s the title-track Show No Fear to put a striking, electrifying ending to the album, with their guitars and bass breathing fire while Will pounds his drums in sheer Heavy Metal insanity.
On Show No Fear, all of the band’s influences become the foundation for a mythic, dark, emotionally charged album driven by melody, muscle, and conviction, and if you want to put your metallic hands on it you can find the album on BandCamp, and of course give a shout to Crimson Steel on Facebook and Instagram, and stream their music on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music. Across its 39-minute runtime, Show No Fear presents Crimson Steel as a band rooted firmly in traditional Heavy Metal and intent on building something vivid and immersive. It is an album of dark myth, human struggle, and hard-won defiance. It is Heavy Metal as story, spectacle, and statement.
Best moments of the album: Dark Rider, Final Phase and Show No Fear.
Worst moments of the album: Bleed into One.
Released in 2026 Heaven And Hell Records
Track listing
1. As Above, So Below 1:11
2. Dark Rider 4:39
3. No Absolution 5:53
4. Purifier 4:18
5. Final Phase 5:44
6. Prelude to the Blade 0:45
7. Century Sword 5:18
8. Bleed into One 6:30
9. Show No Fear 4:52
Band members
Tina Langevin – lead vocals
David Ryan – guitar, backing vocals
Joel McGee – bass, backing vocals
Will Adkins – drums, backing vocals
Guest musician
James Rivera – vocals on “Bleed into One”
