"The Grave Digger", originally released in 2001, was the 10th studio album by the band around mastermind Chris Boltendahl. Because of the songs based on stories by Edgar Allen Poe, it is considered the darkest work in the band's discography. "The Grave Digger" was also the first album with ex rage guitarist Manni Schmidt. "A thoroughly good heavy metal album with great production and a really brilliant guitar sound. (Music reviews)" Here comes the new edition of the sought-after classic in high-quality digipak and on vinyl. For the first time, the new edition also contains exclusive liner notes, written by Chris Boltendahl.
The flagship US metallers around the exceptional guitarist Paul Konjicija (also ANTITHESIS), who unfortunately left us last year, made his debut with this work in 2006. Back then, Chris Thomas played bass and Emery Ceo on drums. DARK ARENA was none other than Juan Ricardo (RITUAL, SUNLESS SKY, WRETCH). Juan Ricardo sang "Alien Factor" exactly in the style of old RITUAL. A circumstance that was favored by the break-through song material. The US metal riffing was also enveloped by a slight keyboard note by Rhiannon Wisniewski. "Alien Factor" is simply a piece of jewelry from US Metal from the first decade of the new millennium. Followers from FATES WARNING to LEVIATHAN should also turn to the work in 2020 if it is currently being re-released by "Pure Steel Records".
On June 5th, Mercyful Fate will release new CD and LP versions of their classics Melissa, Don't break the Oath and Mercyful Fate via Metal Blade Records. The vinyl editions are in spinesleeve format with insert and a download card. The CDs come as a mini vinyl replica with hardcover gatefold sleeve, poster insert with lyrics and CD in vinyl look. King Diamond explains: "These are not remastered, the albums are exactly as they were originally, directly from the original production masters. They contain all the dynamics as they were put on the tape at the time. I am therefore very happy about the Make the recordings available to fans in their original condition! "
On June 19, Mercyful Fate will release new CD and LP versions of their classics The Beginning and Return of the Vampire via Metal Blade Records. The vinyl editions are in spinesleeve format with insert and a download card. The CDs come as a mini vinyl replica with hardcover gatefold sleeve, poster insert with lyrics and CD in vinyl look. King Diamond explains: "These are not remastered, the albums are exactly as they were originally, directly from the original production masters. They contain all the dynamics as they were put on the tape at the time. I am therefore very happy about the Make the recordings available to fans in their original condition! "
With "We Are One", UDO, together with the Bundeswehr's renowned music corps under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Christoph Scheibling, is presenting an unprecedented musical project. The album, which is based on 15 completely new songs, was developed and arranged in collaboration between UDO and Christoph Scheibling. The two former Accept colleagues Stefan Kaufmann and Peter Baltes were also involved in the songwriting, as well as the music composers Guido Rennert and Alexander Reuber. Anyone who thinks of various rock band meets orchestra attempts is far off the mark. "We Are One" is an elaborately arranged concept album that tracks down the earthy sound of UDO and proves how strong it is and at the same time changeable. But “We Are One” is not only musically surprising, it also makes a statement with its core message: It is the critical assessment of a world in which we all leave our mark and in which we all have to take responsibility in our own way. “We all live on this one planet. No matter who we are, what we do and what our motivations are, we all only have this one planet, ”says Udo Dirkschneider, who developed the idea behind“ We Are One ”.
Raw high energy metal from France. Meurtrieres recorded this self-financed 5-track EP in the style of genre greats such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest or Meryful Fate, which is so good that it is reissued on vinyl by the renowned label Cruz Del Sur.
Massive one-man project from Germany. Rising vocal hooks and twin guitar galore! The 'Fists Of Iron' EP combines everything that makes up classic Teutonic metal. Small vinyl edition on Cruz Del Sur!
