Artist: Savage Master / Mystic Storm
Country: USA / Russia
Label: Shadow Kingdom Records
Formats: Split LP
Year: 2026
Just one year after the release of ‘Dark & Dangerous’, arguably the best album Savage Master have released to date, the band are back again with new material. This time it’s a split LP (not released on CD or in any other format) which they share with Mystic Storm, hailing from Saint Petersburg, Russia. Although the physical release was slightly delayed, this is hardly an issue musically, as both bands take you back to times long past, so those few extra months’ of waiting make little difference.
It comes as little surprise that the three tracks – which, like those by their Russian split partner, are new and were recorded exclusively for this split LP – are very much in the vein of ‘Dark & Dangerous’. And, to be honest, they’re simply a continuation of what they’ve always done, as Savage Master have well and truly proven themselves to be a mainstay of the Traditional Heavy Metal scene. There’s no sign of experimental frills; their consistent standard has now become part of their core identity. The impressive guitar work and Stacey Savage’s vocals, which have clearly improved, are, as on the last album, the most striking elements. That said, the tracks are slightly less catchy and explosive than on ‘Dark & Dangerous’, but if you’re a fan of Savage Master, you certainly won’t be disappointed by these three new tracks; they proudly revive the heyday of Chastain.
It may well be that, for a wider audience, this split serves as an introduction to Mystic Storm. Although they have previously recorded a split with Ice War and released an album that was put out by labels such as High Roller Records and Jawbreaker Records, the name is perhaps less likely to resonate with listeners. For fans of traditional heavy metal, there is plenty to discover here. Although somewhat tamer across the board than Savage Master, this Russian band bears a striking resemblance to the Americans (it’s nice that international political differences are left aside here), and that certainly doesn’t stop at the fact that both bands feature a lead female vocalist. Perhaps precisely because the music sounds a little more melodic on the guitar front, David Chastain’s presence here feels even more prominent than on the Savage Master side. Singer Svetlana is also slightly less exuberant than her American counterpart, but nevertheless more than holds her own with her raw vocals, which lie somewhere between Doro Pesch (in her Warlock days) and, once again, Chastain’s Leather Leone. Anyone discovering Mystic Storm for the first time through this split LP strikes gold, as this is without doubt their best work to date.
