IRON ANGEL is a German speed metal band that was formed back in 1980. After several albums and countless live shows the band took a break. After 15 years away from the scene the reformed and started recording an album in 2000. However, a car accident derailed these plans. IRON ANGEL has now released "Hellbound" to the masses hoping to capture the magic again. "Writings on the Wall" comes out fast and heavy with some awesome guitar riff and drum beats. The vocalist attempts a scream, but it doesn't have the weight it should. The vocals are solid and are reminiscent of ACCEPT. There are descent guitar solos within the song. Unfortunately, the band doesn't do anything new with the sound. The sound on this track hasn't evolved with the times.

"Hell and Back" has a very interesting guitar riff to start the song. Another descent track on the album, everything is on point. However, again I would have liked the band to take this sound but do something new with it. With a little experimentation I think the band could have made this song harken back to the old days and give something new. Overall it just sounds like a rehash of former years. "Blood and Leather" have a very nice drum and guitar riff to start the song out. With this song the band begins with something that draws you in and you want to check out. The song continues to give something interesting. I wish more of their songs were like this one. I can feel the bands roots, but they give me something new and interesting with those roots.

"Waiting for a Miracle" comes out with a nice opening the band uses their experience to show what they can do with guitars. Unfortuanlty this song falls back into the cookie cutter 80s speed metal song. It is probably the weakest song on the album, because there are some questionable vocals in the chorus that seem like they were just phoned in. The whole song just didn't do it for me. "Purist of Sin" begins like most classic speed metal songs, fast and hard. This song is reaching back to the band's beginnings. However, again they don't do anything new with the sound and it just sounds like a rehash of songs from years ago.

The band ends the album with "Ministry of Metal". It's a descent song for what it is but by the time you get to this song you have heard what IRON ANGEL has to offer. Many of there songs meld into one another and sound like songs from years previous and this is no exception. Overall "Hellbound" is a descent album. It harkens back to speed metal from the 80s. However, that is where its biggest flaw lies. I think for most they have heard this sound done a million times and by a lot more accomplished bands. It would have been nice to see a band from that era like IRON ANGEL take that older sound and experiment with it to bring us something new. Maybe they will on their next album, but this one just fell flat.