Iron Savior
Encyclopedia
Iron Savior is a German power metal
band that formed in Hamburg
, Germany
in 1996. Following a period of several years working behind the scenes in music production, multi-instrumentalist and producer/engineer Piet Sielck
joined with former Helloween
bandmate Kai Hansen
and then-drummer for Blind Guardian
Thomen Stauch in a new project that would blend power metal with a high-concept science fiction story. The band's debut album Iron Savior
introduced the story that would be told over the course of multiple albums, featuring a self-aware space vessel called the Iron Savior and its relationship to the mythical lost civilization of Atlantis
.
Critics have compared Iron Savior's sound and musical approach to classic heavy metal bands like Judas Priest
, Iron Maiden
, and Queensrÿche
. Kai Hansen's presence in the band brought to the Iron Savior albums on which he appeared a style heavily influenced by Gamma Ray
and Helloween
.
Since its inception, Iron Savior has released six studio albums, two EPs, and two singles. The band began recording their seventh studio album in August 2011. Despite numerous lineup changes, Piet Sielck has continued to direct the band and is currently the only remaining founding member.
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band that formed in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1996. Following a period of several years working behind the scenes in music production, multi-instrumentalist and producer/engineer Piet Sielck
Piet Sielck
Piet Sielck is a power metal guitarist and vocalist. He is member of the power/speed metal bands Iron Savior and Savage Circus, as well as owner of the studio Powerhouse in Hamburg.-Early years:...
joined with former Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
bandmate Kai Hansen
Kai Hansen
Kai Michael Hansen is a power metal guitarist and vocalist.Hansen is the founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist of power metal band Gamma Ray, and the co-founder and former member of German metal band Helloween. He is a prominent figure in power metal, and has sold millions of albums worldwide...
and then-drummer for Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres...
Thomen Stauch in a new project that would blend power metal with a high-concept science fiction story. The band's debut album Iron Savior
Iron Savior (album)
- Track listing :-Personnel:Iron Savior* Piet Sielck – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, production* Kai Hansen – guitar, vocals, additional production* Thomen Stauch – drums, additional productionAdditional musicians...
introduced the story that would be told over the course of multiple albums, featuring a self-aware space vessel called the Iron Savior and its relationship to the mythical lost civilization of Atlantis
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
.
Critics have compared Iron Savior's sound and musical approach to classic heavy metal bands like Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, and Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
. Kai Hansen's presence in the band brought to the Iron Savior albums on which he appeared a style heavily influenced by Gamma Ray
Gamma Ray (band)
Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal Helloween. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent...
and Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
.
Since its inception, Iron Savior has released six studio albums, two EPs, and two singles. The band began recording their seventh studio album in August 2011. Despite numerous lineup changes, Piet Sielck has continued to direct the band and is currently the only remaining founding member.
Current band members
- Piet SielckPiet SielckPiet Sielck is a power metal guitarist and vocalist. He is member of the power/speed metal bands Iron Savior and Savage Circus, as well as owner of the studio Powerhouse in Hamburg.-Early years:...
– lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(1996 – ) - Joachim "Piesel" Küstner – guitar, backing vocals (2000 – )
- Jan-Sören EckertJan-Sören EckertJan-Sören Eckert, born 4 December 1965 in Quickborn, Germany, is a heavy metal bass guitarist who has previously played with Charon, Running Wild and is currently playing for the melodic power metal bands Masterplan and Iron Savior....
– bass, vocals (1997 – 2003, 2011 – ) - Thomas Nack – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
(1999 – )
Former band members
- Kai HansenKai HansenKai Michael Hansen is a power metal guitarist and vocalist.Hansen is the founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist of power metal band Gamma Ray, and the co-founder and former member of German metal band Helloween. He is a prominent figure in power metal, and has sold millions of albums worldwide...
– vocals, guitar (1996 – 2001) - Yenz LeonhardtYenz LeonhardtJens Arnsted is a heavy metal musician born 4 July in Vordingborg, Denmark...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals (2003 – 2011) - Andreas Kück – keyboardsElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
, backing vocals (1998 – 2003) - Dan ZimmermannDan ZimmermannDaniel Hans Erwin Zimmermann is a heavy metal drummer currently playing in Gamma Ray. Dan joined Gamma Ray in 1997.-With Gamma Ray:*Valley of the Kings *Somewhere Out In Space...
– drums (1997 – 1999) - Thomen Stauch – drums (1996 – 1998)
Albums
- Iron SaviorIron Savior (album)- Track listing :-Personnel:Iron Savior* Piet Sielck – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, production* Kai Hansen – guitar, vocals, additional production* Thomen Stauch – drums, additional productionAdditional musicians...
(1997) - UnificationUnification (album)* The Swiss power metal band Excelsis won a band competition on Iron Savior's 1998 Atlantis Falling tour, earning them a guest spot on Unification.-Personnel:Iron Savior* Piet Sielck – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar...
(1999) - Dark AssaultDark Assault-Personnel:Iron Savior* Piet Sielck – lead vocals, guitar* Kai Hansen – guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Solar Wings"* Joachim "Piesel" Küstner – guitar, backing vocals* Andreas Kück – keyboards, backing vocals...
(2001) - Condition RedCondition Red (album)Condition Red is the fourth studio album by the German power metal band Iron Savior. It continues the science fiction story that the band introduced on their debut album Iron Savior and continued on Unification, the Interlude EP, and Dark Assault.- Track listing :- Personnel :Iron Savior* Piet...
(2002) - Battering RamBattering Ram (album)Battering Ram is the fifth studio album by the German power metal band Iron Savior.-Track listing:-Reception:The album was released to generally favorable reviews, with reviewers citing the band for remaining faithful to the genre of Power Metal...
(2004) - MegatropolisMegatropolisMegatropolis is Iron Savior's sixth full length album, released on the 4th of June, 2007.- Track listing :#"Running Riot" - 4:58#"The Omega Man" - 4:52#"Flesh" - 5:01#"Megatropolis" - 5:04#"Cybernetic Queen" - 4:52#"Cyber Hero" - 4:59...
(2007) - The LandingThe Landing (album)The Landing is Iron Savior's seventh full length album, which was released on the 18th of November, 2011.- Track listing :#"Descending" - 1:04#"The Savior" - 4:47#"Starlight" - 4:51#"March Of Doom" - 4:42#"Heavy Metal Never Dies" - 4:14...
(2011)
Singles
- "Coming Home" (1998)
- "I've Been to Hell" (2000)
- "Titans of Our Time" (2002)
- "Time Will Tell" (2004)