Texas Metal Titans, IGNITOR, Unleash New Album, ‘Horns and Hammers’

Texas Metal Titans, IGNITOR, Unleash New Album, Horns and Hammers
Featuring Cameos from Members of Metal Church, Manowar and Immortal Guardian

Austin (TX) – Returning with their latest call-to-arms, Texas metal warlords IGNITOR are once again battle-ready with the release of their new album, Horns and Hammers. The album is out now in Europe, Asia, and Australia via Metal On Metal Records. The label will be selling it at Keep it True Rising Festival IV in Wurzburg, Germany, October 4-5.

The CD is available for purchase from Metal On Metal Records at: metalonmetalrecords.com/albums/ignitor-horns-and-hammers-cd

The digital version is available for purchase through the label’s Bandcamp page on which three tracks are available for streaming: metalonmetalrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ignitor-horns-and-hammers

U.S. residents can pre-order the CD directly from the band at ignitorband.com/merch. Orders will ship no later than October 15.

Vinyl and CD versions wil be distributed through Revolt Vinyl Records in North and South America in November. This version will include a bonus track of the Saxon classic “Machine Gun,” featuring guest appearances by Ross The Boss (Manowar, Dictators), Marc Lopes (Metal Church, Let Us Prey, Ross The Boss) and Gabriel Guardian (Immortal Guardian). Look for the companion video of that song very soon. This version will soon be available for streaming and purchase on all digital platforms.

The vinyl version of Horns and Hammers will be released on Metal World Records in Europe.

Check out the promotional video for music, interviews, and album info at: youtu.be/ip1xGHaGH_4.

Another storm-the-gates, metal onslaught, Horns and Hammers delivers all the dramatic power and fury that landed previous albums Haunted by Rock ‘N’ Roll and The Golden Age of Black Magick in the hallowed realms of Judas Priest, Mercyful Fate, Raven, Dio, Accept and other legendary keepers of the metal creed.

From the title track’s speed-metal war cry and the Maiden-esque “Imperial Bloodlines” to the cowbell-driven “Shattered Crosses” and the 70s-inspired heavy metal of “Ferocious the Martyrs” (featuring guest keyboardist Gabriel Guardian of Immortal Guardian) the 11-track Horns and Hammers

is a mighty mix of classic heavy metal spiked with NWOBHM, thrash, power metal and the atmospheric textures of prog-metal and fantasy.

“We raised the bar high with our last two albums so we couldn’t settle for anything less than a full-on metal assault,” said founding guitarist Stuart “Batlord” Laurence. “We’ve always honored our influences,

but we’re also very insistent that our music – first and foremost – sounds like IGNITOR. With Horns and Hammers, we’ve covered the spectrum of metal and taken Ignitor to a whole new level.”

Fronted by the soaring vocals of Jason McMaster (Watchtower, Dangerous Toys, Broken Teeth), IGNITOR’s strength is further forged by guitarist Robert Williams, bassist Billy “Chainsaw” Dansfiell and drummer Pat Doyle. Whether charging and pounding like clashing titans (“Dark Horse,” “Chaos Maximus Eternal”) or luring the listener into gothic tales of doom and deceit (“Suicide Anthem,” “Taken Up With Serpents”), IGNITOR delivers with shuddering impact.

“Robert brought a ton of songs and riff ideas to the table and Billy had some great ideas that blossomed into full-blown songs,” Laurence said. “Once we started jamming with Pat’s pummeling backbeat, we knew we had something special.”

“As the arrangements started coming together, I found myself completely immersed and inspired to come up with the lyrical themes and characters to carry the songs to completion,” McMaster added. “I’m really proud of the band’s individual and collective contributions, and I think we all agree that Horns and Hammers is a triumph by any measure.”

The album’s stunning cover art – featuring a medieval warrior and his mighty steed surveying a hellish killing field – comes courtesy of renowned fantasy/sci-fi artist Claudio Bergamin whose credits include

Judas Priest (Firepower), Burning Witches (The Witch of the North), Cassius King (Field Trip) and Klassik ’78 (Phantoms), among others.

Produced and mastered by Stuart “Batlord” Laurence at Emphatic Audio in Austin, TX, Horns and Hammers was mastered for vinyl by Cris Burns. “Hell Shall Be Your Home” was recorded live in Austin TX at Kick Butt Coffee in 2019, and engineered by Ernie Basaldua with mixing by

Stuart “Batlord” Laurence.

Track Listing:

1. Horns And Hammers
2. Imperial Bloodlines
3. Dark Horse
4. Cyber Crush
5. Shattered Crosses
6. Taking Up With Serpents
7. Ferocious The Martyrs
8. Suicide Anthem
9. Chaos Maximus Eternal
10. Machine Gun (Saxon cover)*
11. Terminous

*Note: “Hell Shall Be Your Home” appears on The Metal On Metal Records version.

All songs written, recorded and performed by Ignitor, except *“Machine Gun,” originally written, recorded and performed by Saxon, Carrere Music Ltd 1980.

Cover art by Claudio Bergamin.

BIO:

IGNITOR formed in Austin, Texas in 2003 with legendary Agony Column guitarist Stuart Laurence, Brendon Bigelow on bass, Beverly Barrington on guitar, Pat Doyle (Offenders) on drums, and vocalist Erika Swinnich. The band wanted to write music reflecting their passion for heavy, speed, and power metal.

IGNITOR quickly attracted a worldwide fan base after releasing their debut album Take To The Sky, featuring the hit “Demonslayer,” in 2004 to rave reviews. Germany’s Rock Hard magazine named it “Demo of the Month.” Dies Irae (Brazil) said “Ignitor take the world by storm, playing a furious Heavy/Speed Metal, joining the high class of veteran musicians and the powerful voice of Erika Swinnich.” 