2019 veröffentlichte Chris "The Professor" Black gleich drei Solo-Werke am selben Tag (via High Roller Records). Dieses Jahr steht das insgesamt fünfte vollständige Album seiner Hauptband High Spirits auf der Agenda (wenn man das selbstbetitelte und selbst finanzierte Debütalbum von 2009 mitzählt). Chris Black und High Spirits sind wirklich äußerst schwer zu stoppen, und so nennt sich die neue Platte auch passenderweise: "Hard To Stop". Viele Hörer sehen noch immer "Another Night" von 2011 als das absolute Glanzstück im Katalog von High Spirits an. Teilt Chris Black diese Einschätzung? "Diesen Eindruck könnte man bekommen. Obwohl sich "Motivator" mittlerweile sowohl auf CD als auch auf Vinyl genauso gut verkauft. Im Bereich Streaming ist ganz klar 'Another Night In The City' die Nummer 1, während die Nummer 2 (ratet mal, welcher Song das ist?) nicht einmal halb so viele Zugriffe zu verzeichnen hat." Spürt die Band demnach vielleicht auch Druck, dass "Hard To Stop" ein zweites "Another Night" werden muss? "Dieser Druck war um 2013/2014 herum tatsächlich da", gibt er unumwunden zu. "Aber heute sehe ich das alles viel lockerer. Wenn die Leute ein neues "Another Night" haben wollen, dann sollen sie sich doch lieber noch einmal das Original anhören." Mit seiner durch und durch positiven Ausstrahlung und erstklassigem Songmaterial wie "Hearts Will Burn", "Since You've Been Gone", "Now I Know" sowie einer Neuaufnahme des Klassikers "Midnight Sun" besitzt "Hard To Stop" allemal das Potenzial dazu, "Another Night" in puncto Verkaufszahlen und Fan-Akzeptanz zu überflügeln.
Successor to 'What We Left Behind ...', released in 2015 .. Ocram, the newcomer to the mic, brought the idea of releasing a concept album. A stylistic classification of Thyrant is not so easy with a mixture of Death Metal, Classic Rock, Thrash and even Prog. Sure, a base of melodic Death Metal and Groove Metal can be identified, but the second single 'Black Oceans', which is over eight minutes long, also shows how versatile the group works. Rather located at a doomed pace, the complex song shines from melancholy to evil dissonant outbursts with a great variety. Greetings from Carcass, Enslaved, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Obituary and others. Priority release for indie recordings (including Kvelertak) and on CD and Gatefold double LP available!
Shortly before HELLOWEEN will release their new studio album in spring 2021, the Pumpkin Heads will reissue three albums from their back catalog, all of them as double LPs in gatefold as well as fine digipak CDs, upgraded with bonus tracks and all of them remastered by Darcy Proper. It starts with »Unarmed«, published ten years ago, on which HELLOWEEN recorded 13 classics in completely new and unusual versions. So 'Dr. Stein 'ska elements,' Where The Rain Crows' a country touch and 'Future World' a pop garb. In the same year »7 Sinners« was released, with the single hit and the all-important question 'Are You Metal?' as well as outstanding numbers like 'Who Is Mr. Madman?', 'World Of Fantasy' and 'The Smile Of The Sun'. "Straight Out Of Hell" followed in 2013, the most complex and progressive album in the HELLOWEEN discography. The seven-minute 'Nabataea' started the dance, followed by grenades like 'Waiting For The Thunder', 'Live Now!' and the great title track 'Straight Out Of Hell'. Three pieces of jewelery that should not be missing in any collection. With »7 sinners (remastered 2020)« HELLOWEEN deliver a high quality double LP • in gatefold and with lined inner sleeves • vinyl in transparent
Shortly before HELLOWEEN will release their new studio album in spring 2021, the Pumpkin Heads will reissue three albums from their back catalog, all of them as double LPs in gatefold as well as fine digipak CDs, upgraded with bonus tracks and all of them remastered by Darcy Proper. It starts with »Unarmed«, published ten years ago, on which HELLOWEEN recorded 13 classics in completely new and unusual versions. So 'Dr. Stein 'ska elements,' Where The Rain Crows' a country touch and 'Future World' a pop garb. In the same year »7 Sinners« was released, with the single hit and the all-important question 'Are You Metal?' as well as outstanding numbers like 'Who Is Mr. Madman?', 'World Of Fantasy' and 'The Smile Of The Sun'. "Straight Out Of Hell" followed in 2013, the most complex and progressive album in the HELLOWEEN discography. The seven-minute 'Nabataea' started the dance, followed by grenades like 'Waiting For The Thunder', 'Live Now!' and the great title track 'Straight Out Of Hell'. Three pieces of jewelery that should not be missing in any collection. With “Straight out of hell (remastered 2020)” HELLOWEEN deliver a noble double LP in gatefold and with lined inner sleeves - vinyl in transparent
