Ritual Steel had quite some potential and as a co-founder I've still got some strong feelings listening to what we've created, even everything had to end in a bad way. In the end it was just one person who really caused this desaster, so this is my final tribute - next to maybe restarting the website with some additional information in the future - to the musicians I've worked with here and to the fans who have been a strong fellowship over the years. This will not be the place to loose the bad words, and that's why I left the drummer's name out, time for babbling is over, listen to the music and be sure, we will let metal live on in Savage Rites, Isen Torr and Titan Steele.
Oliver Zuehlke
It doesn't matter beeing young or not to create something as fresh blood or a new wind in the scene. It had been Sascha Maurer and Oliver Zuehlke at the drummers place who all had a passion for old school metal that could be more or less satisfied with current bands they were playing in. In that special night the idea came up to join forces in a project and after finding guitarrists for it, an obscure 12" should have been released. That's what forming the band Ritual Steel emerged from.
Nobody ever had the idea of recording a demo, Ritual Steel were supposed to release something on vinyl. After only two month of reheasing in 2001 they entered a studio and finished two songs. After those were played to Metal Supremacy Ritual Steel got signed right away for the Orchid Queen EP which was sold out immediatly surrounded by great feedback from the international metal scene.
Ritual Steel wasn't just a project anymore and looking backwards, it was maybe far too early for the band. Line up changes had to be made so that they would stand the new requirements, a deal could be signed with Iron Glory Records. Still, there had been differences in the band, some had seen it more as a hobby whilst others were wanting a professional outfit.
There had always been troubles in and with Ritual Steel but on the other hand the debut album could finally be recorded in 2002 and concerts and festivals were played all around Germany with bands like Sacred Steel, Wizard, Twisted Tower Dire, Slough Feg and many more. For the album release, Ritual Steel changed label to english Miskatonic Foundation, as the old label wasn' in the situation to pay the studio.
Ritual Steel were still looking foreward and there already had been new songs, but after continous line up problems, confrontation with the drummer's ego and lack of professionality, Oliver Zuehlke finally left the band to form Savage Rites, while internal troubles lived on and soon almost every Ritual Steel show could have been the last.
The band still made it to the recording of a complete album and 2 songs for Split EP's - contract for the album was bought by Hellion Records - but then disputes escalated to all band members leaving the drummer to form Titan Steele.
Yet still playing with the drummer in other projects, Oliver Zuehlke returned in the believe of finally beeing able to put a professional Ritual Steel together. Savage Rider, a song of the old line up, that had only been played live due to composer Oliver, was ment to be a new live sign on a split EP at Anger Of Metal Records.
The next escalation followed and Oliver finally stopped working with the drummer while Ritual Steel was finally buried, leaving an ammount of great obscure metal releases.
We knew how to rock:- Orchid Queen 7" (Metal Supremacy, 2001)
A Hell Of A Knight CD (Miskatonic Foundation, 2003)
A Hell Of A Knight LP (Metal Supremacy, 2003)
Metal Supremacy 7" (Metal Supremacy, 2003, Bonus for the album release)
Before The Apocalypse 7" (Dream Evil Records, 2003, Split with Metal Inquisitor)
Death In Spring 7" (Metal Coven Records, 2003, Split with Reverend Bizarre)
Blitz Invasion CD (Hellion Records, 2004)
Blitz Invasion LP (Hellion Records, 2005)
vs. Forever Winter 7" (Anger Of Metal Records, 2005, Split with Forever Winter)