Iron Void - "Doomsday" (Album Review)

By: The Peacemaker

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 05/10/2015

Label: Doomanoid Records

The title track is, quite simply, doom in its purest form; slow riffs, pounding drums and lyrics which depict sorrow, woe and portends of things to come... and it is not a pretty sight.  The band oozes confidence and class throughout, and the album only gets stronger after an impressive start. “Path to Self Destruction” is worthy of Pentagram at their best and you can hear the influences of Sabbath, Saint Vitus and even Priest get a good look in.  Overall Iron Void preach thee gospel of their forefathers with total conviction. This album is flawless and a thoroughly convincing victory.

“Doomsday” CD//DD track listing:

1). Doomsday

2). Path to Self Destruction

3). The Devil’s Daughter

4). Lost Faith

5). Gates of Hell

6). Eye for an Eye

7). The Answer Unknown

8). Colosseum

9). Fire Nerve

10). King of Utopia

11). Upon the Mountain

The Review:

Trad doom. Those two words surely sum up Iron Void... or do they? Their debut was full of murky sounds and anthems- clean vocals, occult and archaic themes abounded and the band had created a very strong record. Now back with their second full length, the band oozes confidence and class throughout. Recorded at Jon Davis' Skyhammer Studios, the production is a marked step up. Gone is the murk, present instead is a brightness without sacrificing any weight whatsoever. The title track is, quite simply, doom in its purest form; slow riffs, pounding drums and lyrics which depict sorrow, woe and portends of things to come... and it is not a pretty sight.

The album only gets stronger after this impressive start. “Path to Self Destruction” is worthy of Pentagram at their best. The main riff is a pulsing and persistent call to headband. The vocals, split throughout the LP between main men Jonathan “Sealey” Seale and Steve Wilson are plaintive wails that suit the mood to a tee. Classic stuff, truly. “The Devil's Daughter” follows and consolidates the hooks heard thus far- it is a tour de force of song writing; some changes, a strong central refrain and a “Countess Bathory” type theme to the lyric which gets into your head.

The band slow down for “Lost Faith” and bring in a Maryland doom vibe to the riffage. The sound creeps forth insistently and the track slow burns into your consciousness. Next up is a real highlight for me; “Gates of Hell”. This one is pure NWOBHM worship, but very deftly played with time feel changes, busy drumming and some really cool lead breaks and refrains. The song kind of invokes Venom, along with Angel Witch and even Maiden. It is a stormer and, rest assured, ticks all the lyrical boxes as well.

“Eye for an Eye” is maddeningly catchy and features an excellent rumbling riff which really propels the track forwards. The lyrics echo Sabbath as well- no direct references, but they bring to mind Butler's lyrical work (and that is a huge compliment!). “The Answer Unknown” is a pacey four and a bit minutes that rocks along with a kind of Orange Goblin (circa “The Big Black”) feel- or perhaps Trouble, if you prefer. Strong vocals are present, here and the guitar lines stand out. Roman epic “Colosseum” evokes the atmosphere of imperial decadence along with life and death struggle and the quest for glory that played out for entertainment in that most famous of amphitheatres.

“Fire Nerve” is a five and a half minute groove-fest. The lyrics stand out again as they tell a succinct story of impending disaster, disaffection and, well, doom. “King of Utopia” brings a real Sabbath quality to the riffs (not that all doom is not informed by the Sab sound). Again, the vocal hooks are strong and the lyrics memorable. Finally, the band wrap up this excellent slab of doom with the rather epic “Upon The Mountain”. It is a fine way to finish, taking in as it does a use of dynamics which allows the track to breathe a little.

Certainly, this is the best doom release of recent times from a British band; doom in the form of real, actual, not-just-noise-dressed-up doom. You can hear the influences here; Sabbath, Pentagram, Saint Vitus and even Priest get a good look in. Let's be clear: this “sceptred isle” is the land of the heavy metal gods- that is a fact. Sabbath, Priest, Maiden and even Motorhead, if you want to include them; all the biggest influences on all metal sub genres which followed. Iron Void preach their gospel with total conviction. A flawless and thoroughly convincing victory.

“Doomsday” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook