thrash

ABREAKTION set release date for CHAOS RECORDS debut EP, reveal first track

Today, Chaos Records announces May 31st as the international release date for Abreaktion‘s striking debut EP, Bornhatred, on CD format.

Hailing from the cult-metal hotbed of Chile, Santiago’s Abreaktion are a thrash metal band founded in mid-2023 in by guitarists Roran Fatehatred and Javier Salgado and bassist Sebastián Logan. After only a few months of rehearsing, the band began recording their first EP at Lion’s Roar studio, which would be titled Bornhatred. At the end of the same year, the band released the first single from this EP, titled “Pyromaniac,” opening the way for some live performances that are still ongoing. 

As a first strike, Bornhatred is deadly. Red-eyed and rabid with just a tinge of ’80s-style death metal, Abreaktion‘s first EP flies fast and free and fiercely, largely eschewing the usual Bay Area or German tropes for the culter likes of Sacrifice, Artillery, Holy Terror, and Atrophy. That they conclude Bornhatred with a cover of Dark Angel’s “Welcome to the Slaughterhouse” simply underlines their devotion to classic ’80s thrash and even its deathrash variants: no more but definitely no less, Abreaktion are thrash metal maniacs making thrash metal for other thrash metal maniacs.

After a series of lineup changes, the Abreaktion lineup is finally established with Roran Fatehatred (guitar/vocals), Javier Salgado (guitar), Edu (bass), and Andrés “Ratanás” Vega (drums). Already, with this already with stability in the lineup, they’ve begun working on demos of new songs for what will be their first full-length. In the meantime, fucking THRASH with Bornhatred!

In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Empty Promises” here:

Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover artwork, courtesy of Alex Aguayo, and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Abreaktion’s Bornhatred

1. Empty Promises
2. Pyromaniac
3. Amnesia Chronicle
4. Mental Torture
5. Welcome to the Slaughterhouse [Dark Angel cover]

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/abreaktion 

www.chaos-records.com
www.facebook.com/chaosrecords
www.chaos-records.bandcamp.com

IRON CURTAIN premiere new track, set release date for new DYING VICTIMS album


On February 16th, 2024 internationally, Dying Victims Productions will release Iron Curtain’s highly anticipated fifth album, Savage Dawn, on CD and vinyl LP formats. And today we premiere the new track “Gypsy Rocker.” Hear Iron Curtain’s “Gypsy Rocker” in its entirety here:

For nearly 20 years now, Spanish metal inquisition Iron Curtain have been stalwart defenders of the faith. With a discography that includes four full-lengths and twice as many EPs, splits, and demos, Iron Curtain’s ever-sturdy sound was forged in the fires of the early ‘80s: largely nodding to the eternal Motörhead as well as Tank, but also Canadian gods like Exciter and Razor, to the Teutonic might of early Iron Angel and Grave Digger, to Scandinavian gods OZ and Heavy Load, to cult American icons Abattoir and Savage Grace, and the shores of Britannia with the likes of Diamond Head, Raven, and Girlschool. And with the Dying Victims release of career highpoint Danger Zone in 2019, that sound’s become even more rocking than ever.

After a quick-hitting mini-album (again through Dying Victims) titled Metal Gladiator whereby the band presented the new alongside re-recordings of the old, Iron Curtain return to assume their throne with Savage Dawn. Doubtlessly (and vividly!) displayed by its photographic cover art courtesy of Daniel Rabandan, Savage Dawn is indeed a new dawn for Iron Curtain: a concerted return to their rough-hewn roots, only spit-shined with the gleaming chrome that’s come to define them in recent years. Thus does Savage Dawn exhibit a unique dichotomy: their ancient metal’s more juiced-up than ever, but the craggy edges come through in the content while the form is powerfully professional – “slick” only in the very best sense, with mixing by the esteemed Javi Félez (Teitanblood, Destroyer 666, Graveyard) and mastering by the equally esteemed Jaime Gómez Arellano (Ghost, Satan, Mayhem) providing that punch. As such, across these ten new tracks (anthemically presaged by “Rattlesnake” on Metal Gladiator, as vintage four-piece Motörheaded as it comes) do we hear Iron Curtain throw the likes of classic Riot, Jaguar, and Running Wild into their by-now-characteristic blender, with leads and melodies more soaring than ever. 

Cool songs, catchy choruses, straightforward riffs, and pure HEAVY METAL with all killers and no fillers – what more do you need?! Iron Curtain drop the biggest sledgehammer with Savage Dawn!

