RED LIGHT GREEN LIGHT

PAPSMEAR
MUSIC TO KILL BY
METAL WAR
Just by perusing the booklet defunct Las Vegas thrash band Papsmear accompanies their retrospective MUSIC TO KILL BY with, you can tell these guys were at the forefront of their scene, as homemade flyers touting shared bills with the likes of COC, Pestilence, and Hirax can attest to. Armed with a feral thrash metal attack that always appeared to be on the brink of falling apart, this band who really never made it out of Vegas combines blistering speed, sneering vocals, whammy bar antics, and lyrical discourse taken straight from the playbook to comprise their style. This multi-faceted collection boasts live recordings, demos, and a DVD of the good old days when beer was cheap, girls were easy, and posers were soundly disposed of or at the very least according to the live shows heard here, resoundly heckled and harassed from the lead singer's microphone. Diehard thrash maniacs will need this, but there's way better stuff, both reissued and current, out there to check out before you have to dig into this one. www.metalwarprod.com -Mike SOS

BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE
DICHOTOMY
SOLID STATE
Christian metal troupe Becoming the Archetype and producer Devin Townsend have made a monstrous modern metal album called DICHOTOMY. This 10-track affair packs gargantuan riffage, pummeling bass lines, grandiose keyboards, and gruff vocals into every track, but isn't afraid to wield an acoustic for some sweet classic metal interludes ("St. Anne's Lullaby", "How Great Thou Art") or go Pink Floyd with a female singer/piano combo ("Deep Heaven"). Teetering between the progressive and melodeath end of the spectrum, fans of In Flames and Strapping Young Lad will definitely want to get their hands on this one. www.solidstate.com -Mike SOS

IRONWEED
INDIAN LADDER
SMALL STONE
Albany, NY quintet Ironweed take matters into their own hands on debut disc INDIAN LADDER. Boasting ex-members of Greatdayforup, this band displays sludgy stoner metal chops on cuts like "Thorn" and "Rid The Earth" yet make a fair share of intriguing detours within the metal spectrum on tracks like "Lifeless Coil" and "Penny for Your Prayers" to keep your smoked skull active. Brimming over with dirty grooves, thick riffs, and a solid vocal performance that cohesively ties it all together, Ironweed nicely fills the gap left by Alabama Thunderpussy while throwing in choice chunks of metallic goodness a la Down for that kick in the ass listening experience you've been craving. www.smallstone.com -Mike SOS

SCALE THE SUMMIT
CARVING DESERT CANYONS
PROSTHETIC
Scale the Summit's captivating alliance of guitar wizardry with adventurous musical compositions sounds like a cross between the forward-thinking The Fucking Champs and the cathartic charge of Pelican on their second effort CARVING DESERT CANYONS. This invigorating unit's jostling eight-track excursion is an instrumental metal fan's dream come true, as this technically proficient quartet put on a veritable musician's clinic to disc ("Glacial Planet") while skillfully investing the listener emotionally without assistance from any vocals ("City in the Sky"). Rousing and rocking, Scale the Summit lack of stuffiness is what helps them excel so well in getting their point across, as this band doesn't just blow your face off with flurries of flawless runs and fills but writes heartfelt and hearty progressive rock jams bursting with the aforementioned for a multi-faceted assault not just restricted to the progressive sect. www.prostheticrecords.com -Mike SOS

NOISM
+-
CRUCIAL BLAST
Noism consists of guitar and drum machine unleashing sonic batterings of cybergrind at dangerous BPM's. Armed with a disturbingly cold and robotic rampage, this 12-track affair reaps 20+ minutes of aural menacing complete with electronically manipulated drum poundings incessantly jackhammering into your cerebrum while blistering guitars fade in and out of the barrage of percussive insanity. This album will drive you mad if you allow its chaotic cadence to envelope your ears long enough, as Noism's representation of mechanized madness is truly devoid of any sense of stability. www.crucialblast.com -Mike SOS

BIONIC
BLACK BLOOD
SIGNED BY FORCE
Canadian rock outfit Bionic deliver a galactic group of good times rock tonnage on their bombastic 10-track attack BLACK BLOOD. Bad to the bone rhythms ("Learn to Love the Government") and fuzzed-out jams ("Theme for a Young Lion") collide with a marching band ("Freedom Now, Baby") for the supercharged cruise through the desert in a muscle car vibe. Honkytonk piano, rowdy horns and badass guitar bends are tatooed all over this disc, subtlety exposing hard rock's gritty underbelly without a hint of restraint ("Econo Tusk", "Soft as Magarine"). Dripping with attitude reinforced with a smattering of soulful rock 'n roll, this disc melds the freewheeling natures of Queens of the Stone Age, Fu Manchu and Clutch together for a raucous ride rocks fans will clamor for. www.signedbyforce.com -Mike SOS

GOJIRA
THE WAY OF ALL FLESH
PROSTHETIC
The latest album from Gojira solidifies this French quartet's place amongst metal's elite, as this avant-garde unit's extraordinary juxtaposition of crushing and progressive elements is stretched past the point of reproach on the 12-track THE WAY OF ALL FLESH. Fueled by an ecological mindset which sets the lyrical tone of take care of Mother Earth or else, this squad doles out a harbinging mix of epic death metal complete with dizzying time signature switches and waves of doom metal monotony ("The Art of Dying") and industrial strength grooves that simply brutalize ("Toxic Garbage Island", "Yama's Messengers"), while challenging your ears with superlative blasts of sonic excess ("Vacuity"). Providing a bevy of dazzling dynamic shifts and a haunting black metal intensity throughout ("Wolf Down the Earth"), Gojira has created a unique strand of metal music that gets better after every listen. www.prostheticrecords.com -Mike SOS

BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY
BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY
SELF-RELEASED
Texas metal quartet By Any Means Necessary lay down a furious thrash meets modern metal clobbering on their three-track eponymous endeavor. Imagine Chimaira going toe to toe with Exodus ("Discord of War") for an idea of what kind of beatdown to be prepare for. Throw in some some tasty Pantera-esque guitar runs and a powerful rhythm section's exuding brute force and allow the headbanging to begin. This disc delivers sharpened blows of metallic might with flashes of Bay Area glory and a nasty attitude hammering it home. www.myspace.com/byanymeansnecessary -Mike SOS

GUILLOTINE
BLOOD MONEY
PULVERIZED
Sweden's Guillotine slay the world with their authentic brand of hostile thrash metal on the reunited unit's latest 12-track affair BLOOD MONEY. Melding blistering speed, groovy riffs, and disciplined rhythms, there's a whole lot of Kreator and Exodus in these guy's bag of tricks as tracks like "Insane Oppression" and "War" denote, yet there's also a Sacred Reich-esque vibe permeating from cuts like "Die/Live?" and some sweet apocalyptic lyrical content in "Our Darkest Day". And of course, being from Sweden, how can you play thrash and not borrow a bit from The Haunted ("Welcome to Dying")? A rousing slab of headbanging and tasty riffs abound, Guillotine bind a strong cross-section of elements that make great thrash metal together, developing a stirring offering for those who enjoy an insatiable need for speed wrought in wrath. www.pulverized.net -Mike SOS

PRO-PAIN
NO END IN SIGHT
REGAIN
16 years on the job and still going strong chugging out memorable heavy tuneage, Pro-Pain follows up their recent string of solid offerings with NO END IN SIGHT. This 11-track endeavor finds Gary Meskil and crew pumping the usual meat and potatoes hardcore metal might with the blue collar work ethic that warrants this band's hard nosed reputation ("Halo", "Let The Blood Run Through the Streets"), yet there's some discernible switches happening throughout NO END IN SIGHT that really stand out given their tried and true formula. The increased implementation of melody, especially vocally (and clean-sung at that), is a pretty stark diversion for this veteran act, as it gives off a modern hardcore approach to cuts like "All Rise" and "Hour of the Time" while allowing this troupe to include another choice layer to its already menacing arsenal. Add in a sterling guest guitar spot by Cannibal Corpse's Rob Barrett ("Pheonix Rising") and bagpipes for a stomping pub rock feel ("Go It Alone") to the band's stalwart hardcore metal delivery for more hints of deviation to the steamroller sound championed since Pro-Pain's inception and you can mark this disc as yet another durable release from an always reliable unit with some unexpected aural surprises making perfect fits into their punishing paradigm. www.ragainrecords.com -Mike SOS

TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION
PEACE LOVE AND TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION
ENUCLEATION
Total Fucking Destruction provide an unusual socio-apocalyptic musical experience meshing offbeat bursts of grindcore mired in jackhammered repetition with an unabashed thumb at the nose punk attitude kicking down the door on the irreverent 23-track assault titled PEACE LOVE AND TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION. Menacing at times ("Anyone But Me") yet consistently maintaining an upbeat and bright feel not unlike SOD ("Grindcore Salesman", "Doublespeaker"), Brutal Truth grind guru Rich Hoak pulls double duty on drums and vocals here, conducting the ensuing madness while flailing away on the kit like an escaped convict on the lam. Hurling heaps of biting commentary about the state of the world into the mantra-like lyrics of this frenetic centrifuge only makes the room spin faster and the urge to hang on for dear life that much more tangible, as TFD have furnished a vociferous rollercoaster ride through society's gritty underbelly on this acerbically expedient expedition. www.enucleationrecords.com -Mike SOS

WETNURSE
INVISIBLE CITY
SEVENTH RULE
Malleable NYC metal unit Wetnurse whip up another furious flurry of forward thinking metal on the quintet's latest effort INVISIBLE CITY. This extreme eight-track excursion eagerly runs up and down the aisles in the heavy metal supermarket, grabbing everything in sight, chucking it into a brooding battleship-like shopping cart for their diabolical devourment. Channeling the vocal gymnastics of Candiria, the efficient instrumental elegance of Baroness, the dynamic dissonance of Dillinger Escape Plan, and the disenchanted discourse of Today is the Day, this squad squarely bridges the gap between modern metal waters on cuts like the mesmerizing "Conversations With the Moon" and the demonically-charged "Show Your Spell Miss Hell". Best absorbed via uninterrupted listen, Wetnurse's sweeping stylistic shifts seamlessly meld into each other to form an elaborate tapestry of crushing avant garde metal whose vivacious musicianship raises the bar on what the amalgamation of adventurous and battering should sound like. www.seventhrule.com -Mike SOS

BIBLE OF THE DEVIL
FREEDOM METAL
CRUZ DEL SUR
Hey man, is that FREEDOM METAL, man? Well, turn it up, man! Yeah, that's the vibe the latest eight-track affair which Chicago's defenders of the faith Bible of the Devil emits, right down to the gruff yet glittery Paul Stanley meets Paul D'ianno vocal caterwaul of Matt Hoffman . Tracks like "Womanize" maintain a classic metal feel by keeping the genre's traditional sounds and structures intact with unfettered authenticity while the terrifically-reworked twin guitar mayhem and galloping rhythms featured throughout reek with familiarity yet rock so hard you don't care that you've heard it all before from a Priest or Scorpions album from the mid '70s. Not shy in paying homage to their influences in the most respectful of ways, this album is a slamming affair that will have any classic metalhead and gray beard worth their salt scrambling through their closet for the old school denim jacket with the Maiden patch on the back. And so what if "Ol' Girl" apes Thin Lizzy down to the tee, the band does an admirable job of dramatizing what a modern-day Lynott may come up with, so relax a bit, chug a brew and sit tight and enjoy this time machine joyride Bible of the Devil have stepped up and supplied. www.cruzdelsurmusic.com -Mike SOS

