Release date: 25th July 2025

Born in the shadows of Santiago, Chile, IRON SPELL began casting their heavy metal sorcery in 2013. Founded by drummer and composer Felipe Carvajal (aka Steelhammer), the project was initially a passion fuelled homage to the genre’s golden age—where the theatrical darkness of King Diamond met the raw power of Black Sabbath, and the glam-fuelled fire of KISS, Alice Cooper, Twisted Sister, and W.A.S.P. burned bright.

What was meant to be a full-length debut took a detour when early collaborators lacked the commitment needed to match Carvajal’s vision. But out of that chaos came “Heavy Metal Witchcraft,” a four-track EP that exploded across the underground. Shared on social media, it caught fire, drawing the attention of multiple labels in Europe most notably DYING VICTIMS, who first released it on cassette, followed by limited vinyl and CD editions.

IRON SPELL took the stage for the first time in March 2014, and despite inevitable lineup changes, they forged ahead with unrelenting purpose. That persistence paid off with the release of “Electric Conjuring” in 2016 a full-blown assault of vintage metal thunder, even featuring a guest appearance by none other than Judas Priest’s Richie Faulkner.

2021 brought fresh offerings: the live EP “Live Magic After Midnight” and the compilation “Witching Hour – The Best of Iron Spell,” released in Argentina. But these were only preludes to their most ambitious work yet.

Now we arrive in 2025 with the bands latest helping “From the Grave.” The band are back hungry, thirsty and more ferocious then ever!

Review

Curse of the Ushers fades in and does not mess around getting straight to the metal.The riffs come at you full of attitude and menace! I say this after going through the album that I think that is has one of the best intros on the record. The track is rammed full of tasty riffs and ideas that are sure to delight listeners. I particularly love how the drums bounce along adding some character to the track. Later in this song there is a section that feels somewhat exotic which is an interesting little touch. I feel like I am transported to lands far away and grasped by the rays of the sun. The solo is hot and heavy though the china smashes are a bit to piercing. Either the track proves to be a pretty solid start to the album!

Sorceress also fades in from the darkness but soon enough jumps on you with an explosion of riffs and fast rhythms.This is another fast and furious song full of might and heroics. One thing in particular I like about this song is how there is a nice little dose of harmonies that pop in and out of the song throughout. And the solo is certainly dazzling for sure! I feel that the instrumental stuff is something of a strength that Iron Spell has and it certainly shows here!

There seems to be a recurring use of fade-ins, and Release from Darkness continues that trend. The track opens with tightly arranged harmonies—something the band handles particularly well. Throughout the song, there are numerous tempo shifts and rhythmic changes, which keep things engaging. However, certain sections especially the slower, darker passage can feel overly dense, with a lot happening at once. The choruses are a standout feature, coming across as rich, powerful, and impactful. The guitar solo is another highlight. It’s given space in the mix, allowing it to breathe and fully showcase its character and flair. Overall, it’s a well-executed track that plays to the band’s strengths in arrangement, dynamics, and lead work.

While Witches Dance changes the tone with some light breezy acoustic ideas to begin. These light delicate notes sing across the width of the soundscape while some gradual leads slowly creep in telling their tale. it feels a bit magical and mystical which is certainly a welcome change. But then the hard pounding of drums and drooling riffs come in hungry. The song is surprisingly an instrumental which is excellent as you get to dial in into some epic playing. The first half is mid tempo but then soon enough everything picks up and we get stuck into more tasty riffs and thick chunky rhythms. The solo work in the second is explosive some pyro going off. It returns to some acoustics for a moment and then gives us some huge sounding chords and drums to end.

Whispers of Sorrow intro of bass and 16th note drum pattern stomps is sure to have everyone clapping or pumping fists in a live setting. There is certainly a more calm feel at moments when instruments strip to bass and lingering notes and the use open chords ringing out add some weight to the song. I think the chorus on this certainly stands as one of my favourites as it is more simple yet the layers are what make it. The solo like some of the others on the album also stands strong!

Devil King’s intro feels like something from a battle or the courts of royalty with skipping snare patterns and crying lead guitar notes.But then it takes charge with thunderous drum and bass patterns and powerful rhythms that spark and smoke. The vocals throughout flow pretty well but I feel the chorus was a bit odd. Otherwise some pretty killer ideas are present! The solo rose from the earth and lit up the sky with electricity, especially in the harmonised sections!

Deep in the Night is just that. The intro yet brief is somewhat haunting with the the chimes of bells and background winds blowing. Guitar ideas tinged with nostalgia come in with snare hits before we jump into the main body of the mix. There are some epic sounding rhythms here and the shouts of “Deep In the Night” are sure to get people joining in throwing all their passion into every fist pump.

Black, Hot & Heavy blasts full pelt creating a sweat. The drum and bass ideas push everything forward while the rhythm work does its thing. At moments I got a bit lost in everything, the vocals just blend in a little to much at points but thats that does not take away from some of the killer lead stuff that is going on especially on the solo section.

The title track From the Grave has arrived, and it opens with a wash of heavenly sounds—lush synth beds and majestic, harmonized lead guitars that soar above the clouds. Though brief, the piece is a worthy addition to the album, radiating a deep warmth that’s instantly captivating. Yet, just beneath its serene surface, it takes a slightly darker turn, with resonant chimes and haunting, shifting pads that add a compelling emotional depth.

And so we reach the final track of the album and that is Children of the Night! A drone brings things in and again big glockenspiel type notes break through the mix before the guitars sneak in. The song moves into a stomp where you get to the feel the bounce and swing of the song. The layered vocal sections add something unexpected to the song moving away from the typical heavy metal delivery.

Conclusion

The album delivers a solid dose of heavy metal nostalgia and narrative flair, drawing heavily from the spirit of ‘80s metal with its sinister storytelling, dark atmospheres, and sharp, memorable riffs. Whether exploring gritty street-level tales or drifting into the supernatural, the band performs with confidence, style, and a clear sense of vision. Still, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the production, something feels slightly off. It might be the guitar tones, the vocal delivery, or the way the vocals sit in the mix, but there’s a subtle disconnect that lingers. It doesn’t undermine the album’s strengths, but it does leave a curious shadow over an otherwise compelling experience.

TheNwothm Score: 8/10

Links

Bandcamp: https://ironspell.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ironspell

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/iron.spell/

Label: https://dyingvictims.com/index.php