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Blood In Blood Out

    
       
       
       
     
             
Iron Allies are a heavy metal band from Germany formed by guitarist Herman Frank and vocalist David Reece - both former members of legendary German metallers Accept. Although never playing together in Accept, the two musicians have been friends for many years, and are considered veterans of the worldwide metal scene. Iron Allies are completed by bass player Malte Burkert (Victory), drummer Francesco Jovino (Jorn, ex Primal Fear, ex U.D.O.), and second guitarist Mike Pesin (Magistarium, Victory), with the bands debut album 'Blood In Blood Out' released in 2022...    
             
...featuring impeccable artistic skills, inspired song writing, and years of experience - the debut album of "new" metal band Iron Allies is nothing short of superb. And if you're expecting an Accept-like set of songs - think again! Iron Allies is nothing like anything Herman or David have produced in their respective glittering careers...this is new, fresh, and very heavy hitting. Album opener - and first single released - 'Full Of Surprises' lays down a prophetic statement, for 'Blood In Blood Out' (the album) is a powerful blend of traditional heavy, and power metal. 'Full Of Surprises' is a high tempo bustling blend of traditional and power metal, with the infectious level rising right off the fucking charts! What a blistering way to open your debut album - followed by the thunderous title song 'Blood In Blood Out'. And a mid tempo swagger that puts many anthemic metal bands to shame. The heaviness of 'Blood In Blood Out' is astounding, with the majority of non-metal heads screaming for aspirin to combat the relentless pounding in the their heads.    
             
Iron Allies are the ninth band I have reviewed that has "Iron" at the beginning of their name, following bands such as Iron Savior, Iron Kingdom, and Iron Curtain - and just like the legendary Iron Maiden, all these bands are absolutely phenomenal. You just have to see their name adorning an album cover and you know it's gonna be good! And the same is gonna be said of Iron Allies - the album marching on with the pulsating 'Destroyers Of The Night'. The intensity since the album began has been incredible, with the sheer weight of the opening three songs simply superb. The band making a late charge for the Album Of The Year title, and what's to say they're not gonna be crowned Best Newcomer too! 'Fear No Evil' - and no it's not a cover of British metallers Grim Reaper's classic from 1985 - is a fast paced and furious foray of heavy, power metal. The chorus is one hundred percent sing a long-able, with 'Fear No Evil' a crowd favourite in the making. Surely to God the band must play this one live!    
             
Incredible heaviness takes over the album once more in the shape of the mighty 'Evil The Gun', featuring a level of menace not heard before. The band are thriving on making the ground shudder and shake, crumbling walls and demolishing buildings with a devastating sonic attack. An attack that is simply merciless, as the album stomps on with 'Martyrs Burn' - the slowest and heaviest of all the songs on offer. The epic doom laden riffs remind me a lot of the legendary Dio...R.I.P. Ronnie. Picking up the pace, the band roar on with 'Blood On The Land', weaving a ferocious path as it bustles on by. Iron Allies are a superb force of nature, devastating and dynamic in equal measures. With an unbroken, extremely high intensity level, 'Blood In Blood Out' (the album) shifts gear again with the pace changing 'Nightmares In My Mind'. Displaying some old school power metal tendencies, 'Nightmares In My Mind' is highly addictive and shows a little progression from all the other songs on offer.    
             
And with four songs still to go, the band deliver the fastest song heard so far - 'Selling Out' a lightning quick torrent of all out power metal. The pace is incredible, and will keep the heads of metal heads rocking back and forth from start to finish. What an absolute barnstormer! There's just been no time for a breather, such is the relentless nature of the album - the band moving stealthily forward with the heavy hitting and bouncy 'Freezin'. The nearest 'Blood In Blood Out' (the album) has gotten to the hard rock style of music, Iron Allies have kept one foot firmly planted in the heavy metal genre. But fans of hard rock will be attracted to the bands music by 'Freezin', a thoroughly enjoyable rock/metal combo.    
             
And oh my God - blistering pace lights up the album once again with the red hot 'Truth Never Mattered' scorching the Earth as it scuttles on by. The incredible speed is gonna test the neck muscles of every head banger from around the world - heads just a blur as they vigorously rock back and forth in a vain attempt to keep up with the songs astonishing pace. Bringing a great album to a close is the heavy bluster of 'We Are Legend (You And I)', featuring the bands trademark intensity - I say trademark, but with only one album under their belts, it's not yet really a trademark, more a theme. But whatever you wanna call it, 'Blood In Blood Out' (the album) has featured an intensity second to none, that has run unbroken throughout the album from start to finish.    
             
Overall, a hard hitting and infectious album of superb heavy metal from a "new" band making their debut.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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