For those of you not in the know, unleashing the latest chapter of a career now in its 5th decade, Jack Starr is well known amongst the metal community, first emerging on the scene as a founding member of the legendary Virgin Steele, before making his considerable mark as a solo artist, then as leader of his own band Burning Starr.

Burning Starr, the band Jack Starr founded in 1984 is now on its tenth album and yes they have gotten better and better! Indeed, yes they have thunderous drums provided by Rhino ex-drummer of Manowar, and yes they have killer vocals that some would describe as “pillar crumbling” provided by new boy Alexx Panza, and yes again they have massive and agile bass playing by Ned Meloni, a former bandmate of Joe Lynn Turner, UFO’s Paul Chapman and Kix front man Steve Whiteman ... and last, but not least, some face-melting guitar playing by the one and only Jack Starr himself!

1. The Ascension
2. Demons Behind Me
3. Ships In The Night
4. River of Blood
5. Souls Of The Innocent
6. Winds Of War
7. The Sinner
8. Where Eagles Fly
9. Road To Hell
10. Atilla
11. All Out War
12. When Evil Calls [Bonus Track]

This highly impressive, piercingly crisp and melodically rocking new album opens on the short, but sweet, quietly alluring The Ascension and then launches into the punchy rock of Demons Behind Me, the forthright AOR of Ships In The Night, before bringing us the gently frenetic melodic rock within River of Blood, the foot-tapping, head-swaying rock of the titular Souls Of The Innocent and then comes the pacy Winds Of War.

Next up is the melodic AOR of The Sinner and the euphorically-charged Where Eagles Fly which are in turn followed by one of my own personal favorites here, the staggered guitars within Road To Hell, then comes the upbeat rocker Atilla, the album rounding out on the thunderous All Out War, coming to a righteous close on the seven minute guitar rock opus of the bonus track When Evil Calls.

Jack Starr has the following to say about the new album: When Virgin Steele put out its first album in 1982 we were asked by the record company to say a few words about it and why people should buy it. I remember all of us discussing the various influences we had and what the songs were about.

I recall one member saying people should buy the album because it has some great songs that were very heavy and had cool riffs. I recall someone else in the band saying the vocals were killer and the drums were like thunder and that metal fans would like it.

Someone else said the guitar playing is really great. But what I remember most is when the bass player uttered these simple words: Buy It. It’s Good.

Look for Burning Starr on the road in 2023 and beyond as they celebrate nearly 40 years of Burning Starr and many surprises are planned for later this year and into 2023 with a career spanning anthology, reissues of the back catalog and much more!

Jack Starr’s Burning Starr - Souls Of The Innocent [Official Music Video]

In Conversation with Jack Starr from Jack Starr’s Burning Starr [Official Interview Video]