Shortly before HELLOWEEN will release their new studio album in spring 2021, the Pumpkin Heads will reissue three albums from their back catalog, all of them as double LPs in gatefold as well as fine digipak CDs, upgraded with bonus tracks and all of them remastered by Darcy Proper. It starts with »Unarmed«, published ten years ago, on which HELLOWEEN recorded 13 classics in completely new and unusual versions. So 'Dr. Stein 'ska elements,' Where The Rain Crows' a country touch and 'Future World' a pop garb. In the same year »7 Sinners« was released, with the single hit and the all-important question 'Are You Metal?' as well as outstanding numbers like 'Who Is Mr. Madman?', 'World Of Fantasy' and 'The Smile Of The Sun'. "Straight Out Of Hell" followed in 2013, the most complex and progressive album in the HELLOWEEN discography. The seven-minute 'Nabataea' started the dance, followed by grenades like 'Waiting For The Thunder', 'Live Now!' and the great title track 'Straight Out Of Hell'. Three pieces of jewelery that should not be missing in any collection. With “Unarmed (remastered 2020)” HELLOWEEN deliver a noble double LP • in gatefold and with lined inner sleeves • vinyl in transparent
The Polish KAT have been an institution for heavy and thrash metal all their life. Especially the 85 album "Metal And Hell" should still be heard by tradition-conscious metallers. Now, "The Last Convoy" is an album that consists of both own songs and cover versions. For the first time we hear the KAT cover songs on the album, for example from "Highway Star" by Deep Purple, as well as "Blackout" by the Scorpions or "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC / DC. Also acoustic tracks like "Dark Hole - The Habitat Of Gods" show a completely different side of KAT.
The German power trio returns with eight songs and real, authentic metal! The follow-up to their highly acclaimed 2017 debut, Old Mother Hell deliver a memorable album made of pure, unadulterated metal. Regarded by many as one of the best new German metal bands of recent times, they consist of Bernd Wener (guitar / vocals), Ronald Senft (bass) and Michael Frölich (drums). The sound is pure, driven by Wener's voice, some compare it to WASP's Blackie Lawless, and they recorded the album live with each member in the same room at the same time. The album sounds powerful and crisp, eight songs that do not deny their classic metal roots. On Lord of Demise, Old Mother Hell proves once again that they are the ultimate band for real, handmade metal.
Defecto still stand for a brilliant mixture of light and dark, of catchiness, progressiveness and aggressiveness, which immediately sticks with the listener, but reveals new details with each run. The Defecto success curve will therefore continue to point upwards! The recordings were made at Sonne Studios and Hansen Studios. Front man Nicklas Sonne himself was responsible for the mix. Mastering was done by him and Jens Bogren. The album artwork comes from Stefan Skjoedt.
Anno 1066, the last Viking king, called Hardråde, is dead - the Viking era is over. Long live the Vikings! "The Last Viking" is the 2020 monumental work by LEAVES 'EYES. The scene of the symphonic metal cracker couldn't be bigger. After setting Leif Eriksson's discovery of America and the life of the first Norwegian king to music on the cult albums “Vinland Saga” (2005) and “King Of Kings” (2015), LEAVES 'EYES now lead the Viking saga to a bombastic finale. LEAVES 'EYES have always been a superlative band. They have toured on all inhabited continents, regularly secure top positions in the official album charts and deliver a multimedia package with each work in terms of artwork and video clips. With “The Last Viking” they take it to the extreme with the self-produced documentary film “Viking Spirits”. This album by no means heralds the end of LEAVES 'EYES, rather the curiosity rises as to which stroke of genius they will surprise with next. With “The Last Viking”, LEAVES 'EYES are building a musical monument as captivating and powerful as the saga of the last Viking king himself.
