Iron Savior- The Landing ALBUM REVIEW

Release date: November 18th, 2011
Type: Full-length
Label: AFM Records
Country: Germany
Genre: Speed/Power Metal

-written by Empyreal of metal-archives.com

ADMIRABLY DEPENDABLE SPACEY NERDINESS

After the last Iron Savior album was bland and forgettable, they disappeared for four years while Sielck churned out mediocre garbage with Savage Circus and the other members were involved with their own stuff, too. So I didn't know when, if ever, we'd get another Iron Savior album, or if it would be any good at all. After all, the whole German power metal scene hasn't exactly been flourishing as of late. But here's the new Iron Savior, The Landing, and it's a lot better than I thought.

This is just more of the same careening, crunchy power metal you expect from these guys. Piet’s voice is a little smoother, and there are more keyboards, but otherwise it’s not too much different from what you’d expect. On Megatropolis the band sounded like they were going through the motions – which I think Piet even admitted somewhere, as he was going through a tough time when that one was released – but here they sound like they’re on fire. Opener “The Savior” is probably the best cut here, with its midpaced stomp, lavish keys and big chant-along chorus, but they follow up with awesome tunes like “Starlight,” “March of Doom” and the searing epic “Moment in Time.” Just great songs, aided by a ton of kicking energy and charisma. The addition of more keyboards is actually kind of cool, too, giving the band’s sci fi shtick a new dimension. They sound dramatic and boisterous.

Of course, like any Iron Savior album, there are going to be some weaker songs. “Heavy Metal Never Dies” is a bit of a step down from the brilliance of the opening trifecta, and the final two songs are just not very good. “No Guts, No Glory” sounds like a bad arena rock anthem – from a band 20 years past their prime. And “Before the Pain” is just weak as hell. Get that ballad right outta my album.

Iron Savior isn’t trying to do anything here but thug out more of their trademarked brand of power metal, and at that they have succeeded. This music is simple, anthemic and pounding. It is a fine example of how well this kind of music can work without any outside influences and pretensions. Where their contemporaries are experimenting with new sounds and styles, Iron Savior keep true to their roots, and while some of those experiments are quite endearing, it’s always nice to have some stalwarts around for the option of having something traditional and old-school. Iron Savior will keep on doing that ‘till they can’t do it anymore. Admirable.


80/100