In conjunction with RED Music, Metal Blade Records has launched a new campaign, entitled “6 Bands in 60 Seconds“, where CEO Brian Slagel spotlights 6 developing artists from the label’s roster. With plans to select 6 new bands once 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 first installment of the series (featuring Act of Defiance, Rivers of Nihil, Twitching Tongues, Culture Killer, Visigoth, and Harlott) can be viewed here and below.
Brian Slagel comments: “We are super excited about our new artists and wanted to help share these to you guys. We thought about giving you 6 new bands you should know about, so here you have those bands. We will be updating this as time goes on with new bands coming in, so be sure to keep following the Metal Blade ’6 Bands You Need To Know’. Let’s keep growing the metal scene!”
ACT OF DEFIANCE, featuring ex-Megadeth members, Chris Broderick (guitars) and Shawn Drover (drums), have debuted at #24 on the Billboard Top 200 Current charts with their inaugural recording effort, “Birth And The Burial”, via Metal Blade Records. The other chart number positions are listed below.
Billboard chart numbers:
#124 Top 200 Current Albums
#171 Top 200 Albums
#6 Heatseeker
#18 Hard Music
#44 Rock
#28 Independent
ACT OF DEFIANCE are now streaming their entire new, debut metal masterpiece offering atmetalblade.com/actofdefiance.
Look for them to embark on their first-ever national tour, co-headlining with Allegaeon starting Oct 22nd. All dates can be found at facebook.com/actofdefiancemusic.
In a time of endless sub-genre classifications, ACT OF DEFIANCE‘s highly anticipated debut offering simply delivers 100% in-your-face, uncompromising heavy metal.
With a hefty resumé that chronicles time spent riffing and shredding in Jag Panzer, Nevermore, and a seven-year stint in Megadeth, Chris Broderick’s pedigree speaks for itself. Furthermore, joined by powerhouse drummer – and fellow Megadeth alumnus and former Eidolon drummer – Shawn Drover, bassist Matt Bachand (Shadows Fall) and vocalist Henry Derek (ex-Scar The Martyr), the band are a truly formidable metallic behemoth. “Birth And The Burial” is ten tracks of armor-plated, state of the art heaviness.
Metal Blade Records is excited to announcing the signing of Australian thrash metal act, HARLOTT! Forged in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, HARLOTT are the finest example of the thrash metal genre in recent years. Taking their influence from the 80′s Bay Area thrash scene, and blending it with the Teutonic melody and grit, they focus on high energy, up tempo music with lyrical influence from war, religion, chaos, and the human condition. Unrivaled live concerts, an aggressive recognizable sound, clinical musicianship, and a classic ‘Aussie’ sense of humour have earned HARLOTT a strong and dedicated fan base, which continues to grow day to day.
HARLOTT‘s debut release ‘Origin‘ blew audiences away with its unrelenting speed, ferocious sound, and hook driven riffs, and did much to solidify HARLOTT as an up and coming force to be reckoned with. The four piece thrash outfit followed with a national tour, a string of Australian Heavy Metal Festival performances and a handful of support positions, including Germany’s Accept and Megadeth’s very own Dave Ellefson.
Their follow up release ‘Proliferation‘ only proves that the band means business, and could not only match their own fury, but even surpass it.
Check out the 1st single ‘Denature‘ at metalblade.com/harlott. White you’re there, check out the pre-order section where you can order ‘Proliferation‘ on CD, vinyl, or digitally!
The band comments: “Harlott are extremely excited to be signing on with METAL BLADE for the worldwide release of Proliferation. METAL BLADE have worked with some of the most important and influential Heavy Metal bands of all time, and we feel absolutely privileged to have the opportunity of engaging with such dedicated persons from a record company that has been so vital to the history of our music.“
“Proliferation” track listing:
01. Proliferation
02. Denature
03. Systematic Reduction
04. Restless
05. The Fading Light
06. Lord of War
07. Civil Unrest
08. Hellbent
09. Bloodlust
10. Cross Contamination
11. Legion
12. Means to an End
HARLOTT are hungry for the World, and in October 2015, they will be dominating Europe with Canada’s Annihilator, the first step in what is to be a long and grueling career in total devastation!
