Here's where it all started

   So I have Maiden, AC/DC and Saxon on heavy rotation and my dad comes home from a video shop and says the guy working there is into the same stuff I like. I meet the guy and he asks me had I heard of the band Ratt. Never heard of them, now you have to remember that American hard rock bands never really got much airplay in Ireland unless your surname ended in Jovi. He put this on and I thought it was fan fucking tastic, an opinion I still hold to this day. Great songs, great playing, great production, great everything. I finally got to see them live in 2007, had to do a 200 mile round trip to Belfast to do it but it was worth every penny. Their last cd Infestation is great too and there's talk of new stuff this year so here's hoping.

http://www.therattpack.com/

Richie.

Forbidden Records to Release Goatcraft's All for Naught on March 20th

Makers of Menace and Purveyors of Putridity Forbidden Records have set March 20, 2013 as the date on which GOATCRAFT's All for Naught will be released. Presented is a collection of Unforgettable Haunting Piano Instrumentals to Chill the Blood and Whip the Soul, composed sole GOATCRAFT member Lonegoat! The digital version of All for Naught will also be available from iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Rhapsody, etc. and other online retailers worldwide.

GOATCRAFT forged the genre of necroclassical, or dark neoclassical soundtracks that create an atmosphere of ageless beauty and melancholy violence. With All for Naught, GOATCRAFT expands into lush soundscapes that explore the themes of dark and occult music without becoming repetitive. Comprised of equal parts dark ambient, horror movie soundtrack and death metal-inspired violent piano All For Naught is music for a new millennium. Elegant melodies rise from aggressive hammering piano, and then descend into moods of bleakness and conflict. If dark ambient could be aggressive, it would want to be GOATCRAFT. 

Pre-order All for Naught at this location. 

Call Me Judas

Infinite Death

Goat Will Riot

Gate I

Isolation Ripens

Vestibule to the Abyss

Laconism of the Cosmos

Gate II

Everything Will Die

The Rape of Europa

Consciousness is a Disease

www.goatcraft.net

www.facebook.com/goatcraft.texas

www.forbidden-records.com

forbiddenrecords.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/forbiddenrecords

Check out more FORBIDDEN RECORDS artists by downloading this free digital compilation here:   

http://forbiddenrecords.bandcamp.com/album/forbidden-records-spring-2012 

Heaven & Hell Records To Release ESP's "Future is Now"

Heaven and Hell Records will be issuing Future is Now from Connecticut power metal band ESP in early 2013.  

This will be the first time that the album has ever official been released on CD. The release will include the full The Future is Now album and bonus unreleased demo tracks of non-album songs all re-mastered from the best possible sources available by Jamie King at The Basement Studios in Winston Salem, N.C.

ESP formed in New Haven, Connecticut in 1985 and issued their first five song demo in 1986. The demo landed them a deal with Metal Blade records that lead to their inclusion on the compilation Metal Massacre Vol. 8 with the track "Take 'em Alive". The following year Dream Records release the bands one and only full-length The Future is Now. They would gain momentum throughout the Northeast playing shows with such bands as Fates Warning, Obsession, Liege Lord, and Wrathchild America. The band continued to demo material but eventually split apart. 

The Future is Now again and it is time to bring this album back out for the metal hungry masses. Look for it to be released in March. Check out the album trailer HERE. 

To order go to:

www.soundsofpurgatory.com/+ES...0RkalZIWnZKSGM

www.heavenandhellrecords.com

www.facebook.com/heavenandhellrecords

Megadeth post studio update

Hard at work on Super Collider, Dave and the rest of the band post another update from the studio.

HUMANITY DELETE Releases Video For "Frozen Apparition"

Ear-grinding extremists HUMANITY DELETE have released the second video from their debut album, Never Ending Nightmares.  

  

The video for "Frozen Apparition" was shot on location in Canada by 62nd Chamber Productions, who also directed the band's first video for "Necromantic Sorcery." 

