Logan Makiah and Doug Jackson were the back bone and masterminds of Retched and wrote the entirity of the EP The Overlord Messiah. Unfortunately, soon after they started playing shows, the band started having issues with the management, as they were not doing the release justice as far as getting it heard and promoting the EP as it should have been. Needless to say, soon after all the turmoil Retched fell apart, The Overlord Messiah was abandoned and never saw the light of day.
David DerMinasian had the last copy of the cassette in existence and he would take it out every 5 or ten years to play it for a few times and then put it away, carefully wrapping it up in a bandanna and wishing they had the chance to release it because even though it was originally recorded in 1988, it was still brand new to the fans of true metal and it will never die!!!
Well after some time, David chose to come back to the metal scene and play again. He built a studio to start working on his sound and that’s when he learned how you can release music yourself. So he did, while keeping his hopes alive that he would find the other band mates. It took 7 years of asking around the old circles of friends and acquaintances and finally last spring he actually found Doug Jackson and Logan Makiah and received an offer to release The Overlord Messiah with Sliptrick Records!!
Tracklist: 01. Black Leather And Me | 02. Insane | 03. Lost In The Night | 04. Metal Knights | 05. Pharaoh’s Curse | 06. The Overlord Messiah
The Overlord Messiah | Released September 24th, 2024 via Sliptrick Records
Retched is: David DerMinasian – Rhythm & Lead Guitars/Bass/Drums/Vocals
UK’s Atlantean Metallers IMPERIAL AGE Return with super heavy and epic single ‘Gnosis’, set to be released on September 27th via Atlantean Records.
Having re-established themselves in the UK with a new line-up, Atlantean alchemists IMPERIAL AGE have transmutated old and modern Metal elements to create a new sound with their single GNOSIS.
A super heavy track played at extreme speeds on downtuned guitars, with epic orchestrations, choirs, 3 types of lead vocals (Jane Odintsova sings clean and goes harsh for the first time while Aor pushes his upper range to the limit), blastbeats and even deathcore-style breakdowns, this is by far the heaviest and most technically advanced song in IMPERIAL AGE‘s repertoire – and maybe even in all of Symphonic and Power Metal so far (if the band can still even be attributed to those genres).
In a landscape where so many new releases sound almost identical, GNOSIS by IMPERIAL AGE is a breath of fresh air – but only for those who like it really heavy!
The new line-up will debut in full force on the October 5, 2024 in London at their very own new IMPERIAL AGE Festival, after that the band will releasing a new album followed by a European and American tour in 2025.
The first iteration of the IMPERIAL AGE Festival will take place on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at London’s legendary O2 Academy Islington, with ORDEN OGAN plus Ghosts Of Atlantis, Crusade Of Bards, Battle Born, Alterium, Pythia and IMPERIAL AGE!
BAND LINE-UP: Aor • Vocals Jane Odintsova • Vocals Daniel Carpenter • Lead guitar Jonathan Hawkins • Rhythm guitar Dan “Beardy” Quiney • Bass Manuele Di Ascenzo • Drums
Rome, Italy-based electronic metal project, MASTER BOOT RECORD (MBR), today drops their latest single, “RAM.” The gripping new track comes by way of the band’s HARDWAREZ full-length, set for release on October 11th via Metal Blade Records.
Elaborates multi-instrumentalist and MBR mastermind Vittorio D’Amore (aka Victor Love), “‘RAM’ is powerful anthem merging the raw intensity of classic heavy metal with the shimmering allure of retro-futuristic synths creating a sound that is both nostalgic and groundbreaking with epic solos featuring lead synths and guitars playing at unison.”
Stream MASTER BOOT RECORD‘s previously released single, “CPU,” at THIS LOCATION.
HARDWAREZ explores the duality of technology. The LP, which follows 2022’s Personal Computer and 2020’s Floppy Disk Overdrive, comes from the expansive mind of Love, an Italian producer who emerged from the underground as an anonymous project in 2016 to create the soundtrack for the cyberpunk point-and-click adventure game VirtuaVerse. The project seamlessly evolved into a standalone entity, releasing over fourteen albums in just a few years.
