Stormzone – ‘Immortal Beloved’

(Escape Music)

Stormzone’s Immortal Beloved lands like a clenched-fist reminder that traditional heavy rock never went away, it just sharpened its claws in the shadows and waited for the right moment to strike. Hailing from Northern Ireland, a region with a proud but often under-celebrated rock and metal lineage, Stormzone sound like a band fully aware of their roots and utterly unapologetic about wearing them on a studded sleeve. This is heavy rock steeped in NWOBHM tradition, but delivered with modern muscle, confidence, and a clear sense of identity.

From the off, Immortal Beloved crackles with that unmistakable old-school electricity: twin-guitar bite, galloping rhythms, and choruses built to be yelled back from sticky club floors. Stormzone aren’t reinventing the wheel here and thank the metal gods for that. Instead, they focus on making that wheel spin faster, louder, and with maximum impact. The album feels like it’s been written by musicians who grew up absorbing Maiden, Priest, and Saxon, but who also understand that energy and conviction matter just as much as heritage.

Shaun Nelson-Frame and David Shields guitars are front and centre throughout, delivering riffs that swing rather than simply pummel. There’s a real sense of movement to the playing, classic heavy rock dynamics where tension and release actually mean something. Solos soar without lapsing into self-indulgence, serving the song rather than hijacking it. That NWOBHM influence shows up not just in the note choices, but in the spirit: melodic, anthemic, and proud of its working-class grit.

Vocally, Immortal Beloved is a triumph. Vocalist John Harbinson walks that fine line between power and personality, delivering strong, clean lines with enough edge to keep things dangerous. There’s a storyteller’s quality to the performances – commanding without being overbearing, melodic without losing bite. Choruses are big, bold, and clearly designed to stick in your head long after the speakers have gone silent. This is the kind of vocal performance that turns solid songs into lasting ones.

Rhythmically, the album punches hard. The bass and drums lock together with the kind of tightness you only get from a band that’s put in serious hours on stage and in rehearsal rooms. There’s a no-nonsense drive to the material that suits Stormzone’s sound perfectly – no flashy distractions, just a relentless push forward. When the tempo drops, it’s deliberate and dramatic; when it accelerates, it feels earned rather than obligatory.

Lyrically, Immortal Beloved sticks to themes that feel timeless within heavy rock: passion, defiance, endurance, and emotional intensity. There’s a romanticism running through the album, not the soft-focus kind, but the dramatic, almost tragic grandeur that classic metal has always done so well. It fits the music like leather fits denim, reinforcing the sense that Stormzone know exactly who they are and what they want to say.

One of the album’s greatest strengths is its consistency. Across its runtime, Immortal Beloved never loses momentum or purpose. Each track feels like a natural progression rather than filler, and the sequencing keeps the listener engaged from start to finish. This is an album that respects your time, it gets in, makes its point loudly and clearly, and leaves you wanting to hit play again.

There’s also an undeniable sense of place embedded in the record. Stormzone carry themselves with the hunger of a band that’s fought for every inch of recognition, and that Northern Irish resilience bleeds into the music. You can almost smell the sweat of small venues and hear the echo of amps bouncing off concrete walls. This isn’t polished arena rock – it’s honest, hard-earned heavy music that feels lived in.

Production-wise, Immortal Beloved strikes a pleasing balance between clarity and rawness. Everything sounds punchy and present, but not over-processed. The grit is intact, the edges aren’t sanded down, and the album benefits massively from that authenticity. It sounds like a band, not a computer program and in today’s over-sanitised landscape, that counts for a lot.

‘Titanic (Steel Meets Ice)’ sets the tone immediately – big riffs, cinematic weight, and a sense of looming drama. It’s classic metal storytelling with muscle, galloping forward like an unstoppable force.

‘Tyrannosaur (Screaming In The Night)’ is fast, fierce, and packed with NWOBHM bite. The riff struts, the chorus roars, and the whole track feels built for sweaty late-night singalongs.

‘My Immortal Beloved’ is the album’s emotional core. Epic and melodic, with a soaring vocal performance that balances romance and power without tipping into sentimentality.

‘Stand In Line’ is a no-nonsense heavy rocker. Tight rhythms, punchy riffs, and a defiant edge give this one serious street-level grit.

‘The Hammer Has To Fall’  is a mid-tempo crusher with real weight behind it, driven by a commanding groove and an anthemic, call-to-arms chorus.

‘Hands Held High’ is uplifting without going soft. There’s a strong melodic hook here, paired with a sense of unity and resilience that feels earned.

‘Ironclad’ is hard as nails. This is Stormzone at their most uncompromising, delivering steel-plated riffs and a relentless forward drive.

‘Blood and Tears’ is darker in tone, heavier in feel. The band dig deep emotionally here, letting atmosphere and dynamics do the heavy lifting.

‘The Reckoning’ is urgent and fiery. A classic heavy metal gallop powers this track, with sharp guitars and a vocal full of righteous intensity.

‘The Light Of Day’ provides a moment of reflection without losing momentum. Melodic, hopeful, and expansive, it shows the band’s knack for pacing an album.

‘Until I Found You’ is warm, heartfelt, and melodic. This one leans into classic hard rock sensibilities while keeping the emotional punch intact.

‘Heart On Fire’ does exactly what it says on the tin. High energy, big chorus, and undeniable swagger, this one is tailor-made for live audiences.

‘Facing Time’ is thoughtful, powerful, and resolute, it brings the album full circle with maturity and conviction.

In the end, Immortal Beloved is exactly what heavy rock should be in 2026: respectful of its past, confident in its present, and hungry for more. Stormzone don’t chase trends, and they don’t need to. They deliver strong songs, powerful performances, and an album that feels built for the stage as much as the stereo. If you’ve got a soft spot for NWOBHM, classic heavy metal hooks, and bands that play from the heart rather than the algorithm, Stormzone have just given you a record to treasure. Turn it up, raise a fist, and remember why this music still matters

7/10

Essential Track – ‘The Hammer Has To Fall’

Review by Woody