The year was 2007 when I discovered these doomsters from Maryland, US, and I finally understood the absolute truth of the traditional Doom Metal; IRON MAN, luculently guided by the Holy Fathers of Doom (see BLACK SABBATH) begun their wide passable path as a tribute band to them (band's name is not accidental) and the continuity was: three demos, four studio albums and a live one, but the thing that really conquest me and draw my attention was the "Submission" Ep. Three years later, Shadow Kingdom Records re-release their first full-length effort, named "Black Night" and I was pretty curious to find out what IRON MAN sounded when they made the first tremulous steps, about 17 years ago.

Regarding the line-up of the band in "Black Night", we notice a totally different team: we meet Rob Levey in vocals, Alfred Morris III in guitar, Larry Brown and Ron Kalimon in bass and drums correspondingly. IRON MAN's general sound seemed to be not very different comparing the sonic result with nowadays', but the vocals played significant role to their musical improvement. The monolithic bass-filled sound dominates everything, guitars are down-tuned and Levey's reading sounds desperate from track to track. There is no divine inspiration between the ten songs but the generous appetite to create something honest and doom is lying on every corner of the CD. Alfred Morris III, the sole consistent member of IRON MAN, is an excellent guitarist in his own, right as well as an Iommi follower. Riffs like those on "Choices" or "Why Can't You See Me?" hide a lot of potentials and give many promises for the future that, thank Iron Man, came true.

If you think yourselves lovers of the traditional SABBATH-esque music culture and have a wooden cross below your tear-wet pillow, IRON MAN are a golden investment for your collection. But first, you should prefer something from their recent carrier, for example an album of this decade (the latest "I Have Returned" seems to be a good choice); let the old stuff like "Black Night" for the cult collectors.