The marriage of heavy and power metal - A review of Iron Savior's Kill or Get Killed

I have come across the name of European power metal veterans Iron Savior on numerous occasions and I thought that the band's new record Kill and Get Killed would be a good occasion to finally check the German quartet out. The band plays a more serious and sinister type of power metal that doesn't have much to do with Helloween but sounds rather closer to Primal Fear. The group is also influenced by classic heavy metal and especially the works of Dio shine through on several occasions. A few technically impressive guitar and keyboard sounds also flirt with progressive elements but it would be a stretch to call the band a progressive power metal band since the group's basic style remains rooted in heavy and power metal stylistics and the songwriting is overall fairly conservative and predictable.

On the positive side, the record's grounded production adds some welcome grit. The guitar play finds the perfect balance between melodic solos and gripping riffs. The bass guitar sounds are perfectly audible, energetic and versatile. The drum play on the other side could be a little bit more adventurous from time to time. Even though the band doesn't have an official keyboard player, several tracks feature a few slightly futuristic electronic sound samples that add atmospheric layers to the different songs. The melodic yet gritty vocals find the perfect mixture between classic heavy metal and grounded power metal inspirations.

The songwriting is clearly the band's least convincing department. Many tracks sound quite exchangeable. Even though they are solid individually, the end up sounding somewhat tiring in the long run. Still, there are a few truly great tunes on this output. The opening title track ''Kill or Get Killed'' doesn't take any prisoners as it opens with gripping melody and relentless speed before adding an epic and nearly cinematic atmosphere that makes this song the best on the record. The epic ''Until We Meet Again'' is nearly equally strong as it convinces with ambitious guitar play and slightly progressive sound samples but never overstays its welcome thanks to concise song structure and a catchy chorus. Mid-paced hard rock anthem ''From Dust and Rubble'' could also come from Accept and convinces with liberating energy. The closing ''Legends of Glory'' is a perfect match between gritty heavy metal and epic melodic power metal elements with a chorus worthy of a national anthem that ends the album on a high note.

In the end, Iron Savior's Kill or Get Killed should appeal to fans of melodic heavy metal and gritty power metal alike. If you like bands like Rebellion, Primal Fear and Jorn, you can't go wrong here. The record convinces with genuine energy and passion and grows with every spin. The album has a clear guiding line and distinctive sound even though the songwriting could be more adventurous and some songs end up sounding exchangeable. The Japanese edition features a generous amount of bonus tracks including convincing cover tracks, new versions of the band's own classics, alternative versions of the title song and an exclusive new track. Even though the final result isn't particularly spectacular, the band is aware of its strengths and trademarks as it delivers one of the best heavy and power metal albums of the year so far.

Final rating: 80%