TOMMCKAY will unleash his new album Call To The Dæmon Sultan in February 2022. Delivering thundering metal instrumentation with ethereal orchestral soundscapes, the new album is a dynamic listening experience.
TOM comments:
“I’ve been meaning to put together a collection of songs for some time, but up until now have never had enough material I was proud of to do so. Now, after a year of writing, recording and writing again, my debut EP has brought forth the heaviest songs I’ve ever written, both musically and emotionally. Allow me to take you on a deep dive into how I view the world and myself through 3 songs of teeth cutting vocals, playful riffs and melodies, and soaring orchestral work.
He awaits at the edge of time, for the Dæmon Sultan is benign, but ever present.”
Heavier than his previous releases, the new album delves into themes of idolism, isolation, mental illness, existentialism; with special guests NATHANGROSS contributing orchestration on the title track, and LINDSAY SCHOOLCRAFT performing vocals on “The Benighted One”.
Album Credits: Written/Programmed by: TOM MCKAY Recorded by: TOM MCKAY Mixed/Mastered: TOM MCKAY
Tracklist: 1. Call To The Dæmon Sultan (1:25) 2. Dishonoured King (5:25) 3. Faith In The Faceless (6:16) 4. The Benighted One (feat. LINDSAY SCHOOLCRAFT) (8:54)
Vancouver (BC) – New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal newcomers Maule have released a new song from their forthcoming debut album. “Sword Woman” is available to stream at: youtu.be/i9E0IYetTF4
Maule will release their self-titled, full-length debut album January 14, 2022 on Gates of Hell Records (a Cruz Del Sur Music sub-label). Pre-orders are available at the following links:
A lyric video for opening track “Evil Eye” is available at: youtu.be/eB5noCcqIRM
Pure, aggressive traditional metal that captures the spirit of NWOBHM for the 21st century! On their self-titled album, Vancouver’s Maule reinvigorates the sounds of the early 1980s with a fresh, energetic twist, making it one of the year’s most exciting debuts!
More than four decades after its arrival, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) continues to inspire new musicians. Its first wave, of course, helped create thrash and laid the groundwork for the European and North American metal scenes that would take shape throughout the ensuing decade. And while Iron Maiden and Saxon emerged as the unabashed mainstays of the style, bands like Angel Witch, Blitzkrieg, Diamond Head and Tygers of Pan Tang established the core sonic tenants that now live on through bands a generation removed, including Vancouver, British Columbia’s Maule.
Formed in 2017 by rhythm guitarist/vocalist Jakob Weel and bassist Johnny Maule, Maule broke onto the scene in 2019 with their From Hell demo. The five-song offering made waves throughout the metal underground, showcasing a young band with a deft grasp on traditional metal. As it turns out, Johnny Maule and original lead guitarist Daniel Gottardo came from a classical and jazz music background, informing their unique sense of riffs, rhythms and songwriting arrangements. The momentum from the From Hell demo carried the band into 2020 when they began work on what became their eponymous debut, their first release for Gates of Hell Records.
Recorded in February 2020 at Little Red Sounds Studio with producer and engineer Michael Kraushaar, who previously manned the From Hell sessions, Maule’s self-titled debut is an nine-song realization of the band’s sound, stocked with thrash-inspired riffing, anthemic choruses, blazing leads and Weel’s sharp, biting vocal approach that capably handles aggressive and mid-tempo material. (Gottardo played all leads on the album, but has since been replaced by Justin Walker.)
Lyrically, Maule embraces the storytelling philosophy embraced throughout classic metal with tales of life and death, with additional nods to Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft. The album’s cover art was created by Dave Levi Holland and was based on a sketch from Johnny Maule.
Track Listing:
Evil Eye
Ritual
Summoner
Maule
Red Sonya
Sword Woman
Father Time
March of the Dead
We Ride
Album Line-Up: Jakob Weel – Vocals/guitars Daniel Gottardo – Lead guitars Johnny Maule – Bass Eddie Riumin – Drums
Current Line-Up: Jakob Weel – Vocals/guitars Justin Walker – Lead guitars Johnny Maule – Bass Eddie Riumin – Drums
783punx‘ ‘tape pizza boxset’ series continues and next in line will be a true gem of death metal: “Mortal” by Bay Area death metal/punk trio NECROT.
