Metalcatto
Usually, when I hear Finland and Black Metal, I tremble. Not because the music is bad, but because the scene is a PR nightmare. I don’t have the time or staff to stalk every band on social media. However, Flame is a band I’ve never heard of, and I was a bit puzzled by the promo. Needless to say, a title like Ignis Draconis Daemonicus is over the top enough to catch my attention. Anyway, we’re ready.
Rancid and crusty are great ways to describe Ignis. It might have one of these pretentious Latin names, but everything here is classic Black/Thrash. The riffs are ridiculously direct. There’s no ambiguity—you’re getting destroyed the old-fashioned way. I guess thematically there’s a lot of blood and horror here, but in practice, the attack speed takes over. This is Mongrel’s Cross but without the melodies. The guitars are sharp, the drums are relentless, and the whole thing feels like being caught in a blizzard made of razor blades.
Some breaks here are nothing but strange, yet they fit what’s going on really well. They’re necessary when we’re getting punched left and right with little to no mercy. The vocals are pretty disgusting, and the production is exactly what you should expect from properly punishing Black Metal. The attitude is there, but the writing is pure Thrash. The tempos shift unexpectedly, the riffs are angular, and the whole thing has a chaotic energy that keeps you on your toes—even if it never fully surprises you.
I don’t feel there’s much horribly wrong with this album, but it does feel one-note. As in, its consistency is overwhelming. All the main tracks follow a clear path, and though it’s interesting, you can get numbed if you’re not really super in love with this sick sound. It’s more of a super niche product than something that will convert you into the faith. The album doesn’t offer many dynamic shifts, and after a while, the relentless pace starts to blur together. That’s fine for fans of the style, but it won’t win over any skeptics.
I’m satisfied. It wasn’t all fireworks, but Flame definitely has the fire. Don’t hit me—the pun was there. I think the band has a few things to improve, but overall, this is a solid album that doesn’t fool us in any way. Speed is the name of this game, and though there’s not much shredding, the album doesn’t need it. It’s here to ruin your day in a good way. So if you’re looking for something fast, filthy, and unapologetically old school, Ignis Draconis Daemonicus will scratch that itch.
Label: Primitive Reactions
Release date: September 25, 2026
Website: https://www.facebook.com/satansflame
Country: Finland
Score: 3.3/5.0
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