Limited Black & Limited Transparent Ultra Clear Vinyl. Re-release of the first LP by High Spirits. Chris Black could be the busiest musician in Chicago's heavy metal scene. The multi-instrumentalist is the frontman of three Chicago bands: Dawnbringer, Superchrist and High Spirits. He is also a former bass player for Nachtmystium. For many fans, this album from 2011 is still the highlight of the band's history. Timeless metal hymns and influences from Classic Rock to NWoBHM, soaring vocals, razor-sharp riffs, explosive guitar solos and driving rhythm sections fill the record. Hard rock energy to keep us in high spirits.
On October 30th, King Diamond will release new CD and LP versions of his classic DARK SIDES EP via Metal Blade Records. The vinyl editions are in Spinesleeve format with an insert and a download card. The CDs come as mini vinyl replica with hardcover gatefold sleeve, poster insert with lyrics and CD in vinyl look. Originally released in 1998, The Dark Sides contains five songs and an outro! King Diamond explains: "These are not remasters, the albums are exactly as they were originally, straight from the original production masters. They contain all the dynamics as they were put on tape back then. So I'm very happy about the Fans to make the recordings available in their original state! "
The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny Demo is a re-recording of the band's 1986 high school thrash metal demo along with songs that were written at the time but never recorded. The record also includes covers of classics from SOD and Corrosion Of Conformity. The band's current line-up, consisting of original members Mike Patton, Trey Spruance and Trevor Dunn, is completed by Scott Ian from Anthrax and Dave Lombardo from Slayer / Dead Cross. Recorded in Dave Grohl's Studio 606 with GRAMMY winner Husky Höskulds and mixed by Jay Ruston, it is the band's first release since 1999. US actress Rhea Perlman (Cheers) recorded the opening text for "Anarchy Up Your Anus" -LP translucent ruby red vinyl with cover embossing
Haunt, from Fresno California, began as a solo project with Trevor William Church (Beastmakers). In the meantime a real band, there is traditional metal with a good hard rock influence in deliberate contrast to the Beastmakers. Especially when it comes to guitar work, the NWoBHM sends its regards. Haunt's most recent record "Flashback" is by far the most mature, a dazzling mix of NwoBHM-colored steel and a hint of progressive hard rock like from the 1970s, which continues to grow the more you listen to it. Fans of traditional metal should definitely check this out.
The US metallers THRUST are a legend, one of the first metal bands from Chicago. With their 1984 debut album "Fist Held High" and songs such as the title track "First Held High" or the underground anthem "Posers Will Die" they achieved legendary status. 2 years after their comeback album now comes "The Helm Of Awe". Thrust stay true to themselves. Classic US Heavy Metal, catchy and distinctive, often also melodic, is played here. Thrust is the real deal. If classic metal continues to make a comeback, it's because of bands like Thrust.
Limited Black & Red / White Splatter LP. The legendary US power metal band founded in 1981 by William Tsamis and Mark Zonder. The band contributed the song Lucifer's Hammer to the Metal-Massacre series in 1983, followed by the mini-LP Deliver Us, and in 1984 the Album "And the Canons of Destruction Have Begun", soundtrack to a music video made by the band. Since no suitable singer and bass player could be found at that time, Tsamis and Zonder separated. The first studio album was not released until 2002. Not least because of a lot of fan mail, Tsamis and Zonder started looking for a suitable singer. Warlord is considered the most iconic and independent heavy metal band. Although there were no new releases for almost 20 years, there was always a euphoric fan base. The Swedish band Hammerfall covered the warlord song Child of the Damned on their debut album. Hammerfall's name also refers to a Warlord song. After 36 years still a great record. Formats: -Lim. Black LP -Lim. Red / White Splatter Vinyl
Das deutsche Aushängeschild des Heavy Metal veröffentlicht via Nuclear Blast sein neues, heiß ersehntes Studioalbum "Too Mean To Die"! Besondere Umstände führen oft zu ganz besonderen Alben. Das gilt ganz gewiss für »Too Mean To Die« das natürlich auch auf die Corona-Zeit anspielt, wenn auch anders als vielleicht zunächst vermutet. Kein Zweifel: Mit »Too Mean To Die« spielen ACCEPT ein weiteres Mal ganz vorne in der Champions League des Genres mit. "Wolf Hoffmann" & Co. präsentieren der (Musik-)Welt Anfang 2021 elf Meisterwerke - elf Songs für die Ewigkeit!