DIMENSION ZERO
HE WHO SHALL NOT BLEED
CANDLELIGHT
Boasting an impressive pedigree (featuring members of Soilwork and In Flames) and a penchant for punishment, Swedish melodic death metal troupe Dimension Zero return with its fourth installment of brutality with HE WHO SHALL NOT BLEED. This 11-track effort merges blistering thrash with diabolical death 'n roll, relying heavily on a ferocious flurry of relentless riffs, pummeling rhythms, and vicious vocals on tracks like "Going Deep" and the furious title track while tracks like "Red Dead Heat" and the slightly more melodic "Hell Is Within" hammer the group's metallic points into your skull with boisterous blunt force. Despite its noticeable lack of tempo variation, the continuously frantic pace set here plays up Dimension Zero's strengths, allowing the listener to throw caution to the wind and headbang to heart's content with reckless abandon. www.candlelightrecordsusa.com -Mike SOS

SUGAR RED DRIVE
SUGAR RED DRIVE
SELF-RELEASED
Poughkeepsie, NY modern rock mavens Sugar Red Drive have fused a wealth of familiar sounds together assuring a readiness for rock radio dominance on the quartet's eponymous 11-track debut. Huge hooks, driving guitars, and a solid vocal performance bolster hard rockers like "Comin' Down" and tender moments like "Millers Child", instantly cramming these guys in between Three Days Grace, Theory of a Deadman, and Hinder in the battle to knock Nickelback off the top of the mountain. Providing a durable batch of tunes that are easy to hum along to ("Grace") or rock out to ("One More Time"), Sugar Red Drive display an uncanny acumen for making rock music aimed for hockey arenas and sports highlight reels. www.myspace.com/sugrareddrive -Mike SOS

LECHEROUS NOCTURNE
THE AGE OF MIRACLES HAS PASSED
UNIQUE LEADER
South Carolina quintet Lecherous Nocturne bust out from the gates of the netherworld with a devastating eight-track excursion in tow titled THE AGE OF MIRACLES HAS PASSED. This blistering and brutal unit (featuring members of Nile and Monstrosity) rip and tear with a dastardly death meet black metal amalgamation on cuts like the pulverizing "We Are As Dust" and the exasperating slow crawl of the title track. Providing a compact (this disc only runs 28 minutes long) yet complete aural bludgeoning, this release brims over with an uncompromising array of surprisingly memorable moments bordering on catchy ("Requiem for the Insects") in between its chaotic abrasiveness, swiftly catapulting this act to the top of the extreme metal fold. www.uniqueleader.com -Mike SOS

XYSTUS
EQUILIBRIO
SENSORY
Dutch metal project Xystus surpasses typical rock opera expectations on the troupe's latest grandiose expose entitled EQUILIBRIO. This brazen theatrical affair boasts a cast and crew over 130 members strong, including a massive choir reserved for religious celebrations and a show-stealing full scale orchestra to properly carry mainman's Bas Dolmans' epic vision to life. Highlighted by the immense vocal talents of Simone Simons (Epica) and George Oosthock (Orphan) as major characters, this sweepingly majestic presentation's ace in the hole can be found via the symphonic might and bold pomp the orchestra doles out, cutting through the competent power metal backdrop at just the right times to stir up drama, create tension, and enrich the entire production with its captivating sparkle and shine. This is one not to miss if you enjoy progressive metal at its most bombastic as well as a piece of work which screams to be experienced with all accoutrements intact. www.lasersedgegroup.com -Mike SOS

CAPRICORNS
RIVER, BEAR YOUR BONES
RISE ABOVE
UK instrumental metal menaces Capricorns inject an undercurrent of visceral volatility into their latest sludgy sojourn RIVER, BEAR YOUR BONES. Setting off a dastardly stoner rock feel that trades genre-typical flashes of excess for barrages of skull pounding passages that could easily be mistaken for pit stomping hardcore if not for the spacy interludes in between , this eight-track affair contorts without compromise, showcasing its metallic malleability with every doom-laden riff ("5") and dramatic shapeshifted rhythm hammered out ("1", "3"). Boasting former members of Iron Monkey and Orange Goblin in its ranks explains and bolsters the sheer heaviness this squad exudes while intertwining the wares of usual suspects such as Pelican, Isis, Neurosis, Baroness, and Mastodon, an arduous task that Capricorns takes on with a triumphant arsenal of prolific yet pounding avant-garde atmospheric metal chops. www.riseaboverecords.com -Mike SOS

WE INSIST!
OH! THINGS ARE SO CORRUPTIBLE
EXILE ON MAINSTREAM
Freewheeling French troupe We Insist! throw convention to the wind on their latest release OH! THINGS ARE SO CORRUPTIBLE, weaving a durable alternative metal safety net channeling Faith No More, Primus, Clutch and System of A Down while embedded impressions of quirky rock and a predominant level of jazz (propelled by a call and response between the patented twin saxophone presence) assert importance. This 12-track offering sweeps through speakers with determined density, at times displaying the frantic power of a renegade juggernaut on the lam ("Time is Lazy", "The Sailor") while demonstrating a love for the dark and cinematic ("Early Recollections", "Half Awake") . Capturing an unorthodox amalgamation of rhythmic swerves, psychedelic grooves and whiskey-soaked jangle , this oddball sextet's bottomless bag of intriguing musical textures amped with an intoxicating intensity bestow tracks like "Imperial Catechism" a hearty stomp and "The Great Disorder" an icy chill. This disc's herky-jerky nature and off the grid train of thought is not for everyone, but for those who crave more creativity in their rock music, this one delivers. www.southern.com -Mike SOS

