If we were lucky enough to have a look into the thought bubble above Ironflame founder Andrew D’Cagna’s head, we’d see the stuff of epic fantasy: dragon shadows coursing across monumental valleys filled with legions of battling warriors and the pyrotechnic glinting of sunlight on blood and steel. Of course, Andrew is a 21st century human being, so we’d also see elements of the same ol’ work-a-day bullshit that we all slog through while simultaneously navigating the anxieties of life, from the daily commute to the lingering specter of Death; it’d just be filtered through that fantastical filter with a decidedly heavy metal spirit and, occasionally, a relatable, if mildly absurdist, humor.
D’Cagna is the kind of guy who makes the kind of heavy metal that sounds like Heavy Metal, because he’s the kind of guy who will work references to bands like Manowar and Warlord and Helloween into conversations about election years and HOA complaints.
The mighty blaze at the heart of Ironflame’s forge has burned brightly since 2016 when D’Cagna lost a good friend and decided to honor their memory with a trad metal project. Albums sold and praise was heaped, shows and festivals were booked and Ironflame became an unstoppable force, with three albums coming over the next four years, all of them well regarded. D’Cagna will tell you he never intended to carry Ironflame past debut, Lightning Strikes the Crown, but listening to album number five, Kingdom Torn Asunder, it’s hard to imagine that the project’s enduring vitality wasn’t predestined, most notably in light of it’s big, bright, classic heavy metal spirit.
All the requisite pieces are there from infectious riffs, twin guitar harmonies, and driving rhythm to soaring melodies and fiery solos, but while D’Cagna honors the past, he doesn’t live there; these songs feel as modern as they do traditional, emphasizing the potency of the youngblood warrior who fights to further the glory of his forebears. Production is clean and clear and wide open, tilted toward the more modern edge of the classic trad era, late 80s, where the mids are thrust up front and the tone is crunchier, stabbier. And there is joy, a genuinely upbeat feel in the leads and especially the vocal melodies, sounding Ironflame’s alliance with the power metal titans of Europe. Tone and delivery combine for a strength that reflects that epic fantasy lore comprising the lyrical core and musical spirit, even when it dips into more contemporary metaphors.
The musicianship is impeccable and that’s all down to D’Cagna, of course, as he handles everything, except for the solos, which are awesome and plentiful and deftly executed by dueling axe masters, Quinn Lukas and Jesse Scott. Lukas and Scott began as touring guitarists and have become so integral to Ironflame’s rising power that they were integrated full-time. James Babcock on bass and Noah Skiba on drums have been lighting the stage ablaze with them for about as long. This is all important because so much of the band’s success has been fueled by the energy of their live show as D’Cagna has maintained a steady schedule of regional touring and festival slots around the world, so committed is he to keeping the flame alive.
Kingdom Torn Asunder is an album of triumphant power, the latest manifestation of a champion’s unyielding devotion to his mighty muse and the memory of a fallen friend, to honor him by raising fists with heavy metal comrades around the world. That it’s as absolutely fun as it is valorous is testament to D’Cagna’s and his mates’ comfort and confidence even among the towering columns of The Hall.
