Iron Fate is a heavy metal band from Germany formed in 2005, releasing their debut album ‘Cast In Iron’ in 2010. The band’s sophomore album ‘Crimson Messiah’ was released in 2021.
Heavy metal from Germany – now there’s a sentiment to excite many, if not all, the headbangers of the world. For “heavy metal from Germany” is normally fast, aggressive, highly infectious, and most likely of the power or thrash metal variety. And then there are those German bands that take a more melodic approach, blending elements of hard rock into their metal roots.
Iron Fate is one such band. For nearly an hour, the five-piece outfit delivers a ten-song mix of metal and rock, with the odd nuance of thrash and power metal thrown in – just like the album’s opening song (and title song), the thrashy ‘Crimson Messiah’. A heavy rumble of a romp, ‘Crimson Messiah’ (the song) is a wrecking ball-style heavy hitter, definitely aiming at you more from the thrash metal genre. Keeping the oomph of the opening song going, ‘Malleus Maleficatum’ injects a little bit more pace, fairly thundering along at a cracking head bang-able rate of knots. Fans of the heavier side of traditional heavy metal will feel right at home after such a blistering opening double.
With a major gear shift (or two), Iron Fate land fairly and squarely in the anthemic metal territory with ‘We Rule The Night’ – more Saxon inspired than say Manowar. The sing-along style chorus is gonna be a great in concert crowd participation moment for sure. The glorious sound of traditional heavy metal fills the air as ‘Crossing Shores’ comes to life and proceeds to beat a path of eighties-inspired nuances. As does ‘Mirage’ – although at a much more melodious gallop than its predecessor. The band started to show their rockier side, slipping in a few snippets from the hard rock genre, opening their sound up to a very wide audience.
At nearly ten minutes in length, ‘Strangers (In My Mind)’ is the longest song on offer, and also stands tall as the album’s centerpiece. From its mellow and anticipation filled beginning, to its power ballad melodies, ‘Strangers (In My Mind)’ wanders like a summer holidaying family on a foreign beach…until a scorching change of pace heralds in a tornado of metal, with ‘Strangers (In My Mind)’ becoming a thunderous rampage.
Uptempo and energetic, ‘Hellish Queen’ is a fast-paced and fairly fiery gallop of traditional heavy metal. Iron Fate has gone back to their roots for this one, showing their penchant for delivering head bang-able metal for the masses. With a dramatic upsurge in pace, power, and intensity, ‘Guardians Of Steel’ forges ahead with a purpose and intent not heard anywhere else on the album. And a definite power metal feel is present too, as a barrage of melodic metal sears through the air and into the ears of every heavy metal fan everywhere.
Now enter the doom heavy style of legends Black Sabbath, as Iron Fate hit the brakes with ‘Saviors Of The Holy Lie’ – a sinister march of melancholy mixed with menace. The band has got the early sound of the metal legends spot on. And talking of the metal legends, the final song on the album is actually a cracking cover of ‘Lost Forever’ by Black Sabbath, off their 1987 album ‘The Eternal Idol’. Iron Fate, to quote an old saying, “have nailed it” – their version is brilliant, keeping to the pace of the original, the sound and feel is spot on as far as the “British” heavy metal sound is concerned. What a cracking way to end the album!
Overall, a solid rampage of traditional heavy metal, melodious and infectious, with elements of thrash and power metal thrown in.
TRACKLIST
Crimson Messiah
Malleus Maleficatum
We Rule The Night
Crossing Shores
Mirage
Strangers (In My Mind)
Hellish Queen
Guardians Of Steel
Saviors Of The Holy Lie
Lost Forever (bonus track)
Iron Fate: Facebook
Release Year: 2021
Label: Massacre Records
Category: Album
Country: Germany
Reviewed by Iron Mathew for Frenzy Fire, Metal Gods TV, and Metal-Roos.
