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Iron Mask - new album features Mark Boals; Iron Mask - new album features Mark Boals
Topic Started: Dec 16 2011, 01:33 PM (194 Views)
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As far back as he can remember passion was always the driving force for Belgian guitar maestro Dushan Petrossi. In the slipstream of his symphonic metal band Magic Kingdom, Petrossi followed his neo-classical influences with a second band Iron Mask, and it’s now some 10 years on the scene for both. All the dedication put into Iron Mask would finally result in the latter becoming the more successful of the two, especially in Japan where they are hailed as one of the best neo-classical power metal bands in years, but a rapidly developing fan base in Europe continues to prove that this band (and not Magic Kingdom) was the more vital way forward for the guitarist, when the ‘calling’ came and he started out on the road that would lead to Iron Mask’s debut “Revenge Is My Name", released in 2002.

Three years later the band would make an even bigger leap forward and impress with "Hordes Of The Brave", a strong and versatile neo-classical power metal opus with real venom that featured the skills of vocalist Oliver Hartmann (Avantasia, and ex At Vance) but a death in his family would throw the band off course and although Hartmann has continued to feature on all the Iron Mask material to date, it would take some five years before Petrossi and Co. released their definitive third album "Shadow Of The Red Baron", for whom reactions were again excellent and with whom the band would march forward.

Come forward to now, two years later, to the closing chapter of 2011 though, and Petrossi’s development will now surely continue again with the new (and fourth) album “Black As Death”! But it’s not just dedication that has got Petrossi and Co. to this point... With Hartmann out of the frame, it was the choice of singer that was the key, so step forward one Mark Boals, an American fella that once sang for Yngwie Malmsteen, and people immediately sat up and took notice when the first moments of this new album were aired, in the guise of song “Broken Hero”, released as a ‘sample download’ just last month.

“Having recorded the material,” explains Petrossi, “I realised that Mark had to be the best singer for most of the new songs!! Range-wise this is my most technically difficult album to sing, so Mark ended up on 10 songs, with guests Goran Edman on one, and Götz ‘Valhalla Jr.’ Mohre on just “March Of The Slaves” which will be available on the limited edition, double vinyl edition of this album, released simultaneously and limited to 500 copies.... Sadly, Gotz is recovering from neck surgery so, really couldn’t do more. I was so impressed with Mark’s ability though, and would love to have him with me forever!”

Iron Mask stands out from many other artists of the neo-classical metal genre too though, not only because they manage to combine high musical ambition with a certain kind of accessibility, but there’s lots of variety on here and you’ll find high-speed tracks like “Feel The Fire”, “Blizzard Of Doom”, and “Nosferatu” shaping up alongside epics like “Genghis Khan”, the impressive title track and the incredible “God Punishes, I Kill”, all illustrating why Petrossi is one of Belgium’s finest songwriters.

The album was mixed and mastered by the hugely experienced AFM stalwart Dennis Ward (Krokus, Pink Cream 69, Silent Force) and all songs were produced by Petrossi himself! With “Magic Sky Requiem“, (sung by Edman), “Black As Death“ possesses one of the most beautiful ballads of the year, so fans of Firewind, Dio, Iron Maiden, Malmsteen and Rainbow, will all enjoy this .....

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