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During the height of the worldwide apocalyptic dystopia of 2020, Abysmal Dawn persevered and released one of the greatest albums of their career, ‘Phylogenesis.’ Now, technical death metal icons are picking up where they left off and unleashing a solid four-song EP! The sampler includes an original track, a newly rerecorded version of the 2006 demo “Blacken the Sky,” and two epic cover songs that showcase the band’s musical versatility and limitless talent.

Acid Drinkers ware formed at 21 September 1986 by Tomasz “Titus” Pukacki (vocal, bass) and Robert “Litza” Friedrich (guitar, vocal). Very soon the line-up was completed with Darek “Popcorn” Popowicz (guitar) and Piotr “Chomik” Kulik (drums). Chomik was later replaced by Maciej “Ślimak” Starosta. In this line-up the band started to work on their first compositions: “Barmy Army”, “Del rocca” or “I Mean Acid”. Less than a month after the band started, Titus was called to the army and he left his friends for almost two years. During that time Litza and Popcorn decided to reactivate Slavoy, and after a short time Popcorn was offered to join Wilczy Pająk (Wolf Spider), and Litza to Turbo.

When he came back from the army, Titus tried to reactivate his first band Los Desperados. The attempts didn’t really work out, and after a meeting with Popcorn he chose to reactivate Acid Drinkers instead. Litza and Ślimak came back, too. Their live debut took place on Wyspa Słodowa, Wrocław, at 26 August 1989. After that show the news about a great new metal band started to spread around Poland and more and more people got familiar with the name Acid Drinkers. Very quickly they were offered a recording deal and their career started to roll. In this line-up they recorded such classic albums as “Are You A Rebel?”, “Vile Vicious Vision” or their most popular album “Infernal Connection”.

Towards the end of 1998 Litza decided to leave the band. He was replaced by Przemysław “Perła” Wejmann, a singing guitarist and the leader of Guess why. With Perła, the Acidos recorded three albums: “Amazing Atomic Activity”, “Broken Head” and “Acidofilia”. In the beginning of 2003 Perła left the band. His decision was a result of misunderstandings and contradictory conceptions concerning musical questions.

It took about a month to decide that the new guitarist would be Tomek “Lipa” Lipnicki, known from Illusion. Together with Lipa the band recorded the well received album “Rock Is not enough”. Over a year later, Lipa left for his new project Lipali. The guitar was taken over by Aleksander “Olass” Mendyk from None. The new musician quickly won himself the hearts of Acidos maniacs and plays with the guys up to this day. At the moment the band gigs a lot and is planning to record another full-length album.

Acid Drinkers are to this day the best and the most spectacular thrash metal band in Poland. During their long and eventful career they played over 500 concerts, including still well remembered gigs at Jarocin festival, Metalmania, Węgorzewo, Przystanek Woodstock or Odjazdy. They supported such metal giants as Deep Purple, Megadeth, Bruce Dickinson, Sepultura, Paradise Lost or Slayer. Their albums feature guest performances of Polish artists as Edyta Bartosiewicz, Kazik Staszewski, Tomek Lipnicki, Patrycja Kosiarkiewicz or Grzegorz Skawiński.

Acid Drinkers won the Fryderyk award (the Polish equivalent of the Grammy award) in 1998, 2000 and 2004 for the “Best Hard & Heavy Act”. In 1998 they also won the Złoty Bączek, an award given by the TV Channel 2 in the “Best Band” category. Together with Hey, Kazik Staszewski, Edyta Bartosiewicz and O.N.A. they were acclaimed the best five Polish bands of the 90s in a poll published in Tylko Rock, the most important rock magazine in Poland.

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Probably the most charismatic figure of all the Italian prog scene, Antonio Bartoccetti (Antonius Rex) began his career going to Milan from the Marche, forming Jacula, Dietro Noi Deserto (even with a single on Decca in 1971!), and Invisible Force (another lonely single in 1971). Not a real band but just a group of musicians working beyond the leading figures of Bartoccetti and Doris Norton: Zora from 1977, on the small Tickle label with an outrageous cover that was replaced with a different one a year later. Zora includes a reworking of a Jacula's Tardo pede in magiam versus track (Morte al potere is a third revised version of U.F.D.E.M.); their main elements are as usual church organ, dark atmospheres, lyrics dealing with occultism. This edition reproduces cover and music exactly as the original.

Architects have delivered their 10th studio album; an arena-ready opus entitled, the classic symptoms of a broken spirit , the follow up to their 2021 breakout album For Those That Wish To Exist, which hit #1 on the UK sales chart. Finding yourself with a UK Number One album and selling out arenas is enough for some to repeat a winning formula. Architects however, are forever moving forward. "It was definitely validating and felt really cool for like a day," recalls drummer, producer and songwriter Dan Searle of hitting the top spot with For Those That Wish To Exist. "For a lot of the bucket list things you reach in any career, there's a momentary gratification then you're like, 'What next?' You just move on. By the time the album came out, my head was already in the mindset of 'broken spirit'. That was where I was at." Searle notes how it was their albums Lost Forever/Lost Together, All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, and Holy Hell that really "cemented what the band was about" and "took them to a new level" as a rock powerhouse and leaders of the UK's metalcore scene - making it all the more "daunting" to reinvent themselves on the records that would follow. "I wanted to make this album with a different aesthetic. We were enjoying working with the synths and doing stuff that we hadn't done before." As a band who never stop writing, the kernels of the songs that make up the classic symptoms of a broken spirit were already in progress before the ink had time to dry on the artwork of their last record. Architects were on a creative roll, and the record was born of that creative freedom. Produced by Dan Searle and guitarist Josh Middleton, with additional production from frontman Sam Carter at Decon's Middle Farm Studios and their own Brighton Electric Studios before being mixed by Zakk Cervini, the band were buoyed by finally being back in a room together after their last album was made mostly remotely due to Covid restrictions. The result was something altogether more "free, playful and spontaneous," Searle explains. Carter agrees: "This one feels more live, more exciting and more fun - it has that energy. We wanted it to be a lot more industrial and electronic. That was the main mission. They can sit side-by-side: Mr. Electronic and Mr. Organic."

Architects have delivered their 10th studio album; an arena-ready opus entitled, the classic symptoms of a broken spirit , the follow up to their 2021 breakout album For Those That Wish To Exist, which hit #1 on the UK sales chart. Finding yourself with a UK Number One album and selling out arenas is enough for some to repeat a winning formula. Architects however, are forever moving forward. "It was definitely validating and felt really cool for like a day," recalls drummer, producer and songwriter Dan Searle of hitting the top spot with For Those That Wish To Exist. "For a lot of the bucket list things you reach in any career, there's a momentary gratification then you're like, 'What next?' You just move on. By the time the album came out, my head was already in the mindset of 'broken spirit'. That was where I was at." Searle notes how it was their albums Lost Forever/Lost Together, All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, and Holy Hell that really "cemented what the band was about" and "took them to a new level" as a rock powerhouse and leaders of the UK's metalcore scene - making it all the more "daunting" to reinvent themselves on the records that would follow. "I wanted to make this album with a different aesthetic. We were enjoying working with the synths and doing stuff that we hadn't done before." As a band who never stop writing, the kernels of the songs that make up the classic symptoms of a broken spirit were already in progress before the ink had time to dry on the artwork of their last record. Architects were on a creative roll, and the record was born of that creative freedom. Produced by Dan Searle and guitarist Josh Middleton, with additional production from frontman Sam Carter at Decon's Middle Farm Studios and their own Brighton Electric Studios before being mixed by Zakk Cervini, the band were buoyed by finally being back in a room together after their last album was made mostly remotely due to Covid restrictions. The result was something altogether more "free, playful and spontaneous," Searle explains. Carter agrees: "This one feels more live, more exciting and more fun - it has that energy. We wanted it to be a lot more industrial and electronic. That was the main mission. They can sit side-by-side: Mr. Electronic and Mr. Organic."

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is the fifth studio album by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, originally released in December 1973. It was produced by the band and Tom Allom and recorded at Morgan Studios in London in September 1973.
For the first time in their career, the band began to receive favourable reviews in the mainstream press, with Rolling Stone calling the album ''an extraordinarily gripping affair,'' and ''nothing less than a complete success.'' Later reviewers such as AllMusic's Eduardo Rivadavia cite the album as ''a masterpiece, essential to any heavy metal collection,'' while also displaying ''a newfound sense of finesse and maturity''. The album marked the band's fifth consecutive platinum selling album in the United States.

Metal Hall of Fame inductee, Blaze Bayley, releases a brand new live album, featuring versions of songs from his last studio album ‘War Within Me’ and also songs he wrote and/or performed during his time in Iron Maiden (1994-1999).

The 5 songs from ‘War Within Me’ were recorded on tour in the UK, and the remainder were recorded in France.

Having started his career as a professional singer with Wolfsbane in 1984, Blaze went on to front Iron Maiden, touring worldwide and releasing two studio albums - ‘The X Factor’ and ‘Virtual XI’, both of which achieved top twenty status in many countries. During his time with Iron Maiden, Blaze co-wrote the single ‘Man on the Edge’ (from ‘The X Factor’ album), a top ten hit in the UK, as well as charting successfully across Europe.

Following his exit from Iron Maiden he has pursued a solo career, beginning with his now legendary solo debut album ‘Silicon Messiah’ in 2000, followed by a further ten studio albums, including especially his sci-fi based ‘Infinite Entanglement’ trilogy (released in consecutive years 2016-2018) and the critically-acclaimed ‘War Within Me’ released in 2021.

Starting in 2013 and exclusively since 2016, Blaze records and plays live with Manchester (uk) melodic metal band Absolva, featuring lead guitarist Christopher Appleton and his brother Luke Appleton who is formerly of American metalheads Iced Earth. This consistent line-up is completed by drummer Martin Mcnee and bassist Karl Schramm.

As with all Blaze’s more recent works, he co-produces with Christopher Appleton and mastering is handled by Ade Emsley (Iron Maiden, Tank, Voodoo Six). Artwork is provided by Akirant Illustration (Iron Maiden, Star Wars).

