IRON SAVIOR Reforged – Ironbound [feat Kai Hansen / early classics re-recorded] (2022)

German rockers IRON SAVIOR are celebrating a quarter of a century of band history and will release “Reforged – Ironbound” presenting lavish re-recordings of their best tracks and fan favorites from their first five albums.
Among re-imagined tracks from debut album Iron Savior (1997), sophomore album Unification (1999), Dark Assault (2000), Condition Red (2002) and Battering Ram (2004), the 2-CD release contains the previously only in Japan released “Living On A Fault Line”, as well as a cover of the Eurythmics ’80s hit “Sweet Dreams”.
In most of these re-recorded tracks, the new versions surpass the originals. Band leader Piet Sielck does lead vocals on songs where originally he didn’t, while Kai Hansen returns to faithfully sing his parts again on these refreshed tracks.

From the debut album Iron Savior (1997) comes the songs: “Children of the Wasteland” and “Protect The Law”.
Included from the sophomore album Unification (1999) are: “Starborn”, “Deadly Sleep” (which includes Kai Hansen returning to faithfully sing his parts), “Forces of Rage”, “Brothers (of the Past)”, “The Battle” and “Unchained”.

From Dark Assault (2000) there’s: “Seek and Destroy”, “Solar Wings” (once again featuring Kai Hansen), “Made of Metal” and “Predators” (which features Piet taking over Kai Hansen’s vocal parts), “Firing The Guns” and “Back Into The Light”.
From the album Condition Red (2002) the songs “Ironbound”, “Paradise”, “Thunderbird” and the cover of SEAL’s “Crazy” are included.

From Battering Ram (2004) come the songs: “Tyranny of Steel”, “Riding Free”, “Starchaser” and a nice inclusion of a song that was originally a Japanese-only bonus track, “Living On A Fault Line”. I like that they dug that song up for a reworking, as well as including a new track, this time a cover of EURYTHMICS’ 1983 hit “Sweet Dreams”, replete with synths!

Comparing each of the previously released / original versions with the new ones, seems the point is to faithfully re-record these songs because the band are legally unable to re-release the original albums.
But not only that, to make them a little bigger and bolder, maybe even improve upon these songs if possible. Every box is checked and every level that was reached for was achieved.

These songs leap from the speakers and rock with a gusto somehow even fiercer than the originals. Felipe Machado Franco returns to add another cool album cover that references the original artworks.
f you missed out on the original versions of these songs, now is your chance to experience them for the first time and enjoy one of the greatest true heavy metal bands of this millennium.
If you already own them all, it’s fun to listen to these reworked classics all over again and get back into the spirit that Piet Sielck and IRON SAVIOR deliver to fans.
Highly Recommended

CD 1:
1. Children Of The Wasteland
2. Protect The Law
3. Starborn
4. Deadly Sleep
5. Forces Of Rage
6. Brothers (Of The Past)
7. The Battle
8. Unchained
9. Seek And Destroy
10. Solar Wings
11. Made Of Metal
12. Predators
13. Firing The Guns
14. Back Into The Light

CD 2:
1. Ironbound
2. Paradise
3. Thunderbird
4. Tyranny Of Steel
5. Riding Free
6. Starchaser
7. Living On A Fault Line
8. Crazy (Seal cover)
9. Sweet Dreams (Eurythmics cover)
10. Crazy (Radio Edit)

Kai Hansen – Guitars, Vocals
Piet Sielck – Vocals, Guitars
Tim Hansen – Guitars
Jan-Sören Eckert – Bass, Vocals (additional)
Joachim “Piesel” Küstnern – Guitars
Patrick Klose – Drums

Pre order:
www.roooar.com/music_uk/news-releases-iron-savior-reforged—ironbound-cd-in-august-13937.html