Recorded and originally released by Tankcrimes Records in 2020, the follow-up to the band’s critically adored “Blood Offerings” debut album is at once earth rupturing and memorable. Easily their most precise performance to date, “Mortal” foams at its mouth with destructive rhythms, intricate guitar leads, and guttural domination.
“Mortal” will soon be available in a 7 inch pizza box with all-over and under-the-lid artwork containing:
– cassette tape with special full-coverage UV on body print, packed in cardboard mailer with all-over artwork – 2x 783punx sticker – 2x Necrot sticker (Mortal & Sickle) – A3 Necrot Sickle poster – 8-pages booklet with all lyrics and info – Necrot Demongram enamel metal pin – Necrot Demongram backpatch
Copy number #1 goes on auction to support West Oakland Punks With Lunch – specifically requested by the band!
Punks with Lunch (PWL) is doing a lot of much-needed good. Starting as a small operation out of one person’s home, they have since expanded to a full-on warehouse for meal prep, a mobile outreach team, and a safe needle exchange program serving the homeless population of Oakland. The group provides basic necessities with a focus simply on “human kindness”.
Auction for copy number #1 is taking place on the 783punx Facebook – bids only in comments under original post! Auction starts 5/01/2022 and ends 16/01/2022 at 10GMT.
Arising from the red metal sands of Central Australia is HELL MACHINE. Equal parts Thrash and Black Metal, the deuce of Dave Hellrazor (Bass/Vocals) and Mal Machine (Drums) are a finely tuned weapon borne of searing desert heat and old-school heavy metal influence.
2018 saw the release of their first division of liturgies – Merciless Hate – before HELL MACHINE exploded onto stages, including cult underground festivals Blacken Open Air and Hell On The Bay. Congregations of crazed fans have been left wanting more ever since.
Now as 2021 closes, HELL MACHINEcome armed again with another sonic rampage in Relentless Aggression. Eighttracks expertly crafted and recorded at Pony Music in Melbourne. The new disc lays siege to the temples of hypocrisy, and night terrors to feeble happy clapping stooges. Upon closing, nothing is left but particles of the faithful.
2022 will see HELL MACHINE deploy their large-calibre assault at Steel Assassins 10 (Sydney) and Churches of Steel Festival (Adelaide). Forewarned is forearmed. Get ready to ride into the dust on power strokes of razor sharp riffs, relentless drumming and the sledgehammer attack ofthe one and only HELL MACHINE! This is the adrenaline charge that fans of blackened thrash need.
Track Listing:
Devil Spawn
She-Demon
Burn In Hell
God Is Nowhere
Gates of Hell
Lowlife
Possession
Hammer of Hate
Line-up:
Bass/Vocals: Dave Hellrazor Drums/Vocals: Mal Machine
April 07, 2022 – Orlando, FL – The Haven April 08, 2022 – Tampa, FL – Orpheum April 09, 2022 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade April 11, 2022 – Dallas, TX – Amplified Live April 12, 2022 – San Antonio, TX – Rock Box April 14, 2022 – Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater April 15, 2022 – Anaheim, CA – The Parish April 16, 2022 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Atrium at Catalyst April 18, 2022 – Portland, OR – Hawthorn Theatre April 19, 2022 – Seattle, WA – Crocodile April 20, 2022 – Vancouver, BC – The Rickshaw April 22, 2022 – Calgary, AB – Dickens April 23, 2022 – Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room April 25, 2022 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro April 26, 2022 – Colorado Springs, CO – The Black Sheep April 27, 2022 – Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater April 29, 2022 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fine Line * April 30, 2022 – Joliet, IL – The Forge * May 01, 2022 – Cleveland – Ballroom * May 02, 2022 – Detroit, MI – El Club *
Creator-Destructor Records presents Oakland, California-based melodic death metal band DARKNESSEVERYWHERE. The new act has completed production on their debut EP, The Seventh Circle, set for release in late February, today unleashing the lead single, “Reign Of Chaos,” alongside the cover art and more.