  

"Frozen Apparition" features guest guitar solos from Lasse Pyykko of HOODED MENACE fame and examines the Yuki-Onna, a female spirit from ancient Japanese folklore that is known to appear during snowstorms and lure her victims outside to meet an icy death. Check the video out at this location.   

Never Ending Nightmares was released on December 4th, 2012 through Deadbeat Media. For ordering info visit www.deadbeatshop.com.

  

Masterminded by by one of extreme metal's most prolific artists Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Ribspreader, Revolting, Demiurg, Bone Gnawer, etc),  the concept of  Never Ending Nightmares dates back to 2003 when HUMANITY DELETE was originally formed. Recently resurrected, the product of Johansson's evil genius has finally been unleashed upon the world.

Never Ending Nightmares is paranormal, post-apocalyptic Death Metal with Grind/Punk influences that will have you sleeping with the lights on for weeks! The cover artwork was done by Adam Geyer, with inner artwork also by Adam Geyer, as well as Ironworx Gravefix and Dzul Skam. Never Ending Nightmares was recorded by Rogga Johansson and mixed/mastered by Ronnie Björnström.

Future HUMANITY DELETE albums will continue with the paranormal experiences while also adding post-apocalyptic themes into the mix for a killer combination! HUMANITY DELETE is Rogga Johansson (vocals, guitars, bass, drum programming, musical composition) with lyrics penned by Jill Girardi (Dead Beat Media) and guest guitar solos from Lasse Pyykkö (Hooded Menace). You are strongly advised to make sure that closet door is closed and to check under your bed before that play button is pushed! 

"...this debut release is like a rabid dog and teeming with a vicious assault.. there's plenty of bite to go around and Johansson is a one-man wrecking crew, probably demonically possessed by a Malaysian evil spirit to boot..."  - Blistering.com

"..Steve Buscemi shoving a hacked-off leg down a woodchipper. For whatever reason, that image manifested itself in my head thirty seconds into Never Ending Nightmares.. grind-inflected death metal done with absolute precision..Napalm Death collides with Bolt Thrower on a Swedish steel bridge of sound.. and armed with a lyrical content that digs a little deeper than most.." - Worm Gear Zine

www.facebook.com/humanitydelete 

www.reverbnation.com/humanitydelete 

www.deadbeatshop.net 

www.facebook.com/deadbeatshop 

www.twitter.com/deadbeatshop 

www.youtube.com/deadbeatshop

Cruz Del Sur Music Inks Deal With FREEDOM's REIGN Featuring ex-FATES WARNING Guitarist/Vocalist Victor Arduini

CRUZ DEL SUR MUSIC is pleased and extremely proud to have signed a deal with FATES WARNING's original guitarist and founding member Victor Arduini for the release of Arduini's new band FREEDOM'S REIGN.

FREEDOM'S REIGN marks Arduini's comeback to the Metal world since he left FATES WARNING after the release of The Spectre Within in 1985.

Keeping his original, charismatic and unmistakable guitar-style untouched, Arduini returns under the spotlights with fresh enthusiasm and dedication, producing a notable effort of true American-styled heavy metal with a classic Ozzy/Sabbath's flavor. FREEDOM'S REIGN was introduced to Cruz Del Sur by long-time friend and "occasional A&R" Tom Phillips (While Heaven Wept) who said about F.R.'s music:

"I think Freedom's Reign would be a welcome addition for anyone into classic heavy rock, early Fates fans,  those into both the recent proto-metal movement, and the wave of classic metal bands that evolved on the outer fringes of the doom scene!" 

Besides Arduini (guitar/vocals) , FREEDOM'S REIGN also consists of Tommy Vumback (Guitars), Michael Jones (Bass) and Chris Judge (Drums). 

The release of FREEDOM'S REIGN's self-titled debut is set for April 30th to celebrate the Walpurgis Night that originally influenced Fates Warning to release their Night on Bröcken debut exactly 29 years ago. 