Early in 2023, and in fact just 2 days before the start of a European tour, Blaze suffered a serious heart attack. With the required bypass surgery it’s expected that his recovery period will be several months, so the tour diary is currently being reconstructed. Details of the various postponements will be confirmed at a later date.

British metal artist Blaze Bayley releases his 11th studio recording, moving forward from the success of his ‘Infinite Entanglement’ trilogy released in consecutive years 2016-2018. The 10 brand new songs, co-written with guitarist Christopher Appleton, draw influences from Blaze’s experience as singer with British metal goliaths Iron Maiden (1994-1999), plus his extensive solo career which started with his legendary ‘Silicon Messiah’ album in year 2000.

The next chapter in Japanese rock legends Boris' story has arrived; their new double LP LφVE & EVφL is set for release on October 4th via Third Man Records. This double LP exists as two independent works, encapsulating conflicting connotations that interweave and become intricately entangled with one another, gradually eroding before becoming utterly singular. Continuing to tinker and toil with their sound since the 2017 release of DEAR, Boris have pivoted onward a more organic, non-grid literary style that LφVE & EVφL showcases. The album's first single, ''Love,'' is one of the most musically diverse in their career and showcases a snippet of what is to come on LφVE & EVφL.

The Highly Anticipated 5th album from the New Swedish Gods of Gothenburg Death Metal!!!

Formed from the ashes of original 1990’s 1st wave of Swedish Death Metal progenitors Cromlech, Carnal Savagery have released 4 critically acclaimed and radio charting albums, "Grotesque Macabre" (2020/2023), "Fiendish" (2021), "Scent of Death" (2022) and "Worm Eaten" (2022) to date.

Carnal Savagery Now return like the living dead to eat your brains and take over the world with their career defining and most accomplished album to date, “Into The Abysmal Void”. “Into The Abysmal Void” delivers 11 new corpse rousing songs filled with de-fleshing Gothenburg melody, writhing Death Metal groove and enough skull cracking brutality to reanimate the undead!

With “Into The Abysmal Void” Carnal Savagery climbs their way up the cadaver pile to the upper echelons of the Death Metal scene!

The Highly Anticipated 5th album from the New Swedish Gods of Gothenburg Death Metal!!!

Formed from the ashes of original 1990’s 1st wave of Swedish Death Metal progenitors Cromlech, Carnal Savagery have released 4 critically acclaimed and radio charting albums, "Grotesque Macabre" (2020/2023), "Fiendish" (2021), "Scent of Death" (2022) and "Worm Eaten" (2022) to date.

Carnal Savagery Now return like the living dead to eat your brains and take over the world with their career defining and most accomplished album to date, “Into The Abysmal Void”. “Into The Abysmal Void” delivers 11 new corpse rousing songs filled with de-fleshing Gothenburg melody, writhing Death Metal groove and enough skull cracking brutality to reanimate the undead!

With “Into The Abysmal Void” Carnal Savagery climbs their way up the cadaver pile to the upper echelons of the Death Metal scene!

Freak Winter was recorded live in London on December 23rd 2010, as part of Cathedral’s 20th Anniversary concert. It features a setlist of favourites performed to mark the dark celebration of their illustrious career up to that point. The double album comes housed in a gatefold sleeve, featuring exclusive artwork by long-time Cathedral collaborator and acclaimed artist, Dave Patchett.

Débil, a glorious and sprawling remastered discography vinyl compilation covering the entire release history of one of Brazil's most definitive dark punk bands, conceived and envisioned side-to-side by Sentient Ruin with the band as an omen of more, and greater, things to come from our partnership. With Débil Clan DOS Mortos Cicatriz condense a fifteen-year career influenced by the darkest sides of punk and hardcore as well as by crust, Oi!, goth, deathrock, post-punk, and black metal, into twenty eight-song triumph of crepuscular and cemeterial death-punk majesty. Riddled with a tangible sense of loathing and malaise, these twenty eight tracks encapsulate the history of a band influenced by acts Black Flag, Misfits, G.I.S.M., Void, Christian Death, Rudimentary Peni, and Hellhammer as they revel in the most remitted and destitute declinations of punk, digging deep into the most skeptical underworld of the genre devoid of idealism and dominated instead by pessimism and negativity. Despite being an experimental act with some digital releases exploring side-genres like noise, ambient and avantgarde, this staggering forty-six minute anthology remastered by Will Killingsworth contains all the strictly-punk tracks published by the band so far, covering the band's short 2017 self-titled debut album (which was re-recorded by the band in 2022), the subsequent Febril and Febres Intermitentes mini-albums from 2018 and 2019 respectively, as well as the recent 2022 Senil EP. All the tracks display Clan Dos Mortos Cicatriz's superb death-punk craftsmanship and their strict adherence to the golden eras of all the main styles which influenced them, with simple, short, necrotic and demented-sounding songs seething with grimness and filth and characterized by vocalist Felipe Soares' enigmatic lamented vocals and thought provoking lyrics in Portuguese telling disheartening tales of endless personal decay, struggle, disease, loss, misery and failure.

From their formation back in 1986, to becoming one of Norways’s finest musical exports (with a number of highly revered black metal masterpieces released in the early 90’s helping to solidify their legacy), Darkthrone has continued to evolve and challenge in equal measure, throughout their illustrious recording career spanning over three decades. And now, the ever-productive duo of Nocturno and Fenriz continue their own metallic saga with a new selection of fine, vintage sounding headbanging classics in the making.

‘Astral Fortress’ is itself a swift follow-up to 2021’s ‘Eternal Hails’ opus, as a result of Darkthrone’s consistent and ongoing writing process, which has been in force for some years now. For Darkthrone does not sleep - it only waits.

Carried on the brisk wind of eager rock, with foundations in black, thrash, doom and heavy metal, ‘Astral Fortress’ is the latest album of stellar, eclectic old metal in the Darkthrone odyssey. With a seemingly endless dungeon full of heavy metal influences channelled through Darkthrone’s dynamic riff-machine, plus also with many increasing inspirations taken from their own past catalogue, Darkthrone has truly become its own beast within the metal world. Even though sprinkled with atmospheric touches such as synthesizers and mellotron on ‘Astral Fortress’ to great effect, the Darkthrone sound remains stripped down to the core; always primitive and organic.

‘Astral Fortress’ was recorded at Chaka Khan Studios in Oslo, the same location used for the ‘Eternal Hails’ album, with Ole Øvstedal and Silje Høgevold.

From their formation back in 1986, to becoming one of Norways’s finest musical exports (with a number of highly revered black metal masterpieces released in the early 90’s helping to solidify their legacy), Darkthrone has continued to evolve and challenge in equal measure, throughout their illustrious recording career spanning over three decades. And now, the ever-productive duo of Nocturno and Fenriz continue their own metallic saga with a new selection of fine, vintage sounding headbanging classics in the making.

‘Astral Fortress’ is itself a swift follow-up to 2021’s ‘Eternal Hails’ opus, as a result of Darkthrone’s consistent and ongoing writing process, which has been in force for some years now. For Darkthrone does not sleep - it only waits.

Carried on the brisk wind of eager rock, with foundations in black, thrash, doom and heavy metal, ‘Astral Fortress’ is the latest album of stellar, eclectic old metal in the Darkthrone odyssey. With a seemingly endless dungeon full of heavy metal influences channelled through Darkthrone’s dynamic riff-machine, plus also with many increasing inspirations taken from their own past catalogue, Darkthrone has truly become its own beast within the metal world. Even though sprinkled with atmospheric touches such as synthesizers and mellotron on ‘Astral Fortress’ to great effect, the Darkthrone sound remains stripped down to the core; always primitive and organic.

‘Astral Fortress’ was recorded at Chaka Khan Studios in Oslo, the same location used for the ‘Eternal Hails’ album, with Ole Øvstedal and Silje Høgevold.

Since clawing their way out of Tokyo’s grim underbelly in 1992, DEFILED has carved a bloody swath through the global death metal scene with their bone-crushing aggression and intricate artistry. Cementing their legacy as stalwarts of savagery, their unrelenting assault has remained as visceral as ever. Welcome to the abyss of Horror Beyond Horror, DEFILED's cataclysmic latest offering sealed with the wickedness only seasoned demons of death could conjure. Each track a more grotesque exploration into the depths of human depravity, the album viciously melds old school death metal savagery with strands of technical thrash and progressive psychosis. From the frantic onslaught of To See Behind the Wall to the sinister grooves of Syndicate, DEFILED invites you into a haunting panorama painted in the hues of horror. Submit to the relentless riff avalanche in Smoke and Mirrors and the methodical menace of Horror Beyond Horror. It's an album meant to be played loud and with complete surrender. Plug into DEFILED’s Horror Beyond Horror and let the madness set you free—the only thing more brutal than reality is this album. 1. Smoke and Mirrors 2. Horror Beyond Horror 3. Syndicate 4. The Alchemy 5. Demagogue 6. The Terminal Phase 7. Trojan Horse 8. Spectrum of Fear 9. The Crook and Flail 10. Replicator Dynamics 11. Equinox 12. The Chains 13. Psychopomp 14. To See Behind The Wall

No one album could ever capture the claustrophobia-to-catharsis of an Eyehategod show, but this compilation of live tracks and demos comes as close as it gets. Giving you an idea of Eyehategod’s uncompromising, single minded purity of expression and exertion of raw nerve, “10 Year Of Abuse” is a monumental document all the way from the demo era to their later, legendary relentless live tour set. Many other bands have tried unsuccessfully to emulate Eyehategod and have never quite captured their dynamic. Formed in 1988 in New Orleans they have become one of the most well known bands to emerge from the Nola metal scene. Eyehategod note bands like Melvins, The Obsessed, Discharge, Black Flag, Black Sabbath and Saint Vitus as major influences, but are often mentioned in the same breath as any of these legendary bands. Drawing comparisons to Grindcore, Crust Punk and Sludge Metal, their heavy bluesy, detuned rock and roll has been a lynchpin for the misanthropic and disenfranchised. Eyehategod has released five studio albums to date with a sixth in the works and have toured all over the world in a career spanning over thirty years. Though the band has never released a live album, we are left with “10 Years” as the only official witnessing document to decades of decimating live sonic abuse. Released on May 29, 2001, “10 Years” spans seven live tracks from their European tour in 2000, a live radio show from August 1994 and four songs from an early 1990 demo. The result is a feedback-laced window into that wonderful, brutal Eyehategod “sound”, that addictive, lower-than-low note that nestles somewhere in the pit of your burning, alcohol-soaked, nauseated stomach. The booklet alone is a delight for anyone who worships at the altar of Eyehategod’s oppressively heavy, crushing riffs. With personal liner-notes, that set the scene and describe the unique vibe of the band’s sound and live show, including old flyers and posters from concerts and photos of the different line-ups from 1990 until today, the package is an immersive insight into one of the paramount heavy Sludge bands of our time. A vision of pain and neglect, they’ve done thousands of shows, never predictable in their tension and ultimately, release. Glory in their downtuned vision of depravity and despair, for the End Times aren’t coming, they’re here and they’ve always been here. Revel in the power of Nines, in the power that is Eyehategod. Licensed from Century Media and released in a limited edition of 600 on black vinyl, and 400 on green splatter vinyl. Expertly remastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano (Paradise Lost, Cathedral, Ghost).