DARKNESS EVERYWHERE unites vocalist/guitarist/drummer Ben Murray, guitarist Cameron Stucky, and renowned producer engineer Zack Ohren on bass. The band formed in late 2020 with the goal of writing songs heavily influenced by the classic mid-1990s Swedish melodic death metal sound. This isn’t the individual members’ first round around the block when it comes to melodic death metal, as Murray is a founding member of Bay Area band Light This City, and Stucky is a member of symphonic melodic metal act, Crepuscle. Ohren recorded and produced all of Light This City’s albums throughout the past twenty years and continues to be one of the leading metal producers in the industry, having worked with Machine Head, All Shall Perish, and many more.
The glory years of early In Flames, At the Gates, and Dark Tranquillity are what largely inform the sound and aesthetic of DARKNESS EVERYWHERE. The core of the band is built on the feel of those legendary records, while offering a refreshing take on the no frills melodic death metal sound akin to the output of modern outfits Darkest Hour, The Haunted, and God Forbid. The band wastes no time in getting to the point of melodic death metal riffing and driving, thrashing tempos.
The Seventh Circle refers to the Dante’s Seventh Layer Of Hell, where acts of violence in life are punished in death. The endless torture inflicted upon human souls for their past sins of hatred is an all-consuming reality in the lyrical themes of the seven songs that comprise DARKNESS EVERYWHERE’s debut EP. The record was recorded in late 2020 at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, engineered and produced by Zack Ohren, and completed with cover artwork by Samuel Nelson. Additionally, The Seventh Circle features guest vocals from Laura Nichol (Light This City) on “Survival Of The Sun,” John Henry (Darkest Hour) on “The Grand Impact,” and X on “The Seventh Circle.”
The lead single from DARKNESS EVERYWHERE and The Seventh Circle, “Reign Of Chaos,” is now playing at all digital streaming services including YouTube HERE and Bandcamp HERE.
The Seventh Circle will see digital release on February 25th through Creator-Destructor – the label owned and operated by the band’s Ben Murray – with a vinyl version to follow shortly after. Find digital preorders at Bandcamp HERE.
Watch for vinyl/merch details and preorders to post alongside additional audio previews, videos, and more from the album over the weeks ahead.
The new, self-titled album from apocalyptic black/death metal project TORII is out now on CD and digital formats.
The new album sees TORII return after three years of silence, having reverted back to its original form as a solo project. With Torii, Masino continues the journey into the depths of post-metal and death/doom with a stronger focus on atmosphere. Torii released on December 17.
Though black and death metal are core elements, the basic description doesn’t quite capture the breadth of the music, colored as it is with post-metal grays and streaks of doom. TORII has created yet another masterwork of oppressive darkness and an intensity that burns continually. Artwork, lyrics, vocals, instruments, and programming on Torii were all done by Bill Masino.
Aleksander Susi (a.k.a. Aleksi Susi, i.a. ex-2wolves, ex-Scent of Flesh, Alexanred) has released his newest single and for the first time in Russian language. He has Ingrian background and in 1990, as a child, moved from Russia to Finland with his parents.
For years he has been active as a solo-artist nowadays, releasing regularly his Industrial Metal influenced music.
The latest song “Он не такой”, simply translated as “He is different”, is about a young man, a free soul, who goes his own path in his life.
UK death metal behemoths and recent Metal Blade Records signees, INGESTED, will kick off 2022 supporting Fit For An Autopsy on an extensive US Winter tour. The journey begins January 5th in Columbus, Ohio and winds through nearly three dozen cities, coming to a close on February 12th in New York City. Additional support will be provided by Enterprise Earth, Signs Of The Swarm, and Great American Ghost. See all confirmed dates below.