To create HARDWAREZ, the technologist worked by live streaming his desktop on YouTube while composing new music. Everything is programmed via MIDI. Intensive touring augmented with live musicians helped Love make the decision to include real guitars to achieve a massive sound and boost the enhanced frequency spectrum of the instrument. Additionally, the tracks feature sections without overdubs and with updated drum samples and a new mixing approach, creating a more vibrant and punchy drum sound.
“The concept of HARDWAREZ is by default the continuation of the concept of previous albums, which is about spreading the word about retro hardware and software,” says Love, who grew up taking piano lessons and listening to classical music before getting into thrash and death metal as a teen.
The album title merges the term “Hardware” with “warez,” also known as The Scene, more commonly known as the scene of cracks and pirated software which has been influential to Love in terms of crack and keygen music. While Love organically began listening to electronic music, acid techno, industrial and synth pop, he also “grew up in the ’90s through all the grunge, nu-metal and industrial scene.“
Old-school metal as well as ’80s and ’90s movies and video games – and music from these – also play a role in Love’s musical DNA which is manifested in HARDWAREZ. It’s his penchant for non-stop creative and technological deep dives which informs HARDWAREZ‘ cover art as well, which indirectly expresses the album’s theme. “With this album the 486DX-33MHz-64MB becomes sentient through human augmentation. For we may become better humans with their help, but machines still need us to shine.”
MASTER BOOT RECORD – C:HARDWAREZTOUR.EXE: 9/25/2024 Soda Bar – San Diego, CA 9/26/2024 The Wayfarer – Costa Mesa, CA 9/27/2024 MagWest – San Jose, CA 10/01/2024 Star Theater – Portland, OR 10/02/2024 The Pearl – Vancouver, BC 10/03/2024 Substation – Seattle, WA 10/05/2024 Synthbangers Fest – Denver, CO 10/06/2024 Aces High Saloon – Salt Lake City, UT 10/08/2024 The Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ 10/09/2024 Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA 10/12/2024 Hackfest – Quebec City, QC 10/18/2024 Le Molotov – Marseille, FR 10/19/2024 Backstage By The Mill – Paris, FR 10/20/2024 Le Ferrailleur – Nantes, FR 10/22/2024 Academy 2 – London, UK 10/23/2024 Satans Hollow – Manchester, UK 10/24/2024 Cathouse – Glasgow, UK 10/26/2024 Grand Social – Dublin, IR 10/28/2024 Exchange – Bristol, UK 10/30/2024 Effenaar – Eindhoven, NL 10/31/2024 Melkweg – Amsterdam, NL 11/02/2024 Club Volta – Cologne, DE 11/03/2024 Neushoorn – Leeuwarden, NL 11/04/2024 Logo – Hamburg, DE 11/06/2024 Stengade – Copenhagen, DK 11/07/2024 Valand – Gothenburg, SE 11/08/2024 Goldie – Oslo, NO 11/09/2024 Kollektivet Livet – Stockholm, SE 11/11/2024 Lacznick – Wroclaw, PL 11/12/2024 Gretchen – Berlin, DE 11/13/2024 Chemiefabrik – Dresden, DE 11/14/2024 Cross Club – Prague, CZ 11/15/2024 Kabinet Muz – Brno, CZ 11/16/2024 Turbina – Budapest, HU 11/17/2024 Szene – Vienna, AT 11/18/2024 Pont Rouge – Monthey, CH 11/19/2024 Exil – Zurich, CH
Known for their fierce riffs, relentless energy, and unapologetic attitude, SAINT SLAUGHTER’s latest release pushes their unique brand of Thrash Metal into even darker, more aggressive territories.
Featuring ten adrenaline-charged tracks, ‘The Secret Speech’ captures the raw intensity similar to the likes of Metallica circa ‘Kill ’em All’ era, that has become Saint Slaughter’s hallmark, while incorporating elements of modern metal and lyrical themes that resonate with the challenges of today’s chaotic world.
