ANKH TV

Charging Into View

Wings of Steel present their official video for Wings of Steel, a centerpiece cut from the band’s self-titled debut EP. Filmed in Los Angeles, California on August 21, 2022, the clip captures a young band staking a claim in the classic heavy metal tradition with a tightly drilled performance and a clear sense of identity. The track is written by vocalist Leo Unnermark and guitarist Parker Halub, whose songwriting fixes on velocity, danger, and the almost mythic pull of speed and steel.

The Sound: High-Octane Classic Metal

Wings of Steel sounds built for the stage. The arrangement centers on a commanding lead vocal, a front-and-center lead guitar voice, and a rhythm section that pushes the song forward with unwavering momentum. The interplay between rhythm and lead guitars gives the track its bite: one guitar lays down a muscular, steady foundation while the other cuts through with searing lines and melodic accents. Bass and drums lock into a driving pocket, keeping the tempo taut and the impact immediate. It is the kind of metal that prizes clarity, punch, and well-defined hooks, aiming squarely for the adrenalized heart of the genre.

The production favors crisp attacks and clean separation, letting the riffs snap and the vocal lead soar without losing the density that heavy metal demands. Even at full tilt, the parts remain discernible: a hallmark of bands that channel the spirit of traditional metal while avoiding mud or excess.

Lyrical Focus: Pursuit, Precision, and Fire

Wings of Steel leans into time-honored heavy metal themes. The lyrics conjure engines and arsenals, the discipline of the hunt, and the fixated intensity of a target locked in sight. Refrains like “shoot to thrill” frame the song as a narrative of pursuit and impact, while lines about “riding wings of metal” picture speed as a near-mystical force. The language is direct and kinetic, favoring short commands and sharp images over abstraction. It is a vocabulary designed for motion, amplifying the music’s relentless forward drive.

Rather than storytelling in a literal sense, the song works through mood and stance. Words become signals—rev, aim, strike—that align with the band’s tight, aggressive execution. The cumulative effect is a metal anthem tuned to urgency and precision.

On-Camera Energy

The official video keeps the focus on the band’s performance. Shot by Patrick Fogarty (camera 1 and video edit) with additional footage from Lee Citron (camera 2), the visuals emphasize movement, close-up detail, and the synchronized punch of the ensemble. The editing cues in on accents and stops, highlighting the song’s rhythmic impact and the musicians’ chemistry. Filming in Los Angeles roots the clip in a city with deep ties to heavy music, while the visual approach favors immediacy over spectacle, underscoring the group’s commitment to the essentials: riffs, precision, and force.

Musicianship and Dynamics

Vocalist Leo Unnermark leads with a focused, high-energy delivery that rides cleanly above the instrumentation. Parker Halub’s lead guitar work serves as the song’s melodic spearpoint, shaping the track’s identity through tone and phrasing. The rhythm guitar presence from Stefan John-Bailet keeps the low-end punch tight and consistent, while Johnny Shankel on bass and Mike Mayhem on drums reinforce each turn and accent. The collective feel is confident and unpretentious: players listening closely to one another, prioritizing cohesion, weight, and tempo control.

Context Within the Debut EP

As a selection from the band’s self-titled debut EP, Wings of Steel functions as a statement of purpose. It introduces the project through a sound steeped in classic metal values, with a modern emphasis on precision and clarity. The track’s title doubling as the band’s name and EP title signals an intention to define identity in a single, concentrated blow. For listeners discovering the group, it sets expectations: high-speed execution, melodic focus, and a clear grasp of the genre’s bedrock language.

Credits

• Song: Wings of Steel
• Band: Wings of Steel
• EP: Wings of Steel (debut, self-titled)
• Lead Vocals: Leo Unnermark
• Lead Guitar: Parker Halub
• Rhythm Guitar: Stefan John-Bailet
• Bass: Johnny Shankel
• Drums: Mike Mayhem
• Songwriting: Leo Unnermark and Parker Halub
• Lyrics: Written by Leo Unnermark © 2022
• Filming: Los Angeles, California, August 21, 2022
• Camera 1 and Video Edit: Patrick Fogarty
• Camera 2: Lee Citron
• © 2022: All rights reserved

Final Take

Wings of Steel turns out a taut, full-throttle introduction that favors sharp riffs, a hook-forward vocal, and a performance-driven video. It is classic heavy metal delivered with economy and conviction, a calling card that places the band squarely in the lineage of high-energy, guitar-first metal while signaling a commitment to clean execution and no-frills impact.