Formed at a nightclub in 2005 when a mutual friend invented a silly band name to try and impress a geeky girl, Gandalf’s Fist is the creative collaboration of multi-instrumentalist Dean Marsh and lyricist/vocalist Luke Severn. Meeting at University and becoming good friends, drinking partners and pub-quiz teammates, the duo spent the subsequent two years releasing experimental instrumental tracks, however, the origins of their music go back much further. They start, depending on your point of view, with the golden era of Prog in the 1970s, the birth of English folk centuries before or, even in the time before time inhabited by Tolkien’s fantastical characters

... And what would Tolkien say about all this? With a pint of Mead in hand, one might suggest he would say; “Hell Yes!” And proceed to rock his socks off!

Dean and Luke draw on their mutual love for classic rock bands such as Pink Floyd, The Who, and even the likes of Iron Maiden. While the duo became increasingly captivated by bands in the resurgent neo-prog scene such as Porcupine Tree, they were inspired to try and forge their own musical identity, creating music that, whilst not appealing to the masses, (and certainly not their neighbours) was the kind of music that they, themselves, wanted to hear.

The respective Teacher and Archaeologist were enthused when they discovered that, via the medium of social networking, people from around the globe we’re beginning to take notice of their bizarre musical concoctions.

Oft aided at this time by whichever flatmate happened to be walking past the synthesiser, experimental musical compositions such as “Treebeard Transport King” became increasingly progressive, psychedelic and peculiar in equal measure and prompted the two to sit down and pen their first full length release - a concept album borne from a drunken conversation at The Lifeboat Inn - “The Master and the Monkey”.

And the experiment appeared to work. Blending the rich, delayed guitars of the of the 70’s, the crunching rock tone of the 80’s and the whimsical melodies of the 16th Century, the record forged a sound that excited the duo, and inspired them to pen and release “Road to Darkness” a mere 6 months later. Spending more time on production qualities and crafting a cohesive experience, the album received great reviews and acclaim from a number of publications from around the world, including Music Street Journal that coined the record as “one of the best progressive rock albums of 2011”.
Intermittently taking time to refresh their folky-inclinations with the winter EP “Songs from the Solway”, a release that recounted much of the folklore and fantastic scenery of the English Lake District, the two spent the next year devising their most ambitious project to date. ..

“From a Point of Existence” pays homage to their Tolkien-esque moniker, the album is a Sci-Fi reimagining of the classic children’s tale “The Hobbit”. From the Epic 30 minute psychedelic title tracks to the ballad “There and Back Again”, the record stretches the band’s sound to new limits as the group continues to explore uncharted territories with their unique songwriting projects.

As Gandalf’s Fist’s reputation continues to grow around within the Prog-Rock scene it is difficult to imagine what the future holds for the two, but what is certain is that it will be worth sticking around to find out.