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Cast in Iron is one of those albums I didn't like much at first, but after a few listens it just clicked and has become pretty addictive. Think of a mix of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden with bits of Power Metal thrown in and you get the sober, darker style of old Priest couple with the galloping Maiden style. The singer even sounds a bit like Halford when he sings the higher notes. His lower range reminds me of some singer whose name escapes me – that's been driving me nuts for days.

Rockers meet ballads on Cast in Iron, and quite strangely they have decided to end the album with a ballad, something that I find a bit risky and the only thing that saves the day is that it actually does sound like an album closer – throughout the song you just know that things are coming to an end. With that said, the ballads here are pretty cool for the most part, and some of them even morph into rockers as they go along. The faster, heavier songs won't revolutionize metal in any way, but are delivered here with conviction, with a somewhat raw and rough production that adds some punch. 80s-style solos abound, as do the hard-hitting, headbang-inducing main riffs. The Power Metal element is quite present, but the balance tips more toward Heavy Metal – Iron Fate do a good job balancing the two in their compositions. I'm just glad I didn't dismiss this after a couple of listens and gave it time to grow on me.