Kansas City’s underground death metal ecosystem has a major engine behind it: Ben DePaoli, owner and operator of Iron Fortress Records. Founded in the early 2020s, Iron Fortress has grown at a staggering pace, building an impressive discography in a relatively short time while staying firmly rooted in raw, uncompromising extreme metal.
Some of the recent releases on the label include Hamarr, Infinite Misery, and Emaciated.
Beyond the label itself, DePaoli has also expanded Iron Fortress into the physical world, organizing the inaugural Iron Fortress Death Fest in 2025 and further cementing the label’s role as a hub for underground death metal.
In this video interview, Ben and I discuss cassettes, death metal, the origins of Iron Fortress Records, and what lies ahead for the label:
Support Ben and the label at the links below:
Iron Fortress Records official website | Instagram
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Tagged: record label profile
