Iron Mask (band)

This article is about the band Iron Mask. For a mysterious prisoner in France under the reign of Louis XIV, see Man in the Iron Mask.
Iron Mask

Iron Mask at Graspop Metal Meeting 2010
Background information
Origin Belgium, Brussels
Genres Power metal, neoclassical metal
Years active 2002 - present
Labels AFM Records, Lion Music, Marquee/Avalon
Associated acts Magic Kingdom, Fairyland
Website www.iron-mask.com
Members Dushan Petrossi
Mark Boals
Vassili Moltchanov
Mats Olausson
Roma Siadletski
Ramy Ali

Iron Mask is a neoclassical/power metal band formed in 2002 by Belgian guitarist Dushan Petrossi, also known from the symphonic metal band Magic Kingdom.[1][2]

History

Revenge Is My Name (2002-2005)

Petrossi signed with Lion Music in early 2002 to record a side project, Iron Mask. The band’s name and some songs of the first album were based on the book Man in the Iron Mask by Alexander Dumas. The album was titled Revenge Is My Name. Bass was recorded by Vassili Moltchanov (Magic Kingdom, Cryme), vocals were performed by Phil Letaw (Karyan, Cryme, Stormy Night), keyboards - by Youri De Groote.[3][4]

Hordes of the Brave (2005-2009)

In April 2005, Iron Mask had a different line up for the album Hordes of the Brave. The band inaugurated Goetz "Valhalla Jr" Mohr (Arrow, Hanz Damf, Rolf Munkes) as vocalist. Guest vocalist Oliver Hartmann (At Vance, Avantasia, Edguy, Aina, Magic Kingdom, Freedom Call, Helloween) added vocals to three tracks. The keyboardist Richard Andersson (Majestic, Time Requiem, Space Odyssey, Karmakanic, Evil Masquerade, Adagio, Silver Seraph) is responsible for all the keyboards solos on Hordes of the Brave.[5][6][7]

In November 2005 the band gave several concerts in Europe to promote Hordes of the Brave, touring with Canadian heavy metal veterans Anvil and Phantom X.[8][9] The shows were filmed, and as a result in 2008, Iron Mask contributed to documentary film about Anvil, called Anvil! The Story of Anvil, as well as to soundtrack for the film.[10][11]

Shadow of the Red Baron (2009-2011)

In 2010, the band's third album, entitled Shadow of the Red Baron, was released. Petrossi wrote and produced eleven songs. The vocals were performed by Goetz "Valhalla Jr." Mohr on all songs, with the exception of "Dreams", which was sung by backing vocalist Oliver Hartmann. Another guest was Lars Eric Mattsson who played the third guitar solo on "Sahara". Still on bass guitar was Vassili Moltchanov, but a new drummer was found in Erik Stout (Vengeance, Joe Stump, Daize Shayne); keyboards were played by Andreas Lindahl (Wuthering Heights, The Murder of My Sweet, Narnia, Loch Vostok, Audiovision, Manticora, ZooL, Platitude). As with the previous album, Roma Siadletski (Magic Kingdom) performed extreme vocals. Jens Bogren (Symphony X, Opeth, Soilwork, Paradise Lost, Universum, Amon Amarth, Collarbone) was responsible for the sound.[12][13]

Iron Mask at Power & Prog Metal Fest 2011

Due to vocalist Goetz "Valhalla Jr." Mohr's health problems, Iron Mask brought Carsten "Lizard" Schulz (Domain, Altaria, Shining Line, Eden's Curse) to perform vocal duties at their appearance at Graspop Metal Meeting on June 26, 2010, in Dessel, Belgium. There were also a couple of other lineup changes: Ramy Ali (Freedom Call, Kiske/Somerville, Evidence One, State of Rock) was the band's new drummer. Philippe Giordana (Magic Kingdom, Fairyland, Kerion) handled the keys as Andreas Lindahl was tied with other work engagements.[14][15][16] On 4 December 2010 the same band-lineup performed at Frostrock metal festival (Kuurne, Belgium), the other participants - At Vance, ReVamp, Primal Fear.[17]

