Power metal masters Blind Guardian have announced that they will be returning to our UK and Ireland shores this year.

Hansi Kürsch said: “We are super excited about these upcoming five shows. Expect nothing but the best! Don’t miss your chance to join us at one of these enchanting evenings. It is going to be pure magic.”

Blind Guardian played at The Forum, London last April – pledging to return to the UK and Ireland with some wider reaching dates. The tour kicks off in Glasgow, taking the band across to Dublin with the tour finally culminating in what will be another breath-taking performance at The Forum. To boot, the band will also be playing a spellbinding two-and-a-half hour long set every night – these shows are not to be missed!

Tickets for these shows will go on sale January 15 at 10am. 17 May – Glasgow, Queen Margaret Union 18 May – Manchester, The Ritz 19 May- Dublin, Academy 21 May – Nottingham, Rock City 22 May – London, The Forum

Swedish hard rock pioneers Spiritual Beggars have announced details of their ninth studio album entitled ‘Sunrise To Sundown’, which will be released on March 18 via InsideOutMusic.

Featuring Michael Amott (Arch Enemy, ex-Carcass) on guitars, Apollo Papathanasio (ex-Firewind) on vocals, Sharlee D’Angelo (Arch Enemy, Witchery) on bass, Per Wiberg (Candlemass, ex-Opeth) on keyboards as well as Ludwig Witt (Grand Magus, Firebird) on drums gathered to lay down eleven dynamic songs in their infamous vintage rocking style. 

Speaking about how the new album came together, Amott commented the following: “We’ve been writing the album here and there over the last couple of years when our schedules have allowed us to meet up and spend a few days jamming. A few of the songs I wrote on my own, others were written by our keyboard player Per Wiberg. Our drummer Ludwig Witt submitted two tracks that are actually his first major contributions to the band as a writer – and they’re great songs too!  I also co-wrote a few tunes with Per Wiberg and that was really a lot of fun as well, it’s been a very collaborative process.”

‘Sunrise To Sundown’ was tracked live and Amott added: “I’m super excited about how the album … Read More

One of our favourite bands of 2015 – who just offered us the release of ‘The Warrior’s Spell’, compiling their three EP cassette tracks and two new songs – Tarot have completed their first full-length album entitled ‘Reflections’. The band – who hail from Hobart, Tasmania – capture the mystical atmosphere created by bands like Rainbow, Uriah Heep and Wishbone Ash, while putting their own spin on things, creating a unique sound.

The track list for ‘Reflections’ is ‘Autumn Conjuration’, ‘Heed the Call’, ‘Strange Dimensions’, ‘Cloak and Dagger’, ‘Reflections’, ‘Mountain Throne’ and ‘Living For Today’.

Cover artwork was designed by Karmazid and the pre-order of the CD will start on January 25 via frontman The Hermit’s label, Heavy Chains Records. The pre-order package will include a poster of the artwork and an A3 size fold out lyric sheet.

‘Reflections’ will be released on vinyl later in 2016 by Ván Records.

Icelandic post-black/rock metallers Sólstafir have released a brand new video for their song ‘Miðaftann’ to celebrate their recently-announced tour dates for May 2016.

‘Miðaftann’ is lifted from their record album ‘Ótta’, which was released in 2014.

Directed by Harri Haataja and Vesa Ranta (from Finnish gothic/death metal legends Sentenced) and shot with renowned actor Gudmundur Ingi Thorvaldsson, at the famous black sand beach which inspired the band’s ‘Svartir Sandar’ album in 2011.

Frontman Aðalbjörn Tryggvason comments on the video: “The track is about wandering in darkness. Playing chess with Death, getting burned by salt, drowning in the ultimate wave of sin and returning back home by using moonlight as navigation.”

Directors Harri Haataja and Vesa Ranta further elaborate: “They told us a real-life story about a sailor, who lost his crew at sea and was stranded to shore as the only survivor. He proceeded to find his way to town and en route he found a barrel filled with water. Yet the water was frozen, so he had to punch through the ice with his bare hands to fight dehydration. Eventually, after a long journey, he reached the town and survived.”

Sólstafir have confirmed they will hit the road in 2016, performing their latest album ‘Ótta’ … Read More

Berlin-based British gothic rock band Esben & The Witch have released what we’re hailing in the Iron Fist HQ as the greatest cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘Planet Caravan’ we’ve ever heard.

From their new EP, which will be shipped in January, the band said: “‘We Melted The Wax, Now We Can See’ is a collection of four acoustic songs.

