Review by JD on December 28, 2012.

Veteran Axeman Mark Shelton of Manilla Road fame is one of the most underrated musicians ever. He is one of my all time favorite musicians and he has deserved to be recognized as that for ever. Mark and two others he has assembled has come forth with a new solo project that will place him squarely at the top of the metal heap. Hellwell is the name of this project, metal is its mission.

This is a no brainer to be categorized. This is a 100% old school metal onslaught that three not-so-young men have graced onto the world. There is no Mathcore/Metalcore, Death, Nu-Metal or Groove Metal here - this is the way metal started out as and should be. With effortless melodic riffs, soaring solos that are razor sharp and having vocals that meld the low power of Lemmy with this odd sort of soaring of King Diamond vocals that are tied together with these haunting sort of keyboards that actually work. Metal has returned to its foundations, and it is called Hellwell.

"Beyond The Boundaries Of Sin" is a perfect album to show a true example of some early metal stylings that used keyboards to accent the heaviness, and lets it be known that it can have the freshness and heaviness of todays metal without losing the classic sort of sound. Songs like the infectious thunder of 'Tomb Of The Unnamed One' not to mention the horror movie inspired 'Eaters Of The Dead' shows just how old school metal is still relevant even in the scene now.

Gotta admit that this was a surprise, even though Mr. Shelton is someone that has always been the innovator in metal. Who else could mix Old School metal, Doom Metal feels with mid 70's era Deep Purple and come up with an completely addicting album that would satisfy old bangers and young thrashers all at the same time. Seems to me the veterans of metal, no matter what genre it is, know exactly how to do this and ending up giving some of the best metal around today.

Hellwell’s album is being released officially in January of 2013 - plan hard to get this album.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 9
Originality: 9
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Review by JD on June 26, 2013.

Thrash!  Even the name of it is synonymous with metal – conjuring up the image of a writhing pit full of sweaty metal maniacs churning and flying into one another set to the blitzkrieg lightning riffing soundtrack that has come to be Thrash.  How can you tell I am into it?  If you can’t…I AM!!

Out of Long Island, this motley group of thrashers have been around for years, bringing NY styled thrash to the masses.  Might riffs and pounding drumbeats drive things… the vocals spit out its fury with the bass simply breaking your balls with its low-end fury.  Old school still teaches all of us something, but it also has its downsides as well.

This EP has some good chunk to it, and brings me nostalgically to the heyday of Thrash- but Coldsteel seems rather generic despite the longevity of the band.  Don’t get me wrong, this is a strong album but it holds now advancement of their music… it is a strong album equal to during the glut of thrash before the scene imploded because of just that. I did enjoy the EP, but never was truly impressed by what they offered me.

I love old school metal, especially Thrash – but I look for growth in my Thrash.  The new style of thrash is growing and changing into a new beast, and still keeps the old school feel that makes it what it is – but this album seems to be stagnate on their progression.  Average Thrash is better than none, that is true – but I want to be engaged by it, not just underwhelmed.  I am truly underwhelmed by ColdSteel’s album.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 6
Atmosphere: 5
Originality: 5
Production: 5
Overall: 55

Rating: 5.2 out of 10