Virgin Steele Reaction + Review ⚔️ Guardians of the Flame ⚔️ Kingdom of the Fearless ⚔️ Dominion Day

[@amon-9193]

There are not so many reaction of Virgin Steele on KZbin, so thanks guys for checkin out! I would love to see a reaction of Veni, Vidi, Vici or A Token Of My Hatred (: Cheers!

[@Ychos027]

Veni, vidi, vici is my favourite song and Virgin Steele is hands down my favourite band, I'm really glad to see somebody else appreciates it and also enjoys going down into the lore rabbithole :D

[@laupii1]

my favorite band and my favorite musician David DeFeis :)

[@Ychos027]

fun fact, I ordered some albums from their stores a couple of times, and BOTH times, when the albums arrived inside the package with the albums I found a hand-signed picture of DeFeis......with golden ink....of course :D

[@MetalAcademix]

Ha ha, exactly, DeFeis has that slightly over the top personality, I would agree :) - Anamaria

[@Ychos027]

@@MetalAcademix yeah, but that made my day, absolute madlad :D

[@dimitrioskamperis9403]

House of atreus its an amazing album from them. Good job with the reaction guys.

[@gnarlux]

Invictus, The House of Atreus act. 1 and 2: the zenith of true epic metal!

[@sunintheroom]

.."perfect mansions" and "summoning the powers" by virgin steele..great tunes !.. :)

[@tommytunes316]

I saw Man O’ War open for Virgin Steele at a club called Sundance in Bayshore, Long Island in the 80’s. Virgin Steele was always great live. I would like a reaction to Noble Savage, I Will Come For You and Visions of Eden!

[@wolfgangoverrath-dittmar5751]

VERY GOOD GROUP...😉👍🤟😎❤ FAN FROM GERMANY SINCE 1993

[@andreaskarlsson83]

Dominion Day is so good. Love the mix of heavyness, melody and that guitar solo.

[@4545guillermaso]

Amazing band! Their 90s run is something else. Great picks btw. edit: also, I'm a self self-appointed Emalaith stan, can confirm the fans love that one lol

[@michaelhudson2912]

"Emalaith" is possibly the greatest song ever written, it really taps into something that's more than just music

[@lopolik]

For me the Best Heavy Metal band of all time. You picked great songs! Dominion Day is in my top 3 tracks from Invictus. Guardians of the Flame for me all songs on that record are amazing. Pretty much all albums 80s and 90s, you cannot go wrong with VS! Heavy Metal forever.

[@bigg2988]

VIRGIN STEELE is undoubtedly one of the more theatrical True / Power metal bands out there. DeFeis is a colorful personality even for a rocker, but as you rightly noted, he is a true artistic type - and a gentleman! I was away for a while, but it seems I'm back at a good time! :) It was good to get your take on one of the first albums, not just the hyped "classics" (for me, they feel too "fresh" to be classics, heck I remember them as they came out, and do not feel that old yet :))). But with David's vocals, you can feel the band's identity even in those early 80s cuts. Btw, a shout out to you both for mentioning the importance of recurring themes (Leitmotive) in VIRGIN STEELE's music. Often, they tie a certain theme with a whole concept or idea running over several albums. Here, e. g., at 24:05 we are treated to the main Heaven and Hell theme off their previous trilogy, although we are already purveying a brand new concept with "Kingdom of the Fearless" - a sign not just of artistic continuity, but of the "eternal" topics within. And YES, Eddy Pursino makes many of their best songs his own with very sensitive guitar playing. The vocal histrionics are fine but guitar style is indispensable part of VIRGIN STEELE sound. In my perception, they are still a duo of mutually reinforcing elements, the revolving door of drummers and bassists notwithstanding (still fond of recordings where "Kraken" was behind the kit though). And if you had any doubts about their TRUE nature from listening, that bit at 25:40 in your review must have proven these guys DO take their steel seriously! \m/ Now, I only got to wonder, which songs will be the one that eithers of you prefers from "Invictus"... In my take, also their most consistent and thus best album. Others have peaks and valleys where inspiration seems to dip for a moment or other. Not on this one! I would pick "Sword of the Gods" for the sheer epic factor, but it will be interesting to see.