The album is a powerful follow-up to their acclaimed debut EP, ‘Intravenosa‘, and cements the band’s place as one of Ireland’s most exciting Metal acts. The band says of the release; “The Secret Speech is our way of confronting the madness of the times we’re living in. The music is fast and brutal, but there’s an emotional core running through it. We poured our souls into this record, and we think fans are going to feel that intensity.” “This album is a collection of songs we’ve been playing for quite some time. We’ve been together a long time as a band and thought it was about time we did an actual album. We recorded, mixed and mastered ourselves which in retrospect was quite a steep learning curve, but we’re proud of how it has turned out. To have total control over a release in terms of the actual music itself, the production and the mix and having done it 100% by ourselves we think is a cool thing to be able to say. It’s raw, undiluted and authentic.”
Watch recently released ‘Led To Treason’ video here:
The Secret Speech‘ showcases Saint Slaughter’s evolution while staying true to their Thrash roots. From explosive guitar solos, to punishing drums, every track is a testament to the band’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of their genre.
Saint Slaughter has been making waves across the Irish and European Metal scene, thanks to the release of their debut EP and more recent singles, ‘Led To Treason’, and ‘Inglorious’, building a loyal following through their high-energy live performances and dedication to their craft. With ‘The Secret Speech‘, they are ready to bring their music to a global audience.
‘The Secret Speech’ is now available for streaming on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp. Buy here: SPOTIFY
The band will be celebrating in Dublin tonight (September 20th) with a very special FREE launch show featuring Crossfire, Animator, and Snowblind.
On August 4th, Ireland’s pagan metal warriors REN MARABOU AND THE BERSERKERS stormed the stage at the legendary Metalland Open Air Arena Festival in Rome, delivering a thunderous performance as the main support for the iconic UK thrash titans, ONSLAUGHT!
Now, for those who couldn’t witness the chaos live — or just want to relive the mayhem — the band has unleashed an electrifying recap of their explosive set. Brace yourself for epic riffs, relentless energy, and pure Viking spirit! Watch it all unfold right here:
The band shared: “What an adventure. Thank you to Metalland, SoundsRock Agency, Split Screen Management, all the amazing staff and crew and Casilino Sky Park, all the amazing bands Onslaught, Aetheris, Path Of Sorrow, Sharada, Screaming Banshee and Butt Splitters. Thank you for being so welcoming and looking after us Irish lads in the 40 degree heat, we have made friends for life. Beautiful people, beautiful venue and a beautiful city. Rome we will be back, Skål from your Irish Brothers 🤘🏻🛡️⚔️🔥”
Renowned for their compelling blend of historical lore and thunderous metal, REN MARABOU AND THE BERSERKERS are set to bring their unique brand of Irish Viking music wherever they play, promising an unforgettable experience for attendees. REN MARABOU AND THE BERSERKERS, a band that has consistently captivated audiences with their energetic performances and rich storytelling.
Upcoming confirmed shows: November 22nd – Pharmacia, Limerick December 5th – Sandinos Bar/Club, Derry for Yuleblót Celebration.
More shows TBA!
March 29th 2024, REN MARABOU AND THE BERSERKERS unleashed their epic new saga “Helgafjell (Holy Mountain)” via Wormholedeath Records, available on all digital platforms at https://orcd.co/helgafjell!
Furthermore, the album came out in Japan on August 31st, and it’s available online and in store in Tower Records Japan, HMV & BOOKS, Diskunion and Amazon Japan.
“Helgafjell,” The Sacred Peak, isn’t just an album; it’s a tribute, a myth, a journey through time and legend. Every track in this album is a meticulously crafted masterpiece, drawing inspiration from the depths of Norse Mythology, with an unwavering commitment to historical accuracy and mythological authenticity. “Helgafjell” is a soul-stirring tribute to Ren’s Father, Micka, who passed away in September 2022. It delves into themes of Life, Death, and the Norse Mythology Afterlife. The track “Holy Mountain” is a powerful homage to Ren’s Dad, a true warrior with a lion’s heart, now residing in the glorious Norse Afterlife, ‘The Holy Mountain’ – a place of eternal bliss for the righteous.
