Iron Savior are a band that have been around for a while, whilst I was admittedly guilty of ignoring some of their past releases, especially after the departure of Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray), this new release kicks my doubts into touch and heralds a new era of traditional and power metal from Germany.
‘Burning Heart’ is a rousing anthem, a video has also been produced for this track, take a listen, take a watch, this is expertly executed and it sounds and looks easy. However, crafting tunes that are this memorable surely is not such an easy task? Well if it is, Piet Sielck and the boys certainly don’t make it known. Sielck’s vocals are very commanding and yes this album breathes similarities and combinations of the Accept and Gamma Ray sound (well these are fantastic bands to be compared to right), but there is a little more to this. ‘From Far Beyond Time’ is similar in feel to some of Blind Guardian’s earlier material, particularly between their releases ‘Somewhere Far Beyond’ and ‘Imaginations from the Other Side’. Listen to the track, Sielck even has some of Hansi Kursch’s trademark powerhouse vocals and phrasing, a voice that should not be messed with and Iron Savior is lavishing in such talent also, you may also hear some “bells” akin to one of BG’s album title songs. This is not however a tribute album, this is a combination of all German heavy metal from the last 30 years or so.
The future classic metal tunes continue with ‘Last Hero’ and the more aggressive ‘Firestorm’. There is so much material to choose from, but I do find a downside to the release and that is the cover version of a Mando Diao song ‘Dance With Somebody’, it just seems out of place with the rest of the album, you can tell it’s not an Iron Savior track. But, getting back to ‘Last Hero’, some of the dual guitar work is simply majestic, a feat many have tried, but only a few bands can pull off. You may think that this is no more than another mere power metal album, but for me you will be wrong. This is how to write songs with passion and yes I say it most of the time, melody from the arrangement and the vocals that really puts this album right up there on the top of the mountain, on top of most of their peers, it feels good and it sounds good. I can conclude that this is trendless and timeless music that warms your soul and gives a positive feeling no matter how cynical you are about the genre. It’s a real pleasure to hear music that can still bring a smile to my face as I listen to a lot of this material and genre.
‘Rise of the Hero’ is one of the most complete power metal albums in many a year for me, this has aggression, melody and catchy as hell tunes that simply roll off these guys sleeves as if it were second nature. This once again proves that some of the best music of this genre comes from Germany and Iron Savior have heaps of experience and it shows with this album.
(9/10 Paul Maddison)
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