This is going to be the week of Heavy and Power Metal. And it’s true, the RMR crew truly is a sucker for these two genres. So, we’re all ears whenever there’s a chance for another band braving these overwrought styles’ boundaries. Case in point, many bands already roared over our threshold here coming from a bundle of metal flavors many pronounced dead already. Some of them very good, others less so.
Ironflame already made a dent in the History ov RMRTM back in 2020 with Blood Red Victory. A speeding ticket in search for a fine, the record nonetheless convinced the grouchy geezers at the Review Desk. A record not without flaws, but energetic and well-crafted nonetheless.
Now, four years later, Kingdom Torn Asunder roars onto our mighty music radar. It’s still undeniably Ironflame but – boy – their style matured. Before we found the lust for speed at the detriment of a coherent production. This time, their style migrated to a mix of Heavy and Power Metal and an amalgamation of too much Iron Maiden, a good load of Dio, and by far not enough Unleash the Archers. The Power Metal the band throws at ye truly ain’t of the feel-good kind but delves deeply into realms where the likes of Mad Max dwell. So, you won’t find any Karevik crooning at you. Bits of sound catering to Kiske or Slayes will be more likely to appear. Definitely.
Of course, you’ll still find unhinged speed galore (Blood and Honor). Soul Survivors or Majesty of Steel would feel right at home on any of the late Saxon pieces. The energetic Riding the Dragon could easily make an appearance on any one of the maiden properties. Whereas the aforementioned Dio seems to beckon us on the remarkable mid-tempo Sword of a Thousand Truths. And yet, the nearest Kingdom Torn Asunder comes to own a true ballad is probably the latter track, were it not for the demo-esque bonus track Exile of the Sun that somewhat carried that particular flag. And that, even if it won’t be part of the official cut of tracklist items. On the downside, the RMR crew obsessed less over the strenuous Mistress of Desire. Four and three-quarter minutes ever repeating patterns and riffs that bored us halfway to kingdom come.
So – yet again – Ironflame serves us with dragons and fantasy galore, as befits a proper Heavy Metal outfit with aspirations to reach the lofty realms of speedy Power Metal. The record finds Andrew D’Cagna in fine form, again taking care of writing and recording everything except for the guitar solos provided by Quinn Lukas and Jesse Scott. Kingdom Torn Asunder comes along like one well-oiled power machine gorging with a gazillion hooks. The tag-team approach of the guitars with the resulting harmonies are often stunning and the aforementioned solos of the first order. The fare on offer oscillates from mid-tempo riffs to speedometer overload.
Ultimately and compared to the band’s former works, Kingdom Torn Asunder now displays an act sure of its capabilities. The RMR crew found a welcome swagger and a way meatier production than before. Gone is that tin can feeling and in come crystal clear phrases. It’s an infectious record that will please Heavy Metal fans anywhere in the world. On the flip side, Ironflame very much went a-stealing in works of the olde masters. No outright copies, mind you, but close enough to discern only too easily from which metal corner the influence came from.
That said, Kingdom Torn Asunder is a fun record, a neat example of how such a piece ought to sound. Practically devoid of the usual cheese attack, it delivers what the Heavy and Power Metal fan craves. And I daresay, the piece risks to burn all those festival stages to blackened cinders. Powerful, well-crafted, and steeped in metal history. A record that will remain on our playlist for a while to come.
Record Rating: 7/10 | Label: High Roller Records | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 26 July 2024