INGESTED w/ Fit For An Autopsy, Enterprise Earth, Signs Of The Swarm, Great American Ghost:
1/05/2022 Skully’s Music Diner – Columbus, OH 1/06/2022 The Sanctuary– Hamtramck, MI 1/07/2022 Reggies Rock Club – Chicago, IL 1/08/2022 Turf Club – St. Paul, MN 1/09/2022 Wildwood – Iowa City, IA 1/10/2022 The Royal Grove – Lincoln, NC 1/11/2022 Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO 1/12/2022 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT 1/14/2022 Dante’s – Portland, OR 1/15/2022 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 1/17/2022 Goldfield Trading Post – Sacramento, CA 1/18/2022 The Phoenix Theater – Petaluma, CA 1/19/2022 1720 – Los Angeles, CA 1/20/2022 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA 1/22/2022 Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ 1/24/2022 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX 1/25/2022 Warehouse Live – Houston, TX 1/26/2022 Gas Monkey Bar & Grill – Dallas, TX 1/27/2022 Oklahoma City Limits – Oklahoma City 1/28/2022 Growlers – Memphis, TN 1/29/2022 Red Flag – St. Louis, MO 1/30/2022 The Basement East – Nashville, TN 2/01/2022 Crowbar – Tampa, FL 2/02/2022 Respectables – West Palm Beach, FL 2/03/2022 The Haven – Winterpark, FL 2/04/2022 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA 2/05/2022 Blind Tiger – Greensboro, NC 2/07/2022 Crafthouse – Pittsburgh, PA 2/08/2022 Sound Stage – Baltimore, MD 2/09/2022 The Foundry – Philadelphia, PA 2/10/2022 The Palladium – Worcester, MA 2/11/2022 Webster Underground – Hartford, CT 2/12/2022 The Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
INGESTED was founded in 2006 in Manchester, England and has since toured extensively with Cannibal Corpse, The Black Dahlia Murder, Nile, Carnifex, Revocation, and more. The band earned Billboard chart entries in 2018 with their album The Level Above Human, including #35 Independent Albums, #16 Hard Rock Albums, and #135 on the Top 200.
The band saw chart action again with their 2020 release Where Only Gods May Tread including #4 Current Hard Music Albums, #10 Top New Artist Albums, #139 Billboard Top Albums, #15 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums, and #50 UK Independent Albums chart. With an already extensive release and touring history, INGESTED are eagerly anticipating an exciting new era as part of the Metal Blade Records roster.
“2021 wasn’t an easy year. We released new studio album “The Cult”, but we managed to play literally 3 live shows only, as our other festival appearances and the European Tour on which we were supposed to promote new album were either postponed or cancelled. So instead, we did few new studio recordings, including full #RockOutSessions recording, where we played 4 songs from “The Cult” in the live, stripped down versions. We decided to release the video version for free – it’s our way of saying thank you to all the fans who are supporting us in those weird times, who bought the new album. The same material will be later released as Side-B of our special Mini Album, which will be released in the next few months, and which will include few rather big surprises!”.
CRYSTAL VIPER’s latest studio album “The Cult”, as well as Marta Gabriel’s first solo album “Metal Queens” were released in 2021 by Listenable Records.
“Huldufólk” is the new album by Italian legendary Speed/thrash metallers CELTIC HILLS, the band continues to tell and describe their land, but the intention of this new work is to walk the road in a different way! “Huldufólk” is coming out in 2022 via ElevateRecords.
Band’s singer and guitarist Jonathan Vanderbilt reveals on the album cover artwork:
“The cover was again entrusted to Sheila Franco with the input of drawing a brighter cover, with the predominant green between the green that characterizes the MATRIX movie and the green of uncontaminated nature. A record in the balance between the enchanted world of legends, heroic deeds performed by people who wanted a better world. A record that looks to the past, projecting itself into a future to be built. A passing disc that wants to take past history with it to go further …to draw.”
The tracklisting reads the following: 1 – The Secret of the Grail 2 – Metal Message 3 – After The Eartquake 4 – Hidden Folk 5 – Green Forest 6 – Gate Of Hollow Earth 7 – Living Out Of The Egg 8 – The Sound Of Earth 9 – The Hammer Of Thor 10 – Villacher Kirktag Bonus track Words In Out (remix 2022) Living Out Of The Egg sung by Simone Cescutti
Photo-edit by Pino Magliani
The drummer Simone Cescutti after this job leaves the band to pursue a career as a singer and guitarist with his own band! So, to greet his fans, he sings a song called “Living out of the Egg”. The other texts dedicated to the history of Friuli are “After the Earthquake” which speaks of the strength and courage of the Friulian people in rebuilding the territory devastated by the earthquake of 6 May 1976. “The Gate of Hollow Earth” tells of the legends of the mountains behind the city of Pordenone where there would be a secret entrance to the hollow earth.
