Call of the Sirens

Roll the Bones Records are back with a double strike. After the excellent third full length by the label owner’s own outfit Greydon Fields another promising band of the roster has just dropped another very fine release. Ignition are also hailing from the NRW area (Germany) and have made a few waves with their full length debut “Guided by the Waves” (you see what I did there?), also published via Roll the Bones. On their newest output “Call of the Sirens” they are back and continue where they left off the last time.

The roots of the music can be found in the US power metal scene, enhanced by some typical European trademarks. Some of the riffs and chord progressions remind of bands like Iced Earth, Enertia or Jag Panzer, expanded by a few lead guitar melodies that bear similarity to acts like Iron Maiden or Angel Witch. While most of the time the music is pretty much straight-forward a few more laid-back sections have been added, lending the whole sound a certain melancholic and epic feel. Each song has its signature riffs, making it stand out from the others, with some being hymnal and glorious and others carrying a slightly doomy vibe.

The songwriting is top notch and the guys exactly knew where they wanted to go. The harmonies are hooky and the refrains are catchy and memorable. The song structures are well defined following the traditional verse-chorus formula for the most part and the overall placement of the single tracks in the context of the album lead to it being easily enjoyable. That being said Ignition have implemented a few details making “Call of the Sirens” stand out from the pack. Shorter and longer soloing parts working as bridge elements or trademark chords being used slightly varied in other sections give the whole record a very stringent and well-balanced character.

While most of the trademark chords will sound familiar to fans of the genre guitarists Christian and Sebastian perfectly combine crunchy riffs and melodic lead lines in a way to create an uplifting and positive mood. There are a few surprises though, like slowing down a bit in the middle of a song to implement some more ambient and laid-back grooves. While the speed is kept high for most parts and the hooks are absolutely catchy Ignition never sound too cheap or cheesy. This is not so much the kind of overblown and overly dramatic stuff that has often been released within the last decade. Instead this kind of power metal is a bit stripped down in that regard, with kind of a more down-to-earth approach.

This is also reflected in the vocal approach and the production. Singer Dennis is doing a fine job. His voice is strong and soaring above the fantastic instrumentation. He also implements a few screams/growls, but only in very small doses so don’t worry. I really like his timbre, which also reminds of classic US metal. The sound is powerful and crystal clear, but not too modern or polished. There is a certain level of rawness in the mix without sacrificing the clarity. Overall a great output and each fan of traditional and powerful metal owes it to himself to order this one along the new Greydon Fields. It probably won’t get much better this year.