TYRANT play dirty, straight, straightforward metal! Sometimes they remind of Motörhead, sometimes of Accept, in between a bit of WASP - it often sounds like punk rock ... just everything that makes up dirty metal.
Nicht wenige halten "Gold 'N' Glory" für das beste Album, das Faithful Breath je aufgenommen haben. 1985 folgte das Album "Skol", bei dem es im direkten Vergleich zum Vorgänger laut Sänger/Gitarrist Heimi "Heinrich" Mikus für die mittlerweile in Deutschland (nicht zuletzt durch ihr einzigartiges Wikinger-Image) immens populären Faithful Breath nicht mehr ganz so rund lief: "Der Plan war, dass Michael Wagener das Album wieder produzieren sollte. Das stellte sich aber als schwierig heraus. Wagener war in die USA übergesiedelt, und machte eine Produktion nach der anderen. Dadurch kamen wir terminmäßig ins Schleudern. Wir machten dann die "Skol" mit Gerd Rautenbach in den Dierks Studios. Wir hatten aber innerhalb der Band mit Problemen zu kämpfen. Bubi, unser zweiter Gitarrist, wollte aussteigen. Er hatte ein lukratives Angebot einer anderen Band bekommen. Er spielte die "Skol" zwar noch mit ein, aber irgendwie war die Chemie in der Band nicht mehr die gleiche. Für ihn kam später Thilo Herrmann."
Mit ihren während der letzten fünf Jahre komponierten Songs bringt die Platte nicht nur die Entwicklung der Band auf den Punkt, sondern deutet auch aufregend neuen Dingen voraus, nicht zuletzt dank des angemessen rätselhaften Narrativs von Gitarrist und Geschichtenerzähler Verneri, dessen Stimme an verstorbene Ikonen wie Pagan Altars Terry Jones oder Mark Shelton von Manilla Road erinnert. Das Album verdeutlicht, wie vielschichtig dieses Genre sein kann. Presse "Wer immer noch voller Wehmut auf den Nachfolger von In Solitudes 'Sister' wartet, der sollte sich vertrauensvoll an die finnischen Chalice wenden!" - Rock Hard (DE), 9/10, Soundcheck Platz 6 "Mit ihrer durchaus eigenen Mischung dürften Chalice vor allem im True-Sektor auf offene Arme und Ohren stoßen." - Metal Hammer (DE), 5.5/7
Nach "Past Of …", einer Sammlung aller bisherigen Aufnahmen vo Satan's Fall, greift die Band mit ihrem Debütalbum "Final Day" nach den Sternen und würdigt die Vergangenheit des Heavy Metal mit einer sowohl musikalischen als auch inhaltlichen Tiefe, die sie von der bedauernswerten Masse ironischer Retro-Kapellen abgrenzt. Das in Eigenregie aufgenommen Material wurde von Produzenten-Veteran Mika Jussila in den Finnvox Studios abgemischt und gemastert. PRESSE: "Hochmelodischer Speed Metal europäischer Prägung, der über das Zeug verfügt, ein breites Publikum anzusprechen." - Deaf Forever (DE), 8/10 "Das Full-length-Debüt der Finnen hakt sich melodienselig unter, wildert bevorzugt im Midtempo und setzt die Höhepunkte geschickt." - Rock Hard (DE), 8/10, Soundcheck Platz 4, Dynamit! "'Final Day' könnte durchaus auch ein Publikum überzeugen, das sonst mit klassischem Heavy Metal nicht viel am Hut hat." - Metal Hammer (DE)
The US metal band Death Dealer, led by singer Sean Peck (Cage, The Three Tremors), are releasing their third longplayer, "Conquered lands", which also marks the debut of Mike Lepond (Sympathy X, Ross the Boss) as the new bassist and alongside Ross the Boss himself also includes Stu Marshall (Night Legion, Dungeon) on rhythm guitar and Steve Bolognese (Ross the Boss, Into Eternity) on drums as band members. So the direction is clear and with this 3rd album the band will not only pick up fans of Manowar and Ross the Boss, but also generally provide one of the highlights in heavy metal in Q4 / 2020.