The album ends with the track “Villacher Kirktag” which tells of the Beer Festival in the city of Villach in Austria where every first Saturday of August Friulian boys go to party getting drunk and harassing beautiful Austrian girls! The text is sung in English with “notations” in Friulian and Austrian.
The album was produced also this time by Michele Guaitoli singer of Temperance and Vision of Atlantis in the studios of the Groove Factory in Udine and for the realization of the cover again the talented Sheila Franco.
Just recently was announced the guest guitarist, GabrielePala (Karnak, Azure Agony, Goldenseed), playing two solos in the album for the songs ‘Green Forest’ and ‘Gate of Hollow Earth’. In addition to being a very good guitarist, Gabriele is an expert connoisseur of Chapman Stick, an instrument played with the tapping technique.
Earlier Jonathan revealed on “Huldufólk”: “Again this time we will talk about Friuli, and the theory is at work that the location of the American Air Force Base Aviano is used to control an ancient access to the underground world, which has been used by the pagan gods since ancient times. The magical rites of the inhabitants of the mountains and the places where elves, fairies and gnomes once lived among the people are revealed. There are already definitive titles such as The Sound of the Earth in F sharp minor. A text tells how you can use the beneficial energy of the trees at dawn to strengthen your energies, but there will be no lack of historical events that accompany every CELTIC HILLS album.”
2021 was a very positive year for CELTIC HILLS! The reviews of the ‘Mystai Keltoy’ album have been many, published on the major world newspapers and all with an average rating of around 9.
HELLBORE, the death metal outfit striding both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, have announced their upcoming sophomore album Panopticon. Releasing in March 2022, the new record sees influences from a variety of modern death metal subgenres including technical death metal, progressive death metal, and deathcore.
“This album is a big step for us, and we are really excited for people to hear what we have put together. This has been a difficult couple of years for many people. “Panopticon” takes aim at many of these struggles, and we hope it can provide a degree of catharsis. We hope you enjoy your time listening to it as much as we enjoyed creating it.”
More information to follow soon.
HELLBORE: Charlie Munro, based in the UK, all guitars, bass, mixing and production Chris Whitby, based in New York, vocals
After a successful digital release, New Jersey melodic metal band DYING LIGHT will unleash their album Far From Life on CD on January 28, 2022.
Far From Life features 10 original songs by DYING LIGHT and 1 original song, “Mercy”, by Michael Ferentino. “The Cycle” kicks off the album and sets the tone of the project with powerful driving rhythms and epic harmonies. While The title track sees a thundering breakdown ensue amidst intricate guitar leads and a dark, dissonant chorus. The album explores a myriad of tempo changes and moods highlighting the diversity of creativity that DYING LIGHT offers. Drawing influences predominantly from music of the 1980s and ‘90s, and modernising with their own distinctive twist, Far From Life is a dynamic mix of heavy styles.
Far From Life is a powerful record delivering heavy elements with soaring melodies. It’s a display of DYING LIGHT’s passion for music aptly fusing complementary styles. Bursting with energy and a charismatic sound, Far From Life is sure to appeal to metal fans.
Swedish metal titans MESHUGGAH have been forced to postpone their US headlining tour to the Fall of 2022.
In an official statement, the band notes, “We regret to inform that MESHUGGAH will have to reschedule their US headlining tour, originally planned for early 2022, to September/October 2022. While the ongoing pandemic has been throwing various curve balls on us all the past year, ultimately delaying the completion of the upcoming MESHUGGAH studio album – there are other concerns that have forced us to make this unfortunate decision. Determining factor is the need to prioritize the physical health of one of the band members who is currently undergoing medical treatment related to a skin condition on his hands, hindering him from rehearsals and from all in all playing his instrument. While we are optimistic for his future recovery, we know it will not be possible for him and the band to be ready to perform already in February 2022.
“With these shows now moving, Converge will unfortunately no longer be able to do the tour. However, we are grateful that Torche will still be performing with us. Another special guest to replace Converge and to complete the bill is to be announced.”
