Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Iron Angel
Title
Winds Of War
Type
LP/EP
Company
Marquee
YOR
2004
Style
Power
9/26/2004 - Review by: Eric Compton
Iron Angel - Winds Of War 2004 Marquee Records reviewed by: EC

Track Listing
1. Winds Of War
2. Metalstorm
3. Son Of A Bitch
4. Vicious
5. Born To Rock
6. Fight For Your Life
7. Stronger Than Steel
8. Sea Of Flames
9. Creatures Of Destruction
10. Back To The Silence

Bonus Tracks

11. The Metallian
12. Sinner 666
13. Black Mass
14. The Church Of The Lost Souls
15. Rush Of Power
16. Hunter In Chains
17. Legions Of Evil
After the fantastic reissue treatment given to Iron Angel's debut, "Hellish Crossfire", Marquee Records has stepped in once again to release the group's second album, "Winds Of War", released originally in 1986 by Steamhammer. With this reissue, Marquee has thrown in some live bonus cuts to spruce up this already classic German speedfest.

I won't bother going into the back history of Iron Angel. For those of you who are curious about the history of the band, or want to read a review of their debut record, just look up my review of that particular reissue in the Review section of Maximum Metal. I will however state that "Winds Of War" is a very different record than its predecessor, with Iron Angel shifting the metal gears into a more solid, hard rocking effort with their sophomore release.

Sure, the speed metal vibe is present on this album, just look at fast riding cuts like "Creatures Of Destruction" or "Metalstorm" to prove my point. But it is the slower, less technical stance that this record takes that really appeals to me. For the longest time I didn't like this album nearly as much as the first, but as the Scorpions and Accepts of the world have become increasingly more numb to me (I've wore out the discs), I find the hard rocking attitude of "Winds Of War" very refreshing.

Tracks like "Born To Rock" and "Stronger Than Steel" burn intensely with that Accept/U.D.O sonic riffage, which some may find commercial when compared to their first album, but by no means are these types of songs weak or radio friendly. The heaviest of the heavy will find this album filled with crunchy, fast rhythm numbers, with vocalist Dirk Schroder straying from out of control warrior to rock renegade persona seemingly overnight. The record is smooth, with the arrangements and song writing patterns easy to follow, keeping the album flowing fluidly from start to finish.

Along with the original "Winds Of War" recording, this reissue contains seven bonus live cuts, taken from the group's "Hellish Crossfire" tour. I highly recommend picking both of these reissues up.

Note - Hell Bent For Leather has announced they have an Iron Angel live album out with even more bonus cuts.


--EC 09.29.04
  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    N/A :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: IRON ANGEL
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Hellbound
2018
Mighty Music
Eric Compton5/15/2018
2.5
Hellish Crossfire
2004
Marquee
Eric Compton7/5/2004
-
Winds Of War
2004
Marquee
Eric Compton9/26/2004
-

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: IRON ANGEL
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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