No one album could ever capture the claustrophobia-to-catharsis of an Eyehategod show, but this compilation of live tracks and demos comes as close as it gets. Giving you an idea of Eyehategod’s uncompromising, single minded purity of expression and exertion of raw nerve, “10 Year Of Abuse” is a monumental document all the way from the demo era to their later, legendary relentless live tour set. Many other bands have tried unsuccessfully to emulate Eyehategod and have never quite captured their dynamic. Formed in 1988 in New Orleans they have become one of the most well known bands to emerge from the Nola metal scene. Eyehategod note bands like Melvins, The Obsessed, Discharge, Black Flag, Black Sabbath and Saint Vitus as major influences, but are often mentioned in the same breath as any of these legendary bands. Drawing comparisons to Grindcore, Crust Punk and Sludge Metal, their heavy bluesy, detuned rock and roll has been a lynchpin for the misanthropic and disenfranchised. Eyehategod has released five studio albums to date with a sixth in the works and have toured all over the world in a career spanning over thirty years. Though the band has never released a live album, we are left with “10 Years” as the only official witnessing document to decades of decimating live sonic abuse. Released on May 29, 2001, “10 Years” spans seven live tracks from their European tour in 2000, a live radio show from August 1994 and four songs from an early 1990 demo. The result is a feedback-laced window into that wonderful, brutal Eyehategod “sound”, that addictive, lower-than-low note that nestles somewhere in the pit of your burning, alcohol-soaked, nauseated stomach. The booklet alone is a delight for anyone who worships at the altar of Eyehategod’s oppressively heavy, crushing riffs. With personal liner-notes, that set the scene and describe the unique vibe of the band’s sound and live show, including old flyers and posters from concerts and photos of the different line-ups from 1990 until today, the package is an immersive insight into one of the paramount heavy Sludge bands of our time. A vision of pain and neglect, they’ve done thousands of shows, never predictable in their tension and ultimately, release. Glory in their downtuned vision of depravity and despair, for the End Times aren’t coming, they’re here and they’ve always been here. Revel in the power of Nines, in the power that is Eyehategod. Licensed from Century Media and released in a limited edition of 600 on black vinyl, and 400 on green splatter vinyl. Expertly remastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano (Paradise Lost, Cathedral, Ghost).

2019 will be the 30th anniversary of this seminal record from the hugely influential GODFLESH. 10 tracks of atmospheric and minimalistic industrial metal from one of the genre’s founding fathers. Godflesh was the brainchild of Justin Broadrick, a founding member of Napalm Death who played on the A side of the legendary ‘Scum’ album. Over the band’s career, Godflesh became one of the most influential industrial bands ever, touring the globe with the likes of Ministry, Fear Factory, Danzig and Type O Negative, and gaining influential fans including the likes of Metallica’s Kirk Hammett.

The beginnings of Grave Digger date back to 1980. After various appearances at small festivals, the band recorded a song for the compilation album “Rock From Hell” in 1983. A year later, Grave Digger released their debut album “Heavy Metal Breakdown”, second album “Witch Hunter” in 1985. Then some changes happened in the line-up. Further festival appearances, a tour as the supporting act for Helloween, and a triple headlining tour with Celtic Frost and Helloween, followed before the release of the third album “War Games” in January 1986, still on Noise Records, as the previous ones. Then Uwe Lulis on guitar joined the band in 1987 and the band's name was changed to Digger, the name under which they released the album “Stronger Than Ever”. This album hardly had anything in common with the earlier music of Grave Digger. It was more an attempt to reach the masses with mainstream rock like that of Bon Jovi or Van Halen. The album flopped, as it was not readily accepted by fans nor the mainstream. As a result, Chris Boltendahl declared the break-up of the band at the end of 1987. However, the band partially reformed in 1991. Chris Boltendahl and Uwe Lulis, along with two newcomers, Tomi Göttlich and Jörg Michael (Rage, later in Running Wild, Stratovarius), released a comeback record, “The Reaper”, returning to the true roots of Grave Digger. “Symphony Of Death” followed in 1994, with the same line-up of “The Reaper”. In the meantime, Grave Digger, now with new drummer, Frank Ullrich, toured Germany, playing as the supporting act for Manowar. In 1995, the album “Heart Of Darkness” was released, considered one of the best of the band. In 1996, Stefan Arnold became the new drummer. This year also marked the release of the concept album “Tunes Of War”, which dealt with the early history of Scotland. The second album, “Knights Of The Cross”, with Jens Becker (Running Wild) on bass, was completed in 1997 and was about the rise and fall of the Knights Templar. The third and final part of the middle-age trilogy, “Excalibur” (1999), explored the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Shortly after the band embarked on a world tour and was joined by keyboardist Hans-Peter Katzenburg, who later became a permanent bandmember. In 2000, Grave Digger celebrated their 20th anniversary. To mark the occasion, they performed a sold-out concert at the Zeche in Bochum. This concert marked a defining chapter in the band's history, as Uwe Lulis left the band shortly before the show due to both personal and business-related differences. A replacement was found in ex-Rage guitarist Manni Schmidt, who first appears in “The Grave Digger” (2001) with lyrics of the album inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's books. Their first live album, “Tunes Of Wacken”, was released in 2002. About a year later new album followed, entitled “Rheingold” inspired on the opera “Der Ring Der Nibelungen” by Richard Wagner. After the successful Rheingold-Tour the band recorded a new album, “The Last Supper” (2005). All these last 4 albums were released under Nuclear Blast. 2007 saw the release of “Liberty Or Death” (on Locomotive Records) and later that year, Grave Digger performed at the legendary Wacken Open Air. In October, a new member joined the Grave Digger family, Thilo Hermann (Running Wild) became the second guitarist. Grave Digger split with Locomotive, dealing with Napalm Records. “Ballads Of A Hangman” was released in the summer of 2009 entering the charts in Austria and Switzerland, it reached number 31 in the German Media Control Charts. Fueled by the tremendous feedback, they embarked on an extensive tour, also playing selected shows at numerous European festivals. Due to personal and musical differences, both guitarists Thilo Hermann and Manni Schmidt left the band, prior to entering the studio. Axel Ritt took over all guitar duties on “The Clans Will Rise Again.” With lyrics returning to the Scottish Highlands. To mark their 30th anniversary, Grave Digger invited many guests on stage at the Wacken Open Air 2010 to join in the celebration. The amazing reaction of the fans and the outstanding chemistry of those involved led to the fantastic double package “Ballad Of Mary” and “The Clans Are Still Marching”. On their latest album “Clash of the Titans”, Grave Digger entered the legendary realm of Ancient Greek and its gods and creatures. After this release the band recorded, always for Napalm Records, 3 more albums "Return of the Reaper", "Healed by Metal", "The Living Dead" and "Exhumation, The Early Years" compilation.The new recording is planned for 2020. With this long discography in over 35 years of career, Grave Digger shows to be one of the most longeval and appreciated band devoted to classic and old school HM.

With a long discography in over 35 years of career, Grave Digger are one of the most longeval and appreciated band devoted to classic and true HM. The beginnings of Grave Digger date back to 1980. In 1983 they released their debut album “Heavy Metal Breakdown”, second album “Witch Hunter” in 1985. Festival appearances, a tour as the supporting act for Helloween, and a triple headlining tour with Celtic Frost and Helloween followed before the release of the third album “War Games” in January 1986, all on Noise Records. Then Uwe Lulis on guitar joined in 1987 and the band's name was changed to Digger, under which they released the album “Stronger Than Ever”. This album had anything in common with the earlier music of Grave Digger and it was not accepted by fans. As a result, Chris Boltendahl declared the break-up of the band at the end of 1987. However, the band partially reformed in 1991. Chris Boltendahl and Uwe Lulis, along with two newcomers, Tomi Göttlich and Jörg Michael (Rage, later in Running Wild, Stratovarius), released a comeback record, “The Reaper”, returning to the true Heavy Metal roots of Grave Digger. “Symphony Of Death” is released in 1994, with the same line-up of “The Reaper”. Then other great albums follow such as "Heart of Darkness" (1995), "Tunes of War" (1996), "Knights of the Cross" (1998), "Excalibur" (1999), all with the same powerful lineup except for the drummers, Frank Ullrich first and Stefan Arnold (Capricorn) then. "Tunes of Wacken" is the band's first official live, recorded in 2002, completely focused on the previous albums before "Grave Digger" released in 2001, which features Manni Schmidt (Rage) on guitar instead of Uwe Lulis. Kindly licensed by Sony Music, available for the very first time on vinyl, remastered by Patrick W. Engel.

