(TheBRHM.com) German band Sacred Steel dropped their tenth album Ritual Supremacy in late April 2025 and we’re going to check it out by look at the A-side and B-side separately, highlighting the standout tracks on both sides, and looking at the strength of the opening track—the first impression.
A-Side of Sacred Steel’s “Ritual Supremacy”
Getting right into it, the album starts off with a titular pounder. You’d think it set the tone for the album for wait until the B-side, folks. “Ritual Supremacy” has the speed and heaviness balance I prefer down pat and wouldn’t you know it: “Leather, Spikes, and Chains” follows up in the same fashion.
“Watcher Infernal” is slower but heavy and it breaks things up a bit. It’s not a slow as the following tune but it’s definitely a tempo shift. This isn’t unusual for Sacred Steel releases and depending on the album you might come across it sooner or later on the A-side.
What’s certain is that Sacred bloody Steel really runs with it when they’ve a slam fest of fast tracks going then you’ll might get a double dose of doom after.
They’re a versatile band and have something for the speed freaks like yours truly and the doom hounds. It might not be exactly what you want for one or both but it’s on the table should you choose to partake.
“A Shadow in the Bell Tower” is another of the dark, macabre pounders that Sacred Steel excels at. It rides similarly to the titular song and “Leather, Spikes, and Chains”. What I also enjoyed about this track is that it didn’t overstay its welcome. It’s one of the three short speedsters on Ritual Supremacy and it just works. I could’ve done with another minute but the length is perfect for a track of this pace.
The A side closer, “Entombed Within the Iron Walls of Dis” is a gloomy epic about the titular Dis from Dante’s Inferno. It jumps between the band’s aggressive speed and epic doom during the more melodic parts.
Vocalist Gerri P. Mutz has a lot of experience in speed, power and doom metal, so these kinds of songs aren’t exactly experimental for him or Sacred Steel. I’m going to put this in the “banger” column.
Strongest Tracks: Leather, Spikes, and Chains*, A Shadow in the Bell Tower*, Entombed Within the Iron Walls of Dis**
B-Side
“Bedlam Eternal” is similar to four of the A side tracks and I’m good with that. The pace of the album was awesome on that side—why not keep it up. I’m not a listener who gets speed weariness, it gets the thumbs up from me.
“Demon Witch Possession” is a pounder that could’ve started the B-side easily. As a matter of fact, it could’ve been on the A-side since it’s a little more aggressive than a track like “Watcher Infernal” or the titular track. It’s one of the 3-minute slammers on the album.
The epic for the B-side is “Covenant of Grace” which clocks in at just a little over 6-minutes. It’s different from “Entombed Within the Iron Walls of Dis”, in that it leans more into doom trappings pace-wise. The heaviness of this epic is played up more and that works to break up the pounders.
“Omen Rider” is one of the songs on Ritual Supremacy that is squarely an epic heavy metal song. It’s far from doom metal and rides with speed metal but it isn’t a pounder like the majority of the tracks here.
Don’t get me wrong, there is speed to be had here but it’s more in bursts. For the majority of the song, there’s a heavy, galloping pace—like a faster Iron Maiden.
The album closer “Let the Blackness Comes to Me” sees Sacred Steel return to its magical doom and gloom sorrow bag. Pace-wise, it’s a follow up to “Omen Rider”, it’s just sorrow-laden but not chock full of misery—that’s always a plus in my book for songs.
All that aside, it’s a good song and a great closer. Sure, I prefer speed but this is a good song and something different after banging my head hard for the first half.
Strongest Tracks: Demon Witch Possession*, Omen Rider
Strength of the Opener: Ritual Supremacy
Having listened to Sacred Steel since 2007 and having gone back to listen to older albums, there are things you come to expect from the band that they always hit each album. One of those is hot dropping with a double dose of speed to kick things off.
If there isn’t a double dose, the pounder tends to come after a heavy opener as was the case with 2004’s Iron Blessings and the opener-follow up combo of “Open Wide the Gates” and “Your Darkest Saviour”.
The opener here was could’ve opened or closed the album, it’s a flexible song that could’ve also been any place on the album. It did well as an opener, the majority of the songs were in a similar vein, and I’m pro-starting things off with a fast-paced banger. I wouldn’t give “banger” honors to “Ritual Supremacy” but it did a good job kicking things off.
As for other opening options, I’m going with “Leather, Spikes and Chains”, “Demon. Witch Possession”, or “A Shadow in the Bell Tower”. In that order.
The album as a whole is an extremely fun listen from start to finish. It reminded me of a blend of their 2004 release Iron Blessings and 2013’s The Bloodshed Summoning, two albums I really enjoyed. I found this release to be a better follow up to The Bloodshed Summoning than Heavy Metal Sacrifice.
Staff Writer; James “Metal” Swift Jr.
This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.