Review by Felix on December 13, 2021.

A label name like a promise: Pure Steel Records. It goes without saying that nobody needs to fear non-metallic sounds when it comes to a release from this company. You still have doubts? Well, what about the song title 'Speed Metal Commando'? Or 'The Hell Of Boiling Metal'? Finally, the band name makes the feast of stereotypes complete. Iron Jaws from sunny Italy offer their third full-length and their sound predestines them for a tour with their compatriots of Baphomet’s Blood. Iron Jaws act a little less furious and not as dirty as those who trust in Satan, but their songs sound edgy, straight and clearly defined. (And fortunately, they have absolutely nothing in common with these Italian so-called power metal bands whose cheesy approach has nothing to do with metal at all.) In particular the beginning of the album houses some very decent and crunchy tunes. Inter alia the aforementioned 'Speed Metal Commando' has an excellent drive. Of course, the guys do not revolutionize anything, they shit on innovation and heterogeneity is obviously not written in big letters here, but who cares? The main thing is that the dudes deliver a lot of fun. The entire album sounds like a work from fans for fans, but on a professional level.

However, there is naturally also still room for improvement. Some parts are going nowhere. Sometimes Iron Jaws have a very Teutonic touch and then they remind me of early Rage, Accept and comparable bands. I like their tradition-conscious attitude, but from time to time the material sounds a bit aimless. As a result, the album lacks compactness to a certain degree due to lackluster songs like 'Evil Bringer'. The aggressive Metal Church cover - the selection of 'Ton Of Bricks' illustrates the good taste of the musicians - is much better, although it shows that Iron Jaws do not have a new David Wayne in their line-up. So what? Declaration Of War does not fall victim to a lack of substance, the conservatively constructed songs sound coherent, and the solos add a melodic touch every now and then. By the way, the material profits from an earthy production that is neither sterile nor filthy. Iron Jaws have found a good way through the jungle of modern sound technology.

After the last highlight ('B.M.W.' - the M stands for “Metal”, what else?), the album comes slowly but steadily to its end, and it is a matter of honor that the Accept-affine closer is called 'Horns Up For Metal'. Not only in view of this fact, the twelve tracks present metal, metal, even more metal and nothing else. No frills, no experiments, no effeminacy (...and please feel free to add roughly 100 further "no"). Pure steel, so to say.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10