Remastered, 15th anniversary edition of Green Carnation's acoustic album 'The Acoustic Verses' with bonus tracks 'Transparent Me' and 'Child's Play, Part 3 (live version)! Originally released in 2006, Norwegian progressive metal band Green Carnation surprised everyone with an all acoustic record. The album represents another step in the band's progressive career, as they combined the warmer and softer sound of an unplugged set with their earlier established progressive style and melancholic mood. From the folky influences of "Alone" to the dark vibrations of "Sweet Leaf", the record is brimming with raw emotional power that only a few bands master.

Limited edition golden double vinyl in a lush gatefold incl. two bonus tracks. This was the ardent wish of thousands of fans calling out to Andi Deris, Michael Kiske, Michael Weikath, Kai Hansen, Markus Grosskopf, Sascha Gerstner and Dani Löble during the Pumpkins United World Tour - and their dream has come true! With the upcoming album, simply titled Helloween, the band opens a new chapter after 35 years of a glorious career. The future of one of the most influential German metal bands from now on will feature three singers. Originally planned for the live performances only, it was the birth of a unique seven piece metal alliance. Skyfall begins with a bang. The epic track describes an alien landing on earth and a dramatic chase while Kiske, Deris and Hansen duel with each other in a breathtaking manner and create a vocal broadband adventure. Produced by Martin Häusler, it is the most elaborate video clip in the history of the band; shown with 3-D animation and having a cinematic look, this video is a real high end experience. ”fear OF THE Fallen” – the second single is a fast paced, melodic track done the way only Deris can do it. ”I had so much fun not only writing a song for my voice but also for one of the greatest singers out there. I always have an extremely broad smile on my face when I hear Michi singing my melodies“, says Deris and Kiske adds: ”The whole process, including the spirit, was just ideal. If I had the feeling that one of the parts would not be really fitting, I asked Andi if he would sing it and vice versa. There was no competition whatsoever – what counted was what is best for the respective song. I am thankful to be (again) a part of this crazy family. I love them all”.

If you’re a fan of any kind of ’70s heavy rock – Southern Boogie, New Wave of British Heavy Metal, MC5/Stooges Detroit Punk, Junk Shop Glam or straight-up Classic Rock – we are willing to bet Ian Blurton’s Future Now has something for you. If you’re the kind of person who might geek out on the vintage gear used to record that music, we’ll double down on that wager. A mainstay in the Canadian scene since the ’80s, Ian Blurton may have come along after hard rock’s heyday, but he has parlayed his love of the era’s musical sensibilities into a career as both a musician (Change of Heart, C’mon, Public Animal) and a producer (Cursed, Tricky Woo, Weakerthans, Cauldron). For the follow up to his acclaimed solo debut, 2019’s Signals Through the Flames, he is pulling out all the stops, sourcing the best of the best for all elements. Formed to tour Signals, Future Now features some of the top talents heard on that record: drummer Glenn Milchem (Blue Rodeo) and bassist Anna Ruddick (City and Colour). To complement the powerhouse rhythm section, and recreate live the Wishbone Ash/Judas Priest–inspired harmonies that define the album, Aaron Goldstein is drafted for second guitar. In tandem with planning the Signals dates, Blurton was accepted as an Artist in Residence at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, in Calgary. The residency presented an opportunity to pack up the band – hot from a string of live shows – and head west to track a follow up album with the country’s most enviable collection of musical equipment. Second Skin was recorded using the famed Rolling Stones Mobile studio that Mick, Keef, and Co. used to make Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street. The unit was also loaned out for Led Zeppelin III and IV, and Deep Purple’s Machine Head, before eventually landing at the NMC. Combining the RSM with the institution’s selection of rare guitars formerly owned by Randy Bachman, amps from Neil Young, and an array of vintage gear borrowed from Calgary friends, Future Now had the ingredients for a dream session. Throw in an early ‘80s Mellotron, and the band had all it needed to cook up a crushing collection of sludgy riff-driven rockers and Prog epics, all with clean vocals, thunderous bass/double-kick, and the kind of guitar solos you wish you could play.

Known for her range, tone, and power, Ibuki is one Japan's most gifted and respected heavy metal vocalists. After building a resume of successful support and guest vocal performances, Ibuki’s stunning debut solo album, ExMyself, showcases her talent as not only a singer but as a heavy metal songwriter and arranger, taking her impressive decade-long career to a new level. From power metal anthems to pop infused electro-metal, ExMyself satisfies the high and diverse expectations of international metal fans while cementing Ibuki’s place in the lineage of J-metal. ExMyself - European Special Edition is Ibuki’s first official international release and features a brand-new bonus track, “Door to the New World,” recorded exclusively for this special edition.

Illt is the alter ego of Norwegian composer and guitarist Roy Westad. It’s an uncompromising sandbox and a culmination of decades of passion and love for extreme metal as an art form. His debut album ‘Urhat’ features session musicians from Megadeth, Soilwork, Chrome Division and Nile. The album was mixed by Kurt Ballou @ Godcity and mastered by Grammy winning engineer Alan Douches. Roy started out as a guitarist before establishing himself as a film composer back in 2008. Since then, he has been involved in countless film and TV projects, and received the Norwegian Emmy for Best Original Score in 2014. But he always held extreme metal close to his heart. In some ways, things are now coming full circle. His background as a guitarist helped form his style as a film composer, and his film scoring career has helped in developing the form of Illt. Now he’s ready to unleash his debut 'Urhat' (meaning something like 'ancient hate' in Norwegian) on the world, and with him on the album he has Dirk Verbeuren on drums (Megadeth), Speed Strid on vocals (Soilwork), as well as lead guitarists Karl Sanders (Nile) and Mr.Damage from Chrome Division. The album is an eclectic yet seamless blend of groovy and blackened death/thrash/doom/rock. Brutal yet melodic, modern yet raw.

Received a 7.9 rating from Pitchfork. In their brief career, Australia’s Impetuous Ritual has already been recognized as one of the mightiest death metal entities in the underground today, alongside such likeminded acts as Portal (with whom Impetuous Ritual shares two members) and Mitochondrion. From their leveling, jaw-dropping live performances to the devastating, ultra-brutal, occult-driven style showcased on their Relentless Execution of Ceremonial Excrescence debut album, no death metal on the planet captures the vibe, attitude and aesthetic of Impetuous Ritual. With their anticipated follow-up to Relentless Execution, the band takes their sound even further into the depths of horror and depravity. Limited to 500 copies.

Inhuman were formed in December 1992 in Silves (Algarve), one of the oldest and most historic cities in Portugal. Celebrating almost a 30 year career, the band just recorded their most ambitious work, with producer Daniel Cardoso (Anathema, Angelus Apatrida, Ava Inferi) at the controls of this remarkable production. The new album is called “contra”: a strong and suggestive title for a band that never stopped believing and fighting for his place in the Heavy Metal scene. It will be released in November 2020 by Alma Mater Records(led by Fernando Ribeiro from Moonspell, who was bewitched by the brilliant proposal of the band). Received with enthusiasm by fans and critics since “Strange Desire” (1996), which was followed by the 1998 seminal “Foreshadow”, Inhuman always stood out from the majority for their ability to combine their influences (Paradise Lost, Anathema) with their unique musical characteristics, which distinguish them. “contra” will be one of the best albums of the year for Portuguese Metal and marks the band's strong return to studio albums. Welcome back Inhuman!

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Dirty Dynamite is the seventeenth studio album from Swiss melodic hard rock/heavy metal band Krokus. The album was well received by critics, partly due to the surprising element of their Beatles cover of “Help”. The band origins from the seventies, and have since sold over 15 million records, toured the world and received gold and platinum discs in the US and Canada. The legendary English journalist Malcolm Dome quite rightly said: “If you look at the long-term output of this band, Krokus is clearly one of the best hard rock bands of the last 40 years”. Dirty Dynamite is available on black vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve with lyrics. Also available on 180 gm vinyl: Hoodoo.

H.A.Q.Q. is the fourth studio album by transcendental black metal band Liturgy. Featuring their characteristic yearning guitar harmonies, epic song structures, and intense drumming, H.A.Q.Q. boils over with harp, piano, gagaku ensemble, pitched percussion, strings, and digital manipulation. It represents a consolidation of the band's sound to date, a combination of the mathematical complexity of 2011's Aesthethica and the glitchy experimental fervor of 2015's The Ark Work. While ecstatically invoking heaven, H.A.Q.Q. is also Liturgy's most vulnerable record for Hunter Hunt-Hendrix, addressing anger and struggles around mental health, sexuality, and religion. In part a reflection on Liturgy's uniquely controversial career, it attempts to render the spirit of a cultural era whose basic fabric is unravelling, and to generate an energy of prophecy and love in the name of what is to come.

For over ten years French cinematic post- rockers Lost IN Kiev have been creating massive, narrative-driven atmospheric rock opuses that have brought them to play on renowned festivals like Dunk!festival and AMFest, as well as on tours with acts like Enslaved or Maserati. After three years of pandemic-induced inertia, the four gentlemen from Paris return with their new record Rupture which sees them turn the page to a new chapter in their considerable career. Being recorded in a live-setting, Rupture concerns the band's feelings about the drastic environmental changes that can be perceived all over the world. Casting their eco-angst into nine soaring and explorative tracks, Lost IN Kiev channel a sound that's raw and pristine, reaching an emotive power beyond anything they have done before. What sets Lost IN Kiev apart from their peers is not only the perfection of their produced sound but also their composition and musicianship_on Rupture their experience oozes through the cracks. With Rupture, Lost IN Kiev have delivered another tour de force that surpasses their previous outings in many ways. Every song is pure melancholic ecstasy and rapture, while it also sees the band tread new ground. Going through various layers of dynamic composition, these nine tracks easily suck you into the band's much needed narrative in which they lay bare their concerns and their anxieties. Rupture sees Lost IN Kiev at their most raw and authentic, and in a time where climate concerns need to be put back on the agenda, the album is a much needed experience: a gripping portrait of mankind's deteriorating relationship with its planet, this record will resonate with many fans of instrumental rock, both aesthetically and emotionally.

