Into the Fray

With the 2011 release of Out of the Rust and Ruin, Deadiron established a core sound that mixed early power metal, NWOBHM, and thrash metal, while adding a bit of punk edge. The band has an Iron Maiden-meets-Metallica style to them, but with a clear punk influence, which singer Alex Van Ness brings to the table. The band’s use of gang backing vocals on several tracks definitely highlights the punk feel to some of the songs. It also seems the band took a little more influence from some of the more modern metal acts on some tracks. The musicianship on the album seems a little tighter than Out of the Rust and Ruin, with some amazing dual guitar solos and harmonized leads that highlight the abilities of the guitarists on the album. The production also seems to be thicker than that heard on Out of the Rust and Ruin.

I spoke in greater detail of their sound in my review of the band’s debut, so I really don’t want to spend too much time retreading old ground, so I’ll go right into the new ideas the band brings to the table this time around. While the previous Deadiron album seemed more lyrically positive, with songs about unity and rising above your personal challenges, Into The Fray is a far more personal album. This time around, lyrical themes deal instead with lost friends and broken trust. The atmosphere seems darker and more hopeless. The album is almost invasively personal at some points. In Memorium comes to mind, a song about a friend who shot himself without any clear explanation.

Change in atmosphere aside, the band tries some other ideas, which separate this album from Out of the Rust and Ruin, including Whiskey by the Mound, which almost has an Irish feel to it that reminds me of a more jig-oriented, faster Primordial main riff, and Travisty, where the punk influence shines through more than ever. This track is actually a cover of a song by Alex’s previous band, Brazen Rogues. Another track that the band deserves compliments for is Laurelen, the bands first longer song, almost breaking 7 and a half minutes, and although it’s a little more mid-paced, it’s absolutely intense the whole way through.

Overall, Into the Fray continues where Out of the Rust and Ruin left off musically, but with a little experimentation and a change in atmosphere, the band has given us a whole new experience. Fans of the previous album should love this, and if you’re new to the band, this is still a great place to start. This is a fantastic follow up to a great debut, and hopefully they keep the momentum going for whatever comes next.