Customer Reviews

Condition Red

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first note to make here is that Kai Hansen is absent from the Iron Savior ranks now. First noticing this in the album liner I was a little concerned, but as soon as I pushed play all my fears were laid to rest. "Condition Red" finds Iron Savior returning to a sound more akin to their self-titled debut and the "Unification" album, full of the raw energy and incredible song writing from those albums. Somehow, though the new material on "Interlude" and the "Dark Assault" albums were very strong, it seemed less moving and powerful when compared to the the earlier efforts. "Condition Red" sees the band back and revitalized, minus Hansen but still unscathed for the loss. From the opening track Titans Of Our Time, which feels like such earlier tracks as Iron Savior and Riding on Fire, to tracks like Warrior and No Heros, "Condition Red" never lets up. There are no thin or weak songs to be found here. Until this album "Unification" had been my favorite Iron Savior album, but "Condition Red" has surpassed it by far. Fans who liked "Dark Assault" but found it lacking somehow will be very pleased with this next chapter in the Iron Savior story.

I've only been listening to Iron Savior for a short time, but they've already become one of my favorite power metal bands, if not my all-time favorite. This was the CD from which I was first introduced to the band, and I guess it was the right move based on what other users have said.

Condition Red is fast, powerful, and really puts you in a good mood. It also has 2 of my 3 favorite Iron Savior songs: Tales of the Bold and Titans of our Time. Stand Against the King is in "Battering Ram". Some people won't like the fact that there isn't too much variation between songs besides the occasional slower-paced ballad, but I love their sound so much that it doesn't bother me at all.

With the lyrics, you'll find much of the same that exists with most other powermetal bands. The whole "metal warrior" thing, themes or rebellion, unity, wars, kings etc. If I had a dollar for every time I heard the words "freedom", "unity" and "warrior" in a power metal song...But this is just standard with power metal. If it bothers you, then you're listening to the wrong type of music. Every genre has its own themes, like rap (money and girls), punk and emo (breakups and girlfriends). What's great about power metal, and in this case, with Iron savior and this album is the fact that the music really motivates you. I can't count how many times I've listened to Condition Red when I've felt depressed, tired, or just lazy. Instantly it wakes you up and puts you in a great mood. That's why this album gets a 5 out of 5 in my opinion.

This album is definately the heaviest Iron Savior album. For one, the production is so much better than on previous releases.
So if you are new to this band, definately get this album first, or the latest one, Battering Ram.
The album opens up with Titans of our Time. This is a total neck mover!! If you arn't headbanging to this one, you ain't into proper metal!!
There are a few mid tempo songs as well on the album as well as fast ones. There are not many keyboards on this album, its quite a basic no nonsense metal album really. There are many vocal harmonies on the album which makes the choruses melodic and catchy.
If you are into Power Metal at all, check this out, its great.

Who would have guessed that Kai Hansen was actually holding Piet Sielk back? That's certainly the way it seems as Condition Red definitely sounds much better than Iron Savior's previous releases. For those of you not aware, Iron Savior is Piet Sielk's epic sci-fi rock opera project which in the past seemed to be getting most of its attention from the presence of Kai Hansen (ex-Helloween, Gamma Ray), however, Kai has since abandoned this project to devote all his time to Gamma Ray. Well let me just say that after listening to Gamma Ray's latest album, Piet just blew you out of the water Kai! Condition Red is better than Gamma Ray's extremely weak and derivative No World Order in just about every way. Piet's vocals in particular are much better than Kai's and have a Dioesque quality to them as opposed to Kai's attempts to sound like he's a poor man's Rob Halford. Honestly if you love a good Power metal album, this is a must buy.

I've been a fan of Iron Savior since their first release, but before obtaining Condition Red I was becoming somewhat concerned that they were starting to repeat themselves. Because of this, my expectations for this release were not as high as with some of the earlier ones. However, all my fears were put to rest when I started to listen to this CD. It is absolutely awesome, by far their very best to date! I have barely listened to anything else for several weeks now, and it is not loosing its appeal over time. In fact, this is probably one of the best power metal CD's of the last ten years or so (perhaps in a tie with Helloween's The Dark Ride).

I consider Kai Hansen the grandfather of german power metal, but the band has not lost anything with his departure.

I am just so thrilled that all my favorite bands (Helloween, Gamma Ray, Iron Savior, Blind Guardian, and to some degree Stratovarius) keeps getting better and better, and keeps churning out quality releases on such a regular basis. I just hope one of them will visit the US soon!

This is my very first Iron Savior album so I'm not gonna compare them to the others because, obviously I have no clue what they sound like...yet.

Condition red is pure metal at it's best. There is not a single slow (or boring) track on this disk. This is the way I like my metal, no BS just straight up and a$$ kicking. Every track rules but check out "Titans of our time", "Protector", "Warrior", "Mindfeeder", "No Heroes" and the thunderous (pun intended) "Thunderbird".

This is some awesome stuff for metal fans like myself. Don't overlook this hidden jem!

I think I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Iron Savior regardless of what they may release, due solely to vocalist/guitarist Piet Sielck's history as a co-architect for the band that would become Helloween. But that was years ago, and despite the uninspired, by-the-numbers nature of the band's previous release `Dark Assault,' Iron Savior's 2002 effort `Condition Red' brings the band back on track. And although heavily influenced by Judas Priest, Piet's Teutonic heritage and track record for potent power metal keeps the similarities exclusively to an influence. `Condition Red' brings to mind the band's 1997 self-titled debut with energetic and precise steel-forging anthems, pleading, singalong choruses, and a bombastic sense of pride. Rightly so, as the album is a focused study in clear-cut metal with each track causing the listener's heart to thump a little faster and may induce synchronized fist-pumping, such is the glory of pure German power metal. Executed correctly, as in the case of `Condition Red,' you leave the experience with a mild glow and a feeling of benevolence. Though you could probably spit anywhere in Europe and hit a power metal band, Iron Savior stands tall, having developed their own set of rules from day one and continuing to grow as time passes.