U.S. heavy metal force Ashes of Ares, featuring former Iced Earth members Matt Barlow (vocals) and Freddie Vidales (guitar), have announced a European headlining tour for fall 2025. The band will celebrate the legacy of their past by performing Iced Earth’s classic 1996 album “The Dark Saga” in its entirety, alongside highlights from their own catalog.
Formed in 2012 after departing Iced Earth, Barlow and Vidales established Ashes of Ares as a continuation of their uncompromising heavy metal vision. Their latest release, “New Messiahs” (out July 18, 2025 via ROAR), is their most ambitious to date, a collection of 12 tracks that push the boundaries of their sound while staying true to the melodic aggression they are known for.
For this tour, the band will merge the old and the new: honoring their time in Iced Earth by revisiting “The Dark Saga”, an album considered a landmark in ’90s U.S. power metal for its concept inspired by Todd McFarlane’s Spawn comics, while continuing to forge their own path with Ashes of Ares material.
Ashes of Ares – European Tour 2025 Dates
- September 28 – Larissa, Greece
- September 29 – Thessaloniki, Greece
- September 30 – Nicosia, Cyprus
- October 1 – Athens, Greece (Sold Out)
- October 2 – Athens, Greece (Last tickets)
- October 4 – Würzburg, Germany
- October 5 – TBA
- October 6 – Krakow, Poland
- October 7 – TBA
- October 8 – Vienna, Austria
- October 9 – Zagreb, Croatia
- October 10 – Sofia, Bulgaria
- October 11 – Istanbul, Turkey
With a setlist that balances the nostalgia of a beloved classic and the urgency of their new work, Ashes of Ares are poised to deliver a tour that will resonate with both longtime Iced Earth fans and a new generation of metalheads.