THYRFING
HELS VITE
REGAIN
Swedish Viking metal veterans Thyrfing have undergone some lineup changes (most notably vocally) since their last offering in 2005, yet this quintet seems to have gained strength from the shakeup and have decisively become darker in the process. HELS VITE is the troupe's icy seven-track statement, a releases which comes complete with a proper balance of menacing guitars, gargantuan drums, tortured growls, and keyboard flourishes driving cuts like "Griftefrid" straight down into the depths of Hell, while "Isolation" works under a deliberate pace while emitting dramatic blackened vibes accentuated with acoustic guitar interludes and battleground horns that you'd expect from any corpsepainted crew a cut above the median. If you're a fan of bombastic black metal with an evil streak a mile wide, HELS VITE provides all the nuances necessary to get your demonic kicks. www.regainrecords.com -Mike SOS

NASHVILLE PUSSY
FROM HELL TO TEXAS
SPV
Sticking to the cowpunk attitude meets raw rock 'n roll formula they've been championing for over a decade, Nashville Pussy returns with another batch of road ready boogie friendly whiskey-soaked hellbound tunes on the 12-track FROM HELL TO TEXAS. Never ones to shy from subtleties, songs like the fiery "I'm So High" and "Drunk Driving Man" are self-explanatory accounts direct from the hard living rock lifestyle, while tracks like "Pray for the Devil" showcase Ruyter Suys' formidable Gibbons meets Perry guitar chops and "Why Why Why" and "Late Great USA" display this tandem's ability to pump out contagious hand-clapped and cowbell friendly hooks that get the whole crowd moving. Bursting at the seams with songs about drugs, drinking, drinking, and drugs, Nashville Pussy continues its chug on its raucous rock route, huffed up on whatever they can get their paws on, not afraid to share a taste of its non-stop country-fried rock attack. www.spvusa.com -Mike SOS

OMNIUM GATHERUM
THE REDSHIFT
CANDLELIGHT
Finnish sextet Omnium Gatherum, fresh off their last release STUCK HERE ON SNAKE'S WAY, return with another 11-track endeavor entitled THE REDSHIFT. This melodic death metal unit's latest batch of tunes demonstrates this act's versatile composition skills, as this album branches out from the usual melodeath malaise long enough to dabble in Goth metal, progressive, and doom for a more revealing glimpse at a band who,despite making headway, still seem to be searching for their niche. While tracks like "Shadowkey" sound a bit rote and par for the In Flames meets Dark Tranquility course, tracks like the mid-tempo mauling brought on by "Shapes and Shades" give off Machine Head-esque power, instrumental "Song for December" provides a welcomes somber break in the action and "No Breaking Point" and "Greeneyes" cleverly intertwine the wares of Moonspell and Katatonia for an intriguing dip into the gloom and doom realm. Ominum Gatherum's well-versed metal approach keeps listeners engrossed throughout yet a bit more fine-tuning may sharpen this squad's output for the next time around. www.candlelightrecordsusa.com -Mike SOS

RABID RABBIT
RABID RABBIT
INTERLOPER
Two bassists, minimal vocals, and swirls of dense psychedelic avant garde metal arrive via Chicago's Rabid Rabbit on the crew's latest jaunt, an elitist-friendly vinyl-only eponymous seven-track affair. Sounding like a cross between Sonic Youth, Melvins, and Giant Squid, this foursome fearlessly hammers out a cavalcade of over your head noise rock mired in sludge metal low-end rhythms ("First Blood") and free-form jazz structure while the atmospheric fretwork allows aerial acrobatics in tracks like "Ephederine" to shine. Thirsty ears looking for a challenge will warm up to the earthy tones and unorthodox style, but for those not seeking adventure, this may render a bit too sharp of a turn to get into. www.interloperrecords.net -Mike SOS

SALUTE AND AMOK CDS OUT NOW!

AMOK "Downhill Without Brakes" CD
After a batch of home brewed demos these fun loving, hard thrashing lads from Glasgow 'Murder City' have honed their brewing skills to perfection, offering this premium brand of Thrash Metal.
With ingredients such as HEATHEN, FORBIDDEN, EXODUS and SACRED REICH, 'Global Hangover' is certain ! Will this advent the rise of "Clyde Bay Area Thrash" ? Time will tell. Released in February 2009.




SALUTE "The Underground" CD
From the dark damp cellars of Bristol, so deep in 'The Underground that the graffiti on the dungeon walls is still in Latin, these disciples of 'Dr. Faust stir a vile brew of HELLBASTARD, CELTIC FROST and AXEGRINDER. Seasoned with a healthy dose of MOTÖRHEAD warts, their alcohol fueled brewtality should convince every follower of Thrash and Crust alike. Released in February 2009.


To buy, send me a PM or visit www. thebasar. org

WAS JUST WONDERING ABOUT THESE GUYS.

The Executioners have returned! Reactivated and armed with a ferocious new album Blood Money, Guillotine sets the benchmark of intense Thrash Metal to deadly new heights; essential melodic hooks with just the right amount brewed into perfection to split your skull into pieces!

Featuring Nils Eriksson and Fredrik Mannberg from the mighty Nocturnal Rites and together in collaboration with the master of Thrash Metal artist Ed Repka (Megadeth, Atheist, Death, Venom, etc), Guillotine will crush all competitors in the genre and emerge as the reigning kings of Thrash Metaldom!

Mixed at Toontrack Studio by Mattias Eklund (Nocturnal Rites, Naglfar, etc) and mastered by Goran Finnberg at The Mastering Room (Soilwork, In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, etc), Blood Money will be released by Pulverised Records October 27, 2008.


Promos will be available soon; all promo requests for North America, get in touch with Earsplit...


