Virgin Steele

Perhaps the most underrated band in classic metal history - at least in my humble opinion.

I love this band. From their beginnings in the early 80s up til now.

When they first started out, they were in the same metal circles as Riot and Manowar (hailing also from the New York area and opening up for both bands frequently). They had a NWoBHM sound, but they called it NWoAHM.

Anyway - there is something I really love about this band. My favorite album is "Noble Savage", but I like them all. "Guardians of the Flame" has some stellar moments, heck even their debut does.

Anyone else here like this band? I find that even among metal circles this band is quite unnoticed.

Just plucked The Book Of Burning from the used bin last Friday. Great album, and my first from the band. This one appears to be a sort of rarities/re-recordings album. I still dig it, though.

i never could grasp what they were trying to do. it all sounds so pompous to my ears. i just cannot, for the life of me, get into it.

I've only listened to Guardians of the Flame, and i'm going to listen to it right now..I love this album. I'll have to get more of their stuff in their future.

Check out their album, "Noble Savage" it's harder than heck to find in the USA, but you can order it from Europe. Most fans agree that is their masterpiece, and I agree as well.

Eyesore, "Book of Burning" is good - but yeah - it's basically a re-recording. Many fans didn't like that one. So - if you do like it - that means you'll probably LOVE their other stuff!!!

smurfing hell, my fave album by the band is NOBLE SAVAGE too. Second would be AGE OF CONSENT and third INVICTUS. I have their first two albums on vinyl (and also their mini WAIT FOR THE NIGHT and A CRY IN THE NIGHT on vinyls). The rest i have them on cd´s.
Love also THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL PART I and II. LIFE AMONG THE RUINS together with THE HOUSE OF ATREUS I and II and their last album VISIONS OF EDEN are the worse cd´s the band made till now in my opinion.
Great somebody is talking about this band because they deserve it.
BURNING STARR is also a great band if you like the first albums by VIRGIN STEELE.

Isn't Burning Starr an offshoot with Jack Star?

Man, it really is great to see other fans of this band.

Admittedly, I have a few holes in my Virgin Steele collection as their stuff is not easy to come by in the states. I plan to fill all my holes though and get EVERY last album they have put out. Still don't have their latest one, but I've heard lukewarm reviews.

There is just something about this band that I love though. I can't put my finger on it - but when I hear them I get the goosebumps heheh.

I dont know if you have AGE OF CONSENT and INVICTUS, but they are increible. Nearly like NOBLE SAVAGE.
Yes, BURNING STARR is the band with JACK STAR. They released 4 great albums. My fave is NO TURNING BACK with DAVID DeFEIS on it. Its from 1986 but it came out again in the late 90s on the USA label SENTINEL STEEL.
CHECK THIS OUT BROTHER:
http://www.sentinelsteel.com/Label/SentinelSteelRecords.html

ON THE METAL MARKET section of this forum, LOCKY is selling most of his VIRGIN STEELE albums for 10 dollars. Check it out.

That looks like a great site! Thanks - I added it to my favorites. Are they pretty reliable?

blackieboy wrote:

That looks like a great site! Thanks - I added it to my favorites. Are they pretty reliable?

Sentinel Steel is awesome. And Den is a cool, cool dude with a ton of metal knowledge. I buy from him all the time.

blackieboy wrote:

That's an Eyesore original, just like these:









So when you see it posted elsewhere, you'll know. Haha.

Well I recently filled 3 major spots in my collection that I was missing for years. I ended up ordering them from Russia (as they were brand new and for a great price). The downside is that I had to wait nearly a month for them to arrive.

So I have the Russian versions of "Noble Savage", "Age of Consent" and the Euro version of "Life Among the Ruins".

I had never heard AoC or LAtR before. I have got to say that "Age of Consent" blew me away. I think that it actually might be my favorite album from Virgin Steele. "Noble Savage" was my favorite for years (I had the Euro version of this before). But "Age of Consent" just seems to have everything I love about 80s classic metal embodied on one cd. It's phenominal! Even the ballads RULE on it! This album was a flop back in '88 when it was first released, I guess there was some problem they had with their company at the time (David DeFeis has a brief history inside the sleeve), so it was only released marginally and many people didn't even know it came out. It was remastered and rereleased back in '95 though, so that's how it's possible to find today. However, to find this album brand new in the USA you will be paying close to $80.00!!! I said 'no thanks', and decided to order it from Russia instead. I paid just a fraction of that including shipping.

Anyway - now I only have a few Virgin Steele albums to go and I'll have them all! I can't wait!

I really like this band. I have all their releases except for Visions of Eden. I haven't really been disappointed by anything they've released yet. I think my favorite of theirs isGuardians of the Flame followed by Noble Savage (an excellent song)

I have Jack Starr - Out Of The Darkness. It is good. I have always wanted to get some Virgin Steele. Which is the recommended one to start with is it Noble Savage.

journeyman wrote:

I have Jack Starr - Out Of The Darkness. It is good. I have always wanted to get some Virgin Steele. Which is the recommended one to start with is it Noble Savage.

I'd say so. Either "Noble Savage" or "Age of Consent".

If you want an overview of the band, I'd recommend "Hymns to Victory" as it encompasses most of their work. The only albums that are not represented on it are their first two. That was my introduction to the band years ago and I've been a major fan ever since.

If you have trouble finding these albums where you live, I'd recommend ebay. That's where I got all of my Virgin Steele albums.

Happy to be resurrecting this thread. I have lately been developing quite some taste for the mighty Virgin Steele. Latest acquisitions:
- 5 in 1 box set featuring noble savage, age of consent, life among the ruins, the marriage of heaven and hell part 1&2.
- visions of eden.
- invictus.
- guardians of the flame.

I am loving these albums. The 5 in 1 box set is highly recommended in case you wish to start somewhere.