Kaos Reign (review by Jojo)

Kaos Reign - Screaming For Salvation 2016 (Skumbagh Records)

(review by Jojo from Fuglymaniacs)

This week we got a email with a link to a band Kaos Reign. They were gracious enough to send us the entire release. Least we can do is give them our two fugly cents. Not that anybody cares. 'Southern Connecticut, Kaos Rei gn is here to assault your senses with their unique mixture of death, doom and thrash' they claim on their promo. Connecticut? We thought well Fates Warning comes that state & Leige Lord too and they had Joe Comeau which we dig. Kaos Reign comes out of the gate with strong vocals, Bill has a good range from shouting to growling and even channeling a bit of Martin van Drunen. Yep, just a sprinkle. The thick riffs and different arrangements make for an interesting mix. we like Kill The Messenger, Storyteller, Rejection Letter. To name a few....

Chris Anderson is a fuglymaniac on drum that smashes the symbols like he wants to make guacamole with them. We enjoy this cd for the most part it does however show signs of shortcomings. Most are obvious. While we appreciate the time and effort that goes into this DIY project this being their second release maybe a professional touch would of been worth the money. Screaming For Salvation is a two man project and it shows. The bass is nowhere to be found. We played it in the car blasting. No luck!. Bluetooth speaker, nope! headphones on pc. Nada! Also this recording sounds like in some songs it has drum machine? The real drumming however is great, Chris Anderson really works his tail off. Great job Chris! There are no face melting, ball crushing, hell raising shredding? there are obvious holes where those licks would kick ass. In conclusion their hard work pays off with a crushing release that can stir the mosh pit. Catch 'em live these tracks are built for some live- friendly, violent fun. Don't take our word for it ...get it! Enjoy.

www.facebook.com/kaosreignmetal

www.fuglymaniacs.com

March 28 Satan, Skelator, Substratum, Gatekeeper, Nox Velum at Highline, Seattle, WA

March 28 Satan, Skelator, Substratum, Gatekeeper, Nox Velum at Highline, Seattle, WA

Blue Öyster Cult in Everett, WA

January 28 Blue Öyster Cult at Historic Everett Theatre, Everett, WA

Altarage (review by Akerblogger)

Claustrophobic and Devouring: Altarage - Nihl (2016)

NIHL, the debut album by Spain's Altarage, is an overwhelming and all-consuming force of dense matter that completely drains all colour and life. The vocals are a hazy and grating, a vibrating shape-shifting monster that crawls from the deep and devours life - I imagine it's the noise that the shadowy and creeping arachnid-demon creature in the fantastic album artwork would make.

The entire thing, from the band logo to the artwork to the song-titles to the most important aspect - the music itself - is dripping in a claustrophobic and oppressive atmosphere; the production here is full and bass-heavy and the rumbling of the drums and the grating vocals are an incessant attack on the senses - the album succeeds in stunning the listener into submission. I'd attribute this partly to the diverse drum-work: they close 'Baptism Nihl' with a ritualistic pounding; similarly in creeping atmosphere of 'Batherex' they rumble with a demonic steadiness; towards the middle and end of 'Vortex Pyramid', as the song breaks down into further instability and chaos, the supersonic drum-work is frantic, almost inhuman, and at 3.45 breaks in to a jazz-like death-metal drum solo.

NIHL is a gem riff-wise too: heavy chugs merge with creaking dissonance, laser-sharp stabbings of coldness merge with reverberating atmospheres and old-school mid-paced grooves merge with intense spurts of brutal-death skull-crushery - it's all very well done. At 36-minutes NIHL is the perfect length for an album of such intensity; not too short - leaving dissatisfaction - but not at all dragging on, becoming stale. The album ends leaving me, at least, craving more brain-sapping and skull-crushing intensity which, at a most simple level, is the sign of a captivating album.

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Thunderstone (review by Matt Spall)

Artist: Thunderstone

Album Title: Apocalypse Again

Label: AFM Records

Date Of Release: 1 April 2016

The Blog Of Much Metal seems to have been inundated with albums that have a strong power metal influence recently. Arguably however, this is the most straight-up no-nonsense power metal record of them all. And it comes in the form of the sixth full-length album from Finland’s Thunderstone, a band that I have been aware of for a number of years since the release of ‘The Burning’ back in 2004.

It has been six long years since the quintet last released a studio album but more importantly, it is the first in a decade to feature original vocalist Pasi Rantanen who initially left after the release of ‘Evolution 4.0’ in 2007. And, on the basis of ‘Apocalypse Again’, it would appear that their returning vocalist has brought with him a renewed hunger and desire that has permeated the entire band.

‘Apocalypse Again’ bursts out of the gates in impressive fashion thanks to an energetic and fast-paced opening number in the form of ‘Veterans Of The Apocalypse’. Together, the quick tempo, flamboyant keyboard and guitar lead solos and rousing chorus make an impressive statement of intent, leaving a pleasant taste in the mouth, nicely whetting the appetite for the remaining eight songs.

‘The Path’ follows and after a keyboard-heavy and rather grandiose opening, it settles into more of a mid-tempo chug throughout the verse only to open up into another big hook-laden chorus via a darker, more theatrical bridge. ‘Fire And Ice’ is dominated by some lush keyboards courtesy of Jukka Karinen and another immediate chorus which shows off Rantanen’s vocal skills to great effect.

What I really like about Thunderstone on this record in particular is that they are not afraid to bust out the keyboard solos and more often than not, let them duel with the lead guitar of Nino Laurenne. Whether or not it was a deliberate act on the band’s part, the upfront and undiluted keys nevertheless create a slightly old-school feel to the material as well as an element of fun and devil-may-care attitude which I really like.

Back to the songs themselves and ‘Through The Pain’ is slightly slower, almost ballad-like with an absolutely huge chorus and more of a melodic hard rock sheen. It’s a really storming track and one of my favourites on the record. Not for the first time, I’m reminded of Jorn Lande in Rantanen’s delivery, not that this is a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination.

With only nine tracks making up ‘Apocalypse Again’ it is important that there are no fillers and that every track offers something of value and worth. On that score, it is good news as this is a remarkably consistent album with barely a let-up in quality throughout. ‘Fire And Ice’ is reminiscent of Masterplan at their best with another brilliantly infectious chorus and driving rhythm from drummer Atte Palokangas and bassist Titus Hjelm whereas ‘Wounds’ features some really tasty riffs during a song that’s delivered in full-on attack mode at 100 miles an hour.

One of the big strengths about ‘Apocalypse Again’ aside from the songs themselves is the production, which packs a real punch and ensures that all instruments are clear and possess the necessary power. The real winner however, is the muscular and bruising rhythm section, the drums in particular catching the ear.

‘Apocalypse Again’ is an album that gets better with each and every listen. It is addictive, infectious and powerful. It has been a long time coming, but the wait was worth it as a rejuvenated Thunderstone have returned with one hell of a bang, producing a slab of impressive and expertly crafted power metal in the process. Highly recommended.

The Score Of Much Metal: 8.75

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Ashen Pyre (Seattle)

Ashen Pyre

Tract I: Malus Ferox

release date: February 18th, 2016

label: independent

This is a demo of minimalist/necro/depressive black metal. Metal Archives and Facebook give next to nothing in terms of information. Supposedly, this is a one-person project from Seattle. Regardless, you can stream the recording on Bandcamp. It also seem that the recording is available for free/name-your-price. Metal Archives and Bandcamp give the following information about the recording. Anyway, maybe in the future it’s possible to find out more about this entity. We’ll see what happens.

1.I 01:33

2.II 05:25

3.III 06:24

4.IV 03:34

5.V 05:38

6.VI 05:17

total time 27:51

www.ashenpyre.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/ashenpyre

free thrash album: Vocífera (Brazil)

Vocífera

Evil Thoughts

Release date: March 15th, 2016

label: independent

This is very good news for thrash zealots. It’s a new album from Vocífera and it’s free/name-your-price at Bandcamp. The band has been active for several years and they finally have the new album ready. As if that were not enough, at this price, love-it-all devoted thrashers now have zero excuses left to get into the pit.

