Label / Založba: AFM Records
Release date / Datum izida: 6. 10. 2023
Production / Produkcija: Piet Sielck
Running time / Dolžina albuma: 50.14 min.
Genre / Žanr: Power Metal
9.0/10
“Firestar” is the twelfth studio album in total by Hamburg-based power metal legends Iron Savior. The band released their eponymous debut studio album in 1997. When comes to debate about power metal purism you don’t need to look further. Iron Savior are one of those primal bands with all esencial trademarks of the Hamburg school of power metal (I assume you’ve already guessed about other two – Helloween and Gamma Ray). Even after their newest album “Firestar”, Iron Savior remain faithful to their ‘winning poker of aces’ power metal recipe. There is no let-up and the legendary quartet, headed by their main visionary, i.e. composer, lyricist, producer, guitarist and vocalist Piet Sielck, delivers yet another top-notch studio achievement.
Iron Savior remains a force with firm musical vision not to deviate from their proven recipe. This is also followed by “Firestar”, which succeeded its excellent predecessor “Skycrest” (2020, RockLine review) after just under three years. This is slightly longer time gap than we are used to with Iron Savior albums. However, it should be added that in last August the band released a second compilation of newly refreshed and re-recorded classics from their career, entitled “Reforged – Ironbound” (2022, RockLine review). This means that Iron Savior have been keeping studio shape. And it paid off not only during the recording of the compilation, when they revived the memories of some of the classics from the earlier part of their career, but also later when they returned to record a new studio album. And? The new album delievers everything that is expected from Iron Savior. Exceptional production in favour of building a massive wall of sound (cemented in high detonation of razor-sharp guitar riffs), brilliant soloing in the mid-eight passages, soulfull and passionate vocal delivery (once again) by Sielck, and carefully added ornamental harmonies played in diatonic thirds over the riffs (mostly played with very fast picking). The lead vocal is skilfully equipped with strains of thunderous vocal harmonies. Sielck’s sense of escalating moods and atmospheres is remarkable, and the pieces reach their theatrical mood crescendo in the choruses, with the pre-chorus often sandwiched between the verse and chorus, which intensifies this contrasting gradation. Not to forget the omnipresent and relentless double bass drum pedal stampede without which true power metal cannot be imagined.
On the new album the band once again provided a series of instantly infectious power-metal bangers, competing with each other in taking album’s spotlight. Especially the closing track Together As One (with cleverly added orchestrations) is extremely convincing composition in achieving high level of infectiousness. And the world of heavy metal will surely unite once more when it hear three blazing anthems: In The Realms Of Heavy Metal, the album’s title track, and the closing Together As One. The mid-tempo and mystical Across The Wasteland draws inspiration in its lyrics from Steven King’s “Dark Tower” series, while the four tracks on the new album (led by the bombastic Curse Of The Machinery), once again refer to the story of Atlantis and the mighty spacecraft that protects it.
“Firestar” is an excellent album without weak moment. With a remarkable sense of placing a high degree of musicality, and it is not difficult to draw parallels with the influences of the evergreen pop classics of the seventies and eighties, while riffs undeniably demonstrate the eternal inspiration taken from Judas Priest, “Firestar” is therefore a classic power metal album by Iron Savior. Despite being released in the band’s 27th year, it speaks with youthful urgency and at the same time with unquenchable passion. Nothing more, nothing less. Just another flawless punch from Sielck and his three comerades.