[@MetalAcademix]

Jealous that you got to experience the albums as they came out! Not too much wait in between some of them, but that means they you had a chance to catch them out touring the earlier albums. It's pretty nice also to have an entire discography to binge on though 🤘 For Invictus I'd have to say Mind, Body, Spirit - I like the band best on full bombastic throttle. Though yes, I could also take them all 😆 We'll have more from that album very shortly - stay tuned! -Michael

[@MetalAcademix]

I am late with my reply, sorry. I like the entire album, but the song that I listen to the most is the title song, "Invictus". Those drum beats at the beginning, followed by the screams are an absolute blast. The drums in general I should say are just mind blowing, softened by the middle piece with the keys.... so good. The lyrics are a bit over the top, admitedly ("I am power!" LOL), but they fit the operatic feel of the composition. - Anamaria

[@NorthgateLP]

My first reaction when I read the title was the same as Anamarias: Dominion Day wooow??? Then I thought what I would pick and quickly realized that it doesn't really matter. It's impossible to do Virgin Steele justice with 3 songs and obviously all 3 songs you've picked are amazing. Full disclosure: Virgin Steele is my favorite band by quite a mile. Marriage 1 & 2, Invictus, House of Atreus 1 & 2 are all 10/10 albums for me. Pretty much all songs are amazing. An interesting note is that in the early 2000s there was a theatre group in Germany that performed House of Atreus (with Virgin Steeles music) as a theatre on stage. A friend of mine saw it and I'm very jelous. House of Atreus is really special to me. They're such incredible conecpt albums that perferctly portray the melodramatic nature of ancient greek poems with such fantastic music. DeFeis is an absolute mastermind (sometimes traveling between genius and madness). And they definitely should be listened in one go the first time around as it really enhances the atmosphere. The interludes can become annoying afterwards, but they're very important. What I also love about Virgin Steele is that no matter how much I listen to them, I always discover something more. For example, I was totally in Michaels shoes in that I didn't really care for Emalaith at first, but after about half a dozens of listens, it suddenly clicked. And I'm very confident that it will click for Michael too! Virgin Steele only get better. I've lately been listening a lot to Visions of Eden, which I think is very underappreciated. The production is a bit weaker on the guitars but the songwriting and vocal performance are excellent and it has it's own charm. Thanks for this great reaction to this wonderfull band! - Florian

[@MetalAcademix]

Yeah, definitely can't go wrong and hard to pick just 3 - thought this made for a decent narrative while saving some other songs for later on the channel. Totally agree on the interludes...even on non-Atreus albums there are still those interludes on the tail end of songs that excluded them from being picked here...but still think Dominion Day is underrated on that album! Maybe I'll come around to Emalaith one day - it's highlights are cool Bach fugues. The whole Heaven & Hell Part 2 seems to be reinterpretations on other influences: Devil/Angel is clearly Priest, Prometheus is a banger spin on Zepp's Achilles Last Stand, Symphony of Steele seems Manowar - but all with a unique sound and composition. It's lead me down a rabbit hole of 80's US metal - so thanks a ton for the tip, and keep on the lookout for more of that on the channel! -Michael

[@lopolik]

I would recommend for you to check out ''Exorcist - Nightmare Theatre'' which Virgin Steele's David DeFeis and Edward Pursino made this album, and it's like a cult classic, old school speed / death / black metal they did that back in 1985, around the time of ''Noble Savage'' album.

[@MetalAcademix]

Glad to know someone else out there likes Dominion Day! 😂🤘 We actually did another video with a track from Nightmare Theatre...might be of interest! kzbin.info/www/bejne/naGnfayjrLh3eM0 -Michael

[@lopolik]

@@MetalAcademix I will check it out! Thank you~! Well, are you saying that not many people like Dominion Day? That song is absolutely badass, just think about the intro verse ''From the North to the South, East and West'' just the best. I gotta say the title track ''Invictus'' has the best lyrics, and that track, Mind, Body, Spirit and Vow of Honor / Defiance and Dominion Day are my top 4 songs on that album!

