Metal Reviews
Metal Reviews
IRON SAVIOUR |
| The 2nd release from the German
Power Metal super-group proves the first was no fluke. Iron Savior,
a band brought together from the talents of members of Gamma Ray and
Blind Guardian and meant as a side-project for its participants to let
off a little creative steam away from their main concerns, has evolved
into a raging force-much stronger or fittingly "unified" here the second
time around. The final three songs allow listeners to hear the band stretch their own boundaries a bit as they cover the likes of Hansen's original band Helloween, Black Sabbath, and finalizing with Excelsis' "Dragonslayer" which comes off amongst the best on the album! Admittedly it is a little peculiar to hear all these fast riffs and anthemic choruses-one of their absolute strongest points, and then getting struck out of nowhere with "Gorgar!" Led by the unparalleled assault of Kai Hansen's melodically superior and quick-wristed playing style, "Unification" features a full fifteen tracks of majestic metal power that takes off on an explosive hour-plus journey that will put to rest any doubt this group deserves an identity all its own. 'Unification' is released by Modern Music Records GmbH. Kurfürstenstraße 23, 10785 Berlin. Germany. Website : http://www.noiserecords.com/ Tel : +49 (0) 30 264 98 70 Fax : +49 (0) 30 262 44 48 Review by Vinnie Apicella |
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"Condition Red" Iron Savior |
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Before you've had a chance to get comfortable in your cockpit all of a sudden you're hurled straight to the sky like an eject button going off without warning and here's "Titans Of Our Time" which takes two repeat listens to insure it's not a mistake! Iron Savior wastes no time proving they're back on track after last year's mediocre "Dark Assault" and the loss of one half of their core coalition, Kai Hansen, to concentrate full time on his Gamma Ray unit. "Protector" slows down the pace and evokes a traditional Priest-like spirit, par for the course for the German Metal sensations who've made a better than expected career of combining power, speed, melody and finesse with their "side-project" hybrid gone out of control. Iron Savior is a consistent performer when the battle plan's laid out, recognized for their superior craftsmanship and unifying principles to guide their successful outer worldly journeys. So the story here begins a yard or two into the future-3597 to be exact-in a time where the federation has grown in leaps and bounds, new worlds long since inhabited and human kind only a blip on the universal radar… well that's a personal fabrication resulted from one too many a sci-fi small screen adventure… But suffice it to say Iron Savior's code of conduct has always been one of benevolence-defenders of a Metal faith against any and all aggressors, in this lifetime or any of another to come. "Ironbound" grabs the throttle for another barrier breaking bolt led by a piercing Piet Sielck-he, of a genetically enhanced species predisposed of a Picard-like quest for knowledge and duty bound, leads the charge in an overexerted vocal performance in league with the best of his "Primal" past. "Warrior" comes away with obligatory filler track honors and still results in bone-crunching intensity with a grinding, pounding, slow burn and magnified choral definition. "Walls Of Fire" returns to the early going firepower, lyrically busting loose of a bleak situation, as does "Tales Of The Bold," recapping a mournful though successful adventure that soon yields a latter day lament of a personally drawn if fleeting character withdraw for the optimistic "I Will Be There," and pervasive, "No Heroes." "Paradies" is a star-flown salvation seeker typical of an eleventh track add-on, while "Thunderbird," for all its Star Trek derivation, every bit the 36th century Enterprise mission, unveils to a pronounced fanfare, catchy riff and all consuming high speed chorus that cuts through the predecessing lethargy upon their temporary two or three track docking. "Condition Red" features a limited edition bonus track cover of Seal's(?) "Crazy," which in its plodding, unassuming early going, reveals a surprising likeness to the original, where neither the artist nor fan could've conceived of the resultant output-which in some indefensible way just fits. Oftentimes even the best get caught up in an ongoing quest for glory and Iron Savior's met with bouts of suffering during their six year, four album, two EP existence, submitting to the occasional fits of riff reticence or thematic overdraw. "Condition Red" finds
them continuing on as a reckoning force in the realm of German Power
Metal proficiency reconjuring and revitalizing the spirit of tradition
while continually conquering evil doers and doubters. Released by Noise Records Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu] P.O. Box 20252
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