Iron Fist Magazine

Frank’s Posts:

PAINFUL PRIDE – LOST MEMORIES

We may have something of a record here – in 1986, fresh-faced Swedish metal upstarts released their first demo; in 2017, they have finally got round to releasing their debut album. Three-plus decades is some time to hone a record to perfection! Of course, that’s being somewhat facetious but nevertheless, it’s … Read More

FREEDOM CALL – MASTER OF LIGHT

The self-proclaimed ‘happiest band in the world’ is enough to set our collective teeth on edge and five seconds of the Helloween-on-Phenalzine singalong ‘Metal Is For Everyone’ has one grinding said teeth to shards very, very quickly. Yes, it’s another slice of ultra-polished modern Euro-flavoured power metal designed to get … Read More

URFAUST – EMPTY SPACE MEDITATION

Unlike most of those within the murky confines of the black metal underground, I have remained steadfastly unconvinced by my encounters with Urfaust to date. Yes, I can almost see the splutterings of outrage at computer monitors up and down the land but two guys doling out lo-fi Burzum worship … Read More

WOLF HOFFMAN – HEADBANGER’S SYMPHONY

In which the spectacularly-named Accept lead guitarist takes time out from his day job and dips his toes into the oft-choppy waters of heavy metal reinterpretations of classical music. It’s a bold move but Mr Hoffmann has been here before with the Ronseal-titled ‘Classical’ in 1997 and as Accept are … Read More

OMEN – HAMMER DAMAGE

Omen’s 1984 debut ‘Battle Cry’ is a true cult classic for a number of reasons – absurd fantasy lyrics, bracing metal anthems and of course that legendarily shit album cover of pencil-drawn muscly skeleton warriors. That artwork alone pretty much places Omen in the pantheon of classic metal heroes and … Read More

MOB RULES – TALES FROM BEYOND

Mob Rules are an absolute textbook SPV band – solid, long-lived (they’ve been around for over 20 years now), big in Germany, they’re the last-word in sturdy, dependable metal. ‘Tales From Beyond’ – despite sounding like a Blind Guardian album-title mash-up – maintains profile there and represents another dose of … Read More

IRKALLIAN ORACLE – APOLLYON

Causing a real stir in certain dank corners of the underground, Sweden’s Irkallian Oracle definitely tick all the right boxes at first glance. Plying their trade in the realm of this so-called ‘Abyssal’ (i.e. reverb-soaked) death metal style that is so totally on-trend now, we have the by-now expected hoods, … Read More

EREB ALTOR – BLOT-ILT-TAUT

Does the world really need yet another tribute to one of the most revered pioneers of the Scandinavian extreme metal scene – the bona-fide legend that is Bathory? Ereb Altor certainly seem to think so and despite initial disquiet at the crisp, ultra-modern production they bring to the table, a … Read More

MAGICK TOUCH – ELECTRIC SORCERY

In these oh-so enlightened ‘post’-y times, where trends seem to come and go on an almost monthly basis, sometimes it’s never more satisfying than to simply sit back and rock out. And that’s exactly what Bergen-based trio Magick Touch have done here. ‘Electric Sorcery’ brings neither subtlety or originality to … Read More

Primal Fear – Rulebreaker

Love ‘im or loathe ‘im, there’s no denying musclebound Primal Fear lungsman Ralf Scheepers is a man of cast-iron principles. Those principles may be a dogged determination to re-write Judas Priest’s ‘Painkiller’ album every couple of years but you have to admire the man’s conviction. This conviction soaks through every … Read More

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