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Evil Thoughts is the first full-length of Vocifera and comes with weight and overwhelming riffs, which show the evolution of the band. With a destructive sound, it have a clear influence from Death and Thrash Metal. This is a conceptual album, the letters talk about fears and darkest desires of the human being and a critical to today's world. Evil Thoughts is a punch in the face.

Fury, begins by the name. Vocifera comes from “Vociferate”- scream, exclaim. And all this rage becomes a heavy and aggressive sound that give rise to this metal band formed in 2011 in Recife / BRAZIL. To compose this destructive sound, Vocifera runs though many schools of metal to, with marked influences of Death and Thrash Metal. Powerfull riffs that transmite the aggressiveness necessary to guide the lyrics that dive in human’s fear, ambitions and desires. Despite the short time on the road, the band is already considered by specialized blogs and sites, a grate underground revelation. The work done by Vocífera has earned your presence at festivals like Matanza Fest, which shared the stage with the Matanza (SP), a presentation in acclaimed April pro Rock Festival, next to the icons of the metal world: Krisiun and Sodom, in Sertão in Rock Festival beside Ratos de Porão and recently in Hellcifest Festival, opening for Testament and Cannibal Corpse. In 2016 will be released the much awaited new albun, Evil Thoughts, which comes loaded weight and crushing riffs, which show the evolution of the band. This is Vocifera, a furious breathtaking band, that you need to face.

Some influences: Obituary, Benediction, Venom, Cripper, Dracena, Toxic Holocaust, Destruction, Testament, Arch Enemy, Korzus, Violator, Kreator, Death, Holy Moses, Malsain, Bywar, Sacrilege, Izegrim, Suffocation...

www.vocifera.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/vociferametal

NEWS: Gadget

NEWS:

Gadget

The Great Destroyer

Relapse Records

Release: 11 March 2016

Grind fanatics will be living large for a while after they hear what the Swedes have constructed once again. These old fat bears sometimes go on hibernation for long periods of time and they disappear into the woods only to return for more grind, with more grind. Payback is playback, don't look into this mirror unless you stand behind it for the grind. Gadget is back. Let the grind times roll.

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

On behalf of Swedish grindcore stalwarts GADGET, Relapse Records is excited to announce that The Great Destroyer,the band’s first full-length in a decade, will see worldwide release this March 11th, 2016. Though the band has largely flown under the radar in the general metal consciousness, Gavle, Sweden's GADGET has roots that trace back to 1997. The band has always included influences from every other extreme genre that they've been fond of, like doom, sludge, hardcore punk, death metal, black metal and more, never letting genre boundaries stand in the way of their path of destruction. At the time of the band's formation, GADGET existed as the grinding alter-ego of a metalcore band whose members, including founder William Blackmon, simply switched instruments. Rikard Olsson and William teamed up in the winter of 1999/2000, and wrote the first GADGET demo as a duo. The band then joined forces with Emil Englund to record a second demo, which was strong enough to grab the attention of Relapse Records, who signed the band for the release of their debut full-length Remote (2004), now featuring Fredrik Nygren. Remote was extensively well-received, as was its 2006 follow-up The Funeral March. After touring Europe twice and performing at dozens of festivals worldwide, including at Maryland Deathfest and Auditory Assault in the US, GADGET has proven itself to be a relentless grindcore force live as well as on record.

A blistering high-speed assault of relentless grind, GADGET's new album The Great Destroyer is a cohesive exercise in extremity that blends hints of doom, sludge and death metal with unadulterated, old-school grindcore. The result is an album that is as memorable and infectious as it is pummeling and explosive. With The Great Destroyer, GADGET has released their most accomplished material to date!

www.gadgetband.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/gadgetgrindcore

NEWS: AHTME (formerly The Roman Holiday)

NEWS:

AHTME (formerly The Roman Holiday)

The Demonization

Unique Leader Records

Release: 25 March 2016

Find out more about this tech-death album below. The band appears to be new, but it's actually just a name change. In reality, according to Metal Archives, the origins of the band go back to 2005.

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Kansas City technical death metal strategists/recent Unique Leader signees, AHTME, formerly known as The Roman Holiday, will be reissuing their 2013-issued The Demonization. Though The Demonization never had an official release, the forty-minute bruiser was well-received among the band’s extensive local fan base and online community. Originally recorded with Navene Koperweis (Animosity, Animals As Leaders, Entheos) in San Francisco in 2009, the album is set to be reissued on March 25th via Unique Leader.

Said the band of first single, “The Sentinel’s Order,” “‘The Sentinel’s Order’ is one of the first songs we wrote as a band and it does a great job of encompassing what this project is about. It's fast, aggressive and violent. We really wanted to focus on the intensity that attracted us all to this genre of music in the first place. It's a song about doing what we as humans were created to do, indulging in carnal desires and paying no heed to what the constructs of modern morality deem socially acceptable (to an extent). This is a song about really reverting to your animal instincts and I think even without the lyrics, the music itself paints a picture along those lines. Though this song is one of our favorites, it came about very early in the writing process. We are proud of how it came together, having said that, the rest of the album only gets better and we are beyond stoked to have an official reissue coming out and finally get it out to people who would never have had a chance to hear it otherwise.”

Forged in 2005 in Kansas City, Missouri, AHTME brings a signature and unique sound to the table. Start with surgically precise but groove-infused guitar riffs, lay them atop a percussion section as sturdy as a field of steel girders and as intricate as a handmade Swiss grandfather clock, throw in a heaping helping of raw, violent vocal incursions, and you have yourself AHTME. Following a near three-year hiatus, AHTME, are indeed back with a proverbial vengeance.

www.facebook.com/ahtmekc

NEWS: Six Reasons to Kill

NEWS:

Six Reasons to Kill

Rote Erde

Bastardized Recordings

Release: 11 March 2016

This is a groove metal/metalcore band from Germany. According to Metal Archives, they have been active since 1999 and have a solid discography to show for their efforts. This style is similar to "melodic death metal" or metalcore. Go to their Facebook page to find out more and to watch the new video.

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

SIX REASONS TO KILL will release new EP Rote Erde March 11 through Bastardized Recordings on 7" vinyl with three limited-edition vinyl colors available. Rote Erde contains two new songs: the title track and a cover version of DISMEMBER's "Of Fire."

Impacted by line-up changes during the last year, SIX REASONS TO KILL became darker and more brutal in their songwriting, lyrics and artwork. The band plays brute Metal with a lot of anger. The new lyrics are written in German and deal with politically and socially critical topics.

The songs were recorded in summer 2015 at the Beast Audio Studios Frankfurt and mixed and mastered by Kohle at Kohlekeller Studio. The artwork was created by Schrottgrenze.

www.facebook.com/SIXREASONSTOKILL

NEWS: Mangled

NEWS:

Mangled

Involuntary Organ Donor

Boris Records

Release: 1 March 2016

There are sick people everywhere, but when such individuals meet up in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. it is more than just gore horror death thrash, it is love at first bite. Something is not quite right in the heads of these old school metal creature-creators and you will be able to tell immediately that these deli butchers want you at one with your sandwich-sandbox. Listen to their new recording below and enjoy the filth.

