ALBUM REVIEW: Ironflame – Where Madness Dwells

Ohio Heavy / Power Metal mob IRONFLAME are back with their 4th album (in 6 years of activity, these guys are truly prolific). Out now via High Roller Records.

Taking a a quick sample before bursting into life with melodic, fist-pumping Heavy Metal, there is an immediate joy in hearing this record spring to life. Bruce Dickinson style vocals soar upon melodious and epic Heavy Metal riffing and pounded drums with some gorgeous cymbal work. Despite being extremely well-suited to my taste, I am a new listener of this 5-piece and their marvellous brand of music, but I knew within the first track that it was for me. Taking a very high-value production that is crystal clear without feeling overly mechanical, a fantastical cover art and instantly easy-to-love music, anyone who likes Heavy Metal should get a very strong first impression. Rhythmically, this band is extremely strong, with their tracks necessarily suited to headbanging while the lead work is equally impressive, injecting a liveliness into the higher end, which alongside the aforementioned cymbal work punches through the unwavering clunky bass, snares and power-chord striking. Realistically, this is nothing we have never heard before, but those early moments should have you gripped nonetheless.

Though strongly referencing early Power Metal and NWOBHM, there is a nice injection of Speed Metal into the sound too, which gives tracks a ferocious bite to them while keeping the traditional angle of the record firmly in Ironflame’s sights. 80s era Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest meeting Agent Steel and Liege Lord and even a touch Helloween and Tarot is a mix that is absolutely killer. One can complain of bands being derivative, but personally I love bands keeping the old school Heavy (or Death, or Black, or Thrash, or any other) Metal alive and kicking, especially when doing such an honourably fine job. With this being said, Ironflame are no carbon copy of any given act, as throughout the album you can hear their influences being proudly worn on the sleeves while shifting the sound healthily too. The progressions feel very organic and the playing is impassioned and hard-hitting. This is definitely the real thing.

Every track feels carefully picked to develop the melodies and atmospherics in an interesting manner wherein no single element is too played out, nor do things shift too quickly to get into the groove of. This is music that has been refined and streamlined in the rehearsal room, rather than in production. These songs take form and play out in an exciting, adrenaline-pumping way that feel like all undesirable factors were ironed out by the band actually playing together rather than by studio magic that would just as quickly chop out any real character. The way the record finishes on a sample feels like it comes full circle, which is a clever trick that makes you want to listen again and again. At the golden length of just under 40 minutes, there is plenty to explore through many listens without feeling like a chore for even a second. The often simple but evocative chorus approach will ensure legions of fans will be attending any future live shows to wail along, while the overall songs aren’t too predictable (at least within the framework of what the band has set out to do). No pretentious musical waffling, no piss-weak ballad (okay “A Funeral Within” is a bit more sombre, but it still feels like a fist-pumping and energetic song), no feigned intellectual pandering, just pure ripe ‘n’ ready Heavy Metal. Take it or leave it.

A blistering cut of pure old school Heavy Metal that harkens back to the legendary days of old with a sparkle in the eye. Rather than mourn the passing of times yonder, Ironflame bring them to us in the present with magnificent results. “Where Madness Dwells” is true metallic might that relies only upon excellent songwriting and musicianship which is undeniably delivered in spades.