Year : 2020 (Japan Edition)
Style : Heavy Metal , Power Metal
Country : Germany
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 119 mb
Bio:
1980. NWOBHM echoes could be heard throughout the whole world and bands like Iron Maiden, Saxon, Def Leppard and Judas Priest made England the Heavy Metal Mecca. But not only in the UK Metal was becoming a youth phenomenon. At the same time, five young German boys got together to play the same kind of music their english heroes played. They didn´t take themselves very seriously and just wanded to play their mix of Kiss, Motörhead and Judas Priest in schools around their hometown. Their band was called Metal Gods, a clear hommage to Judas Priest. Later the band was renamed into IRON ANGEL...At that time, there weren´t many German Hard Rock / Heavy Metal acts. Scorpions, featuring the Schenker brothers, had some success with their melodic rock and Accept followed a more traditional english style, with Udo Dirkschneider´s unusual vocals as a trademark. However, there was a brand new underground scene willing to breakthrough and show the world a new style, heavier but still influenced by all those classic bands. Everywhere in the world, new bands started popping up, each one adding a new feature to Heavy Metal. Some of these (such as the swedish Bathory and the swiss Hellhammer) followed the steps of the english Venom, a band that became a reference regarding extreme and Satanic metal. Soon, new bands that differed a lot fom the english sound and look started arising in Germany. Running Wild and their unusual lyrics, Avenger, who would soon become Rage, and the ultra fast and melodic Helloween were some of those new German bands. All of them had something in common, and they were pretty different from the traditional english bands, so the term Power Metal started being used to describe their sound.Unfortunately, WINDS OF WAR was heavily criticized upon its release. However, anyone listening to the album nowadays can see how inappropriate this criticism was. It´s a lesson in metal and shows a natural progression to the sound portrayed on HELLISH CROSSFIRE, having tracks like METALSTORM, STRONGER THAN STEEL and SEA OF FLAMES as outstanding highlights. However, the changes in both the band´s sound and lyrics made the members start having different opinions about the band´s future. Some wanted to keep the HELLISH CROSSFIRE sound, while the others intended to change even more, adopting a more Glam / Hard Rock oriented style, so that they could reach the American market. Due to these huge differences, the band broke up shortly after the release of the second album. After the band´s break up, each member followed their own path. Some continued playing with other unknown local bands, while others retired completely from the musical scene. Drummer Mike Matthes and vocalist Dirk Schroeder even got some recognition playing in Jurgen Blackmore´s band Superstition/J.R. Blackmore Group, whitch featured Ritchie Blackmore´s (DEEP PURPLE) son.After almost 15 years away from the scene, the band got together and started recording a new album, to be called THE REBIRTH, in 2000. Unfortunately, Peter Wittke died in a car accident, putting off these plans. After this, in 2004 the band released two live-albums with old live-recordings from a german tour with King Diamond, called THE TAPES, and a limited (BLACK) edition album, called RUSH OF POWER. IRON ANGEL could have become a heavy metal legend, but unfortunately they didn´t get the recognition they deserved, becoming a cult band as the years passed.
Album:
Speed Metal was a genre that was built on some continental countries Europe as an answer to NWOBHM (as happened on USA as well, mind you all). And it’s not a sin that ACCEPT caused a Metal earthquake on Germany back in the early days of the 80’s that caused aftershocks that can be felt even today throughout the world. And a legend was born on Hamburg on those days: the quintet IRON ANGEL. And it’s not an exaggeration to say that “Hellish Crossfire” and “Winds of War” could smash other rising names from the country, because the band was on a higher level that its contemporaneous mates on music. But something happened, the band ceased to exist with everything on its hands. But they’re back again, with this angel spreading its wings with “Emerald Eyes”.Their music is the same heavy, melodic and thunderous form of German Power/Speed Metal from the 80’s, but sharpened by time. The energy is amazing, the technical insight is very good, but never being the most important feature on their music. It’s the amazing capacity to create hooks in such aggressive and nasty form of music. The choruses, the classic shape of it all…well, it’s something extremely personal from IRON ANGEL, so take a listening and be blown away by their metallic attack! The sound quality of “Emerald Eyes” fits on the modern needs for something clean and defined; but the band has a personal and organic way to play its music, so it’s not difficult to see that the guys entered the studio, set their gears and played out loud in a way that reminds the same one from the past. It’s a mix between the classic and the new, and it’s good.If you’re thinking that they are up to live from the past, forget it. Life is the main aspect of the songs of “Emerald Eyes”. All of them are a feast for the Metalheads that missed the 80’s (those who lived on those days, please), but present to the fans a massive and hooking form of music. The best ones: the fast set of melodies of “Sacred Slaughter” (excellent vocals, and what a great and catchy chorus), the massive German Metal onslaught of “Descend” (impossible to not surrender to such heavy melodies, and bass guitar and drums are creating an impacting and solid rhythm), the 80’s German Metal elements shown on “Sands of Time” and on “Emerald Eyes” (these guitars are really excellent, with nasty and melodic catchy riffs), the weighty melodic appeal of “Fiery Winds of Death” (what a lovely chorus), the fast parts of “Sacrificed” (that could be easily on “Hellish Crossfire”, because some elements of the album can be heard, especially on the contrasts of the fast melodies with the backing vocals), and the fast heavy attack of “Heaven in Red” (again a fast song, with the vocals of Dirk in great shape). They’re just for a first time on the album, because on the second, this angel will invite you to a flight into German Metal world!“Emerald Angel” is that kind of album that can make an old Metalhead shed tears of happiness. And thank you, Dirk, Robert, Nino, Didy, and Mäx for such great music, and bringing me great memories. Fly, IRON ANGEL!
Line-Up:
Dirk Schroder - Vocals (ex-J.R. Blackmore's Superstition)
Didy Mackel - Bass (Not Fragile, Maison, ex-Mad Alien, ex-Mania, ex-Jump)
Max Behr - Drums
Robert Altenbach - Guitars
Nino Helfrich - Guitars (Neopera, Nino Helfrich, ex-Entera)
Tracklist:
01. Sacred Slaughter 04:23
02. Descend 04:06
03. Sands of Time 03:24
04. Demons 04:06
05. What We're Living For 05:33
06. Emerald Eyes 04:37
07. Fiery Winds of Death 03:31
08. Sacrificed 04:36
09. Bridges Are Burning 04:26
10. Heaven in Red 03:55
11. Dark Sorcery 03:59 (Japan Bonus Track)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