Tracklist:
1. The Titan
2. Curse of the Machinery
3. In the Realm of Heavy Metal
4. Demise of the Tyrant
5. Firestar
6. Through the Fires of Hell
7. Mask, Cloak and Sword
8. Across the Wastelands
9. Rising from Ashes
10. Nothing Is Forever
11. Together as One
Iron Savior line up:
Piet Sielck – vocals, guitar
Joachim “Piesel” Küstner – guitar
Jan S. Eckert – bass guitar
Patrick Klose – drums
Author: Ales Podbreznik
“Firestar” is the twelfth studio album overall from the long-running Hamburg power metal legends Iron Savior. The band put out their self-titled debut in 1997, and when it comes to purism, they’re the real deal, a byword for the primal stuff whenever the talk turns to the trademark hallmarks of the Hamburg school of power metal. Even on the latest album, “Firestar”, Iron Savior stay loyal to their power metal recipe, the one that always deals a winning poker hand of aces. There’s no letting up, and the legendary quartet, led by main visionary Piet Sielck (composer, lyricist, producer, guitarist and vocalist in one), delivers yet another top-tier studio achievement.
Iron Savior remain a constant whose quality never wavers, thanks to a firm decision not to stray from their proven recipe. “Firestar” follows suit. It succeeded its excellent predecessor “Skycrest” (2020, RockLine review) after just under three years, a somewhat longer gap than we’re used to with Iron Savior albums. But it’s worth adding that last August the band also put out a second compilation of freshly polished, re-recorded classics from their career, titled “Reforged – Ironbound” (2022, RockLine review). That means Iron Savior kept their studio form up the whole time, including while recording the compilation, when they revived memories of some classics from the earlier part of their career, and then they poured that form, newly inspired, into the recording of “Firestar”. And? The new album once again carries everything you expect from Iron Savior. Exceptional production that favors building a bristling wall of sound out of honed, razor-sharp guitar phrases, brilliant soloing in mid-eight passages, a masterful vocal performance from the seasoned, evergreen Sielck, a subtle blend of ornamental harmonies in thirds within the passages – and there’s plenty of picking across the phrases (typical for German power metal). The lead vocal is skillfully and diligently dressed up with strains of thunderous vocal harmonies. Filigree-fine tinkering and polishing of the arrangements at every step. Sielck’s feel for building up moods and atmospheres is remarkable, and in the choruses the songs hit their theatrical emotional crescendo, with a pre-chorus most often slotted between verse and chorus to crank that contrasting buildup up even further. And then there’s one more hallmark of this style. It’s called the merciless marching stampede of the double bass drum pedals and the thick, rattling gallop of those bulging bass guitar lines, without which a genuine power metal album from the old-school Hamburg camp is unimaginable.
On the new album, too, the band has delivered a string of instantly infectious power metal assaults, practically competing with each other for the album’s top spot and the spotlight. The closing Together As One (with a cleverly added ‘hairdo’ of orchestrations) is an extremely convincing composition when it comes to catchiness, the kind that makes you hit ‘repeat’ on your CD player without fail. And that’s (quietly) what it was meant to do.
We’re used to Iron Savior’s top-notch bombast and drama-theater creations, which weigh down the new album too. It’s an expected and highly demanding part of the band’s arranging recipe. Here are three typical anthems that once again unite the faithful of heavy metal as one: In The Realms Of Heavy Metal, the album’s title track, and the closing Together As One. The mid-tempo, mystical Across The Wasteland draws its lyrical inspiration from Stephen King’s “Dark Tower” series, while four tracks (led by the razor-sharp Curse Of The Machinery), in keeping with the band’s earlier work, once again tie into the story of Atlantis and the mighty spacecraft that guards it.
So “Firestar” is yet another shining manifesto of the band’s dogged uncompromising spirit, heart, dedication and focus, a band that isn’t losing its creative drive and dynamite with age. An excellent record in every respect, without a single weak moment. With a remarkable knack for packing in a heaping helping of musicality, it’s not hard to draw parallels with the evergreen pop classics of the seventies and eighties, and with phrases that undeniably show eternal inspiration from Judas Priest, “Firestar” is, in short, a classic power metal album by Iron Savior. Even though it came out in the band’s 27th year, it speaks with youthful urgency and raw power at the same time. As if it were 1996 all over again, the year Iron Savior were founded.
Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
