Ah, Ironflame are on the warpath again. And this time, they’ve got Worlds to Conquer. Not countries, worlds. Well, what can I say? Gotta have a noble goal in yer life, right? Over the past years, the band inevitably landed in our review pipe whenever the crew here picked up one of their concoctions. And it always was that Power and Heavy Metal mix that drew us to them.
And – the crew’s unsure if you noticed – there’s some (sturdy) progression going on in their storyline. They went from a blood-drenched victory, over a kingdom in mucho trouble, to worlds worth taking over. That’s quite the change in oomph and ambition. Let the force guide us to wherever it may.
Kingdom Torn Asunder got its high-octane fuel from Power Metal. Hence, our references to some of the major screamers in PM en vogue today. Now, Worlds to Conquer gets its power juice more in the typical Heavy Metal beatz this crew is pretty fond of, as well. And that’s quite a change in direction. In other words, the record unloads a lot of Iron Maiden, with a fair dose of Dio baked into their metal, and some subdued Helloween added for good measure. And in truth, the maidens always seemed to gallivant about some planet or other over the years. So, what we hear fits the narrative in a way.
Now, this time, you’ll find no speed-crazed huffin’ ‘n’ puffin’ about the tracklist. Pretty much all songs boast a somewhat majestic, yet high-octane-laden mid-tempo trajectory. Exactly what good, traditional Heavy Metal of the ’80s often has in store. Back in time, records such as this one were regarded as pretty heavy fare. Some called it hardcore, even. No pun intended toward today’s hardcore movement,1 by the way. That’s a different animal altogether.
And same as the folks over at Lion’s Share, Ironflame won’t make a secret which way their metal bread is buttered. In other words, the band won’t reinvent Heavy Metal, far from it. Yet the musical prowess on full display is outstanding. Multi-instrumentalist Andrew D’Cagna2 (Unwilling Flesh) and his merry session dudes let loose with the usual selection of those juicy stereotypes that we all love. And whilst nothing new will spew forth, any fan of traditional Heavy Metal will get their fill.
You’ll find powerful, high-pitched riffing, often delivered with a heavy stomp and sometimes a bit speedier, and solos just the way we love them and out there in space. The production is clear and pretty flawless, with a mix and a somewhat heavy master that works really well with the daemonic space-time theme at hand. The bass, however, seems to have gotten lost somehow amid all that swirling turbulence. But it’s D’Cagna‘s relentless and ever-present vocals that really prevent this record from even getting near any mud to get stuck in.
And which tracks stood out to us? The powerful combo of Night Closes In and Legion of Fire surely will send you on your merry way. Shadow Slave is the one track we should have had more of. A track with real potential to kick this record up a few notches. Real power will greet you there, so we suggest you visit. The last must-have pitstop truly is Worlds to Conquer, the title track. If ever you’re looking for the essence of the record, this piece should be the first one to visit.
In the end, Worlds to Conquer sent us yet another sturdy example of their metallic art. Same as its brethren, the record won’t bring new vibes to an old genre. But once Ironflame get down to it, this record will stand out as one of the better traditional metal pieces of 2026.
Recommended.
Record Rating: 7/10 | Label: High Roller Record | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 14 August 2026