STEEL ARCTUS – Dreamruler

vote
7.5

• Bands:
  STEEL ARCTUS
• Duration: 00:47:27
• Available from: 11/28/2025
• Label:

• No Remorse Records

The new wave of classic heavy metal – defined as NWOTHM – is enriched with a new and exciting release, entitled “Dreamruler”, which marks the name of Steel Arctus among the bands of great interest and to keep an eye on from now on.
The Greek act, founded in 2020 by guitarist Thanasis 'Nash' Gousis, is not new to the market, having made its debut with “Fire And Blood” just five years ago, before returning in 2022 with “Master Of War”; However, it is with this new work that shows excellent steps forward from every point of view, starting from the production and ending with a recognizable compositional maturity, which we hope will grow in the future, managing to create an even more recognizable sound.

Remaining in the 'old school' heavy field, we have recently listened to great works such as the extraordinary return of the Americans Wings Of Steel, with a dynamic and sharp power-heavy, and the Hellenic Aquilla, with a great example of metal with epic hues: we can say that Steel Arctus are halfway between these two bands, even if they veer more towards the fuller and more full-bodied sound of the latter, of the one that does not hide their love for Manowar and all that scene that has always put epic nature comes first, trying to compose songs capable of proving to be truly engaging anthems.
In short, “Dreamruler” is the classic album which, once inserted into the stereo, takes the blink of an eye to create exaltation, also because the choice to start with the massive “Cry For Revenge” and “Defender Of Steel” is very spot on: the first with fiery riffs and a beautiful chorus, the second instead aided by keyboards capable of conferring triumphal atmospheres, without disdaining some tempo changes and then leaving the sign with a great refrain.

The tracklist is divided between more rhythmic pieces, built on powerful riffs and often accompanied by choruses to be sung with passion, perhaps with the help of a fist raised to the sky – exemplary in this sense is the heavy and solid “Will To Power” inspired by Accept and Primal Fear – and faster songs that decide to push on the accelerator (“Fate Of The Beast”) with its sudden outbursts and the power-packed “Glory Of The Hero”, which runs decisively (even if the chorus recalls the our Rhapsody of “I'll Be Your Hero”) and in which Tasos Lazaris's singing reaches sharper high notes. Thanasis 'Nash' Gousis on guitar, on the other hand, carves out his spaces with determination and without overdoing it.
In the middle of listening some less inspired moments emerge, as with the eighties “Wicked Lies” or with the title track, both lacking in personality, an aspect on which the band will have to work in the near future. The closing, however, is appreciable, entrusted to the power ballad “Legend Of The Warrior” which, with its melodies full of pathos, ends this album in the best possible way.

A pinch of personality and consistency are therefore missing along the tracklist to make this “Dreamruler” a truly over the top album, but we cannot deny that Steel Arctus manage – in particular with some songs present – to capture the essence of heavy-power metal, putting a massive dose of character and dedication into the field and thus demonstrating that they have all it takes to be recognized in a crowded genre like that of the NWOTHM.