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

"Gore-drenched thrashing death, brought to you by ATL's finest psychopaths. An often talked about and seldom-witnessed group of serial-killing maniacs, first mentioned in an eyewitness testimony to a kidnapping case in 2011. Churning out speed-laden septic riffage, chunky hooks, and ghastly accounts of the crimes they have committed, Mangled unapolagetically deal out their own special brand of SEWER METAL. Mild mannered members of the populace by day, by night they are found using the subterranean cover of the Atlanta city waterworks to outwit the authorities as they snatch, imprison, mutilate and mangle any citizens unfortunate enough to cross paths with MANGLED!"

www.borisrecords.bandcamp.com/album/involuntary-organ-donor-7

www.facebook.com/Mangled-270014239690739/

interview: Necronomicon (Canada)

Necronomicon

Recently I had the chance to listen to the new album by this Canadian symphonic extreme metal band, “Advent of the Human God.” I did not really know what I was getting myself into this time: I was familiar with the name of the band, but looking deeper into the history of the band a whole bunch of questions came up. Necronomicon seems to have a history that goes back to the late 80s. They have a death metal demo from 1992 called “Morbid Ritual.” The demo or part of the demo is on YouTube, too. It’s a brutal, full-on death metal recording. They now have five albums in total. At any rate, I figured it would be a good time to try to get some answers. Fortunately for this publication, the band’s vocalist/guitarist Rob “The Witch” was very accommodating and responded.

*

*

Metal Archives shows some crazy information about your band! Did the band really start in 1988?!

Metal archives is not super accurate, some info there are wrong. Yes, I Rob the Witch, started the band in 1988, but besides some local shows at the time and a self-recorded rehearsal tape we didn’t have much. We hit the road for our first mini tour in 91 for 12 shows and then recorded our ‘’Morbid Ritual’’ demo that we released few months after in 92. The story is really long and has a lot of things that happened on why we don’t have as many albums on that long of a career. The entire story of the band have not been written because it would be time-consuming and I’m not sure a lot of people would be interested on the story of band members running out with the band money, stealing the band gear to buy drugs, suicide, and the list goes on and on with crappy things that happened. We need to focus on the here and now and that’s what is all about.

How would you describe your music back in the late 80s?

Already I was struggling to form the band with the idea and the vibe I wanted to do, but people where I come from were more into the ‘’Metallica’’ and other bands like that, even the people more into Slayer just wanted to play cover songs and not really compose their own music. So it was really not easy on that part, but also when you want to do something that’s more with an occult or dark theme most of them were backing out. You have to think that I come from a remote region and people were still believing that metal is the devil’s music.

Now that you have your album out and ready for the world, what are your objectives?

We want to get where we never have been before for sure, but at the same time we want to keep growing on the markets we already had worked on these last years. For example, we have been doing really good in the US compared to what we used to, that market became something we love to reach on tour and we just want that expended as much as possible. We think it’s possible with that album since we saw the difference with ‘’Rise of the Elder Ones’’.

You are from Canada, correct? How is life for you and your band, in the part of Canada where you live? Are you professional musicians at this point in your music career?

Yes, we are Canadians and living in Montreal. I’m not sure what you mean by professional musicians …what you considered to be professional musician is the real question. Here it means you are touring and have albums, endorsements and media attention that is what I call professional musician. In that aspect, yes, we are. We don’t play really often here, as for many place we could say that no one is prophet in his own country and that applies really well to us, even if I can say that things start to look a little different nowadays. There’s like 100 bands just in Montreal, with the event of the internet and computer recording everyone is in a band, so when you play it’s in front of people that are in bands and start to compare themselves with what you do. On top of that people take you for granted, so they don’t want to pay you what you charge, money that they can have easily anywhere else. So it’s not that we don’t like to play here, it just don’t happen very much.

“Advent of the Human God” sounds like a professional, quality recording in the genre of modern extreme metal. What keeps you motivated? Are you stubborn, like the guys from Anvil?! You started in the late 80s and you are doing great work in 2016!

Well, I’m the only original member, and I don’t have family or kids and I don’t think I would have time for that anyway since my main priority is Necronomicon. The Anvil reference represents really well how here in Canada we have no support from any kind of industry for metal bands because it simply doesn’t exist beside few underground acts that don’t have the power to push bands to the international market. As Canadians we have to work 5 times more than any bands to get out of here and try to get something that’s worth it. We got screwed and abused by labels, managements and other medium of the industry many times, Anvil are not the only ones; we are many in that position. Some other bands have been more lucky and been backed up by the right people at the right moment, like Kataklysm for example, not saying they don’t work hard here, but just that they have been really lucky. Don’t think it’s to be stubborn but more a reality of the fact that Necronomicon is getting bigger every album, not as fast as other bands did, but it never stopped growing and doing better.

Is “Advent of the Human God” a concept album? What are the ideas behind the album?

It continues the concept of the band about life, death, rebirth, the idea than man is one with the creation and we should renounce what is imposed on us to face our true self and become as gods. To project ourselves on an evolutionary path that will be more in harmony with the cosmos and to see what is really good and bad from the universe perspective and not from religious or human made preprogramed way of thinking. That’s a short version on what is going on there but we have some songs that are a little on the side of that like the one called ‘’The Fjord’’, that one is about me and Rick (drummer) home region in the north and the fact that we move away from there for our music career among other things.

Since you have such experience making music and have seen so many changes in the industry, how do you see the future of metal music, especially for underground and extreme metal bands that do not have multinational corporations supporting them?

Well, things need to change because even if people in the industry say that they don’t make money anymore, well it’s half the truth, they still do make money, for sure they do less than before but they really still do make money where musician are the ones going down with nothing. Already it was hard before now it leaves no chance to anyone who don’t have already a financial support for their band if they really want to go somewhere. You need money to make your band happen and that’s a reality, you need to work and know the right people. It’s not sending your Cd to a label that will make you hit the jackpot, that doesn’t exist. You need to prove you want to do something and already be someone before a label might get interested, and from there it’s in which aspect you accept to get screwed, because you will get screwed, it’s just a matter of what will you accept in exchange to get your name at the bottom of the label mailing list. So things need to change because starting a band from scratch these days is almost futile.

What can your listeners do to give some support to your band?

Like the band page on Facebook, like and subscribe to the YouTube channel, buy the album, watch and like the video clip and buy merch, of course. We are not backed up by big money shots here, what we do it ourselves and it takes a lot of work, time and money. You were asking how we stay motivated after all that time…at the end it’s the people who decide, at end it’s the fans that made us keep going and it looks like it’s far from over the way it’s going right now.

What news do you have about your band for the rest of 2016?

Stay in touch because we have some tour dates coming that are in planning at this moment, I can’t say much now, but I assure you that it’s coming.

www.facebook.com/NecronomiconMetal/

THE END

Necronomicon - Crown Of Thorns (Official Video)

NEWS: SIG:AR:TYR

NEWS:

SIG:AR:TYR

Northen

Hammerheart Records

Release: 15 April 2016

Pagan/viking metal is often associated with European bands, but this is music from Canada. This entity has been active since 2003 and this new album is the fourth one, actually. Below you will find a link to hear some of the new music, as well as some official information for those that would like to learn more.

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

SIG:AR:TYR is pleased to announce the upcoming release of their fourth full-length album, Northen, on April 15th, 2016 via Hammerheart Records. The first new music from SIG:AR:TYR since 2010’s Godsaga album, Northen blends epic pagan and viking metal atmospheres with a heavy metal heart, with nine powerful songs written to tell the tale of the Vikings' adventures in North America a thousand years ago.

SIG:AR:TYR mainman Daemonskald describes the album’s theme: "Near the end of the Viking age, the Norse set out from Greenland to explore new lands to the West, now understood as the east coast of Canada, including Baffin Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and possibly even further inland to New Brunswick and the northeastern United States. Unlike the permanent settlements in Greenland, their stay here was short-lived, and we are still discovering the extent of their travels, the artifacts from their small settlements, and unfolding the tales of their interaction with the native cultures here at the time. This is a tale of tribute to this small group of adventurers, who with a dynamic and individualistic spirit, were willing to throw stability and comfort aside to explore mysterious new places like Helluland, Markland, and Vinland, and be their own master in a changing world. A world where their old ways and traditions were fading, a world where sons turned away from their father’s faith, and where some rediscovered the path of the Northen…”

In late 2015, Daemonskald visited the site of the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America to see for himself what he had been writing about for so many years. Located at the northern tip of Newfoundland, the archeological site at L’Anse aux Meadows was discovered and excavated in the 1960s, and changed our knowledge of the past forever as the site of the first known contact between Europeans and the New World.

