Ironflame – ‘Kingdom Torn Asunder

Power Metal

High Roller Records

Release Date – July 26th 2024

Review By Smudge Smith

Welcome to the fifth instalment of the Ironflame legacy. If you’re a fan of power metal, especially the European style then this is definitely for you. Everything is handled by the immensely talented Andrew D’Cagna apart from the guitar solos which are performed by Jesse Scott and Quinn Lukas.

Gird your loins and prepare for battle as ‘Blood And Honour’ rattles away on some rapid double kick drum action and a spidery guitar line. The vocals are first class – operatic and powerful and we get some twin harmonies before the searing lead breaks. What a great start! Another spidery riff introduces ‘Soul Survivors’ before it settles into a Priest like power metal groove then ‘Majesty Of Steel’ continues the great work. ’Mistress Of Desire’ is where things kind of drop off – it’s a mid-paced roller but the lyrics are poor, c’mon Andrew you can do much better.

‘Standing Tall’ proves he has it in him, man this goes for the jugular from the off. It’s proper fast and will get you throwing your horns then we get a real headbanger on ‘Sword Of A Thousand Truths’ which plods along and allows us to catch our breath. Wooah we’re off again on ‘Riding Dragons’ before another classy banger in ‘Shadow Of The Reaper’. I have two bonus cuts on my download – ‘Cold Flesh’ which weaves and grooves around and gets you fist pumping and a wonderful metal ballad – ‘Exile Of The Sun’.

Power Metal when it’s done well is superb and this is superb – mostly. The only fault in my view is ‘Mistress Of Desire’ but the rest of it is top notch. Loads of swords n sorcery going on with everything you would expect and more musically. This is 50 minutes where you can slip out of your dreary dull boring life and imagine yourself as the muscle-bound hero killing dragons with your huge sword and rescuing those scantily clad damsels… I’m off to play it again.

Track List –

1 – Blood And Honor

2 – Soul Survivors

3 – Majesty Of Steel

4 – Mistress Of Desire

5 – Standing Tall

6 – Sword Of A Thousand Truths

7 – Riding The Dragons

8 – Shadow Of The Reaper

9 – Cold Flesh Falls (bonus)

10 – Exile Of The Sun (bonus)