Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Iron Fate Cast In Iron Company: Massacre Records Release: 2010 Genre: Power Reviewer: EC

Highly polished, tightly wound power metal

For the last fifteen years Germany has been a very crowded scene. The country is firm in tradition and metal excellence, dating back to the glory days of Accept and Scorpions. Most recently the German audiences have been saturated with power and thrash metal, with labels and bands sprouting up almost daily. With that comes a dilemma for new acts, the fact that mostly everything has already been done by two to three generations of tradition. So what now? How do you overcome that huge hurdle?

In my opinion you just keep pushing on, moving that heavy load and creating music that is fun and enjoyable but adding ingredients to still make it acceptable for the die hard fans. I think if a young band can take advantage of today's stellar production standards, align themselves with good people and input a great deal of energy and excitement into the songs, well then those acts could still be entertaining and relevant in a crowded scene. A band like Iron Fate does just that, creating an album that is still entertaining by following a familiar formula genre-wise but still expanding enough to keep me interested.

Iron Fate is a brand new German band that has been signed to Massacre Records. The debut is entitled "Cast In Iron" and is a good romp through the power metal territory. The band are obviously inspired by the greats like Priest and Maiden but at the same time can relate directly to some of their generation peers. I can hear some Iced Earth, Cage and Dream Evil in their sound, a byproduct of their young age. The talented five-piece have a great label, a killer album cover and fantastic production that really creates a dynamic listening experience that captivates their audience even with riffs and songs that sound a tad familiar.

The album starts with a raging one-two punch with opener "Iron Fate" and "Resurrection". Immediately you can hear Denis Brosowski's talent, a great vocal performance that hits the higher "Halford" or "Owens" screams. Both of these tracks are fast numbers, punctuated by fantastic vocals, quick and melodic riffs and a modern influence that may compare roughly to early Brainstorm or Cage. The band checks in with other fast tracks like "Rage In A Cage", displaying classic musicianship that recalls the NWOBHM era of Maiden and Saxon. My favorite of the bunch is "War In The Streets", a high octane energetic exercise that combines finesse and speed with a military rumble, all neatly pressed in uniform by the authority of Brosowski's voice. The band even check in with two powerful ballads in "Painful Sorrow" and "Imagine A Better World", both of which recall Warrel Dane's dreamy state with Nevermore.

The Bottom Line - One would be hard pressed to find a more furious power metal debut than "Cast In Iron". Iron Fate prove once again that Germany is a hot bed of talent and tradition, weighing in with a fantastic debut that challenges the mighty Dream Evil and Hammerfall. This is highly polished, tightly wound power metal that should please the denim and leather diehards while still catering to today's more modern metal minds. Highly Recommended!!