Metal Blade Records is proud to announce the worldwide signing of Swedish heavy metallers TRIAL!
Formed in 2007, TRIAL first wrote and recorded the Malicious Arts EP (2013), which became a stepping stone from where the band was to where they wanted to be. “That EP, in many ways, became our first road to liberate us from ourselves,”TRIAL recalls. “Rising from the ashes of our former selves, we took things further beyond, which ultimately resulted in the album ‘Vessel‘.”
After earning acclaimed reviews for Vessel (2015), TRIAL‘s popularity continued to grow, and it wasn’t long before Metal Blade Records signed the band. With plans to re-invent themselves once again, TRIAL‘s upcoming debut for the label promises to be another step forward in their career.
TRIAL comments: “We’re honoured to be able to work with such a prestigious and historically important label as Metal Blade. Many of their previous releases are milestones in the genre and of great inspiration to us. To join their roster of artists and be a part of that legacy is one step further towards the perfection of our craft!”
Trial line-up:
Linus Johansson – Vocals
Alexander Ellstrom – Guitars
Andreas Johnsson – Guitars
Andreas Olsson – Bass
Martin Svensson – Drums
West Virginian groove metal outfit BYZANTINE has signed a worldwide deal with Metal Blade Records! After releasing their music independently over the last three years, the quartet is ready to unleash their sixth, currently untitled album in early 2017 via their new label home.
Front-man, Chris “OJ” Ojeda had this to say about the band’s recent signing: “For the last few albums, we have operated outside the fringes of the music community by necessity. I had almost lost hope that we would ever have the chance to showcase our music to the world on a bigger stage. With the help of Brian Slagel and Metal Blade Records, we feel like Byzantine has been given a 2nd chance to make our 1st impression. We are absolutely thrilled at the opportunity to share our brand of heavy music with the world on the world’s best metal label!“
BYZANTINE was formed in 2000 by vocalist/guitarist Chris Ojeda and former guitarist Tony Rohrbough. After releasing three albums via Prosthetic Records, touring with Lamb of God, playing the main stage of New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, and receiving much praise from fans and media alike, the band abruptly called it quits in early 2008 – but it wasn’t long before the metal community demanded their return. In 2012, a reinvigorated BYZANTINE reunited with their seminal line-up, and consequently delivered two highly praised albums, which were crowd-funded through Kickstarter and Pledge Music and self-released. Now, after having been an independent artist since 2013, Ojeda and his crew are back with a new record deal, poised to dominate the scene once again.
In regards to BYZANTINE signing to Metal Blade Records, Jose Mangin (SiriusXM Liquid Metal) comments: “As the most massive supporter of Byzantine’s music since day one, we’ve known a secret that the rest of the world will NOW finally be able to realize, thanks to Metal Blade! The strength, raw talent, and absolute ease at which these West Virginians shred is a thing to experience, and it’s just a matter of time before they rise the ranks to become one of Metal’s elite!“
Lizzy Borden has spent over three decades creating some of the most theatrical metal in existence, releasing classics such as Love You to Pieces (1985) and Master of Disguise (1989), while obliterating audiences worldwide with a stage show that rivals that of Marilyn Manson and Alice Cooper. For his efforts, he has become nothing short of a metal icon. Now, to take the next step in furthering his career, Lizzy Borden has signed a worldwide solo artist deal with Metal Blade Records – the label that helped to launch him to commercial success over 30 years ago. Ready to once again captivate both veteran and adolescent metal fans alike, Lizzy Borden plans to release a new album in 2016 and tour the world in support of it, with a reinvigorated band backing him up.
Lizzy Borden comments: “I am extremely happy to re-sign with the same label we started with all those years ago (Metal Blade Records). I’m excited to be working with Brian Slagel and all the Metal Blade family again. It’s been my home for all six of our (full-length) studio albums – with the new record being the seventh, and the start of a new series of albums to come.
My focus for the last several years has been performing live and exposing my brand of American metal to countries all over the world. Now I feel is the right time to step back and push the re-start button. Time to get back to the art of creating new music. Touring around the world and having new fans discover Lizzy Borden for the first time has been rejuvenating, and so a new album seems like the perfect way to bridge the past with the future.
I will take this part of my journey and these next series of albums as a solo artist, as I have for some of the past LB records and tours. I look forward to working with many different established musicians and friends, as well as some undiscovered talent like we have been lucky enough to unearth in the past. To all of our fans that have followed Lizzy Borden from the beginning and all the new younger fans who have just discovered us, I hope you will come along with me for this next chapter. I am inspired, excited and ready to begin again. @realLizzyborden”
Stay tuned for more news about Lizzy Borden coming soon!
