Screaming Shadows is an Italian metal band from Sardinia founded in 1999 by guitarist Francesco Marras. After a demo tape and a mini-cd, in 2003 the band released, as self-produced record, the first full-length entitled “Behind the Mask”.
In 2006 they signed their first record deal with the new born Italian label My Graveyard Productions and released the albums “In The Name Of God” in 2006 and “New Era Of Shadows” in 2009. Both received a good feedback from magazines and webzines.
After many concerts in Sardinia, Italy and U.K., in 2011 the band released the album entitled “Night Keeper”, with the Italian label Jolly Roger Records. In this album many important musicians of the Italian musical scene were involved, such as Alessandro Del Vecchio, Mattia Stancioiu, Pier Gonella, and many more.
In 2021 the band led by Tygers Of Pan Tang guitarist Francesco Marras is back with one of its strongest offerings yet: “Legacy Of Stone”, which will be released on November 12th. A powerful set of songs that embrace the true heavy metal and NWOBHM influences of the past, but delivers them with a cutting-edge musical sharpness and a clear punch in production. Clearly, one of the best heavy/power metal records in 2021.
Meridian is a melodic heavy metal band. It all started when drummer Klaus Agerbo and bassist Peter Bruun meet in Esbjerg, Denmark, and soon find that they share a great passion for old-school 80’s heavy metal. They decide to start a band based on that style and, joined by guitarist Søren Steffensen, the trio starts jamming old 80’s metal stuff. Singer Lars Märker joins the band in 2006, starting out playing rhythm guitar as well. This completed lineup starts writing their own songs, and quickly develop a clear musical profile. – Classical heavy metal with power and melody.
Two EPs were released in 2007 and 2009, while Meridian adjusted their line-up. In 2012 a huge leap was made when guitarist Martin J. Andersen joined the band. At the same, time the debut album started to take shape. The release came in 2013, with the title “Metallurgy”. “Breaking The Surface”, their second offering, was out in 2016 and it featured new guitar player Marco Angioni, who revealed himself as a pivotal member of the band, having also producer competencies. In 2019, Meridian’s third studio album “Margin Of Error” was released much to great fans and press appraisal. A year later, the Danish five-piece paid tribute to their influences with the cover EP aptly titled “Taking Cover”. A kind of formal ending for the first period in Meridian’s career and, while the future looks bright for the Danish band, they’re already an established powerhouse in European classic and melodic heavy/power metal.
In 2022, the new album “The 4th Dimension” was announced. As with many quintessential albums, the latest studio offering from the Danish five-piece comes, musically, with a wide variety of songs, from real heavy numbers (“The Road Back To Hell”, “Warning Shots”) to really melodic hard rock songs (from which “Say That You Want Me” is a perfect example). Not forgetting epic songs (“Dreamers”) and fast tracks like “Remove Your Crown”. As in the 80s, no boundaries, no overthinking. “The attitude was ‘Everything is possible and anything goes’”, guitarist Marco Angioni comments about the writing process. “If a song is good and we all like it, it goes on the album”. Again, an attitude that screams “80s” from the top of its lungs.
Produced, mixed and mastered by Angioni (a renowned producer himself, with bands such as Tygers Of Pan Tang, Steel Inferno and Iron Fire in his resume) and recorded in Angioni Studios between October 2021 and January 2022, “The 4th Dimension” is one of those career-defining albums in which Meridian reaches full maturity and shoot for the stars.
“The 4th Dimension” is out now on digital, CD, and LP (marbled transparent orange/black vinyl, limited to 300 units) via From The Vaults.
AnoxiA is a well-established act on the Danish underground live metal scene, their longevity dating back 20+ years. Hell bent on having fun during performance, AnoxiA approaches any gig fully charged, sincerely convinced that in order for the audience to enjoy, the band must enjoy.
In 2003 the group from Nyborg released its unofficial debut album “Melanchollision”, after two demos unleashed in the three years before. 3 years later, the EP “Kept In Sin” made AnoxiA a solid part of the Danish metal scene. The band finally unleashed the album “A Lapdance For The Devil” in 2010, their first one for Mighty Music. International recognition was waiting for them, as well as a strong road activity.
Never a band in a rush, AnoxiA made their growing fanbase wait a few more years before “To The Lions”, their 2019 full-length album, saw the light of day. But the wait was totally compensated with an old-school heavy metal record – melodic, yet hardhitting and thrashy at times. At times even a modern twist sneaks in. The songs are carved around strong riffing a wide array of vocal variation, supporting the musical landscapes.
Tysondog hail from Newcastle in the UK. Established in 1982 during the NWOBHM boom and signed to Neat records in 1984, Tysondog grew in popularity as a heavy metal band giving them the name and status they truey deserved.
