Pop & Rock News

Live Undead is the first live album by American thrash metal masters Slayer. It was originally released by Metal Blade Records in November, 1984.

Show No Mercy is the debut studio crusher by American thrash metal masters Slayer, originally released on December 3, 1983, by Metal Blade Records. Almost five months before Metallica released Kill ‘Em All, Metal Blade owner Brian Slagel saw Slayer open a show for Bitch at the Woodstock Theater in LA. Blown away, he asked the band if it would submit a track to his upcoming compilation album Metal Massacre III. They agreed and when he heard the song they turned in, “Aggressive Perfector,” Slagel offered Slayer a record contract. On Dec. 3, 1983, the band released its scorching debut, Show No Mercy.

Hell Awaits is the second studio offering by American thrash metal legends Slayer, originally released in March 1985 by Metal Blade Records. When it was released in 1985, Slayer's second full album, Hell Awaits, seemed to many a nearly impenetrable cacophony of sound. However, it proved to be incredibly ahead of its time instead, and has since been confirmed as a mandatory item in the band's remarkable discography

Boasting the awesome "Chemical Warfare," a regular staple of Slayer's live shows, the Haunting the Chapel EP was a more crucial stepping stone in the legendary L.A. band's career development than many give it credit for. Issued in between the band's very promising debut and the following year's more sonically ripened Hell Awaits, Haunting the Chapel offers important clues about this transition period, which saw Slayer's rock-based song structures give way to the non-linear, genre-defining style thereafter regarded as thrash metal's signature sound. Among the uniformly solid cuts here, the enduring fan favorite "Captor of Sin" is another highlight, making this a well-recommended release for committed Slayer fans. - AllMusic

Der „World Painted Blood“-Nachfolger ließ lange auf sich warten und macht mit dem packenden Intro und dem folgenden Titeltrack
„Repentless“ unmissverständlich klar, wer der Boss im Thrash-Metal-Bereich ist. Das war das stärkste SLAYER-Album seit 25 Jahren!

Re-Release auf transparent orangenem Doppel-Vinyl

Zusammenfassung:
SLAYERs zweites Studioalbum Hell Awaits erscheint kommenden Frühling als 40th-Anniversary-Edition über Metal Blade Records. Die 1981 gegründete Band definierte mit ihrem extremen Mix aus Metal und Punk nicht nur ein Genre, sondern auch eine kompromisslose Haltung. Laut Gitarrist Kerry King ist Hell Awaits das Album, "auf dem SLAYER zu SLAYER wurden". Im Vergleich zum Debüt Show No Mercy zeigt sich die Band hier deutlich ausgereifter: komplexer, progressiver und aggressiver. Veröffentlicht 1985, war Hell Awaits ein Höhepunkt eines Thrash-Metal-Jahres voller wichtiger Debüts (u. a. Megadeth, Exodus, Kreator). Stark beeinflusst von Mercyful Fate experimentierten SLAYER mit längeren, anspruchsvolleren Songstrukturen - ein für sie einmaliger kreativer Ansatz.

Pressetext:
SLAYERs ikonisches zweites Studioalbum Hell Awaits wird nächsten Frühling von Metal Blade Records als 40-Jahre-Jubiläumsedition neu aufgelegt!
Gegründet 1981, überfielen SLAYER die Welt mit einer neuen Mischung aus Metal und Punk - schwerer, schneller und dunkler als alles andere - und setzten damit einen neuen Standard, der nicht nur ein Genre, sondern auch eine Haltung definierte. In ihrer gesamten Geschichte zögerte die Band nie, ihren extremen, fokussierten Klangangriff loszulassen. Versuchungen zum Trotz entschieden sich SLAYER immer dafür, kompromisslos brutal zu bleiben und sich dem Mainstream zu verweigern.
"Es ist die Platte, auf der SLAYER zu SLAYER wurden." So beschreibt Kerry King Hell Awaits. Und er weiß, wovon er spricht. Als Gitarrist, Co-Songwriter und Co-Texter war er gemeinsam mit Sänger/Bassist Tom Araya, Gitarrist Jeff Hanneman (R.I.P.) und Drummer Dave Lombardo im kreativen Prozess dabei und erschuf eines der größten Metal-Alben überhaupt.
Eine deutliche Abkehr von SLAYERs Debüt Show No Mercy von 1983 - und auch von allen späteren SLAYER-Alben - ist Hell Awaits zugleich ein Außenseiter und eine Festigung der Bandform. Show No Mercy war das Mission Statement, aber He