Aforementioned cover artwork and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Iron Curtain’s Savage Dawn
1. The Aftermath
2. Devil’s Eyes
3. Gypsy Rocker
4. Thy Wolf
5. Калашников 47
6. Rattlesnake
7. Tyger Speed
8. Evil is Everywhere
9. Jericho Trumpet (Stuka)
10. Savage Dawn

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/IRON-CURTAIN-168183273229512

www.dying-victims.de 
www.facebook.com/dyingvictimsproductions 

Swedish thrash cult Insane premiere new track

Today, Swedish thrash cult Insane premiere the new track “At Dawn They Die”. The track is the third to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated second album, Victims, set for international release on April 30th via Dying Victims Productions. Hear Insane‘s “At Dawn They Die” in its entirety here:

For over a decade now, Sweden’s Insane have inconspicuously built a catalog of dark ‘n’ dirty thrash metal worth reckoning. That they’ve gone largely unnoticed by all but diehard thrashers is a crime, and attributable more to the sheer abundance of metallic options still coming out of their homeland rather than any lack of quality. In fact, across Insane’s two EPs, three demos, one split, one compilation, and especially 2017’s Evil debut album, one will be hard pressed to find a more strident iteration of ripping ancient thrash.

And Insane continue sticking to their (strident, ripping) guns with their second full-length, Victims. Lyrically focused on the dark world of Swedish murderers, Victims indeed evokes a darker aspect than the already-dark Evil predecessor; the harmonic dual-guitar action sends well-timed shivers down the listener’s spine. But just like that preceding LP, here do Insane show their mastery of epic songcraft, as the majority of the tracks again top five minutes whilst exhibiting that exhilarating rush so crucial to thrash, winding along wildly and ever so slightly touching upon more “tech” textures. If anything, the band engage and challenge in equal measure here, feeding manna to musos and rivetheads alike. Likewise, their iteration of thrash is a multilingual one, varyingly nodding to classic Canadian and German tropes and especially those that have been budding in the wider Scandinavian region more recently and also more “back in the day.”

A unique aspect to Insane that the quartet continue on Victims is the full-bodied, almost rock ‘n’ roll-ish production: warmly analog but not faked, gritty and dirty but never belabored, and thankfully, nothing ear-piercingly overdriven like so much pizza thrash. Essentially, Victims is for those who like their thrash dank and pure and, above all, well-crafted.

If thrash as a whole has its waves of popularity/oversaturation, depending on the year, Insane remain resolute as perpendicular maverick ready to challenge the passé and played-out. If you’re ready for their bandwagon to start rolling, become one of their Victims NOW!

Jump on that bandwagon with the previously revealed  “The Sword” exclusively HERE, courtesy of Zero Tolerance magazine, and the previously revealed “Sinister Night” exclusively HERE, courtesy of Deaf Forever magazine. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Insane (Sweden)’s Victims
1. Maximum Force
2. The Sword
3. Cruel Command
4. The Theme (Victims)
5. Sinister Night
6. At Dawn They Die
7. Sanitarium
8. Skullcrusher
9. Oblivious Void
10. Tormented Breath


MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/insanesweden

www.dying-victims.de 

Ancient metal upstarts SpellForger premiere new track

Today, ancient metal upstarts SpellForger premiere the new track “Lord of Possession” The track is the first to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated debut EP, Upholders of Evil, set for international release on April 2nd via Personal Records, the new label imprint of Majestic Downfall mainman Jacobo Córdova. Hear SpellForger‘s “Lord of Possession” in its entirety exclusively HERE.

Hailing from Indonesia, SpellForger began early 2020, highly influenced by early proto-black metal such as Celtic Frost, early Slayer, Bathory, Possessed, and also modern black metal-influenced thrash metal bands such as Cruel Force, Deathhammer, Condor, and Inculter. And since most of the members are a huge fans of the old-school style of death metal, SpellForger‘s music also bears some slight ’90s death metal influences, as well.

SpellForger was formed by Demi Raldi (AKA Middernacht), and then he also invited a close friend named Jamie (AKA Carrion), who is also guitarist in the black metal bands Ashtarothum and Neurotic of Gods. Together, they then invited a veteran black metal drummer named Yaya (AKA L. Tchort), who has been involved in the black metal scene since the mid ’90s. Some time after, SpellForger was finally formed, with Middernacht recruiting a friend named Fauzan (AKA Horrifier) to fill the position of bassist even though his real skill is playing drums.

