Interview with IRON FIST
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about IRON FIST (Members, Starting Year etc).
I formed the Band in the middle of 2022 because i could not find true metal bands in Hamburg that were looking for a Singer. after half a year i recruited Persecutor to play Bass. First i wanted to play Bass and Sing like Tom Angelripper. After many lineup changes, the most recent one being the drummer at the end of 2025, Hades replacing Exekutor, the drummer we started playing the first gigs with. Exekutor ist about 40% the reason why Iron Fist exists as it does Today, Pushing us into a, lets say, more Professional and Tighter direction. it is safe to say that the favorite band of every one of us 3 is Sodom. if not in the top 3 for the other 2. We are a Three Piece:
Sodomizer - Guitar/Vocals
Persecuter - Bass/Vocals
Hades - Drums/Backing Vocals
You have recently released your live album ''Live at Bambi Galore''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
As of now the Live Album has been out for about a Week and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, They like the raw sound and aggression that is underlying in the live Recording, nothing Polished, just intense and a punch in the face, like Iron Fist was supposed to sound from the start. No Feedback from the press yet.
Are you in searching for a record label? What do you prefer, Label or DIY and why?
We are searching for a record Label and have a specific one in mind, we would really like to work with. Otherwise we like to do it DIY because it gives us the control to make Iron Fist sound the way we want to, without interference of someone who does not get the vision. The Reason why we still want to work with a Label is, the popular True Metal Labels in Germany are great and do not interfere with the vision of the Artist. Also we lack the funds, that are needed to record and publish a studio Album/EP, a Label can help with that alot.
Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
If you listen to it closely, after about the first half (The songorder is exactly like we played it live), you can hear two women at the back of the venue talking near the mic, for the rest of the set. Also at the beginning and end you can sometimes hear the intro and outro tracks we used at that gig, we did a special setlist because our friends and fans were demanding we do one with audiotracks of insiders.
You are very young in age (in your early 20s), and the genre you play is old-school black/thrash/death metal, the way it was played in the glorious decade of the ’80s. What made you choose to play this genre instead of something more modern that someone might say “fits” your age better?
When i first started out i quickly learned that the people who play new styles of so called "Metal" are not the types of people i want to associate with, i felt really attracted to the simple and primitive way of playing. The first time i listened to Cancer i thought to myself, "this is it". Also with Sodom, Sodom is my love since day one. I started with with hard rock, a lot of ACDC, which i love, then straight to slam and then worked myself down from there, this Sodom, Black, Death, Thrash, Speed Metal style, was the sweet spot for me. In the 80s everything was alot more layed back and way, way less commercial. i like that, its more authentic.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
For me vinyl is the way to go, you have something in your hand, the sound is great. you can display the Cover in all its glory and detail. Tape lack a lot in the sound category and CDs are too tiny and modern for me.
Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
I write the songs in Iron Fist, the main influence i have is always Sodom, even if only unconciously. a little bit of Whiplash other major influences are, from most important to least: Sodom, Mortification, Pestilence, Cancer, Slayer, Demolition Hammer, Massacra, Desaster, Rigor Mortis, Violent Force, Toxic Holocaust, Protector, Dark Angel, Possessed, Sepultura, Mutilator, Master and many more.
Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
You should let go of the idea that it will bring commercial success or money, if you strive for that, you are false and should not pursue music. it should always come from the passion and hate of the heart. I will do whatever it takes to pursue Metal and no one can stop me. As of now, Iron Fist has never gotten Money from a gig we played, not once. We play because its what we live for and because we are Metal Maniacs, we do not care about money, We just want to play.
Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
The ideal show would be the 3rd or 4th act of a show with a crowd that is hot! everyone needs to bang their head and put every ounce of attention to the music. We, aswell as the crowd, need to go all out. Stagedives, crowdsurfes. We need to play infront of the people, there shouldnt be a fence infront of the stage. "Murder in the front row, crowd begins to bang and there's blood upon the stage Bang your head against the stage and metal takes its price..."
What do you think about the rise of AI in music production?
It is one of the biggest disgraces we are facing. There has to be human emotion in music, its what its made of.
What attributes do you think that a new Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
They have to do it for the musics sake, not for themselves, but for the Band and for Metal. Do not copy everything one to one, make everything your own, try to make music that could only come from you. Make it sound like your band, not generic Metallica copy number 7.
Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
Yes it is easier for new Bands to get out there, but there is so much material for a fan to listen to, it is very difficult to find a band that is actually authentic. and have the metal spirit in their soul. But luckily time sifts out those Bands and only the true stuff remains. In my opinion the best way to promote is word of mouth and playing as many shows as possible.
From your experience in the music industry, what would you tell to a new Metal band to avoid or what to do?
Never pay to play a gig (I have never done so). Also sites like backstage pro and the cutthroats that put their "gig adverts" in there are bullshit.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Hamburg (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
Most of the People in the Hamburg scene are over 30 sadly, but there is a small amount of young metal maniacs, about 4 or 5, that are banging and try to keep the scene active, so that not everybody is just nodding along to the songs. but many of the older guys are still giving 110%, like it should be. there are some really cool bands like Dehumaniser and some less cool bands. But it is alive and well. The best Club in the World is in Hamburg, The Bambi Galore is my second home, it always has great shows all year round. it gives even the smallest band the opportunity to play. Some less cool clubs also exist.
What does Metal means to you? And give us 10 metal albums that run in your veins.
Metal to me means, honesty and standing up for what you believe in and Absolute, Raw, Primal Power. These are my Top 10 Albums:
Rigor Mortis - Rigor Mortis
Slayer - Show No Mercy
Witchfinder General - Death Penalty
Desaster - The Arts Of Destruction
Sodom - Agent Orange
Sodom - Tapping The Vein
Demolition Hammer - Tortured Existence
Manilla Road - Crystal Logic
Heavy Load - Stronger Than Evil
Xandril - The Vision Of Rotting Darkness
Honorable Mentions: Eisenhand, Omen, Noisehunter, Mortification, Pestilence, Emerald, Violent Force, Piledriver.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
I sadly do not, but i have known about this Webzine for a couple years.
What are your future plans?
I would like to keep up the pace with Iron Fist and the other Bands i play in and the Incöming Armor Festival i organise with a Friend, its heading into a direction i quite like. I want to play as many gigs as possible and lay down my soul to the gods rock and roll.
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
I would like to close this Interview with a few words, some friends of mine said, which i try to live by. "Never Fucking Relax, get Evil all the Time, Live for Violence, Die for Metal, Fuck off in Hell!" and "This is Heavy Metal and Heavy Metal is the fucking Underground! 110% you fuckers." Also a quote from Infernal of Desaster that is important to me: "Evil Intent is the most important thing."
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
IRON FIST CONTACT:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082904449129&locale=de_DE
https://www.instagram.com/iron_fist_band/
https://ironfistoffical.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-bambi-galore
https://soundcloud.com/iron-fist-692519320
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/iron-fist/1877384654