"Guillotine is no trendy retro-thrash concoction;
Blood Money is aggressive, catchy and full of heart." - Metal Maniacs

'They might have left us 10 years ago with a retro classic but in 2008, Guillotine is a
meaner, faster and far more vicious thrashing bloodthirsty machine
ready to chop your head off!' - Terrorizer Magazine

Band Biography:

1995/1996 - Fredrik Mannberg and Nils Eriksson are hard at work with their main-band NOCTURNAL RITES, but felt that they need a melodic contrary and an outlet for something that reminds them of the early thrash bands they grew up with. HOLOCAUST is thus born as a two-piece project that however shortly grows into something more serious and ambitious. The band name is changed to GUILLOTINE and quickly a demo recording established ("Under the Guillotine", 1995). The demo receives rave reviews in the Thrash community and the band soon inks their first record deal, recruit drummer extraordinaire Cobra and starts working on material for what will come to be their debut album.

1997 - To large praise of the underground thrash scene and magazines alike, GUILLOTINE's debut album "Under the Guillotine" is released in the first quarter of 1997. Although this happened when the retro Thrash revival is at its peak and the scene is flooded with bands and projects, GUILLOTINE manages to secure a top position and "Under the Guillotine" is still to this day considered a classic second wave Thrash Metal release of the 1990's.

1998 - The main focus of Fredrik Mannberg and Nils Eriksson is devoted to NOCTURNAL RITES and any GUILLOTINE’s eventual plans for touring and further releases are indefinitely put on ice.

2007 - After a ten-tear break, the monster lives and the urge to produce killer Thrash Metal songs is back again! This time to stay, as it seems. The band recruits two new members, Daniel Sundbom (Guitars), Efraim Juntunen (Drums) and lays down two brand new tracks ("War", "Blood Money") for a demo and the intention of landing a record deal for their second - or comeback if you will - album. In early 2008, the band ultimately signs with Pulverised Records and begin work on what will become "Blood Money" (2008).

2008 - Present day. GUILLOTINE has finished recording for "Blood Money" and are awaiting it to be unleashed upon an anxious Thrash community. The band is here to stay. No project or second try - the real thing; only pure, simple and to-the-point Thrash Metal. In the rawest and most pissed off form there is.

Guillotine is:Nils Eriksson – BassFredrik Mannberg – Guitars / VocalsDaniel Sundbom – GuitarsEfraim Juntunen – Drums

http://www.myspace.com/guillotine2007
http://www.pulverised.net/
http://www.myspace.com/pulverisedrecords

YOU'LL TURN INTO A PUMPKIN.

Midnight's "Farewell to Hell" 10" (ANTI-GOTH 106) -Unholy and Unwholesome black metal inspired by 80's best (Venom, Bulldozer, Exorcist, Bathory). Second assault of all new studio recordings. Die Hard version includes an one sided picture 7". http://nwnprod.com/catalog/

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

RE-BONDED BY BLOOD

Guitarist Gary Holt of the veteran San Francisco Bay Area thrashers EXODUS has issued the following update:

"While anxiously awaiting our return to Europe for the festival run, we have been quietly working on the 'Bonded By Blood' re-recording in our time off. Rob [Dukes, vocals] is currently doing vocals in New York, Lee [Altus, guitar] is doing his solos and I have some touch-ups to do on July 4th. Everything sounds crushing! Guitars are brutal, Tom's [Hunting] drumming is sick, Rob sounds heavier than ever. I am totally stoked. While working on this, I have been securing the talent for the 25th anniversary version of it, the Paul Baloff trubute. Nine different singers. Can't name names right now, but people have been more than willing to participate.

"Next up is Tidal Wave [festival in San Francisco], then beer and sun in Europe. This sitting-at-home shit sucks; I need to be on the road!"

EXODUS recently extended its recording agreement with Nuclear Blast Records, whom Holt called "the greatest label in metal."

The band's brand new album, "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit B", is due out later this year.

EXODUS' video for the song "Riot Act" was directed by Jon Schnepp of "Metalocalypse" (on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim) for Schneppzone Inc. The clip, which made its TV debut in December on MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball", can be viewed below.

"Riot Act" comes off "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A", which sold 3,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release back in October 2007, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California with producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, MACHINE HEAD, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY).

CROCODILE DUNDEE IN CHICAGO

SACRIFICE OF THE NAZARENE CHILD IX ITINERARY

Below are the times of apperance per each band. This is just an estimation as some bands will not play a full 45 minutes due to their decision of songs they wish to play.

Please spread this information for others to come and see it:

Rituals Of A Blasphemer 2pm-245pm

Nuclear Desecration 3-345pm

Thornspawn 4-445pm

Father Befouled 5-545pm

Prosanctus Inferi 6-645pm

Obeisance 7-745pm

Devestator 8-845pm

Nosvrolok 9pm-945pm

Cemetary Urn 10-1045pm

Profanatica 11-1145pm

Gospel Of The Horns 12pm-1245am

Holocaust Wolves Of The Apocalypse1am-2am

STREAMING TESTAMENT

Thrash Titans TESTAMENT are currently streaming their entire new album, The Formation of Damnation, exclusively on MySpace.com!

From April 18th until April 24th, the TESTAMENT album stream will be featured in MySpace Germany, Brazil, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Holland, Austria, Switzerland, and India.

