Winds of Time
Origin and band profile
When I dove into the world of Wings of Steel, I knew I was facing something that paid homage to the past but what caught me off guard was how well the band fuses that heritage with fresh blood. Formed from the vision of guitarist Parker Halub and vocalist Leo Unnermark, the band was born in the Los Angeles scene in 2019 and, in just a few years, advanced from underground promise to the big stage, with European tours and a record deal.
The references to classic heavy metal, think Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, are abundant, but they don’t sound like mere imitation: Wings of Steel turns all that into something of their own.
First impact: the experience of listening to Winds of Time
I played the album in one of those moments when I shut the world out, low lights, headphones on, and a desire for total immersion. From the first chords of 'Winds of Time' (yes, an opening track over ten minutes long!), I felt I wasn’t listening to something ordinary: I was entering a journey. The guitars rise and fall in waves, Unnermark’s vocals alternate between emotional croons and near-apex screams and that makes me get involved, stand up from my chair, and let myself be carried away.
Sound construction and composition
The album balances speed and melody with a degree of maturity that’s truly surprising. The title track is the perfect example of that ambition: alternating between ferocity and grandeur, with guitar solos that don’t repeat out of vanity but out of expressive urgency.
Then, songs like 'Saints and Sinners' and 'Burning Sands' speed up the pulse, while 'Crying' offers an emotional breather, a power ballad that resonates with sincerity, not pretense.
The variety is clever: the heaviness of 'Lights Go Out' pushes toward a denser, almost doom-like side at times, and 'We Rise' brings that arena-style chorus, that ‘80s glow, that made me want to raise my fists.
Execution, production, and delivery
The instrumental precision is spot-on, the production makes every element shine without diluting the aggression, and the vocalist sustains what many would consider overly ambitious. The guitar work by Halub is something above average, sharp solos, memorable melodies, riffs that demand a reaction. The drums and bass hold everything down with authority. In short: the album sounds as if it were sculpted for heavy metal fans who crave authenticity, but without falling into lazy retro territory.
Highlights
Among the high points, the epic opener and 'Flight of the Eagle' (which closes the album) are moments that give you chills that feeling of it’s over, and I want more.
It should also be highlighted that Wings of Steel are not afraid to take risks: opening with an epic, shifting tempos, exploring both acceleration and atmosphere, all of that makes the album unpredictable in the best way possible.
My opinion: why it’s worth listening
Listening to Winds of Time felt like taking a deep breath of fresh air amid a sea of safe releases. I felt the flame of authentic heavy metal reignite, not with dead nostalgia, but with renewed vigor. The band convinced me that those steel wings aren’t just for show: they take flight, tear through the sky, and land right on target. If you’re a fan of the old guard, you’ll recognize the echoes, but if you’re curious about where this genre can still go, here you’ll find freshness and substance. I recommend turning it up loud enough for the neighbors to feel it.
In summary: Wings of Steel deliver with Winds of Time an album that honors the legacy of heavy metal and proves that the genre still has fuel to burn and fire to spread. If the darkness of today’s metal scene has worn you out, this record is a lit torch at the end of the tunnel.