FREEDOM'S REIGN has been active in the Connecticut metal scene since 2011. The idea behind the band's formation was to simply make some great music that returned the musicians involved to their roots and could deliver on their commitment to making some Old School Metal that would be relevant in today's scene. Expect nothing less than a true return to heavy, hard and driving Old School Metal. The band's self-titled debut was produced by Nick Belmore (Toxic Holocost/Hatebreed) at Dexters Lab in Milford, CT. 

FREEDOM'S REIGN is Victor Arduini (Ex-Fates Warning) on Vocals/Guitar, Tommy Vumback/Guitar, Mike Jones/Bass, Chris Judge/Drums.

www.freedomsreign.com

FREEDOM'S REIGN Facebook Group   

www.cruzdelsurmusic.com 

www.facebook.com/cruzdelsurmusic

Dark Descent Records To Release Debut From Finnish Death Occultists LANTERN

Finnish morbid death metallers LANTERN have completed work on their debut album, Below, which will be released this spring through Dark Descent Records on CD and vinyl formats.  Since forming in 2007, Lantern have continued to evolve their unique take on ancient death and Below is a definitive statement by a band in top form.  Thirty-eight minutes of pure stench, Below is an album that demonstrates that death's not dead.

And to the uninitiated who have yet to experience the murky depths where LANTERN dwells, Dark Descent Records has posted a promo video of the song "Revenant." Check it out at this location. 

"LANTERN is music for the all of sick minds of the world to rejoice to the beat of the death march." - Cvlt Nation 

www.lantern.dy.fi  www.facebook.com/lantern666 www.darkdescentrecords.com    www.facebook.com/DarkDescentRecords

CAULDRON CONFIRMED FOR METALLICA'S ORION FESTIVAL

Canadian heavy metal trio CAULDRON are among the latest bands to be confirmed for this year's edition of METALLICA's "Orion Music + More" festival.

The second edition of METALLICA's own festival is set to take place on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan on June 8th and 9th.  CAULDRON join a line-up that also includes the likes of RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, RISE AGAINST, DEFTONES, TOMAHAWK, DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, FU MANCHU and more.

CAULDRON vocalist and bassist JASON DECAY comments:

"I am completely full-on excited about Orion festival; it is the biggest honour to be chosen to play Metallica's own.  This is payback for all the European festivals we haven't been able to do because of the logistics involved.  We finally got on a big, huge festival close to home and we probably couldn't ask for anything better."

For more information about the festival, go to http://www.orionmusicandmore.com

See CAULDRON live at the following shows:

Apr. 12 - New York, NY - Saint Vitus *
Apr. 13 - Boston, MA - Cambridge Elks Lodge
Apr. 14 - Seymour, CT - Dewey's *
Apr. 15 - Montreal, QC - Les Foufounes Électrique *
Apr. 16 - Quebec, QC - Coop l'Agitée *
Apr. 17 - Ottawa, ON - Mavericks
Apr. 18 - Kingston, ON - The Mansion
Apr. 19 - Toronto, ON - Hard Luck *
Apr. 20 - Lansing, MI - Uli's Haus of Rock *
Apr. 21 - Chicago, IL - Reggie's *
May 02 - Nelson, BC - Spiritbar, Hume Hotel
May 03 - Vancouver, BC - Astoria
May 04 - Portland, OR - Ash Street Saloon
May 05 - Medford, OR - MusicHead
May 07 - Los Angeles, CA - 5 Star Bar
Jun. 09 - Detroit, MI - Orion Music + More festival

* with DIAMOND HEAD

CAULDRON's new album, TOMORROW'S LOST, is out now in Europe on CD and vinyl from the Earache Records webstore at http://bit.ly/e1A5Fs and on iTunes at http://bit.ly/MFZT9G

The album is due to be released in the USA via Century Media/Earache on April 30th.

