Ironflame – Where Madness Dwells
Release Date: 1st July 2022
Label: High Roller Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, Power Metal.
FFO: Visigoth, Iron Maiden, early Queensrÿche, Black soul Horde.
Review By: Rick Farley
Multi-instrumentalist and Ohio based Andrew D’Cagna is a one-man Heavy Metal machine. He’s been in more than half a dozen different bands over the years and is a member of two other bands currently working on new material, Brimstone Coven, and Icarus Witch. Ironflame however, started solely by Andrew as a project in twenty sixteen, was meant to be a tribute to a lost friend yet ended up being much more than that. The “one-time thing” debut was well received by fans and began to grow from there. Written and performed by Andrew, including vocals and all the instruments minus the solos, which were done by Quinn Lukas and Jesse Scott. Where Madness Dwells marks the bands fourth album and the most lyrically personal to date. Rather than typical fantasy style themes, the album focuses on more reality-based lyrics. Comprised of soaring vocals, classic heavy metal riffs with the grit of speed metal, sing along anthems, dual guitar harmonies and ripping guitar solos. This album is a love letter to denim jackets, fist pumps, and the infamous sign of the horns. A tribute to the glory days if you will, but extremely authentic. You can clearly tell this is the music Andrew loves and wants to play.
Video track Ready to Strike wastes no time declaring what Ironflame is all about. Crunchy, power and speed metal mixed with steel forged heavy metal hooks and melodic twin guitars. The first few striking chords and drum hits bring immediate energy, showing its heaviness and battle-ready low E string tremolo picked chugging. The riffs shift to a more power metal approach during the verse, with fast tempo and same warrior’s conviction. Andrew’s vocals are higher pitched and soaring; with some edge to it at times, he sounds absolutely fantastic. The combo of his sing along lyrics “ready to strike,” heavy chugging and double bass, makes you want to run through a brick wall head first. The tracks solo shreds with some thick sounding arpeggio’s and tasteful but technically fluid runs. The warm lead tone cuts through with razor sharpness, but never sounds too showy. It directly leads into a dual guitar melody reminiscent of NWOBHM’s glory days. This is pure intense heavy metal with major headbanging appeal. If you don’t punch the air and gleefully break your own neck, there might be something wrong with you. This song is the epitome of traditional heavy fucking metal and plain kicks your ass.
Album closer Where Madness Dwells powerfully starts with a thrashy mid-tempo, twin guitar melody attack like it’s nineteen eighty-four. The brief intro gloriously transcends into a doomy riffy chug and Andrew’s dynamic Bruce Dickinson-like vocals, ascending this song to monstrous heights. With elements of dual guitar thrash, the heaviness really comes out on this track, begging to swing its mighty axe upon your skull. Under the Spell is pure speedy power metal snarling with edgy adrenaline. The Dio and Dickinson vocal stylings are apparent on this song, which honestly shows how amazing of a singer Andrew really is. Being the songwriter, vocalist and recording all the instruments, his metal badassery is off the charts.
The record sounds great, with crisp and metallic tones. A bit light on the low end, but that can be forgiven simply because of the layered guitars and thick sounding drums to fill it out. You can however hear the bass easily, I would just like a little more heft to it. It’s edgy and raw, clearly not overproduced and has good clarity. Fantastic job.
The whole concept of the band in the beginning was to make the music Andrew himself would like to hear as a heavy metal fan. I can assure you, if you’re into the scorching anthem filled heavy metal attack of yesteryear even a little bit, you should check this album out. Ironflame is the real fucking deal. 
(4 / 5)