Tickets for the original dates remain valid; please contact your ticket provider with any inquiries.
MESHUGGAH w/ Torche, TBA 9/16/2022 Palladium – Worcester, MA 9/17/2022 Franklin Music Hall – Philadelphia, PA 9/18/2022 Hammerstein Ballroom – New York, NY 9/20/2022 The Fillmore – Silver Springs, MD 9/24/2022 Agora Theatre – Cleveland, OH 9/25/2022 Express Live – Columbus, OH 9/27/2022 Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA 9/28/2022 Royal Oak Theatre – Detroit, MI 9/29/2022 Radius – Chicago, IL 9/30/2022 Myth Live – Minneapolis, MI 10/02/2022 Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, CO 10/04/2022 The Warfield Theatre – San Francisco, CA 10/08/2022 Riverside Municipal Auditorium – Riverside, CA 10/09/2022 Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, CA 10/10/2022 Marquee Theatre – Tempe, AZ 10/12/2022 The Factory In Deep Ellum – Dallas, TX 10/13/2022 Warehouse Live – Houston, TX 10/15/2022 Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL 10/16/2022 Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA
The Bay Area Thrash band SCARECROW will be doing their first performances in over a decade on Jan 8th at Eli’s in Oakland and Jan 9th at the Bottom of the hill in San Francisco! If you’re in the area, don’t miss it!
Melodic metal quintet UNDRASK are preparing to unleash their second studio album God Emperor in early 2022. Based out of Greensboro, North Carolina, the outfit formed in in 2013 releasing their self-titled EP in 2015 and debut LP Battle Through Time in 2017. Their upcoming sophomore album takes their sound to the next dimension.
The band comments:
“We’re pumped to finally call our second album, God Emperor, complete! We were on schedule to release about a year ago, but life had other plans. To quote Patrick Rothfuss: “When you wait a few span or month to hear a finished song, the anticipation adds savor. But after a year excitement begins to sour.” Some of you have waited patiently with us, no doubt thinking “release the damn thing already!” We understand, agree, and hope you’ll find the finished product well worth the wait!”
Packed with even more harmonies and intertwined guitars, the new album sees the appearance of orchestral elements and several talented guests. With Melodies and riffs abound, and vocals more brutal than ever, each track carries its own life and vibe.
UNDRASK is: Steve Wynn – Vocals Darryl Dewitt – Guitars Erik Collier – Guitars Daniel McCoy – Bass Aaron Schimmel – Drums
Finnish metal band Justice Theory is happy to announce that they will release a new EP “BEATEN WILL RISE” on Spring 2022. And now here they give you a first taste of their upcoming EP. Song titled “FIGHT UNTIL YOU DIE!” is OUT NOW on music services world wide! Cover artwork is created by Petri Lampela.
Vocalist and guitar player Valtteri states: “This song is ultimate power straight from the heart! After emotional and low-tempo song Fade Into the Night, I wanted to make a song that really hypes you up and makes you move. For me, lyric-wise this song is about two themes. First theme is standing together whatever comes to our way. Trust between brothers, and not giving up until you’ve given your everything ties it up really well. We should always remember that we are not alone in this world. Bond between humans can be stronger than we even realize, particularly when it comes to a matter of life and death. Another theme is that we always manage to find a way for rising up after being beaten down. When you’re at the bottom, it just gives you a moment for rise again…”
Above photo: L to R: Matt Bachand (bass) & Chris Broderick (guitar)
Hey everybody, Stone here! I went to see Act Of Defiance at Oddbody’s in Dayton Ohio, back on June 16th of 2016. Accompanying me was Robert (Rob) Nickell; an old friend of mine and professional photographer. All of these fabulous concert photos featured in this post are credited to Rob.
Not appearing in a photo here is the legendary drummer Shawn Drover. Trust me, Shawn was creating plenty of thunder behind his drum kit on that night! Shawn is also an ex-member of MEGADETH.
Yes, 2016. How or why it took me over 5 years to finally publish these photos of such an amazing Metal supergroup? Regardless, I’ve rediscovered them in the Metal Odyssey archives and they’re to be enjoyed now and forever! Thank you Act Of Defiance for killing it on that night! Thank you, Robert Nickell for the camera talent!
