Iron Fire - Among The Dead - review
Iron Fire - Among The Dead - review
Tracklist
01. Intro (The Lost City)02. Among The Dead
03. Hammer Of The Gods
04. Tornado Of Sickness
05. Higher Ground
06. Iron Eagle
07. Made To Suffer
08. The Last Survivor
09. No Sign Of Life
10. Ghost From The Past
11. When The Lights Go Out
12. For Whom The Bell Tolls [Metallica cover][bonus]
A review by
ScreamingSteelUS September 04, 2016
Even in the most traditionally power metal segments of Among The Dead, Iron Fire carries some alt metal tinges that make otherwise off-the-rack songs feel slightly more novel. Whether it's the occasional Brazilian-style groove or the blatantly thrash "No Sign Of Life," Among The Dead has more layers than the one-dimensional power-by-numbers album you'd be forgiven for expecting. Most common, however, as I alluded to in the last paragraph, are the hardcore influences, punk and otherwise, taking Iron Fire even more old school than power/thrash bands like Iced Earth.
"No Sign Of Life" has the closest thing to a core-style breakdown I've ever heard in a power metal song, but Iron Fire takes a few other stabs throughout the album, even as early on as the title track. The occasional dissonant riff + china combos are utterly perplexing, but on second thought, they don't sound too out-of-place when bounded by strained vocals approaching hardcore screams and after reconciling the fact that Iron Fire is out to do a lot more than be the ten millionth Sonarctica Stratoween. Addressing the side of this album that actually is power, the extremely Manowar "Hammer Of The Gods" and epic power classicism of "Tornado Of Sickness" bring the album back to very familiar ground, but with an extra gut-punch of ferocity and heaviness.
Michael Steene's husky, gutsy voice already positions Iron Fire in a different camp from empowered contemporaries, perfectly complementing the band's grittier take on traditional power metal and drawing on elements of Christ Boltendahl, Chuck Billy, and Michael Seifert. Occasional uses of harsh vocals pepper the backdrop behind his relatively clean melody lines alongside more clarion, higher-register backing vocals. Steene's voice has the range and personality to guide Iron Fire through both the uncharted waters and age-old traditions that Among The Dead visits over the course of 40+ minutes.
Most of these riffs are nothing you haven't heard before on a hundred mid-'80s heavy/speed/power/glam albums before, and even with the contempt for conventional execution that gives Iron Fire the bulk and clout of a more interesting band, few tracks break anything that could be considered new ground musically or thematically. The unusual style, however, coupled with a memorable frontman, makes Among The Dead worth much more than just a cursory glance. Basically, as long as Steene has his mouth open, there's something interesting enough going on to make Among The Dead a fun album, and tracks like "Tornado Of Sickness," "Iron Eagle," and the title track will definitely find their ways into your head for a while.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 7 |
| Originality: | 8 |
| Production: | 7 |
Written on 04.09.2016 by
Written on 04.09.2016 by
Dull Music for Dull People Comments
Comments:
6
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Posts: 1669  |
Posts: 1669
I expect this to be the power metal release of the year, I love every single one of their albums since the reunion. Can't wait for my pre-order to be shipped
---- Everything's twice as bright with money in your hands
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 Posts: 5102 |
Posts: 5102
Sounds really interesting
----  Dreams are made so we don't get bored when we sleep
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 Posts: 64398 |
Posts: 64398
Sounds like its more heavy then power, my type of PM
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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Posts: 15  |
Posts: 15
Sounds interesting...I'll take a listen as soon as i get a chance.
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Posts: 280  |
Posts: 280
IMHO this album is great, has all the elements that make iron fire. Yet, zombie apocalypse, even more if its in los angeles is really lame and uncreative. Come on, coulnd't you come up with a better story/theme? 
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