“We want to thank all of you who have contributed to the splendour and ruthless victory that marked the release of The Wild Hunt. Those who attended the opening ceremony in Uppsala, who bought the album, who respectfully wrote or in any other way expressed their appreciation for it, who came with gifts and tokens of gratitude, who spread the word and lit new fires across the world.
And so the gates have once again been opened, within and without. A long and winding road lies ahead of us now, and where it will lead we do not yet know. But we look forward to join forces with all of you deathfiends, sons of hades, daughters of the night, outlaws and Wataniacs, who know as well as we that this hunt shall darken the few pages of history that remain…
For night has fallen upon the earth now, but the many fires that were lit at the dawn of this new era can be seen from far away, from beyond the borders of the world, where hungry eyes are ever watching…
Candlelight Records has confirmed October 22 as the North American release date for Das Seelenbrechen, the fifth solo album from IHSAHN. Das Seelenbrechen will be available on compact disc, a limited edition digibook (with expanded graphics and liner notes), and double 180-gram clear vinyl. Pre-orders are set to launch via online and physical retail outlets beginning September 10.
Das Seelenbrechen is a bold and adventurous recording that is a musical contrast to the progressive shades and saxophone augmentations of the former Emperor vocalist/guitarist’s previous two albums (2009’s After and 2011’s Eremita). The recording exists in an entirely unfamiliar sonic world as IHSAHN draws upon his most esoteric influences, fully embracing the spirit of the avant-garde. Comprising ten vivid but disparate explorations in sound that range from bittersweet electronica to deranged and feral improvisation, Das Seelenbrechen is every bit as dark and destructive as the artist’s previous work but is far more disorienting and disturbing than anything he has attempted in his past.
“Musically, this album is a very deliberate sidestep to what I have been doing; a necessity to reset the creative parameters so not to fall into formula,” shares IHSAHN. “I think I do my best work slightly outside of my comfort zone and I’ve wanted to do something like this for a long time. Free form and improvisational can be scary for a musician but it is very liberating at the same time.”
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Recorded at his own studio in Norway in collaboration with drummer Tobias Ornes Anderson (Leprous), Das Seelenbrechen courageously eschews traditional metal instrumentation in favor of a limitless textural landscape that evokes the freewheeling spirit of artists like Diamanda Galas, Scott Walker, and John Zorn. In discussing the album IHSAHN notes, “even though my music has changed over the years, I feel there is a source of inspiration at the bottom of it all that is constant. The general idea for this album was to try and dig deep into this raw source and express it without too much refinery and do so within a less familiar musical landscape. It is the reason for several purely improvised songs and parts on this album. I spontaneously performed with just lyrics and the idea of the atmosphere I was wishing to create. While many will feel it sounds different, I don’t think it is necessarily different from my previous album. And in my head, it will fit in perfectly with my plans for the sixth album.”
Das Seelenbrechen takes its name from Nietzche’s famed Human, All Too Human: A Book of Free Spirits. Writings by the 19th century philosopher and other historical figures have often found their way into IHSAHN‘s songwriting. “The title is taken from one of his aphorisms on art and how, in its purest form, is neither good nor bad,” says IHSAHN. The album’s abstract packaging, again conceived by Spanish graphic artist Ritxi Ostariz, embraces the aphorisms essence.
Few artists in modern heavy music have created such an extraordinary and unique body of work as IHSAHN. Having refined and redefined black metal with the now legendary Emperor, Norway’s foremost musical extremist has spent the last decade establishing himself as a fearless and wildly idiosyncratic solo artist. “Of all my albums, my goals for this one have been the most abstract. I’ve had quite a rollercoaster ride putting it together but now that it is done I must say I am very pleased.”
Legendary Brazilian Metal icons SEPULTURA have revealed the cover artwork and track listing for the band’s forthcoming album, The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart, which is set for European release on October 25th via Nuclear Blast. The artwork was created by Brazilian artist Alexandre Wagner, who specializes in charcoal drawing techniques.
In preparing the statements below, SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser & artist Alexandre Wagner collaborated with Brazilian journalist EmanuelLeite, Jr. to gather their thoughts.