Black as Death (2011-2013)

On 30 April 2011, the band played a concert at Power & Prog Metal Fest (Mons, Belgium) alongside with Europe, HammerFall, Gamma Ray and Vanden Plas.[18]

In July 2011 the band announced, that for the forthcoming album Black as Death [19] part of vocal duties would be performed by ex-Yngwie Malmsteen singers Mark Boals (Royal Hunt, Ring of Fire) and Göran Edman (Karmakanic, Brazen Abbot, Jayce Landberg, Time Requiem). Mats Olausson (Yngwie Malmsteen, Ark, Evil Masquerade, John Norum) will be responsible for all the keyboard parts. The mix and production will be done by Denis Ward (Pink Cream 69). For the album the band signed in September 2011 with AFM Records. Black as Death was released on 16 December 2011.[20][21][22]

Fifth Son of Winterdoom and upcoming studio album (2013-present)

In 2013 Iron Mask announced the forthcoming of 5th studio album Fifth Son of Winterdoom. The album was released on 8 November 2013 by AFM Records with Mark Boals on vocals.

The band started working on a new studio album in July 2014[23] and is currently in the songwriting process as announced on 1 April 2015.[24]

Discography

Studio albums

Contributions

Music videos

Members

Current lineup

Former & guest members

References

  1. News Archives: Iron Mask blabbermouth.net. Retrieved on 2010-08-07
  2. Tartarean Desire webzine. Iron Mask Band Page tartareandesire.com. 2004-01-04. Retrieved on 2010-08-07
  3. Martin Popoff. Iron Mask - Revenge Is My Name bravewords.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-07
  4. Stefan Glas. Iron Mask, Revenge is my Name rockhard.de. Retrieved on 2010-08-07.
  5. Shoegazer Ross. Iron Mask - Hordes of the Brave metalexpressradio.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-07
  6. Reckert Klaus. Dushan Petrossi's Iron Mask - Hordes Of The Brave gaesteliste.de. Retrieved on 2010-08-07
  7. Stijn Lambert. Iron Mask, Hordes of the Brave rockreport.be. Retrieved on 2010-08-07.
  8. Doug G. Iron Mask announce European tour dates metalunderground.com. 2009-11-04. Retrieved on 2010-08-07
  9. Graspop Metal Meeting Official Site. Iron Mask:Biography/Discography graspop.be. Retrieved on 2010-08-07
  10. The Internet Movie Database. Soundtracks for Anvil! The Story Of Anvil imbd.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-07
  11. Yahoo! Movies. Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2009) Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved on 2011-04-10
  12. Lords of Metal e-zine. Iron Mask - Shadow of the Red Baron lordsofmetal.nl. Retrieved on 2010-08-07
  13. Ty Arthur. Iron Mask unveils new album "Shadow Of The Red Baron" Details metalunderground.com. 2009-03-12. Retrieved on 2010-08-07
  14. Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Iron Mask recruit Evidence One vocalist for Graspop appearance bravewords.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-07
  15. Graspop Metal Meeting Official Site. Affiche 2010 graspop.be. Retrieved on 2010-08-07
  16. Mindview Magazine (Belgium), issue No. 205-2010, p.59. Retrieved on 2010-08-21
  17. Frostrock festival (Belgium) frostrock.be. Retrieved on 2010-12-05
  18. Prog & Power Metal Fest (Belgium) ppmfest.com. Retrieved on 2011-07-14
  19. Iron Mask posts new track, unveils album artwork for Black as Death. metalunderground.com Retrieved on 2011-10-27
  20. Iron Mask official website. News. Retrieved on 2011-09-07
  21. Encyclopaedia Metallum. Iron MaskEncyclopaedia Metallum Retrieved on 2011-04-10
  22. Iron Mask signs with AFM Records. AFM Records. Retrieved on 2011-09-27
  23. "Started the new Iron mask album writing". July 9, 2014.
  24. "Song writing of the next IRON MASK album is going very well". April 1, 2015.

    External links