""Raptor" is the debut album by Steel Maid, but the four members of the band have lots of experience from other bands like Ivory Tower, Ritual Steel, Isen Torr and the American power metal band Ravage; essentially, Steel Maid is a side project of Dirk Johannsen's and a bunch of hired hands. We are dealing with traditional heavy metal, and Steel Maid are very retro - "Raptor" might as well have been released in 1984 or 1985. Steel Maid owe a lot to bands like Judas Priest, Accept, Dio, Anvail and other 80s metal giants. "Hellraiser", for instance, sounds a lot like on of Judas Priest's faster tracks from the 80sm while "Die Fast" reminds me a bit of Running Wild. "Lovebreaker" and "Unbreakable" are akin to Priest's heavier material, and "Armageddon" reminds me of Accept ("Armageddon" has a very cool chorus, by the way). The production is unpolished, and I guess this is a deliberate attempt at achieving an 80s sound, but, fortunately, "Raptor" is not drowned in reverb and treble, like a lot of 80s metal releases were. Recommended if you want a bit of a blast from the past. (review originally posted on metalmusicarchives.com)"
