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SACRED LEATHER “Keep The Fire Burning”
SACRED LEATHER “Keep The Fire Burning”
By Dr. Abner Mality
With the current swell of “NWOTHM” bands out there, I’d completely forgotten about this Indiana outfit. Seven or eight years ago they were highly touted to lead the way back to true metal with their album “Ultimate Force”, which caused a momentary surge and then sank out of sight. Eight years without a record is an eternity in today’s insanely crowded digital music scene, so “Keep The Fire Burning” could almost be considered a “re-debut” for the band.
This is metal in its truest form but SACRED LEATHER approach the genre in a different fashion than many bands. A lot of current true metalers take the speed metal approach. Speed doesn’t seem to interest SACRED LEATHER all that much. Nor are they much like the kind of “American power metal” bands that popped up on Metal Blade in the 80’s. To me, “Keep The Fire Burning” is more like a pumped up version of DOKKEN or maybe the most melodic side of RIOT.
First two tracks “Spitfire At Night” and “Phantom Highway” do indeed have a rapid semi-speed metal sound to them, with tons of screaming melodic leads and clean, clear vocals. They kind of remind me of Sweden’s ENFORCER and, if you’re really digging into the past, SHOK PARIS. I immediately detect a kind of thinness to the production that hurts it. This album needs more bottom end in the bass! Also, it is very drum-heavy, but stickman Don Diamond really injects energy into the music.
After the first two tracks, things slow down a LOT and I don’t think the album really recovers until the title track, which is the next to last song. “Wake Up”, “Fallen Angel” and “Tear Out My Heart” are all semi-ballads that really bring DOKKEN to mind. However, they are definitely still metal instead of hard rock or AOR. No keys or acoustics. “Malevolent Eyes” and “Mistress of the Sun” are pretty much pure metal tracks in classic tradition...neither speed metal or ballad, but just straight up metal.
“Keep The Fire Burning” is enjoyable enough, but somewhat disappointing, as I expected a little more fire and a stronger production. Will SACRED LEATHER achieve the heights predicted for them long ago? Not with this one, I think…
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