CASSETTE REPRESS.

Sleep Token are a masked, anonymous collective of musicians. “Sundowning, or sundown syndrome, is a neurological phenomenon associated with increased confusion and restlessness in patients with delirium or some form of dementia. The term ‘sundowning’ was coined due to the timing of the patient’s confusion. For patients with sundowning syndrome, a multitude of behavioural problems begin to occur in the evening or while the sun is setting…” Live / Tour Dates: Just completed two sold out headline shows in London and Manchester. Touring in the US in November with Issues. 31 Jan 2020 - London, Islington Assembly Hall. Radio Promo: Plays on Amazing Radio, Arfm, BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio Wales, Bishop FM, Bro Radio, Hard Rock Hell Radio, Hub Radio, Kerrang!, Metal Meyhem Radio, NE1fm, Phonic FM, Primordial Radio, Radio Woking, Radio X, Roundhouse Radio, The Sound Lab, TotalRock, Wizard Radio, WCR. Press Promo: Artist doesn't do interviews. KKKK Kerrang review for their headline show at the Underworld, London on 02/10. Online Promo: Artist doesn't do interviews. News pieces published on Dead Press, Discovered, Ghost Cult Magazine, Soundsphere, The Revival Music, Turn It Up Louder, uDiscover, Maximum Volume Music, Uber Rock, Vulture Hound, Down The Front, Kill Your Stereo, Distorted Sound, Noizze, Kerrang. Social Numbers: Instagram - 7,192 / Facebook - 9,961 / Twitter - 2,032 / YouTube - 3,490 / Spotify Monthly Listeners - 163,093

High Roller Records, reissue 2024, black vinyl, ltd 200, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, insert, black vinyl bonus 7" in p/s (Can`t Get Enough (EP 2010) + Until Death Do You Part (EP 2010), new vinyl mastering by Patrick W. Engel in July 2023

High Roller Records, reissue 2024, yellow/ red splatter vinyl, ltd 300, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, insert, yellow vinyl bonus 7" in p/s (Can`t Get Enough (EP 2010) + Until Death Do You Part (EP 2010), new vinyl mastering by Patrick W. Engel in July 2023

2022 Reissue !

LIMITED

Mit "We Are Not Your Kind" präsentierten Slipknot, die berüchtigten Maskenmänner aus Iowa, ihr sechstes Studioalbum.

Ganze fünf Jahre nach dem letzten Album ".5: The Gray Chapter" kehrt die Band mit ihrem lang erwarteten Metal-Kracher zurück. Inklusive den Tracks "Unsainted" und "Solway Firth" ist dieses Album ein Must Have für jeden Metal-Fan.

Legendary Iowan icons SLIPKNOT have announced details of their widely anticipated new album, THE END FOR NOW…, which will be released September 30th on Roadrunner Records.

The band has also shared the album’s lead single “The Dying Song (Time To Sing)” with an official music video directed by the band’s own M. Shawn ‘clown’ Crahan. The “The Dying Song (Time To Sing)” video, and the track itself, sees one of the world’s most popular and deeply enigmatic bands relentlessly charting new ground as they continue to redefine, revitalize, and reimagine the scope of rock music.