From April 22 and until April 24, TESTAMENT will be the featured artist on MySpace USA!

http://www.myspace.com/metal

INFERNALLY CROWNED, WAS HE

SATHANAS –CROWNED INFERNAL
Hey, it’s these guys! They’re still going as strong as ever! And their face-ripping metal is a sight for sore eyes! Except I’m using my ears more than my eyes, and really digging their razor-sharp death/thrash with plenty of heavy metal influence, a sound that time has nearly forgotten. This trio of Satan lovers sure do know how to bang out some incredibly wicked tuneage in one hell of a classic-sounding atmosphere, with growled and raspy vocals damn near taking turns in their assault upon us. You would find even a trickle of synth, sadness, or foresty-renaissance nonsense here. No pussies need apply! (FA)
PULVERISED RECORDS
www.pulverised.net, roy@pulverised.net, www.sathanas.net, manager@sathanas.net

SABBAT AT THE WHISKEY

AGITATOR NEEDS A VOCALIST

www.myspace.com/agitatorthrash

CHECK OUT TERRA CAPUT MUNDI, RAGING RAW THRASH!

www.myspace.com/terracaputmundi

NEW ADRENICIDE CD

ADRENICIDE -"RAGING FULL ON" OUT NOW! 2007

80'S THRASH/CROSSOVER AS FUCK

AVAILABLE NOW FOR ONLY:
£3.50(ENGLAND) + POSTAGE (£0.80)
€6.00(EUROPE) + POSTAGE (€1.80)
$6.50(REST OF THE WORLD) + POSTAGE ($2.00)
PLUS GET A FREE BADGE

For details visit www.myspace.com/adrenicide1

HEFTY DOSE OF REVIEWS

SARPANITUM – DESPOILMENT OF ORIGIN
Gather 'round kids, we're about to go back to a time before the scourge of Christ fell upon man to a land called Sumeria, where war and honor were a part of life and gods of varying dispositions were worshipped by a most proud and astute people (too bad they weren't aware of the horrors that would befall the region two millennia later). Telling this glorious tale is Sarpanitum, whose name comes from the goddess who would have the privilege of marrying the great god Marduk. The legends are delivered in the form of fierce and technical blackened death metal, with plenty of hypersonic blasting and mixed vocals to deliver the ancient lore with inexorable force. Not since early (and I mean EARLY!) Kataklysm has a band taken on the subject and delivered it with such intense ferocity, in my not-so-humble opinion. ZI DINGIR ANA KANPA! (FA)
GALACTIC RECORDS
www.galacticrecords.co.uk, press@galacticrecords.co.uk, www.sarpanitum.com, www.myspace.com/sarpanitum, andy@sarpanitum.com

KORPIKLAANI – TERVASKANTO
Well whadda ya know, all I did was blink and here's another Korpiklaani album in my lap! Honestly, this is the type of scenario where if you happen to like a band, especially one that may be deemed a bit more niche than standard fare, you'll be looking forward to each and every album that at this rate it's probably safe to speculate will come out on an annual basis. This next set of words might sound a bit contradictory, but it works and thus so be it; essentially more of the same of unique, original, and very creative in a market where such words seldom apply to bands, Korpiklaani's super-catchy rollicking good time celebrations of drinking, nature, and Nordic heritage (no, it's not "racist", so all you liberal trash shut the fuck up and go worry about some of society's ACTUAL problems!) are always welcomed with open ears on my end! (FA)
NAPALM RECORDS
www.napalmrecords.com, nathan@napalmrecords.com, www.korpiklaani.com, www.myspace.com/korpiklaaniofficial, contact@sundofliberation.com (band management)

SEPIA DREAMER – THE SUBLIME
It's too bad that most people only know the word "sublime" as the result of some mall-pop band, as it can certainly conjure up cerebral images of open-ended interpretation within a person's psyche (think of staring at a painting in a museum and trying to make sense out of it on your own terms). The ethereal and layered music of Sepia Dreamer is definitely one that shifts moods from up to down with four lengthy tracks sans any vocals and arrangements that shift around to everything from neo-classical segments to bizarre prog-rock chunks on a moment's notice. This is both soundscapes for funerals and for sipping scotch and puffing on cigars. Discerning tastes will find much to appreciate here. (FA)
GALACTIC RECORDS
www.galacticrecords.co.uk, press@galacticrecords.co.uk, http://pwnt.co.uk/sepia-dreamer/, www.myspace.com/sepiadreamer, brokenshaw@gmail.com

WITCHTRAP – NO ANESTHESIA
Fists are flying, heads are banging, and beer is being chugged in the sick realms of heavy metal hell that are Witchtrap's! These rabid metal bastards know how to thrash n' bash like it was 1984, and the sound quality and CD design prove this ever more so! I love me some basic, down to earth metal with no frills and a passion that know no boundaries, and Witchtrap are doubtlessly such a band! The banner of metal flies high and Witchtrap are the heralds of that very message! The back of the album booklet says it loud and clear: "HEAVY METAL MANIACS! WATCH YOUR BACK… …WE ARE HERE TO THRASH!" (FA)
HELLS HEADBANGERS
www.hellsheadbangers.com, throneoffire@hellsheadbangers.com, www.witchtrap.cjb.net, www.myspace.com/witchtrap666, witchtrap666@hotmail.com

GRENADE – THE HOWLING DAMNED
OW-OOOOOOOOOOOOO! Wait, that's a werewolf howl, nevermind. This album will however make you howl with utmost glee, as it's one of those gems that pops up oh so few times a year and just floors you! Grenade brilliantly and lavishly mix death and heavy metal to create an extremely classy and magnificently produced piece of metal artillery. Leaps and bounds above any joke band riding this heart wrenching (for many of us, at least) metal bandwagon of late, Grenade prove that conforming is for the weak-minded and have no agenda other that to provide mortals the most crushing and sinister form of metal man can create! At times neither fast nor slow, Grenade's sounds is right there in between the legendary sounds of 80s classic metal and 90s nascent death metal. You owe it to yourself to experience this modern underground masterpiece firsthand! I've said it before, and I'll say it yet again, Australia is producing some of the best metal these days, with many bands fusing sounds from each genre and creating a style entirely their own. Sadly, it seems Grenade's status is currently is limbo, as their website mentions. Let's hope they can continue in another form, for it would be a damn shame for them to leave our world with so little material! (FA)
HELLS HEADBANGERS
www.hellsheadbangers.com, throneoffire@hellsheadbangers.com, http://www.elementalist.net/grenade, http://www.myspace.com/grenadeattack, grenade_attack@hotmail.com