[@MetalAcademix]

@@lopolik Haha I agree! But the problem with Invictus is that there's so many good songs, Dominion Day doesn't seem to make peoples' top list. That intro verse is great, jibes alot with Manowar's Power of Thy Sword. Love it, and I'd also say Dust from the Burning is a standout track on another album...epic chorus! :) -Michael

[@lopolik]

@@MetalAcademix Yeah, Invictus is really awesome, the only thing, I don't like the last track that much.. the Veni Vidi Vici. I know a lot of people say Invictus is their best album, and I mean look, if it was the ''Marriage of Heaven and Hell Trilogy'' I would say yes those 3 albums are the best if it was counted as a one album. But I think my most favorite is probably either ''Guardians of the Flame'' , ''Life among the Ruins'' and ''Marriage of Heaven and Hell part 1'' and ''Age of Consent'' .. But still Invictus is in my top 5 Virgin Steele albums for sure. -Joseph

[@acelogan5591]

Virgin Steele is in the top 10 of most underrated metal bands. Million of metalheads they dont even know them. This is insane. You cant be a REAL metalhead and not know Virgin steele. Michael give a chance to marriage H n H and listen to it deeply part 1 and 2.Why you dont like it? The trilogy of Marriage are from the best albums in Metal history! If you make a top 50 metal albums of all time are in it for sure with no doubt. In part 3 Invictus all the songs are masterpieces, so how to choose? Guardians of the flame was SO big thing for is time back then. House of Atreus is very strong. A very atmospheric and a real masterpiece is the Vision of Eden, even the production is not the best. They have diamonds in every album! David Defey is progresing very unpredictable and beautifully strange over the years. He is a real artist! He is one of the best lyricist and composers of all time in metal. They have so many valuable songs for it is so hard to choose. So some suggestions for VS "interested " songs to review and reaction, mmm.. what about these three, 1) I am the one ( the original from EP wait for the night, not the rerun from book of burning) it is a hidden gem so underrated, 2) Noble savage , 3) Adorned with the rising cobra .

[@hectorescobar9450]

David was featured in Probably my favorite Avantasia song called 'Final Sacrifice'. I'm not a big fan of Avantasia (to Theatric and too many antics) but the Metal opera Albums are great.

[@MetalAcademix]

We haven't reviewed Avantasia yet on the channel partly because of the characteristics you mentioned, partly because they are so immensely prolific, we have a hard time choosing three songs. Which other Avantasia songs make the top cut for you? - Anamaria

[@TheAnkkamies]

@@MetalAcademix Hey, i just found your channel and you guys rock! I don't know if you read comments this old, but as a big Avantasia lover i have recommendations for you, they are a bit longer tho since the essence of Avantasia is in these masterpieces: Reach Out For the Light, Babylon Vampires and The Raven Child. I picked them since they are all different

[@MetalAcademix]

Thank you for the recommendation! - Anamaria

[@randalladams7692]

Time fo my metal fix love me some power metal this band kicks ass good band old school good job cant wait for next vid you 2 are 2 cool one of my favs

[@balazskalman-og6du]

Line up on guardian of the flames david defeis vocals and keyboard jack star guitar joe o bass joey ayvazian drums

[@sopwithsnoopy8779]

I remember Virgin Steele from the early '80s when guitarist Jack Starr was with them :)

[@michaelhudson2912]

imo The Burning of Rome would have been a much better opening song than Guardians....but I'm one of those that thinks VS didn't really become VS until Noble Savage. First two are more like the "Jack and Dave Band" to me or something haha.

[@josephcoon9914]

I haven’t heard of Virgin Steele before so I’ll have to check them out

[@randalladams7692]

I here a little dio in his vox its really good im a fan

[@nightslipkno]

not like this band fore some reason

[@laupii1]

the reason: bad taste