Noble Savage (Rm)

Noble Savage is a seminal album of 1980s heavy metal- anyone outside the concussion ward of the other couple reviews would readily admit that.

Unfettered by original guitarist Jack Starr's dreams of living up to his own name, David DeFeis was able to shape an original style of epic heavy metal that has been consistently tweaked and expanded upon since Noble Savage's original 1986 release date. Though only Virgin Steele's third album, this shows remarkable maturity even amongst the more "accessible" songs- likely due to Starr's departure. Virgin Steele was now a single band, and each album would from then on have a unified voice as opposed to "DeFeis songs" and "Starr songs", a polarity which had made the previous two albums seem rather disjointed.

This 2011 double disc reissue contains virtually an entire extra album's worth of bonus material. This includes the six bonus tracks from the 1996 reissue plus an extra disc. This bonus disc is split between five new/unreleased songs of recent recording, a couple different mixes and four surprisingly fascinating, very listenable "live pre-production rehearsal" tracks.

Taken as a whole, this is a must have even for fans who already own the 1996 release. The new songs are good, the live demos are interesting, and of course the original album remains a classic. So be a savage, be a king- fight deceivers, conquer evil, and do not hesitate to spend your money on this.

Virgin Steele is one of the longest-running, yet largely unknown bands in the American power metal scene. While bands like Fates Warning, Crimson Glory and Savatage are all highly regarded (and rightly so), Virgin Steele never seemed to get the same attention, despite a 25 year career and a host of excellent albums.

Originally released in 1986, Noble Savage was Virgin Steele's third studio album, and the first since the departure (and subsequent lawsuit) of founding guitarist Jack Starr. Noble Savage is an interesting album to say the least. About half of the album continues in the epic power metal style of Guardians of the Flame, while the other half seems to be trying for a party rock sound. Virgin Steele is great when they're singing epic songs about warriors and wizards, but when they're singing about love and partying it's just awkward. Combine this odd mix of styles with the speed metal album the band released at the same time (under the Exorcist name) and you get a picture of a very confused band.

If you're new to the band's work and were considering starting with this album, you may want to reconsider. The House of Atreus Act 1 or Guardians of the Flame will give you a more accurate representation of the band's sound than Noble Savage. Still, it's an album that all serious Virgin Steele fans need to check out, and it has its share of gems. I'd probably rate the album at 3 stars, but the quality of the reissue pushes it to an easy 4-star rating.

Edition Notes: Noise Records' 1997 reissue of Noble Savage features six bonus tracks. The bonus tracks are all studio songs, and like the rest of Noble Savage, some are good and some are just embarrassing ("Come On and Love Me").

Edition Notes 2: Noble Savage was reissued yet again in 2008 by Dockyard 1/Locomotive. The new version features digitally remastered sound, expanded liner notes and an additional two bonus tracks. The bonus tracks are just remixes, so they're hardly essential, but the improved sound quality is enough to make this a worthwhile purchase (or re-purchase). The remastering, remixing of the extra tracks and liner notes were all done by David DeFeis.

Look, alot of you Virgin Steele fans already know that way back in 1985, David DeFeis & members of Virgin Steele, of this very album, basically took over and became for a short time a band named Exorcist. That album "Nightmare Theatre", was a thrash metal masterpiece, almost singlehandedly steering the musical style into more theatrical elements, and creating one classic of an album. Of course, Virgin Steele was more important to these guys, and after only one incredible album, Exorcist was left in the dust for Steele's more power metal, well, chessiness. Such a shame.

If Mr. David DeFeis ever reads this, then read this: Whatever it takes, get that Exorcist album a proper CD release PLEASE! I personally owned the mass produced bootleg CD, y'know the one that was mastered from a "vinyl" copy, for six years now, and I want it with the clarity it truly deserves! Your fans deserve to hear your 2000 track "Fire Of Ecstasy" as it was ORIGINALLY intended from way back in 1985 as "Call Of The Exorcist", as it was first written and recorded for the Exorcist album.

The two bands are so different, yet with the same guys from this very album, that if you heard Exorcist, you too would realize what this band "coulda" been. DeFeis, you got most of your catalog out there for fans, give 'em the lost (and possibly greatest) chapter. Please get "Nightmare Theatre" out there!