Formed in 2009 in the darkest shadows of the Black Metal underground, Luciferian Rites released their debut album “Evangelion of the Black Misanthropy” in 2011. Signing with Moribund Records in 2015, Luciferian Rites delivered the most significant Mexican Black Metal album of all time with the highly praised “When the Light Dies”. Never stagnating, the next several years saw the band release multiple split albums with Ereshkigal, Viha Surma, Necrario and Black Lord among others.

Luciferian Rites now return with one of the most anticipated Black Metal albums of the year and their career defining work “Oath of Midnight Ashes“! Containing 11 spiritual hymns of Satanic devotion, the album heralds the classic Finnish Black Metal sound which has made Sargeist, Horna, and Behexen hell-hold names. Through their praises of crimson wisdom, astral decay, and sacraments of grief and torment for the Devil’s Cross, Luciferian Rites takes you through the last abyss to swear your Oath to the Midnight Ashes!

Reaching the end of a strenuous journey beset by turmoil and loss, Madder Mortem is finally ready with their 8th studio album “Old Eyes, New Heart”. Emerging five years after its predecessor "Marrow", the time in which “Old Eyes, New Heart” was made has been a troubled one for the Madders - and in the winter of 2023, Agnete and BP’s dad Jakob passed away. Having always been a huge supporter of the band, Jakob’s backing was essential in launching the band's recording career almost 30 years ago. Being an artist himself, Jakob had prepared two paintings especially for the album and with the adaptation and additional design by long-term Madder collaborator Costin Chioreanu, the cover artwork for “Old Eyes, New Heart” was completed. Even though Jakob didn’t live to see the finished album, he would have been immensely proud to see his art on the cover, and the album is dedicated to his memory. Lyrically and musically, the album deals with hope, disappointment, and the ambivalence between them. It is music from old hearts and deep roots, with new eyes open to the unlimited possibilities of 12 notes, but always with the desire to write a good, honest song. Recorded and produced by guitarist BP M. Kirkevaag, it shows one of Norway’s most interesting bands embracing a multitude of directions spanning from post-metal heaviness to soft Americana grooves and everything in between. Fronted by one of the genre's greatest and most unique voices, it is an album full of surprises, but at all times unmistakably Madder.

Reaching the end of a strenuous journey beset by turmoil and loss, Madder Mortem is finally ready with their 8th studio album “Old Eyes, New Heart”. Emerging five years after its predecessor "Marrow", the time in which “Old Eyes, New Heart” was made has been a troubled one for the Madders - and in the winter of 2023, Agnete and BP’s dad Jakob passed away. Having always been a huge supporter of the band, Jakob’s backing was essential in launching the band's recording career almost 30 years ago. Being an artist himself, Jakob had prepared two paintings especially for the album and with the adaptation and additional design by long-term Madder collaborator Costin Chioreanu, the cover artwork for “Old Eyes, New Heart” was completed. Even though Jakob didn’t live to see the finished album, he would have been immensely proud to see his art on the cover, and the album is dedicated to his memory. Lyrically and musically, the album deals with hope, disappointment, and the ambivalence between them. It is music from old hearts and deep roots, with new eyes open to the unlimited possibilities of 12 notes, but always with the desire to write a good, honest song. Recorded and produced by guitarist BP M. Kirkevaag, it shows one of Norway’s most interesting bands embracing a multitude of directions spanning from post-metal heaviness to soft Americana grooves and everything in between. Fronted by one of the genre's greatest and most unique voices, it is an album full of surprises, but at all times unmistakably Madder.

Mercyful Fate's performance at Odd Fellow Palæet in Copenhagen on October 5th, 1982, was a pivotal moment in the band's early career, showcasing their raw energy and signature dark, theatrical style. This concert captured the essence of their heavy metal sound and solidified their reputation in the underground music scene

The Kroq Weenie Roast is a multi-artist music concert, presented annually in May by Kroq, the Los Angeles, modern rock radio station. Metallica’s only appearance to date at ‘The Roast’ took place in 2008 when the band headlined the main stage. This extraordinary set featured cuts from their entire career to date.

Metallica’s 1988...And Justice For All - their first album to break into the Billboard Top 10, peaking at No. 6 - still remains the bands biggest-seller. Having to date shifted eight million copies in the U.S. alone, the record also earned the thrash metal heroes their debut Grammy award. Containing as it does a number of absolute classics, including hit single One, this enduring masterwork is still the favorite out of all of Metallica releases for many fans. In the wake of the album success the band embarked on the mammoth Damaged Justice tour, playing a staggering 219 shows across five continents from 11th September 88 to 8th October 89. Many of the performances given during this jaunt remain among the finest Metallica shows ever performed. Notably, their appearance at The Seattle Center Coliseum on 30th August 1989, still is one of the highest point in their career.

Two limited double album recorded on three-sides. Metallica’s 1988...And Justice For All - their first album to break into the Billboard Top 10, peaking at No. 6 - still remains the bands biggest-seller. Having to date shifted eight million copies in the U.S. alone, the record also earned the thrash metal heroes their debut Grammy award. Containing as it does a number of absolute classics, including hit single One, this enduring masterwork is still the favorite out of all of Metallicas releases for many fans. In the wake of the album success the band embarked on the mammoth Damaged Justice tour, playing a staggering 219 shows across five continents from 11th September 88 to 8th October 89. Many of the performances given during this jaunt remain among the finest Metallica shows ever performed. Notably, their appearance at The Seattle Center Coliseum on 30th August 1989, still is one of the highest point in their career.

After enduring a year like 2020, no one could have possibly expected Al Jourgensen to stay silent on the maelstrom of the past 12 months. As the mastermind behind pioneering industrial outfit Ministry, Jourgensen has spent the last four decades using music as a megaphone to rally listeners to the fight for equal rights, restoring American liberties, exposing exploitation and putting crooked politicians in their rightful place—set to a background of aggressive riffs, searing vocals and manipulated sounds to drive it home

Moral Hygiene comes on the heels of Ministry’s acclaimed 2018 album AmeriKKKant (hailed by Loudwire as Jourgensen’s own “state of the union” address) that was written as a reaction to Donald J. Trump being elected president—though Jourgensen says this new album is more informational and reflective in tone. “With AmeriKKKant I was in shock that Trump won. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I had to do something. Because I believe if you are a musician or an artist you should be expressing what’s going on around you through your art. It’s going to happen whether you do it consciously or unconsciously. Moral Hygiene however has progressed even further into a cautionary tale of what will happen if we don’t act. There’s less rage, but there’s more reflection and I bring in some guests to help cement that narrative.

With the release of Moral Hygiene, Jourgensen is more positive than before. “This may sound crazy but I’m more hopeful about 2021 than I have been in two decades at least,” he says. “Because I do see things changing; people are starting to see through all the bullshit and want to get back to actual decorum in society. We could just treat each other nicely and be treated nicely in return. I never thought Ministry would be in the position of preaching traditional values, but this is the rebellion now.

My Dying Bride has been the leading light of doom metal since the debut album ‘As The Flower Withers’ was released on Peaceville Records back in 1992. Influenced by acts such as Celtic Frost and Candlemass, the British band’s heavy atmospherics have carved a huge worldwide following over the years to stand as one of the true enduring and distinguishable pillars of the genre.

'For Darkest Eyes' contains the band’s iconic 1996 performance from Krakow, Poland, featuring numerous classic doom anthems from the early career of the UK Metal Gods. The show was filmed as the band was riding a wave of popularity due to their recent breakthrough third album, 'The Angel & the Dark River' (plus their tour with British metal legends Iron Maiden in the winter of 1995), showcasing several tracks from that release such as 'The Cry of Mankind' and 'Your Shameful Heaven', as well as renditions of other established numbers such as 'The Crown of Sympathy' and 'The Forever People'.

Mondo Generator, formed by Nick Oliveri (Queens of the Stone Age, Dwarves, Bl’ast, Kyuss, etc.), released their first album, Cocaine Rodeo, in 2000 and never looked back through a whirlwind of intense punk, speed metal and heavy rock.

Across four studio full-lengths and more tours than one could count,Mondo Generator has never been anything less than completely in your face, so that even Oliveri‘s acoustic work arrives dripping with attitude.

Mondo Generator compile tracks from their albums and numerous EPs into an aptly-titled Best Of. The collection will span the career of the band, with guest appearances throughout from Josh Homme, Dave Catching, Dave Grohl, Alain Johannes, John Garcia,Brant Bjork, Alfredo Hernandez, Mark Lanegan, Chris Goss and many more.

Omen from Los Angeles, formed in 1983 should be considered as founders of Us epic heavy metal together with Warlord, Manilla Road, (early) Manowar, Savatage, Virgin Steele and Armored Saint, choosing to worship the genre in its purest and truest tradition, detaching from US thrash/speed metal that was the “king” of that decade. Their 80’s albums, debut “Battle Cry” and following “Warning of Danger” became, rightly, HM classics. “Teeth of the Hydra”, a compilation album originally released in 1989 by Metal Blade, featuring 11 highlights drawn from the four albums and one Ep released during Omen's five-year tenure with the Us label, is such an ideal career wrap-up for anyone looking to sample the band's wares. All the Omen's classics are here, and even if some tracks follow the thrash-way ("Termination", "The Curse"), it's the old-school heavy metal of standouts like "Teeth of the Hydra," "Bounty Hunter," the very Iron Maiden-like "Die by the Blade" (exposing the band's New Wave of British Heavy Metal influences), “Dragon’s Breath,” “Teeth of the Hydra”, “Battle Cry” that find Omen in their true element, an exciting epic heavy metal sound embellished by the unique and rough voice of J.D. Kimball (passed away in 2003). Not to surprise so to find just 1 track from "Escape to Nowhere" ("Thorn in Your Flesh" - 1988) featuring future Annihilator singer Coburn Pharr, who replaced original vocalist on the band's final Metal Blade album.

2022 has been a historically remarkable year in many ways, one of them being that the recorded legacy of Finland's top melodic death metal export Omnium Gatherum turns 20. After the now-defunct label Rage of Achilles put these songs out on a mini-CD, Omnium Gatherum embarked on a career that has taken them through eight albums on several large labels and shows no sign of slowing down.

