Let’s face it: there’s no shortage of Heavy Metal bands trying to reach the old ways. But every now and then, one of them actually nails it. THRONE OF IRON has been marching towards that goal since 2018 and with “Adventure Two”, I feel like they’ve planted the flag. This is the sound of a band who knows exactly who they are and what they’re here to do: tell tales of might, magic and mead with riffs to cleave bone. Right from the opening track ‘Denied’ THRONE OF IRON opens the door with a song that instantly recalls the epic Heavy Metal sound, but with a bit more grit under the fingernails. Tucker Thomasson’s voice is full of bark and bite, leaning more towards storytelling than theatrics, and it works. You’re not being sung, you’re being told something important before the next battle begins. Compared to 2020’s “Adventure One”, this feels like a more realized effort. The band is tighter, more adventurous, and (perhaps) most importantly, more fun. I definitely enjoyed the track ‘Upon A Bloody Shore’. It is energetic, powerful and I found the guitar sections and solos amazing. While fast and mighty, it’s also full of feeling, something I’m always interested in. I think in fact, that this is my favorite one on the album. I’ll jump into ‘The Holy Fire Of St. Djezzagh’, another piece of beauty. It’s heavy as fuck and almost thrashy, but still with the feeling inside. Amazing! Finally, we have ‘The Ninth Level’, the closing track, hypnotic, leaning into a more atmospheric side, without losing the grit that defines them and showing a level of maturity and presenting us a band that is conjuring storms. THRONE OF IRON is definitely a band for those who love the old school Heavy Metal sound. And they’re not just playing dress-up with the classics by any means. There’s personality here, humor, heart and a real sense of adventure. And yes, maybe “Adventure Two” doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. What it does is roll that wheel down a dungeon corridor at full speed, crashing through skeletons. This is the kind of Heavy Metal that makes you want to drink a cold beer and get ready for the upcoming battle. Check them out! www.facebook.com/throneofiron, www.facebook.com/noremorserecordsgreece