Produced By SLIPKNOT and Joe Barresi, THE END FOR NOW…. includes the band’s 2021 surprise single “The Chapeltown Rag” and follows their widely celebrated 2019 album WE ARE NOT YOUR KIND, which marked SLIPKNOT’s third consecutive #1 on the Billboard 200 and debuted at #1 on the UK Album Chart..

Aus der Einöde, welche die ultimative Definition des Begriffes "Middle Of Nowhere" veranschaulicht wie sonst kein Fleckchen der Erde und auf den Namen "Iowa" hört, machten sie sich vor einger Zeit mit nur einem gemeinsamen Ziel auf: Das Erlangen der absoluten
Weltherrschaft.

Nun stehen Slipknot - neun unberechenbare, nicht unbedingt froh gestimmte Charaktere, die unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten - kurz
davor, ihr selbst gestecktes Ziel zu erreichen.
Ausgerüstet mit einem Arsenal an zuvor in dieser Form nicht
bekannten musikalischen Wutausbrüchen, die von markerschütternden Schreien, präzise eingehämmerten Drumparts, sägenden Gitarrenriffs, abstrusen Scratches, gekonnt eingefügten Samples und dem nötigen Quentchen Melodie leben, und niemals voraussehbar daherkommen.

Ganze zehn Jahre später hat "Iowa" hierzulande mittlerweile Goldstatus erreicht und das Album zählt zu den Metal-Meilensteinen des Jahrzehnts!

Slipknot break through all walls. The masked metallers from Iowa are constantly on the move, mistreating their instruments with relentless endurance and seeming like predators, which can get out of control at any moment. "Rock In Rio" was broadcast in 2015 and is now available on vinyl for the first time!

Slipknot took to the road in support of their fifth studio album, ".5: The Gray Chapter", with the 'Prepare for Hell' tour in October 2014, where they co-headlined with Korn across North America and Europe. The tour culminated in a series of major summer festival appearances, including a headline slot at the legendary Rock in Rio in 2015. Taking to the stage before a vast audience in Brazil, Slipknot delivered an uncompromising musical tour de force, performing material spanning their storied career. Adorned in new iterations of their iconic masks, the band gave a performance for the ages that showcased their unparalleled stage presence and ferocity. Released here on vinyl for the first time, this recording captures the entirety of that unforgettable night - an unrelenting display of energy and passion that demonstrates Slipknot at their very finest.

LIMITED BLACK VINYL LP WITH FULL COLOUR SLEEVE, BLACK POLYLINED INNER BAG AND DOWNLOAD CODE. NON-RETURNABLE.
 
SIX long years after the release of their, some might say classic sophomore album ‘Deep Mountain’, the worlds most reclusive sludge rockers Sloath return with their imaginatively titled third album ‘lll’.
 
"III" is conceived in a burst of activity around Christmas 2014. Geographical displacement and a slimming of the ranks necessitate an economy of style - a streamlining of the group's already minimalist approach. Grooves tauten as ballast turns to muscle. The new songs blow the roof off a packed gig in their former home town and the group scatter once more.
 
They reconvene in the spring of 2015 to play the Raw Power festival in London, and triumph in spite of failing equipment. Shortly thereafter, the new suite is recorded with Tim Cedar (Part Chimp etc) at Dropout in Camberwell. Again the band disperse. The recordings mature in an old oak whisky barrel.
 
It will be four years before the group can gain perspective on the scale of the "new" LP and complete the tortuous mixing process. "III" is finally handed in to Riot Season in the autumn of 2019.
 
Sloath have existed since 2007. Their music is a synthesis of classic rock, minimalism and extreme volume. They have shared stages with Bardo Pond, Om and Hey Colossus. They currently reside in Kent, London, Berlin and Zaragoza. Their two previous LPs, "Sloath" (2010) and "Deep Mountain" (2014) were also released on Riot Season.
 
Live action might happen. Then again it probably wont.

