Virgin Steele - Invictus (1998)

I will have to go back to earlier Virgin Steele albums and hear if David DeFeis always "sung" with so much snarling and growling (not the death metal kind) as he does by the time of this album, the third in the MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL trilogy. He just seems to be getting worse and worse.
And that's a great shame, because this remains a terrific album. With more tails of battles against evil gods and final victory guaranteeing freedom for all, this finds Virgin Steele gliding through angry and powerful music with effortless ease and, even if it goes on too long, there's no denying the musical sumptuousness and power of such tracks as "Through Blood And Fire", "Defiance", "Dominion Day" and the ten-minute conclusion, the triumphant "Vedi, Vini, Vici", which has DeFeis finishing with an actual high note, showing he can still actually sing properly.
This could be the best of a very high quality trio of heavy metal albums, but they're all worth indulding in, and are a true triumph for David DeFeis.


****1/2