Review of Iron Savior - Condition Red

Iron Savior is a band started up by the godfather of German power metal, Kai Hansen. Sadly, this is the first album on which he couldn't appear, due to the priority of his other band, Gamma Ray. Before I heard this album, I hadn't heard any Iron Savior yet and I was sort of stuck in a power metal rut, surrounded by generic and boring power metal releases. This album brought me out of that rut, and I can happily say that it became one of my favorite albums of the year. Sure, there's the element of cheese, but I think I've made it clear that I don't give a damn. The Iron Savior is (according to the story in the liner notes) some sort of galactic starship, controlled by a human brain. The story goes that the man who designed the Iron Savior wanted to be that very brain, but he was seen unfit to be in charge of such a vessel, thereby sending him into a depression and forcing him to create his own ship, the Dark Savior. He began wreaking havoc on the universe, and eventually came back to Earth to destroy everything. The lyrics of this album are based on the events that followed. Put your feet up, gentlemen, the cheese is getting PRETTY deep in here! So basically, instead of being about swords and sorcery, it is about science fiction space battles. As long as there are mighty warriors and heroic battles, it's all the same to me. It makes for great musical fun and reading along with the story is actually pretty entertaining, I couldn't believe that I wanted to find out what happened next.. so sue me! That said, Condition Red has some of the best power metal riffs, solos, and choruses that I've heard in a very long time. The final song, Thunderbird, is now one of my favorite songs of all time now. The epic quality of it and the entire album is just mesmerizing. Like all power metal, the production and musicianship are perfect. The real question with any power metal band is "Does it have substance?". I am glad to say that it does! This album keeps me coming back time and time again. For any fan of power metal, this is one that had better be in your collection. Even for the non-fan, this album just may turn you. Condition Red is regarded as Iron Savior's best album to date, even without Kai Hansen. There is no reason for you to not get this album unless you absolutely despise power metal, and even then you should at least give it a chance. You simply can't listen to this album with a frown or an unclenched fist, it's worth it's weight in gold! A masterpiece of German power metal.

Release Details

Iron Savior

Condition Red

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