Für Fans von QOTSA, Red Fang, Elder, Black Sabbath'

"Es gibt Dinge, die passen einfach zusammen. Und manchmal ist auf den ersten Blick gar nicht so klar, warum die eigentlich so gut zusammen passen. Eines dieser Phänomene ist Stoner und Desert Rock aus Skandinavien. Es braucht keinen akademischen Abschluss in Geographie um zu erkennen, dass die Heimatstadt von Slomosa Bergen recht weit von der Wüste entfernt ist. Und dennoch kommen gerade aus den skandinavischen Ländern einige der besten Wüstenrock Bands unserer Zeit. Dozer, Greenleaf, Brutus und Spiritual Beggars sind nur einige Beispiele dafür. In dieser Reihe darf sich nun auch Bergen's Quartett Slomosa wähnen. Die vier Musiker aus der zweitgrößten Stadt Norwegens platzten in diesem Sommer mit ihrem selbstproduzierten und selbstbetitelten Debut auf den Musikmarkt (…) Dabei reichen die Einflüsse von den schwerfälligen Desert Rock Giganten Thin White Rope über den krachigen Desert Fuzz à la Sloburn bis zum zackigen und melodischen Skandivavien Blues, wie Brutus ihn spielen..." (Silence)

Hailing from the vermin-saturated remains of upstate South Carolina, SLUGCRUST are preparing to release their debut full length, Ecocide, via Prosthetic Records this summer. Featuring members of WVRM, SLUGCRUST embodies true Southern grind in all its grimy, punishing glory. With two ferocious EPs already under their belts, the breakneck speed with which SLUGCRUST operate gives a fair indicator of their approach. However, their focus isn’t compromised by their accelerated work ethic. Drawing from various literary inspirations the political issues at the heart of SLUGCRUST’s output is given a darkly poetic twist. SLUGCRUST seeks to bring political issues to light in a way that galvanises action and activism. The title derives from the process of destroying environmental structures or ecosystems, either via natural means or - as is more pertinent in the case of this album - deliberate human actions. Depravity is a recurring theme throughout the lyrics; emotional and physical immorality and degeneracy permeates the twelve tracks that make up Ecocide.

Nach fünf Jahren Stille melden sich die Heavy Psych-Rock Propheten Snail mit ihrem neuen Studio Album 'Fractal Altar' zurück. In limitierter Auflage auf grünem Vinyl überzeugen Snail mit ihren harten, fuzzigen Stoner-Rock Melodien, schwebenden Harmonien und ihrem lyrischen Geschick.

SOARS is the solo project of Kristian Karlsson, synth player in CULT OF LUNA and bass player/vocalist in PG.LOST - and yes, `Repeater', a truly epic instrumental rock album bustling with delay-drenched drama and joyful yet melancholic melodies will make every PG.LOST fan very, very happy. Why is it not a PG.LOST album then? "I got tired of discarding ideas I've written that didn't ft PG.LOST, but at the same time were too good for my ears to throw away. PG.LOST as a collective works at a relatively slow pace, while I by default write music all the time_ so eventually it became clear to me that I needed a new outlet for all those ideas". Karlsson released his debut solo album `Enfold' under the Soars moniker in 2021. Recorded and released all by the artist himself, `Enfold' made waves in the post rock world and the vinyl pressing sold out quickly. Repeater connects seamlessly with the debut album: propelled by the powerful drumming of Christian Augustin (Stiu Nu Stiu, live drummer of Cult of Luna) and Karlsson's charismatic synths melodies, these eight tracks share a distinct reference to the cinematic works of artists like Vangelis and Jean-Michelle Jarre, as well as post rock acts like God is An Astronaut, Caspian and Mogwai. "Soars is a personal journey and expression of a sound that has been developed over the years," explains Karlsson. And this long-term development of his artistry ensures that while painting with a familiar palette of tones and textures as the aforementioned artists, Karlsson always paints a picture that is very much his own. Title track «Repeater» comes saturated with orchestral grandeur and melancholy, and yet somehow exudes a sense of hopefulness which lingers throughout the album. Driven by layers of processed vocals and glorious melodies, «Uprise» literally gives rise to waves of exalted joy, while tracks like «The Waiting» or «Grow» demonstrate that Repeater shines through sheer strength of composition. Wrapping his retro synth sounds into a fat modern production, Repeater is stuffed with stunning dynamic arcs, catchy melodies and atmospheric density. The recording and mix are fawless and, in a sense, timeless. "The recording process was pretty simple," explains Karlsson matter-of-factly. "A lot of the ideas was formed at home in my kitchen and took its fnal form in the studio." With Soars, Karlsson is proving his innate ability to convert his blithe spirit into sound waves. Repeater is a manifestation of a man who lives and breathes music - an album that grabs you and carries you away.