A few weeks after the band had formed, SpellForger started to write their first single, “Pestilentia,” and it was recorded three weeks later without any rehearsal. The song is widely well-received with black/thrash fans, with some viewing the band as giving a new, fresh injection into their local metal scene – this because Indonesia (in this case, Bandung) is widely known for its huge death metal scene, mainly focused on the brutal/slam style, which has largely been overdone. Instead, SpellForger wanted to revive the spirit of old-school metal within their local scene, bringing a strong anti-poser attitude in their music and lyrics. The band are also against any other sort of trends that’ve been going on for quite some time within that local scene.

Now, SpellForger have signed with Personal Records for their debut EP, Upholders of Evil. Bearing six tracks in 22 minutes, Upholders of Evil is a fresh blast of old air, the band honoring the ancient ways – actual songwriting, live playing, unpolished recording – with utmost aplomb whilst never reeking of “retro” regressionism. Simply put, this is METAL played METAL maniacs. Indeed, the EP is aptly titled, for SpellForger likewise exude a tangible evil here: never overwrought nor overly obvious, this atmosphere authentically harkens to those ancient forebears.

And this is just the start for SpellForger. The future is wide open to destroy, so prepare for these Upholders of Evil or get out of their way!

Hear the original single version of “Pestilentia” HERE at SpellForger‘s Bandcamp; a re-recorded version will be on Upholders of Evil. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for SpellForger’s Upholders of Evil 1. Upholders of Evil
2. Lord of Possession
3. Metal Crusaders
4. Curse Of The Lycans
5. Black Spellcrafters
6. Pestilentia

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/spellforger.band

www.personal-records.com
personal-records.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/personalrecords666

NEKROMANTHEON reveal second track from new HELLS HEADBANGERS / INDIE album

Today, old-metal standard-bearers Nekromantheon reveal the new track “Thanatos.” The track is the second to be revealed from the band’s  highly anticipated third album, Visions of Trismegistos, set for North American release on April 30th Hells Headbangers on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats (Indie Recordings will be handling all other territories). Hear Nekromantheon‘s “Thanatos” in its entirety here:

Behold the Visions of Trismegistos! After nine long years stirring the cauldron in the underground, Nekromantheon finally re-emerged from the depths with their most ferocious record to date!

Visions of Trismegistos is a long-awaited metal assault, bringing forth the spirit of old metal once again. Recorded in Chaka Khan Studio and various locations around Oslo by the members of Nekromantheon themselves using mostly old, analog equipment to get that warm, genuine sound, Visions of Trismegistos feels like a lost opus from the glory days of the ’80s, when thrash, death, and black metal were merged into one unholy trinity. Yet, it is a fresh and vital testament of a band at the height of their abilities who stand out amongst their peers.

With Visions of Trismegistos, Nekromantheon are ready to resurrect the ways of the ancient with their fresh take on old-school extreme metal!

Nekromantheon started out in early 2005 with only one goal in mind: to play fast, evil, and dirty thrash metal in the way of the old gods. Influenced by the classics of Slayer, Sadus, Kreator, Dark Angel, and Sepultura, they unleashed their attack on modern metal.

After the release of the We’re Rotting EP in early 2007, the band had already built a name for themselves in the underground scene. As the band got more and more focused on capturing the spirit of the ’80s, guitarist Arild “Arse” Myren Torp and drummer Christian “Kick” Holm started building their own recording studio. Shortly, their very own KickArse Studio was ready in Kolbotn, Norway, the hometown of the mighty Darkthrone.

With their own creative pit available, their first full-length, Divinity of Death, was released shortly. This intense evocation of evil turned some heads indeed, and earned the band a spot at Maryland DeathFest 2010 and the highly prestigious yet extremely underground Live Evil Festival in London the same year.

In 2012, Nekromantheon released their second album, Rise, Vulcan Spectre, elevating the level of ferocious, darkened thrash metal to unknown heights. The release was an unholy offering to summon the old ways of metal, being held up to underground classics from the ’80s. It was an intense, analog-sounding record that showed no mercy. Rise, Vulcan Spectre was met with raving reviews and went on to receive a Grammy for Best Metal album 2012.

Nekromantheon, unaffected by the “success,” continued to play underground concerts and festivals that they deemed suited for their concept, and continued to keep a low profile throughout the years, playing selected shows and slowly working on new material. As the members were active and creative in bands like Obliteration, Black Viper, Flight, Deathhammer etc, and they have an extremely self-critical way of writing music within Nekromantheon, the follow-up record took years and years before it materialized. We believe Visions of Trismegistos is worth the wait.

