Savage Machine

Through The Iron Forest EP

Written by: PP on 27/01/2015 23:28:26

Århus, Denmark based Savage Machine have previously gone under the moniker Momentum, and released two well received EPs throughout the past few years. Being associated with countless other bands with an identical or at least similar name however meant that it was becoming difficult to establish a proper following, so the band opted to go for a name that, in my opinion, also better fits their chosen genre of music. Much like its predecessors, third EP "Through The Iron Forest" is classic heavy metal through and through, with healthy nods towards material by Iron Maiden and Accept among others, so Savage Machine fits much better in my head than momentum. Somehow, the name implies both the majestic soundscapes but also the classic leather-based look of a heavy metal band, at least in this scribe's mind.

It does, however, also imply a standard fare sound that isn't going to win any awards in the originality department. Everything from vibrato-laden, extended vocals to big, echoing riffs tuned the steel way, to textbook songwriting is pretty much exactly as you've heard it on dozens if not hundreds of like-minded bands primarily stemming from the Germany / Austria / Switzerland region. That being said, as I also mentioned on the review of their previous EP, where Savage Machine impresses is in the vocal department. The guy has some serious pipes that effortlessly fill up a sizable soundscape, so it's always going to be a decent listen because of that. Furthermore, the riffs aim to sound epic, and with a Bredahl production the overall soundscape is a well-balanced if not an outright impressive one.

The question that remains is whether that's enough to mask the very obvious derivative sound we're dealing with here overall? On a single EP I'd say sure, because the band's technical ability is right where it needs to be. But this is now the second record I've heard by Savage Machine that sounds exactly the same, and considering how similar they sound to their idols and other heavy metal bands, that does not bode well for their ability to distinguish themselves from the gray masses. Decent, but as a result also forgettable.

Download: The Final March, Iron Forest
For the fans of: Iron Maiden, Accept
Listen: Facebook

Release date 06.09.2014
Self-Released

Related Items | How we score?
Comments
comments powered by Disqus

Legal

© Copyright MMXXIV Rockfreaks.net.