Of all the New Wave of British Heavy Metal hopefuls to sign with Neat Records in the early ’80s, Tysondog was among the most mindful of commercial metal trends, but like most of their labelmates, widespread success would elude them in the end. Alan Hunter (guitar/vocals), Paul Burdis (guitar), and Kevin Wynn (bass) were all bit players in northern England’s highly incestuous but vibrant club scene when they formed the axis of what would become Tysondog (initially using the name “Orchrist”) around 1982. The new group signed with nearby metal label Neat, secured the services of singer Clutch Carruthers and drummer Peter Reeve, and proceeded to record their first single, “Eat the Rich,” in 1983. Albums “Beware Of The Dog” (1984) and “Crimes Of Insanity” were released and things seemed to be back on track for Tysondog, but much of their building momentum would soon to be squandered when Carruthers was sidelined by a serious car crash, and his resulting health issues.
Tysondog regrouped again in 2008 and after a few years passed seen the departure of Rob Walker on drums and Alan Hunter on Guitar, they were replaced by Philip Brewis and Steven Morrison.
In 2018 a shock arrived in the news of retiring frontman Clutch Carruthers leaving because of health issues. His spot was filled by French rocker Bill Kendama who helped out with great performances all over the UK and Europe. With the help of Clutch a new album, entitled “Midnight” was recorded and was released on April 29th, 2022.
This record is dedicated to great friend and road manager Danny Stephenson, who they lost in 2020.
Also in April 2022, Tysondog announced the recruitment of Alan Ross as the new vocalist. Ross, who is the son of Blitzkrieg’s Brian Ross, is also the guitar player in the band led by his father. Alan Ross fills the place left void by the vocalist Clutch Carruthers, who performed as a guest on the new album “Midnight”, but is unable to perform live due to health issues. “Midnight” was at the end of April via From The Vaults, but Tysondog assumes to have the next studio album – the first featuring Alan Ross – completely written. “We are ready to jump straight into the studio and get him down singing the new stuff“, bassist Kevin Wynn comments.
During the eighties and prior to the break up in 1989, Metal Cross released two demo tapes: “Metal Cross” and demo 2 “M.A.D.H.O.U.S.E.” The band also contributed on two compilation albums. The band played concerts all over Denmark and shared scenes with other major danish metal bands such as Artillery and Invocater. Metal Cross played the bands last concert in the hometown of Randers on December 16 1989 – shortly after the band dissolved.
In 2009, one of the band members were contacted by the record company Horror Records asking if the band would approve the company’s release of the band’s two demo tapes in a vinyl format. After a long period of time trying to retrieve the material from the old day’s, an agreement was reached to release the songs from the two old tapes. In addition, it was decided that the recording of the very last Metal Cross concert could also be used. In 2014 the double vinyl album “Metal Cross” was released. One LP with demo recordings and the other with the concert from 1989. In addition to this, a 7” bonus single with two live songs from another concert was released.
Following the release, Metal Cross was persuaded to play a single gig at the Metal Magic Festival in 2014. Prior to the festival performance, the band played a warm up gig for Artillery. After 26 years, Artillery and Metal Cross stood on the same stage one more time! The two jobs exceeded all expectations, and Metal Cross is back in full action again, and has played several festival gigs in Denmark and always with great feedback from the audience.
In 2019 the former singer Henrik “Faxe” left the band and Esben Fosgerau Juhl took over his place and went directly into the studio. Metal Cross recorded new material through the following couple of years and released their new album “Soul Ripper” in February 2022.
Metal Cross ambitions are not to be mistaken. They will hit all the small underground stages, to the bigger festivals and aim for a European tour as well.
Whilst playing with German melodic black metallers Dark Fortress, Walter “Crom” Grosse began working on a solo-project that was worlds apart from the raw aggression normally associated with the genre in which he started. The more the work progressed, the more Grosse realised that he much preferred to forge his own musical path, a path where melody is the defining factor, and, following on from the positive response to his debut EP “The Fallen Beauty”, he decided to focus his attention solely on the band that had become Crom.
Grosse has never made any secret of his admiration and respect for Quorthon. Like many other musicians, he is influenced by the epic melodies of the legendary Bathory, but, unlike many, he has allowed the influence to subtly shade, rather than define, the musical content. Crom has an individuality that can only be described as, well… “CROM”!
Delicate acoustic guitars are counter-pointed by crushing metal riffs. A powerful vocal performance is accompanied by melodies that are in turn poignant or majestic. With his use of choirs, epic arrangements, skilful transitions, and stirring melodies, Grosse is able to conjure up images of mighty warriors and lost loves; epic struggles and tragic personal losses; despair and ultimate salvation.
After three albums (“Vengeance” in 2008, “Of Love And Death” in 2011 and “When Northmen Die” in 2017) Crom started a brand new chapter in its career, signing a new record deal with From The Vaults releasing the new EP “Into The Glory Land” in 2021. A spearhead craved deep in the future, foreshowing the battle that was yet to come…
…And what was to come in the foreseeable future was Crom’s new album “The Era Of Darkness”, released in early 2023.
