MEGADETH bassist and EMP LABEL GROUP‘s President David Ellefson podcasted yesterday a special 34 minutes Facebook live-stream event, making special announcements, and talking about the State of the “Ellefson” Union, EMP Label Group, EMP: Underground, partnership with Alpha Omega Management, Ellefson Coffee Co, MEGADETH and more!
If you missed it, or if you want to watch it again, go here!
As recently was announced, in July 2016, EMP Label Group and ALPHA OMEGA Management merged forces for a two-way partnership!
ALPHA OMEGA Management entered EMP Label Group creating a new sub-label for upcoming artists, and, furthermore DAVID ELLEFSON and THOM HAZAERT (Artist Manager, Music and Film Producer, A&R Director, Operations Manager at EMP Label Group) entered ALPHA OMEGA Management, to form a global partnership for management and booking.
Just recently the Italian based ALPHA OMEGA Management opened its North American Office, and only 8 months later, today Alpha Omega launches a new office in the South America, announcing EDU LANE (drummer of NervoChaos) as their new team member and Head of the South American Office.
Edu Lane states: “I’m grateful and honored with the opportunity to join Alpha Omega. Alpha Omega is a company ideally suited to my background and interests with a dream team that I feel I can make significant contributions. Together combining many years of experience in the music industry to the resources I gained from TUMBA we can provide many opportunities for Alpha Omega band roster.”
ALPHA OMEGA‘s general manager Alex Azzali adds: “This past year has been like a greatly started journey for Alpha Omega, each target and milestone on our road has gained great results, which makes us increasingly proud to be more and more complete and competitive each day that passes! Only 8 months ago we opened our North American Office (under the direction of Timothy Shearn), then we entered in the two-way alliance with David Ellefson’s EMP Label Group, and soon after we had a pleasure to welcome Keith Rowley and his Shred Head Inc. to our Family, launching our new brand of services: ALPHA OMEGA TOURS! And today, our joy is quadruple welcoming EDU LANE as our new team member, opening with his guidance, our office in the South America! Edu’s long and successful career speaks a clear language; South America is Edu’s home ground since ’96 and it surely has its obvious advantage! If before this southern continent seemed to be far away from our everyday reality, today it’s been marked permanently on Alpha Omega’s worldwide map! And we dare to say: Totally new horizons are waiting for us! We are hard at work and heading already, together with the whole team, towards our next targets!”
EDU LANE tells about his musical career: “Back in ’96 I started a company completely dedicated to the extreme music called TUMBA which was a label, a store and a booking agency. As a label we’ve released only Brazilian underground/new artists. As a store we were the pioneer store in Brazil totally focused on extreme music. As a booking agency, we’ve booked shows and tours in Brazil and around Latin America for many artists such as Agnostic Front, Deeds of Flesh, Disgorge (USA), Monstrosity, Hate Eternal, Gorgoroth, Marduk, Dark Funeral, Mayhem, Dissection, Watain, Mortuary Drape, Obituary, Napalm Death, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Krisiun, Sodom, Nuclear Assault, Enthroned, Candlemass, Averse Sefira, Dismember, Hate, Behemoth, Vader, Malevolent Creation, Vital Remains, ABSU, Centurian, Sadus, Acheron, Immolation, Incantation, Leaves Eyes, Destruction, Atrocity, Destroyer 666, Grave, AD Hominem, WASP, Blood Red Throne, Dying Fetus, Misery Index, Keep of Kalessin, Autopsy, Tankard, Exumer, Artillery, Aborted, Master, Gama Bomb, Carpathian Forest, Taake, Funerus, Inquisition and many more to list. I’m also a drummer for 25 years. I’ve played in a few bands in the past but since ’96 I’ve been playing with NervoChaos.”
More information on ALPHA OMEGA Management:
Italy based, International ALPHA OMEGA Management is composed by professionists, working in various sectors of the music industry, including ALEX AZZALI, internationally well-known producer, tour manager and or sound engineer (for Ancient, Behemoth, Dismember, Grave, Septicflesh, Rotting Christ, Cro Mags, Marduk, Hate, Vader and many more), Producer BILL METOYER (Producer of Slayer, W.A.S.P, D.R.I, Corrosion of Conformity, Fates Warning, Helstar, Omen, Thrust etc. and ex Vice President of Metal Blade USA).
