Iron Mask

Iron Mask是一支来自比利时的PM团，2002年组建
4 years on from the critically acclaimed "Hordes Of The Brave" Iron Mask are back with their most potent release yet in "Shadow Of The Red Baron". Home to a fine collection of melodic neo-classical tracks, this album is full of first class material from start to finish. Chief songwriter and guitar virtuoso Dushan Petrossi's particular focus this time was to create superb songs first and foremost where the excellent musicianship only lift the music to an even higher level.
"Shadow Of The Red Baron" is home to 11 tracks which deliver melodic neo-classical metal yet is accessible enough for fans of traditional metal and power/symphonic metal to get into. Each of the 10 vocal tracks feature addictive vocal melodies in the verses and choruses. Dushan's virtuoso musicianship is stronger than ever here serving up a feast of metal treats. The lone instrumental "Ghost Of The Tsar" offers up something different with its aggressive vocals used to compliment Dushan's majestic fretwork.
Once again the stunning vocals of Valhalla Jnr are heard on the majority of the tracks whilst Oliver Hartmann has a guest lead vocal on "Dreams" as well as contributing to the backing choirs on the other numbers. New permanent drummer Erik Stout (Reign Of Terror) has added a solid backdrop to all tracks with Petrossi commenting "Erik is a real powerful drummer, I like his groove a lot, his tom files are like earthquakes, and he's the perfect guy for the melodic tunes we have on "Shadow Of The Red Baron". A new keyboardist in Andreas Lindahl (Wuthering Heights / The Murder Of My Sweet) is also present adding deft touches and fluid solos to the album whilts long term member Vassili Moltchanov still anchors down the bass. Finally Lars Eric Mattsson has a guest spot with his guitar solo being heard on the 3rd guitar solo on "Sahara".
On the album Dushan comments, "Once again there's a mix of epic tracks, melodic and neo classical numbers all with great musicians and vocalists, I'm very happy with the choruses of all songs, they stay in your head and this is really what I wanted. Nowadays it seems like bands have forgot how to write good songs, which is for me the most important thing".
In the run up to the albums creation Dushan endured a long family member illness followed by the passing away of his mother, this affected the lyrics and this emotional aspect can be heard in "Forever In The Dark", "My Angel Is Gone", "We Will Meet Again" etc. However, there are also the expected epic stories for the likes of "Black Devil", "Resurrection" and the title track. The album was produced by Dushan and mixed and mastered by Jen Bogren in Sweden at Fascination Street Studio (Symphony X, Opeth etc). Artist Eric Phillipe again produced a visually grabbing piece of artwork around the idea of the title track.
In addition a promotional video has been filmed for "Forever In The Dark" and this will be available on the limited edition first press only CD/DVD dual pack. The DVD is also home to in-depth interviews with the band as well as a guitar lesson with Dushan where he shows you how he plays various tracks on the album - a must own release.
BAND MEMBERS BIOGRAPHIES !!!
PERSONAL BIO: Dushan Petrossi - guitar
Age: 23/02/1973
Marrital status: single, one 10years old child (Anthony)
Nationality: Belgium
Other/current bands: Magic Kingdom
Previous bands: career started with MK and IM
Endorsements: Lag guitars, Elixir strings, Dunlop pics
Favorite bands: old Maiden, old Rising force, old SymphonyX, Gary Moore, Haendel, Bach and a lot more.
Favorite movie: Gladiator
Favorite food: 600 gr T- bone steak, Yugoslavic food, Italian, Chinese.
Favorite drink: Johnny walker red with coke, Slivovica, Jack daniels, hoegaarden white beer, Perrier, Ice tea
Taken from Hard Rock Haven - the best 25 guitarists in Rock/Metal:
"DUSHAN PETROSSI - This Belgian virtuoso is second to none today! Originally in a band called Magic Kingdom, his new album with side project Iron Mask is tremendous guitar work on many different layers. Speedy as it gets, menacing at times and clean as a can be, Dushan is extraordinary. The recent 2005 release Hordes Of The Brave is inspiring. The first track "Holy War", includes amazing tapping techniques, layers of heavy rhythms and great melody. Listed in the Neo-Classical Progressive metal category, this man is a genre-spanning maniac. He could step in and play lead for any band in the rock/metal world. His feel of fast yet searing demonic rhythms is so commanding I had chills for the entire album! His two albums with Magic Kingdom, Metallic Tragedy and The Arrival, are both great and include amazing axe work on tracks like "Child Of The Nile", and "The Fight". His songs are amazingly technical but also tremendously entertaining metal as well. He is the fastest symphonic clean note player since the great Yngwie. If you love great guitar, get online and buy any of his albums, and you'll see for yourself a modern day Malmsteen with a little bit more "heavy metal" feel to his playing!"
PERSONAL BIO: Goetz "Valhalla Jr" Mohre - lead vocals
Age: 300
Marrital status: What?
Nationality: Hessian
Other/current bands: Hanz Damf, Riff Inc., Titans
Previous bands: Tuned, Rolf Munkes Band
Endorsements: Dolp Cider, Heckler & Koch
Favorite bands: Black Label Society
Favorite movie: Werewolves On Wheels
Favorite food: Babies and small animals
Favorite drink: Bloody Mary
PERSONAL BIO: Andreas Lindahl - keyboards
Age: 27
Marrital status: Single
Nationality: Swedish
Other/current bands: Wuthering Heights, The Murder Of My Sweet, a ton of session gigs
Previous bands: Narnia, Platitude, Loch Vostok, Audiovision, Zool, another ton of session gigs
Endorsements: N/A
Favorite bands: Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Depeche Mode, Johann Sebastian Bach, Frank Zappa, Nicolas Makelberge, Cari Lekebusch, Cynic, Racer X, early Rising Force, Lale Larson, Shawn Lane, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Idol, Van Halen, ABBA. Not that some of them are bands anyway, but what the heck ...
Favorite movie: It's a tie between Night On Earth and 8 1/2
Favorite food: Shellfish
Favorite drink: xxBeer, wine, champagne, whisky, tequila, Bloody Mary, water, coffee, tea, Coke, Red Bull, Fanta Orange ... I guess you could say that whatever the situation calls for suits me fine.
PERSONAL BIO: Erik Stout - drums
Age: 34
Marrital status: Married
Nationality: Dutch
Other/current bands: Vengeance, Joe Stump, Daize Shane
Previous bands: All kinds of local bands
Endorsements: N/A
Favorite bands: Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Alice Cooper, Genesis, David Bowie, Pink Floyd
Favorite movie: Breakfast Club, any Muppets movie
Favorite food: Anything that tastes good
Favorite drink: Coffee, water, energy drinks, nice glass of red wine (every now and then)
PERSONAL BIO: Vassili Moltchanov - bass
Age: xxx
Marrital status: xxx
Nationality: Belgium/Russian
Other/current bands: Cryme, Magic Kingdom
Previous bands: xxx
Endorsements: xxx
Favorite bands: xxx
Favorite movie: xxx
Favorite food: xxx
Favorite drink: xxx