About SIG:AR:TYR

SIG:AR:TYR came into being in 2003 as a one-man project from London, Ontario, Canada dedicated to the dark, grim history and mythology of Northern Europe. Evolving from a solo acoustic guitar/ambient project to a successive number of albums that cover a diverse ground of viking, pagan, and black metal, SIG:AR:TYR continues on its path to imbue its atmospheric metal music with the heart and spirit of a forgotten ancient past.

Northen is the first SIG:AR:TYR album to feature additional musicians, including Nicholas Ireland on drums, Morgan Rider on bass, and live rhythm guitarist Michael Grund who in conjunction with Nicholas Ireland wrote the first SIG:AR:TYR song not created by longtime sole member Daemonskald.

What does the name SIG:AR:TYR mean?

SIG, AR, and TYR are the names of three letters of the old North European runic alphabet. These runic symbols represent the forces of chaos, balance, and order. SIG:AR:TYR is a formula for living a dynamic, cyclical existence, a struggle between the extremes of fire and ice while remaining in balance with the natural world and spiritual realms.

www.hammerheart.com/news/2016_03_17_sigartyrnewsong.html

www.facebook.com/SIGARTYR/

NEWS: Gloria Morti

NEWS:

Gloria Morti

Kuebiko

Willowtip Records

Release: 18 March 2016

Below you will find the official information about extreme metal act Gloria Morti from Finland.

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

kuebiko – n. a state of exhaustion inspired by acts of senseless violence, which force you to revise your image of what can happen in this world — mending the fences of your expectations, weeding out all unwelcome and invasive truths, cultivating the perennial good that’s buried under the surface, and propping yourself up like an old scarecrow, who’s bursting at the seams but powerless to do anything but stand there and watch.

Finnish death metal horde, GLORIA MORTI, will unleash its long-awaited new full-length, and first under the Willowtip Records banner, on March 18th.

Titled Kuebiko, GLORIA MORTI’s fifth studio effort finds the unit traversing grimmer and dirtier grounds both musically and thematically. Offers guitarist Juho Räihä of the nine tracks found within: “With Kuebiko we wanted to make a record that is hard hitting, both in lyrical themes as well as in songwriting. We also wanted to steer away from the sterile and lifeless sound heard in most modern metal albums released today. Kuebiko is definitely about making the listener feel something. Mostly disgust and anger. The lyrical themes range from Josef Fritzl to being buried alive. The main point is not to shock, but to make you feel the exhaustion of living in this time where you are just forced to stand there and watch the atrocities of the world. Kuebiko is an album that stands out from most of modern music and encapsulates what GLORIA MORTI is.”

The band's “Josef Fritzl,” was recently premiered via Decibel Magazine who noted of the pulverizing single, “they picked some appropriately fucked-up subject matter for the track below. In 2008, the world learned of Austrian Josef Fritzl, who imprisoned and repeatedly raped his daughter for 24 years, resulting in seven children. Grim stuff, and appropriately rendered in that the band ‘wanted to steer away from the sterile and lifeless sound heard in most modern metal albums released today.’”

Offers drummer Kauko Kuusisalo about the track, “’Josef Fritzl’ is one of the shorter songs on Kuebiko, and after short ‘intro’, it gets to the point right away. It is about three minutes of pure aggression with all the ‘classic GLORIA MORTI elements’ — fast blast beats, melodic chorus riff, and relentless vocals. The morbid story behind the lyrics is should also wake some unpleasant feelings in the listener. This song does not let the listener to rest until it is finished.”

Adds guitarist Juho Räihä, “The idea for the song is lifted from a public debate on religion featuring the late great Christopher Hitchens. The premise of the lyrics being that there is a problem when trying to reconcile the existence of evil in the world with the (supposed) existence of an all-knowing, all-powerful and good god. The co-existence of evil and such a god is not logically valid. The Fritzl case is, to me, one of the most blatant underlinings of this in recent history.”

GLORIA MORTI began their journey in Heinola, Finland in 1999 with a simple goal to have fun and play thrash. Not long after their inception and a host of lineup changes, the band veered towards a more demanding and aggressive sound which they would continue to perfect over nearly two decades. It was GLORIA MORTI’s 2002-issued Ephemeral Lifespan demo which led to a union with Japan’s World Chaos Productions. With the help of Lars Eikind and Nino Laurenne, debut album Lifestream Corrosion soon followed reaping critical accolades from underground devotees. Recorded and mixed by guitarist Juho Räihä, GLORIA MORTI’s follow-up, Eryx, furthered the band’s extreme sound and led to a new home with Cyclone Empire who would go on to release their third long player, Anthems Of Annihilation. The record took a more cinematic direction and paved the way to their first ever European tour. Following additional lineup shifts, the band would release 2012’s Lateral Constraint. The record was handled by Cyclone Empire in Europe and Metal Blade Records in North America finally giving GLORIA MORTI long-awaited visibility abroad. Upon the release of Lateral Constraint, Pop Matters commended, “burnished riffing, blast-beats and gruff Amon Amarth-esque vocals…delivered at a breakneck pace with abundant mass,” while This Is Not A Scene hailed, “Lateral Constraint is a straight up ass kicker from front to back. It’s got great riffs, tight musicianship, and overall feeling that will put you in the mood for total destruction.”

With Kuebiko, GLORIA MORTI is back with another solid slice of confrontational Finnish death metal, the band expertly blending thrash, melodic, and black metal, and surreal atmospheric elements into their sound, like a wrecking-ball sound that is reminiscent of such bands as At The Gates, Carcass and Fleshgod Apocalypse. GLORIA MORTI’s fifth studio effort, Kuebiko finds the unit traversing grimmer and dirtier grounds than ever before, both musically and thematically.

www.facebook.com/gloriamortiofficial

NEWS: Fear Theories

NEWS:

Fear Theories

The Predator

release date: March 11th, 2016

label: Crime Records

Fear Theories is a modern heavy metal band from Norway. They have a new album out. Find out more about the band below and hear a song below, too.

BIOGRAPHY:

Fall of 2010 on rainy Karmøy a new chapter in Norwegian heavy metal started. 4 young passionate musicians united and formed Fear Theories. With a modern view on classic heavy metal it didn't take long for people to notice. May 2013 Fear Theories released their debut EP "So it Begins" and played Karmøygeddon Metal Festival 2013 with acts such as Sabaton, Eluveitie, Overkill and Paradise Lost. Within minutes a bunch of youths had ignited the atmosphere and shot it straight through the roof. Magazines such as Scream Magazine and Heavymetal.no immediately took notice and was full of praise in the aftermath of the performance. Following year Fear Theories started working on what would turn out to be their debut album "The Predator" and continued to play live on a regular basis. Including a small Norwegian tour along with Art of Deception and Cretura. In 2015 Fear Theories ventured into unknown land on a two week long tour through Eastern Europe (Slovakia and Czech Republic) before heading into Studio Borealis with Frode Glesnes (Einherjer) recording and mixing the album. The album was mastered in Orgone Studios by Jaime Gomez. Furthermore Fear Theories will start 2016 of by playing Beinkaldt under the auspices of Brynerocken, before heading to Norway Rock Festival in July 2016.

Fear Theories My Own Worst Enemy OFFICIAL Lyric Video

www.facebook.com/Fear-Theories-230232180341169/

NEWS: Dead River Runs Dry

NEWS:

Dead River Runs Dry

Hierophants of the Storm

Static Tension Recordings

Release: 3 June 2016

Dead River Runs Dry is an extreme metal band from Australia. As you will see below, the band prides itself in its honesty in the recording of its music. Find out for yourself what exactly that means.