Watch CAULDRON's music video for the track "Nitebreaker" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZYrPR5cr5o

Get more CAULDRON news and info at:

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/cauldronmetal
Tumblr - http://cauldronmetal.tumblr.com
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/cauldronmetal
Twitter - http://twitter.com/cauldronmetal

Forbidden Records to Release A Transylvanian Funeral's 'Gorgos Goetia' on March 20th

Twelve Rituals of Primitive Black Magick in the form of Gorgos Goetia - the new album from A TRANSYLVANIAN FUNERAL - will be offered to the international masses on March 20, 2013 for the apt sum of $6.66 from Forbidden Records, as well as iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Rhapsody, etc. and other online retailers worldwide.

On the Spring Equinox of 2009, the man known as Sleepwalker released A TRANSYLVANIAN FUNERAL's self-titled debut under his own label imprint, at the time sharing the name of his recording studio, Third Eye Audio. The Summer Solstice of 2010 saw the release of The Outsider, a dark and moody concept album loosely based around the Lovecraft story of the same name, released under the newly re-named label, Forbidden Records. Now that the Spring Equinox draws close again, the third full-length from this one-man cult will be made available.

A step in a new direction for A TRANSYLVANIAN FUNERAL, Gorgos Goetia is a staggering 72 minutes of raw and unbridled black metal magick, with no drum machines, no keyboards and minimal production values to retain the creative and improvisational style of the album. Gone are the meticulously crafted layers of guitar harmonies, replaced with primitive barre chords and haunting arpeggios. Blasting robot drum machines are cast aside as Sleepwalker's abuse of live drum dynamics dominate the recordings. The attitude is unflinching, the music unforgiving and the energy undeniably present like never before on Gorgos Goetia. Sleepwalker continues to work alone as A TRANSYLVANIAN FUNERAL, handling all the writing, recording and production of the album exclusively.

Pre-order Gorgos Goetia at this location. 

Cold Blood and Darkness

Burning Astral Hunger

Light Cast Out

The Supreme Rite of Transmutation

Fear

Mars Exalted in Capricorn

Moonchild

Percival in Black Armor

Ten of Swords

Hymn to a Gorgon

Goliath Resurrected

www.facebook.com/atransylvanianfuneral

www.forbidden-records.com

forbiddenrecords.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/forbiddenrecords

Check out more FORBIDDEN RECORDS artists by downloading this free digital compilation here:   

http://forbiddenrecords.bandcamp.com/album/forbidden-records-spring-2012 

Food for thought

   I was listening to an interview with Veronica Freeman and Graham Bonnet on the Classic Metal Show and something he said got me thinking. When asked about his future plans he said he had some voices of Rainbow shows with Joe Lynn Turner and Dougie White, he added that these are enjoyable but he detests singing Long Live Rock and Roll.
   So what percentage of bands do you reckon hate and I mean HATE playing certain songs in the set but have to anyway. I reckon the percentage is quite high not that they will ever admit it. Put youself in Brian Johnson's shoes: you are nearing 65 and are about to embark on another long tour with the same setlist night after night after night. Do you reckon he's enthusiastic about Whole Lotta Rosie or Back In Black? Not so much in my opinion. You as a fan probably get more out of certain songs then the performer, unless you are willing to travel it is a one night buzz for you and something of a chore for them. Spare time disposable income for you, a job for them.
   Tony Iommi in promoting the last Heaven and Hell release said the tour was the first time he didn't have to play Paranoid in the set because they were doing the Dio stuff only. Do you think he was relieved not to play it? Think of all those shows year after year and you are him waiting in the wings to come back on stage for the encore. Paranoid again, get out there and grin and bear it.
   I admire Iron Maiden and Metallica for constantly changing their setlist, if we as metal fans are regarded as the most loyal set of fans in the world then we should want to hear different songs. You want a greatest hits show every time? Me not so much particularly as these bands get up there in age. I want to see them play as much of everything as possible. Demand some of the lesser known songs, embrace the new stuff if it is up to par. Then you might see a performer on stage with a real smile and not a fake one.

http://pitriff.com/classic-metal-show

Richie