Artist: Caprice Steel
Country: Chile
Label: Eseocho Label
Formats: Demo CD
Year: 2025
When we talk about Chile as a country that provides metal enthusiasts with new music, we are almost always referring to Death Metal or Black Metal, and occasionally Thrash Metal. However, the country also has a vibrant Heavy Metal scene, which has hardly been discussed here, if at all. In recent years, Lucifer’s Hammer (Shadow Kingdom, High Roller, Dying Victims Productions and Stormspell Records), Armoured Knight (Dying Victims Productions) and Acero Letal (Headsplit Records and Witches Brew), have gained some popularity, and I myself have always had a soft spot for the sadly defunct Hemisferio. There is always something very sincere about the Heavy Metal from this South American country. Caprice Steel, who debuted with ‘Demo I’ in the autumn of 2025, can be added to this esteemed tradition.
Let’s first address the elephant in the room: no, Caprice Steel isn’t a band that will automatically appeal to just every Heavy Metal fan. This is not the kind of Heavy Metal that is well-produced and with an overall sophisticated playthrough. This band’s strength solely lies in the honest and sincere way of cranking out some heavy riffs and a total underground production. If you’re looking for a really powerful production to sing along to, this demo might not be the best thing to pick up.
But, if you don’t care about pristine productions and don’t mind a bit of unsteady musicianship if that comes with the right attitude and spirit, then I would definitely advice you to give these guys a listen. ‘Demo I’ is a thoroughly enjoyable listen that honours the very foundations of the Heavy Metal genre, yet is also heavily laced with Speed Metal aesthetics and even an occasional Thrash Metal riff. That means that it harkens back to the very earliest work of Judas Priest and Pretty Maids, but also bears hints of bands like Fingernails, Arkham Witch and Serpent Saints. Sometimes heavy, sometimes fast, most of the times rather wobbly and even off-key but judging from the closing track, which is recorded live, it shows that Caprice Steel is as real as it gets. What you see is what you get, no frills, no bells, no whistles: just good old Heavy Metal fun!
