Combining the best elements of Fates Warning and Iron Maiden, these young guys from Germany are really maturing into one of the top bands of the progressive/power metal genre. The third release from Machine Men sees them once again tipping their hat to their main influence Bruce Dickinson with a cover of his song Freak, but their original material is the real draw here. Creative and well played, they are proving there are still new songs in this classic sound. I don’t know if Iron Maiden was ready to pass the torch yet, but if they weren’t, then MM might have just knocked them down and stole it. Right now, these guys are doing Maiden better than Maiden. Another album this good and Eddie might decide to be THEIR mascot. --Scott