Italian Heavy Metal heavyweights (see what I did there?) IRONWILL are back with their second full length release "Breakout". Catapulting off of the successes of a number of single releases, they will be sure to want to have another barnstorming release added to their catalogue. The artwork is... Interesting, I'm not going to try and read too far into it, and just say that it is going to grab your attention.

Opening the record is "As Fast As Rock'n'Roll" clean instrumentals and strong vocals bring the track in with a foot stomping rhythm. It's a solid track that really picks up during the solo and subsequent breakdown, the running guitar lurking in the back tracking and just developing a depth to the music that is really rather delightful. The album's title track "Breakout" has a rather bizarre introduction but again it comes in strong with a sturdy foundation before picking up with some high octane instrumentals and vocals, But the latter stripped back sections before the solo really captured my attention. This small segment, and the following solo left me enamoured, it was absolutely divine.

"Prince" seems to take a bit of a different avenue. The overall feel is really quite groovy, with maybe some sort of Latino fusion undertones. The contrasting vocalists complement one another and add something new to the music. But I am starting to find myself in a cycle. The introductions are all catching my attention and the solos are fantastic, if not a little short lived. But the main body of the music is just feeling a little generic. Whilst that's not to say that it's bad, I'm just missing that wow factor to elevate it from good to fantastic.

And just like that I speak a little bit too soon. "Sad Night" brings something a bit new to the music. Its dark and moody, like a teenager going through a 'phase' but, those flawless transitions and the overall structure are incredibly pleasing to hear. The nuances and subtleties that are lurking in the shadows of the instrumentals are, for me, what really define the quality of a record and this track has all of it in buckets full. Another slightly drab and gloomy track, "True Or Not" pricks my ears once more; maybe that says something more about my musical tastes than the quality of the rest of the record. But the combination of powerful vocals and the operatic vocalising behind really adds depth. Combined with the misty and ethereal guitar effects just made the hair on my arms stand on end.

But, a good album can be judged on the strength of it's finale. And instantly "Wind And Talk" comes bowling in with some epic and hard hitting riffs that build through the verse to a raucous chorus. It's as though every track is written from the same blueprint, but at the same time each track is taking the best parts of the previous and developing them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this album. The development of the music to the final track was really quite the sight to behold. I will still maintain that whilst there were some generic Heavy Metal / Hard Rock tracks, there were definitely some stand out tracks and the ending through "Wind And Talk" was just sublime. And with that, I will leave you with this fantastic 360 degree acoustic video to "Save Me" immerse yourself in it and be transported away.