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Static Tension Recordings is pleased to announce that it will release the vinyl edition of Hierophants of the Storm, the critically acclaimed debut album by Dead River Runs Dry. The album is 10 tracks of blackened metal for fans of bands such as Watain and Immortal. The album will be released on June 3 2016.

About Dead River Runs Dry:

A charred black slab of ruthless venom that only Australia could spit out, Dead River Runs Dry's debut album Hierophants of the Storm is an obsession with the annihilation of constraint, a savage reaction to existence as determined by ignorance and an insight into further paradigms that are offered through experience alone... Recorded by the band with assistance from close ally Mat Taylor and mastered by DRRD vocalist Brad Gentle, Hierophants of the Storm is an album that embodies the elemental characteristics of the natural phenomena that are storms. Merging fragments of black metal and sub-genre offshoots of hard rock/heavy metal, haunting melody and a slight psychedelic/‘experimental’ edge, Hierophants... showcases a band making a bold statement of intent early in their lifespan, refusing to be bound by genres.

Devoid of drum triggers, programming, sample replacements and guitar amp patch simulations, all sounds on the album were created with real amplification, field recordings, outboard equipment sonic conjuring and battery. Featuring stunning art by renowned artist Lucas Ruggieri, Hierophants of the Storm will be available through Static Tension Records (USA).

www.deadriverrunsdry.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/DeadRiverRunsDry

interview: Axevyper (Italy)

Axevyper (Italy)

Recently this publication reported about the new album “Into the Serpent’s Den” by traditional heavy metal warriors Axevyper. The band formed in 2009 and they have three albums, including the new one. Nevertheless, this is a new band to this publication. For that reason, let’s find out who they are. Here’s an interview with Axevyper. Read it and then go bang your head to their music. Luca, the voice of the band and Guido (guitars) provide the answers. Thanks, Luca and Guido!

**

Greetings from the USA, friends! Where in Italy do you live and is there a good metal scene for your band there?

Luca: Thanks for giving us the chance of spreading our name across the States! It’s a real pleasure and a true honor for us! Well, the life for Axevyper isn’t too easy: we live very far from each other, except for me, Damiano (the guitarist) and Andrea (the bass player) and often rehearsing is very difficult, but, anyways, we use every moment of our spare time for our band. We’re strictly concentrated on our group, because we’ve got a sort of mission: feeling fine, having fun and getting satisfaction while we play and make people happy and proud of us. I think that if you love what you’re doing, the audience will feel and like that love! We all live in central Italy and well, this place was a great driving force of the Italian Heavy Metal scene during the golden age: Sabotage, D**** **, Strana Officina, Raff, Fingernails, Rollerball, Way out, Astaroth where among the greatest Italian metal bands during the Eighties! Right now, we have a strong scene with great bands like Rosae Crucis, Battle Ram or Centurion and many nice newcomers as Lady Reaper, Messerschmitt, Forces, Centurion, Battle Ram, Sleazer, Burning Church and Kurnalcool.

I had never heard of your band, unfortunately. What can you tell us about your band?

Luca: Me and Guido (the guitarist) played together in another band during the last decade. After the split up of our previous band we decided to keep on playing the metal music we’ve always loved and worshipped, so we got in touch with our long time friends Damiano and Andrea and formed Axevyper. We couldn’t stop playing. It was always the best thing we managed to make in our lives. After a home-made demo (who was later released on tape by the Bolivian label Maxima Destruccion) we released our debut album and a very special EP totally sung in Italian, entitled “Angeli d’acciaio” (Angels of steel or Steel Angels, quite like the French band’s monicker ahahaha) with the Italian label My Graveyard Productions. Due to musical reasons we had our first line-up change and we welcomed aboard the drummer Andrea “Burzum” Torrini with whom we recorded the second full length album “Metal Crossfire”, then we changed drummer again recruiting Niccolò Vanni. With this lineup, after four years of hard work, we have finally released our third full length “Into the serpent’s den” under the Berlin-based label Iron Shield Records. Hope someday to set the US stage on fire with our burning metal!

Who are the members of the band and what instruments do they play?

Luca: The only new member is the drummer Niccolò who was recruited a year and a half ago. He also plays in another band, called Profanal, the best death metal band from Italy so far without any doubt. I recommend listening to them, they kick ass and they’re a very well known reality in the Underground Death Metal scene. They’re from our same region and they have played several shows abroad. About the other members, they have been in the band since the beginning of our activity. It was a mutual union based on a common passion, but, most of all, on a great friendship among us: we’re not just a band, we’re family! Andrea, our bass player, has just started an instrumental Progressive Rock band to jam with during his spare time, but apart from him and Niccolò we only give our metallic contribution to Axevyper. Everyone in the band play since his youth: there’s no good music without knowledge, competence, but, above everything, passion, heart and willpower.

Here in the U.S. we read that the economy is not good in Italy. Do you agree? How does the economic situation affect the metal scenes where you live?

Guido: These were hard times in Italy, no doubt about it! Many troubles getting (or keeping) a job for many people, expenses getting higher and income getting lower... the TV's been telling us that the bad times are over for last 5 years or so, but honestly it's very hard to see a bright future ahead of us! I am not gonna talk about politics or economy, but I'm gonna tell you this: the metal scene suffered the crisis too. Concert tickets have doubled their price in five years or so, many places shut down and the greatest underground Metal festival we had (Play It Loud) has not fared so well in its latest editions... there's this bad combination of people having no money for shows and people following trends that makes playing in Italy a very tricky situation. A lot of bands, big and small, usually avoid our country when they tour Europe, and I cannot blame them! About the bands and people, well, it's been the same since I can remember: people come and go, bands come and go, trends come and go. Sometimes I think about our early concerts (six years ago, not exactly a lifetime) and the bands we played it... and I usually realize they are disbanded or disappeared. It's a small scene, and people can get tired quickly of playing in front of small crowds. That's not our case: we are all in our 30s or late 20s now, and if we are still here it just means we don’t give a fuck about anything but our passion for Heavy Metal… and no crisis or trend can take that away from a man!

What are the topics of the lyrics of your band?

Guido: There's a whole lot of fantasy material on this album. We have a song about Elric of Melnibone, two about some of the most obscure works by HP Lovecraft and many songs about ancient myths and legends (‘Solar Warrior’ is a fine example of that) and some rather obscure/mystical/personal songs (‘The Adventurer’). Of course we also like to write a lot of in-your-face metal hymns like ‘Soldiers of the Underground’ or ‘Metal Tyrant’ (which is also a tribute to Harry ‘The Tyrant’ Conklin of Jag Panzer / Titan Force / Satan’s Host fame, a US metal champion and a real hero for me!). It was not that different in the past, we had a couple unusual songs ('Victims Of Tomorrow' was about the Berlin Wall and ‘Faster Than The Law’ was meant to be a giant “FUCK YOU” to speed cameras, for example), but in general we love steel, swords, blood, human sacrifices and that kind of things. Fantasy was always a huge source of inspiration for our songs!

Your previous album is from 2012. What happened in four years to make the new album?

Guido: I believe the first songs for the new album were written exactly while ‘Metal Crossfire’ was being released so, yes, it was quite a long time, but we certainly weren’t idly waiting for things to come! We played a lot of shows all around Italy and Southern Europe between 2012 and 2014 (while still working on new songs, arrangements, etc.), but then, as Luca said, we changed drummer. We played three shows to introduce Niccolò to the fans in the end of 2014, then we took the whole of 2015 to finish ‘Into The Serpent’s Den’. The album was finished by June, but then there was the long search for a label… we teamed up with Iron Shield in the fall of 2015, we released ‘Into The Serpent’s Den’ in February and we’re ready to get going again! The best thing about this was that this album is for sure the best thing we have made as a band; every detail is chiseled to the maximum and we gave the best performance possible. I hope our old and new fans will feel the passion we have put in this work!

Do you have other news about your band?

