I have enjoyed all their prior albums a lot, although I did feel their 2022 album Where Madness Dwells, slightly suffered in the production department and the hooks were not as prevalent as prior material.  That has been corrected with Kingdom Torn Asunder, which is one of their best releases.

10 songs in 50 minutes “Blood and Honor” is a scorching opening song with its galloping power metal speed.  Andrew D’Cagna is still helming the band, but he does it all.  He does have some guests and has a live line-up, but his vocals are arguably the best with this new album.  Phenomenal old school nods to Iron Maiden and Judas Priest and Helloween with this opening track speeding forward pretty fast.  This reminds me of 1987, in Germany with all the heaps of power metal bands from that area.  Whether it was Helloween, Scanner or Angel Dust, new bands were popping up all the time.  This is one of the strongest songs opening any of their albums!!

“Soul Survivors” is a slower song with extraordinary guitar harmonies and super catchy vocal tones,  Andrew can still reach those highs without issue, incredible and the guitar playing here, is the best for any Ironflame album.  Epic Heavy Metal done right!!  There is a great guitar solo towards the end of the song with a bit of galloping speed to round this song out, the right way.  “Standing Tall” brings the speed back, after some excellent songs, such as “Majesty of Steel”, with its epic sound, in only four-and-a-half minutes.  “Standing Tall” is fast and then slows down a bunch to bring in excellent guitar melodies until that speed returns and it’s just pure galloping power metal fun!!!  Excellent vocal harmonies too and this a terrific song, with some gang vocals, and the song just sounds big!!  So many creative twists and turns in this 5+ minute tune.  There is more speed with “Riding the Dragons” and while listening to this you should be watching Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon for the full experience.  This song reminds me of Visigoth, in many ways.  Epic, melodious with multiple twists and turns with the varying tempo shifts.

The last two songs are bonus tracks, “Cold Flesh Falls” and “Exile of the Sun” have different production values.  Maybe these were left on the cutting room floor for a reason.  I am happy to have the bonus songs, however they’re actually not as good as the rest of the album.  These are slower, more atmospheric pieces of metal.  Still cool to have them.  Overall Kingdom Torn Asunder is produced excellently and it just sounds massive.  The songs hit harder and are played with more gusto than their last album and this is a very memorable album.  Ironflame is a terrific band!!

“Gates of Evermore” gets things started in a fast paced power metal/even speed metal territory if you will.  The riff is outstanding and Andrew’s vocals are excellent.  He sings in a variety of tones.  Has the perfect power metal voice and he sounds very similar to Michael Kiske on the Keeper of the Seven Keys albums – absolutely brilliant.  A lot of classic Iron Maiden riffage going on and then really super up with the speed moments.  Excellent guitar solos and then the catchy melodic power metal riffing comes in and over the super catchy chorus, this is one of the best songs of 2020 -easily.  “Honor Bound” starts almost as “Victim of Fate” from Helloween.  The opening riff almost seems as an homage to the legendary song.  Phenomenal dual guitars – wonderful mix to capture the main riff and the second guitar track with the melodies.  You completely forget you’re listening to a 1 band band.  Ironflame never sounds like a 1 main act – never, not any of their prior awesome albums.  The song goes back n forth with the faster moments and mid-paced moments – never devoid of melody.

The title track has a very epic opening guitar riff where you just want to pound your fist and metal horns in the air and the head banging beat is contagious.  I can’t but bob my head to this song constantly.  Some awesome Bruce Dickinson vocal parts and then the melodic riffing and main riff is just phenomenal.  The song remains in this mid-paced slower epic style for its entire duration and it’s like christ each song is better than the next – how can this be.  “Grace and Valor“ has more melody and some monster double bass moments and the song, just like all the others, has monster guitar hooks and some real nice bass guitar moments on this.  The rhythm section over the double bass is a thing of beauty.  “On Ashen Wings” is another super fast power metal number equipped with monster guitar hooks and excellent vocals.  “Night Queen” ends the album and has a catchy chorus.  More of a melodic, ballad number.  Still very good, more of a whimper of an end, as opposed to the entire album, but the chorus-damn so catchy.

Ironflame’s Blood Red Victory may very well turn out to be the best metal album to come out of Ohio all year – I have no idea – many great albums in this sector of the country this year.  This is pure metal through and through and enough power metal to knock you on your ass and wrap your head inside out.  This is the catchiest album for 2020 with a production that captures the musical essence and phenomenal quality of this special band.  This sits alongside great with their 2 prior awesome albums.  I am so happy to have Ironflame in my collection and they are one of the finest current power metal bands out there – I mean each song has severe catchiness – so look out.  Blood Red Victory is an easy Buy or Die!