HORNA/BEHEXEN – SPLIT CD
This is a very succinct release; there are no frills to doll it up, and no bullshit to cheapify what it stands for, dirty and uncompromising black metal viciousness! Horna gives us four tracks our some pretty raw and purposely under-porduced maggot-infested vile blackness and Behexen raise hell with slightly more polished (yet still and understatement) and a bit lengthy triple-dose of metal from the deepest abyss! It appears that this material had been released in 2004 on a small independent label evidently run by Shatraug of Horna, and Moribund took the initiative to now have it see the light of day in America. Well that light is about to fast become extinguished away, as both band's shroud of perpetual darkness is about to befall mankind's feeble ways! (FA)
MORIBUND RECORDS
www.moribundcult.com, orders@moribundcult.com, www.legion-horna.com, www.myspace.com/thetruehorna, shatraug@grievantee.com,
www.kolumbus.fi/anniina.sade/HTML/index.htm, torog666@hotmail.com

HORNA/MUSTA SURMA VIHAN VIODET
It looks like Moribund is really intent on pushing Horna material. Well I don't blame them, everything so far has been damn good and there is a wealth of material to dig up and release domestically. Much better than some of the complete and other crap other labels have "re-released and repackaged" over the years if for no other purpose than to reach the mallgoing youth of today! This is actually an amalgamation by Moribund of two different splits the band did together earlier in the decade, a heck of a good deal for the consumer indeed. Expect just about more of the same from Horna, but call me crazy, it's almost as if there's a hint of death metal in some their tracks present on this one. I seriously doubt I have an imagination THAT vivid! Musta Surma is a very low-key, mysterious band with tempo changes and very high-pitched vocals that might bring early Gorgoroth to the mind of some. Put the iPod to rest for now and give this a spin in the old CD player and see just how awesome the Finnish black metal scene was at the turn of the century and how it's blossomed into one of the more venerable ones within the archives of the underground! (FA)
MORIBUND RECORDS
www.moribundcult.com, orders@moribundcult.com, www.legion-horna.com, www.myspace.com/thetruehorna, shatraug@grievantee.com,
www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Studio/6983/index.html

MORSURE – M.A.D ET ACCELERATION PROCESS
Well this is interesting; here's an obscure 80s heavy/thrash band I've never heard of (those do come up every so often) yet they still have enough merit to warrant a premium release with a thick as hell booklet and more photos and anecdotes than you could imagine! You know, it's always a great pleasure finding out about things like this, as no doubt there were plenty of bands that existed under the radar while the likes of Slayer, Megadeth, and Metallica were stealing all the thunder (only to become disasters and utter jokes years later). Hailing from France, Morsure's demo and full-length are married together for 14 tracks of blazing fast, sometimes technical, and downright dirty sounding classic metal that'll get you fist waving and head banging until it detaches! The odd snap-crackle-pop in production only adds to the nostalgic mood of this hellish ride, as do the often hokey lyrics, typical of many European bands at the time that sang in English. This is the type of rare gem that literally jumps out of any collection on a shelf. Your friends will wonder what the heck it is, and when they hear it they're sure to become believers! (FA)
HELLS HEADBANGERS
www.hellsheadbangers.com, throneoffire@hellsheadbangers.com

VOIVID DVD REVIEW

VOIVOD – DVOD-1 (MUSIC VIDEO DISTRIBUTORS)

Well it seems to be the norm for pretty much every band these days to put out DVDs. Honestly, I'm all for it if there's a wealth of material to put out. A band only a few years old playing at a live outdoor festival concert is not exactly what I have in mind. I'm talking music videos (for better or worse), interviews/retrospectives, documentary/production footage, and killer inserts are all musts. A half-assed band would logically put out a half-assed DVD, right? In the case of Voivod, a band with a vast and now tragic history, their first DVD proves that they aren't fucking around. The DVD cuts off circa 1991, which is as good a blessing as I could hope for. It broke my heart to see them on the "Negatron" tour in 1995 with only 12 people at the show, but didn't surprise me one bit, as that was hardly a high moment for the band. And I'm not shy to express my opinions about Metallica, so I could care less about their recent inclusion of Jason Newsted, regardless of HIS opinions about the greatest of all traitors. Seeing the old videos brings back some fond memories of a Headbanger's Ball that time forgot, and having the privilege to hear the old demos (unfortunately enabled only while viewing the DVD, but I do understand that there's a deluxe reissue of "War and Pain" on CD now that features this) is a joy that cannot be put into mere words. There's also just enough behind the scenes footage of video shoots to keep die-hard fans ecstatic, and last but not least you also can see plenty killer early artwork sketches, probably done in their notebooks during classes. While I'm not in any position to plug any online DVD retailers in particular, the ever-resourceful www.dvdpricesearch.com will find you a brand new copy for under $10 at certain sites. I would definitely give this greater priority over Cradle of Filth DVD #9,999 if I were you.

FA WOULD LIKE TO REPSECTFULLY DEDICATE THIS REVIEW TO THE MEMORY OF DENIS "PIGGY" D'AMOUR.

