No one says you need to reinvent the wheel to make good music. You just need to know how to write songs and provoke emotion… which will immediately grab attention. In the world of Heavy Metal, there is most certainly an oversaturation of acts looking to either be the heaviest thing out there, be a little too different just for the sake of such, or be a bit too much of a hodge-podge of genres mixed together that something is lost in translation.
This is the battle Heavy Metal fans are up against on a daily basis when seeking out fresh music. Fortunately, bands like The Ferrymen seem to have their finger on the pulse of what makes effective rockers. A project that left for international waters in 2016, The Ferrymen is the unification of Primal Fear Guitarist Magnus Karlsson, Drummer Mike Terrana (Rage, Axel Rudi Pell, etc.), and powerhouse Vocalist Ronnie Romero. Joining together a Swede, American, and Chilean, The Ferrymen is a fitting name, considering they are from all parts of the world.
Combining their unique approaches to music, Karlsson’s irresistible blend of heavy, melodic guitar work and colorful keyboards perfectly complements Terrana’s powerful drumming and, of course, Romero’s intense singing style. With that in mind, Romero, famous for singing with everyone from Rainbow and Michael Schenker Group to Sunstorm, is truly a force to be reckoned with as part of The Ferrymen.
Already releasing three well-received albums as The Ferrymen between the 2017 self-titled, 2019’s A New Evil, and 2022’s One More River to Cross, in 2025, they are back with Iron Will. Their fourth overall, all of which have been with Frontiers Music SRL, Iron Will took to the open sea on January 24th, and you could say it is nothing short of exhilarating.
A perfect blend of Classic Heavy Metal, radio-ready Hard Rock sensibility, and modern intuition, Iron Will is an album that should not be overlooked. Some may label it Power Metal, but that may not tell the entire story because, in truth, The Ferrymen and Iron Will is much more a Melodic Heavy Metal styling that begs you not to box it into a corner.
Complete with eleven songs, Magnus Karlsson’s heavy-handed songwriting (with extensive co-writing by Jane Elizabeth Gould) blends powerful Metal riffage, blistering solos, unforgettable melodies, and keen sensitivity. It is really a flawless, dynamic balance. In fact, from more Heavy metal-forward tracks like “Chokehold,” “Iron Will,” and “Adrenaline” to more sorrowful tunes like “Above It All” or “Dreams and Destiny,” it is impossible to get bored with what plays out over nearly an hour of music.
Overall, The Ferrymen’s Iron Will is a modern Heavy Metal album with fantastic production, vocals full of ear-tingling emotion, and an attack that will please a broad audience. That is why Cryptic Rock highly recommends you educate yourself on The Ferrymen and gives Iron Will 5 out of 5 stars.
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