On the Edge
On the Edge's liner notes end with the proclamation "Hail to the Power, Spirit, and Might of Heavy Metal!" Such an unabashedly earnest sentiment could only come from a band like Iron Fire (or Manowar, for that matter), who dutifully adhere to all of the most cherished tenets of '80s metal: sizzling dual guitar cadenzas, plenty of double bass drumming, and songs that address subjects like hell, the prince of darkness, judgment day and, of course, evil. The singer even sounds like Vince Neil. Iron Fire's total lack of innovation or forward thinking is nearly compensated for by the group's spirited and completely unselfconscious allegiance to the stylings of classic metal. And kudos to the band for including a harmonica and Hammond organ on "Wanted Man."