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| IRONFLAME - Kingdom Torn Asunder LP | |
HRR 941LP, ltd 700, 300 x black + 400 x galaxy effect vinyl, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, insert | |
| ANDREW D'CAGNA - vocals JESSE SCOTT - guitar QUINN LUKAS - guitar JAMES BABCOCK - bass NOAH SKIBA - drums | |
| 01 Blood and Honor 02 Soul Survivors 03 Majesty of Steel 04 Mistress of Desire 05 Standing Tall 06 Sword of a Thousand Truths 07 Riding the Dragons 08 Shadow of the Reaper | |
July 26th | |
Since the eighties, Cleveland has always been a hotspot for great heavy metal music. Ohio-based Andrew D’Caga continues this tradition in true style. Over the past years, the multi-instrumentalist has been active in more than half a dozen bands, among them Brimstone Coven and Icarus Witch. His main priority, however, is his own project Ironflame, for which he writes the music, lyrics, handles all the instruments and sings.
Originally formed in 2016, Ironflame have released four full-length records to great critical acclaim and fantastic fan reactions. 2017’s »Lightning Strikes The Crown« was followed by »Tales Of Splendor And Sorrow« (2018), »Blood Red Victory« (2020) and their High Roller debut »Where Madness Dwells« (2022).
“2022 and 2023 were productive years for the band,” explains Andrew D’Caga. “High Roller released »Where Madness Dwells« on CD format in July 2022. Later that month we headed to Germany where we had the honor of playing Headbangers Open Air festival alongside some fantastic metal acts. To make the most of the trip we drove down to Switzerland and played a gig in Aarburg with our good friends Comaniac. We returned to Europe in September 2023 to play another great German festival, Storm Crusher. It was the festival’s ten-year anniversary and we decided to write a song entitled ‘Storm Crusher’ in honor of the event. The song was debuted live on stage where we were joined by Markus Becker from Atlantean Kodex and Todd Michael Hall from Riot V on guest vocals. It was truly an incredible experience. We wrapped up the weekend with another Swiss date and returned home. We finished up the show season by performing at the LA Gates of Metal festival in California. We also delivered the masters for the new Ironflame album to High Roller, entitled »Kingdom Torn Asunder«.”
“»Where Madness Dwells« was very well received, by both press and fans alike,” continues the vocalist. “I was a little apprehensive that the more traditional heavy metal approach of the album might challenge a few of our fans, but thankfully my concerns were quickly dashed. »Where Madness Dwells« is definitely the darkest, most serious piece of music in the Ironflame catalog. I was feeling a certain way when I composed the album during the pandemic, and I had hoped that others in the world would relate to those same feelings on an emotional level. They did.”
Which brings us to the new album, of which Andrew says: “If I had to describe the album to anyone who is already familiar with Ironflame and is a fan of our music, I would say you will not be disappointed. To my ears, »Kingdom Torn Asunder« is a classic Ironflame album. All of the elements that make an Ironflame album are present: twin guitar harmonies, memorable hooks, catchy choruses and good album flow. The writing formula has not changed for us, neither has the recording formula. I handled all of the vocals, guitars, bass and drums as usual. Everything except for guitar solos, which were once again done by Quinn Lukas and Jesse Scott.”
So musically speaking, is »Kingdom Torn Asunder« a direct continuation of »Where Madness Dwells«? “This album actually kind of sounds like a step backwards for us, because it technically is,” comments the multi-instrumentalist. “You see, this album was actually written and recorded before »Where Madness Dwells«. I recorded the songs for this album not long after our first European tour at the end of 2019. It was scheduled to be the fourth album. My best friend/business partner died suddenly in early 2020, followed by the pandemic. I wrote the songs for »Where Madness Dwells« as a result and felt that it was important to release that first.”
In my ears, »Kingdom Torn Asunder« sounds a lot like classic European power metal in the vein of prime-time Kiske-era Helloween and also Hammer Fall. Andrew nods: “I can absolutely agree with you when it comes to the faster songs on the album, like ‘Blood And Honor’ or ‘Standing Tall’. I was a huge fan of Kiske and Helloween since I was a kid in the late eighties, »Keeper Of The Seven Keys« was a very powerful album to me. Hammer Fall was not what I would call a direct influence but I do respect and appreciate all they have done to carry the torch for heavy metal for so many years.”
Here and there traces of classic, Dio-period Rainbow are also to be found on »Kingdom Torn Asunder«. Have Rainbow ever been an inspiration for Ironflame at all? “Oh yes, definitely,” beams Andrew D’Caga. “Ironflame does a handful of select cover songs when we play live, and one of them is ‘Man On The Silver Mountain’. It’s one of our favorites to play live. I love all eras of Rainbow but I must say that the Dio era is absolutely my favorite.”
»Kingdom Torn Asunder« is full of great tunes, one of the most positive-sounding and uplifting numbers is called “Majesty Of Steel”: “Well, thanks for saying that. I am glad you dig that song. It’s one of my favorites on the album as well, maybe our most upbeat ever for us? The title may make the listener think it is about a sword or something. It is actually about driving really fast in an old classic car, a different kind of steel.”
The crunching, rather slow “Sword Of A Thousand Truths”, however, is one of the most epic moments of the record, fantastic rhythm section and wonderful melodies there, sort of a mix of Rainbow, Warlord and »Into Glory Ride« era Manowar. “I wanted to do another song that had the feel and the stomp of ‘Fallen Glory’, a song from the first album,” explains Andrew. “I had the working title for a long time, inspired by an episode of »South Park« that was about the online game »World Of Warcraft«. I chose to write about an ancient sword cursed by an evil force, imbued with the power to capture the soul of every person it killed.”
“Riding The Dragons”, on the other hand, is much more straight forward, speedy heavy metal, as the singer/bassist/drummer/guitarist confirms: “Indeed, ‘Riding The Dragons’ is a pure traditional heavy metal anthem, another song that would feel right at home on our debut album. It’s everything that you either love about heavy metal or may consider ‘cheesy’. I never really understood the term ‘cheesy’, because it tends to imply something isn’t good. But doesn’t everyone really love cheese!? I sure do. I think cheese is delicious.”
The guitar sound on the album is crystal clear, very transparent and upfront in the mix, which makes »Kingdom Torn Asunder« a joy listen to (especially under headphones): “I personally love the guitar tone on this album. I recorded each rhythm guitar through two different amps and mixed the two tones together to create one large tone. I used the same Fender Strat that I have used for every album so far. The amps I used were a Mesa Boogie Rectifier and a Blackstar. As much as I love the tone, I tend to experiment the most with guitar tones from album to album and will most likely go a different route with each one.”
There are two bonus songs for the CD, namely “Cold Flesh Falls” and “Exile Of The Sun”. Why didn’t these two make the album proper, didn’t they fit musically or were they considered not as strong as the rest of the material? “I think the two bonus tracks are just as strong as any other on the album,” stresses Andrew. “But I had to make a choice about which eight tracks would be on the LP, so I went with the songs that I felt complimented each other the most. As can be said for songs that have ended up as bonus tracks in the past. I predict that some fans will claim that these songs are some of their favorites on the album.”
MATTHIAS MADER