Brothers of traditional heavy metal, the Iron Allies and experience 52 minutes of solid, hard, and heavy metal which brings together former Accept Herman Frank and David Reece for a powerful, muscular, and timeless record. Although Frank and Reece didn’t play together in Accept, there’s a clear symbiotic relationship between them throughout this bulldozing slab of heavy metal.
Thunder roars and huge riffs crash in from the start. This is “Full of Surprises”, a real tub thumper which echoes Iron Maiden in more than one section. It’s fast, upbeat, and once more reminds the world that Reece has the voice and Frank the riffs. Alongside the former Accept men stand drummer sco Jovino, bassist Malte Burkert and rhythm guitarist Mike Pesin. The unit make a fine noise, solid and heavy with Frank in sparkling form.
You can feel the quality throughout the album, with a cracking old school feel that is combined with a modern edge. Frank hits the nail on the head. “This record cannot be compared to anything David, or I have produced in our past. It’s at the same time standing on its own, while sounding like it came from the one and the same mould. You could say: the two of us have sought and found each other!”
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Anthemic from start to finish, Blood In Blood Out drips with hammering anthems. The undercurrent of Accept is perhaps inevitable but this is no copycat band despite the similarities that appear. “Fear No Evil” drives forward with pace and power, Reece bringing his vocals to the fore. It’s an album that drips with experience, the highest standards being reached on songs like “Destroyers of the Night”, the piledriving “Blood on the Land” or the brooding variation of “Nightmares in My Mind”. All bring something different to the table, each containing enough muscular riffs to please the most ardent and demanding metal head, the melody bringing wider appeal and more accessibility. These guys know how to write a tune. If you don’t feel the urge to bang the head to penultimate rager “Truth Never Mattered”, there must be a real problem that needs checking out.
Blood In Blood Out is, of course, superbly postured and classically metal. Images of leather, studs and arms held aloft in unison appear for every song. Even the pedestrian “Freezin’” does enough to maintain the interest. But maybe the final words should go to Herman Frank who describes the album in style:
People love strong characters, they want to see real men, not little boys. Iron Allies is made up of old school knights and Blood In Blood Out provides the perfect soundtrack for that!
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Blood In Blood Out is out on October 21st
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