IRON FIRE "Beyond The Void"

IRON FIRE

"Beyond the Void"

Iron Fire has been kicking around the European metal scene for years. Solidly ensconced within the Euro power metal movement, they are the  very definition of a band that's good but not good enough. "Beyond the Void" is more ultra-typical power metal that will not help them cross over into the next level of achievement.

You can't rag on them too hard. They are talented players that do understand one aspect of album making very well: how to mix things up and avoid doing the same song over and over again. On this album they dish up a wide variety of power metal styles, from near thrash ("To Hell and Back") to moody half ballad ("Judgement Day") to crunchy chugging Accept-like anthems {"One More Bullit" {sic}). This definitely keeps things from total monotony. The trouble is, the songs may vary in style, but they still sound by the numbers and formulaic.

A couple of track do break through to something better. "One More Bullit" is just so catchy and hard charging; it's Iron Fire at their best. "The Devil's Path" is also not bad at all. But as a whole, the album doesn't get over the hump. Neither does the band and I don't know if they were will.

CRIME RECORDS

IRON FIRE