Mad About Rock

  Swing of the Blade follows Brian Slagel's critically acclaimed 2017 book, For the Sake of Heaviness, which offered insight into how Brian, a metal-obsessed teen at the time in California, built the revered Metal Blade Records label. Brian received requests from metal fans eager to hear more of his stories and metal wisdom, and the new book Swing Of The Blade lives up to this promise. The foreword comes from legendary guitarist Kerry King of Slayer to help demonstrate Brian's much-loved and respected reputation in metal. Metal Blade Records was the first label to sign Slayer and was crucial to Slayer's early career. The book offers fond memories of Brian looking back at his career and giving honest insight into running a music business and the realities of it, the good and bad. He is very straightforward and honest in his anecdotes which is refreshing. One of the best things about the book is reading about the start of the LA metal scene in the early 80s, which Slagel help...

Metal Blade Records is proud to welcome Surma to its worldwide roster! Founded in 2018 by Viktorie Surmová (Bohemian Metal Rhapsody) and Heri Joensen (Týr), Surma is symphonic, progressive heavy metal at its finest. Fans can expect the debut album from this group to be released in 2020 via Metal Blade Records. Surma comments: "We are overjoyed to announce that we have signed a contract with Metal Blade Records for three albums. We have been working on the music for a year now and we are very satisfied with the results. We take this great opportunity very seriously and we look forward to unleashing our music upon the world." Viktorie Surmová is a member of the theater ensemble of Divadlo Na Vinohradech in Prague, where she performs in a play called "Její Pastrokyňa". She has also collaborated with the Czech band Rosa Nocturna, singing on two separate singles, plus the whole album Za Hradbami Času (2017). Additionally, Viktorie was a founding member, lead sin...

In the wake of their brand new album, Angel Of Light - already being described by some as the band's finest work since the legendary debut - Angel Witch are proud to present their first bona fide music video since their eponymous single nearly forty years ago: the incendiary and extraterrestrial-themed "Death From Andromeda". To watch the video, please visit: https://youtu.be/3QyRhJ9ibYY The handiwork of the Brighton-based production team Wild Stag Studio, this six minute piece forms a homage of sorts to the sci-fi and horror dreamworlds that have haunted the collective subconscious and fired the imagination of the band since its earliest incarnation. Even before the day in 1979 when Kevin Heybourne used the recently viewed Alien as inspiration for the hellish guitar noise that kicks off "Baphomet", the mystical aural landscapes that Angel Witch creates had always been heavily informed by futuristic dystopias, dark mythos and the kind of culture oft ...

Allegaeon launches video for "Metaphobia"; set to kick off USA tour this month Later this month, Allegaeon will head back out on tour, headlining the "Apoptosis Tour Pt II" across the USA with Inferi and Paladin. In anticipation of this trek, Allegaeon has now launched a new video for "Metaphobia" - taken from their latest album, Apoptosis. Directed and filmed by Matthew Zinke, "Metaphobia" can be viewed now at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfwkhX803JI See below for all dates! Allegaeon tour dates w/ Inferi, Paladin Oct. 15 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Loading Dock Oct. 17 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon Oct. 18 - Portland, OR - Bossanova Ballroom Oct. 19 - Spokane, WA - The Pin! Oct. 21 - Oakland, CA - Metro Opera House Oct. 22 - Los Angeles, CA - Hi Hat Oct. 23 - Mesa, AZ - Club Red Oct. 25 - Oklahoma City, OK - 89th Street Collective Oct. 26 - Houston, TX - Satellite Bar Oct. 28 - Orlando, FL - The Haven Oct. 29 - Atlanta...

