“Keeping the flame alive, one riff at a time”
🎤 ORIGINS – THE DREAM TAKES FLIGHT
Heavy metal never dies – it just finds new pilots. Tailgunner was born out of the mad brain of Zac Salmon, a bassist and all-round metal fanatic who wanted to take the sound of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) and give it a shot of jet fuel.
Formed in 2022, the band came together with one mission: bring back traditional, no-compromise heavy metal in an age when TikTok and autotune are running riot. Instead of chasing trends, they planted their boots firmly in the legacy of Maiden, Priest, and Helloween – but added enough modern bite to make today’s crowds scream along.
Like their namesake (Iron Maiden’s 1990 banger “Tailgunner”), they set out to strike fast, fly high, and blast loud.
⚡ THE SOUND – OLD SCHOOL MADE NEW
If you’ve ever wanted to step into a time machine back to 1984, Tailgunner are your band. Their sound is pure heavy metal thunder:
- Twin-guitar harmonies that gallop like Iron Maiden’s “Aces High.”
- High-flying vocals from Craig Cairns – part Bruce Dickinson, part Kai Hansen, all banshee wail.
- Riffs built for headbanging, somewhere between Helloween’s speed and Saxon’s grit.
- Choruses bigger than a festival crowd – the type where even your nan would belt it out by the second verse.
- Pounding drums that sound like a Panzer division rolling down the Valleys.
This isn’t metalcore, it’s not prog, it’s not trying to be clever – it’s proper heavy metal for the people. The denim-and-leather kind. The “spill your pint and don’t even care” kind.
🪓 THE CREW – MEET THE BAND
- Craig Cairns – Vocals 🎤
The man with the skyscraper voice. Cairns can hit the kind of notes that make dogs bark in the next town. Imagine Bruce Dickinson in his prime, but younger, hungrier, and probably running on Monster energy drinks. - Zac Salmon – Bass / Founder 🎸
The architect of Tailgunner. Salmon’s bass gallop could raise Steve Harris’ eyebrow in approval – and that’s saying something. He lives and breathes heavy metal and it shows in every song. - Goz Gitlin – Guitar 🎸
Sharp riffs, tighter than a festival security wristband. Brings the melodic edge that keeps the solos soaring. - Rocco Sager – Guitar 🎸
Part two of the twin-axe attack. If Goz is fire, Rocco is gasoline – together, they shred like a chainsaw through a crate of Carling. - Adam Stockman – Drums 🥁
Keeps the whole thing galloping like a runaway steam train. Double-kick thunder and relentless fills that could start earthquakes in Cardiff Bay.
💿 THE DISCOGRAPHY – LOCK & LOAD
🔫 Guns For Hire (2023)
Tailgunner’s debut album is basically a declaration of war. No filler, no ballads – just nine tracks of pure heavy metal glory.
Highlights:
- “Shadows of War” – An anthem that sounds like it was smuggled out of 1986.
- “Crashdive” – Speed metal fury, guaranteed to get pits spinning.
- “White Death” – Ice-cold riffs, blazing hot vocals.
- “Guns For Hire” – The title track, tailor-made for fists-in-the-air singalongs.
The album got rave reviews across the underground metal press, with critics calling them “the future of traditional heavy metal.”
🎪 LIVE SHOWS – WHERE TAILGUNNER SOAR
If the record is good, the live show is where Tailgunner truly kill. They play like they’ve got something to prove – because they do. They’re young, they’re hungry, and they know every gig is a chance to convert more metalheads.
They’ve already smashed sets at:
- Steelhouse Festival ⛰️ – proving themselves against big names and winning over the Welsh hillside.
- Bloodstock Open Air ⚔️ – where they showed the metal faithful that classic heavy metal isn’t nostalgia, it’s NOW.
- Countless UK club shows, from sweaty basements to rock bars, turning every set into a pub-sized arena.
Their shows are pure “YESS MUN!” energy – flying Vs, leather, sweat, and riffs that hit you in the chest like a rugby tackle.
🏴 THE FUTURE – STRAIGHT OUTTA THE HANGAR
Tailgunner aren’t trying to be trendy. They’re not going to suddenly drop a rap-metal EP or play acoustic indie nights. They’re heavy metal lifers, building the band brick by brick just like the legends did back in the day.
With more European tours, festival slots, and talk of new music on the horizon, they’re set to be the next big British heavy metal export.
If you love Maiden, Priest, Saxon, or Helloween – get on board now before Tailgunner take off into the stratosphere.
🎧 FINAL VERDICT
Tailgunner aren’t just another “retro band” – they’re proof that the spirit of heavy metal is immortal. Young, loud, fast, and tighter than your uncle’s jeans at a family wedding, they’re carrying the flame for a new generation.
So grab your patch jacket, raise your pint, and get in the pit – because Tailgunner are locked, loaded, and ready to blast. ⚔️🔥✈️