Annihilator + HARLOTT + Archer
30/09/15 UK – Birmingham – O2 Academy
01/10/15 IE – Dublin – Button Factory
02/10/15 UK – Glasgow – O2 ABC2
03/10/15 UK – Sheffield – O2 Academy
04/10/15 UK – London – O2 Academy Islington
06/10/15 FR – Paris – Divan du Monde
08/10/15 ES – Bilbao – Santana 27
09/10/15 PT – Porto – Hard Club
10/10/15 ES – Madrid – But
11/10/15 ES – Barcelona – Razzmatazz 2
13/10/15 CH – Pratteln – Z7
14/10/15 IT – Brescia – Circolo Colony
15/10/15 SI – Ljubljana – Kino Siska
16/10/15 SR – Belgrade – Dom Omladine
17/10/15 RO – Bucharest – Maximum Rock Festival
19/10/15 HU – Budapest – A38
20/10/15 AT – Wörgl – Komma
21/10/15 AT – Wien – Szene
22/10/15 CZ – Zlin – Masters of Rock Café
23/10/15 PL – Krakow – Fabryka
24/10/15 PL – Warsaw – Proxima
25/10/15 DE – Berlin – Lido
27/10/15 DK – Kolding – Godset
28/10/15 DE – Hamburg – Grünspan
29/10/15 DE – Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal
30/10/15 DE – München – Backstage Halle
31/10/15 DE – Karlsruhe – Substage
02/11/15 DE – Nürnberg – Hirsch
03/11/15 LU – Luxemburg – Den Atelier
04/11/15 NL – Tilburg – 013
05/11/15 NL – Haarlem – Patronaat
06/11/15 BE – Kortrijk – De Kreun
07/11/15 DE – Bochum – Zeche
08/11/15 DE – Köln – Underground
HARLOTT is:
Andrew Hudson – Guitar/Vocals
Ryan Butler – Lead Guitar
Tomas Richards – Bass
Tim Joyce – Drums
Los Angeles, CA-based hardcore act, TWITCHING TONGUES, have struck a worldwide deal with Metal Blade Records. Since forming in 2009, the band has toured the globe extensively, and released two full length releases: Sleep Therapy (2012), In Love There is No Law (2013), and a live album: World War Live (2014). The unique sound and indisputable gravitas that Twitching Tongues wields on their records, as well as live, has turned the group into one of the underground scene’s most talked about bands. The immediately recognizable vocal delivery of Colin Young is expertly complemented by guitarist/back up vocalist Taylor Young, lead guitarist Leo Orozco, bassist Kyle Thomas, and drummer Michael Cesario. Recently, the band was featured by VH1 as one of the 15 metal bands you should be listening to in 2015. The article on VH1.com heralded them as “analog and rough around the edges… Twitching Tongues are doing something very genuine, absurdly heavy, and more importantly, interesting.“
Vocalist Colin Young comments on signing to Metal Blade: “We’re unbelievably excited to be on such a great roster of current and classic bands. To be on the label that released “Hell Awaits”, “Nightfall”, “Those Once Loyal” and others is a huge honor, and we can’t wait to join the list of Metal Blade classics.“
Twitching Tongues are currently working on their highly-anticipated third full-length album, which will serve as the follow up to 2013′s In Love There is No Law. The record will be tracked this May, and will be self-produced and recorded entirely at the band’s own LA studio, The Pit. The album is tentatively scheduled for a fall 2015 release date. New music, art, and additional details will be made available as they are completed.
Immediately following tracking, fans will see the band live on tour in Europe with Disgrace, as well as at Hellfest in France, and This Is Hardcore X in Philadelphia, PA in July.
TWITCHING TONGUES The End of Love: European Tour w/ Disgrace
06/17 La Mécanique Ondulatoire
06/18 Toulouse, FR Le Saint Des Seins
06/19 Clisson, FR Hellfest
06/20 Arnheim, NL Willemeen
06/21 Dordrecht, NL Bibelot
06/22 Sheffield, GB Corporation
06/23 Glasgow, GB Audio
06/24 London, GB Boston Arms
06/25 Mol, BE JH Tydeeh
06/26 Münster, DE Cafe Lorenz
06/27 Berlin, DE Cassiopeia
06/28 Dresden, DE Chemiefabrik
06/29 Wien, AT Das Bach
06/30 Salzburg, AT Rockhouse Bar
07/01 Stuttgart, DE Juha West End Tour
07/23-26 This is Hardcore Fest Philadelphia, PA
Watch the video for the title track from In Love There is No Law on the band’s official youtube channel, here:
Metal Blade is proud to announce the addition of Swedish Death Metallers CUT UP to it’s roster!
CUT UP were founded by drummer Tobias Gustafsson and vocalist/bassist Erik Rundqvist in early 2014. After disbanding Vomitory by the end of 2013 after 24 years of death metal duty, the two felt it obvious to continue creating death metal together. Very soon, guitarist Anders Bertilsson and guitarist/vocalist Andreas Björnson were recruited and CUT UP was complete. Both Bertilsson – who was previously and most notably in Coldworker (2006-2013) – and Björnson – also known from Fetus Stench – share the same musical ideals as Gustafsson and Rundqvist as well as the passion to play live.
The next months followed with hard work, writing and rehearsing, and in November 2014 they entered the studio and recorded 11 songs for the yet untitled debut album. With the band members’ collective resume and repute in the metal scene, you can expect nothing but violent, catchy, groovy and grinding death metal from CUT UP.
More info on the debut album, a first track and the front art will be announced and revealed shortly!
Comments drummer Tobias Gustafsson: “I am very happy, proud, honoured and excited to team up with Metal Blade Records once again, this time with CUT UP! Can’t stay away from playing death metal, obviously, so it feels fantastic to have this murderous ensemble together so soon after putting Vomitory into eternal sleep. Cut Up is not just “another project”, but all four members’ new main band. We have made a debut album that we are tremendously satisfied with, both material- and production-wise. We can’t wait to let you hear it! Cut Up aim to hit the stages as soon as the album is released, so we hope to see you all in the front row and in the pit!“
CUT UP is:
Erik Rundqvist – vocals, bass
Andreas Björnson – vocals, guitar
Anders Bertilsson – guitar
Tobias Gustafsson – drums
Melodic folk metallers ENSIFERUM have announced their first ever #1 chart position in Finland!
The band’s newly released album “One Man Army” debuted at #1 in the Finnish album charts this week. Alongside this have been top 5 entries in the iTunes metal charts in multiple countries, as well as receiving accolades in many other Metal charts, including the top spot on EMP’s charts.
Friday (6th March) and Saturday (7th March) will see the band’s final two shows on the Finnish leg of the tour, before heading out on their full European tour, which will kick off March 10th in Lingen (DE) with a special “Fan Appreciation Show”.
To read our review of “One Man Army”, released on 24th February via Metal Blade Records, visit this location.
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Kimmo Kuusniemi's Ancient Streaming Assembly - 'Perpetuae Memoriae', ft. Tuomas Rounakari + Steve Di Giorgio - Click image to watch the video