Ironsword
Overlords of Chaos

Everyone has their idols. And the Ironsword, they know a thing or two about idols.

A Portuguese group, active since 1995, debuted in 2002 with their eponymous album. Its successor, "Return of the Warrior" was released two years later. This work confirms the musical philosophy of the Lisbon band, which still treads a desolate path strewn with footprints. Footprints traced thirty years earlier by the passage of proud warriors full of metallic dedication, valiant men to whom history has reserved a place of respect. Ironsword follows in these footsteps, but there is no presumption in their souls to go down in history. No... the Ironsword are defenders of the faith who follow in the footsteps of the Great Masters with the intent to pay tribute to those who truly made history.

"Overlords of Chaos" is a servile celebration of the giants of 80s epic metal, such as Manilla Road, Omen, Manowar, and Brocas Helm. The album unfolds over thirteen metallic liturgies, an hour of praise to true epic metal. It is a work far from original, but certainly well-crafted (the title track, for instance, exudes an impressive evocative power). Perhaps the most frequently cited band is that of Mark Shelton, not only in the guitar work but also in the vocals: J.M. indeed frequently mimics the nasal timbre of The Shark, though in the rough parts he curiously resembles Joakim Brodén of Sabaton.

Listening to "Blood and Honor" and "Hyperborean Hordes", it feels like going back to the days of "Into Glory Ride" by Manowar, while "Crown of Iron", winks at Brocas Helm's "Into Battle". A curious point: "Road Warrior" and "Fear of the Night", which could represent an homage to Omen, are actually closer to the Running Wild of the "Under Jolly Roger" and "Port Royal" era. Whether intentional or not, it's unknown; anyway, one has to wait for "Dark Shadow of Stygia" to hear a concrete homage to Kenny Powell's band: the middle section of the track seems like a remake of "Teeth of the Hydra" (from the album "The Curse", 1986). In the finale, the weapons are laid down with "The Pyre of Kings", a raw and ancestral acoustic ballad.

Bread for lovers of true epic metal.

Federico "Dragonstar" Passarella.