IRONFLAME - Blood Red Victory
Divebomb Records
Does anyone remember "battle metal"? It was a genre tagline from a decade ago. Basically, as far as the music goes, you had bands performing either melodic death metal or power metal. Now the lyrical themes (or shtick if you prefer) was a mixed bag of Norse mythology, the crusades, knights clashing, warriors of old battling it out. And to a small degree some were bestowing virtue to piracy.
The whole thing only lasted a few years as far as popularity goes. I must admit there's a nice size collection of CDs by those types of bands on the rack. But hey what's not to like about metal bands doing songs about iron and steel. Of course when you started seeing, for example, a Canadian band singing about pirates or an Argentinian act pushing out viking mythos it got stupid.
So when I first checked out this third album by Ohio's IRONFLAME I couldn't help but think of battle metal. Now I'm not going to toss them into the pot. But ya know the lyrical themes are all here. They've got songs about battles, honor and glory. Basically everything you'd find in the liner notes of a MANOWAR album.
On the other hand the music itself is pretty damm good. This band reminds me of early TWISTED TOWER DIRE. Who by the way were favorites of mine. You've got these beautiful melodic rhythms which just carry you along. The vocals, which range from from real guy stuff to a mid range high are perfect. Finally there's the lead guitar work which ebbs and flows throughout every cut like a cutting scythe or a violin composer.
In the end I like this album a lot. It's total fantasy metal which I've always loved. Epic in a way which makes your metal loving spirit rise. Throw the horns up to this Ohio band people. Save some room on your battle vests for their logo patches. Have a slot open on the next Keep It True fest. Better yet play this every morning this year when you wake up to face the world. A battle rages and IRONFLAME is on your side.
http://www.divebombrecords.com/site/
https://ironflame.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/IronflameUSA/
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