1. Hails how are things going with you these days? Please introduce yourselves to the readers?
At ease, soldiers! We are IRON DEATH. A warmongering Death/Black battalion straight from the trenches of Flanders Fields. After every battle leaving death and demise in its wake.
2. When did you first discover black and death Metal and who were the first bands you listened to? Who are the current bands that have caught your attention?
As a battalion the soldiers' tastes are very eclectic. Growing up in different parts of Flanders Fields they were all brought up on metal soil during the 90's.
Some get their purge on with Infernal Coil, Artificial Brain, Haunter, Ad Nauseam. Other men are fired up by bands such as Antichrist Siegemachine, Abysmal Lord, Blasphemy, Revenge,... And the OG warmonger gears up with: Morbid Angel, Suffocation, Dying Fetus, ...
And every troop has its oddball that has sworn the oath to the true heavy metal gods: Saxon, Priest, Maiden, WASP, Acid, Thor, Alien force,...
We also have to warn the enemy not to mess with Gateway, Ordigort, Bütcher, Bones Death Metal and Schizophrenia both homeland forces to be reckoned with.My first encounter with extreme metal came at the young age of 12 years old where I got in contact with classic USDM bands such as Vital Remains,Deicide and Cannibal Corpse. I never looked back and kept digging deeper into the underground.
3. When did you first meet the other members of Iron Death and was it long before you all started this band? How did you choose Iron Death as the name of the band?
In 2019 R.V. and D.G. met at the battlefields of "Heavy Metal Afterparties''. There they laid down lines for their coup. J.V.B. and A.L. joined the ranks after two months. The stage was set, The conquering could begin!
Iron Death was formerly named Eiserner Tod. A supposedly solo project of R.V. that grew out of another project entitled Atrocious Command, found its way to the killing fields due to the persistence and comradery with D.G.
The Name refers to the industrialisation of warfare that was THE GREAT WAR.
4. What is the current line-up of the band? Who would you say are the bands biggest influences?
The Battalion is and always will be:
R.V. on Guitar duties
D.G. on vocals
J.V.B. on Bass
A.L. on Drums
5. Demo MMXXII is the debut demo. How long did it take the band to write the music for the debut?Does the whole band take part in the writing process or does one member usually write everything?
We started our primal warmongering in late 2021. Only 6 months later we self recorded the demo. We make a habit out of it to record our battles in one track and live. Some storytelling is added in the end by the mixing and mastering skills of R.V. The writing process has evolved since our first meetings and rehearsals. Every member has its own background in music and pours that into the mixture.
6. Besides the Demo MMXXII release does the band have any other merchandise currently available for the readers to purchase?
YES! You can support the troops by buying our merch on bandcamp: the demo on Cassette or buying a shirt. They are very limited so don't sleep!
We are looking into doing more themed releases but for now the recular formats have to suffice.
Our bandcamp: irondeath.bandcamp.com
7. I believe the lyrics are based around world war one. When did you first become interested in reading and studying this war?Are there any other wars or times in history that you enjoy reading and studying?
Correct! D.G. is a story writing maniac who loves digging into facts and history. He digs as deep as the trenches.
Other world wars are very well documented and very easy to access. The complexity of THE GREAT WAR is really fascinating and just keeps on giving. For now we'll stick to it. The fascination began with a band brainstorm.
8. Has Iron Death had the opportunity to perform live yet or do you prefer working in the studio?
We come out of the trenches as much as possible, laying waste to the enemies that dare approach us. We never work in a studio. Only the rat infested dug out we call home.
9. What have been some of your most memorable shows so far?Who are some bands you have shared the stage with?
We played a couple of shows alongside the reïnforcements from overseas Kruelty (JPN) and Ordigort (BE). Ripping up venues on local soil is our first wage of war. We want to reïnforce our position and test our gear before heading out on a conquering campaign. Laying waste to Europe is our endgame. Responses to live barrages have been positive. The troops are growing, Recruitment is going well.
10.What does Underground Metal mean to you?
Underground metal means a community where there are no classes, no ranks. Every soldier is worth its person. As long as the battles are fought in dark and sketchy places with all the courage and heart that the troops can muster. WE SUPPORT.
If the victory on the other hand is bought through propaganda we don't associate with that class. We prefer hard earned honour through blood and sweat.
My whole life revolves around it. I travel far and wide to witness all sorts of different acts,and try to support the scene as much as I can.
11. Has the band started working on new music for the next demo or would you like to release a full length?
In the books is a full length planned for next summer. But as fickle as war is, we don't want to set the date to attack. Week by week we plow through the mud gaining ground. We're making progress and that's all that counts for now.
12. Iron Death comes out of Belgium's black,death metal scene. What is your opinion of the scene in Belgium over the years?
It's hard to have an opinion over a whole scene. We clearly know our roots and can connect with the late 80's, early 90’s movement led by bands like Ancient Rites, Enthroned and Agathocles, where the crowd was very rural and eclectic. However, the evolution to a more extreme right or left wing political scene is a thing that repulses us. We each have our own beliefs but don’t mingle too much politics in our music. It separates more than anything.
13. Who are your all-time favorite bands coming out of Belgium and are there any new bands you could recommend to the readers?
That's simple. All time favourites are Ancient Rites and Acid. Thee Plague Of Gentleman (later SerpentCult), the raw black metal filth of Perverted Ceremony and Moenen of Xezbeth. And the lesser known death metal grime of Abortofacient, who recently released their first EP on Nuclear War Now!
New battalions you should be on the lookout for are: Gateway’s upcoming full-length (solo project by our guitarist R.V.), Abortofacient, Bones debut full-length on Invictus Prod., Bütcher and Ordigort and some young local old school blackened thrash kids around here called Cobracide.
14. When you need to take a break from working on new music or band business, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
THE ENEMY NEVER SLEEPS Iron Death Contacts https://irondeath.bandcamp.com/releases https://www.facebook.com/IRONDEATHBATTALION https://www.instagram.com/irondeathbattalion/