Here, Kisser reveals how he discovered the work of Alexandre Wagner:
“It was an indication of Silvio Bibika, who was my roadie for a long time. He always shows me things in general that SEPULTURA might need. He told me about Alexandre – who is from Belo Horizonte [in Brazil, where SEPULTURA was founded] – a year ago. So before we went to the United States to record the album, I was at his house to talk about the cover, tell him the album title, and talk about the concept of the film Metropolis so he could do something original. But when I saw the picture with the drawing, I thought it was all about what we wanted and we did not need something new. I also asked him to do a tribal ‘S’ in the cover’s style, which will be on the back cover.”
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Album artist Alexandre Wagner comments on his creation:
“This series of work in charcoal drawing [for the album] I did when I still lived in Belo Horizonte. They were all made there and are quick drawings without much reference, almost an experimentation that may have come from a desire to use the most basic of basic materials – coal, paper and wood. The cover design was ready, Andreas saw and liked it. We talked a little more and I also sent some other pictures for the booklet. I was pleased with the choice of the theme of the album; I like [Austrian filmmaker] Fritz Lang very much and not to mention only Metropolis, but Dr. Mabuse der Spieler [Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler, Lang’s 1922 film] is a fucking movie!”
A fellow Mineiro from Belo Horizonte, Alexandre is glad to be part of SEPULTURA’s history.
“It’s impossible being from Belo Horizonte and not know the band,” he says. “Some of their albums followed me for a long time, especially [1993’s] Chaos A.D.. I remember seeing Refuse/Resist on TV and thinking that was wonderful. It’s really cool to work with the guys, being part of something together. It is somehow a shared history.”
10. Da Lama Ao Caos (Chico Science & Nação Zumbi cover)
The Mediator Between Head And Hands Must Be The Heart was recorded with renowned producer Ross Robinson (KORN, MACHINE HEAD, FEAR FACTORY), who worked with SEPULTURA on their landmark 1996 release Roots, and co-produced by Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SYMPHONY X, INCANTATION), who previously worked on SEPULTURA’s Roorback (2003), the Revolusongs EP (2002), and Nation (2001).
KISS – Four tales featuring the individual fantasy persona of KISS on solo adventures are collected in this trade paperback.
The Four-Who-Are-One go it alone! The Demon, Starchild, Celestial, and Catman each get the spotlight shined on them in four individual tales by writers Chris Ryall and Tom Waltz, who are joined by artists Angel Medina, Tone Rodriguez, and Alan Robinson.
The KISS SOLO paperback is in stores everywhere now!
Today Portland punk metal assailants, TOXIC HOLOCAUST, disclose the official track listing of their forthcoming Chemistry of Consciousness full-length. Delivering 11 tracks of riotous animosity,Chemistry Of Consciousness was recorded by the band, mixed with Kurt Ballou (Converge) at GodCity Studio and mastered by Brad Boatright (Sleep, From Ashes Rise, Nails) at Audiosiege Engineering.
A perfect marriage of punk angst and metal guitar hooks, Chemistry Of Consciousness is the sound of Discharge on speed, Slayer with a punk rock chip on its shoulder, The Exploited on a Metallica overdose. TOXIC HOLOCAUST quite literally implode under the weight of their own debaucherous heaviness. Earnest, fast and maniacally catchy, Joel Grind and company have crafted what is inarguably their most crushing album of their career. Recommended for devout followers of Municipal Waste, DRI, Sodom, Midnight, GBH and the like.
Check out the Chemistry of Consciousness album trailer below:
Chemistry of Consciousness – Track Listing:
1. Awaken the Serpent
2. Silence
3. Rat Eater
4. Salvation is Waiting
5. Out of the Fire
6. Acid Fuzz
7. Deny the Truth
8. Mkultra
9. I Serve…
10. International Conspiracy
11. Chemistry of Consciousness
Chemistry Of Consciousness will detonate in North America on October 29 (October 25 in Benelux/DE/Finland and October 28 in UK/World) on CD, LP, digitally and deluxe “Toxic” glow in the dark vinyl. Preorder packages are available now. Point your browser below:
Inside the most eagerly awaited hard rock album of the year! After a yearlong hiatus during which they healed from the death of The Rev and put their lineup back in order, Avenged Sevenfold come back stronger than ever with Hail to the King, their new hard rock-infuenced album.