Above photo: Chris Broderick / guitarist
I remember this concert being high octane! Chris Broderick shredded on guitar and played to the crowd with his constant smiles of appreciation. A true thrill it was for me, to see such a legendary Metal guitarist so close up! Yes, I was psyched outta my mind that night!
Above: Chris Broderick gives back the horns to his fans. Chris also is an ex-member of world-class Metal bands: Jag Panzer, Nevermore and MEGADETH.
On this tour, Act Of Defiance were out supporting their debut studio album: BirthAndTheBurial. This album was released back in August of 2015, via Metal Blade Records. I highly recommend both studio albums that Act Of Defiance created! Their second album was released back in 2017, titled: OldScars, NewWounds (Metal Blade Records).
Above: Henry Derek (vocalist). Henry is also an ex-member of Thrown Into Exile and Scar The Martyr.
Vocalist Henry Derek was outstanding! He was a thrill to see and hear live! Henry is an underrated Metal vocalist and that’s my Metal fact for the day.
Above: Matt Bachand (bassist) – Matt is also a founding member, rhythm guitarist and clean vocalist for the mighty Shadows Fall.L to R: yours truly aka Stone & bass player Matt Bachand
Ex-Intergalactic warlords cloned from the evil cosmic conquer Colonel Roach to better fulfil his crusade of universal dominance, have successfully concealed their identity as the crossover thrash metal band, FULLMINATOR. Having escaped through a prototype dimensional portal called the Nexus, they appeared in the streets of Puerto Rico in the year 2016 and have remained ever since.
“We at FULLMINATOR want to present to you our latest single “Cyberpathic” all the way from the year 2078, punch deck and get ahead of the simulation!”
The new single, “Cyberpathic”, was inspired by the cyberpunk aesthetic and themes of William Gibson’s Neuromancer and The Matrix trilogy. A mash-up of fictional and factual political theories is paired up with the melodic fun, along with the style of the streets of Chiba City and the fast pace of a speed-fuelled run through cyberspace. “Cyberpathic” explodes into life with energetic instrumentation, delicious distortion and powerful percussion.
FULLMINATOR are a powerhouse of hard-hitting metal with a galactic twist. Effects and electronics emerge through the immense thrash sound adding a theatrical punch of personality. If you were born before 2000 you may catch the throwback to the early era of the internet. Intricate guitar leads, aggressive vocals and utter full-throttle enthusiasm makes for a thrilling listening experience.
FULLMINATOR deliver an epic fusion of sci-fi, speed and sheer creativity. The outfit have produced a release that will appeal to thrash lovers and space travellers alike. It’s loud, with a pace close to lightspeed and utterly fun.
Imagine blending the early frenzy of System Of A Down, the heaviness of Slipknot, and the explosive energy of Social Distortion in a Mexican setting and multiply it tenfold and you might come close to the rabid intensity that is 8 KALACAS (spoken: “Ocho Kalacas”). Not so much an ordinary band than it is a tidal wave of bristling energy, hard-hitting music, and biting social commentary, this Californian skacore collective is set on conquering the world with their astounding musical exorcism.
Today, Atomic Fire Records is proud to announce the signing of 8 KALACAS. To celebrate their union with the label, the band presents “R2rito,” the first single off of their upcoming new album Fronteras set for release on March 25th, 2022.
“This song is for all the people who are tired of the same routine day-in and day-out. We become robotic slaves to industry and the casualty of it all is our ambition. There will never be growth in a system designed for clockwork obedience,” comments Choriz, the man behind the trumpet.
Additionally, 8 KALACAS recently signed a management deal with Dez Fafara (Devildriver, Coal Chamber), who is COO and founding partner of the Oracle Managament (Cradle Of Filth, Jinjer, The 69 Eyes etc.) along with his wife and CEO Anahstasia Fafara. “When I was approached by 8 KALACAS to manage I was sent songs and immediately knew there was something special about this music,” recalls Dez Fafara. “The combination of heavy metal, done in punk rock fashion with a ska twist and a horn section… you would have to be blind to not see the special combination of influences the band was mashing up! Then I caught them live and couldn’t believe how out of control the crowd was, how tight the band was, and how special this whole vibe surrounding them is. I was in!”
