On disc: Iron Fire

 
 Thunderstorm
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 On The Edge
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Metalmorphosized
 
- Lars Bjørn -
 
 


 
 Metalmorphosized
 
- Mike Thompson -
 
 


 
 Voyage Of The Damned
 
- Lars Bjørn -
 
 

Voyage Of The Damned

(Napalm Records - 2012)



 
 

 

Martin Steene and Kirk Backarach are the key members of the band Iron Fate who are now arriving with a new album just one year after the last album Metalmorphosis. Maybe they should have given a little more time to polish the production, because this new CD, Voyage Of The Damned, is a boring voyage to be on. Power, gothic and epical metal are present but without the essential bite and flavor that could be expected from a band with an experience that Iron Fate has. Realm Of Madness shows that Martin Steene has a strong metal voice which is the bearing quality of the band, besides a good and strong drumming leading this song to the top. Verge To Collide is also in the better section of metal songs, melodic and with good content. Then the lesser songs fills the rest of the album, Slaughter Of Souls has pop rock potential, melodic but boring. And the disaster comes with Dreams Of The Dead Moon, this song has a chorus called 'slaughter of souls', but what kind of idea is that, when you already have a song called Slaughter Of Souls. OK, another song on the CD is called Leviathan, and here we finally get some metal with good rhythms and music that they can be proud of. Unfortunately there is too little of the good stuff on this album.

 
 










Lars Bjørn


  
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Metalmorphosized

(Napalm Records - 2010)



 
 

 

Denmark's Iron Fire have had their fair share of ups and downs over the years with things going downhill rapidly after the release of the excellent debut Thunderstorm. Several radical line-up changes  later, in which singer Martin Steene is the only original member, Iron Fire are back to where they should be; leading the charge for power metal! Following on from 2009's awesome To the Grave, Metalmorphosized marks the tenth anniversary of Iron Fire and is the band's sixth full-length album.

This album continues the band's legacy of catchy, fast-paced power metal characterized in the main by Martin Steene's vocals that listeners often remark would be more at home in a hard rock band than out-and-out power metal. Iron Fire's style consists of chugging bass, galloping riffs, pounding double bass drumming in abundance and occasional use of keyboards. Combine this with Steene's high and sweet sounding voice – a little like a subdued version of Freedom Call's Chris Bay – and cheesy lyrics about anything from dragons to dark lords to religious condemnation and you have a good idea of what Iron Fire sound like.

The albums contains twelve songs, of which four are completely new and eight of which were previously released on Iron Fire's demos. Naturally they have all been re-recorded. Mixing was done by long-time Iron Fire friend Tommy Hansen  who has mixed all of the band's album since the debut.

Whilst most of the album is given over to the high quality, enjoyable, catchy power metal the band have made their own, they also show their versatility in songs such as Crossroads, a catchy, mid-paced power ballad featuring a duet with female vocalist Sofie Emilie Puggaard. This is one of the best songs on the album in my opinion (the limited edition version of the album also includes an orchestral version of this track). The epic album closer Phantom Symphony shows Iron Fire's ability to create atmosphere with the dark intro to the song.

I have already mentioned the guest singer Sofie Emilie Puggaard  but she isn't the only guest on the album! Metalmorphosized also features appearances from all of Iron Fire's past members who have joined forces once again to celebrate this milestone in the band's career. Keyboards on the album are provided by Rune Stiassny of Saturnus.

Iron Fire have released another splendid album here that fans of the band will take to their hearts. I'm not so sure it beats Thunderstorm or To The Grave but Iron Fire have once again shown why they are one of Denmark's finest musical exports and one of the most consistent and enjoyable power metal bands around today.

 
 










Mike Thompson


  
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Metalmorphosized

(Napalm Records - 2010)



 
 

 

A very special album to remind the fans of Danish power metallers Iron Fire that they have been around for 10 years now. Iron Fire's founder, vocalist Martin Steene is the leader of the band, he writes the music. But since it has come to the sixth album, he goes back in time and pick up some of the songs from those 10 years, songs that was never released on CD until now. Steene got the idea to include former members of the band and let them feature on the various songs. So Martin Steene sums up their 10 year career with help from his friends. It gives a good description of what Iron Fire is all about, heavy metal in the pure traditional way.

12 songs & 2 versions of the ballad Crossroad is what's on this new album, and people who don't know Iron Fire have a good chance to start from here. The songs are not exactly comparable to other stuff on the metal scene, Iron Fire have their own exclusive sound, but everything is with high flying power guitars, tight drums and Steene's voice holding the songs in place. It's varying from the ghost story: The Phantom Symphony, to classic metal. I find the best songs to be those with the highest pressure in them: Still Alive.. and Back In The Pit.

Also the epic The Underworld holds high class. Even on the vocals Martin Steene let guests give their help. Ivan Grosmeyer stars on The Underworld, and Sofie E. Puggaard stars in a duet with Steene on Crossroad, both in the basic song and also the bonus track Crossroad in an orchestral version.

You won't be disappointed with this album that goes under the title Metalmorphosized.

 
 










Lars Bjørn


  
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On The Edge

(Sanctuary - 2001)



 
 

 

The Danish quintet presented themselves with their debut Thunderstorm in spring 2000, now they are back! Singer Martin Steene had to find two new members...  Now the spots been filled with guitarist Martin Slott and drummer Morten Plenge. But about a year later the second album called On The Edge is in the stores!

Who expect that they couldn't do a follow-up on the same level, because on the line-up change, is wrong! On the new album the band sound more mature and left the obvious influences behind. They also said good-bye to the lyrics about dragons and knights and are now lyrically concentrate on the darker side of life. The cover artwork is different as well, no more knights and dragons! The artwork done by Andreas Marshall kinda visualize the light and the dark side and the mountain which symbolize the edge between the two worlds... The walk on the razors edge.

On of the catchy mid-tempo songs is Prince Of Agony which has a riff which reminds me a little bit of Paradise Lost at Draconian Times. The album shows a larger variety, differently, darker tuned instruments gave them a new sound. The songs are heavier, just listen to Into The Abyss which is a heavy, but melodic power metal track. With Lost 'n Alone the CD contains a ballad, these days a kind of standard, but this is not just a song to fulfill expectations!

A huge step ahead for the Danish. They are on the way to make it, hopefully they can proof it live.... A recommendation to all fans of melodic power metal!!!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Thunderstorm

(Noise International - 2000)



 
 

 

Not many bands came from Denmark in the past, now the youngsters come to conquer the world with their melodic power metal. Thunderstorm is the debut which is produced by Tommy Hansen who is known by his work with Helloween and Pretty Maids. When you listen to Thunderstorm it's unbelievable that drummer Gunnar Olsen (age 20) is the oldest band member! It seems that they had melodic metal instead of mother's milk. In the beginning they played different kinds of metal, but when they decided to concentrate their influences, on melodic power metal they also renamed into Iron Fire. Singer Martin Steene, just 19 years old, wrotes most of the music and the lyrics.

Behind The Mirror is musically written by Steene and the lyrics are written by drummer Gunnar..... But all lyrics tell fantasy stories like we know them from bands like Blind Guardian. Stories about dragons and knights kinda hommage to Martin's favourite German metal bands. And like their favourites Helloween and Running Wild they offer melodic speed metal, mid-tempo songs and metal anthems. This is not a copy of these bands, just a band from the same genre. Perhaps they sound a little bit like the old Helloween, but that may be influenced by Tommy Hansen.... Anway, a fantastic debut which seems to lead them into a bright future. Now they just have to proof their abilities live......
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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