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”.
Lineup
Current lineup:
Dushan Petrossi - guitars, composing & songwriting
Mike Slembrouck - vocals
Vassili Moltchanov - bass
Ramy Ali - drums
Former & guest members:
Mark Boals - vocals (2010-2014)
Goetz "Valhalla Jr." Mohr - vocals
Roma Siadletski - extreme vocals and backing vocals
Carsten "Lizard" Schulz - vocals (live)
Göran Edman - vocals (Track 10 of Black as Death)
Oliver Hartmann - vocals (2009-2010)
Marcos Rodriguez - vocals (live)
Fil Letow - vocals
Diego Valdez - vocals
Richard Andersson - keyboards (2003-2005)
Mats Olausson - keyboards (2011-2015, his death)
Andreas Lindhal - keyboards
Phil Giordana - keyboards (live)
Erik Stout - drums
Anton Arkhipov - drums (Exhumator, Magic Kingdom)
Discography
* Revenge is my Name (2004)
* Hordes of the Brave (2005)
* Shadow Of The Red Baron (2009)
*Black as Death (2011)
*Fifth Son of Winterdoom (2013)
*Diabolica (2016)
*Master of Masters (2020)
Nosferatu
Iron Mask Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In your dreams, the forbidden hand
Caressing your neck
Only a woman breaks his spell
He's the sin she has never confessed
He is the fire that warms and devours
Revealing himself in the night
Bloody Prince of the Dark
Nosferatu, Nosferatu
Symphony of horror
Nosferatu, Nosferatu
Who will stop you
Phantom of the night?!
He sailed cross the ocean to find his true love
The damned crew is dead
Vermin infested the hold
No God, nor holy light
to save her soul from the tomb
She gave herself to the master of doom
He sucked her life with a Kiss of death
Nosferatu, Nosferatu
Bloody Prince of the Dark
Nosferatu, Nosferatu
Symphony of horror
Nosferatu, Nosferatu
Who will stop you
Phantom of the night?!
Salve, Regina, Salve
Protect me, Virgin Mary
Salve, Regina, Salve
Protect me, Virgin Mary
Nosferatu, Phantom of the night
Nosferatu, who will stop you now?
Nosferatu, Nosferatu
Bloody Prince of the Dark
Nosferatu, Nosferatu
Phantom of the night
Nosferatu, Nosferatu
Symphony of horror
Nosferatu, Nosferatu
Who will stop you?
Phantom of the night!
The lyrics of Iron Mask's song "Nosferatu" are about the legendary vampire who is feared and craved by people, especially women. The song describes how he casts a spell on his female victims, and they submit to him willingly. The lyrics also reveal how he is a master of seduction, and he appears in the night, revealing his true form as a vampire. The song continues to narrate a story about how Nosferatu sailed across the ocean to find his true love, and he sucked the life out of her with a kiss of death. The chorus of the song emphasizes the fear and powerlessness people feel in front of the mighty vampire and how he is the "Phantom of the night" who no one can stop.
Line by Line Meaning
He is the undead you fear and you crave
He is the immortal creature of the night that you both fear and long for
In your dreams, the forbidden hand
In your dreams, you feel his forbidden touch on your body
Caressing your neck
He runs his fingers softly on your neck, filling you with both fear and desire
Only a woman breaks his spell
Only a woman's love can lift the curse that holds him captive
He's the sin she has never confessed
He is the secret desire of every woman, the sin that they have never dared to confess
He is the fire that warms and devours
He is like a burning flame that both warms and consumes everything in his path
Revealing himself in the night
He reveals himself only in the darkness of the night
He sailed cross the ocean to find his true love
He crossed the vast ocean to search for the only woman who can break his curse and free him from his eternal damnation
The damned crew is dead
The crew of his ship is now dead and cursed, just like him
Vermin infested the hold
The hold of his ship is now filled with all sorts of pests and vermin
No God, nor holy light
No god, nor any kind of holy light, can save her soul from his grasp
to save her soul from the tomb
He has marked her as his own, and she is destined to be his forever, even in death
She gave herself to the master of doom
She willingly gave herself to him, even though it meant that she would be eternally damned
He sucked her life with a Kiss of death
He took her life force away from her with a kiss, sealing her eternal fate as his undead bride
Salve, Regina, Salve
Hail, Queen (of Heaven), Hail
Protect me, Virgin Mary
Pray for my protection, Holy Mother of God
Nosferatu, Phantom of the night
Nosferatu, the ghostly and elusive creature of the night
Who will stop you now?
Who can stop you, the immortal and all-powerful creature of darkness?
Contributed by David H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.