Metal has been around more than half a century now, and it has splintered in so many different directions that you need multi-word descriptors to accurately convey most bands’ sounds. That’s great progress though, and we’re very lucky to have the richest the genre awards us, but it also is nice when a band simply can be called Heavy metal.

Ironflame is one of those, and their sixth opus “Worlds to Conquer” adds to their solid resume that’s been in creation for a decade now. This Andrew D’Cagna-led project has been a consistent producer ever since forming, and this new record keeps hitting on the power-friendly path they’ve blazed with their unmistakable energy. Rounded out by guitarists Jesse Scott and Quinn Lukas, bassist James Babcock, and drummer Noah Skiba, Ironflame hit on fantasy themes, great wars, and domination, packing a blast into these eight (or nine, depending on which version you grab) songs that bleed with muscle.

“Night Closes In” opens with keys stinging and the singing soaring, a fiery pace kicking up and driving heavily. “The sun never rises again,” D’Cagna calls over the chorus, “a curse on the dark hearts of men,” as the drums burst, and the drama burns freely. “Legion of Fire” has leads swirling and gruffer singing, mashing and trudging as blood smears. The soloing ignites, D’Cagna wails, “We’re waging a war, we’re crushing empires,” as the pace bubbles, and the intensity chews on nerve endings. “Dynasties Fall” has aching leads and the power battling, a strong chorus making your heart race, the soloing catching fire and leaving an ash trail. The power spills over as the catchiness ignites fires, getting into your bloodstream and carrying you away. “Where Cauldrons Burn” takes off with whipping energy, the verses add further crunch, and the singing soars, adding even more gust to the chorus. There’s an undeniable ’80s feel to what’s going on, which adds more grit and thicker roots, the melodic leads are forceful and chewy, and everything trickles into space.

“Shadow Slave” charges, driving fast and tensely, the singing rousing. “Their souls cannot be saved, their hearts cannot be tamed,” D’Cagna calls, dual leads tangling as the solo zaps, the drums wreck bones, and the energy spills over the side. “Crimson Shores” enters in a drum attack, speed becomes a fast factor, and the pace stomps, quaking the earth. Leads snarl as the tempo trucks, the playing lashing with thorny strides, the drums burying you under rubble as waves crash the shore. “Valhalla Is Calling” is, as its title hints, glorious as hell, riffs snaking as Norse mythology flows from creative veins, D’Cagna wailing, “Where heroes meet in the end,” over the blistering chorus. The playing then takes an early Maiden turn, spirited “woah!” calls rupture, and the final blasts add to the growing fire. The closing title track has riffs snarling, a calculated pace pushing, and punches landing, the singing stinging faces. The leads tangle as D’Cagna howls, “Defeating heroes and monsters,” over the chorus, the last blasts sending shrapnel flying.

“Worlds to Conquer” is another blast of classic power metal from Ironflame, one that harkens back to this sound’s origins and the history it has written the past few decades. D’Cagna remains one of the strongest voices and creators keeping this sound alive and vital, and every ounce of this album explodes with passion. This is impossible to shake, a record that ignites hearts and reminds of the unquestioned power of heavy metal.

For more on the band, go here: https://ironflame.bandcamp.com/

To buy the album, go here: https://www.hrrecords.de/IRONFLAME

For more on the label, go here: https://highrollerrecords.bandcamp.com/