Sacred Steel rised from the ashes of Tragedy Divine in August 1996. With just 5 demo songs in their background they got a deal with Metal Blade Records in the beginning of 1997. Their debut album Reborn In Steel was released in the end of 1997 and got excellent reviews.
In May 2004 Sacred Steel entered the studio again to lay down the tracks for their fifth album entitled Iron Blessings and guess what...two months later we have their promo package in our hands, ready to be reviewed.
Those of you, who are already familiar with their sound, will agree with me saying this is a typical Sacred Steel record. Although I have to admit Iron Blessings is their most diverse and complex recording to date. The melodic yet growling at some points vocals makes the hearing a riddle. I can't decide what I like most, hearing Gerrit's sing in some melodic vocal lines is good but his growling kind of singing is amazing too. Both ways fit perfectly into the whole atmosphere.
Musically speaking the album is a combination of traditional Power hymns and even more aggressive compositions. Catchy Heavy Metal tunes, using double drumbeats a lot and having a massive sound at their guitars. The bass sounds a bit sere but I guess that's something the band or their producer, Achim Kohler, decided. A familiar feeling overwhelms you throughout the entire album but I can't define exactly what it is.
If you ask me, Screams Of The Tortured is the highlight of this record...a true Heavy Metal song that reaches new extremes and defines the words HEAVY and METAL. The Chains Of The Nazarene also impressed me, having two chapters leading the story. Beneath The Iron Hand, Victory Of Black Steel and We Die Fighting are also good examples of the band's new release.
Overall, Iron Blessings is the next logical step for the band's career and what a fine step that is. Ok, let's sum it up... 1) this is the fifth album by Sacred Steel, 2) produced by Achim Kohler (Primal Fear, Brainstorm, Sodom), 3) the cover artwork done by Jan Meinighaus (Falconer, Bolt Thrower, Brainstorm) and 4) priority promotion by True Music Promotion...need I say more? Guess not. For sure a good release, loyal to the band's standards.