In conjunction with RED Music, Metal Blade Records has launched a new edition of the “6 Bands in 60 Seconds” campaign, where CEO Brian Slagel spotlights six artists from the label’s roster every three months. The goal of the promotion is to help fans discover new music from some of the most promising acts in the scene. The latest installment of the series features Brimstone Coven, Ketzer, Gehennah, Accuser, Artillery, and Sourvein; to watch the video clip, and to learn more about the artists, please visit: metalblade.com/6bands
Hailed as “kick-ass dark occult rock” (PureGrainAudio.com), Brimstone Coven released their new album, Black Magic, this past January. Boasting gritty, groovy riffs (a la Black Sabbath, Pentagram, Led Zeppelin) with Pink Floydian psychedelic movements, Black Magic also includes three-part vocal harmonies reminiscent of the Mamas and Papas, Yes, and The Byrds, resulting in “an outstanding genre album, bound to enthuse countless listeners!” (Legacy Magazine, Germany). For more information, please visit: facebook.com/brimstonecoven
Ketzer (German for “heretic”) also released their latest album, Starless, this past January. From sounds of raging fury, to the echoes of calm and cleansing waves, Starless is a record that will take you on a journey that is unexpected, yet familiar at the same time. As Decibel Magazine asserts, “What Ketzer have done on ‘Starless‘ is open up a large swath of potential musical territory, while also managing to understand the confines of their origins. They’ve figured out a new vocabulary.” For more information, please visit: facebook.com/ketzergermany
After nearly 20 years, this past February marks the first full-length release (Too Loud To Live, Too Drunk To Die) from Swedish street metallers Gehennah, since 1997′s Decibel Rebel. “If you’ve ever wondered what Motorhead riffs sound like backwards, or you believe spirit – and spirits! – are more important than musicianship, then Gehennah are your new favorite bar-brawling bruthas” (Decibel Magazine). For more information, please visit: facebook.com/gehennah.metal
Last week, German thrashers Accuser unleashed their 11th full-length, The Forlorn Divide, featuring the band’s trademark blend of powerful thrash metal, virtuoso guitar-work, intricate drum patterns – and of course, gripping, harsh vocals, highlighting the dark recesses of human psyche that are described in the lyrics. After 30 years in the scene, the members of Accuser have perfected their signature style: “The younger generation could learn a thing (or ten) from these gentlemen” (DeadRhetoric.com). For more information, please visit: facebook.com/Accuser2008
On March 25th, Danish power-thrash metallers Artillery will unleash their new album, Penalty By Perception. A familiar, yet modern thrash attack, Penalty By Perception delivers the band’s signature riffing, with powerful drumming and melodic singing – and promises to be a new fan favorite in the quintet’s storied career! For more information, please visit: facebook.com/ARTILLERY.DK
For over two decades, Sourvein front-man T-Roy has pushed through poverty, the deaths of friends and family, bouts of severe depression, periods of alcohol abuse, and an absence of the stability provided by a consistent record label to build the band into a highly respected force in the metal, doom, sludge, and crust underground. At long last, Sourvein has found a proper home for their doom-laden Southern noise with Metal Blade Records, who will be releasing their upcoming full-length, Aquatic Occult, on April 8th. For more information, please visit: facebook.com/SOURVEIN-238932972468
To watch the first “6 Bands in 60 Seconds” video (which included Act of Defiance, Rivers of Nihil, Twitching Tongues, Culture Killer, Visigoth, and Harlott), please visit:
In 1982, Metal Blade Records put out its first release: “Metal Massacre”, a compilation album that included Metallica, Ratt, and many other influential artists. Now, Metal Blade will be releasing Metal Massacre 14 on April 8th – and continuing the legacy of the first album – the CD/LP/digital formats will once again contain a sampling of contemporary heavy metal. To pre-order your copy – and to hear clips of each track – please visit: metalblade.com/metalmassacre
Primordial‘s Alan Averill – who compiled the “Metal Massacre 14” track-listing – comments: “‘Metal Massacre‘ is an institution that has been dormant for far too long. It served as a vital first step for many bands who are far too numerous to mention back in the early 80s. For fans, it was often the first time engaging with many of these acts, some of whom went on to become household names– some of course didn’t, but the rough and ready underground character of ‘Metal Massacre‘ is what set it apart from other compilations back in the day.
Those old recordings captured the vitality and energy of the time: all analog hiss, rattling drums, roaring bass and feed-backing solos…No pro tools compression, cut and paste editing or triggered drums back then. You set the tape rolling and then played for your life.
It was in this spirit that I went about compiling a new ‘Metal Massacre‘, with an old school mindset.