Guido: Well, there are no immediate news. We are FINALLY starting booking concerts once again, in April we’ll head for Spain for the third time to kick some ass at Metalmeria Festival, then we’ll open for Manilla Road at an awesome festival here in Italy. We are arranging shows here and there… since we all have our daily jobs to keep it’s kinda hard to foresee a tour coming ahead, but who can tell? I vowed to myself I have to play in the US before I die, I am a huge fan of US metal so it would be very special for me. Hope to make it real someday! Meanwhile enjoy our music if you like it, we love you guys!!! Keep the fire of metal alive brothers, see ya!

Axevyper - Brothers Of The Black Sword

Soldiers of the Underground

www.facebook.com/Axevyper

Artillery (review by MMB)

Artillery (Denmark)

Penalty by Perception

Metal Blade Records

release: 25 March 2016

Artillery's first album was ferocious thrash metal as you can hear on 1985's "Fear of Tomorrow," a strong debut full of youthful energy and lots of rage. Wonderful 80s thrash, even though it doesn’t get mentioned much in the press nowadays. The aggressive semi-growl from said album turned into a scream for vengeance on the next one, "Terror Squad" (1987). The production was clearer, the vocals more expressive and irate, the musicianship tighter, and the songwriting was more memorable, but the band now sounded angrier, mad at the world of politics, religion, government, police abuse and just mad, mad, mad. Gosh, some of those lyrics will make you blush even today: songs like “Let There Be Sin” and “Terror Squad” are no friends of authority. Somebody in Artillery woke up on the wrong side of the bed … every day in 1987. Then came the sophistication of "By Inheritance" (1990): they were more tuneful, and the vocals had pivoted towards more traditional heavy metal singing. Artillery had now arrived at that sound that they have today: thrashy, but not so uptight about utilizing a bit of that Judas Priest heavy metal foundation.

To make a long story short, the times have changed, the band has broken up a few times and each time it looked like they just weren't able to get along for a long time or they just couldn't keep it together. Thus, here we are in 2016, and despite the drama and dirt of the music business, Artillery is still alive and with a new album. It’s number eight, if I am not mistaken. They have been knocked down more than a few times. Some people gave up on them. Things weren't looking so good at times. They almost got counted out. Yet, somehow, here is Artillery, following up on the 2009 album, the 2011 album, the 2013 album. Hey, now, this new century hasn’t been too bad, eh? The old dogs are wiser and they still got it. At this point in time, the band has been around the block and they have been on the chopping block. They are no spring chickens. They are a thrash band, but not a pure one; it's more like both thrash and classic metal. They have the uptempo songs, but they can do a rocking, catchy power ballad like "When the Magic Is Gone."

This is an album by a band doing their best to have the strongest set of songs that they can. If you have never heard the band before, this album is a good introduction. They are on the ball. They take care of business. The only questions that are left to answer are the ones that only you can answer for yourself. Do you like the vocals? Is this a style of singing that you enjoy? Do you like the modern production that they have or is it too modern for you? When you are Artillery, there's no need to play retro thrash or nostalgia thrash because thrash is their identity. “Life is a rodeo, somebody makes it, somebody don’t,” but don't nobody gotta tell you how the rodeo works if you have spent a lifetime in it. As long as the band is fully behind what they are doing, then it's going to work for them. Fame and fortune? That ship sailed a long time, friend. The false illusions are gone, the youth is but a memory (well, they do have some younger members in the current incarnation, though). All that is left is the desire to rock. Ah, but that’s what matters! It's all you need! “And if that’s all there is, it ain’t so bad.” C'mon, Artillery is here, you are here, let's do this thing. They came to rock.

Artillery "Live by the Scythe" (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

www.facebook.com/ARTILLERY.DK

www.twitter.com/ArtilleryMetal

new issue: number 81 of Metal Bulletin Zine

Free zine available for reading online/downloading.

Mob Rules (Germany)

Lelahell (Algeria)

Cadaveria (Italy)

Amon Amarth (Sweden)

Sorrowseed (U.S.)

A Flourishing Scourge (Seattle)

Axevyper (Italy)

Unbowed (Canada)

free metal music: Abriosis (Canada)

www.fuglymaniacs.com

AT THE GATES - The Circular Ruins (Live Video)

artist: At the Gates

album: At War with Reality

Below you will find a video for "The Circular Ruins" off the album "At War with Reality." In case you have not heard the album, here are some excerpts of various reviews found at Metal Archives.

So, is there anything new happening here? Honestly, not really. If you came looking for innovation, you will be disappointed. However, ATG still does what they do better than any of the imitators. Charlie Chaplin once lost in a Charlie Chaplin lookalike contest. The same would not happen in an At the Gates cover band competition. These guys still write riffs that are killer in that they grab your attention and are pleasing to the ear. There are also several really nice solos that do not feel tacked on or overstay their welcome. Combined with the stellar interplay with the drumming, you will be bobbing your head to several of these tracks. Key offenders for me were the obvious title track as well as “The Book of Sand,” “Upon Pillars of Dust,” and “The Head of the Hydra.” The songwriting is kept fairly tight and there was not a moment where I felt bored and wanting to hit skip.

***

The most improved part of this album lies in the vocal work of Tomas Lindberg. I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with his screechy, raspy, strangled mid range vocals. While at points they can lend a highly emotional tone to the music, other times they reek of amateurism on the band’s previous releases. On At War With Reality, though, Lindberg is at his best. The rasps are slightly lower, and slightly less strangled, and all around, better. It lends the album much more replay value than previous albums, as it does not ever seem tiring or painful to listen to. It also doesn’t hurt that the lyrics being voiced are the best the band has ever done, which seem to be a more mature, thought provoking take on the “Existential depression” concepts on Slaughter Of The Soul.

***

The best track of the bunch though is Circular Ruins, with Tomas sounding particularly vicious, screaming his lungs out intensely against a backdrop of ugly riffs with a deep rumbling guitar tone, with brilliant solos snaking their way around the fretboard and sticking in the mind. And there aren’t any bad tracks on At War With Reality, each one having it’s own identity, with memorable riffs, vocal lines and interesting ideas. That said, they come out strong, with the first three tracks being the best on the album, but the rest are by no means slouches and would each fit on any of the old At the Gates album with ease, but it does just feel perhaps a little too front loaded – but that’s the only bad point on a great comeback.

***

AT THE GATES - The Circular Ruins (Live Video)

HOLY GRAIL - "Sudden Death" (Official Music Video)

artist: Holy Grail

album: Times of Pride and Peril

Below you will find a video from the new album by Holy Grail. You will also find what some reviewers have said about the album, including this publication.

DEAD RHETORIC:

Continuing their triennial album cycle, Times of Pride and Peril as the third studio full-length connects on more of a versatile hook and harmony basis. Anyone can be fast and shred if given talent and chops – in the end it’s those melodic sections that stun and astound, and guitarist Eli Santana with fellow axe man Alex Lee deliver a boatload of those moments on “Those Who Will Remain” and the up-tempo crusher “Descent into the Maelstrom”. The almost ten-minute “Black Lotus” actually opens on a fiery power basis, as James-Paul Luna reaches for the highest notes in his multi-octave larynx a la old Halford – transforming around the mid-way point through a potent Blake Mount bass riff to build into this longer instrumental section that is part progressive and all power, even neo-classical in flourishes before the clean meets doomy ending turns the arrangement over again.

TWO GUYS METAL REVIEWS:

It's interesting to see how Holy Grail have matured as they are a band who I've very much grown up watching. Timse Of Pride And Peril is a long shot from earlier work, and though the traditional bombast and swords and sorcery magic that defines the band is still there you see Holy Grail have started to grow up. There seems to be a bit more focus on chunky rhythms and I feel like this album is a bit more midpaced than usual. Of course - high energy ragers like Sudden Death remind us while we fell in love the band in the first place whilst simultaneously bridging the gap into the vibes that define this particular record. One thing that really gets me about this album is the use of guitarmonies, Holy Grail execute perfectly and help us to see why they grew so popular in the first place.

