Rising Steel: Raw and intense
Rising Steel has been delivering powerful riffs and strong Heavy Metal spirit since their first EP release in 2014. Based in Grenoble, France, the band mixes classical heavy metal mainly from the 80’s NWOBHM scene with influences from Hard Rock to Thrash Metal. In the past decade, they shared the stage with bands like Jaded Heart, Sister Sin, ADX, Nightmare, Nashville Pussy, Annihilator. Now after 3 years in the making, their fourth album „Legion of the Grave“ will be out on 29th August 2025 via Frontiers Records. Time to ask those guys a few questions …
What was it like recording Legion of the Grave?
Zard: Ahhh (laughs), it was epic! Honestly, I think it was the toughest recording experience we’ve had so far. I tracked drums while on painkillers, dealing with serious back pain. Emmanuelson had vocal issues during the early sessions, which forced us to push the schedule back a bit.
There were also some last-minute song changes and a few unexpected delays. It got a little chaotic, but it always stayed within our control.
In the end, I think those challenges pushed us to give everything we had. The result is raw, intense, and powerful — I absolutely love it.
We worked with Matthieu Gaud, who brought amazing energy and commitment to the process. He was a great person to have by our side. We also took a different approach this time by recording guitars and bass in my personal studio. That gave the whole thing a more intimate feel — closer to how the songs were originally written and played.
All in all, it was a demanding but very rewarding experience.
How has the new album been received so far? Will you be touring?
Zard: It’s still early — the album officially drops on August 29th — but the first single has already gotten a great reaction on social media. That’s definitely a promising sign!
We’ve got some live dates starting to come together, and we’re getting ready to hit the stage again soon.
Which metal bands have influenced Rising Steel the most?
Zard: (laughs) That could take forever to answer! We’ve got a ton of eclectic influences, ranging from classic hard rock to thrash and death metal.
Personally, I grew up with old-school thrash and death — bands like Sepultura and Entombed. The heavy metal side came into my life a bit later, but it all blended together naturally.
What’s the current state of the metal scene in France?
Emmanuelson: It’s very diverse — lots of strong bands in all subgenres. The scene has really evolved over the years.
Tony: The French metal scene is active, though maybe not as massive as in Germany, Spain, or Scandinavia, where metal has always had a bigger cultural foothold.
But things are changing. The metal audience here is growing, and big festivals like Hellfest, Motocultor, and Sylak are giving the genre more media visibility. Metal is finally starting to find its place in the French mainstream music landscape.
Of course, Gojira is the most well-known French metal export today, but we’ve also got strong names like Mass Hysteria, Landmvrks, Ultra Vomit, Dagoba, and many more.
In the old-school camp, classic bands like Sortilège, ADX, and Manigance are still going strong and releasing solid albums.
Locally, around our hometown of Grenoble, there’s always been a solid hard rock and heavy metal scene. Bands like Nightmare, Lonewolf, Whisky of Blood, Ellipsis, Eight Sin, and Electric Shock … have kept the flame alive.
And now, there’s a promising new wave emerging — bands like Star Riders, Avaland, and Ormagoden are bringing fresh energy.
Are you fans of NWOBHM bands?
Tony: Absolutely — no doubt! The New Wave of British Heavy Metal is a huge influence on Rising Steel. It’s a big part of our sound.
We’re all fans of bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Manowar, and Accept (even if they’re not British, they fit the spirit!).
We also take inspiration from ’80s thrash legends like Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Exodus, Overkill… the list goes on.
Who writes the band’s lyrics, and what are your themes?
Emmanuelson: I write the lyrics and vocal melodies. My inspirations cover a wide range — betrayal, aliens, hitmen, cults, clairvoyance, life changes…
I like to keep things open and conceptual without being too literal. It lets the listener build their own interpretation.
What’s next for Rising Steel?
Zard: Right now, we’re focused on the album release, and a few shows in autumn are already in the works. Our second music video dropped on July 17th, and we’re really excited about that.
At the same time, we’re already writing new material — we just can’t stop, haha!
Any memorable stories from life as a metal band?
Tony: Last year, we had the incredible opportunity to play on the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise. We spent a week in the Caribbean on one of the biggest cruise ships in the world — surrounded by some of the best bands in the global metal scene.
It was surreal. We played two shows, met our childhood heroes like Grave Digger, Sodom, Blind Guardian, and more. And during the stopover in the Dominican Republic, we were swimming on a white sand beach… in the middle of February! Definitely one of the most unforgettable experiences we’ve had as a band.
Rising Steel are:
Tony Steel (Guitars)
Steel zard (Drums)
Emmanuelson (Vocals)
SteffLeadmaster (Lead Guitars)
Stone warrior (Bass)
Text: John Wisniewski photos: Band
