What started as a project of 3 friends (Piet Sielck, Kai Hansen and Thomen Stauch), ended up as a full-time band, and now with some line-up changes, they are ready to release their 3rd full-length album. First of all I'll tell you a few words about the line-up changes. Dan Zimmerman left and the position behind the drums is now covered by Thomas Nack. Also the guitar technician of Gamma Ray and Iron Savior, a guy named Joachim Kustner or 'Piesel', joined the band to fill Kai's place, whenever he can't join them.
What about the album? Well, I expected a lot from this album, since I liked Unification (1998) a lot, but I have to say it's not what I quite expected. Yes, it's a good album, can't disagree on that, but it sounds to me as a second part of Unification, in terms of music, and not as a stand alone album. It's not as different as Unification was. But apart from that it is a good album. Also it doesn't have the big hits like Iron Savior in 1997 (Watcher In The Sky, Riding On Fire) or Unification (Deadly Sleep, Eye To Eye) had. Probably the songs that make the most difference are Solar Wings, Dragons Rising, Made Of Metal and After The War. All songs are in the established heavy/power sound that Iron Savior developed with their previous two albums. Also the album, as all their albums, has a cover, a Judas Priest one this time. The production is very clear, and almost perfect, a thing that comes natural, since Piet is a veteran producer and engineer.
In general, it's a good and solid heavy/power album, but instead of taking new steps, it follows Unification's ones, a thing which counts much, because both Kai and Piet, have the qualifications to do so.