IGNITOR performed at Mexico’s Monterrey Metal Fest in May 2005, appearing alongside Motorhead and Danzig. Then onto Germany’s Keep It True Festival in November 2005, where they stunned the crowd and were named “Best KIT Newcomer” by Mario’s Metal Mania magazine.

In 2007 IGNITOR released Road of Bones (Cruz del Sur Music) featuring cover art by legendary MOTORHEAD collaborator Joe Petagno. Beverly was temporarily replaced by Annah Moore on guitar for this album. The band’s sophomore effort is a deep dive into themes of pain, death, and rebirth, culminating with their triumphant anthem “Reinheitsgebot” and its rallying cry “Metal is the Law!” Blabbermouth described IGNITOR – “This is the energetic, lusty sound of a new and eager band who are ridiculously fired up to be alive, no matter what the decade.” IGNITOR toured heavily in support of the album, playing with Primal Fear and Leaves Eyes, and a notable appearance at the Valley Thrash Fest in McAllen, Texas. 

In 2008, Texas metal veteran Jason McMaster (Watchtower, Howling Sycamore, Dangerous Toys, Broken Teeth, Evil United) replaced Erika’s wraith-Maiden wail with his demonic Texas drawl. The band released The Spider Queen (Cruz del Sur/Heavy Artillery) in 2009, a fairy tale of love and redemption. The band toured in support of the album, sharing stages with Fates Warning and Helstar along the way. 

In 2010 IGNITOR played the Metal Up Your Tap Fest in Chicago along with Cruz del Sur label mates Bible of the Devil.

2012 saw the release of Year of the Metal Tiger (MVD Audio,) featuring fan favorite “Heavy Metal Holocaust” and the eerie polytheism of “Shadow of the Needle.” “…a fiery album of traditional, hot-wired metal that’s intensely passionate and utterly authentic.” – Backstage Auctions.

IGNITOR released Mixtape ’85 in 2013, a collection of beloved favorites recalling the peak years for thrash and heavy metal. The Metal Files said “…the opening solo on Into the Coven gave me chills when I first heard it.” 2013 also saw the inauguration of IGNITOR’s occasionally-annual Iron Fist Fest in their hometown of Austin, featuring Witches Mark.

The next two years produced some lineup changes. Beverly was replaced by Robert Williams (Witches Mark,) and Brendon was replaced by Billy “Chainsaw” Dansfiell (Agony Column) cementing IGNITOR’s current lineup.

In May 2016 IGNITOR performed at the Ragnarokkr Metal Apocalypse in Chicago along with Tygers of Pan Tang, Jag Panzer, and Leather Leone. The Iron Fist Fest returned in 2016 too, featuring Byfist and Death of Millions alongside IGNITOR.

In 2017 IGNITOR released Years of War 2008 – 2013, an anthology of the band’s releases during those years in a limited edition box set, including rare promo discs and assorted items from the merchandise shop. The box set is only available from the band’s website ignitorband.com. 

2017 also saw the release of the IGNITOR’s sixth album Haunted By Rock & Roll (EMP Label Group.) The song “Hatchet: The Ballad of Victor Crowley” is heard during the closing credits of the horror slasher “Victor Crowley” from Ariescope Pictures. Director Adam Green produced a NSFW video of the song featuring some key gory scenes from the movie. The band produced three other companion videos featuring the songs “No Sanctuary,” “Brave The War,” and “Haunted by Rock & Roll.” Roppongi Rocks said “IGNITOR serves us an extra large portion of terrific heavy metal on its new album.” “The New Wave of British Heavy Metal deserves a locally designated acronym thanks to IGNITOR.” – Austin Chronicle

IGNITOR returned to Chicago in July 2018 for the Alehorn of Power X festival, appearing alongside Zuul and Bible of the Devil. IGNITOR appeared again in July at the Iron Fist Fest 3 with James Rivera’s Metal Asylum and Austin’s own Duel. Iron Fist Fest 4’s ten-band lineup in 2019 featured IGNITOR, Helstar, and Angkor Wat.

In early 2020, IGNITOR finished the work on their seventh album. After contacting Metal on Metal Records and sending the new songs, they got a positive response and soon the agreement was reached. The Golden Age of Black Magick was finally released on October 2020 on CD and all major digital platforms.

In January 2020 right before the worldwide pandemic, IGNITOR recorded a live set at Kick Butt Coffee in Austin. Later in the year the band self-released that set on a CD called Live…Before the Plague and posted it for sale on its website store. 

Like most of the planet, IGNITOR spent 2020-2021 hiding out from the pandemic. Luckily that provided ample opportunity to write and hone new material. The band played a few shows here and there as venues began opening back up in 2022 and 2023, but spent most of the time writing and preparing to record their next album. 

Recording began in Fall 2023 and was finished in May 2024 for the ninth IGNITOR album, Horns and Hammers (Metal on Metal). Horns and Hammers features some extra special guests – Ross “the Boss” Friedman (Dictators, Manowar,) Marc Lopes (Metal Church) and Gabriel Guardiola (Immortal Guardian). IGNITOR is especially proud of this album. The cover art was painted by Claudio Bergamin and depicts a weathered warrior in a brief moment of repose after a battle. It resembles the plight of true metal warriors like IGNITOR, who strive to inject both power and passion into their craft with every performance, keeping the flames of heavy metal stoked and smoldering for the gathered masses.