Hear the next proof for yourself with the brand-new track “Thanatos” HERE. First proof can be found with the previously revealed “The Visions of Trismegistos” HERE. Preorder info for Hells Headbangers‘ North American editions can be found HERE for the CD and HERE for the vinyl. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Nekromantheon’s Visions of Trismegistos
1. The Visions of Trismegistos
2. Scorched Death
3. Seven Rulers of Fate
4. Thanatos
5. Dead Temples
6. Zealot Reign
7. Neptune Descent
8. Faustian Rites

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/nekromantheonofficial

www.hellsheadbangers.com

Brazilian ancient metallers Speedkiller stream their highly anticipated debut album

Today, Brazilian ancient metallers Speedkiller stream the entirety of their highly anticipated debut album, Midnight Vampire. Set for international release on January 29th via Edged Circle Productions on vinyl LP format (Helldprod Records will handle the CD and cassette versions), hear Speedkiller‘s Midnight Vampire in its entirety here:

Speedkiller hail from Brazil, arguably THE South American country with the richest history of extreme metal. A quartet, the band comprises vocalist/guitarist Spellcaster, fellow guitarist Summoned, bassist Evilspirit, and drummer Hellkrätus. A full-length album, Midnight Vampire is Speedkiller‘s first public recording…but HOLY FUCK is it a first statement!

Unapologetically, Speedkiller hail the old gods of their homeland, both the massively influential cult scene of the ’80s – Vulcano, Sarcofago, Mutilator, Holocausto, and earliest (and best) Sepultura – but also Mystifier’s classic first album, Wicca. As such, Midnight Vampire is a work of both aggression and atmosphere. But unlike so many past and especially present who endlessly try to replicate the OTT violence of Sarcofago’s INRI, Speedkiller possess a patience in their songwriting which allows bewitching atmosphere to play equal footing as belligerent aggression – the song to take precedence over style. In fact, much of Midnight Vampire charges forward at a brisk, enjoyably headbanging tempo, allowing their largely traditionalist constructions to breathe full, foul breaths: undeniably sulfurous, but firmly rooted in ancient values. Thus, here could one raise a gleaming sword as freely as drink black blood, and indeed do Speedkiller‘s primary inspirations run the gamut of street fights, vampirism, all-caps HEAVY METAL, perversion, and of course DEATH.

Hearty and hale, Midnight Vampire doesn’t waste any time, either: it gets in and gets out in a swift yet deeply satisfying 27 minutes. Suitably, the rich ‘n’ resoundingly analog production is completed by mixing from now-labelmates Inculter‘s Remi Nygård, and cover art by Jean Nightbreäker of Brazil’s Murdeath is everything it should be for a work like this. If you want ARGH, you got it with Speedkiller!

Preorder info for the vinyl version can be found HERE at Edged Circle‘s Bandcamp. Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Speedkiller (Brazil)’s Midnight Vampire
1. Intro [1:07]
2. Nightspell [4:00]
3. Suicide Hell [4:17]
4. Shadow People [4:22]
5. Midnight Vampire [4:11]
6. Valley Of Death [3:32]
7. Circles Of Blood [4:47]

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/speedkiller666

MORE INFO:
www.edgedcircleproductions.com

Austrian deathrashers Deathstorm premiere new track

Today, Austrian deathrashers Deathstorm premiere the new track “Human Individual Metamorphosis”. The track hails from the band’s highly anticipated fourth album, For Dread Shall Reign, set for international release on July 31st via Dying Victims Productions. Hear Deathstorm‘s “Human Individual Metamorphosis” in its entirety here:
A veritable institution by now, Deathstorm have been flying the flag of hate for a decade now, releasing albums on such well-regarded labels as I Hate and High Roller. Deathstorm delivered a swift ‘n’ sweet EP for Dying Victims titled The Gallows in 2015, and now the power-trio return to the label for their most intense and varied recording yet, For Dread Shall Reign.

Without doubt, the spectre of classic Kreator looms large over Deathstorm still – and why should it not, when you’re doing deathtrash this devastating? – but with For Dread Shall Reign, the band bring forth a whole host of equally classic contours. From very old Metallica to equally old Slayer on to ‘80s Death and especially Demolition Hammer, Deathstorm here hammer out riffs, riffs, RIFFS! But, unlike so much thrash that haphazardly seeks to simply catalog riffs in disservice of the song, these Austrian veterans thread their enviable arsenal into hard-charging, headbanging juggernauts of immediately memorable metal-mania manna. There’s nothing fancy here, no concessions toward “maturity” or “crossover” or other euphemisms for watering-down their already-heady brew; for Deathstorm, heavy metal is the law, and For Dread Shall Reign honors this noble ideal pairing strong songwriting with a tight ‘n’ brutal production favorably reminiscent of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Because Deathstorm aren’t broken – so don’ fix ‘em!

