Retro Heavy Metal act Z-IRON was initiated by the RITUAL STEEL, ISEN TORR and SAVAGE RITES rhythm section of bassist Oliver Zuehlke and drummer Martin "Z-Iron" Zellmer. They would be joined by EXILED singer John Cason and guitarist Dean Harder from Croatian band WITCHCRAFT.

Hellion Records published a limited, split EP 'Masters Of Metal' shared with NOT FRAGILE in 2004. Z-IRON would contribute the original 'The Iron Force' plus cover versions of MALICE's 'God Of Thunder' and WEAPON's 'Set The Stage Alight'. Restricted to 500 copies, the EP was manufactured in 250 grey vinyl and 250 pink pressings.