Following up on their well-received 2023 release of Gates of Twilight, Wings of Steel have wasted no time getting back into the studio, clearly aiming to hit listeners with the same force all over again. This time around, it pays off by delivering an 8-track rampage of classic speed metal, as the Los Angeles group roll the clocks right back to the good old days, when denim and leather were symbols of pride and glory, echoing a strong message for pop culture to get stuffed.

Keeping a vintage style alive and kicking is quite a mountainous task without simply recycling the past, but these guys make light work of it. Over the last decade or so, there’s been a strong revival of traditional heavy metal, and Wings of Steel have certainly played their part in that—not to mention the fans’ dedication, which refuses to let sub-genres die off no matter how many movements come and go. On this album, the band retain the essence of old-school metal while adding a modern spin that feels distinctly their own, something you can hear clearly in the production. Ride cymbals carry a thinner resonance, snares hit with a sharp snap, and both guitar tones and vocal textures feel rooted in that era.

The title track, Winds of Time, takes no prisoners, as conventional ways of opening an album are torn up. There’s no prelude or gentle intro to ease listeners in. Instead, it’s all guns blazing as they dive straight into a bombastic 10-minute track. Starting an album this way is a hell of a risk if you’re trying to keep people engaged, but they’ve nailed it.

Leo Unnermark’s piercing, Rob Halford-esque falsettos cut through like a hot knife through butter. There’s nothing but raw power and passion, and what’s most impressive is how quickly he flips between techniques. One minute he’s belting his heart out; the next, he pulls things back, almost brushing through the quieter sections. Parker Halub and Stefan Bailet lead the charge on guitars in a clear throwback to the 80s, when riffs and solos could make or break a record.

Parker’s shredding abilities are one of the highlights here, and he plays like a final boss that never concedes defeat. His solos don’t just fill space; they drive the song forward, hitting that emotional sweet spot without ever feeling forced. In this track alone, he delivers not one, not two, but three standout solos, each one earning its place. Marcel Binder rounds things off behind the kit with some cheeky off-beat ride and crash work while still sitting in 4/4, alongside some impressive double kick patterns, tying together what can only be described as a sonic banger.

Winds of Time sets the tone for the album’s core themes, particularly the idea of history repeating itself and humanity failing to learn from past conflicts. The album artwork already reflects this, with a burning world weighed against time itself, reinforcing the notion that nothing escapes its grip. It’s a simple but effective metaphor: you can’t fight the wind, and eventually it catches up with everything.

Lyrically, the track explores control and manipulation, pointing towards systems that appear fair but operate very differently beneath the surface. References to propaganda and societal control echo themes found in works like Metropolis and 1984, making the message feel both familiar and uncomfortably relevant.

The accompanying video mirrors this perfectly, shifting between scenes of conflict and calm, only to reveal that any sense of peace is temporary. As it circles back to where it began, the message becomes clear: no matter how things change on the surface, the cycle continues.

Saints and Sinners gives no breathing space as Wings of Steel turn up the heat with the shortest and fastest track on the album. It’s a full-throttle blast that channels the golden age of speed metal, hitting hard from start to finish. Leo is up to his old tricks again, delivering a performance packed with power and urgency, while Parker kicks things into overdrive, shredding at supersonic speeds like it’s the hardest level of Guitar Hero. Marcel’s drumming keeps everything tight and controlled, with clear Ace of Spades-style energy running through it. There’s a lot going on in a short space of time, and before you know it, it’s over in a flash.

It’s only once we hit Crying that Wings of Steel finally take their foot off the throttle, with a melancholic ballad. So get your arms up, flashlights on, and wave.

Leo’s versatility shines through here as we hear a more vulnerable side of him for the first time. He doesn’t need to belt to get his point across, as even before the chorus hits, the emotion is already clear, using different vocal textures to enhance it. Parker adapts just as well, letting the guitar breathe with sustained, expressive notes that really hit home. It’s one of those tracks where you can close your eyes, switch off, and just absorb everything. Marcel keeps things steady behind the kit, sitting in a more restrained groove that complements the track perfectly. It may sound simple, but controlling dynamics like this isn’t as easy as it looks, and he makes light work of it.

Burning Sands picks the pace back up as Wings of Steel return to the core themes introduced in Winds of Time. The track leans into the idea of societal collapse, where an inevitable apocalypse feels closer than ever. The world around us is imploding as our actions finally catch up with us.

Parker is back at it again, pulling off a wide range of techniques, from tapping and shredding to pinch harmonics and sharp licks, while Marcel unleashes what feels like the last of the album’s built-up aggression. Leo, as expected, delivers with ease, hitting those familiar high notes that cut through cleanly and reinforce the track’s intensity. It all comes together to drive home the song’s message of inevitable disaster and repetition.

The final three tracks mark a turning point in the album, as what was once an electrifying, fast-paced ride that keeps you on your toes shifts into slower, more reflective territory. It’s an area where many bands tend to stumble, with albums often losing momentum. Instead, it feels like a deliberate move, as once you’ve been chewed up and spat out time and time again, time itself no longer feels like it’s flying by.

Lights Go Out kicks off this closing stretch as the slowest track on the album. There’s a strong sense of hopelessness here, as everything feels like it’s hit a dead end, leaving nothing to do but watch as the future slowly goes up in smoke. However, We Rise offers some sort of encouragement among all this chaos. It acts as a call for unity, suggesting that no matter what’s come before, life goes on and we have to stand together in the face of adversity. Leo’s delivery shifts noticeably here, moving away from a more defeated tone into a passionate rallying cry of resilience.

From there, Flight of the Eagle brings Winds of Time to an epic close, as Wings of Steel prepare for one final push. Much of the track sits in 6/8 before moving into 4/4 for the climax, like the extended ending of a classical piece which builds towards that infinite round of applause.

While Winds of Time isn’t the hardest album to digest, despite the length of its songs, it stands out as a well-written and thoughtfully constructed record that reflects on how humanity never quite knows when enough is enough. Once the lyrical themes sink in, the album becomes even more rewarding on a casual listen, as the depth behind it gives each track greater meaning. It’s a record that doesn’t just entertain, but lingers, constantly reminding you of the cycle it so vividly portrays.

Winds of Time was released on October 17 2025 via High Roller Records.