Our regular run-down of as many of the upcoming Bloodstock bands as we can get to talk to us! Iron Altar play the Jager stage on the Sunday…
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Alright guys, this is Linz (drums) from Iron Altar. We’re based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
How long have you been playing together as a band?
We’ve been together since 2016, a couple of lineup changes in the early days but the core has been together since around then. New boy Greg joined us on bass about 6 months ago.
Where does the name of the band come from?
You know, I actually have no idea as the band was already named when I joined. Lets say it came to Callis while he was on some kind of ancestral spirit-quest.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
We probably fall somewhere between sludge, progressive and death metal. We definitely have a wide range of musical and stylistic influences between us, but mainly it’s just about writing interesting heavy music. Especially with the new record we tried to push ourselves in terms of songwriting and performance, but we always have to make sure we’ve got parts that you just want to bang your head along to. I think we like to try and walk the line between cerebral composition and meathead riff worship.
What’s your live show like? Why are people going to watch you instead of another band?
We work hard to be tight live. Hopefully we have something that a bunch of people can vibe with. Big riffs, atmosphere, tech parts, mosh parts, beards and stink faces. I fully appreciate there’s a lot of good bands playing at Bloodstock and everyone who takes the time to check us out is a legend. I encourage this legendary behaviour.
Have you been to Bloodstock before? What did you think?
Yeah I think all of us have been on at least one occasional, most of us several times. It’s a great fest with a fun atmosphere. It’s definitely been on the list since we started so it’s awesome to finally get to play.
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When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?
I believe Dan has been hassling Simon (Hall) about booking us for ages. Since the new record is coming out, we sent him an advance copy and he was into it and finally caved in and booked us.
What sort of setlist can we expect?
45 mins of intense riffs. Dynamics. Light and shade. Brutality. Sombre beauty. Horrendous noise. Spilled pints.
Which other band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?
For myself, definitely looking forward to Urne, Gatecreeper, Employed to Serve, Decapitated, Tuskar, Frozen Soul, and of course Meshuggah (ft. the GOAT Tomas Haake).
What are you working on at the moment?
Our new record is out on 29th September on Trepanation Recordings, a few singles are being released in the runup to that. We’ve got loads of tour dates lined up for the rest of the year around the UK and heading over to Ireland again in November. More videos and other projects coming out in due course too. Loads of stuff in the pipeline.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
I was in a band years ago, where the singer got mostly naked on the bar during the set at the Moorings Bar in Aberdeen. It was either amazing, or totally egregious depending on who you ask about it.
What drink do you throw back to get yourself fired up before going on stage?
Being a consumate professional (and slightly neurotic bastard) I don’t tend to drink anything before playing a show. Shoutout to water. H20 baby, stay hydrated.
Once I’m done though… Lets go.
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