Iron Kingdom-Ride For Glory

It begins with a beautiful introductory track that almost builds the tension and tricks me into thinking that this CD is going to be powerful. First thing that comes to mind is a King Diamond/Testament/Maiden-ish style band. The band is trying to resurrect old fashion heavy metal, and I can't figure out why. Musically it is out of 1985, so for some of you out there, you are the lucky ones. The vocalist sounds sort of childish. Although he can hit the high notes in a short duration, and he is able to contain the note and sustain the note at the appropriate pitch. Yet as he hits the high notes the compressor kicks in and out and this is similar to when listening to the bass drum where it just kicks in and silences everything for a mili to nano second, and it becomes annoying. The reverb is so old, I can hear the 80's resurrected like a bad "Chucky" film.

The snare sounds very weak and there are barely any fills to make me want to keep listening. Basically the drum machine eq has not been equalized properly and the programming on the drums is very basic. And being a sound man, I can actually see the drum programmer using his two index fingers to hit the snare and the cymbals at the appropriate time (it is almost comical). Yet the guitar work is very nice and beautiful. Obviously the guitarists are talented but there are too frequent guitar changes and nothing to grab my attention with so many guitar changes there is plentiful guitar work, as for trills and fill ins, however, the music was not enough to keep my attention or make me want to purchase the CD.

The 80's style vocals become annoying. I understand that this band Iron Kingdom wants to revive this era of metal, but they are at best third rate. First rate being pro level like the main act, second rate being the opening act. This band is like the jesters that open the act for the opening act before the main act.

The lyrics are like amateur hour at the metal bar. I think that Iron Kingdom is trying too hard to be good and not allowing their natural talent flow. It is as if they are sitting on their front porch and talking to one another saying, "Samurai's are cool! Lets make a song about Samurais, or about Knights and swords and fighting".

Leif Erickson, are we kidding that this is interesting metal? Ride for Glory, or the Samurai. Ok, even the topics for song are uninteresting. The only reason to listen is for a good variation of an 80's style solo, and even then it becomes boring. The song "The Samurai" had potential with some double bass but then quickly died into this 1980 beat. "Night Attack" sounds like it was lyrically written by a sophomore in high school and the slow winding fade at the end made me want to shut it the player off.

Even though there was one more song left I was ready to throw the CD out the window or use it as a bird deflector so that the birds don't eat the apples off my apple tree.Good riffs but overall too cliche and boring.

Again the guitarist is really talented but the music does not bring me up nor down, rather it keeps me at one level. Think of the song "The Pursuit of Vikings" by Amon Amarth. That song pumps me up, brings me down, motivates me it almost brings me into the world of Amon Amarth. In contrast nothing from the CD Ride for Glory from Iron Kingdom brings me to this state. The guitars overpower all the other instruments, but this is because it was in part produced by the guitarist. *Hint*, this is why guitarists should not be in the studio when you are finalizing the tracks.

OK so enough of the criticism, the band has talent. They are tight, they have great musical ideas but they are trying to revive a buried (and sad) era in the history of metal. The duel guitar parts are interesting but not captivating. Drums are weak and the bass is basically following the rhythm guitar. This is a guitarist's band and it shows because all of the emphasis is on the guitar parts. Therefore, when you remove the guitar solos and little heavy emphasis from the guitar, the songs are like an army of snowmen in Death Valley, which I would prefer to see than listen to this band's follow up CD. I guess if you really love 80's metal and did not realize that we are now in the 21st century and the rest of the world has moved on, you can purchase this CD. Yet, why not add bubble gum, hair spray, and belched denim jeans too and prepare to get your ass kicked by 6th graders who would still be cooler than you today. Take a note from Esurance and "live in the modern world".

I give it 2/5 guitar picks