Stormzone - Biography
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2004-
Biography
Stormzone were formed initially as a studio project in 2004 by vocalist John 'Harv'Harbinson who was itching for a new creative outlet after a brief break from the rock industry. Harbinson had previously enjoyed success in bands such as No Sweat, Fastway, Sweet Savage and Den of Thieves (who enjoyed considerable and continuing success in the Japanese rock market). Harbinson immediately set about recruiting session musicians, which would lead to the recording and release of the debut Stormzone album, 'Caught In The Act', in 2007.
At one point Harbinson joined an Iron Maiden tribute band with bassist Graham McNulty as a side project. During rehearsals, the band decided to compose some original material, which brought Harbinson to realise that he had a functioning live band; a band he could fold into Stormzone allowing the outfit to go beyond the studio and onto the road.
In 2008, Stormzone were to play Firefest in Nottingham England but down a drummer at this point, Davy Bates (ex-Sweet Savage) stepped in to save the day, which then led Bates into the bands ranks on a permanent basis.Following extensive live success in Europe, the band decided to record a new album in the vein of their rapidly evolving classic metal style. Having already caught the attention of rock industry producer/DJ Neil Kay, (famed for discovering Iron Maiden) he consequently agreed to co-produce the resulting album, 2010's 'Death Dealer'.
Following 'Death Dealer' the band hit the road hard. Highlights included supporting American rockers Tesla, appearing at 2009's Sweden Rocks Festival and playing a sold out show in the bands hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland supporting Y&T.Early 2011 saw another quake in the ranks, which would lead to guitarist Steve Moore entering the fold. Moore had previously played with Riff Master General and Fireland, toured with the likes of Kreator and Dragonforce and has appeared on, and engineered, several albums.
After supporting Stryper on the Spanish leg of their 2011 European tour, the band played the W.E.T. stage at Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany before setting about recorded their third album 'Zero To Rage'. The album was produced by guitarist Steve Moore at his FireMachine Studio in Antrim, Northern Ireland and was released by SPV/Steamhammer in November 2011.
2013 saw the band shake hands with a new label, Metal Nation Records, which was founded by Jess Cox, ex-Neat Records/Edgy Records boss and original Tygers Of Pan Tang vocalist. The fourth album 'Three Kings' would be released later that year, in September 2013. The very first Stormzone video was also shot that summer, with the album title track video going on to achieve over 30,000 views in just a few months since its release.
Following the release of 'Three Kings' the band once again hit the road, playing several tours across the UK & Ireland, with bands such as Saxon and appearing at prestigious festivals such as Sonisphere & Bloodstock Open Air. Just over a year on from 'Three Kings' Stormzone embarked on yet another journey. Having spent some time once again behind the locked doors of FireMachine Studio, the band completed a new recording, a concept album based on humanity's tendency to sin, otherwise know as capital vices or cardinal sins but most famously known as the 'Seven Sins'!
'Seven Sins' was released on 3rd August 2015 via Metal Nation Records.
Shortly after it's release Stormzone were invited to perform songs from the album for the first time at the Leyendas Del Rock festival in Spain and successfully played to probably their largest audience yet!
And now just two years later Stormzone returned to recording duties determined to do something a little different in order to continue the band's evolution, continually striving to write songs about unique and intteresting subjects. This time the theme throughout the album was to concentrate on famous Irish myths and legends, and 13 songs emerged from Stormzone HQ, each one featuring mysterious place or character and their stories which have become embedded in Northern Ireland folklore. 'Cushy Glen', the notorious cut-throat highwayman, 'Albhartach', the original Irish vampire known to have inspired Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', 'Dark Hedges' the Northern Irish landmark now immortalised in the famous tv series Game of Thrones and 'Hallows' Eve' confirming that Halloween did actually originate in Northern Ireland plus the album's compelling title track 'Lucifer's Factory', the origin of which is destined to surprise all! There are many more equally intriguing songs with different legendary mythical characters, all guaranteed to keep listeners interested during the album's entirety!
'Lucifer's Factory' was released on April 23rd 2018 through Metal Nation Records.