“This is the coolest and hottest shit out there,” says Atomic Fire Records CEO and founder Markus Wosgien. “The first thing that I heard and saw after Dez and Anahstasia introduced us to the band, was the video clip for ‘R2rito,’ which completely blew me away. What an energy and what a damn unique mix! This had to be the first single and I want everyone out there to experience the same. Enjoy this aggressive chunk and prepare yourself for some more hits on the same level. This band is the future! Once you get into them, you will be addicted!”
Formed in Orange County in 2003, the fertile soil of extremity that also brought us Social Distortion and Avenged Sevenfold, 8 KALACAS are the harbingers of a new era. After establishing their unique brand of metallic hardcore, ska, and traditional Mexican elements in California and the rest of the Divided States, the massive seven-piece brotherhood is ready to take on the rest of the world. Fronteras, their third full-length and first for brand-new label Atomic Fire Records, is a curveball for the rest of the international metal/hardcore scene: An album so fierce and unique you simply can’t resist succumbing to the thundering grooves, malicious riffs, and infectious trumpet/trombone madness they so vigorously unleash like there’s no tomorrow.
And maybe there isn’t. Recorded in winter 2019 in Los Angeles, Fronteras is an album fit for times like these; a musical indictment of everything that goes wrong in this world. “This album is real life,” says the band. “It’s what’s happening now in our country and in many other countries. A lot of people leave behind their families, their loved ones, their security to come and try to make a new life just to discover that it was never that easy. Many people have lived and died for a dream they couldn’t achieve because they didn’t have the right documents or because they didn’t come from the right families, and we feel that because it can happen to so many of our brothers and sisters on this planet for bullshit borders that are just imaginary lines dividing us.”
8 KALACAS is well aware of California’s underbelly, the other side of beaches, sunshine, and shady glamour. “We see it every day in the streets. There are homeless people living under bridges while hundreds of buildings remain empty throughout the city. We see businesses and politicians make decisions that affect millions of people while their jobs are safe, and their security is stable. This country is filled with class division, racial division, sexist division and you don’t have to go far to see that reality.”
This is why 8 KALACAS is taking up their instruments as their arms: To smash those borders and to remind us that there is more uniting that separating us. “We sing about the literal borders that so many countries enforce, that keep humans separated and discriminated against. But we also sing about the borders in our head that keep us from being happy or that keep us from believing that we are worthy people capable of doing more than what society tells us we can do.”
More a family than a band, the 8 KALACAS tribe is welcoming everyone into their ranks who shares their values and their passion for music. “We love sharing that with anyone who’s willing to be a part of our family and we hope that family continues growing.”
It will. The energy level on Frontera is so high it will turn any fan of extreme and extremely uplifting music into an ecstatically banging, moshing, jumping or dancing dervish. “People see us and listen to us when they want to relieve their frustrations, when they want to celebrate their happiness, or just to share a night or a feeling they have. They keep us moving forward and we do not plan on letting them down.”
Taking their Latin roots and their Californian upbringing and ingeniously warping the two into this behemoth of an album, 8 KALACAS truly bring something new and exciting to the table. “More than anything it demonstrates to us that nothing is impossible,” the band says of their wild musical ride. “We started as a garage band and now we’re living a dream that many people thought was impossible. We did that by blending together the sounds that influenced us throughout our lives and creating this world of Latin skacore. It’s an honor to be able to represent our communities and have the opportunity to share those musical traditions to the world in our own way.”
Influenced by the Mariachi and Cumbia traditions of Mexico while also being true children of a globalized world, 8 KALACAS stand for a new era in rock and metal music. It’s music for anyone who feels at home in these intoxicating tunes. Hence their bandname, with “calaca” meaning “skull” in Spanish. “No matter who you are, the color of your skin, the type of people you love, what god you believe in, the poverty, or the wealth: when you die the only thing left is the fucking Kalaca.” In death at least we are united… or, if we don’t wanna wait that long, in this fiery phenomenon called 8 KALACAS.
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