METAL BULLETIN:

Recently, this band appears to be making some headway in the vicious jungle world of the music business, getting their name out there and some coverage in the press. They kind of stand out, too, don't they?: a younger band from California playing traditional heavy metal, amongst all that fat-angry-bear-growling-screaming metal and all those 80s L.A. has-beens still hanging around because they have run of out money for certain illicit substances. Holy Grail is not glam and they are not extreme metal, they are traditional heavy metal with singing and lots of shredding and hooks. Hey, sounds like a good idea, to me!

They have been dedicated to traditional heavy metal for years now. In fact, Metal Archives shows that the first recording is from 2009. Ever since then they have always found people who enjoy their particular style and there are more than a few reviews on the internet that show that they are impressing new people with each new recording. This 2016 album is the third album and follows the 2013 album "Ride the Void," a work that has an average of 90/100 at Metal Archives. That is not a bad score at all, and assuming the reviews are not written by the band themselves under fake names (or by the band's parents or friends), it means that some people are catching on to what this band does.

The new album is a further consolidation of the catchy tunes that they are becoming known for. Time after time when I have listened, I notice that the songs work well, they flow, are ear friendly in the way classic-style heavy metal can be. They have hit-type songs with lots of melody; very easy to remember. Some of the numbers sound thrashier, some more melodic, others like stadium rock anthems, and a few surprises here and there, while the band puts the singing and the guitar playing at the center. As with most traditional metal with singing, it is necessary that you listen for yourself and hear if you like the voice. There are lots of high notes on the album, so high vocal sections are a real part of the songwriting in this case. Overall, the band has done a solid job and you can tell that they want to have songs that people can relate to and sing with the band. Heck, that's not a crime nowadays, is it? They are serious about the band and they want to win you over, so there's nothing wrong with that at all.

HOLY GRAIL - "Sudden Death" (Official Music Video)

Desaster "Damnatio Ad Bestias" (OFFICIAL)

Desaster

"Desaster’s history is going back to the year 1988 when two young Metal- possessed maniacs wanted to follow the path of bands like VENOM, HELLHAMMER or DESTRUCTION (whose song „Total Desaster“ gave the band its name) – to play some fucking Black Metal without compromises was their aim. After playing the still remembered first live gig in ’89 (which marked the official beginning of the band), DESASTER had to manage serious line- up problems in 1990 before Infernal, the only remaining member of the original line- up, found the right warriors to continue. Okkulto (v) and Odin (b) joined the pack back then in 1992.

After the two demos “The Fog of Avalon” (1993) and “Lost in the Ages” (1994) Merciless Records released a split- 7” with UNGOD in 1995, the band´s vinyl-debut.

In 1996 the first album “A Touch of medieval Darkness” was released and the band got great response from all over the world. On DESASTER’s following output, the “Stormbringer” mini- album in 1997, the new beast on the drums, Tormentor, can be heard for the first time. One song of the limited “Ride on for Revenge” picture- single of 1998 found it’s way on the “Thrashing Holocaust”- compilation CD released by American Necropolis Records in 1999.

“Hellfire’s Dominion”, the second album, was released in 1998. A special killer on the album was the neck breaking Speed Metal hymn “Metalized Blood” which included guest vocals of Wannes of PENTACLE, Lemmy of the old German Speed Metal kings VIOLENT FORCE and Toto of LIVING DEATH, one of the band’s all-time faves! During the recording sessions of the 2nd album DESASTER also recorded their contribution to a SODOM tribute CD called “Homage to the Gods”.

The band celebrated it’s 10th anniversary in late 1999 with the “Ten Years of total DESASTER” double- LP, again a vinyl-only release! Another split- EP, this time in the rare 10” format and with the Dutch metal-fighters of PENTACLE, was released on DESASTER´s new label Iron Pegasus in 2000. The 3rd full- length album “Tyrants of the Netherworld” was then released in 2000.

In summer 2001 DESASTER contributed the song “Darkness and Evil” with Gezol himself on guest- vocals for a Brazilian SABBAT tribute- LP. After the band had played several festival- shows (e.g. Fuck The Commerce and Wacken Open Air) vocalist Okkulto decided to leave the band, but was soon replaced by the new shouter Sataniac who used to be the main man in the German Black/ Thrash band DIVINE GENOCIDE. The “Souls of Infernity”- 7” (2001) was the farewell- release of the old singer Okkulto.

After the release of the 4th album “Divine Blasphemies” in 2002 the show in Sao Paulo/ Brazil in front of 900 maniacs was a special highlight of 2003. The Brazilian show was released as double LP/ CD and DVD on the Brazilian Label Mutilation Records.

After the change to Metal Blade Records the 5th album “Angelwhore” was released, also available on vinyl on Iron Pegasus Rec.

After countless gigs in Germany and outside (England, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Switzerland...), a Mini- tour through Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, Austria and Slovenia and the South American Tour through Brazil, Peru and Colombia, the band released a 12” vinyl single called “Infernal Voices” with one new song, the re-recorded “Fields of triumph” and a coverversion of UNLEASHED´s “Before the creation of time”. In May 2007 DESASTER entered the Harrows Studio, Holland (Asphyx, Pentacle, Occult, Soulburn etc.) to record the 6th studio album “666 - Satan’s Soldiers Syndicate”. This album shows again the band´s typical thrashing, blacking riff metal without mercy where there is no space for any innovation and modern elements! It’s what Desaster is all about: “A FIST IN YOUR FACE METAL ATTACK”! A lot of gigs were played in 2007 and 2008 with some highlights like the 3rd return to South America and Open Air appearances at some bigger Festivals in whole Europe. In 2009 the band celebrates their 20th anniversary with a box set which includes both demos and most of their “special release- songs” on 3 PicLPs and 4 new songs on an etched MLP, which was once more recorded at the Toxo-Music studio by Wally Walldorf. The birthday- gig on a boat on the river Rhine was a great success. In 2010 a split 7“(Iron Pegasus Records), a Split-double Live Vinyl (Kneel before the master's throne) with Japanese blacking masters Sabbat and a shape- 7” with a Death- cover version (incl. Mr Chris Reifert on guest vokills) on the Dutch label Soulseller Records was released. After some great shows in Ireland, Scotland, Portugal or at festivals like PartySan Open Air, RockArea at mighty Loreley, Way of Darkness and more the band started writing new songs for the upcoming 7th album.

The Split LP "Sabbatical Desasterminator" was re-released on KBTMT Records in mid 2010.

Now the band is preparing the new album in their rehearsal bunker... recording date isn't confirmed by now but... Expect nothing more than a total METAL EXPLOSION!

Beware and be prepared for sharp riffs, pounding drums, roaring bass and screaming hell..."

