Storm Of Steel | Storm Of Steel |Rebellion Records/Cosmic Key Creations

Release Date: December 16^th, 2025
Format: CD/LP/Digital
Genre: Heavy Metal
Country: Australia

Storm Of Steel is a heavy metal band from Canberra, Australia. The band features two brothers known from thrash metal act Hellbringer, though this project walks a different path. Their focus sits firmly on classic heavy metal foundations, reinforced by hardcore punk energy and wrapped in war themed imagery. The band builds its identity around historical violence, human struggle, and the psychological cost of conflict, presenting these ideas through long form compositions and martial atmosphere.

“Storm Of Steel” arrives as a full length statement shaped by old school metal traditions and raw punk aggression. The songwriting favors extended structures and steady escalation, allowing themes to unfold gradually. Riffs march forward with a militant character, while the rhythmic work supports a constant sense of pressure. The album speaks in a stern voice, guided by lyrics that read like battlefield reports rather than abstract symbolism.

The war concept is central throughout the release, not as decoration, but as narrative fuel. Violence, loss, silence after destruction, and moral exhaustion appear again and again in different forms. The vocal delivery stays grounded and severe, serving the storytelling without exaggeration. The music mirrors this approach, staying focused and disciplined, giving space to tension and release without drifting into excess.

With a runtime that demands attention, “Storm Of Steel” rewards patience and careful listening. The album holds a consistent identity across its length and avoids unnecessary detours. It stands as a solid heavy metal release that respects tradition while delivering its message with seriousness and restraint. The result matches its ambition and earns its place through cohesion and atmosphere.

Score: 7.8

https://www.facebook.com/stormofsteelaus

https://www.instagram.com/stormofsteelaus/

Sear Bliss | The Haunting | Cosmic Key Creations

 

    Sear Bliss is a Hungarian pagan black metal band formed in 1993 by bassist and vocalist András Nagy. Known for their distinctive blend of atmospheric black metal with brass instruments like the trombone, they quickly became one of Hungary’s most respected extreme metal acts. Over the decades, Sear Bliss has built a devoted following in the underground metal scene through their unique sound, combining harsh black metal foundations with epic and haunting arrangements. “The Haunting” was originally released in 1998 as the band’s second, and hard to find, full-length album, and this 2025 repress brings it back to life for both old fans and new listeners.

This album runs for just under 46 minutes and delivers an immersive listening experience from start to finish. The guitar work balances icy black metal riffing with moments of grandeur, supported by a steady rhythm section that keeps the music grounded. The use of trombone, a trademark element in Sear Bliss’s music, adds an eerie and solemn dimension to the songs, giving them a distinct character within the black metal sphere.

The production captures the raw essence of late ‘90s extreme metal while maintaining enough detail to let each instrument be heard. The vocals are delivered in a harsh, commanding style that blends seamlessly with the instrumental arrangements, enhancing the dark and epic atmosphere. Tracks like “Tunnels Of Vision” and “Unholy Dance” stretch past the eight-minute mark, allowing the band to fully explore their themes with gradual build-ups and dramatic peaks. Shorter pieces such as “Land Of Silence” and “Soulless” provide contrast, offering more direct and immediate bursts of energy.

“The Haunting” stands as an important chapter in Sear Bliss’s history, reflecting their creative vision at a formative stage while delivering a sound that remains unique in the black metal genre. The 2025 repress comes in a Super Jewel Box with an eight-page booklet featuring Kris Verwimp’s artwork, which perfectly complements the album’s dark and epic tone.

Score: 8.3

https://www.searbliss.hu/

https://www.facebook.com/searblissband

Sear Bliss | Phantoms | Cosmic Key Creations

 

    Formed in 1993 in Szombathely, Hungary, Sear Bliss quickly earned recognition for blending black metal with atmospheric and symphonic elements, often featuring brass instruments such as trombone in their arrangements. Their music has always balanced aggression with grandeur, creating a distinctive sound within the European black metal scene. Originally released in 1996 by II Moons Records, “Phantoms” marked the band’s debut full-length album and laid the foundation for their future works. Over the years, it has gained a reputation as an underground classic, praised for its unique approach and epic scope.

“Phantoms” runs for just under 50 minutes, weaving together atmospheric passages, icy riffs, and symphonic textures. The album opens with “Winter Voices,” a short instrumental that works as a prelude before the first full song, “Far Above The Trees,” which introduces the listener to the band’s signature blend of harsh vocals, melodic guitar work, and brass accents. The sound is often expansive, with long compositions such as “Aeons Of Desolation” and “Land Of The Phantoms” allowing themes to unfold gradually, combining black metal intensity with a sense of grandeur and space.

Tracks like the masterpiece “1100 Years Ago” and “As The Bliss Is Burning” keep the energy varied, moving between faster sections and slower, more atmospheric parts. The use of trombone throughout the album is one of its most distinctive features, adding a mournful, almost regal tone that contrasts with the harsh guitars and vocals. Closing chapters like “Beyond The Darkness” and “With Mournful Eyes” wrap up the album with a sense of finality, leaving a lasting impression of epic and haunting black metal.

The 2025 repress by Cosmic Key Creations presents the album in a Super Jewel Box format with an 8-page booklet, limited to 500 copies, making it an attractive release for collectors. The sound retains its raw and atmospheric qualities, preserving the essence of the original 1996 release.

Score: 9.0

https://www.searbliss.hu/

https://www.facebook.com/searblissband

Sear Bliss | The Pagan Winter | Cosmic Key Creations

 

    Sear Bliss formed in 1993 in Szombathely, Hungary, and quickly became known for blending traditional black metal with unique atmospheric elements, including the use of trombone. Emerging from the underground during a period when Eastern European extreme metal was gaining international attention, the band’s early work carried a distinctive identity that set them apart from their peers. “The Pagan Winter” was originally released in 1995 as a demo cassette, marking one of the first official steps in their journey. This 2025 repress by Cosmic Key Creations brings the material back in a limited run of 500 CDs, officially licensed from Vic Records.

The music on “The Pagan Winter” carries a raw and frozen character, with guitar riffs creating a persistent wall of sound that conveys the icy landscapes implied by the title. The drumming alternates between steady pounding rhythms and faster, more intense bursts, giving the songs a shifting sense of energy. Vocals are delivered in a deep, cavernous rasp, echoing through the mix and adding to the sense of distance and coldness. Keyboards appear at certain points, providing a layer of atmosphere without overpowering the core black metal instrumentation.

Some tracks keep a faster momentum, while others take their time, expanding through longer and more drawn-out passages., such as “Ancient,” which builds its presence through repetition and gradual shifts. The bonus track, “In The Shadow Of Another World,” stands out for its extended length and the way it travels through multiple passages, ending the release on a vast and imposing note.

Presented in a Super Jewel Box with an eight-page booklet, this edition offers a deluxe piece of underground black metal history and a snapshot of Sear Bliss at their earliest stage. It remains a raw, atmospheric, and cold expression of mid-90s black metal, now preserved for a new audience.

Score: 8.0

https://www.searbliss.hu/

https://www.facebook.com/searblissband