Also in this issue, the guitarists of Mastodon, Children of Bodom, Five Finger Death Punch, Amon Amarth and other Mayhem Festival acts share their unadulterated responses to our annual metal survey.
ANNIHILATOR – The 14th studio album from Canadian Thrash Metal warriors, ANNIHILATOR, will be released in the U.S. via UDR Music, on September 3rd, 2013! Metal and guitar legend Jeff Waters has his band back on full-throttle again, with 9 new killer tracks!
In Europe and UK, you can order ANNIHILATOR FEAST using the link below! Whoa!
* ANNIHILATOR FEAST will be available on Amazon, f.y.e. and iTunes (U.S.) on September 3rd!
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ANNIHILATOR FEAST – Track Listing:
1. Deadlock
2. No way Out
3. Smear Campaign
4. No Surrender
5. Wrapped
6. Perfect Angel Eyes
7. Demon Code
8. Fight The World
9. One Falls, Two Rise
The deluxe ECO-book version features a 15-song Bonus CD of re-recorded ANNIHILATOR Thrash Classics, with a 3D cover!! Metal be thy name!! Here’s the track listing:
Fun Palace, Alison Hell, King Of The Kill, Never, Neverland, Set The World On Fire, Welcome To Your Death W.T.Y.D., Nozone, Bloodbath, 21, Stonewall, Ultra Motion, Time Bomb, Refresh The Demon, Word Salad, Brain Dance
As Germany’s heroes of true heavy metal, ATLANTEAN KODEX, prepare to proudly unveil their sophomore LP, The White Goddess (A Grammar Of Poetic Myth), today the first full single from the epic new opus is playing at Revolver Magazine; the mammoth eleven-minute “Sol Invictus (With Faith and Fire).”
Founding guitarist Manuel Trummer states of the magnificent tune: “‘Sol Invictus’ takes you on a trip through the dark underbelly of European folklore to a realm of fertility cults, fire-worship and corn-demons, older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than dreaming Sumer and mankind itself. Now grab a beer, turn the volume to 11 and bang your head like a man possessed.”
Arm yourself and meet us for the ceremonial unleashing of the mighty “Sol Invictus (With Faith and Fire)” at Revolver HERE:
The band has also compiled a shortened/edited video for “Sol Invictus,” which can be seen below:
The White Goddess (A Grammar Of Poetic Myth) will see stateside release on CD on October 1st, with the mammoth 2xLP version to follow shortly after. Outside of North America, Germany’s Ván Records will disburse the vinyl edition while Italy’s Cruz Del Sur will handle the CD release.
Self-described as falling somewhere between Twilight of the Gods-era Bathory, early Ross The Boss-era Manowar and other classic US bands like Fates Warning, Cirith Ungol and Warlord, ATLANTEAN KODEX retains a singular modernity and heaviness via their incredible production and recording technique, and through singer Markus Becker, who has the naturally blessed pipes to rival the best heavy metal vocalists past or present. There is no irony or pretense going on in their music; ATLANTEAN KODEX plays deeply reverent and devoted metal with an emphasis on superior, timeless songcraft. Continuing on 2010’s universally praised The Golden Bough, ATLANTEAN KODEX has built upon their sound to achieve an album like no other released in 2013.
Many bands and labels lay claim to the word “epic” to describe a particular band’s sound but on The White Goddess, their name becomes synonymous with the term in a way very bands ever manage. Drawing from traditional heavy metal, doom and Norse metal influences, The White Goddess achieves the bands strongest songwriting, lyrics, vocal performance and production yet, already nearly without equal on their previous LP.
Stay tuned for further international release and tour updates on ATLANTEAN KODEX in the coming weeks.
Joseph M. LaCaze, New Orleans native and drummer for EyeHateGod, Mystick Krewe of Clearlight and Outlaw Order, passed away on August 23rd in New Orleans after a very successful five-week UK and European tour with EyeHateGod. He also performed ceremonial voodoo drumming in numerous solo experimental electronics projects. Doctors confirmed to family members that the cause of death was respiratory failure. He also suffered from long-term asthma.