Originally released in February 2012 and receiving positive critical reception, COGNITIVE is SOEN’s phenomenal debut album. The project features co-founding members, drummer Martin Lopez (OPETH, AMON AMARTH) and vocalist Joel Ekelöf (WILLOWTREE), Steve DiGiorgio (SADUS, TESTAMENT, DEATH, ICED EARTH) on bass and Kim Platbarzdis on guitars. The album was mixed by the Grammy Award-winning Canadian producer David Bottrill, who has worked with PETER GABRIEL, TOOL, SMASHING PUMPKINS and MUSE.

Described by Lopez himself as “melodic, heavy and intricate”, COGNITIVE, through its beautiful melodies, not only displays the performers’ superb technical proficiency, it also showcases the impressive and mysteriously warm vocals of Ekelöf.

Due to great public demand, SOEN will release COGNITIVE for the very first time on vinyl on January 27, 2023 via Silver Lining Music. This official SOEN-endorsed double vinyl release is complete with the bonus track “Writhen” and all of the album lyrics.

With Grammy Award-winning Canadian producer David Bottrill on mixing duties once again, Tellurian (first released in November 2014) sees SOEN coming out of their shell to become undisputed titans of the progressive metal genre. Newly appointed Stefan Stenberg on bass, Martin Lopez (drums), Joel Ekelöf (vocals) and Kim Platbarzdis (guitars) deliver a powerfully infectious and solid sophomore album.

In Tellurian, Soen’s very own stylistic writing finds broader proportions and dimensions, whilst keeping their technical proficiency still very much a defining trait. The haunting melodies and remarkable vocal performance make this a truly impressive opus.

Originally released in a limited number of copies, the currently out of print vinyl format will be re-issued on January 27, 2023 via Silver Lining Music, as the official SOEN-endorsed release.

SOEN - the Swedish progressive metal powerhouse spearheaded by Joel Ekelöf (vocals) and Martin Lopez (drums) - continue to find incredible new pathways into the spatial areas between light and dark, loud and calm, heavy and soothing. And with its seamless march across deeply human emotional terrain, their forthcoming 7th studio album Reliance, SOEN continues to explore the human mind, heart, and soul with a visionary duty of care, plus an extra edge of heavy. With Lars Enok Åhlund (keyboards & guitar), Cody Lee Ford (guitar), and Stefan Stenberg (bass) standing shoulder to shoulder with Ekelöf and Lopez, the lush continual evolution of SOEN’s sound soars. Take “Primal”, a barrel-chested roar detailing the existential fight between the human spirit and our current world, Ekelöf’s incredible vocals leading the heavy charge. “Axis” is a resolute and defiant look into where humanity sits, propelled by Lopez’s relentless yet swinging drums, and then there’s the serene elegance of “Indifferent” a beautifully orchestrated modern lament on the loss of love which rides resolutely on the power of strings, piano, and Ekelöf’s marvellous voice. With Reliance, SOEN continue their extraordinarily raw and earnest lifetime exploration of the mental and physical boundaries which challenge humankind as it writhes and wrestles with itself in these challenging times. Thoughtful, provocative, beautiful and brutal, Reliance is a journey you need to take.