Iron Slaught – Metallic Torments
Release Date: 10th July 2026
Label: Gates of Hell Records/Cruz Del Sur Music
Bandcamp
Genre: Heavy Metal, Speed Metal.
FFO: Early Metallica, early Megadeth, early Iced Earth, and early Helloween.
Review By: Eric Wilt
Hailing from South-West France, Iron Slaught is a heavy/speed metal duo prepared to release the second full-length of their 15-year career. Comprised of Iron Jérémy on guitars and vocals and Nikrass on bass, and with the help of drum programmer Stéphane Hellkine, Iron Slaught will drop Metallic Torments on 10 July. Having released their debut full-length, Crusading Metal Mercenaries, 11-years ago, it is almost like Iron Slaught is starting over, so if you are new to the band, Metallic Torments is a perfect jumping off spot, and let’s be honest, with only 89 Spotify listeners, most of us are new to Iron Slaught. Now that is not a slight on Iron Slaught because, 1) who cares about Spotify and 2) Iron Slaught plays some seriously sick metal music. I was leery when I first read that their drums were not recorded on an acoustic kit, but my misgivings were unfounded because, programmed drums or not, Iron Jérémy and Nikrass really know what they are about.
Stylistically, Iron Slaught take their cues from all over the metal spectrum of the 80s and early 90s. The album is full of majestic melodic riffing that can be heard on songs like the instrumental Harbinger of Afflictions as well as the more power metal leaning songs like Soldier of Fortune, Charme Funeste, Fatal Retaliation, and Primal Conquest. Other songs like Ghastly Obsession, Condamné pour l’Éternité, and The Executioner lean more heavily into thrash metal. Vocally, the band relies more on a thrash metal delivery than the clean singing which can be heard on songs like Soldier of Fortune, Charme Funeste, and Fatal Retaliations. Both vocal deliveries are equally effective. Musically, all three musicians (including Hellkine) wield their respective instruments with the precision of a sharpened sword. The guitar and bass are always on fire and the drums sound very natural, which is the biggest compliment I can give programmed drums.
Chances are you haven’t heard of Iron Slaught yet, but this Friday is the perfect day to fix that. Metallic Torments is a great heavy/speed metal album by a band that I hope doesn’t wait 11 years to produce album number three.
(4 / 5)