To mark the occasion the band's own label imprint Filthy Horde decided it's time to bring the debut release out as a 12" mini album, took swift action and enlisted Svart Records to help with the task of the actual production.

The fruition of these efforts, a limited 12 inch just as it would have been, had the band's then-label Rage of Achilles released it on vinyl in 2002, is scheduled to come out on December 2nd. Available on classic black and natural milky clear wax.

In many ways, Opeth’s Blackwater Park can be considered as their answer to The Beatles’ Revolver, both uncompromising and experimental, but equally commercially viable and unfuckwithable masterpieces. Twenty years on, Blackwater Park remains a breath-taking piece of work, dense with extraordinary melodic moments, spine-tingling atmospherics and agile but crushing heaviness. It is also arguably still the most cherished album in the Swedish metallers illustrious catalogue as a rising progressive influence kicked open prog’s ornate doors, fed death metal through the cosmic kaleidoscope and introduced a generation of music nerds to a world of limitless musical possibilities. After four albums of imaginative and immersive heavy music, the band were primed and ready to make a career-defining statement. At the time, the metal world was flailing in a state of post-grunge confusion, meanwhile, Opeth were forging an entirely unique and fearlessly creative path. Back in 2001, prog was steadily being rehabilitated in the eyes of the mainstream, but there was still something audacious about Opeth’s rise to prominence. With several songs passing the ten-minute mark, Blackwater Park was no kind of commercial compromise. Instead, its popularity and acclaim proved a couple of valuable points: that music fans (and metalheads, in particular) are often vastly more open-minded than they are given credit for, and that depth, subtlety, sophistication and imagination were all credible selling points.

"‘Thieving From the House of God’ was almost a statement of defiance from us. After successful (but gruelling) tours of the US, Japan and Europe to support ‘Coup De Grace’, we lost a guitarist when Pete left to pursue his career in art. This could have spelt the end for the band but if anything, it just made us stronger and I think this album is the perfect combination of the 4 previous records. Being trimmed down to a 4 piece gave Joe the freedom to express himself more as a guitarist and Martyn and Chris both upped their game as well. We worked with Billy Anderson again to create an album that earned great reviews all over the world and established Orange Goblin as part of the UK metal hierarchy (albeit as the black sheep of that hierarchy!)" BEN Ward

Black Friday Record Store Day 2022 Reissue. Color: Blue. Limitation: 3000 copies.

Papa Roach deliver their most diverse album yet, bringing together themes of rock, rap, alternative and pop in a style that is authentically their own, on their 11th full-length album in the 22nd year of their careers. Track include the hard left turn of “Swerve” featuring Jason Aalon of Fever 333 and Sueco, the 4-week-at-#1 Mainstream Rock Hit “Kill The Noise”, the anthemic “Dying To Believe”, and the latest single “No Apologies”. The band continues to veer across traditional boundaries that most bands barely have the nerve to occupy, creating one of the most diverse and fearless discographies in Rock music.

Exclusive First Pressing on Blue Seafoam Wave Vinyl, Bonus Acoustic 7” on Translucent Yellow Vinyl, Pop-Up Ego Trip Roller Coaster Gatefold

33 years after their inception, England's Paradise Lost are not only one of the most influential metal bands in the world and founders of the gothic metal genre, but also among the most varied acts. From death and doom to catchy synth pop hymns, the quintet from Yorkshire never hesitated to cross boundaries and yet always stayed true to themselves. After a spectacular #2 spot in the German album charts with their latest chef-d'oeuvre 'Obsidian', the band now unveils a live album consisting of 16 tracks that cover nearly every style and big hit from their 3-decade-long career. Captured at The Mill Nightclub near the band’s hometown in Yorkshire, England, the recording of the BluRay was directedby Ash Pears, who previously worked with the band on their music videos for ‘Medusa’ and ‘Obsidian’. Mixed by Les Smithand mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano, the audio version of the show will be available as vinyl and CD. "Due to the ban on live music, we, like many other bands, have had to adapt and do something we never thought we'd have to do”, reflects guitarist and songwriter Greg Mackintosh.“No, not stacking shelves in Aldi like Metallica, but playing a show at a disused mill in Yorkshire with noone else there. We decided against trying to pretend there was an audience in the room with us, opting instead for a rather moribund version of a live lounge show. Whilst never being pleased with anything, we were however slightly less miserable at the result. It was also almost fun playing some of our new album Obsidian within the set for the first time too. We can now announce that we will be releasing this show as an official CD/Blu-Ray and vinylimaginatively entitled At the Mill.”

33 years after their inception, England's Paradise Lost are not only one of the most influential metal bands in the world and founders of the gothic metal genre, but also among the most varied acts. From death and doom to catchy synth pop hymns, the quintet from Yorkshire never hesitated to cross boundaries and yet always stayed true to themselves. After a spectacular #2 spot in the German album charts with their latest chef-d'oeuvre 'Obsidian', the band now unveils a live album consisting of 16 tracks that cover nearly every style and big hit from their 3-decade-long career. Captured at The Mill Nightclub near the band’s hometown in Yorkshire, England, the recording of the BluRay was directedby Ash Pears, who previously worked with the band on their music videos for ‘Medusa’ and ‘Obsidian’. Mixed by Les Smithand mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano, the audio version of the show will be available as vinyl and CD. "Due to the ban on live music, we, like many other bands, have had to adapt and do something we never thought we'd have to do”, reflects guitarist and songwriter Greg Mackintosh.“No, not stacking shelves in Aldi like Metallica, but playing a show at a disused mill in Yorkshire with noone else there. We decided against trying to pretend there was an audience in the room with us, opting instead for a rather moribund version of a live lounge show. Whilst never being pleased with anything, we were however slightly less miserable at the result. It was also almost fun playing some of our new album Obsidian within the set for the first time too. We can now announce that we will be releasing this show as an official CD/Blu-Ray and vinylimaginatively entitled At the Mill.”

Genre-defying Dutch death metal legends Pestilence have singled-out and re-recorded twelve emblematic anthems from across their 38-year career into "Levels of Perception". Patrick Mameli - whose signature vocal, guitar and songwriting skills constitute the hallmark of Pestilence - finds "Levels of Perception" to be a testament to the band's role in death metal's progression. Re-recording of the tracks has not only managed to breathe new life into them - half thanks to new line-up, and other half by implementing subtle changes which reflect Mameli's matured vision and refined with years of experience aesthetic - but also sets them apart from cheap, unimaginative compilations, by unifying the album's sound as befits a full-length release. "I've always wanted to do a best-of album, because it would mean that I've achieved something in the past; something that still has its value today," Mameli comments. "To be able to choose from songs that I composed in the distant past, transporting them into the now, with the line-up of the recordings that consisted of Michiel van der Plicht (drums), Rutger van Noordenburg (guitar) and Joost van der Graaf (bass) - I found this to be of great value and sheer awesomeness." 1. Horror Detox2. Mvlti Dimensional3. Mobvs Propagationem4. Sinister5. Dehydrated6. Dominatvi Svbmissa7. Land of Tears8. Necromorph9. Deificvs10. Twisted Truth11. Sempiternvs12. Ovt of the Body

Japanese pressing, no Obi.

While the pandemic paralyzed the entire world and prevented bands from touring, Latin America's biggest metal export SEPULTURA refused to sit back and act like an animal trapped in a cage. Like the flowers growing out of the deceased bird’s body depicted on the stunning, colourful cover artwork by Eduardo Recife, the thrash metal pioneers from Belo Horizonte made good use of their unexpected free time to start a project that kept them busy throughout the entirety of 2020.

„»SepulQuarta« was born at the very beginning of the pandemic when everything was halted”,guitarist Andreas Kisser remembers. “We had a new album out, but we couldn’t tour for it. Therefore, we created this recurring event where we could talk with our fans around the world, play our music and exchange ideas, it was a blast! »SepulQuarta« kept us alive and strong throughout one of the most difficult times in human history.” “Doing Sepulquarta during this period allowed me to stay in contact with music. Playing my instrument was the only thing left to do in this pandemic,”adds drummer Eloy Casagrande, and indeed, music seemed to be a good way of coping with the never-ending lockdown and fear of loss and isolation that haunted people worldwide.

Obviously, the Brazilian pioneers were not the only musicians feeling this way, so they started to connect with friends and colleagues worldwide and asked them to not only be part of their weekly podcast, but also join them in playing one of SEPULTURA’s classics tracks. From the safety of their homes, international stars like David Ellefson, Scott Ian, Danko Jones, Devin Townsend, Matt Heafy and many more recorded a SEPULTURA track together with the band, which have now been mixed and mastered by Conrado Ruther for release on CD, 2LP and all streaming platforms.“We invited our amazingly talented friends to be a part of our project, either jamming with us or as a guest in the many Q&A’s we promoted,” Andreas explains.“We talked about our history, politics, sports, philosophy, depression and the environment among other things. We learned a lot with specialist guests and many of the great minds of today. Here you will find unique performances of SEPULTURA’s music from the many phases of our career, with amazing guest musicians that lent us their talent and energy to record these historical versions!”

20 years after its recordings, Solefald’s fourth album ‘IN Harmonia Universali’ will be finally available on vinyl for the first time ever. Solefald are a wilful and truly unapologetical one-of-a-kind band, defying all known genre definitions with each release. ‘IN Harmonia Universali’ is one of their most complex works to date, layered and eclectic, it stems from the band’s obsession with Progressive Rock, making its way through art, history and philosophy with lyrics touching five different languages. An unheard-of blend of Extreme Metal with bombastic passages, Gothic mystique, acoustic interludes, and the fearless use of instruments like saxophone, hammond and piano, make this album a crucial step in the band’s career. «In Harmonia Universali» says Lazare «is one of the most ambitious albums we have created together. And more than anything it’s a statement of what happens when ambition meets possibility. The world has changed since its release, but ‘In Harmonia…’ still rises above convention and keeps on being itself.» This long awaited release comes on Double Black vinyl limited to 400 copies worldwide , housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve with exclusive and extensive liner notes by Cornelius and Lazare, and including a 4-panel insert with lyrics.

