Metal maniacs, rejoice! I am proud to present to you: IRON KINGDOM; unsigned independently, hailing from Canadian grounds - performing Heavy Metal, on their 5th full-length studio album entitled: "The Blood Of Creation" (released November 4th, 2022). Since formation in 2004 (as TWISTED, until 2011); the quartet in question have 5 full-length studio albums in their discography so far entitled: "Curse Of The Voodoo Queen" (released December 14th, 2011), "Gates Of Eternity" (released April 26th, 2013), "Ride For Glory" (released July 30th, 2015), "On The Hunt" (released October 4th, 2019), and this here 5th offering of which I am introduced to entitled: "The Blood Of Creation" also including a live album entitled: "Unleashed At The Kraken (Live In Seattle) (released December 2014), in their discography so far. 8 tracks ranging around 43:26; IRON KINGDOM arranges an intricately designed formula on some heavy-hitting Heavy Metal developments.

Opening up with this atmospheric ambience of the windy seas; "Tides Of Desolation" rifts with a groovy strife of strident rumbles & reverberating melody that sets the tone until a blistering barrage frenzy in "Sheathe the Sword" revels with riveting remedy that thuds with sturdy weightiness, whilst punching out sonically seamless velocity, where rich yet sulphurous volatility trembles speakers with wildly rushing sharpness that sounds chunkily heft - distorted wise. This razor riffing stability synergises with uniquely versatile vehemence on solid slabbiness that soars with monolithic tempo, maelstrom ferocity and dexterously dynamic guitar fretting from twinning shredders Chris Osterman (also on vocals) & Megan Merrick who rampantly rev their fierce firepower expertise with rompy technicality. Synthetically sounding programmed production wise; the momentous tonality roars with zealous rips that slay with harmonic grit, concretely forging a fluidly polished perseverance on striking pursuit & towering panache that showcases quintessential organics within this utility on rollicking substance that's most tremoring.

Chris' vocals yell with throaty singing amongst a high-pitched robustness that surges with raw pipes of screaming finesse and mellifluously uproarious heralds in shouty resilience, whilst manifesting with an eclatfully inducing attribute in executing a bleeding flair for good measure. "Queen Of The Crystal Throne" elements at an intriguing experimentation on hybrid euphony; fabricating at a catchy aesthetic and enthralling calamity on primitively rollicking chugs as well as a flamboyant frolic in rhythmic throttles of dense crunchiness, bulldozing eardrums with piledriving persistence on persevering mobility that's most relentlessly steamrolling. A firing all cylinders approach belts a clobbering foundation in an all guns blazing craftsmanship ability within "Hunter And Prey"; nothing but a creative conundrum in impactful impulses excels at a flexibly fundamental agility in radically nimble yet rapid swiftness that supplies with vibrantly potent meatiness on an acute level, empowering one with rambunctiously pummelling pounds with thumpy & stompy bass audibility from Leighton Holmes alongside hammering drummer Max Friesen who pulverises the set with steely precision.

"Witching Hour" unearths more sublime yet proficiently slick virtuosity; where memorable songwriting musicianship transitions with magnificent, old school metal tropes that ramifies with thrilling prodigiousness while prestigiously salubrious traditions in Heavy Metal masquerades bombard heads into an amplified adrenaline in boisterous but bouncy jumpiness that's most motivating whilst banging - intrigued within this varied slice of diverse force that's sophisticated in every sense. "In The Grips Of Nightmares" materialises with more massive rhythms on progressive, chunky and adept instrumental craftsmanship immensities... intensely flooring it with systematic swerves that provide some beefy gallops in headed echoes of rolling thunder, which revolves with methodical but hymnal chimes that's rather splendid to listen to. The penultimate track "Primordial" is a brief interlude of more majestic score in Heavy Metal loftiness; whilst the overall concluding banger of the titular track; being a longevity of 13:38, completes the record with supreme, but awe-inspiring grandiosity.

Bottom line; I am compelled to say that IRON KINGDOM most surely outdone themselves with "The Blood Of Creation", while the arrangement can sound to be a little computerised and unrealistic... I find that this still can be an enjoyably entertaining discovery should you fancy a Heavy Metal offering to get you through the day with. A distinctively distinguished experience in Heavy Metal relishment distils at an epically entrancing adventure, should you desire it. It won't win record of the year, but an injection in infectiously venomous momentum most definitely deserves interest - do check it out.