Project Description

Interview with
EDWARD WARREN
Lead Guitarist of
IRONSTONE

Interviewer – Dave Bruce

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How did you all find each other and decide to share your musical talents as Ironstone?
Four of us are doing year 12 this year, so we actually know each other from school and are close friends. Our singer Dan joined the band about 10 months ago. He actually picked me up in his car by the side of the road, when I was walking in the rain. A chance meeting with an amazing outcome!

How would you describe your sound? 
We feel ‘progressive metal’ is the best genre description, because it’s such a broad brush. Our sound is a blend of progressive metal and djent, heavy down tuned riffs and breakdowns, percussive, complex rhythms and synth parts that range from ambient and orchestral through to dub and glitch. On top of that we have really melodic vocals, harmonies and distorted vocals. Even then there is a fair amount of variety between our songs, especially on our upcoming EP.

For anyone who is yet to listen to your music, which song would you suggest they listened to first?
That’s a tough question, but I’m going to say ‘Downpour’ because that’s our next single and video release, on Friday 15th May.

You are set to release your debut EP ‘Prophecy’ on the 29th of May. Is there a theme or idea running through all the songs in ‘Prophecy’?
The theme of ‘Prophecy’ is that even though we can’t predict our future, we can affect it by the course of our actions. The message is to never lie down and accept defeat, even if the outlook is gloomy. Of course when these songs were written we had NO idea of what was going to happen in 2020. This is certainly a very challenging time, so perhaps this method of thinking is more important than ever. Think big. Push forward. Don’t let a negative situation define you or your future.

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What do you hope listeners take away from hearing the EP?
I think everyone will take something different away. It would be great if the songs initiate some thought. OR just make you want to bang your head. Either one is fine!

Do you have any plans to tour when that is possible again?
Yes. Being a young band we haven’t had the opportunity to do any touring yet, not even in Australia. We really look forward to that though. The big plan is to eventually get the band to Europe. Obviously it’s very difficult to predict when that will happen.

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why? 
If it was down to music, I would have to say Periphery. They are phenomenal and a major influence on our music. On the strength of the biggest most elaborate live show I can imagine, Rammstein. Nobody else even comes close!!

Last year you released a music video for your single ‘Bound’. What was it like to make that? Would you want to make another music video in the future?
Making music videos is always great fun. It was a really easy process for Bound  because we were all filmed separately on different days in a studio, making it very simple and non-fuss. We actually managed to shoot a new music video for ‘Downpour’ JUST before this lockdown started. The single and video will be released very soon, on Friday 15th of May. We’re really excited about that.

Who are your biggest music influences? How have they impacted you and your music?
We are all very influenced by Twelve Foot Ninja, Periphery, Tesseract, Architects, Wage War, just to name a few. I think really innovative bands like TFN taught us to be brave, to think outside the box and DARE to be different. When you see bands demonstrating so much diversity, it gives you the confidence to try different stuff.  That can only be a good thing. Make music you love, and have faith that there’s an audience out there who will love it too.

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Do you have any major long-term goals or aspirations as a band?
The farthest we have thought ahead is going to play a tour in Europe. That is a big enough dream for the moment. Once we’ve worked out how to do that, we’ll think about the next step!

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
Definitely that immediate feedback on your songs! I think us musos can be very anxiety ridden… fretting about how our music will be received. An audience reaction is so tangible. That feedback you crave is right there on their faces! When they really respond it’s the greatest ‘high’ ever. I think our career highlight would be supporting Rhapsody at Max Watts in Melbourne. We were the opening band and played very early, so we didn’t have a huge crowd or reaction. But we were thrilled to play on that big stage in that big room. We got a little taste of that… and we loved it.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Periphery 3 – Select Difficulty
Artist – Periphery
Movie –  Inglorious Basterds
Place to visit – Germany
Venue to play – Max Watts – Melbourne
Food –  Curry
Drink – Milkshake
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) I don’t have any… yet. Will probably start with a large bird of some sort on my chest.

Thanks so much for this opportunity.

Cheers, Edward Warren
Lead Guitarist of IRONSTONE

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Check out IRONSTONE below
Website | Facebook  | Instagram

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Australian progressive metal band IRONSTONE are set to release their debut EP Prophecy on the 29th of May 2020. Today they reveal the artwork and track list (see below). The band released a video for the song Bound late last year as a taste of what will hit you on May 29th.

IRONSTONE say about their EP: “We are thrilled to present our debut EP ‘Prophecy’ to the world. This collection of songs covers a broad range of feelings, from heavy and serious subject matter through to the quirky and light hearted. Being a first release for us and having evolved so much in the last few years, we feel especially philosophical about our direction as a band and our path as young adults. ‘Prophecy’ is about acknowledging the overwhelming doubt of what the future holds and casting that aside in order to take control of our own reality. It flows and integrates from hopelessness to empowerment, from caution to impulsivity and encourages a journey of self-discovery that is vaguely familiar yet somehow completely new.“

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About IRONSTONE

IRONSTONE are a progressive metal band from Bendigo, Australia. Bursting onto the Melbourne scene in 2018 they quickly earned a reputation for their high energy live show, skilled musicianship and memorable songs. With influences coming from a range of modern metal bands like Periphery, Twelve Foot Ninja and Tesseract, their music features the duality of clean and distorted vocals, djent driven riffs and breakdowns, atmospheric layers and catchy choruses. The result is a contemporary metal sound that is sophisticated, melodic and hard hitting.

IRONSTONE went through a challenging period of line up changes, testing their dedication and resolve. To keep up momentum during a period with no singer, in June 2019 they released the single and video, ‘Polarity’, with lead guitarist Edward Warren taking on lead vocal duties, though it was only ever intended as a temporary measure. Just one month later they had a shot of good fortune when they found Dan Charlton and welcomed him as their new lead vocalist. Dan seemed to be the missing piece of the puzzle and hit the ground running as a potent and dynamic front man. With an injection of fresh enthusiasm the band was now able to sculpt their identity and establish their own unique sound. They have since played a string of Melbourne shows together, including supporting international touring act, Rhapsody in October 2019 and released the single and music video, ‘Bound’,  in November 2019.  They are now thrilled to be releasing their debut EP ‘Prophecy’ on the 29th of May, and will precede that with the release of a new single and music video for ‘Downpour’ on Friday 15th of May, just two weeks before the EP release.

IRONSTONE is comprised of Dan Charlton on lead vocals, Edward Warren on lead guitar, Oliver Hosking on bass guitar, Aidan Kalms on rhythm guitar and Jackson Whyte on drums. 

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AMNPLIFY – DB