Built on the classic Black Sabbath formula of downtuned leaden heavy guitar riffs, coupled with soaring vocal lamentations, Solitude Aeturnus are the American masters of the classic epic doom metal style.

Their 1994 album Through The Darkest Hour features some of the strongest compositions of their career. The album has never previously been available on vinyl with the original cover art, which is now meticulously restored on this limited gatefold reissue. The music is spread over two LPs for best possible fidelity.

New studio album of the most legendary traditional heavy metal band of Greece! Formed in 1984, Spitfire is the most legendary heavy metal band of Greece. The debut album "First Attack" (released by EMI in 1987) stands at the top of the greatest metal albums coming from the country and has built a strong following over the decades worldwide. At the same time, the band suffered a major blow when original singer Dinos Costakis was seriously injured in a car accident. Spitfire had everything going for them until that day and the tragic accident that forced Dinos to retire from the stage. Over the course of one night, his emotional voice became metal history before he even reached his peak. Despite adversity, Spitfire found the strength to go on but a few more problems rooted in the music industry led the band’s career in a dark period while they were also pushed to change the name to Speedfire for a while, releasing the live album "100% Live" in 1990. With important line-up changes and the Spitfire moniker back in the mid-90s the legend was growing and the act kept performing live and released the second studio album "Die Fighting" in 2009.

MSG is a legendary name. After two phenomenal records under the guise of Michael Schenker Fest, a true guitar hero is returning to his roots. By forming Michael Schenker Group (msg) back in 1979, Michael Schenker laid the foundations for one of hard rock’s most glorious solo careers of all times. And while nobody expected anything less from a former guitarist for Scorpions and UFO, it’s close to impossible mentioning everything Michael has built over the past 50 years, or the countless people he influenced or played with. This, truly, is the stuff that hard rocking myths are made of.

Fully remastered edition of the classic rarities collection from The Obsessed, plus new tracks and new liner notes! A historic document of the stoner/doom godfather's original and best-known band. Ltd Solid White Vinyl! 2020 is the 40th anniversary of the formation of The Obsessed, one of the preeminent bands in the worldwide stoner/doom scene. Led by Scott "Wino" Weinrich, a heavy music lifer admired and acclaimed by the likes of Dave Grohl, Pepper Keenan, Henry Rollins and Phil Anselmo, The Obsessed has been releasing milestone albums for decades on labels like Hellhound, Columbia and Relapse, with Wino himself playing and performing with members of Sleep, Neurosis, Foo Fighters, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and more. Since their earliest days, The Obsessed accumulated dozens of demos, b-sides, covers and alternate recordings, many of which were issued in various limited releases and an early-2000s collection called Incarnate. Long out of print, Blues Funeral Recordings' new ultimate edition of The Obsessed 'Incarnate' is completely remastered, features the addition of 4 new tracks, and is packaged with all new artwork, photos, and extensive new liner notes with Wino himself telling stories behind each long-lost gem. Fully remastered, new tracks, new artwork, new photos, new liner notes! Press Quotes: 'The career of Wino is a rich and fabled one, and his tentacles of influence weave throughout the arenas of rock, punk and metal.' _Alternative Press 'Wino, what a fucking guitar player, and one of my favorite singers, nothing to prove, just soul-felt vocals.' _Phil Anselmo (Down, Pantera) 'Wino's music has always been so serious, that's the only thing he knows, and he's gonna do it whether or not he makes a million dollars or ten bucks... he means it.' _Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity) 2020 is the 40th anniversary of the formation of The Obsessed, one of the preeminent bands in the stoner/doom scene worldwide for nearly 40 years. Led by Scott ""Wino"" Weinrich, a heavy music lifer admired and acclaimed by the likes of Dave Grohl, Pepper Keenan, Henry Rollins and Phil Anselmo, The Obsessed has been releasing milestone albums for decades on labels like Hellhound, Columbia and Relapse, as well as Wino himself playing and performing in bands with members of Sleep, Neurosis, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and more. Since The Obsessed's earliest days, the band accumulated dozens of b-sides, covers, alternate takes and demos, many of which were issued on a variety of compilations and an early-2000s collection called Incarnate. Long out of print, Blues Funeral Recordings' new ultimate edition of The Obsessed 'Incarnate' is completely remastered, features the addition of new tracks, and is packaged with all new artwork, photos, and all-new extensive liner notes written by Wino himself to tell the stories behind each long-lost gem.

Limited edition solid-silver vinyl!A raw, sweaty and unforgettable authorized live bootleg from the originators of American Doom Metal in its first incarnations.Led by Wino, the godfather of American Doom Metal, The Obsessed is one of the important bands in the history and evolution of the style. For the band's 40th anniversary in 2020, we proudly present an authorized live bootleg of Wino's favorite show the original lineup ever played. As Wino says, "It's raw and noisy and took some cleanin'up, but here it is. If it ain't heavy, it ain't shit!!!"Tracks 1-9 Recorded Live at the Big Dipper, Beltsville MD, April 29/30, 1983 - Line up Wino: Guitar, Dave 'the Slave' Flood: Drums, Mark 'Professor Dark' Laue: BassTracks 10-13 Recorded and engineered by Chris Kozlowski, 1985 -Line up Wino: Guitar, Ed Gulli: Drums, Mark Laue: Bass- Wino's new solo album and the upcoming Obsessed Record Store Day release make this a big year for their music- A raw authorized bootleg live recording of Wino's favorite show ever with the original Obsessed lineup- A must-have for collectors and fans of the band and the style in conjunction with the band's 40th anniversaryPress Quotes:'The career of Wino is a rich and fabled one, and his tentacles of influence weave throughout the arenas of rock, punk and metal.' _Alternative Press'Wino, what a fucking guitar player, and one of my favorite singers, nothing to prove, just soul-felt vocals.' _Phil Anselmo (Down, Pantera)'Wino's music has always been so serious, that's the only thing he knows, and he's gonna do it whether or not he makes a million dollars or ten bucks... he means it.' _Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity)History, Part 1:The Obsessed are a doom metal band originating from Potomac, Maryland. Active initially from 1978 - 1986 and then from 1990 - 1995, they re notable for being Wino's first major band and an iconic outfit in the Maryland doom metal scene and the early doom metal s...

he final decade of the last millennium was a significant period for the birth of Finnish extreme metal. In the late 1980s, speed metal found its way into the country, and was immediately followed by thrash metal. Afterwards, death and black metal bands started to pop up in every nook and cranny. Some of those rose to an international fame, while others stayed in the shadows waiting for their turn. Through the years, Svart Records has already brought to light many lost treasures of the Finnish metal scene. This June it will be the turn of Thromdarr from Riihimäki and their old tapes excavated from the band’s archives.

The story of Thromdarr reaches back to 1989, when the band’s guitarist Mika Kyöstilä formed Nymphomaniac, a precursor to Thromdarr, together with Ari “Ave“ Auvinen. When the band went through a lineup change, they changed their name to Necrobiosis and eventually to Thromdarr in 1991. According to the band, they entered the scene with the punk attitude of learning by doing. They followed the steps of their idols and started to make fast and heavy metal in the vein of Sodom, Destruction, Kreator, Slayer, Possessed, Bathory, Celtic Frost, Sepultura, Obituary, Pestilence and Death.

When the demos and recordings started to pile up, the musical taste of the band members started to evolve into a more brutal direction.

-“We played the demo to our friends with great excitement and were often told we sound more like black metal than death metal. We didn’t mind this since we had already embarked on that direction and had face paint on the first band photos. We developed the name Thromdarr ourselves and it was supposed to sound phonetically like thunder”, the band’s frontman Kyöstilä recounts.

Early on in their career, Thromdarr had already played with many renowned metal acts, such as Barathrum, Sentenced, Archgoat and Demigod. The band took a couple of cassette pressings of their first studio demo As a Wind Cries and ended up selling 500 copies.

On their later demos, Thromdarr made more experimental material from the black metal canvas. On the other hand, going through a lineup change led to the band losing its driving force, the recording pace slowing down and the little live activity falling behind partying. In the end of the millennium, the band became active again and signed a contract with Solistitium Records, releasing their debut album NorthStorm Arrives in 1998

Svart Records has now compiled Thromdarr’s early demos into a single package. Kyöstilä and Svart’s producer Olli Hänninen have barely touched the original soundscape, instead remastering the demos the way they were originally made with all their faults and successes.

-“The tapes haven’t been remixed afterwards. Instead, they sound as primitive as when they were originally released. The material has also been copied from original recordings. Pick up a beer and listen to old school metal!”, Kyöstilä urges.

Svart Records will release Thromdarr’s Midwinter Frost – Complete demo tapes 1990-1997 double LP compilation and CD on the 17th of June 2022.

Just like many other Scandinavian bands that rose to fame in the nineties Tiamat has gone through important stylistic changes in its impressive career. The band around singer and guitarist Johan Edlund who also plays keyboards and theremin on some occasions, has evolved from a sinister doom metal band with dominant death metal influences into a gothic rock act flirting with extremes like pop music but also its own extreme metal roots. Releasing a compilation of the band’s first decade and a half of activities in chronological order makes sense in such a context as it helps us follow and understand the development of the Swedish quartet. The release starts with the raw ‘’Where the Serpents Ever Dwell’’ that comes around with miserable and creeping doom metal riffs meeting raw and terrifying vocals. The track is taken from the band’s ambitious conceptual debut record Sumerian Cry when Johan Edlund still called himself Hellslaughter. As soon as the group’s third album gets covered by this compilation, the already imaginative music gets a more melodic and mysterious touch such as in the wonderful ‘’A Caress of Stars’’ taken from the underrated Clouds record that is often overlooked between the doom metal milestone The Astral Sleep and the popular gothic metal record Wildhoney that helped shaping this new genre of music. The latter release included at times cinematic, epic and progressive elements such as in the imaginative ‘’Gaia’’ that requests multiple spins to unfold. Later in its career, Tiamat’s sound became simpler and mellower. The surprisingly uplifting ‘’Vote for Love’’ from the Judas Christ record is a track that jumped on the bandwagon of the success of numerous commercially successful gothic rock acts like HIM. The bittersweet melancholically melodic ‘’Cain’’ from the band’s Prey record became a career highlight that defines Tiamat just as much as the Wildhoney era and its hits. Commandments is a release filled with sixteen imaginative, diversified and atmospheric songs shifting from gloomy doom metal with death metal grunts over progressive gothic metal with female backing vocals to short and sweet gothic rock songs with a strong commercial appeal. Some new material would have been great for fans of old date but the running time of eighty minutes is very generous and offers value for money nonetheless. Commandments is an excellent way to understand everything Tiamat is about and honours the still underrated Swedish gothic metal pioneers appropriately. This double album comes out in deluxe gatefold edition, in two colors (Gold / Red) 500 limited edition each.