There’s no denying… Music has become, even in its more extreme and heavier forms, a “market”. Sales figures are thrown, marketing plans are drawn, social media strategies are put into place. And the “success” outcome is measured by stream counts, quick likes without even listening to the whole album and views countings. Week after week, the machine is grinding more releases and bands, always moving forward, with listeners overwhelmed by the quantity of new music at their disposal.
Crom’s new album was not written and recorded for this “market”. Mastermind Walter “Crom” Grosse has played that game (and won in, for that matter) with Dark Fortress (he served there as bassist and guitarist between 1997 and 2001), but he retreated to his Bathory-inspired musical influences and stood his ground with his project Crom, which slowly turned into a three-man army. “The Era Of Darkness” is the new battlefield of the trio and, once again, it breathes and lives heavy metal in its most epic forms. From big chorus to gigantic, fist-pumping solos and breathtaking guitar leads, the new Crom album is a collection of varied but cohesive heavy/power metal anthems that will get your blood pumping once again for true metal, if you listen to it properly – paying attention to the lyrics, active listening and giving it enough spins, instead of just turning to the next release stream after a few minutes.
“The Era Of Darkness” is out now on digital, CD and LP (black vinyl, limited to 300 units) via From The Vaults.
In 1982, the band currently known as Alien Force started playing music under the name Zeyking. The band was started by the two brothers Henrik Rasmussen (guitar) and Michael Rasmussen (drums) and the style was already then classic heavy metal. Together with Peter Svale Andersen (vocals) and Michael Østerfelt, (bass) Zeyking released the single “Get It Out”.
In 1985 the band changed its name to Alien Force and with a record deal with Telaeg Records, released their first LP “Hell And High Water”. The record is nowadays a classic in the NWOBHM underground, being reprinted several times. Tracks from the record are still used for the live concerts the band plays. In 1986 Alien Force released their second LP “Pain And Pleasure” via their own record company Alien Records, since their previous label had close.
Up through the 90’s it was difficult for the band to hold their breath and try to survive. Band members were replaced, the name and style changed, but it was all in all a difficult period and the band decided to stop after playing at many festivals and club gigs.
In 2008, the band was invited to play a reunion concert in the famous rock club The Rock. The concert was a great success and Alien Force once again got blood on their teeth and not least the desire for metal back.
Shortly after, the band entered their home studio with new energy and new ideas for songs and got more invitations to play festivals again, but unfortunately their guitarist Michael Wenzel lost his life to cancer and it was a great blow for the band again.
After a long break, in 2018, Alien Force were invited to play Keep It True, one of Germany’s largest underground metal festivals. Alien Force presented themselves with the original line-up from the “Hell And High Water album and the concert served as a turning point. The band met fans from all over the world, who welcomed them with open arms and showed the band that they have a loyal fan base larger than believed.
In 2020, Alien Force hits the studio again, inspired by the many concerts in Europe after the Keep it True experience. Together with Peter Brander in Media Sound Studio, they have recorded ten new songs ready for a new album, released by From The Vaults / Target Group in November 2021.
The title of the album says it all: WE MEET AGAIN
The band is still in the original cast as in 1985 and the style is intact from that time, namely old school heavy metal with all that entails classic guitar riffs, convincing vocals backed by raw bottom.
Evil released their first mini-LP back in 1984, the now legendary ‘Evil’s Message’. It was released on the Dutch Rave-On Records, who also released the first mini LP “Nuns Have No Fun” by Mercyful Fate back in 1983.
Evil was among the first metal bands to define the genre speed metal back in 1984, by sharp vocals, heavy riffs and Freddie Wolf’s fast and pounding bass drums. At the time, the band wasn’t presenting the typical heavy metal, but today the band is among the founding fathers of European heavy metal.
The band split up back in the mid-eighties and drummer Freddie kept on playing with a bunch of established Danish rock-acts and soloists, but the metal has been there ever since in the background. In 2015 Freddie unleashed Evil again with the album “Shoot The Messenger”. Freddie wrote all the music, wrote the lyrics, played all instruments and produced the new album himself. The vocals where done by longtime friend Søren Nico Adamsen (ex-Artillery).
In 2022 the group announced a new studio album, “Book Of Evil”, which was released on May 27th, 2022. The record was produced in Hellfire Studio, Copenhagen, and Antfarm Studio, Aarhus, mixed and co-produced by rewarded metal producer/mixer Tue Madsen. “We have made the new material in the spirit of the eighties but with a modern metal state of mind” Freddie Wolf says.
EVIL’s sound anno 2022 is classic heavy metal in the vein of Accept and Judas Priest whom inspired Evil back in the early eighties.