An account is set up for the benefit of his daughter Lilith LaCaze. Checks can be made payable to the Lilith LaCaze or Joseph LaCaze donation fund at any Capital One Bank in any city.
We at Earsplit join the fans around the globe in mourning this tragic loss, and extend our sincerest sympathies to Joey’s family, friends and band mates. He will forever be remembered. Rest in peace.
Swedish Death Metal brutes OVERTORTURE will invade Germany next week for a series of shows dubbed the “At the End the Dead Await Tour 2013.” The action kicks off on September 7th in Mannheim with FLESHCRAWL, REVELIN FLESH and RAW.
OVERTORTURE – At the End the Dead Await Tour 2013:
9/07 @ 7er Club – Mannheim, Ger. w/ Fleshcrawl, Revel In Flesh & RAW
OVERTORTURE released their debut, At the End the Dead Await, to critical acclaim in January of this year via Apostasy Records. Selections from the record and ordering information can be found at http://www.apostasyrecords.com.
Featuring veteran players from GRAVE, COLDWORKER, DEMONICAL, and INSISION, it will come as no surprise that with At the End the Dead Await OVERTORTURE has created a work of overwhelming brutality, tempered only by a penchant for melody. Self-produced by the band and mixed/mastered by Ola Englund (SIX FEET UNDER), the album is made complete with the artwork of Gustav Germann (Guger Art) who has also worked with HAIL OF BULLETS and VOMITORY. Recommended for fans of BLOODBATH, GRAVE, VOMITORY, and BOLT THROWER.
OVERTORTURE – BAND BIO:
Overtorture formed in 2011 by Magnus Martinsson, Joel Fornbrant, Fredrik Widigs and Jonas Torndal, known from bands like Grave, Coldworker, Demonical and Witchery with the mission to deliver diverse Death Metal with both melody and brutality! Songs quickly came together and demos of some neck-breaking songs were put into final form in late 2011.
In March 2012 the band tapped Andreas Hemmander who’s an old friend and former band mate (Bloodride) of Magnus as second guitarist, and the line-up was finally complete. Shortly after the band signed a world-wide deal with Apostasy Records and started recording the debut album At the Endthe Dead Await.
Photo Credit: Gustaf Sandholm
OVERTORTURE Is:
Joel Fornbrant (Vocals)
Magnus Martinsson (Guitars)
Andreas Hemmander (Guitars)
Jonas Torndal (Bass)
Fredrik Widigs (Drums)
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CRITICAL PRAISE:
“Overtorture displays a lot more than most death metal bands coming out these days.” – Wicked Channel
“These dudes kill the mid-tempo death metal style, but also tear it up with some well dropped blasts. This record combines a nice mix of old school Swedish death with some new school slamming and some proper slow doom parts. The end result is a grooving piece of death metal for modern metalheads and old schoolers alike to rip to pieces.” – November 24th Spawned A Monster
“…At the End the Dead Await is worth hearing if you’re a fanatic for old bands like Grave and Seance, or more recent devotees like Feral, Mr. Death, Entrails, Corpsessed, etc.” – From the Dust Returned
Aug. 27, 2013, Philadelphia – Baroness has unveiled a live video for “March To The Sea” via Vevo (http://youtu.be/m3UgeEbI028), which was filmed at the Union Transfer in singer/guitar player John Baizley’s adopted hometown of Philadelphia.
The four-minute clip, which opens with the enthusiastic crowd chanting “welcome back” to the obviously emotional band, highlights Baroness’ first live performance following the well-documented accident that left the band members severely injured.
Baroness has been on the road steadily since May, having performed at several festivals including Bonnaroo, Orion Music + More, Lollapalooza and most recently FYF Fest. Entertainment Weekly described the band’s Lollapalooza performance as “a volcanic eruption of thick riffs, spry solos, and wicked vocal bellows” while Rolling Stone’s FYF Fest review highlighted Baroness’ “feats of stunning metal artistry.” The band wraps up their North American tour dates on Sept. 6 at KISW’s Pain in the Grass before heading to Europe in late September as well as trekking to Australia in February for the Soundwave Festival.
