Artist: Flame
Country: Finland
Label: Primitive Reaction
Formats: LP / CD
Year: 2026
Flame fans are always called upon to be patient. This Finnish band isn’t exactly known for its brisk pace of work; there are usually many years between the few releases they put out, and with ‘Ignis Draconis Daemonicus’ we’ve had to wait another six years. Now, the Finns’ blend of black and thrash metal is certainly quite timeless, but every time they do pop up again, I realise just how much a band like this is actually missed; Flame can only be described as an underrated band. However, no need to mope, on the contrary: they have a new album out!
It should come as no surprise that this new album, only their third since their formation in 1998, offers little that is new. On the contrary, it would be more of a surprise (and a disappointment) if the band were suddenly to stray from their chosen path. That said, it is not as though Flame have not developed musically. Over the course of their nearly thirty-year existence, the band have certainly made progress; whether these are the right steps is for the listener to decide, but it is certainly true that ‘Ignis Draconis Daemonicus’ is a different sort of album to its two predecessors.
Whilst the debut, ‘Into The Age Of Fire’ from 2005 (Iron Pegasus), still had a delightfully messy production and showcased a much stronger Black Metal sound, the follow-up ‘March Into Firelands’ (2011, Primitive Reaction/Hells Headbangers Records) was already considerably heavier in character, with the sound striking a better balance between Black Metal on the one hand and 80s Thrash Metal on the other.
Anyone who has listened to the ‘Ignis Spiritus’ 12” EP, released in 2020, will have the best idea of what this new album sounds like; the style of that EP has carried over into this full-length album. This means that even more of the genuinely messy Black/Thrash Metal characteristic of the Flame sound has been filtered out. Although it still sounds recognisable and can still be categorised within the same subgenre, it’s quite conceivable that some of the band’s long-standing fans might find this a bit of a head-scratcher.
There are more than enough good riffs and enjoyable fast-paced passages to enjoy on ‘Ignis Draconis Daemonicus’, but overall it’s clear that the band has lost some of its unbridled, furious energy. This may be a deliberate choice as part of a somewhat mild change of direction, or it may be a result of the loss of their wild edge. Another reason could be that half the band was replaced in 2021 and now features two musicians from Evil Angel in its ranks, leading it to lean more towards a Heavy Metal/Thrash Metal sound. In a sense, it’s a similar path to that taken by that other Finnish Black/Thrash Metal band: Urn. The comparison makes sense, of course, not only because 75% of Flame’s current line-up have a history with Urn, but above all because both bands are musically very similar (and neither has ever received widespread acclaim). At present, Urn’s status is somewhat unclear (split up, disbanded, and yet a relaunch within the space of a few months), but what is clear in any case is that Flame have come up with a stronger album than the one Urn released before they left the scene.
Just don’t expect an album like the powerful ‘March Into Firelands’ (which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year) and certainly nothing much like the feel-good ‘Into The Age Of Fire’. Just like their peers Urn or Old, Flame have softened their sound somewhat over the years, making more room for Heavy Metal-oriented riffs and melodies. Less speed, more melody: I think it’s best to have a listen to ‘Ignis Draconis Daemonicus’ before buying it, especially if you’re a big fan of the previous two albums. For me, however, there’s no doubt about it: Flame may have mellowed a few notches, and whilst that ramshackle debut has never been surpassed in my view, the Flame is still burning bright.
