IRONFLAME is a traditional power metal band that came into being late in 2016. The band consists of Andrew D'Cagna former vocalist of the band DOFKA. Andrew does all the vocals and instruments on IRONFLAME's new album "Lightning Strikes the Crown", except for a few solos here and there that he brought in other guitarist for. The first track "Firestorm" starts out with a small drum solo before the guitars kick in. When the vocals start the music settles into a heavy cadence like a machine gun fire, only straying when from this for the chorus. This song is a good example of what to expect with the rest of the album with the classic power metal vocal style and the music.

"Heavy Metal Warriors" is the continuation of the epic story D'Cagna is telling with his music. Again, the music and vocals are strong in this song. The cadence is very similar to the other songs on the album. However, there are spaces where a nice guitar riff breaks up the sameness. Overall a very solid power metal song. IRONFLAME changes up the formulaic sound for "Eternal Night". Don't get me wrong it is still a strong power metal song, harkening back to Judas Priest. However, up to this point the cadence of the songs seemed to be very similar. With this song that cadence is still there, but it is changed up just enough to make the song feel fresh and different.

The band slows it down for the track "Fallen Glory". This is probably the best track on the album in my opinion. I enjoy the machine gun cadence of the other songs, but this song is beautifully written vocally and musically. "Fallen Glory" is the track that sticks with you days after you have listened to the album, and it's the one you can't help but play first anytime you play the album. I would have to say, "Shadow Queen" is the weakest song of the album. A very decent song but compared to the rest of the album the vocals and the music doesn't seem to have the same energy. After hearing the vocal range of D'Cagna on other songs this one just seems like a disappointment. On a lesser album this would be a very good song, but on this album, it the okay song.

Overall, I enjoyed Ironflame's "Lightning Strikes the Crown". The beginning of the album got a little to repetitive for me with the cadence of the songs. However, the band changed it up enough to the end of the album to peek my interest again. It is a strong power metal album, with some great guitar solos. As I said I think "Fallen Glory" is the gem of the album. If you listen to anything on this album listen to that song.