IRONFLAME · Worlds to Conquer | SLIPCASE CD

CD in slipcase.

Background information about ''

Since the 1980s, Cleveland has been a relentless wellspring of pure heavy metal, and Ironflame — the brainchild of Ohio-based multi-instrumentalist Andrew Della Cagna — keeps that fire burning with absolute conviction. Worlds to Conquer is album number six from this one-man army, and honestly, the man just doesn't miss. Recorded in his modest home studio with music tracked in 2023, vocals in 2024, and solos wrapped in 2025, Della Cagna once again handles every instrument and all vocal duties himself, only handing off lead guitar spots to his live axemen Quinn Lukas and Jesse Scott. The result? A record that feels both intimate and colossal — the kind of heavy metal that rattles your ribcage while reaching for the sky.

From the very first notes of the title track, you know exactly where you stand: this is traditional heavy metal played with heart, guts, and an unshakeable belief in the power of the riff. Worlds to Conquer absolutely soars on galloping rhythms, twin-guitar harmonies that would make the NWOBHM proud, and Della Cagna's unmistakable Dio-esque vocal delivery. Speaking of which — Shadow Slave is the clearest love letter to the late, great Ronnie James Dio you'll hear this year, a driving, fist-pumping anthem that feels like it was pulled straight from 1984. But Ironflame isn't merely revivalism; tracks like Legion of Fire and Where Cauldrons Burn crackle with their own identity, balancing epic storytelling with razor-sharp hooks. Della Cagna also took on mixing and mastering duties himself this time, and the warmth and punch he's coaxed out of his home setup is nothing short of remarkable.

For fans of:
Dio, Visigoth, Eternal Champion, Manilla Road, Cirith Ungol

Other Versions

BLACK LP · 20,99 € MARBLED LP · 23,99 €

Track listing

1. Night Closes In
2. Legion of Fire
3. Dynasties Fall
4. Where Cauldrons Burn
5. Shadow Slave
6. Crimson Shores
7. Valhalla is Calling
8. Worlds to Conquer
9. Death's Immortal Flame (Bonus Track)

Manufacturer: High Roller Records, Bertolt-Brecht-Str. 1a, 08412 Werdau, Germany, Contact: www.hrrecords.de