Sometimes good bands go unnoticed. Sometimes for longer than we would like or care to admit. I, for one, remember being handed PEACE SELLS in 1985 and borrowing it to copy, but I didn't get it and turned my nose up at it and Megadeth for years to come. I finally came around, but it took me a while.
Sometimes we have good reason to miss these gems, like being on the other side of the planet and in a different musical era. Such is the case of IRON SAVIOR. A anachronistic band if there ever was one. 20 years ago, they would have been sharing MTV's Daily Top 20 with the Scorpions, White Snake and Bon Jovi, but today, they are humbly going about their work in small German venues to small, though appreciative, crowds.
Iron Savior you say? They are ripping off Iron Maiden AND Christianity for that cheesey name! Why would I give them a chance? A good question to be sure. One I asked myself for years and answered with: They don't deserve one. But that answer forced me to live without some decent music for too long (10 years).
Cheese is the main course, though instead of the typical fantasy themes made popular in the 70s and taken to extremes by the likes of Rhapsody, IS uses science fiction as their genre of choice. In fact, like Blue Oyster Cult, they have an epic concept CAREER, not just album or albums. Their very name is from a sentient space ship that explores the universe and realms of existence.
Piet Sielck, lead vocalist, lead guitarist and lead writer, all-around genius holds the reigns as the band makes no apologies for its metal offerings and delivers the goods with precision and skill. Well honed hooks, masculine melodies without relying on growling or riffing, high tenor singing; Not Halford high, but more manly like Dickinson/Hagar without the feminine shrieks made popular in the American Hair Band disaster of the early 90s.
Iron Savior will never make the top 5 favorite bands on anyone's list, but to dismiss them outright is a shame. This is good road trip, off for the holiday weekend rock. When you are in the mood to enjoy music without having to work at it, but refuse to suckle at the teat of pop rock, Iron Savior is the place to go.
New album released June 7, 2007. The dream is still alive. And this messiah is still made of metal.
by Mook Farchings, contributing editor
www.iron-savior.com
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5 comments:
Good enough to buy? Or should I dl 'em?
Always Download. You get to test drive a car before buying. Why not an album? There is too much music out there to pay for a 'maybe'.
The new paradigm is free studio music and if you like them enough, go to the show AND buy a t-shirt.
A good topic for entire article...
I listened to their latest release. It sounds a lot like Blind Guardian with hints of DIO and Dokken. Very cheesy but it is growing on me.
that's a great article. personally i adore Opeth songs.
Keep up the good work.
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