sUIDaKRa

SuidAkrA to release new album, announce North American tour

With the rise in popularity in the Pagan/Celtic Metal Scene, one of the true pioneers of the Genre is ready to take the United States scene by storm. Over their fourteen year history, SuidAkrA have stayed true to their roots and the sound that they have become known for. The German Celtic metallers are returning full steam with their ninth studio album; Crógacht Combining fast melodic death metal, Irish folk music, and a torrent of harmonies, SuidAkrA proves yet again that they possess the ability to blend several different influences into their unique sound. To put a spin on things, new elements have been introduced, like traditional instruments (bagpipes, banjo, tin whistles), a sixteen member choir and epic orchestral arrangements.

Recorded at Gernart Studios with producer Martin Muchwalter, Crógacht delivers an aural assault. In addition to that, the eyes and mind of the listener will also be pleased, as famous Belgian graphic artists Kris Verwimp is responsible not only for the magnificent artwork in the digipack and 16-page booklet, but also for the lyrics of this fascinating concept album. Crógacht, meaning bravery, is based on one of the most dramatic tales in Irish mythology. It tells the story of the hero Cuchulainn’s epic journey to the Isle of Skye, where he seeks to learn the arts of war from the Scythian warrior woman Scathach. The decisions he then has to make set the events in motion that will lead up to his son Conlaoch’s tragic fate…

With overwhelming reactions to their 2006 release, Caledonia, and their November 2008 DVD/Best of CD, 13 Years of Celtic Wartunes, SuidAkrA have performed at over 200 live shows (including the Wacken Open Air Festival five times), and successfully completed several tours in Europe, Russia, and a first-ever American tour. SuidAkrA will take part in the four week Pagan Knights North American tour starting in February 2009 before rocking stages all over Europe and beyond.

Crógacht will be released on March 3rd, 2009. Press copies are available now; interviews available on the tour and otherwise.

Pagan Knights Tour 2009 - SuidAkrA w/TYR, Alestorm:
02/28/2009 The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA

03/01/2009 The Backbooth - Orlando, FL

03/02/2009 The Engine Room - Tallahassee, FL

03/04/2009 Walter’s - Houston, TX
03/05/2009 Red 7 - Austin, TX
03/06/2009 Ridglea Theater - Dallas, TX
03/07/2009 The Marquee - Tusla, OK
03/09/2009 The Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM
03/10/2009 The Clubhouse - Tempe, AZ
03/11/2009 Jumping Turtle - San Marcos, CA
03/12/2009 Knitting Factory - Hollywood, CA
03/13/2009 Thee Parkside - San Francisco, CA
03/14/2009 Satyricon - Portland, OR
03/15/2009 Studio Seven - Seattle, WA
03/16/2009 Club Vegas - Salt Lake City, UT
03/17/2009 Cervantes Ballroom - Denver, CO
03/18/2009 Riot Room - Kansas City, MO
03/19/2009 Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
03/20/2009 Pearl Room - Mokena, IL
03/21/2009 Peabody’s - Cleveland, OH
03/22/2009 Blondie’s - Detroit, MI
03/23/2009 The Opera House - Toronto
03/24/2009 Club Soda - Montreal
03/25/2009 Penny Arcade - Rochester, NY
03/26/2009 31st St. Pub - Pittsburgh, PA
03/27/2009 Sonar - Baltimore, MD
03/28/2009 Sterling Hotel - Allentown, PA
03/29/2009 Highline Ballroom - New York, NY
03/30/2009 Volume 11 - Raleigh, NC



http://www.suidakra.com

http://www.myspace.com/suidakra

http://www.wackenrecords.com

http://www.spvusa.com

http://www.myspace.com/spvusa

JOIN THE CONGREGATION.

Celebrated as one of the most outstanding metal talents of today, Metal Church was founded in the early eighties in Seattle, WA. In 1984 they released their debut album Metal Church. The album was hailed by the critics: "The band's amazing musicality is an absolute highlight in itself. This album will always be known as a classic of American straight-ahead heavy metal." The strong praise of Metal Church continued two years later with their next release The Dark.

After the release of The Dark, Metal Church underwent the first of several line-up changes. Frontman David Wayne left the group and was replaced by former Heretic vocalist Mike Howe. Reinforced by Howe and John Marshall (guitar), the riffs became heavier and the lyrics became more ambitious with a number of songs on Blessing in Disguise and The Human Factor dealing with burning political and social issues.

