Perhaps the two most interesting things about Viron are the fact that drummer Neudi a) looks like a bizarre cross between Sabaton’s Joakim Broden and ancient REO Speedwagon keyboard player Neal Dougherty and that b) the aforementioned Neudi’s hobbies are, “Metal and fat girls.” Anyway moving on Ferrum Gravis is Viron's second album and apparently they are a part of the New Wave of German Heavy Metal and have had a degree of success in Greece of all places. 

To be truthful, this is one of those Euro metal CD’s that I can take or leave and, to be even more truthful it's more a case of leave more than take. The best songs are up front and the second half, whilst adequately performed, is metal by numbers with very little to add to the genre and absolutely nothing to offer the more casual listener. 

Of particular note is War which is probably the most atypical un-metal song on Ferrum Gravis featuring, as it does, a plaintive, mournful piano and vocalist Alexx Stahl’s best performance on the album. This is by far the highlight of the disc and all the better for not turning into a power chord led mess. In many ways it’s quite a brave effort given the metallic qualities of the rest of the album. 

Liberator opens the album and kicks large amount of metaphorical ass. It’s speedy as can be and if I had more hair left it would easily  have led me to bang the old noggin in appreciation. I imagine, however, that if I were to play it to my non-metal loving friends then the sudden switches to high pitched vocals would confirm all their prejudices. I like, so there! 

On the Run is just as good and whilst there’s no denying the NWOBHM influences, its not too derivative and pounds along relentlessly and has a pretty memorable hook as well. As indeed does The Isle of Man, not I fear a tribute to Manxmen which leads nicely into the aforementioned War ... and after that it all goes somewhat into the shape of a pear. 

The remaining songs are all over long especially the desperately dying to be an epic Sniper and lack anything in the memorable department. Not that any of them are exactly awful; they’re just kind of ... there. They exist without much in the way of perspiration and even less in the way of inspiration.  On the whole then Ferrum Gravis is destined to be one of those albums that goes into my little box of reviewed CD’s and stands very little chance of seeing daylight for quite some time.

Let us know your views on Ferrum Gravis

Track Listing

Liberator
On The Run
The Isle Of Man
War
Beyond The Gates
Metal Ball
Playground For Billions
Led Astray
Sniper

Line Up

Alexx Stahl - Vocals
Thilo Feucht - Guitars
Roger Dequis - Guitars
Imgmar Holhauer - Bass
Neudi - Drums