2020 saw the recording and release of the band's seventh full-length album, entitled Ignite The Machine, released on July 31st 2020 through Metalapolis Records. Featuring 12 tracks of blistering heavy metal that have already been hailed as the strongest collection of tracks to date, the band continues to raise the bar.
Source: Official website
At one point Harbinson joined an Iron Maiden tribute band with bassist Graham McNulty as a side project. During rehearsals, the band decided to compose some original material, which brought Harbinson to realise that he had a functioning live band; a band he could fold into Stormzone allowing the outfit to go beyond the studio and onto the road.
In 2008, Stormzone were to play Firefest in Nottingham England but down a drummer at this point, Davy Bates (ex-Sweet Savage) stepped in to save the day, which then led Bates into the bands ranks on a permanent basis.Following extensive live success in Europe, the band decided to record a new album in the vein of their rapidly evolving classic metal style. Having already caught the attention of rock industry producer/DJ Neil Kay, (famed for discovering Iron Maiden) he consequently agreed to co-produce the resulting album, 2010's 'Death Dealer'.
Following 'Death Dealer' the band hit the road hard. Highlights included supporting American rockers Tesla, appearing at 2009's Sweden Rocks Festival and playing a sold out show in the bands hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland supporting Y&T.Early 2011 saw another quake in the ranks, which would lead to guitarist Steve Moore entering the fold. Moore had previously played with Riff Master General and Fireland, toured with the likes of Kreator and Dragonforce and has appeared on, and engineered, several albums.
After supporting Stryper on the Spanish leg of their 2011 European tour, the band played the W.E.T. stage at Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany before setting about recorded their third album 'Zero To Rage'. The album was produced by guitarist Steve Moore at his FireMachine Studio in Antrim, Northern Ireland and was released by SPV/Steamhammer in November 2011.
2013 saw the band shake hands with a new label, Metal Nation Records, which was founded by Jess Cox, ex-Neat Records/Edgy Records boss and original Tygers Of Pan Tang vocalist. The fourth album 'Three Kings' would be released later that year, in September 2013. The very first Stormzone video was also shot that summer, with the album title track video going on to achieve over 30,000 views in just a few months since its release.
Following the release of 'Three Kings' the band once again hit the road, playing several tours across the UK & Ireland, with bands such as Saxon and appearing at prestigious festivals such as Sonisphere & Bloodstock Open Air. Just over a year on from 'Three Kings' Stormzone embarked on yet another journey. Having spent some time once again behind the locked doors of FireMachine Studio, the band completed a new recording, a concept album based on humanity's tendency to sin, otherwise know as capital vices or cardinal sins but most famously known as the 'Seven Sins'!
'Seven Sins' was released on 3rd August 2015 via Metal Nation Records.
Shortly after it's release Stormzone were invited to perform songs from the album for the first time at the Leyendas Del Rock festival in Spain and successfully played to probably their largest audience yet!
And now just two years later Stormzone returned to recording duties determined to do something a little different in order to continue the band's evolution, continually striving to write songs about unique and intteresting subjects. This time the theme throughout the album was to concentrate on famous Irish myths and legends, and 13 songs emerged from Stormzone HQ, each one featuring mysterious place or character and their stories which have become embedded in Northern Ireland folklore. 'Cushy Glen', the notorious cut-throat highwayman, 'Albhartach', the original Irish vampire known to have inspired Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', 'Dark Hedges' the Northern Irish landmark now immortalised in the famous tv series Game of Thrones and 'Hallows' Eve' confirming that Halloween did actually originate in Northern Ireland plus the album's compelling title track 'Lucifer's Factory', the origin of which is destined to surprise all! There are many more equally intriguing songs with different legendary mythical characters, all guaranteed to keep listeners interested during the album's entirety!
'Lucifer's Factory' was released on April 23rd 2018 through Metal Nation Records.
2020 saw the recording and release of the band's seventh full-length album, entitled Ignite The Machine, released on July 31st 2020 through Metalapolis Records. Featuring 12 tracks of blistering heavy metal that have already been hailed as the strongest collection of tracks to date, the band continues to raise the bar.
Source: Official website