This album is arguably the most important one in Johan Edlund’s career. The mixture works quite well and is served on a near track-by-track basis with “Church of Tiamat” remaining on melancholic territory, a possible leftover from the “Wildhoney” recording sessions, a heavy atmospheric ballad which is sidestepped by “Brighter than the Sun”, the vintage gothic rocker, a major qualifier for the Sisters’ “Vision Thing” with the memorable sing-along chorus, the bouncy rhythms, and the brilliant female back vocals. A huge twist this one, it ushers the album into an entirely new realm but Edlund feels quite confident there, adding the dark sinister “As Long as You Are Mine”, the excellent balladic keyboard-infused hipster “Dust Is Our Fare”, and the very interesting individualistic, sombre cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” to match this new gloomier but by no means more pessimistic vision. This album comes out in deluxe gatefold edition, in two colors (Gold / Red) 500 limited edition each.

New L.A. metal release of Spookey Ruben's Transilience.
Nervesaw' is the first EP by American band Transilience, and the comeback release after many years of absencefrom the scene. Transilience were originally formed in 1988, in Reston, Virginia, and their debut album 'Mouthful OfBuildings' was released in 1989. Their very particular brand of thrash metal was hailed at the time as innovative andoriginal, and that record remains a fresh listen to this day. Transilience disbanded soon after, and frontman Spookyembarked on a solo career under the name Spookey Ruben. As of 2019, Transilience returned to activity withbassist Jerry Barrett and drummer Omar Ruiz joining Spooky in the lineup. In 2023, the band signed for AloneRecords and announced 'Nervesaw', their comeback EP, featuring the unmistakable Transilience style but updatedand reinvigorated for a new age. It's almost like they never left

New L.A. metal release of Spookey Ruben's Transilience.

Nervesaw' is the first EP by American band Transilience, and the comeback release after many years of absencefrom the scene. Transilience were originally formed in 1988, in Reston, Virginia, and their debut album 'Mouthful OfBuildings' was released in 1989. Their very particular brand of thrash metal was hailed at the time as innovative andoriginal, and that record remains a fresh listen to this day. Transilience disbanded soon after, and frontman Spookyembarked on a solo career under the name Spookey Ruben. As of 2019, Transilience returned to activity withbassist Jerry Barrett and drummer Omar Ruiz joining Spooky in the lineup. In 2023, the band signed for AloneRecords and announced 'Nervesaw', their comeback EP, featuring the unmistakable Transilience style but updatedand reinvigorated for a new age. It's almost like they never left.

An absolute classic: the legendary album from 1990 and the pinnacle of Trouble's impressive career. Heavy Metal was never better than this! Finally re-issued!

Underoath has been a seminal voice in progressive, heavy rock for almost two decades. On Voyeurist, their seventh full-length (and second with Fearless Records), Underoath has once again found brilliance in walking the line between reinvention and the foundational elements of the project. The story of Voyeurist traces back to their 2020 livestream event, Underoath: Observatory. The success of Observatory, which was orchestrated largely by the band, provided the confidence for them to self-produce their next record for the first time. The result is the most collaborative album of Underoath’s career and, anchored in a profound respect for each other, one that left no stone unturned creatively. The band refers to it as “high-def violence” - technologically advanced, but undeniably visceral. Conceptually, Voyeurist has several interrelated meanings, each tying back to the concepts of how we curate ourselves through social media and how that facade masks a lot of what we actually experience in life. With their shared history of remarkable accolades and trying hardships still shaping who the individual members are as people, Underoath is just scratching the surface of what they can accomplish as a band. There are few acts in the annals of rock history that can say their best work is still ahead of them almost two decades into their career. Fortunately, Underoath falls into that category. It will be something special to witness as this next chapter in the Underoath story unfolds.

No Future, No Past – Svart Records set to release a compilation of the lost treasures of Finnish speed and thrash metal in October



The roots of speeding thrash metal stretch out to the early and mid 80’s. It did not take long for the waves arising from the shores of California, central Europe and the United Kingdom hit Finland hard as well. The guiding light of Finnish thrash metal from that era was Stone from Kerava, but the entire scene that was bubbling beneath the surface was surprisingly vivid for such a small country. As the old saying goes, in the late 80’s there was not a single town in Finland without a speed metal band.



These dozens – or hundreds, to be more precise – of vivacious bands formed by the long-haired youth didn’t just stay in the basements of their parents’ houses. Soon the youth centres of every county and open-minded venues such as the legendary Lepakko in Helsinki would arrange wild speed and thrash metal gigs. Studios run by more experienced musicians such as Timo Tolkki from Stratovarius were fully booked by hungry young bands eager to record their future metal classics. Many bands released 7” singles and demo tapes by themselves or with support from a record company, yet most of them permanently stayed at the demo stage through the golden era of the eighties.



Svart Records is set to release a compilation of the absolute top tunes culled from these sought-after, long-lost demo tapes and singles on vinyl and CD in October. No Future, No Past – Finnish Speed & Thrash Metal Explosion combines the strongest, rarest, and most obscure Finnish metal tracks from the years 1986-1992.



Backgrounds of the bands presented on the compilation differ a lot from one another. Vendetta and Damage were born from the ashes of the members’ previous hardcore and punk bands. A.R.G. and Catalepsy got their feet in the door fast of record companies such as Poko Records and Megamania, while other metal acts from that time simply faded away. After a few decades passed, some bands saw it fit to restart their careers, Sacred Crucifix and The Hirvi being examples of such comeback artists.



No Future, No Past – Finnish Speed & Thrash Metal Explosion 1986–1992 will be released on October 13th on a limited 2LP vinyl edition and CD version. The compilation is packed with 18 remastered tracks of pure Finnish metal mayhem and accompanied by a booklet that contains band histories, photos, and song details. The compilation’s predecessor Real Delusions: Finnish Speed & Thrash Metal Explosion 1987-1991 was released in 2018 and its limited vinyl edition was sold out in a heartbeat, so get this rare gem now before it’s too late!

Earth Recordings are extremely proud to announce the release of ‘Shirley Inspired’. July 2015 will see Shirley Collins celebrate her 80th year – an age that would seem frankly ridiculous for a woman as spritely as her, had it not been for all she’s achieved. From her seminal field-recording trip to America to her lauded musical career; from her role as historian and protector of the folk tradition, to the very fact that this record can exist – more than half a century after her career began – all of these things are testament to the breadth of her influence.And so we arrive at ‘Shirley Inspired’. It would be almost lazy to the talk about the resurgence of folk music or the ‘new folk’ sound – the recordings found here are so much more than that. This is the very essence of folk – songs handed down from person to person, interpreted by modern musicians – as a way of keeping these songs alive.

The enchanted land of power metal. ‘On a Moonlit Night’ is the highlight of the brief but already remarkable Vandor’s career. The Swedish band looked at the best moments of their brilliant debut-album and aimed at writing in that vein, expanding the stylistic horizon at the same time. They managed to cover so much musical ground on this record, spanning from the anthemic ‘Mountains of Avagale’ to the beautiful ‘Future to Behold’ and the intense warmongering tale of ‘Fate of Eltoria’, and finishing with the almost 20-minute-long saga ‘The Sword to End All Wars’. This second album is even more “power metal” than the previous one, but Vandor also embraced some elegant and subtle hard & progressive rock influences – which might not come as a shock for those familiar with their music. Enter the realm of Vandor, enter a new and exciting power metal dimension.

A Voyage Through Time' sees Perth's premier power prog outfit Voyager present a one-of-a-kind visual and aural performance that outlines the progression of their musical career. The virtual live experience with full production is a journey across two decades and seven albums with a fan-voted set list, exploring a new and enhanced approach to the band's live show.

Transparent Red Single Color Vinyl Edition! Year OF NO Light`s lengthy, sprawling compositions of towering walls of guitars and sombre synths irradiate a sense of dire solemnity and spiritual gravity, and couldn't be a more fitting soundtrack for such grim medieval scenarios. But there is also the element of absolution, regeneration, elevation, transcendence in the face of death. Consolamentum is dense, rich and lush and yet somehow feels starved and deprived. With debut album Nord (2006) and sophomore release Ausserwelt (2010), the band made themselves a name in the European avant-metal scene. Extensive tours of Europe, North America and Russia in 2013 and 2014, including two appearances at Roadburn festival, Hellfest and a spectacular performance in a 17th Century fortress in the Carpathian mountains introduced them to a broader and quickly growing international audience. The cinematic scope of their music implies that Year OF NO Light are a group of artists that pay a great deal of attention to their visual representation, from the classy album artworks and merch designs to the carefully designed lighting design of their live show. With their seminal 3rd album Tocsin, released in 2013, Year OF NO Light reached the peak of their career thus far - a logical decision that Consolamentum was made with the same team again: recorded and mixed by Cyrille Gachet at Cryogene in Begles / Bordeaux, mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side. "We wanted this album to sound as organic and analog as possible", comments the band. "All tracks were recorded live. The goal was to have the most natural, warm and clean takes possible, to give volume to the dynamics of the songs. We aimed to have a production with a singular personality." Consolamentum is huge, poignant, frightening, sublime, smothering and cathartic - and, much like its predecessor, "audacious, memorable and supremely confident." (Decibel magazine).