Not the most modern sounding, but the bands that capture a more DIY underground spirit that resonates with what ‘Metal Massacre‘ once represented.
Of course the musical climate is different, and you probably won’t be listening to the next Metallica, but what is important is that this spirit does not die and that Metal Blade still supports this underground, underdog ethos.
So I give you ‘Metal Massacre‘! Back from the dead! Here’s to the next one!”
See below for the CD, LP, and digital track-listings for Metal Massacre 14.
Metal Massacre 14 LP track-listing
Side A
01. The Traveller (Metalian)
02. Until Then…Until the End (Noctum)
03. Bell of Tarantia (Gatekeeper)
04. The Demented Force (Assassin’s Blade)
05. Denim Attack (Cobra)
Side B
06. The Siege of Jerusalem (Stone Dagger)
07. Will of the Ancient Call (Crypt Sermon)
08. The Ripper in Black (Savage Master)
09. No Tomorrow (Outcast)
10. Brothers (Corsair)
Metal Massacre 14 CD track-listing
01. The Traveller (Metalian)
02. Until Then…Until the End (Noctum)
03. Bell of Tarantia (Gatekeeper)
04. The Demented Force (Assassin’s Blade)
05. Denim Attack (Cobra)
06. The Siege of Jerusalem (Stone Dagger)
07. Will of the Ancient Call (Crypt Sermon)
08. The Ripper in Black (Savage Master)
09. No Tomorrow (Outcast)
10. Brothers (Corsair)
Metal Massacre 14 digital track-listing
01. The Traveller (Metalian)
02. Until Then…Until the End (Noctum)
03. Bell of Tarantia (Gatekeeper)
04. The Demented Force (Assassin’s Blade)
05. Denim Attack (Cobra)
06. The Siege of Jerusalem (Stone Dagger)
07. Will of the Ancient Call (Crypt Sermon)
08. The Ripper in Black (Savage Master)
09. No Tomorrow (Outcast)
10. Brothers (Corsair)
11. Cold Cold Ground (Walpyrgus) **Bonus Track
12. Final Spell (Visigoth) **Bonus Track
13. Into Depths (Ravencult) **Bonus Track
CATTLE DECAPITATION is happy to announce the extension of their record contract with Metal Blade Records!
The band comments, “Very proud to have fulfilled our initial contract with Metal Blade Records and seeing this band rocketing into the future! We’re happy to announce that we’ve re-signed with Metal Blade Records for a few more albums and that we’ll be continuing this awesome relationship we’ve built up with the most important heavy metal record label on planet Earth over the last 14 years! LOTS of worldwide touring coming up, see you all soon as we continue our campaign ushering in ‘The Anthropocene Extinction‘!”
CATTLE DECAPITATION will join Suffocation on their European run, which will kick off next week! Abiotic completes the line-up that will destroy Europe under the banner of “The Tyrants Of Death“.
There will be a golden vinyl tour edition of “The Anthropocene Extinction” available, limited to 300 copies. Get your copy while you can!
This will be the first European tour of CATTLE DECAPITATION in support of their latest masterpiece “The Anthropocene Extinction”!
Cattle Decapitation “The Tyrants Of Death” tour dates w/ Suffocation, Abiotic
Mar. 2 – Warsaw, PL – Progresja
Mar. 3 – Prague, CZ – Futurum
Mar. 4 – Annaberg-Buchholz, DE – Alte Brauerei
Mar. 5 – Ostrava, CZ – Barrack
Mar. 6 – Wien, AT – Viper Room
Mar. 7 – Ljubljana, SI – Gala Hala
Mar. 8 – Brescia, IT – Circolo Colony
Mar. 9 – Luynes/Aix, FR – Le Korigan
Mar. 10 – Bologna, IT – Alchemica
Mar. 11 – Erba (CO), IT – Centrale
Mar. 12 – Heidelberg, DE – Deathfest
Mar. 13 – Utrecht, NL – De Helling
Mar. 14 – Kassel, DE – K19
Mar. 16 – Aarau, CH – Kiff
Mar. 17 – Sion, CH – Le Port Franc
Mar. 18 – Oberhausen, DE – Helvete
Mar. 19 – Rheine, DE – Hypothalamus
Mar. 20 – Nijmegen, NL – Doornroosje
Mar. 21 – Esbjerg, DK – Tobakken
Mar. 22 – Copenhagen, DK – Pumpehuset
Mar. 23 – Malmo-Moriska, SE – Paviljongen
Mar. 24 – Oslo, NO – Inferno Festival (Cattle only)
Mar. 25 – Oslo, NO – Inferno Festival (Suffocation only)
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 