When Perttu Koivunen and Niko Kolehmainen founded Lord Fist in 2011, they picked up speed in barely half a decade, recording a demo, an EP and an album each while teaching the club audience in their native Finland that metal doesn't need any added sugar, to get intoxicated. Within a stylistic framework influenced by the NWobHM, the sound of Lord Fist is reminiscent of her compatriots Nightstryke, Legionnaire or Angel Sword.
"The long-serving Swedish metalheads from NEPTUNE are delighting themselves and their fans with their first album after countless ups and downs over the past few decades. Despite the many demos in the eighties, NEPTUNE were founded before the turn of the eighties, and a compilation two years ago with the accompanying band reactivation after twenty years, ´Northern Steel´ can be seen as NEPTUNE's debut .... The long-serving Swedish metalheads from NEPTUNE are making themselves and their followers happy these days after countless ups and downs within of the last decades with their first album. Despite the many demos in the eighties, NEPTUNE were founded before the turn of the eighties, and a compilation two years ago with the accompanying band reactivation after twenty years, ´Northern Steel´ is allowed to be the debut of NEPTUNE. " (streetclip)
Riot V are one of the few heavy metal bands that have successfully established themselves over decades! Without a doubt, RIOT (now of course renamed RIOT V) have left their footprint in the scene for over four decades, are and have been the inspiration for numerous up-and-coming bands and artists worldwide. And they're still hungry for more. Do not miss this contagious live atmosphere and be there when RIOT revive their cult songs!
The former front man, songwriter and co-founder of the Norwegian party rocker KVELERTAK, Erlend Hjelvik, separated from his former band members in 2018 and took two years to prepare for his return. Now he is in the starting blocks to start with his solo project HJELVIK and the brilliant debut album "Welcome to Hel". Despite the calamity and the challenges that 2020 presents us, the birth of HJELVIK and the release of "Welcome to Hel" is guaranteed, also to give metalheads of all genres a reason to be happy. The current pandemic is forcing almost everyone to postpone tours and change plans, but the HEJLVIK project, with this energy, this dynamic and this determination, simply cannot be stopped. As soon as "Welcome to Hel" is unleashed, Erlend and his bandmates will work tirelessly to prepare the most explosive and dynamic live show possible. As soon as the world is ready again, so will HJELVIK ...
Faithful Breath were originally founded in Bochum in 1967. The first album "Fading Beauty", a mixture of Krautrock, Prog and Psychedelic, followed in 1974 and is now a sought-after collector's item. "Back On My Hill" followed six long years later. "Rock Lions" (1981) and "Hard Breath" (1983) finally paved the way for "Gold 'N' Glory", which saw the light of day in 1984 on the Belgian label Mausoleum. Quite a few consider "Gold 'N' Glory" to be the best album that Faithful Breath have ever recorded.
"… Wytch Hazel doesn't seem to affect all of that. Because 'Pentecost' rocks as casually and confidently as only a band that is at peace with itself can do (…) It is precisely these gigantic refrains that Wytch Hazel currently has make the strongest rock band in Great Britain (...) I love the debut with its innocent naivety, I appreciate the sovereign second work, but with 'III: Pentecost' the holy spirit has finally come over the band. Hard rock can be better, more classic, more varied in 2020 not playing". ('Platte of the Month' Deaf Forever, 10/10 pts., Soundcheck # 1)
Thrudvangar have been an important part of German Viking Metal for almost 20 years. With their sixth album Thrudvangar are returning to their melodic roots and remembering the trademarks of Viking Metal: powerful riffs, catchy melodies and grandiose choirs take listeners on a journey to the ancient myths and legends of the Vikings. The texts refer to Norse mythology, but also to historical events as well as sagas and legends of the Vikings. . Thrudvangar play traditional Viking Metal, which is characterized by the use of elements of Black Metal and Pagan Metal.