Steel Tormentor was formed in 1996 by guitarist and vocalist James Kelly as a studio project. It wasn't until early 2004 that James found a line up stable enough to record the debut album "Unleashed". He was joined for the recording process by Seanie Walsh on drums and Paul Newell on bass guitar. The album was produced by James in his home studio.
The album was a self financed & got such a great response from the metal underground a gigging line up was put together to help promote it.Original bassist John Hanly rejoined the band along side new members Norman Rafter on guitar and Paul Donnellan on drums. With this line up the band gigged as often as possible across the country. The most notable gigs the band did during the period 2004-2007 was a tour of the UK with Marshall Law, Bloodstock Metal Festival UK, Up The Hammers festival Greece, support slots to Saxon, Battleroar, Airged Lamh,Twisted Tower Dire & Cauldron.
In late 2007 Paul Donnellan left the band & after a year searching for a replacement in March 2008 Kevin Ryder was announced as the new ST drummer. John Hanly left in July 2008 & was replaced by returning bassist Paul Newell.
Over a two week period in August and October 2008 ST entered Remaster Studio in Italy to begin work on their new album entitled "Return of a King".Determined that the new album would be the biggest step forward from the debut possible, Steel Tormentor spent months working on 'Return of a King'. In December 2009 the final touches were put to the album at LSD studio Germany with producer Lasse Lammert at the helm.
ST signed to Union Black Digital (a division of Union Black Records) in December 2009 for the digital release of the album "Return of a King".
Return of a King was officially released on the 31st of July 2010 in limited edition CD (100 copies) & standard jewel case CD on the bands own Nephin Records label.
Union Black Records released the digital version of Return of a King on the 20th of September 2010.
A Limited edition vinyl run of 250 copies was released by Nephin Records on the 21st of January 2011.
After only 3 gigs the "Return of a King" recording line up broke up... Kevin Ryder was replaced on drums by returning member Paul Donnellan,Norman Rafter was replaced on guitar by Pat Fitzgerald & Paul Newell was replaced for the bands last gig by stand in bassist Danny Rowe.
January 2012 a re-recorded version of "Welcome to the end" originally on the Unleashed album was released by Nephin Records as a digital single only.
Bio updated 08/02/12