The visionaries of ALPHA OMEGA have created the new era for band management and worldwide booking for shows, tours and festivals.
In July 2016, ELLEFSON MUSIC PRODUCTIONS (aka EMP Label Group) and ALPHA OMEGA Management merged forces for a two-way partnership: ALPHA OMEGA Management entered EMP Label Group creating a new sub-label for upcoming artists, and, DAVID ELLEFSON (MEGADETH bassist and founder of EMP Label Group) and THOM HAZAERT (Artist Manager, Music and Film Producer, A&R Director, Operations Manager at EMP Label Group) entered ALPHA OMEGA Management, to form a global partnership for management and booking. In August 2016 Alpha Omega welcomed KEITH ROWLEY, as their new team member, working in close synergy – together with David Ellefson’s EMP Label Group and Keith Rowley‘s Shred Head Inc. announcing the launch of new services: ALPHA OMEGA TOURS, creating the worldwide touring structure, both for upcoming bands and more!
Constantly growing ALPHA OMEGA band roster consists of well established acts such as COVEN, VENOM INC, D.R.I., ANCIENT, MALEVOLENT CREATION, EXTREMA among quite a few amazing up and coming bands. ALPHA OMEGA also has a Residential Recording Studio at the Lake of Como, in close proximity to three major airports of Milan. Alpha Omega Recording Studio offers recording, mixing and mastering.
ALPHA OMEGA Management is extremely delighted to announce that ELLEFSON MUSIC PRODUCTIONS (aka EMP Label Group) and ALPHA OMEGA Management have merged forces for a two-way partnership!
ALPHA OMEGA Management enters EMP Label Group creating a new sub-label for upcoming artists, and, furthermore DAVID ELLEFSON(MEGADETH bassist and founder of EMP Label Group) and THOM HAZAERT(Artist Manager, Music and Film Producer, A&R Director, Operations Manager at EMP Label Group) enter ALPHA OMEGA Management, to form a global partnership for management and booking.
ALPHA OMEGA Management states: “How to put in words the huge honor and joy to enter in this two-way partnership with Ellefson Music Productions and its two Gentlemen, David and Thom? Since our very first contacts and conversations we found out easily the mutual understanding about the way we want to collaborate for the future projects and how to bring them forward to the global music business! The common tone was right there, clear and harmonious for the both parties, following the new idea of the band managing which ALPHA OMEGA has as the leading principle since its founding. The team’s hard work has brought fruitful results in a short time, confirming the fact that the chosen road is right. With this collaboration with David and Thom, and with new projects which are already in the works, we’re looking forward to very interesting and busy times, in many areas, to give a new meaning and global target for so many great bands out there! So stay connected for next announcements, soon!”
David Ellefson‘s video statement with Alex Azzali and Roberto Risso:
Hazaert says, “Since I met Alex and the team at Alpha Omega, we had an instant connection. They have an amazing roster and infrastructure, and we immediately thought there could be a synergy between our operations. With their massive Worldwide support structure, together we will be able to create an amazing management experience for EMP artists, and beyond. Building and expanding the “EMPire”, and growing our operations as a global brand is a high priority for myself and David, and we saw a great opportunity with Alpha Omega to create a highly charged artist experience with Worldwide reach.”
David Ellefson announcing the partnership with Alex Azzali and Roberto Risso
*** DAVID ELLEFSON has no need for long introductions, as an original member of MEGADETH, credited as one of the thrash metal’s “big four” with Anthrax, Metallica and Slayer. David Ellefson is known for his unique, hard-hitting style of bass playing and unwavering dedication to his musical craft. David has engraved a vast musical hallmark as a bassist, songwriter, record producer, clinician and author. Together with MEGADETH, he has been awarded 10 Grammy nominations, countless gold & platinum records, plus continued recording & world concert tour activity. Ellefson holds a Bachelor’s degree in business marketing and continues to lecture on a variety of music and business related topics. Additionally, David is a prolific author with his titles: “Making Music Your Business… A Guide For Young Musicians”, “UNSUNG Words & Images” and “My Life With Deth”.
