James Legendforge: Lyrics Lost in a Wardrobe for 30 Years, Forged Into Power Metal
Photo: courtesy of James Legendforge / U-Rock® Network
James Legendforge is the melodic power metal project of Stoke-on-Trent songwriter James Spreadbury. "The Witchfinder's Flame," the title track of his debut album, has been approved for the U-Rock® Network.
The lyrics in the wardrobe
In an email to U-Rock® Network, James explained that most of the album's lyrics were written in the late 1990s. One of them, "The Space You Left," dates back to 1989. After he stepped away from music to focus on family and career, the handwritten lyrics "sat in a wardrobe for decades." He rediscovered them during a clear-out earlier this year.
In the late 1990s, James sang in a local covers band. The band played Helloween, Iron Maiden and American hard rock, and tried some originals using his lyrics. But he says the music "never quite captured the large-scale melodic and symphonic arrangements" he heard in his head.
Human words, AI-assisted production
James is open about how the songs were made. The lyrics, concepts, creative direction and original vocal recordings are his. AI-assisted tools helped generate and refine the arrangements, instrumentation, mixing and sound design. "The technology acts as a production tool operating under human direction rather than being the source of the artistic vision," he wrote. "The human element remains both the starting point and the final decision-maker." The Bandcamp credits list mastering by Pete Maher. After carrying the songs for more than thirty years, he said, hearing them finally sound the way he imagined was "an incredibly emotional experience."
The Witchfinder's Flame
The album was released on Bandcamp on 20 September 2026. It has ten story songs covering fantasy, fate, duality, madness, loss, environmental warning and the power of music itself. They run from "Sorcerer's Summit" and the Jekyll-and-Hyde tale "Alter Ego – The Beast Within" to the power ballad "The Space You Left." The closing title track was the project's first single. The album notes call it "a dark historical power metal tale of fear, persecution and injustice," about people condemned by ignorance and suspicion.
James told U-Rock® Network that the album has been covered by Metallurg magazine with a full-page interview, reviewed by Power Play UK in its October issue, and reviewed by Rock Hard Italy. Rock Hard Italy also has a full interview coming in its November issue. Bandcamp quotes Rock Hard Italy's 7.5/10 rating: "a well-successful experiment."
Why it matters on U-Rock® Radio
"The Witchfinder's Flame" gives decades-old lyrics a full cinematic metal setting, and it now plays on the U-Rock® Network.
U-Rock® Network play data: not yet logged. The release was approved for the U-Rock® Network through MusicSubmit.
Listen and follow - Bandcamp: https://jameslegendforge.bandcamp.com/ - YouTube: https://youtube.com/@james-legendforge
Sources 1. James Spreadbury (James Legendforge), email to U-Rock® Network, "Re: Your music was approved!" (29 Sep 2026) 2. Bandcamp, The Witchfinders Flame album page and credits — https://jameslegendforge.bandcamp.com/album/the-witchfinders-flame 3. James Legendforge, MusicSubmit submission to U-Rock® Network (21 Sep 2026)
