Danish powerhouse Iron Fire have been around since ages and was started by singer Martin Steene when he was still in high school. Soon after its formation and journey from heavy metal to doom, to black/death and back to heavy metal, the band was famed as a promising metal act. Then, things started to go wrong. Noise Records, their label at the time, lost faith in them and released the band from their contract. But the determined band members persisted and got a deal at Napalm Records, for which they’ve just finished recording their third album, To The Grave.

Although Iron Fire can be compared to bands like Manowar, Hammerfall and Nocturnal Rites, they blend in some elements of other metal styles like death grunts and brutish extreme-metal riffs. The most memorable of To The Grave must be the energetic and catchy choruses. ‘Ghost Of Vengeance’, ‘Kill For Metal’ and ‘Cover The Sun’ are tracks that’ll appease fans of firm and melodic metal alike in both vocals and guitars.

To The Grave was produced by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Illdisposed, Pretty Maids), who added a rougher and gloomier edge to the album’s sound. The riffs sound heavier through a pounding bassline that’s recognizable throughout the various tracks and the occasional grunt that Steene belches out. Furthermore, the sing-along factor has risen high on this album, which makes it eligible for music fans with various tastes in metal.

As far as I’m concerned, Iron Fire have risen out of the ashes that they once were reduced to. To The Grave incorporates the classic approach in the vein of classic acts like Manowar and Hammerfall with a couple of modern sparks mixed through it all and is bound to appeal to a lot of metal fans. Thumbs up for this one!