My love/hate relationship with the so called NWOTHM is well documented. There’s some bands I love for being able to make something new out of something old, keeping this storied style fresh and exciting for future generations (i.e. Traveler, Savage Master, Flight, etc.). Then there’s bands I hate for a variety of reasons. Wait, scratch that. The bands I hate are the ones who blatantly ape Priest and Maiden, even down to their wardrobes, with zero attempt at putting their own spin on it (i.e. too many bands to name). And then there’s that odd third category where, for whatever reason or another, the band does absolutely nothing for me. Sure, there might be a moment here and a moment there that catches my attention. But by and large, I sit through the duration of the album wondering, “Why the hell do I do this to myself?” This is how I felt listening to Starlight Ritual’s Sealed in Starlight.
It pains me to write this review for a couple reasons. For one, Starlight Ritual hails from the Great White North which has been a breeding ground for top tier hard and heavy bands as far back as the 1970s. They also happen to be signed to the boutique label, Temple of Mystery Records, which 9 times out of 10 knocks it out of the ballpark with their “new discoveries”. Starlight Ritual isn’t exactly “new”. They’ve floated around since 2014, releasing two EPs in the mid 2010s, before releasing this here debut full length, Sealed in Starlight.
Let me begin by saying there’s nothing necessarily “bad” about Sealed in Starlight. There’s just nothing on here that I haven’t heard before. The opening “Marauders” has a bit of an early Maiden vibe to it, even down to the singer who does his best attempt at a Paul Di’Anno fashioned vocal delivery. “One for the Road” continues the standard traditional metal fare, although I couldn’t help but notice the all too familiar vocal melody. I don’t know if this is meant to be a homage to the “Man on the Silver Mountain”, or if NWOTHM bands have simply lost track of who they’re ripping off these days, but the vocal melody on here is identical to Rainbow’s “Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll”.
As the album goes on, there’s a flash of Wishbone Ash here and a hint of Black Sabbath there, but nothing substantial enough to grip me…at least not until “The Riddle of Steel”. Not to be confused with the Manilla Road song of the same name, this track showcases the band’s most valiant attempt at old school US steel. The verdict? Not bad for a band of Canadians! “Lunar Rotation” continues to pack the heat with some hard rocking guitars in the vein of Thin Lizzy. Even the closing “Righteous Ones” is a respectable melodic metal meltdown, but this strong tail end isn’t enough to salvage the weak upper half.
Now if you’re one of those wannabe 80s headbangers who drools over every single band with a retro approach these days, chances are you’ll dig Starlight Ritual. It takes a little more than haphazard nostalgia to please this jaded album reviewer. Hey, unlike most, at least I’m willing to admit it! Wouldn’t it be nice if the NWOTHM crop were readily willing to admit their musical complacency?
4 out of 10
Label: Temple of Mystery Records
Genre: Heavy Metal
For fans of: Iron Maiden, Eternal Champion, Dio