 
Iron Mask was formed by Dushan Petrossi,
Belgium’s number 1 guitar hero. Dushan got his
first guitar when he was 9 (1982) and never
stopped playing for 20 years. Very early, he
played in several cover bands till the day he
wanted to compose his own music. At the age of
15,he composed his very first heavy metal song
then he played with a lot of different bands in
Belgium. Dushan Petrossi is also known as leader
of the international speed symphonic prog metal
band Magic Kingdom .
Dushan signed with Lion Music in early 2002 to
record a side project Iron Mask. The band’s
name and some songs of the album are also based
on the famous book ‘The man in the Iron
Mask’ by Alexander Dumas. Great melodic power
metal music is what you will get from this band,
Dushan’s guitar playing is influenced by a lot
of different musicians and composers like
Handel, Verdi, Paganini, Mozart. This album was
titled 'Revenge Is My Name'.
The opening song of the album ‘Enemy
Brother’ is Handel‘s Overture arranged for
electric guitar by Dushan, recorded with a real
string section. Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Romeo,
Michael Schenker and Gary Moore are Dushan’s
electric influences.
Dushan‘s got his own style of playing and to
compose music is what he likes most mixing his
influences to create his own universe which
combine melody, energy, fantasy, virtuosity,
epic lyrics and incredibly fast soloing, he’s
one of the best guitar player of the new
generation. Bass was recorded by Vassili
Moltchanov (also in Magic Kingdom), who played
with the famous Russian band Master in the
80’s . The vocals were recorded by Phil Letaw
(ex-Cryme), a perfect mix between Dio and Mark
Boals. Keyboards recorded by virtuoso Youri
Degroote. If you like good catchy metal songs
with a shred attitude then The Man In The Iron
Mask is for you.
Dushan then set about recording the Scorpions
track 'Yellow Raven' for Lion Music's Uli Jon
Roth tribute Beyond Inspiration as well as
recording a inspired interpretation of the
Rainbow classic Gates Of Babylon for Lion
Music's' Ritchie Blackmore tribute Blackmore's
Castle I.
Iron Mask then returned in April 2005 back
stronger than ever with a truly great new album
and line up on Hordes Of The Brave. The album
combines majestic arrangements with mind blowing
power throughout the 11 tracks on offer - all
penned by Dushan Petrossi.
New vocalist Goetz ‘Valhalla Jr’ Mohre
contributes incredible vocals reminiscent of
Graham Bonnet or David Coverdale with Bruce
Dickinson-esque touches. This unique voice
combines the finest melodic qualities with an
aggressive delivery. Guest vocalist Oliver
Hartmann (ex-At Vance) adds vocals to 3 tracks:
The Invisible Empire, Crystal Tears and Iced
Wind Of The North (a duet with Mohre).
After a successful collaboration on the 2nd
Magic Kingdom album (Metallic Tragedy), Dushan
just had to work with Hartmann again due to
their similar influences. The recording of the
lead and backing vocals as well as the epic
choir arrangements were done at Hartmann’s
‘Alive Studio’ in Germany. The music was
recorded in Brussels throughout 2003 and the
first half of 2004 (in ‘Iron Kingdom’
studio, and ‘Galasse’ studio). On the
performances of Mohre and Hartmann Petrossi
comments, “These two great metal singers
contributed the right feeling and performances
for these melodies, which are the best and
catchiest I have wrote to date - destined to
become live anthems”.
The metal
scene’s hottest keyboardist Richard Andersson
(Majestic, Time Requiem, Space Odyssey) is
responsible for all the keyboards solos on
‘Hordes Of The Brave’. Andersson immediately
accepted the job after hearing the material and
contributed speedy, symphonic, classy yet
melodic neo-classically-inspired work. The
matching of Petrossi and Andersson has produced
one of the finest pairings in neo-classical
history, along with some of the most awesome
fast, furious yet melodic soloing duels heard to
date.
For the rhythm section Petrossi relied upon the
rock solid rhythm section of Magic Kingdom.
Vassili Moltchanov (one of the most respected
bassists in Belgium) and Russian drummer Anton
Arkhipov (famous for his work in thrash band
Exhumator) deliver breathtaking technique and
energy. In addition Anton studied at the Musical
Academy in Minsk and possesses a good strength
at orchestral arrangements.
The title ‘Hordes Of The Brave’ is a tribute
to Alexander The Great, one of the greatest
conquerors and warriors of all time. Despite
being an arrogant and ambitious character he was
full of respect for the lands he invaded and
their people’s rights and races. As with
‘The Man In The Iron Mask’ an epic story has
influenced Petrossi’s lyrics and music.
Didier Chesneau at ‘Melody Studios’ in Paris
mixed ‘Hordes Of The Brave’ during August
2004 delivering a sound that is both loud and
clear. Mika Jussila mastered the album at the
famous ‘Finnvox’ studio in Finland. The
album artwork is by Leo Hao (Blind Guardian,
Magic Kingdom, Iced Earth, Nocturnal rites) an
artist from Moscow.
‘Hordes Of The Brave’ is a marked contrast
to Dushan’s other releases in that there are
no instrumental tracks - only good old epic hard
rock with excellent singers. Music fans can
expect a lot of melody, baroque and a few
progressive influences. Simply ‘Hordes Of The
Brave’ is great song writing and 6 exceptional
musicians – nothing more, nothing less.
On the subject of the music Petrossi says,
“I’m doing the music I love and I don’t
care about what’s in fashion or nu metal shit.
Nor what’s original or not in the metal scene.
Neo-Classical Metal has been deeply rooted in my
heart and mind for years, so when I’m
composing new material I do not think –
“This is sounding like Yngwie or whoever;
better put it in the trash”. I never do that
because this music is being true to my heart and
it’s the way I hear music”.
2007 sees Dushan commencing work on the third
Iron Mask release tentatively entitled
"Shadow Of The Red Baron" which will
see Goetz ‘Valhalla Jr’ Mohre on vocals with
the addition of drummer Mike Terrana, expect a
release in 2008.
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