Every aspect of the album, from its evocative artwork by the talented Terence McCann of Blackdog Graphic Design to the captivating photography of Kathleen Curran, has been woven together with precision and passion. Ren Marabou himself has masterfully orchestrated the recording, mixing, and mastering of all tracks at Skåld Studios, ensuring that each note resonates with the spirit of the Norse legends.
The album ‘Helgafjell’ features an epic tracklist that reads like a saga:
Hailing from the mystical landscapes of Co.Donegal, Ireland, REN MARABOU AND THE BERSERKERS are more than a band; they are a force of nature, blending the power of Viking Metal/Norse Pagan Rock with high-energy performances and anthemic melodies. With endorsements from Cassidy Guitars, Skull Strings, Iron Age Guitar Accessories, and Blackstar, and serving as Ambassadors for Ulster Mead Co., these warriors are unstoppable. Managed by the astute minds at Split Screen Management, the band has already made waves with their album ‘Tales Of Rune’ under United Music Mafia. And after touring across Scandinavia with the likes of VADER and HATE in September 2022, they are now ready to conquer new realms with Wormholedeath. 2023 was just the beginning of their saga, as they recorded ‘Helgafjell’ and stormed stages across Ireland, sharing their powerful music and stories. And 2024? It’s going to be legendary, with RMATB embarking on a tour across the UK and Europe to celebrate the release of their new album. Keep your eyes on their social media for the upcoming dates!
REN MARABOU AND THE BERSERKERS are:
Ren Marabou (Vocals and Guitar)
Terence McCann (Drums)
Michael Casserly (Bass)
If you’re a fan of mythology, electrifying Norse tales, and rock-metal powerhouses, then Marabou and The Berserkers are your ultimate musical calling! Dive into the world of Ren Marabou and The Berserkers – where every chord strikes like thunder, and each lyric tells a tale as old as the gods themselves. Get ready to be part of a thrilling, mythological adventure with a modern metal twist. This isn’t just music; it’s a legendary experience! Join the journey, feel the power, and let the saga of ‘Helgafjell’ resonate with your warrior spirit. The stage is set, the legends await – are you ready to join the ranks of the Berserkers?
ZTATE OF MIND have released a new video ‘The Blackest Black’ taken from “Tower Of Skulls” album. Watch it below.
The band started on the year 2012, when Gabriel (Osi) Pavez, Marcelo Soto, Jair Pavez and Emilio Sanchez got together to form a metal band. Initially they started out with vocalist Chiolo Sanchez. He eventually moved on to be replaced by Samuel Vargas as the permanent lead vocalist.
They started doing Slipknot tributes as a way to fund their first album. They succeeded and went on to participate in different contests for Bolivian bands.
They won several awards and went on to be recognized as the biggest up and coming metal band in Bolivia. They toured the country several times, gathering new fans all around.
Their first album Driven by Nightmares was launched on 2015. The video clip for the first single, also called “Driven by Nightmares”, was directed by Vannesa Trigo (Aviatrix Photography), the band’s official photographer and videographer for all their career. The single made the top three charts in the country for rock stations. The album was recorded, produced and composed by Gabriel Pavez. This was also composed by Jair Pavez, Samuel Vargas and Emilio Sanchez.
The second album started the recording process in 2018 with only four of the original; Samuel Vargas on the vocals, Marcelo Soto on the bass, Emilio Sanchez on the drums, and Gabriel Pavez on the guitar. Gabriel was also the recording engineer, composer and producer for all the songs. Samuel wrote all the lyrics. They launched the first single “Violence burning your Palate” with a video clip, and great reviews. They had other band members momentarily. But the four remained as the new permanent line up.
After political challenges and the global pandemic, Ztate of Mind will finally be releasing their second album “Tower of Skulls” soon.
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 