FOR A COMPLETE BARONESS TOUR SCHEDULE, CLICK ON LINK BELOW:
Northern hyperblast kings KATAKLYSM from Canada know one thing for sure: to stay in the game you have to work hard continuously!
So these guys keep releasing awe-inspiring extreme metal albums regularly and seem to be on the road pretty much the rest of the time.
After the release of their latest studio album “Heaven’s Venom” (2010) and the massive anniversary live package “Iron will” (2012), their highly anticipated new record “Waiting for the end to come” will see the light of day on October 25, 2013 and it’s surely going to butcher the competition, once again.
Above: Eliran Kantor cover artwork
Above: Peter Sallai cover artwork
KATAKLYSM guitaristJean-Francois Dagenais helmed the production of this upcoming masterpiece of brutality and melody once more, while legend Zeuss (SUFFOCATION, HATEBREED and many more) took care of the mixing. The artwork by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, HATEBREED) will be featured on the deluxe digipak and LP versions of their new album and the cover by Peter Sallai, who is known for his artworks done for SABATON, will be featured on the standard jewel case and limited edition cassette tape versions.
Check out this trailer previewing Peter Sallai´s cover and some brand new KATAKLYSM tunes below:
And KATAKLYSM wouldn’t be KATAKLYSM if they hadn’t already mapped out the next tour – they`ll embark on a European headlining run in January and February 2014 which marks their first tour on the old continent in almost 3 years, so all fans better buckle-up for this full-blown Death Metal onslaught which is about to gut Europe.
“It’s been almost three years since our last club tour in Europe and we are so excited to come back and blow off the roof of every club next January & February. We’ve built an album that will stand the test time and will need many headbangers, body surfers and mosh pits to give it justice and we are building a special show that you will never forget. This time, after almost a decade we have decided to tour the UK as well, after seeing the reactions at this years Bloodstock Open Air. There’s no doubt it’s time to come destroy. Raise your pints!” – Maurizio Iacono/KATAKLYSM
Supporting them will be Brazilian Death Metal veterans KRISIUN, who are working on their new and yet untitled album. FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE are also part of the billing and pose a special treat for sure! They mix brutal tech death with symphonic, opera-like arrangements. Their third album “Labyrinth” just came out.
WAITING FOR THE END TO COME PART 1: EUROPEAN TOUR 2014
Presented by Metal Hammer, Legacy, Musix, Noizeletter, Metal.de, Metallian, BLAST!
LUX Releasing On September 10th, Via Warner Bros. Records
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GEMINI SYNDROME – Pre-order their full-length debut album on Warner Bros Records, LUX — and see the full track listing. Get it at http://geminisyndrome.com/ and spread the word to your friends by sharing.
Click below to join the LUX pre-order Facebook event! Spread the syndrome by inviting your friends to the event and encouraging them to pre-order LUX.
On May 2nd and 3rd, 2014 DORO will celebrate her “30 Years – Strong & Proud” Anniversary with 2 special shows in her hometown of Düsseldorf, Germany. A party you do NOT want to miss!
DORO says: “The first night will be classic with an orchestra – as the fans got to know and love it ten years ago through the Classic Diamonds-Tour. The second night will be a Full-Power Rock show with all Highlights from 30 years of DORO and several special guests, who accompanied me in the course of my career.”
The Relexa-Hotel at Düsseldorf-Airport is partner hotel to the DORO Shows in Düsseldorf and is now offering rooms from 84€ (incl. Breakfast and Shuttle-Service) for fans from around the world. Booking and Info available at: http://www.relexa-hotel-duesseldorf.de/ — at Congress Center Düsseldorf (CCD).
RAISE YOUR FIST Is OUT NOW WORLDWIDE via Nuclear Blast Records.
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM along with HIRAX will be embarking on a massive European tour beginning this October! The Metal Apocalypse Tour 2013! Both of these Thrash Metal legends together! Metal be thy name!
