German metal, through and through! Speed metal inhabiting the spiritual ground of Manowar and to a lesser extend, countrymen Majesty, the leather clad lads of Stormwarrior storm out of the gates with the galloping title tracks (proudly never looking back). Tales about metal abound: the music and the lifestyle. Fleet fingered guitars, replicating bowed violins rapidity, and beerhall sing alongs (w/ repeat chorus, minimal lyrics) are the name of the game.

No sign of progressive flares nor experimentation, but the denim legions wallowing in the mud at Keep It True (even though that’s indoors), Sword Brothers and/or Headbangers Open Air, ie. the most hardcore metalhead festivals in Germany, if not the globe (although Greece & South America undoubtedly would give them a run for their Euros) wouldn’t have it any other way! ‘Ironborn’ is heads down speed, ala early Gamma Ray, while a slightly dirtier guitar tone is employed on ‘Steelcrusader’, a more guitar widdly song than pure speed. ‘Child Of Fyre’ (Stormwarrior love adding an extra E to the end of words and writing Y instead of I) adopts a classic 80s European sound, before ending the disc with another pair of buzzsaw guitar gems, ‘One Will Survive’ and next year’s fist throwing concert anthem, ‘Servants Of Metal’. Grab a hefeweizen and enjoy the ride!