The nineties saw the Metal Church members pursue different and more personal directions. As the decade was coming to an end, 1999 brought about the highly anticipated reunion of the original Metal Church lineup, as well as the release of the album Masterpeace. The release of Masterpeace was followed by appearances at numerous festivals worldwide.

The arrival of The Weight of the World album in 2004 introduced Metal Church's new singer Ronny Munroe to the public. Respectfully characterized by the music press as "Rob Halford meets Dio," Munroe immediately catapulted the band to a new level in terms of vocals and content.

Metal Church continues to be a thoroughly positive band, which you can hear on their new album This Present Wasteland, being released through SPV/Steamhammer on September 23rd. With their new album: This Present Wasteland, Metal Church makes a true return to form with some of their strongest material in years.

Track Listing
1) In the Company of Sorrow
2) Perfect Crime
3) Deeds of a Dead Soul
4) Meet Your Maker
5) Monster
6) Crawling to Extinction
7) War Never Won
8) Mass Hysteria
9) Breathe Again
10) Congregation

Lineup
Ronny Munroe – Vocals
Kurdt Vanderhoof – Guitars
Rick Van Zandt – Guitars
Steve Unger – Bass
Jeff Plate – Drums

Interviews available to North American mags and writers via:
Jon Freeman/SPV: Freeman@spvmarketing.com / Dave Brenner/Earsplit PR: EarsplitPR@aol.com

http://www.metalchurchmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/metalchurch
http://www.spvusa.com
http://www.myspace.com/spvusa

THOR WOULD BE PROUD

UNLEASHED - HAMMER BATTALION

With a title like Hammer Battalion, what would you expect? Yeah, possibly the heaviest Unleashed album yet... Out on June 9th, this juggernaut of Swedish death shows the act at their most volatile, and here to talk about it we have Johnny Hedlund (vocals/bass) and Anders Schultz (drums) this coming Tuesday 5/20 and Thursday 5/22. From 11 AM EST onwards to Valhalla, the band will speak.

-----

The battle call has been raised! With their unstoppable new album Hammer Battalion, Sweden's mighty Unleashed have forged the blood and spirit of their Viking ancestry into a modern weapon of Death Metal mastery. A true rallying cry for the dedicated metalhead legions around the globe, Unleashed has done what previously seemed impossible: raising the intensity level without losing their trademark skill of melding uncompromising brutality with extreme listenability. Experience and believe!

Hammer Battalion takes a battle-hardened axe to the misguided concepts of self-subjugation, transparent corruption and unneeded suffering in the name of religious figureheads and provides a perfect link between the ancient struggles of their Nordic forefathers and the ills of our modern society. The blistering "The Greatest Of All Lies" and "Long Before Winter's Call" take on old religious myths re-cast as pure fact, while "Your Children Will Burn" serves as a warning of the consequences of blind faith. "Whatever is done in the name of different religions is often done against Mother Nature," notes vocalist/bassist Johnny Hedlund. "And she has the means of striking back."

Hedlund and company have not only worn their Viking heritage on their sleeve for years, they've also proven to be one of history's most important flag bearers for metal-heads around the globe. At its heart, Hammer Battalion serves as a testament to these legions of proud fanatics, and delivers a commanding message loud and clear. "Rebellion is rising," notes Hedlund when discussing the album's title track. "We will form a number of battalions all over the world with warriors who are not afraid to fight. We are tired of being sitting ducks for bullshit authorities who know nothing better than to oppress us for reasons they won't explain. We will take command of our own lives and get to work. Either like the chameleon – smoothly changing colors to benefit our survival, or by the furious rage of a Viking warrior - whichever suits us best. To the common man, his various pathetic and hollow forms of music is a hobby. Our music is a way of life. Join your local Hammer Battalion or start one yourself!"

Hammer Battalion proves to be a high point in the career of a band who has had many. For nearly 20 years, the warriors of Unleashed have been the ultimate embodiment of Death Metal - employing a driving fortitude that has helped them to become one of the top extreme bands on the planet. Always unyielding and without a hint of compromise, they have remarkably brought the spirit of the Viking past and the glory of pure Death Metal together in this new century. While the Hammer Battalion hordes are assembling around the globe, Unleashed are preparing their live assault on Europe and North America.

To Valhalla!

www.unleashed.se

www.myspace.com/666unleashed

www.spvusa.com

www.myspace.com/spvusa