“Our cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘Planet Caravan’ [is] a late night tour van staple, [and will appear] alongside reworkings of ‘Marching Song’ and ‘Dig Your Fingers In’. And finally, something new, ‘Like A Drunkard Reels’.

“This began life as a bass chord progression in the basement of our first home here in Berlin. From there the words have started to flow and the guitars unfurl around them. As we head into the studio, percussion and amplification beckon. In the meantime rest assured we are readying the hammers and the chisels, preparing to carve out its final incarnation.

“This EP represents a meditative calm before the storm. A moments reflection in the still air as something altogether different begins to take shape on the horizon. A deep, dark rumble emanates from out there and threatens the calm. More news soon but for now we hope this … Read More

Old Empire & Tidal Concerts have just announced a London show for Finnish Psychedelic folk rockers Hexvessel at the prestigious The 100 Club on April 12th, 2016.

This will be the first show in the capital for the band after the release of fourth album ‘When Are Death’

The follow-up to 2012’s ‘No Holier Temple’ full-length and 2013’s ‘Iron Marsh’ EP, which both came out on Svart Records.

The band recently signed to Century Media and ‘When We Are Death’ is available for pre-order now.

They also launched a Pledge campaign with proceeds going to help save the forests that give them so much of their inspiration

Rock supergroup Last In Line have teased us with a brand new song ‘Martyr’

It’s taken from the band’s debut album ‘Heavy Crown’, which is due out in February via Frontiers Records.

Featuring Dio member Vivian Campbell on guitar, who is currently on tour with Def Leppard, the band also boasts Vinny Appice on drums and bassist Jimmy Bain, alongside vocalist Andrew Freeman.

The band said on their Facebook page: “Happy to share with you another new song. Crank it up loud.”

 

One of our favourite new bands of 2015, Saturn, have released their first video for ‘Rokktori’.

The song came from their debut album ‘Ascending (Live In Space), which came out earlier this year on Rise Above Records.

The band said on their Facebook page: “We’re releasing our first music video soon. We released the album last summer but fuck it, better late than never right?”

In issue 12, Iron Fist writer Marek Steven described the Swedish band as “Not a carbon copy of the multitude of other new bands repeating the heavy metal blueprint, Saturn have the chops to back up their groove and swagger”.

The band told us that “We are Saturn. We play Space Metal! We share the same passion for old school rock ‘n’ roll and heavy metal, primarily from the ’70s, but also older progressive rock and thrash. Firstly, we are friends and a band second, it’s all about having fun.”

Of the album, bass player Oscar Bo Valentine Pehrson said of the title: “It is semi-live. All instruments are recorded live in one take. ‘Live In Space’ is a bit of hint of this and a small joke on our part. Like I said, its all about having fun. However, I would not have anything against … Read More

Freed Guantanamo Bay prisoner Shaker Aamer has spoken to the BBC about being tortured in the cruel camp, but that Whitesnake gave him hope.

In a moving interview with journalist Victoria Derbyshire, Aamer talked of what it was like to be detained in the prison while falsely accused of links with terror group, Al Queda.

The last British detainee of the camp is now back home in the UK, and confirmed that the soldiers and guards would use rock music to torture and displace their prisoners. However, one particular song did not have the desired affect on the Saudi national, who moved to the UK in 1996.

He told the BBC: “I used to [sing it a lot], because the words, I thought the words fits me. The words makes me feel like, yeah, it’s me again. [It goes] ‘Like a drifter I was born to walk alone, ’cause I know what it means to walk alone the lonely street of dreams.’ And it’s true because it’s just dreams. Dreams that I would be home one day, dreams that I would be free, dreams that Guantanamo would be closed.”

Iron Fist is not a political magazine, we are a music magazine, but are shocked and … Read More

One of our favourite feel-good hard rock boogie bands, The Golden Grass (previously on psychedelic powerhouse Svart Records) have partnered up with France’s Listenable Records, home to NWOBHM masters Satan, dark doom band Saturnalia Temple and stoner lords Saviours.

As well as working on a new album, which will be out in Spring, the Brooklyn-nased band will be touring Europe again in May 2016, including a spot at Freak Valley Festival.

The label have said “Their sound majestically encapsulates the timeless feel of ’60s/’70s influence. Taking a nod from legends like James Gang, Allman Brothers & Grand Funk, the soulful British psych/mod of The Move, The Pretty Things & The Action, and the heavy umph of Budgie, Blue Cheer and Blackfoot to seal the deal, The Golden Grass synthesise these influences into a seamless, memorable, and high-energy performance that screams from the past but is a welcome and much needed presence in the now! Hard rock lives! Keep on grass in’!”