Virgin Steele: Help Me Familiarize

[Clark Griswold]

I made some purchases.

I wound up with Invictus, Marriage of Heaven and Hell, Parts 1 and 2, Age of Consent and Visions of Eden.

Invictus was very hard to find, but I got a great price on it considering I found the domestic release.

I will get back with you guys once I absorb some of it in. I'll let you know if your choices were good.

 

[mëtålspëd]

\m/

 

[BlindPanzer]

I only have the Invictus CD, it has always been the guilty pleasure in my collection.

 

[Dark One]

Guilty? Flaming sword aside, I think their "cheesiness" or whatever you want to call it is way overrated. I enjoy them like I do any other band.

 

[BlindPanzer]

yeah, but I overlook a lot of the things I would usually criticize a band for when it comes to Virgin Steele.

 

[Dark One]

yeah, but I overlook a lot of the things I would usually criticize a band for when it comes to Virgin Steele.

Really? Interesting. As I indicated, for myself, I don't feel any more or less "guilty" when enjoying their music, just as I would any other band. But I'm curious, if you have things to criticize VS for, why would you "give them a pass", so to speak, as opposed to some other bands?

 

[BlindPanzer]

I don't know really why. For example, I hate when bands do just straight 8th/16th/32nd note double bass patterns, yet with Virgin Steele it doesn't detract me as much as it would other bands. I wish I could say why.

 

[En Vind Av Sorg]

My reasoning would be that David DeFeis is a certifiable genius in the songwriting catagorey.

 

[BenMech]

Invictus
Marriage of Heaven & Hell Parts 1 & 2


Those are the ones that people don't complain about regardless of which era of Virgin Steele they prefer.

Agreed. Invictus happens to be part 3 (and final part) in the Mawwiage of Heaven and Hell story

 

[GRAN DIA]

I really am very excited to hear Virgin Steele is playing PP, I have wanted to see these guys for a long time, really a great band if you love dramamtic music and really passionate singing. On the topic I think an album that has never gotten a a lot of attention from them and its one of my favorites from them is Life Among the Ruins. Its very different than anything they did before or after being that it's basicly a "hard rock" record more than a metal or true metal record, but I think its one of the most amazing melodic hard rock recordings ive ever heard! GREAT ballads and the rocker tunes for that style are just totally ballsy and dramatic and powerfully sung and performed. I think David's voice sounded tremendous on this album and the last track alone is worth the price of the cd, The Last Rose of Summer has so much feeling and David has a really unique voice, he sounds like a female in this song in a way that really is impressive and cool as hell. Lots of great piano playing and beautiful lead solos all over this cd as well. All their albums are amazing so pretty much everything that people suggested like Invictus, Marriage 1 and 2 and both House of Atreus albums, im also a huge fan of Noble Savage, great classic metal there for sure! Really give Life Among the Ruins a chance if you find it, great great cd!

 

[mtndewqueen88]

I just ordered Invictus from ebay... I can't wait to see what all the hooplah is about!

 

[Clark Griswold]

Well....I tried it out and I have to say I am a fan.

I popped Invictus in first and was not impressed at all with the vocals. Musically it was catchy, but DeFeis' vocals just turned me off. A couple of more spins and it was digestible.I listened to that album first because was recommended by many as on e of their best albums.

Next was Visions of Eden and I LOVED it! DeFeis' vocals were much more pleasant to listen to and musically, I could see a maturation from Invictus.

Then came Marriage of Heaven and Hell, Parts 1 and 2. These albums furthered my excitement of seeing Virgin Steele LIVE!

Overall, I am a new fan and plan to invest in the rest of their catalog. But back to Invictus....is it me or was this album somewhat experimental?

Now if I could get some After Forever suggestions and comparisons....

 

[Cheiron]

Honestly, I'm not sure what you might like less about Invictus to the Marriage of H&H albums. Visions of Eden is quite different from it though. But my favorite out of all of those is Marriage of Heaven & Hell Part 1.

 

[Clark Griswold]

Honestly, I'm not sure what you might like less about Invictus to the Marriage of H&H albums. Visions of Eden is quite different from it though. But my favorite out of all of those is Marriage of Heaven & Hell Part 1.

First hearing he vocals is what turned me off. It was that "don't now if I want to growl or not" range. Please understand, it was my FIRST hear of Virgin Steele. I had never listened to any of their stuff before.

Visions of Eden settled me down. When I went back to Invictus, it was MUCH BETTER now that I had some DeFeis examples.

 

[Cheiron]

Well his SCROWL sound he makes in his singing can turn some people off at first I'm sure. After a while its appreciated