The Raging Heavy Metal Anthems of IronBourne

The Raging Heavy Metal Anthems of IronBourne

IronBourne from Sweden dedicated their lives early on to heavy metal in various bands over the years.  Raising the flag of heavy metal as IronBourne since 2019, the band now presents their hard rocking Self-Titled magnum opus via Pure Steel Records.   Fans of classic bands such as UFO and Saxon will want to check into the dynamic heavy metal entreaties IronBourne has in store for the world at large.  Highwire Daze recently interviewed guitarist Olof Geijer to find out a whole lot more about the raging heavy metal anthems of the mighty IronBourne.  Read on…

Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in IronBourne, and how long the band has been together.
My name is Olof and I play guitar. The band formed in its current lineup in 2019, though three of us have been playing together for a very long time, actually since the eighties. As we live in a small town in Sweden, we all knew each other before the time of Ironbourne, and we met at different music related occasions, so that is how we got to talk about forming the band.

Where are you based out of and what is your local music scene like there?
The town is Ludvika, and in the teens we somehow got inspiration to form a band. There used to be many local acts who played their own material, but somewhere along the line, everybody kind of drifted away to play covers. We never did, and the cover scene has its limitations when it comes to spreading the music. We stood by, making our own music and it eventually paid off.

How did you wind up signing with Pure Steel Records?
Not so long ago, (quite some time now really), the only way to get in touch with a record company was through sending demo cassettes, and hoping for a break. Nowadays it is so easy, just a click away, for good and bad. It may drown in the flood of how easy it is, who knows? We saw their impressive lineup of bands, and of course sent them a copy of the song “The Dreamer” and the rest is what you encounter now. We surely sent the track to others too, but they proved to be very professional at Pure Steel, and we are very pleased.

Select two songs from the Self-Titled album and what inspired the lyrics.
I would pick “The Dreamer” and “Varsel.”

The Dreamer is about dreaming away your life. Always striving for perfection in all areas of life.

Varsel is the only song with Swedish lyrics. This one is about the hard working people who gave their lives to find the iron ore in the mines. In the area where we live there’s a rich history of mining and iron manufacturing. The stories from the mines are truly amazing. Imagine stepping into the mine with nothing more than a pickaxe and a torch. The people were also very superstitious in the 17th and 18th century. For instance, they believed that if they saw a raven crossing their path to the mountain, it was a sign that something bad would take place that day. That’s what the raven at the front cover stands for.

Who did the cover art for the album and how much input did you have on it?
The singer Torbjörn already knew a guy in Gothenburg, who is an artist, and we sent him some ideas of the feeling we sought, and after some correspondence he presented a draft that we found very appealing. We chose one of many, and we are very happy with the result. It is maybe not so obvious with stuff you usually associate with metal, and that is the intent, we want people to keep an open mind when they see it.

What has it been like to record and release new music in the middle of a pandemic and so much social unrest in the world?
I think people in general need some distraction from the lockdown and it is very boring and frustrating to just be at home, No one knows what the psychological outcome will be. But it is certain, at least in Sweden, that it has brought people back to a state that we were in twenty years ago. When there was no internet, we met and were much more socialized. So we took the opportunity to record the album.  All artists, famous or not, have similar things to face.

What is a live IronBourne show like, and have you been able to play at all during the pandemic?
We have only done some small, local pandemic restricted shows in the recent year, but we are very eager to get a gig in a bigger context. So we rehearse and take the time to write new songs. We always strive to develop both sound and style. Of course in the boundaries of metal. We imagine the lockdown is lifted soon, and we will be ready to get out on the road!

If IronBourne could open for any band either now or from the past, who would it be and why?
Oh, there are so many, but if one could dream it could be such acts as: Iron Maiden, Saxon, UFO, Anvil.

Are you involved with any other bands or projects outside of IronBourne?
In the past we all were involved in several bands, but it was hard with songwriting and arranging in more than one band. If you initially don´t make money with your music, you have an ordinary life too, and twenty four hours a day is not enough. You know artists, when we are into something, we cannot let go until it is finished, and it always takes its toll on your private life.

What do you hope 2021 brings for you and IronBourne?
Good sales, to build a fanbase, gigs, and interesting interviews like this. That is pending the lifting of the lockdown, and that is of course by far the most wanted hope for us, as for all the world, that no more people have to die.

Any final words of wisdom?
The state of promotion we are in, shows that if you pursue your dream, keep focus, and get friends with the same mindset to join, you will succeed. And if you do your thing over an extended time, it will finally fly! We are proud yet humble to the opportunity given to us by the people of PureSteelRecords!

LINE-UP:
Torbjörn Andersson – vocals
Olof Geijer – guitars
Lars Andersson – bass
Jonas Windle – guitars
Stefan Viktorsson – drums

(Interview by Ken Morton)

Ironbourne on Facebook
Pure Steel Records on Facebook