Sieges Even - Steps. 1990 Germany

Steps is the second album from Sieges Even, and is considerably toned down from their Life Cycle debut. Gone is the thrash and in its place is a modernized Rush like sound. The rhythm section of the Holzwarth brothers sounds more jazz fusion than heavy metal. Even Franz Herde sounds like he might actually be able to sing rather than scream. Opening with a 25 minute tune named 'Tangerine Windows of Solace', I think it's safe to assume Sieges Even were still about being progressive rock oriented. Sieges Even will keep you guessing throughout as to what they will do next, and they certainly have the chops to it. And they prove that, perhaps too often. I miss the pure raw tech thrash of the debut, but this is a very fine, if unexpected, follow up.

Ownership: LP: 1990 Steamhammer. Gatefold. Sent to me by a good friend in Florida not long after release in 1990. The cover is beautiful, and fold out covers were unusual during this era, especially in metal. The centerpiece includes full lyrics and a band photo.

1990 (first listen); 6/19/06; 6/22/17; 1/1/22 (review / new entry)

Sieges Even - Life Cycle. 1988 Germany

Let's make it two in a row. What I said about Starcastle could apply here. Two entirely different genres, same beef. If you were looking for a technical metal album in 1988, you could seek out Watchtower... or Sieges Even*. Watchtower was first, therefore Sieges Even sucks. Huh? Nonsense of course. I'm a huge Watchtower fan, but for my Deutsche Marks, Life Cycle is the superior album. The compositions are just as dense, but the sound is heavier and the breaks are catchier. Sure lead singer Franz Herde shrieks like a zoo animal in pain, but that was the expected style-of-the-genre. It's not like Alan Tecchio sounded like Tony Bennett. It actually adds to the overall vibe of the organized chaos. I bought the LP not long after release, and it remains one of my all-time favorite metal albums. It's aged very well. The band were to change dramatically from here, never really regaining a foothold into tech metal again.

*It was actually called "Technical Metal" back then (not Tech Thrash). Check out some old Metal Forces mags if you don't believe me. I was a fan of the style from the get, so I was most interested in other bands similar.

Ownership: LP: 1988 Steamhammer. Single sleeve. Acquired from a friend in Florida (1990)

CD: 1988 Steamhammer. Jewel case.

1990; 12/10/16 (new entry)

Sieges Even - A Sense of Change. 1991 Germany

My initial reaction to this album was very similar to many reviews you may read - except real time in 1992. To my ears back then, Sieges Even were a prog thrash, or perhaps more to the point, technical metal band who did a fantastic replication / variation on what Watchtower was doing here in the States. Steps was a radical departure from Life Cycle (see the UMR entry for it), so they did tip their hand a bit as to where they were going.

But I never saw this one coming. It was not what I had expected - nor wanted - at the time. I ditched it quick, and left rather unflattering ratings behind. Fast forward another 25 years or so, and I had a chance to source the original SPV CD on the cheap, so why not take another shot at it? As the other reviews have stated so well, A Sense of Change is very much in league with early to mid 80s era Rush. Except far more technical, and "progressive" if you will. Fates Warning's Perfect Symmetry is a good reference as well. In fact, it's not metal at all, at least if heavy sound distortion is a criteria for said sound. Now I hear the album completely different, and is very enjoyable. 

Ownership: CD: 1991 Steamhammer. Jewel case with lyric booklet and photos.

1992 (first listen); 1/26/16 (review / new entry); 4/10/24