Social criticism, serial killers, cults, anti-religion, war…all this is grist for Deathstorm’s lyrical mill. What they spit out is supreme DEATH-fucking-THRASH of the highest order, because in these troubled times, For Dread Shall Reign!

Further reign in dread with the previously revealed “Sulphuric Scents” exclusively HERE, courtesy of MetalBite.com, as well as the previously revealed “Funereal Depths” exclusively HERE, courtesy of Deaf Forever magazine. 

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Deathstorm (Austria)’s For Dread Shall Reign
1. Unforgotten Wounds
2. Blades of Delusion
3. Bloodlusted
4. Ripping and Tearing
5. Sulphuric Scents
6. The Mourning / Funereal Depths
7. Toxic Devotion
8. Stygian Black
9. Human Individual Metamorphosis
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/deathstormthrash
www.dying-victims.de 
www.facebook.com/dyingvictimsproductions 

Brazilian thrash militia Thrashera premiere new track

Today, Brazilian thrash militia Thrashera premiere the new track “Sangue ao Metal” .The track hails from the band’s highly anticipated third album, NÃO GOSTO!, set for international release on March 31st via Helldprod Records.

Hear Thrashera‘s “Sangue ao Metal” in its entirety here:
With nearly 20 releases under their bulletbelts, Thrashera are a veritable institution in the Brazilian underground. The band formed in June 2010 by three maniacs deeply into the ’80s wave of Satanic metal and primitive rock ‘n’ roll. As strongly suggested by the title of their 2010 demo Speed Sex’n’Roll as well as For All Drunks ‘n’ Bitches debut album in 2014, Thrashera‘s lyrics unabashedly encompass such themes as devious behavior, sex, alcohol and drug abuse, horror films, war, massacres, nuclear disasters, violence, underground counterculture, punk issues, and the headbanging way of life. It’s that lattermost element which has endeared the band to so many across the international underground, and their forthcoming NÃO GOSTO! is gonna launch Thrashera onto an ever wider stage – which the band will promptly destroy!

But, lest anyone think that Thrashera are “only” about partying, their explanation of the title NÃO GOSTO! – in English, “DON’T LIKE!” – should provide some more depth about these serious thinkers/drinkers: “The name of the album stands as a denial manifest towards the present political and religious ideologies in Brazil responsible for ‘killing’ – oppressing – all artistic forms of expression. It’s a reinforcement of our lyric approach in the last decade as a band, in a era where the individual liberty for the underground movement and its followers is in serious danger. Expressing NÃO GOSTO! as a mantra, it’s probably the only reasonable path! NÃO GOSTO! synthesizes all the refusal towards the hypocrisy that commands the world, guiding our masses into the abyss with a unconscious grin. This is also a shout-out and a wakeup call to all the underground forces to organize, react, and unite themselves in order to avoid the extinction of the most marginalized culture in the planet. Metal always said NO! And always will!”

Indeed, no right ‘n’ proper metalhead will EVER say “no” to the hard-thrashing onslaught Thrashera offer here on NÃO GOSTO! Right after the ominous, brewing-storm intro, the album kicks in and into high gear, pounding metal into an irresistible surge like no other. Neither retro nor modern, but rather simply timeless, Thrashera effortlessly unload one anthem after another, keeping their high-speed metal highly infectious and very highly headbanging. Compared to so much other thrash-oriented metal, the band bring out the original rock ‘n’ roll edge so crucial to early heavy metal – and then make it evil! Evil invaders singing an executioner’s song, Thrashera‘s razor-sharp attack just keeps going and going and going…until you’re all gone! Raw and dirty, the way it should be: posers leave the hall!

To mark this momentous achievement, Thrashera have such distinguished guests as Vulcano’s Luiz Carlos Louzada and Flageladör’s Armando Exekutor on NÃO GOSTO! As the band continues booking live shows, writing new songs, and negotiating new releases with worldwide underground labels, it’s time to stand with Thrashera in their mission to keep heavy metal not as just entertainment, but as pure art forged in the anti-commercial counterculture underground – just say NÃO GOSTO! 

Begin denying the false with the previously revealed title track “NÃO GOSTO!” HERE at Hellprod‘s Soundcloud as well as HERE at the label’s Bandcamp.
Ordering info can be found HERE.
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
1. Intro víbora resistente
2. Não Gosto!
3. Maré 669
4. Rei dos Excessos
5. Sangue ao Metal
6. Trapped in the 80’s (Hard version)
7. Metal!
8. Correntes não prendem serpentes
9. Igreja (Tributo ao Cabeça Dinossauro)
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/thrashera666
www.helldprod.com
www.facebook.com/helldprod
www.helldprod.bandcamp.com