

Powerage Records in  cooperation with Candlelight Records proudly announces the November 25 American  release for Doom Gloom Heartache & Whiskey, the new album from England’s  Viking Skull. Recorded and produced outside Philadelphia, where  Candlelight's American offices are located, the record is the first to feature  new drummer Jess Margera (cKy). The band will celebrate the release with  five special performances alongside Clutch.
Born to rock and rock  hard they do, Viking Skull make their proper US introduction with the release of  Doom Gloom Heartache & Whiskey. Due to limited label support and  resources the band’s two previous albums are hard-to-find items for the band’s  fast growing fanbase. Vocalist Roddy Stone notes, "being signed to a record  company that actually wants to sell records and help us out a bit by splashing  some cash so we can actually record an album and tour is a first for us. It’s  like upgrading from sails to a big jet engine on a battle ship armed with riffs  and songs so dense they can crush planets. It's a perfect combination to  rid the world of the piss weak metal we hear today; bands who spend more time  doing their hair and chasing the latest fad than actually writing a decent tune.  This is the year of the skull, our boots are heavy and your hinges are weak;  watch out!"
Stone with bassist Waldie, guitarists Dom and Brandwine  Eel and Margera take their love of Sabbath and add to it modern rock icons to  create a good ole rock n roll vibe that is contagious and fun. Already a noted  live performer in Europe where the band have toured with the likes of Dio, Him,  Clutch, and two appearances at the prestigious Download Festival, Viking Skull  are looking forward to their first big performances in the US.  “Its about  time Viking Skull got to play some proper gigs in the US," says drummer Jess  Margera. "I was starting to get sick of always having to fly across the Atlantic  Ocean every time I needed to get my fix. The United States needs Viking  Skull! Maybe the country would be in better shape right now if we got John  McCain and Barack Obama a beer, a shot of whiskey and the new Viking Skull  album."
Formed in 2003, Viking Skull  draw deeply on a mix of Black Sabbath, AC/DC, WASP, Motörhead, The Who, Kiss and  Thin Lizzy for good measure. The band recorded and independently released  their early songs for a whopping $500. The recording, titled Chapter One, was  met with amazing reviews; the album still the only one to date to score 11 out  of 10 in Metal Hammer!  In 2005 the band recorded Born in Hell, their debut  full-length. European tours with Clutch and cKy would follow as the band’s  profile continued to grow. Late 2006 would see the band return to the  studio for recordings of the first record to see limited US release. Chapter Two  was released in early 2007 and featured guest appearances from members of cKy  and Fireball Ministry.
Doom Gloom Heartache & Whiskey is the  first album from newly-formed London-based Powerage Records.  A joint  venture between Classic Rock Magazine/Future PLC and Plastichead Music  Distribution, Powerage Records was intently formed to champion high-voltage rock  and roll. A&R veteran Derek Oliver has been brought in to oversea  artist liaison while the editorial and sales teams of Classic Rock and  Plastichead Music tackle the marketing and sales for the artists. In the  US, Candlelight Records will oversee and coordinate all efforts for Powerage  with the help of Caroline Distribution/EMI Music Marketing.
The  track listing for Doom Gloom Heartache & Whiskey: Start a War, Doom Gloom  Heartache & Whiskey, In Hell, Hair of the Dog, Shot Down, Double or Quits,  In for the Kill, 19 Swords, Drink. 
Confirmed dates with Clutch are  as follows:
10/27/2008 Starland Ballroom - Sayreville,  NJ
10/28/2008 Webster Theater - Hartford, CT
10/29/2008 930 Club  - Washington, DC
10/30/2008 Newport Music Hall - Columbus,  OH
10/31/2008 Orbit Room - Grand Rapids, MI
For more information  contact Dave Brenner (earsplitpr@aol.com) or Paula Hogan (paula@candlelightrecordsusa.com). European  media contact Darren Toms (d.toms@plastichead.com).
http://www.myspace.com/vikingskull
http://www.candlelightrecordsusa.com
http://www.myspace.com/candlelightusa
