IRON KINGDOM
“The Blood Of Creation”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

10/10

Iron Kingdom are a traditional heavy metal band from Canada formed in 2011, releasing five albums to date – ‘Curse Of The Voodoo Queen’ (2011), ‘Gates Of Eternity’ (2013), ‘Ride For Glory’ (2015), ‘On The Hunt’ (2019), and ‘The Blood Of Creation’, released in 2022…

…featuring forty four fabulous minutes of classic sounding heavy metal, very much in the vein of iconic bands such as Helloween, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Iron Kingdom’s fellow countrymen Anvil. Despite a number of line-up changes during their decade long career, the band have maintained their unrelenting charge of traditional heavy metal…the new album a barnstorming barrage of “foot on the monitor” metal to get the adrenaline flowing and the blood pumping. ‘Tides Of Desolation’ is a one minute tension fuelled intro that sets a sky high anticipation level for what’s gonna come next. And what comes next – is sheer heavy metal heaven, that’s what! ‘Sheathe The Sword’ a blistering high velocity rampage of fast and furious heavy metal – kinda like Helloween, but faster, much faster! Iron Kingdom firing on all cylinders as ‘Sheathe The Sword’ hurtles on by. By contrast, ‘Queen Of The Crystal Throne’ is a much more sedate and majestic stroll of heavy hitting heavy metal – the kind you’d expect of an anthemic metal band such as Saxon. The difference between the opening two songs is astounding, Iron Kingdom displaying two sides to their electrifying arsenal.

Red hot speed lights up the album once more with ‘Hunter And Prey’ setting a devastating pace of power and punch. Much heavier than either of the two previous songs, ‘Hunter And Prey’ will ensure mosh pits stay at a heightened level of ecstasy – with every single metal head vigorously rocking their head back and forth. What a determined and barnstorming opening triple salvo! And again the band change gears, moving forward with a glorious gallop straight outta the eighties heyday for heavy metal evolution – ‘Witching Hour’ perfectly echoing the essence of traditional foot on the monitor heavy metal. Iron Kingdom are four thousand miles away from the birthplace of heavy metal – the UK. But boy are they more than capable of recreating the British feel and vibe. Kudos Iron Kingdom, kudos.

And hold on tight, here comes a ravenous roller coaster ride, courtesy of ‘In The Grip Of Nightmares’ – the heaviest hitting offering heard so far. The band meld pace and melody perfectly, creating an atmosphere of awe and wonder… ‘In The Grip Of Nightmares’ unrelenting in its melodic march of power and poise. ‘Primordial’ is an anticipation fuelled one and a half minute instrumental that acts as an intro for the albums final song, the incredible thirteen minute plus epic title song ‘The Blood Of Creation’ – and what a song it is! Legendary metallers Iron Maiden are famous for long album enders, with Iron Kingdom matching them step for step with their own swashbuckling showstopper. ‘The Blood Of Creation’ (the song) has everything – pace, power, an incredible melodious intent, and an infectious level higher than heard anywhere else! What an album Iron Kingdom have crafted – quite possibly the best of their career to date. The band are simply getting better and better…their first ten years have been great – just imagine what they can achieve in the next ten!

Overall, a barnstorming barrage of blistering heavy metal, highly head bang-able and immensely infectious.

TRACKLIST

Tides Of Desolation
Sheathe The Sword
Queen Of The Crystal Throne
Hunter And Prey
Witching Hour
In The Grip Of Nightmares
Primordial
The Blood Of Creation

http://www.iron-kingdom.com/
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