With a title and album cover that immediately evoke epic sword and sorcery, IRONFLAME are back with a record brimming with confidence and majesty.

IRONFLAME is the brainchild of Ohio-based musician, Andrew D’Cagna. Although D’Cagna has played in several bands, including Brimstone Coven and Icarus Witch, IRONFLAME is very much his main project.

The multi-instrumentalist is the vocalist, drummer, guitarist and bassist on Kingdom Torn Asunder, although guitar solos come from Quinn Lucas and Jesse Scott.

Released on 26^th July 2024 by High Roller Records, Kingdom Torn Asunder is IRONFLAME’s fifth full length album.

IronFlame

REVIEW

Pulsating guitar notes reminiscent of Rush’s “The Spirit of Radio” christen album opener, “Blood and Honour”. These build in intensity and volume before D’Cagna’s vocals set the scene with a narrative of a sacred blood oath and a vengeful warrior. “Blood and Honour” establishes two key factors on display throughout the album.

Firstly, D’Cagna’s impressive vocals. While it is not unreasonable to expect a powerful singer to grace this kind of traditional sounding record, the combination of grace and power here is striking. D’Cagna manages to be able to rise above the guitar and rhythm sections in a seemingly effortless manner. Consequently, the likes of “Blood and Honour” sounds both powerful and strangely smooth at the same time.

Secondly, the songs are the sonic equivalent of 80s sword and sorcery films like Conan the Barbarian and Hawk the Slayer – chock full of themes of valour, vengeance, and mysticism, but also a whole heap of fun.

“Soul Survivors” heralds a riff that cuts a little deeper. The fuller range of D’Cagna’s voice is also showcased here. The influence of Kiske-era Helloween is also evident on this track, as it is throughout much of the album. A more sombre bridge section at around the three-minute mark leads into a rip-roaring shred guitar solo.

Third track “Majesty of Steel” ups the ante in intensity but also boasts the album’s most earworm inducing chorus. A triumph from start to finish and surely a candidate for a forthcoming single.

“Mistress of Desire” is the sonic equivalent of the bit where Conan the Barbarian meets the witch – here the lyrical narrative depicts a femme fatale character, seductive and dangerous. The slightly doomier riffing on this track reflects this more sinister turn.

The pace picks up again with “Standing Tall”. This rousing call to arms, recalls classics such as Iron Maiden’s “Aces High” as well as modern takes on this from the likes of Tailgunner on “Crashdive”.

A standout track within an album full of quality, “Sword of a Thousand Truths” features the kind of deliberate, chugging riffing that adorns Eternal Champion tracks such as “I Am the Hammer”. Such riffing complements D’Cagna’s most immaculate vocal performance as he dwells on the notes within the chorus to give his words more gravitas.

“Riding the Dragons” is as grandiose as the title suggests. I was picturing myself in the middle of an outdoor festival punching the air surrounded by fans with mock swords and shields during this one. Once again D’Cagna is superb and pulls off soaring Dickenson-like vocals with ease.

Album closer (I’ll cover the CD bonus tracks in a moment) “Shadow of the Reaper” is a slightly gloomier affair evoking what happens as warriors approach the afterlife.

The first bonus CD track, “Cold Flesh Falls”, drops to a more deliberate chugging pace to tell of the ravages of battle. Slightly unfortunate to miss the final cut of the main album, it offers a rather different atmosphere to the tracks on the main album and those purchasing the CD will not be disappointed.

“Exile of the Sun” features the most brooding atmosphere of any song on the CD version of the album and again is well worth checking out. In many respects, this provides a more fitting closer to the overall record, especially given its theme of a kingdom’s downfall.

CONCLUSION

Although covering themes that are so often the domain of NWOTHM artists, Kingdom Torn Asunder never feels predictable or hackneyed. The production is pristine, with the masterful mixing showcasing Andrew D’Cagna’s impressive voice without letting it overpower the other instruments. Overall, the record is crammed full of anthemic choruses, hooks and riffs that draw the listener in and keeps them coming back for more. The 49-minute run time breezes by and the songs never outstay their welcome. A shoo-in for many NWOTHM fans’ end of year lists, Kingdom Torn Asunder delivers the goods and then some.

TheNWOTHM score 10/10

IRONFLAME is:

Andrew D’Cagna – Vocals
Jesse Scott – Guitar
Quinn Lukas – Guitar
James Babcock – Bass
Noah Skiba – Drums

IRONFLAME online:

Bandcamp: https://ironflame.bandcamp.com/album/kingdom-torn-asunder

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IronflameUSA?locale=en_GB