Among his many accomplishments, Ellefson’s latest triumph is Ellefson Music Productions/EMP Label Group, the record label and production company formed in 2015, with industry exec Thom Hazaert tapped by Ellefson to oversee operations. With a diverse Rock and Metal Roster including Cage9, Another Lost Year, Ancient, Solus Deus, Doll Skin, and many more, EMP has quickly become a dominating force in the World of Hard Rock and Metal.
*** THOM HAZAERT is a music business staple, known for a career spanning over 20 years, as an Executive, Journalist, Radio Personality, Artist Manager, Music and Film Producer, and most recently, the man behind the curtain at Ellefson’s EMP Label Group.
Hazaert’s marketing work was influential in the early advent of lifestyle street and viral marketing among Rock acts, as an independent consultant for record labels including Flip Records, Interscope Records, Warner Bros. Records, Hollywood Records, Jive Records, and as co-founder of Total Assault Street Teams, working with hard-hitting artists including Staind, Cold, Limp Bizkit, Korn, Bloodhound Gang, Static-X, Nine Inch Nails, Filter, American Head Charge, and many more. Hazaert was co-founder and President of Corporate Punishment Records, and more recently, THC : MUSIC, a management firm and label, now an imprint of EMP.
In the early 2000s, Hazaert went on to manage and develop major label artists, including Chimaira (Roadrunner Records), Erase The Grey (Universal Records), Switched (Immortal Records), and Depswa (Geffen Records). Additionally, he has listed Management credits in albums by MOTORHEAD (Hammered) and Earth Crisis (Last of the Sane) and is credited with helping to discover some of the World’s biggest contemporary Rock and Metal acts.
Also a noted Radio Personality, Hazaert currently hosts “AM/PM with Thöm Hazaërt”, a 2 hour “late night morning show” airing on Dash Radio Metal and Punk station Los Anarchy Radio, focused on Hard Rock/Metal and Pop Culture. Each show begins with a segment called “Mandatory Megadeth”, a block of Megadeth songs that features Megadeth bassist David Ellefson telling the stories behind classic Megadeth tracks.
*** ALPHA OMEGA Management features a new international team, composed by professionals, working in various sectors of the music industry, including ALEX AZZALI, internationally well-known producer, tour manager and or sound engineer (for Ancient, Behemoth, Dismember, Grave, Septicflesh, Rotting Christ, Cro Mags, Marduk, Hate, Vader and many more), NICK BARKER (drummer of Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Lock Up, Brujeria, Benediction, Testament, Gorgoroth, Ancient, among the others) and Legendary Audio Engineer and Producer, BILL METOYER (Producer of Slayer, W.A.S.P, D.R.I, Corrosion of Conformity, Fates Warning, Helstar, Omen, Thrust etc. and ex Vice President of Metal Blade USA). The visionaries of ALPHA OMEGA have created the new era for band management and worldwide booking for shows, tours and festivals.
Constantly growing ALPHA OMEGA band roster consists of well established acts such as COVEN – VENOM INC – M:PIRE OF EVIL – ANCIENT – MALEVOLENT CREATION – EXTREMA – HELSTAR – OMEN – MASTER – MOBILE DEATHCAMP – NOCTEM – THRUST – KULT OV AZAZEL – TRAUMA – THEATRES DES VAMPIRES among quite a few amazing up and coming bands. ALPHA OMEGA also has a Residential Recording Studio at the Lake of Como, in close proximity to three major airports of Milan. Alpha Omega Recording Studio offers recording, mixing and mastering.
Italian Heavy metallers CIRCLE OF WITCHES, who recently signed with Alpha Omega Management, have just begun the recording sessions for their brand new album titled “True Born Sinner” at ALPHA OMEGA STUDIO on the placid banks of Como Lake (Italy). The album is being produced by ALEX AZZALI (producer, tour manager and or sound engineer for Ancient, Behemoth, Dismember, Grave, Septicflesh, Rotting Christ, Cro Mags, Marduk, Hate, Vader and many more) and NICHOLAS BARKER (Cradle Of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Brujeria, Lock-Up, Testament, Ancient).