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Flotsam & Jetsam + HIRAX + supports
13.10 – Brno (Cze) “Melodka Klub”
14.10 – Warsaw (Pol) “Progresja”
15.10 – Katowice (Pol) “Mega Club”
16.10 – Ljubljana (Slo) “Gala Hala”
17.10 – TBA
18.10 – Brescia (Ita) “Colony Club”
19.10 – Rome (Ita) “INIT club”
20.10 – Bologna (Ita) “ZR Club”
21.10 – Toulouse (Fra) “TBA”
22.10 – Madrid (Spa) “Sala Arena”
23.10 – Barcelona (Spa) “Apollo 2”
24.10 – Montpellier (Fra) “Secret Place”
25.10 – Rennes (Fra) “Festival”
26.10 – TBA
27.10 – Dendermonde (Bel) “JH Zenith”
28.10 – Rushden (UK) “Athletic Club”
29.10 – Wolverhampton (UK) “Wulfrun Hall”
30.10 – London (UK) “The Garage”
31.10 – Eindhoven (Hol) “Effennar”
01.11 – TBA
02.11 – Bochum (Ger) “Matrix”
Click the link below for a complete list of tour updates and other essential tour info:
PHANTOM 13 – Columbus is the capital and largest city in the grand state of Ohio. Columbus is also home to PHANTOM 13. This Horror Punk band has a rabid following and rightfully so; for PHANTOM 13 delivers the Horror and Shock with quality written original songs to scare the hell out of you. No Shock Rock fan of Misfits, Danzig, Wednesday 13, Balzac or even Rob Zombie should ignore the frightening and contagious sound of PHANTOM 13.
Take a listen and look below to the official music video for PHANTOM 13’s Voices Of The Dead; the first single from their Out For Blood CD. Voices OfThe Dead ROCKS, tears apart tranquility and tells of unspeakable truths of speaking to the dead. Beware… there’s nowhere to hide or run to… your time has run out, cause…
Voices Of The Dead Is Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day! Metal be thy name!
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* Purchase PHANTOM 13 merch by clicking links below!
On vinyl for the first time, Katatonia’s classic 1997 EP Sounds of Decay was recorded at Stockhom’s Sunlight Studios and featured Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt on vocals.
Sounds of Decay was seen as a perfect companion piece to the band’s sublime 1996 breakthrough album, Brave Murder Day (a masterpiece of hypnotic, melodic Doom Metal melancholy).
The EP is presented on 10″ 100gm vinyl, includes the bonus track Untrue, and new liner notes from guitarist/founder member Anders Nystrom.
The dark progressive/power metal project EPYSODE returns with its sophomore album Fantasmagoria on October 11th.
The successor to “Obsessions” (2011) was mixed and mastered by JacobHansen at Hansen studio in Denmark (Volbeat, Pretty Maids, Amaranthe a.m.m.)
Beside band leader Samuel Arkan, the following vocalists and musicians contributed to “Fantasmagoria”:
Tom S. Englund (Evergrey)
Henning Basse (Melium, Uli Jon Roth)
Ida Haukland (Triosphere)
Matt Marinelli (Borealis)
Tezzi Persson (Between The Silence)
Mike LePond (Symphony X)
Léo Margarit (Pain Of Salvation)
Julien Spreutels (Ethernity)
Simone Mularoni (DGM)
The quite unusual thing is that all these guests came to the Noise Factory studio (Belgium) to track down their parts. Nobody recorded his/her parts at home, like with some many other projects.
“I wanted the whole thing to get a real “band” feeling”, Arkan says. “Therefore having all vocalists and musicians here was very important to me. We got to know each other better and better while spending time together. The new material sounds very fresh, dark, heavy, modern and “true” with “straight in the face” guitar riffs, intense voices and melodies, massive work on progressive atmospheres and orchestral parts. All the artists who participated in this album gave their soul to it, gave their best, they travelled deeper into sensitivity and sincerity. That’s probably the best words which define “Fantasmagoria”… sincerity & spontaneity ! This album comes from the heart of each musician and vocalist who worked on it, and you can feel it when you listen to this new EPYSODE album.”
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
Metal Odyssey's Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall of Fame! These Are The Rock And METAL Legends Wrongfully Ignored By "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
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