Emerging from the heart of Ohio, Ironflame has swiftly established itself as a powerhouse in the modern heavy metal scene. Founded in 2016 by multi-instrumentalist Andrew D’Cagna, the band has become known for its soaring vocals, galloping rhythms, and expertly crafted melodies that harken back to the glory days of heavy metal. With an impressive catalog of releases and a reputation for delivering electrifying live performances, Ironflame embodies the spirit of the genre while offering a fresh perspective. In this interview, we delve into the band’s origins, their influences, and what is next for the band.

Interview

TheNwothm: TheNwothm: Greetings and happy new year! Can you introduce the band and where you are from?

I.F: Metal hails and happy heavy new year! Ironflame’s live lineup consists of:

Andrew D’Cagna-vocals 

Quinn Lukas-guitar 

Jesse Scott-guitar 

James Babcock-bass

Noah Skiba-drums 

Three of us live in eastern Ohio, two live in western Pennsylvania. 

TheNwothm: What inspired the formation of Ironflame in 2016?

I.F: Ironflame began as one-and-done studio album project to honor a friend who unexpectedly passed away. I uploaded some promo songs to YouTube. People heard them and it took off, leading me to assemble a full lineup and start playing live. 

TheNwothm: Your music blends heavy and power metal. Which bands or artists have influenced your sound the most?

I.F: I grew up listening to Iron Maiden, Savatage, Helloween, etc. But honestly, all types of Metal influence me. Thrash, Death, Black, Grind, you name it. I love it all and it affects my songwriting. 

TheNwothm: War and history are recurring themes in your music. What draws you to these topics, and do you have a favourite historical era or event that inspires your songwriting?

I.F:Let’s be honest, war is an eternal wellspring of lyrical inspiration when it comes to Metal. I’m not really a huge fan of history as much as I am enamored with mythology from all over the world. 

TheNwothm: What’s the heavy metal scene like in Martins Ferry and the surrounding areas? Are there other bands or venues that have played a significant role in your journey?

I.F: There’s not much of a Metal scene to speak of here in Eastern Ohio. There’s bands from Cleveland like Destructor, Midnight and Vindicator, but we’re geographically closer to Pittsburgh. There you have bands like Argus, Legendry and Lady Beast who have been an early source of inspiration for me personally. 

TheNwothm:What other countries do you feel have also got a strong heavy metal scene and received Ironflame well?

I.F: Our core fanbase has always been in European territories,Germany in particular. The Metal scene there has always been strong and the fans over there really enjoy Metal from the States.

TheNwothm: Your debut album, “Lightning Strikes the Crown,” received high praise. How did it feel to achieve that level of success right out of the gate?

I.F: It was rather surprising to be honest. The positive feedback came out of nowhere and I felt a lot of pressure to deliver another album of the same caliber which was not an easy task. 

TheNwothm: How did the songwriting process for “Tales of Splendor” and “Sorrow” differ from your debut album, “Lightning Strikes the Crown?”

I.F: Tales of Splendor and Sorrow was originally meant to be a 5 song EP. Jim Dofka who played the guitar solos on that album urged me to write a few more songs and make it a full length. Apart from that, the formula for the first two albums remained the same. 

TheNwothm: Can you tell us about the recording process for the album? Were there any challenges or standout moments in the studio?

I.F: I write and record all of Ironflame’s music myself, so the biggest challenge I face with every album is being my own worst critic. Most of the time, no one hears the songs until I’m finished with the whole thing so it’s a challenge to consistently come up with fresh ideas. 

TheNwothm: To break things up for a moment, If you could perform at any historic battle or event (in line with your themes), which one would it be and why?

I.F: Well that is a unique question, I’m not sure how to answer this one! None of our songs were written about battles that actually took place in history.

TheNwothm: What can you tell our readers about yourselves?

I.F: As people, we are friends and treat each other like family. We don’t take anything too seriously. We love to joke around and have a good time. Oh, and beer! We all genuinely like drinking beer. 

TheNwothm: “Blood Red Victory” and “Where Madness Dwells” show a lot of depth and range. How do you approach balancing melody and intensity in your compositions?

I.F: I feel the music has shifted over the years. Blood Red Victory was the last album that really made guitar melodies the focal point of every song. Where Madness Dwells is noticeably darker, focusing more on a riff based approach to the songwriting. 

TheNwothm: Do you have any favourite tracks from those albums?

I.F: On Blood Red Victory, my favorite songs are Blood Red Cross and Seekers of the Blade. The first two songs on Where Madness Dwells are my personal favorites on that album, Everlasting Fire and Under the Spell.

TheNwothm: You’ve contributed tracks like “Firestorm” and “The Contract” to various compilations. What’s the significance of these tracks in Ironflame’s discography?

I.F: You never know which songs will stand out on an album until people hear them and give you feedback. Firestorm and The Contract are songs that we got immediate positive feedback from. To this day, they have been on virtually every live set we have played.

TheNwothm: Are there any collaborations or guest appearances you’d like to pursue in the future?

I.F: Nothing has been planned, but I am always open to collaboration with other artists. Guest appearances are super fun and I would definitely entertain the possibility if it came along. 

TheNwothm: Last year you put out “With Kingdom Torn Asunder!” What can you tell us about the writing and recording process of that records? Did you approach it differently to your previous works?

I.F: Kingdom Torn Asunder was actually written and recorded before Where Madness Dwells. I wrote that one in 2019 and held onto it for a few years before releasing it. I didn’t change anything about the recording process. The only real with that album is having it mixed and mastered by an audio engineer in Germany. 

TheNwothm: Does the band follow a routine or structure when it comes to writing or recording?

I.F: The recording process always stays the same. I will write and record all the music and vocals myself. Then I send it to my guitarists who write and record their own guitar solos. From there, I mix and master it. 

TheNwothm: Are there any tracks on the album that are your favourites?

I.F: I like all of the songs for different reasons. If I had to pick favorites, I would go with songs like Majesty of Steel or Standing Tall because they translate really well on stage while being super fun to play. 

TheNwothm: How has the support from your fans and your label, High Roller Records, shaped Ironflame’s journey?

I.F: I can’t say enough good things about High Roller, they have always treated us very well and we’re proud to be part of their roster. It’s the fans who are the real reason this band took shape in the first place and we honestly owe them everything. 

TheNwothm: What songs are your favourites to play live?

I.F: We have a list of staple songs we rely on when we play live. The list grows with every album. It’s great when a fan favorite song also turns out to be a fun song to play live. 

TheNwothm: What tours have you got planned for 2025? 

I.F: Yes! There’s always something in the works. We’re currently working on live dates in US and Europe, maybe we put out a single in the summer? As always we will release details as they transpire.

TheNwothm: Musically what is next for Ironflame?

I.F: The music is ever evolving. It seems to be getting darker and angrier with time. And I’m okay with that. Hopefully the fans will appreciate it too.

TheNwothm: Where can fans follow you online?

I.F: We are everywhere! Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.

TheNwothm: Where can fans buy your music and merch?

I.F: US fans can get merch directly from the band on our bandcamp page which is ironflame.bandcamp.com. For European fans , we have albums available on the High Roller Records site. 

TheNwothm: What advice would you give to aspiring heavy/power metal bands trying to break into the scene today?

I.F: That’s an easy one…..be yourself! Be true to yourself and play what you feel. 

TheNwothm: Anything else you would like to mention?

I.F: Thanks for the opportunity to speak! Cheers!