Dumfries, Scotland, UK • 1969-1974

Iron Claw formed back in 1969 as Mother Earth, a band playing cover songs while slowly creating their sound. In 1970 came the release of Black Sabbath, which was the eventual influence needed. With Sabbath's heavy undertones, they succumbed to the name Iron Claw by February of that same year and moved toward darker, heavier rock.

Soon the quintet, under the lead of bassist Alex Wilson, took up penning original material. Victory in a local talent contest netted them studio time in Edinburgh, where early cuts such as "Sabotage" and "Mist Eye" were committed to tape. Iron Claw cut an eight-song demo LP in a single day that year at London studio. But, for the most part, side one of the album was heavier, brooding, and full of riffs; it was filled with song titles like "Clawstrophobia" and "Skullcrusher," while side two contained more concise, melodic pieces: "Bright Future" and "Saga."

Although Iron Claw never enjoyed wide recognition in their heyday, their recordings capture the raw energy and ambition of a band at the forefront of heavy rock's evolution. Their legacy remains a glimpse into the formative years of a genre that would later dominate the world.