Hmmm... this was a tough one....
Power Metal. A term long time used in our favourite music from the mid-80's until now. Through the years this Metal style expanded and achieved great success; nowadays it continues to attract metalheads mainly from EU and Japan but is still getting lower and lower credits from the fans...
WHY? Basically because Power Metal stucked in certain cliches and unfortunately if you do not move on and experiment in your own world...then death is soon to come....
This is another melodic/Power Metal record form a band called IRON FIRE that exists since 1995 and have (including their latest achievement To The Grave) 5 albums on their history so far, all embracing the European Power Metal standards. Leader of the whole project is Martin Steene, vocalist of the band, also known for his work with FORCE OF EVIL, the project of Hank Shermann(MERCYFUL FATE) and Michael Denner (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND).
Instead of the evil and satan subjects of FORCE OF EVIL, IRON FIRE is totally another thing, a band that goes straight to the category of true Metal bands(I hate this term) lyrically and musically. So here we have anything a Power Metal record should contain. Songs about battles, swords, hammers, the mighty Odin and of course songs about how true Metal we are. Also the artwork couldn't be different from the ordinary warrior subject and so on...
There is also some really nice tracks like Kill For Metal, March Of The Immortals, To The Grave and the thrashy Cover The Sun. The band chose to make the choruses quite catchy, that stick like glue...but still something is wrong here. The vocals. I don't know how you would feel hearing a power/epic band like RUNNING WILD  or  HAMMERFALL with a singer that despite the fact that he has a very low ranged voice sounds closer to Vince Neil of MOTLEY CRUE! I mean, stop crying man! You are heading for the battle for gods shake!
Nothing new. Really nothing new. Nothing you haven't heard before, nothing that will surprise you, nothing that goes this music style somehow further. If we were talking about a newcomer it would surely be a nice debut, giving promises for an exciting future, but this is their 5th record! Sadly the band doesn't show any personality and despite the vocals, they made the best HAMMERFALL record (since Glory To The Brave) but that isn't the case here!
My opinion is that hardcore Power Metal-heads will surely enjoy this one and for those of you who own some extra money wouldn't be a bad choice. As for me, only the fact that HELLOWEEN needed a Keeper...III and GAMMA RAY a Land...II shows how this music style lacks some landmarks lately...