• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Of all the things that I expected this year, a brand new God Dethroned album (much less a good God Dethroned album) was not one of them. After being pleasantly surprised by Passiondale, I didn't think that they could produce something as good in such short amount of time. And for this reason, the album carries the momentum the band had gained since last year. That is evident because Under the Sign of the Iron Cross has a very similar sound and style to what they did on the previous album.

The album doesn't sound like a rush job, you can feel the band worked hard at refining these songs. And what a collection of tracks we have here, every single one has its own distinct sound. The band goes for the jugular every single time they can (very similar to their previous record), and never really let go. But they don't do it by constantly going for those blast beats. You can differentiate each song with little or no problem. The fact that there is an element of catchiness makes these tracks a ton of fun. Whether it is the menacing riffs, the stunning guitar leads, or the intense vocal performance, there is something that you'll remember long after this album is over. Don't worry about heaviness either, when you are done listening to this, your neck will be begging for a brace.

That speaks volumes for their songwriting approach. After all, it would have been much easier to put out mediocrity, slapped in the band's name and see it sell. However, with songs like "Storm of Steel", "Chaos Reigns at Dawn" and "The Red Baron", that is clearly not the case. If you enjoyed Passiondale, there is no reason why you shouldn't pick this one up. But in all honesty, I like this one a bit more, and while it is not perfect, with its war inspiration, this album is a no brainer for all people who crave God Dethroned. Absolutely recommended.