Review CHRIS BOLTENDAHL’S STEELHAMMER ‘Reborn in Flames’

Chris Boltendahl, this name is fully connected to Grave Digger one of Germanies veteran metal bands and now it’s time for a solo album outside the borders of the clansman. Chris Boltendahl’s Steelhammer is the chosen moniker for a cooperation of the singer with former Orden Ogan guitarist Tobias Kersting, Lars Schneider (b) and drummer Patrick Klose (Iron Savior).

Boltendahl and his three companions recorded ten own songs and one cover version. The latter is part of the CD format of the album.

Let’s start with the latter. Instead of covering a metal song, the project decided to interpret Midnight Oil’s iconic smash hit ‘Beds are Burning’. Now, the metalized version doesn’t move too far away from the original and at the same time doesn’t unfold the magic of the original. I was a bit reminded of the recent attempt of James Rivera to cover wave songs.

The own songs though are better. It starts with the title track and a ‘Running Free’-like bassline followed by the lightning ‘Fire Angel’.

Everything on ‘Reborn in Flames’ screams heavy metal. Songs like ‘Gods of Steel’ are exactly what headbangers are looking for. The slower paced and mighty metal anthem is strong as steel and the band even shifts gears with ‘Die For Your Sins’.

To provide the album with a good flow, two ambitious songs follow before ‘I Am Metal’ provides a speedy full blast. Anthemic is a term that describes ‘The Hammer That Kills’ before ‘Iron Christ’ kicks in as the last chapter before the mention cover song takes over.

‘Reborn in Flames’ is a very solid metal record. If you are looking for good riff power, some smashing metal anthems and a lot of passion, ‘Reborn in Flames’ is what you should check out.