Intent on using the words 'Metal' or 'Steel' at least once in every song delivered on their debut album, Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg outfit SACRED STEEL has taken on the mantle of Metal crusaders with an impressive dedication. The Ludwigsburg band was rooted in the 1990 Progressive Metal acts VARIETY OF ARTS. This band in turn became TRAGEDY DIVINE in 1994 releasing the 1996 album 'Visions Of Power'. However, vocalist Gerrit Philipp Mutz and guitarist Jörg M. Knittel wished to forego the Progressive pretensions and found an earthier back to basics Heavy Metal band and as such SACRED STEEL was conceived on September 13th 1996.

The band's inaugural line-up saw Metz and Knittel joined by ex-REBIRTH rhythm guitarist Oliver Großhans, bassist Patrick Schmidt and drummer Mathias Straub. Before long Schmidt's position had been usurped by Jens Sonnenberg. Live shows, including a supports to SCANNER and BLITZKRIEG, and a demo secured a deal in April 1997 with, naturally, Metal Blade Records, SACRED STEEL becoming the first ever German band to sign to the label.

Having recorded their debut album, 'Reborn In Steel', during August and September the same year the Stuttgart based quintet appeared at the 'Bang Your Head II' festival whilst in the midst of recording. This show had the band performing TENSION's 'Downfall Of Evil', complete with a guesting ex DEUCE, TENSION and now WARDOG mainman Tom Gattis.

The 1998 album, 'Wargods Of Metal' produced by Bill Metoyer, included a rousing version of OMEN's 'Battle Cry'. It's arrival was preceded by a live performance of the new material at the 'Wacken Open Air' festival. SACRED STEEL of course appearing on the 'True Metal' stage.

SACRED STEEL's 1999 started with an appearance on the 'Unbroken Metal' Metal TV show tie in compilation CD. Featured track was a demo versions of 'Crusaders Of The Metal Blade'. Metz also gained recording credits by sessioning on Dutch theatric Black Metal band GODDESS OF DESIRE's take on the MERCYFUL FATE classic 'Nuns Have No Fun'. February and March of 1999 saw the band had SACRED STEEL participating as support to NEVERMORE's 'Dreaming Neon Black' European dates, also sharing the stage with Swedish acts MORGANA LEFAY and NOCTURNAL RITES.

SACRED STEEL would also put in a valuable showing at the 'Wacken Open Air' Metal festival in August although their appearance had not been scheduled. Black Metal act MARDUK had pulled out and therefore the organisors, finding SACRED STEEL band members relaxing backstage, coaked them into a fill in performance. Fortunately, the band was fully rehearsed in anticipation of their next European tour, the 'Crusaders Of Metal' dates in alliance with WARDOG, THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG and DESTINY'S END.To round the year off SACRED STEEL contributed to the Nuclear Blast ACCEPT tribute album with their interpretation of 'Fight It Back'.

Vinyl versions of the May 2000 release 'Bloodlust' included an exclusive track 'Journey To The City Of The Dreaming Dead'. The part conceptual album, which if anything found the band mellowing slightly, was engineered and mixed by Achim Köhler.

SACRED STEEL supported CHILDREN OF BODOM and PRIMAL FEAR for a German tour in February 2001. SACRED STEEL would also donate their rendition of URIAH HEEP's 'Return To Fantasy' to a Century Media tribute compilation. In April SACRED STEEL personnel Jörg M. Knittel and Oliver Großhans would be found as part of the Death Metal project MY DARKEST HATE delivering the 'Massive Brutality' album through Knittel's own Iron Glory label. The band, founded by Knittel back in 1998, also comprised AZMODAN vocalist René Pfeiffer and PRIMAL FEAR drummer Klaus Sperling.

SACRED STEEL signed a new contract with the Massacre Records label for their fourth album 'Slaughter Prophecy' for February 2002 release. Initially plans were afoot to cover GRIM REAPER's 'See You In Hell' but the track did not make the final running order. The record would transpire to be a much darker themed album than previous efforts. A vinyl version, suitably limited to just 666 copies, added an exclusive bonus track 'Crush The Holy, Save The Damned'. Another raritu surfaced with SACRED STEEL's cover version of the DEATH track 'Zombie Ritual'. Originally recorded during the 'Bloodlust' sessions the song was donated to a Christmas compilation album put out by the famed German Metal venue the Rockfabrik in Ludwigsburg and limited to 3800 copies.

The band cut a 2004 Achim Köhler produced album 'Iron Blessings' at House Of Music Studio in Stuttgart-Winterbach. That same year Gerrit P. Mutz fronted up Flonheim Doom side combo ANGEL OF DAMNATION, one of a long line of Metal projects instigated by Avenger (a.k.a. Daniel Cichos). His other associations include acts such as BESTIAL DESECRATION, EXORCISM, FRONT BEAST, NECROSLAUGHTER, NOCTURNAL, POLTERGEIST, STORMHUNTER, VARGHKOGHARGASMAL and WITCHSLAUGHTER. Working with drummer Hellbastard, of NOCTURNAL and STONE COLD, on drums, Deathstrike Records released a 7" vinyl single, 'Angel Of Damnation', in 2004, as a limited edition of 500 copies pressed on orange vinyl.

Guitarists Oliver Großhans and Jörg M. Knittel exited SACRED STEEL during December 2005 in order to concentrate on their other projects MY DARKEST HATE and DAWN OF WINTER. The band re-grouped by switching bassist Jens Sonnenberg to guitar and drafting guitarist Jonas Khalil and LANFEAR bassist Kai Schindelar. A double concert album, 'Live Blessings' released by Massacre in January 2006, had been recorded on October 30th 2004 at the Karlskaserne venue in Ludwigsburg.

Bearing a provisional title of 'Hammer Of Destruction', a new SACRED STEEL album would be laid down at Spiderhouse studio in Berlin with producer Harris Johns in July 2006. A limited edition of 1000 box sets also hosted an extra exclusive EP, 'Pounding Inferno', containing four new songs plus rarities.

SACRED STEEL made their first-ever live appearance in Sweden on Saturday, January 27th 2007 at the Rockklubben venue in Sandviken. MORGANA LEFAY, SACRED STEEL and CUSTARD teamed up for a European tour commencing at the Osnabrück Bastard Club in Germany on March 22nd. DISBELIEF utilized the services of SACRED STEEL guitarist Jonas Khalil for live shows commencing on April 7th 2007 in Eisleben.

The band contributed their cover version of TANKARD's 'Empty Tankard' to the tribute album 'A Tribute To Tankard' included as a bonus disc on the AFM Records 2007 TANKARD release 'Best Case Scenario: 25 Years In Beers'.