About Us

Kingdom in Flames

Combining elements of Metal, Prog, Djent, and Modern Rock, the end result is tight and blistering at times, big and epic at others, but always pure, uncompromising, and raw.

Over a year in the making, Kingdom in Flames debut album "Inside the Upside Down" is the culmination of countless hours of writing, to create the album we have all dreamed of making.

Comprised of 5 veterans of the East Coast scene, these musicians have come together with a singular goal: To put out the best album that has hit the area in a very long time.

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Bruce Baldwin

Vocals

Bruce Baldwin joins the band in early 2022 and adds the final piece of the KIF puzzle.  Baldwin's story is a bit different than the normal musician's strive for success.

Traditionally spending years playing and developing your own sound and style, Baldwin's story was more of him just being himself and being in the right place at the right time. In 2004, Baldwin was out with friends and it just happened to be karaoke night. After being coaxed by his friends to jump up and give it a try, the reluctant Baldwin gave in to peer pressure.

Unknowing to him, in the crowd was a member of a local Baltimore band Tripwire, who witnessed this unrecognized talent. Soon after, Baldwin was approached and asked to join the band.

20 years later, Baldwin continues to front the band.

Fast forward to 2022, almost the very same story plays out again. This time it's Rich Davis in the crowd. Davis was in the process of putting together the KIF line-up and was in need of a vocalist. After hearing the first set from the band, Davis knew he had found what they had been looking for, and the vision was now complete.

Davis had Baldwin come to the recording studio where they were planning on tracking all the vocals, with the idea of introducing the recording process to their new singer for the first time. The finished vocal tracks on the song "Black Widow" were the result of the first meeting that evening.

Rich Davis

Guitars

Rich Davis formed the band Kingdom in Flames in 2022 after his 7 year run as a solo artist.

Davis has had a successful career in the music scene, going all the way back to the early 80's. Founder of the band Mystic-Force, Davis had a 25 year run and 4 albums with the band, leaving a mark in the Progressive music world. To this day, Davis and Mystic-Force just signed their 4th record deal for the band to re-release the entire back catalog.

After leaving the band Mystic-Force, Davis started a new band, Shift, with former Mystic-Force drummer Chris Lembach. Forming in 2003, Shift released two full length albums, "Creating a Monster" and "Led, Judge and Jury".

Then in March of 2015, the solo project began. Davis remained relevant in the heavy metal industry, having created 30 songs, 14 videos, and two double CD/DVD combos during this time.

After taking a break from live performances to focus on his solo career, Davis is excited to bring the new project back to the live stage.

Steve Shaffer

Guitars

Steve Shaffer has been a local musician of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia since the 1980's. Shaffer has been a valued contributor of premier cover bands and original projects that bring his passion for guitar and love of music to the East Coast music scene.

Playing iconic venues like Hammerjacks, Rams Head, Trifecta Festival, and Ocean City Bike Week for over 40 + years, Shaffer has been shredding since his high school days.

Following his first band, Fugitive, Shaffer was a part of bands such as The Urge, Burn, Deadlock, and Core. These days, Shaffer tours with Doc Marten and the Flannels, a 90's tribute band.

Shaffer and Davis have been friends since the 80's, thanks to Mystic Force bassist Keith Menser. Shaffer joined Mystic Force in the late 1980's and was a member of the band for over a year.

Shaffer and Davis' connection would last much longer than the Mystic Force days, as the duo would go on to play together in Shift and the latest solo project by Davis, "Save Your Breath" featuring drummer Ashley Maccabee.

Shaffer, Davis, and Maccabee would continue writing together and adding vocalist Bruce Baldwin and bassist Donnie Rush to complete the formation of
Kingdom in Flames!

Ashley Maccabee

Drums

Ashley Maccabee is a drummer and multi-instrumentalist that has been a part of the Maryland metal scene for 20 years.

Maccabee has performed alongside with a variety of local and national acts during that time, including Exist, Anubis Unbound, Luminosity, Inoculum, Offensive, The 10th Hour, Bound State, Vitality, as well as many others.

Maccabee has been producing bands from around the area at his home studio, Antithesis Recording Studio, since 2007, as well as his own solo project, Diffractions, since 2014.

Maccabee also works as a session drummer, and would begin collaborating with Rich Davis for his solo project in 2019. Years later, the two would go on to help form Kingdom in Flames.

Currently, Ashley teaches drum lessons and produces music out of Frederick, Maryland.

Check out all his latest projects at Maccabee's website and social media pages!

Donnie Rush

Bass

Donnie Rush started his musical journey in 1999. Spanning 25 years, he has played in projects covering a large portion of the rock genre.

He has played in a number of projects before joining Kingdom in Flames, including FKNA, Cold and Ugly (TOOL tribute), Tank Murdock, Unbroken, and Resist. Throughout his career, Rush has been in 2 Jagermeister-sponsored bands, has opened for multiple national acts, as well as played in the Inaugural Mayhem Festival.

Rush's eclectic musical tastes bring a different dynamic to the band. His influences span a wide variety of musical styles and genres from Motown to Djent, Nordic folk music to Progressive Metal, and Delta Blues to straight up Thrash.

The collaboration with these 4 incredible musicians is a project that he has wanted his entire career, and the end product is one that he hopes you will enjoy as much as he does.