The new CIRCLE OF WITCHES’ career chapter is a follow up of “Rock the Evil” (released in 2014), promising to be more heavy metal influenced by NWOBHM sounds of JUDAS PRIEST and new Scan metal of GRAND MAGUS and GHOST, as the band announced.
“True Born Sinner” includes nine tracks, which are based on the concept of “riot” told through ancient extraordinary figures such as Lucifer and Giordano Bruno. The album intro composed by STEVE SPETTRO from one man horror-electronic band SPETTRO FAMILY will open the album. The artwork is being made by Greek designer NIKO MARKOGIANNAKIS (ROTTING CHRIST, DIE SEKTOR, ANUBIS GATE) who already worked on the previous album “Rock the Evil”. A special page on http://www.circleofwitches.com is dedicated to “Diary of a Sinner”, a daily chronicle about studio working.
After Two Russian tours as opening act for DORO and UDO, the official sign for ALPHA OMEGA Management (together with VENOM INC, ANCIENT, M-PIRE OF EVIL, NOCTEM) the band keeps on working under Azzali’s guide.
Check out the Official live video for “Going To Church”, shot at CIRCLE OF WITCHES show in Moscow, supporting U.D.O. during their Decadent Russian Tour 2015:
CIRCLE OF WITCHES are:
Mario HELL Bove – vocals and guitars
Anthes DARKBLOOD Aliberti – guitars and backing vocals
Joe EVIL Caputo – bass
Joey HELMET Coppola – drums
Circle of Witches live in Moscow at Yota Space supporting UDO during the Decadent russian tour 2015 – photographer: Margarita Currents
Italian Heavy Metallers CIRCLE OF WITCHES, who recently signed with ALPHA OMEGA Management, are starting next week to record their new album “True Born Sinner” at Alpha Omega Studio in Como (Italy) with the band’s producer Alex Azzali and his crew.
Comments the band:
“Today we completed the last part of our work for the upcoming album’s recording ”True Born Sinner”! Steve Spettro of the one man horror electronic band SPETTRO FAMILY composed the intro for our album. No words can describe how happy and thrilled we are about his fantastic job! We cannot wait to play it loud! Now from next Monday Alpha Omega Studio in Como (Italy) will be our home for several days! You can check Spettro Family music here!
We’re quite excited to write this new chapter!”
Check out the Official live video for “Going To Church”, shot at CIRCLE OF WITCHES show in Moscow, supporting U.D.O. during their Decadent Russian Tour 2015:
CIRCLE OF WITCHES are:
Mario HELL Bove – vocals and guitars
Anthes DARKBLOOD Aliberti – guitars and backing vocals
Joe EVIL Caputo – bass
Joey HELMET Coppola – drums
Italian Heavy Metallers CIRCLE OF WITCHES, who recently signed with ALPHA OMEGA Management, are working on a new album, entitled “True Born Sinner”. The album will be produced by Alex Azzali (ANCIENT, BEHEMOTH, DISMEMBER, GRAVE, SEPTIC FLESH, ROTTING CHRIST, CRO MAGS, MARDUK, HATE, VADER and many others), and recorded at Alpha Omega Studio in Como, in early 2016.
Comments the band: It has been an amazing 2015 for Circle of Witches. We just started to work on the new album which will be entitled “True Born Sinner”. We cannot wait to work with Alex Azzali who will produce it at Alpha Omega Studio in Como. In this album, will feature, for the first time our new line-up with two guitars. We already have few songs ready and the result seems to be something heavier than previous “Rock the Evil” although more melodic, massif and compact. For the next two months the rehearsal room will be our home and we will be restless until completion of our work. Hopefully we will enter the studio between January and March 2016.
CIRCLE OF WITCHES are:
Mario HELL Bove – vocals and guitars
Anthes DARKBLOOD Aliberti – guitars and backing vocals
Joe EVIL Caputo – bass
Joey HELMET Coppola – drums
Just recently CIRCLE OF WITCHES played with U.D.O. as opener, in Russia (on 22nd October at Arena in Krasnodar, and on 24th at Glav Club in Moscow), and in June they shared the stage with DORO, as her main support act on DORO’s 30th Anniversary tour. Check out below the video footage from that concert.
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