IRON FIRE - Blade Of Triumph

IRON FIRE
Blade Of Triumph
Napalm Records
4/10




“Blade Of Triumph” sounds rushed from the start, signaling dread for Iron Fire, a band that made a good showing last time around. On this album, the vocals are way too high in the mix, a fact that’s immediately evident and one which becomes painfully difficult to deal with as the album progresses.

Certainly, there’s enough good songwriting on “Blade Of Triumph” to satisfy most power metal mavens, but the vocals are much too obnoxious to allow the strong guitar performance to shine through. At other points during the record, “Bloodbath Of Knights” in particular, certain melody lines are pushed up in the mix to compete with the too-loud vox, making the entire affair sound rather messy and un-listenable.

Over-saturation of effects, particularly contrasting reverb plates further confuses matters. But poor production isn’t the only thing holding this record back – the music is simply too paint-by-numbers, lacking the eloquence or advanced songwriting qualities necessary to compete in today’s power metal scene.

Dated, redundant angles cause songs such as “Dawn Of Victory” and “Steel Invaders” to suffer terribly, resulting in a subpar effort that’s not worthy of even passing interest from most well-attuned followers of this style of metal. A real power metal producer would greatly help matters, at very least; a remix of this entire record is in order.

Hardly a triumph for Iron Fire, this record is a major disaster from beginning to end.


Written By: Harvester Crowlee

EDENBRIDGE - The Grand Design

Edenbridge
The Grand Design
Napalm Records
9/10




You really have to admire the sheer amount of talent that Edenbridge brings to the table. Rarely are listeners treated to such a fine degree of both songwriting and execution as they’ll experience in hearing “The Grand Design.”

Top-notch arrangements, a strong emphasis on ornate vocal harmonies and an adept attention to the minute nuances that truly make a song great are strewn throughout “The Grand Design.” From the majestic balance attained by “Flame Of Passion” to the soft-spoken ambience of “The Most Beautiful Place,” Edenbridge is attuned to that which births drama within music, the group’s perception of what makes a great song being far above average.

Chalk it up to experience. “See You Fading Afar” is one part Eidolon, another Leaves’ Eyes, slick yet strength-laden, honed and gleaming. When this track picks up the pace, it’s a definite headbanger, marked by an epic, well-executed chorus. Film-score quality and sweeping orchestration seal the deal. Lend an ear to the slickly laid out rendition of “For Your Eyes Only,” included here as a bonus track. Few metal acts of today are at once so eloquent, so vibrant and so purely sensational, making “The Grand Design” a career-defining work of blockbuster proportions.

Those intrigued by the sounds of Rhapsody, Epica and Aina will find “The Grand Design” to be a wholly satisfying entertainment experience.

Written By: Harvester Crowlee