Desaster "Damnatio Ad Bestias" (OFFICIAL)

HELLOWEEN - Heroes (OFFICIAL LIVE BOOTLEG)

HELLOWEEN

"UNDISPUTEDLY, HELLOWEEN ARE ONE OF GERMANY’S MOST RESPECTED METAL EXPORTS AND CONSIDERED THE FOUNDERS OF GERMAN MELODIC SPEED METAL. AS GODFATHERS OF THE GENRE, THEY HAVE GROWN TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL METAL BANDS IN THE WORLD. IN A CAREER REACHING BACK AS FAR AS 1984, HELLOWEEN HAVE PERFORMED AT INNUMERABLE METAL FESTIVALS AROUND THE GLOBE SUCH AS ROCK IN RIO, LOUDPARK, WACKEN, OR THE WOODSTOCK IN POLAND, WHICH THEY HEADLINED IN FRONT OF OVER 500,000 FANS. THE BAND HAS DELIVERED COUNTLESS HEADLINER WORLD TOURS, SPECTACULAR SHOWS WITH THE LIKES OF IRON MAIDEN, BLACK SABBATH, DIO, SLAYER, OR OZZY OSBOURNE JUST TO NAME A FEW, AND PLAYED AT EXOTIC LOCATIONS IN BORNEO, INDONESIA, MANAUS, BRAZIL, OR AT OVER 3,200 M IN THE WORLD’S HIGHEST CAPITAL LA PAZ, BOLIVA. THE BAND’S SPECTACULAR SHOW AT THE »MONSTERS OF ROCK« FESTIVAL IN CASTLE DONINGTON IN FRONT OF OVER 100,000 METAL HEADS IN 1988 WAS JUST AS MEMORABLE AS THE MASSIVE MTV »HEADBANGER’S BALL« US TOUR WITH ANTHRAX AND EXODUS. SO FAR, HELLOWEEN HAVE RELEASED FOURTEEN STUDIO AND THREE LIVE ALBUMS, INCLUDING THE GENRE MASTERPIECES »KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS« PART I & II IN THE LATE 80S. IN TOTAL, HELLOWEEN HAVE SOLD OVER EIGHT MILLION RECORDS AND RECEIVED FOURTEEN GOLD AND SIX PLATINUM AWARDS. WITHOUT THEM, CONTEMPORARY ACTS SUCH AS EDGUY, SABATON, BLIND GUARDIAN, OR EVEN AVENGED SEVENFOLD WOULD PROBABLY NOT SOUND THE WAY THEY DO. FOR 30 YEARS NOW, THE BAND HAS BEEN DELIGHTING THEIR FANS WITH FANTASTIC RIFFS, GREAT SONGS, AND HAUNTING MELODIES. HELLOWEEN’S LATEST ALBUM »STRAIGHT OUT OF HELL« CHARTED AT A SENSATIONAL #4, MARKING THEIR HIGHEST GERMAN CHART ENTRY EVER. ADDITIONALLY, THE ALBUM ACHIEVED FIVE TOP TEN ENTRIES IN EUROPE AND ENTERED THE US BILLBOARD TOP 100. THE »HELLISH ROCK PART II« TOUR TOOK THE BAND TO 39 COUNTRIES IN EUROPE, ASIA, AND AMERICA WITH FAR MORE THAN 100 MOSTLY SOLD-OUT SHOWS.

FLASHBACK.

NOISE RECORDS, IN 1984 A RATHER SMALL LABEL, PUBLISHES TWO HELLOWEEN SONGS (»OERNST OF LIFE« AND »METAL INVADERS«) BEFORE SIGNING THE YOUNG BAND AND RELEASING THEIR FIRST EP »HELLOWEEN«, FOLLOWED BY THEIR FIRST STUDIO ALBUM »WALLS OF JERICHO«. DURING THE BAND’S FIRST EXTENSIVE TOUR, SINGER KAI HANSEN EXPERIENCES TROUBLE SINGING AND PLAYING GUITAR AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING IT NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE LEAD SINGER’S POSITION WITH MICHAEL KISKE – AT THE TIME ONLY 18-YEARS-OLD AND GIFTED WITH A VOICE WHICH LATER EARNED HIM ICONIC STATUS IN THE METAL SCENE. THE FOLLOWING ALBUM, »KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS PART I«, BECOMES THE METAL SENSATION OF 1987 WITH IMPRESSIVE REACTIONS FROM FANS IN JAPAN AND THE US, AS WELL AS LEADING TO AN INVITATION TO THE LEGENDARY MTV »HEADBANGER’S BALL« TOUR. 1988’S »KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS PART II« DELIVERS THE TOP TEN SINGLE »DR. STEIN«. BOTH “KEEPER ALBUMS” ARE AMONG THE MOST SUCCESSFUL GERMAN METAL ALBUMS OF ALL TIME, AND, UNTIL TODAY, ARE CONSIDERED MILESTONES OF POWER METAL.

AFTER SOME DARK YEARS OF LEGAL DISPUTES WITH THEIR RECORD LABEL, THE DEPARTURE OF GUITARIST KAI HANSEN, RATHER EXPERIMENTAL MUSICAL OUTPUT, AND THE TRAGIC SUICIDE OF FOUNDING MEMBER AND FORMER DRUMMER INGO SCHWICHTENBERG IN 1995, THE BAND RECRUITS FORMER PINK CREAM 69 VOCALIST ANDI DERIS IN 1994 TO START A NEW CHAPTER. THE BIG SELLERS »MASTER OF THE RINGS«, »TIME OF THE OATH« AND »BETTER THAN RAW« FOLLOW, ACCOMPANIED BY MAJOR WORLD TOURS AND HUGE FESTIVAL APPEARANCES. WITH DERIS, HELLOWEEN BECOME ABSOLUTE SUPERSTARS IN JAPAN WITH OVER TEN SINGLES IN THE LOCAL TOP TEN.

FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF »THE DARK RIDE«, A DECISION WAS MADE FOR KAI HANSEN’S SUCCESSOR ROLAND GRAPOW AND ULI KUSCH, WHO HAD REPLACED INGO SCHWICHTENBERG, TO LEAVE THE BAND, WHEREUPON THEY WENT ON WITH THEIR PREVIOUSLY CRAFTED MUSICAL SIDE PROJECT. NEW GUITARIST SASCHA GERSTNER COMES ON BOARD IN TIME TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEXT ALBUM »RABBIT DON´T COME EASY« (2003) AND DRUMMER MIKKEY DEE (MOTÖRHEAD) STEPS IN FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDIO WORK. AFTER EXTENSIVE TOURING IN SOUTH AMERICA, GIGS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND NUMEROUS EUROPEAN SHOWS, THE PREPARATIONS FOR »KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS – THE LEGACY« COMMENCE. DANI LÖBLE JOINS THE BAND AS THE NEW MAN ON DRUMS, FINALLY PUTTING THE CHANGES IN LINE-UP TO REST. THE FOLLOWING WORLD TOUR IS RECORDED ON CD & DVD, TITLED »KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS – THE LEGACY WORLD TOUR 2005/2006, LIVE ON 3 CONTINENTS«, DISPLAYING BREATHTAKING PERFORMANCES FROM SÃO PAULO, TOKYO, AND SOFIA AND PREPARING THE STAGE FOR 2007’S »GAMBLING WITH THE DEVIL«, AS WELL AS FOR LIVE SHOWS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS GAMMA RAY ON THE »HELLISH ROCK« TOUR. IN 2010, »7 SINNERS« MARKS HELLOWEEN’S 13TH STUDIO RELEASE, PRESENTING A HEAVIER AND MORE METAL SIDE THAN EVER BEFORE.

SINCE 2005, THE BAND’S STEADY LINE-UP CONSISTS OF ANDI DERIS (VOCALS), MICHAEL WEIKATH (GUITAR), MARKUS GROSSKOPF (BASS), SASCHA GERSTNER(GUITAR) AND DANIEL LÖBLE (DRUMS). 2015 SEES THE BAND’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURING THE PUBLICATION OF THE FIRST BOOK IN THE BAND’S CAREER EVER. THE DOWNRIGHT ‘HELLOWEEN BIBLE’ CALLED “HELLBOOK” IS GUARANTEED TO BECOME A SOUGHT AFTER FAN ITEM AS WELL AS THE ONLY OFFICIAL REFERENCE BOOK TO DATE. AFTER THREE DECADES OF REPRESENTING PURE METAL, HELLOWEEN OBVIOUSLY ARE FAR FROM RUNNING OUT OF STEAM: A FOLLOWING OF CLOSE TO TWO MILLION FANS ON FACEBOOK, AND THEIR UNABATED JOY OF PLAYING MUSIC MASSIVELY UP THE ANTE FOR 2015 WITH THE RELEASE OF HELLOWEEN’S15TH STUDIO ALBUM. – NO DOUBT: THE GERMAN PUMPKINS’ SINGULAR SUCCESS STORY WILL DEFINITELY BE CONTINUED ...

HELLOWEEN - Heroes (OFFICIAL LIVE BOOTLEG)