by Justin Gaines
– Sr. Columnist —
You’d think that long-running German Power Metal band Iron Savior might have stopped to take a breath, what with releasing the re-recorded Megatropolis 2.0 and the massive live set Live at the Final Frontier since their last studio album (the excellent 2014 release Rise of the Hero). Instead, singer/guitarist Piet Sielck and company are back with a brand new studio album, their tenth overall (assuming you don’t count Megatropolis twice), titled Titancraft.
Judging from the cover alone, Titancraft looks like the soundtrack to either a Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster or a multi-million dollar video game production. You don’t know whether to listen to it or pop it into the video game console. Fortunately, the album sounds every bit as epic. Titancraft is not a concept album like the early Iron Savior releases, but the science fiction themes do run across the album, giving it a larger than life feel. Again the album is dominated by thundering rhythms, heavy but melodic leads, and utterly massive vocals. At this point, Iron Savior has passed even Blind Guardian in their use of huge, layered backing vocals.
Titancraft has an interesting array of songs that despite their varying themes come together quite well. “Beyond the Horizon,” “Brother in Arms” and of course “Titancraft” have the sci-fi focus, while the more fantasy-themed “Way of the Blade” and “Strike Down the Tyranny” have a more classic power metal vibe. “Seize the Day” and “Rebellious” are more rousing personal anthems, and there’s even a love song in “I Surrender.” The subjects may vary, but the quality and the overall sense of power on Titancraft never does. This is a very cohesive, very effective power metal album.
Once again, Iron Savior raises the bar for power metal releases. Titancraft is yet another first-rate album from a band that is arguably the most consistent (and consistently impressive) acts in the power metal genre. This is easily one of the best power metal albums 2016 has to offer and is an album any fan of bands like Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray, Helloween, Brainstorm and Iron Fire needs to hear.
Edition Notes: The limited edition version of Titancraft comes in a digipack and features the song “R&R Addiction” and a 2016 re-recorded version of the Condition Red song “Protector” as bonus tracks.
Genre: Power Metal
Lineup:
Jan-Soren Eckert (b) (v)
Joachim Kustner (g) (v)
Thomas Nack (d) (v)
Piet Sielck (v) (g)
Track Listing:
1. Under Siege (Intro)
2. Titancraft
3. Way of the Blade
4. Seize the Day
5. Gunsmoke
6. Beyond the Horizon
7. The Sun Won’t Rise in Hell
8. Strike Down the Tyranny
9. Brother in Arms
10. I Surrender
11. Rebellious
Label: AFM Records
Website: www.iron-savior.com
Hardrock Haven Rating: 9/10
