Steelballs: Rebels | Renovating Scrolls
(2026 – Metalcoholización Records)
Steelballs is likely one of the many Argentine bands that aren’t taken very seriously in the Metal scene. There may be several reasons for this, but the truth is that it’s surprising that a band of this caliber doesn’t have a bigger impact than it does.
It’s true that Steelballs isn’t a band that invents anything new or follows commercial trends or the music market—quite the opposite, in fact. The band operates within a tight circle, with a sound ranging from aggressive, fast-paced power metal to traditional heavy metal. Names like Accept, Judas Priest, Manowar, Gamma Ray, and Hammerfall—to name a few illustrious acts—serve as references when defining Steelballs’ sound.
Since its inception, the Campana-based band has chosen to perform its music in English—a choice that may seem unusual for an Argentine band but which, in a way, opens the doors to the international heavy metal scene. In fact, they have maintained a steady output, releasing several albums and EPs from 2013 to the present. In this case, “Rebels” is Steelballs’ third full-length album.
Let’s just say that “Rebels” is nothing more than a collection of nine new tracks that, rather than surprising, confirm Steelballs’ current standing and renew their deep connection to traditional, hard-hitting Heavy Metal, marking in a way a continuation of their previous work—though here the sound is noticeably more direct, less epic, and perhaps establishing a distinct identity of its own.
Indeed, on this new album we notice a positive evolution both sonically and compositionally with regard to the new tracks presented. “Warrior”, the opening track, seems to confirm this assertion; alongside the traditional intensity and drive of heavy, fast, and aggressive rhythms, Steelballs manages to surprise with some very tasteful arrangements.
With “Rebels Of Mankind”, things get much more intricate from a compositional standpoint—a sort of anthem (and there are several of them on this album) that evokes the strength and combativeness of Manowar, and for anyone passionate about hard-hitting metal, a gem like “Age of Leather” is not to be missed, with that distinctive riff and the power it unleashes throughout the song.
“Liberty Or Death” has such tremendous energy—it’s truly one of the album’s standout tracks, with a vibe very close to early Helloween or even Running Wild, featuring intricate dual-guitar work. Meanwhile, with “Speed Of Light”, just as the title suggests, the band embraces speed and fury to deliver a new anthem with all the force of Heavy Metal.
With a fiery and steady rhythm, “Raven’s Last Fight” kicks in, featuring a chorus that’s as powerful and catchy as they come, followed by “The Wasteland”, which showcases interesting guitar work that weaves through different rhythms and chords without losing the essence of traditional metal. Hot on its heels comes the fast and lethal “Reckless Savage And Evil”, which comes close to the speed of early Thrash Metal—one might say—and perhaps sets itself apart from the rest of the album’s material.
The album closes with the compelling “Living The Dream”, another Metal anthem in every sense of the word, with all the power of a true metal anthem—featuring harmonies, catchy choruses, and a guitar solo that gives it its unique character and puts the finishing touch on a very good album by the Steelballs.
What’s interesting about “Rebels” is that the band delves deeper into the style we’ve come to know from them, but with the difference that the songs here seem much more direct, short, and to the point. Speed, great guitars and riffs, heavy and fast drumming, and harmonious choruses. That’s the Steelballs formula. There’s nothing new here, nor do they claim to be anything new. It’s just Heavy Metal—traditional, classic, and fierce—and, incidentally, delivered with surprising quality.
What’s more, Steelballs has great songs that never get boring; instead, they draw you in, and before long, you can’t help but bang your head and raise your fist in the air. Power is what stands out most about Steelballs’ sound and style, and that’s ultimately what counts.
As for the sound, there isn’t much to say except that the sound and mix are excellent, with an emphasis on the different guitar tones and on making the band sound literally heavy and fierce. In that regard, the balanced percussion also stands out—it hits hard and just enough, not to drown out other sounds but to give power to every chord. Excellent work.
The visual design is top-notch, with a cover featuring a futuristic, Mad Max-style illustration that aligns with the future Steelballs envisions for the human race: the struggle for survival. By the way, it’s an excellent idea to present each band member as a rebel soldier with their specific role within the group.
In everything we find on “Rebels”, you can see the effort, enthusiasm, imagination, and everything that an underground band typically puts into making things happen. In this regard, Steelballs walks the talk, since, as we mentioned, this is an independent production made with hard work. Congratulations on the great production work.
Part of all this is also the music video for the song “Liberty Or Death,” one of the tracks chosen to promote this new Steelballs album—which we’ve included below, along with the band’s official social media accounts…
https://www.facebook.com/stellballs
https://www.instagram.com/steelballs_official