(FA)

www.voivod.com (band site), www.voivod.net (official fan site), www.mvdb2b.com

TOXIC HOLOCAUST EUROPEAN TOUR DATES

Feb 01 2008 UK Plymouth - White Rabbit
Feb 02 2008 UK Brighton - Barfly
Feb 03 2008 UK Birmingham - Academy 2
Feb 04 2008 UK Bristol - Croft
Feb 05 2008 UK Leeds - Josephs Well
Feb 06 2008 UK London - Islington
Feb 08 2008 UK Stoke - Underground
Feb 09 2008 BE - Eiperfest
Feb 10 2008 NL Groningen - Vera
Feb 11 2008 NL Tilburg - 13
Feb 12 2008 SWE Debaser - Malmo
Feb 13 2008 SWE Gothenburg - Sticky Fingers
Feb 14 2008 NOR Oslo - Club Maiden
Feb 16 2008 DK Copenhagen - Loppen

http://www.myspace.com/toxicholocaust

REVIEWS FOR YOUSE

NECROMESSIAH - ANTIKLERICAL TERRORISTIK DEATH SQUAD
Utterly blasphemous and hate-filled blackthrash madness, Necromessiah cursh, maim, and decimate all things holy with their fast and razor-sharp hymns out of hell! This is a release that hearkens back to days of old, when black metal was still an obscure entity and releases actually were a work of art rather than a hip fashion statement. Cramming 10 songs into a mere 28 minutes of savage ferocity and adorned with artwork by the legendary Chris Moyen, this bestial creation teems with sadism and vileness! That should be more than compelling enough for you to embrace it! (FA)
BLASPHEMOUS UNDERGROUND
www.blasphemous-underground.com, productions@blasphemous-undergreound.com, http://necromessiah.altervista.org, necromessiah666@hotmail.com, necromessiah666@hotmail.com , www.myspace.com/necromessiah1

GOSPEL OF THE HORNS - REALM OF THE DAMNED
Crushing. Pulverizing. Mesmerizing. Add whatever -ing you want right here, and it will probably fit sublimely. Blackened thrash obsessed with absolute power and all things self-serving and only of benefit to one's own existence, Gospel of the Horns are the musical embodiment of Machiavelli, Ayn Rand, LaVey, and Robert Greene and an unstoppable fist smashing the doctrines of liberalism and guiltmongering. No excuses and no apologies are given for their "wicked" (which is an entirely relative term as it is) ways. Every bit as good as "A Call to Arms", "Realm of the Damned" sucks you in, chews you to bits, and doesn't even bother doing the courtesy of spitting you out! (FA)
HELLS HEADBANGERS
www.hellsheadbangers.com, throneoffire@hellsheadbangers.com, www.elementalist.net/gospel/index.shtml, gospelofthehorns@hotmail.com, www.myspace.com/gospelofthehorns

M.O.D. - RED, WHITE AND SCREWED
Billy Milano, beautiful man that he is, comes roaring back with good ol' Method of Destruction after laying low for four years. The man's been at it for three decades now and his style of punk/thrash crossover continues to leaves us all in his cross hairs after all these years. I am sure a good portion of us have some fond teenage and adolescent memories of Milano's music in one form or another, be in M.O.D or S.O.D. material. You know the drill; nothing is sacred and no stone is left unturned in Milano's quest to defame and slander everything of the current societal pulse, from government to censorship to illegal aliens. Even legends like James Hetfield and King Diamond are graciously poked fun at, and Billy also takes another opportunity to heap praises upon New York City and its wonderful way of life. I wish we could all be as cool as him! (FA)
INDEX ENTERTAINMENT
www.indexentertainment.com, nathan@indexentertainment.com, www.billymilano.com, www.myspace.com/billymilanothebottomline, www.myspace.com/modmethodofdestruction

THRONAFIRE - EXACERBATED GNOSTIC MANIFESTATIONS
FORECAST: Be prepared for a vicious Chilean brutal death metal attack! Thronafire's first full-length is one heck of a devilish slab of bloodstained death with no mercy or compromise. 10 tracks of blasphemies, perversions, and sadomasochism are just a few of the temptations present that you know you simply can't resist. There's even a music video with a well-designed layout as a little extra incentive to purchase this grimoire of all things vile and foul! Consider this a fair warning! (FA)
IBEX MOON RECORDS
www.ibexmoonrecords.com, info@ibexmoonrecords.com, www.thronafire.cl , www.myspace.com/thornafire, mcnamarath@hotmail.com

ARKHON INFAUSTUS - ORTHODOXYN
With their fourth full-length, Arkhon Infaustus continues to pulverize us with their perverted and most blasphemous blackdeath filth. Incorporating touches of doom and sludge along with spoken word parts to perpetuate an ominous atmosphere, these French Dead Cunt Maniacs are fast making a name for themselves in the underground and with any luck we'll get some live performances stateside from them in the eventual future. Tempos change on a whim and vocals styles alter back and forth from growled to hissed continuously. Indeed, this is the art of blasphemy dished out hotter than hellfire. With all but the last song clocking in at over five minutes, this is one long, agonizing journey down the abyss. Hope you brought snacks! (FA)
OSMOSE PRODUCTIONS (NORTH AMERICAN DISTRIBUTION BY RED STREAM)
www.redstream.org, redstream@aol.com, www.osmoseproductions.com, osmose@osmoseproductions.com, www.myspace.com/arkhoninfaustusofficial

BLOODY SIGN - EXPLOSION OF ELEMENTS
Well this might piss some people off, but hey, I'm food at that - I feel this is what the last few Krisiun albums should have been, as lacking as I thought those were. Bloody Sign has delivered a crushing style of blackened death metal that would surely be the envy of ANY death metal act who seems to progressive go on a downward spiral with each subsequent album. And it doesn't let up at all, so there isn't a single dull moment in this prelude to the apocalypse. Ibex Moon Records sure does have some high quality acts on their roster, and like the Thronafire they again bestowed this release with a kickass high-quality music video. Much kudos to both the band and label! (FA)
IBEX MOON RECORDS
www.ibexmoonrecords.com, info@ibexmoonrecords.com, www.bloodysign.fr.st, uibokalevi@hotmail.com, www.myspace.com/bloodysign

EXODUS TOUR FLYER

ITALIAN THRASH ASSAULT FLYER