This November/December, Ensiferum will embark on their "Path To Victory" North American headlining tour, featuring Kalmah, Abigail Williams, and Aenimus as support. Ensiferum's Sami Hinkka (Bass/Vocals) comments: "Hi folks! It's time to get back on the road for one last time before we head to studio to record the next Ensiferum album. We couldn't be more thrilled about the upcoming North America tour! It's gonna be fireworks of metal for the whole evening because we'll share the stage with awesome bands: Kalmah, Abigail Williams and Aenimus!" Kalmah adds: "Everybody knows what Santa Claus does but what happens when these two bearded creatures appear at once? I mean Swamplord and that other to the other guy..." Abigail Williams adds: "After taking a year off to complete our new album, we will hit the road with our friends Ensiferum, Kalmah and Aenimus in November. Expect a set list full of new songs and a couple of old favori...

Swedish Death Metal legends THE CROWN will release their new album 'Cobra Speed Venom' next week Friday, March 16th via Metal Blade Records. Produced together with Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman the record promises to be one of the biggest surprises of the year. A return to Death Metal speed and darkness in full glory! THE CROWN have now released the 3rd single taken off 'Cobra Speed Venom'. Click the following link to crank up 'We Avenge!': youtube.com/watch?v=PW7mSZwzqgQ "We Awake - We Avenge! Heroic rise and rightful revenge. A mid-paced monotonous chant with revolution in the air" Surf over to metalblade.com/thecrown to check out the videos for the first two singles, 'Iron Crown' and the title track. At the same location you can pre-order the album in the following formats: --ltd. 1st ed. Digi-CD with 2 exclusive bonus tracks --180g black vinyl --viole(n)t blue marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies) --...

On March 8th, Blacklight Media Records will throw a label showcase (hosted by Jose Mangin!) at the Gramercy Theatre in New York. Featuring Blacklight Media artists Gozu, Good Tiger, Mother Feather, Oni, and Eyes Of The Sun, all leading up to very special guest headliner Metal Blade Records artist Candiria! This is one show not to be missed! Tickets will go on-sale this Friday (January 19th) at: https://concerts1.livenation.com/event/0000542CF9749429 Blacklight Media Records' Chris Santos comments: "I could not be more excited to announce the very first Blacklight Media Showcase! To say this is a lifelong dream come true doesn't begin to articulate how proud I am of this show and more importantly, how proud I am of the bands who call Blacklight Media and Metal Blade Records their home. This is truly a once in a lifetime show for all of us and for all the amazing fans of these talented artists. Having Jose Mangin as the Master of Ceremonies is icing on the cake! We can...

Photo credit: Austin Phelps Mother Feather launches lyric video for "Trampoline" - track aired during 'Shameless' season premiere in USA last weekend! Currently finishing work on their sophomore album with Grammy-nominated producer Joshua Valleau (Kanye West, John Legend, Snoop Dogg, Common, Imani Coppola, Alice Smith), Mother Feather has launched a new lyric video for the track "Trampoline", which can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/L46R-gAzI7w  The lyric video was created by King Z (Dylan Bowman), a young artist Mother Feather's Ann Courtney met fortuitously at one of the band's live shows in Brooklyn a couple years ago. "He made quite a first impression on me," says Courtney. "It was his first NYC rock show ever and he was totally wild-eyed afterwards, a fireball of pure enthusiasm. I liked him right away. Dylan made the move to Brooklyn to attend art school at Pratt shortly thereafter and I've become a big f...

Belgium heavy metal band, Channel Zero have had many difficulties in their career, most notable disbanding in their prime in 1997, reforming again and tragically losing a member, but through all that the band are back and stronger than ever, with their new album to be released via Metal Blade Records on the 24th June 2014 and helping to embark them on a new journey as a band. I had a lot to ask lead singer Franky De Smet-Van Damme following all that has happened, discussing the past, present and the future of Channel Zero... You have quite a history, forming back in 1990 and then disbanding at the height of your career in 1997, what were you reasons for this and reflecting back on this how do you feel about it now? Well at that time we had it … the differences musically were so intense that there was no other way then stopping back then … we didn't come along anymore … so at a certain moment its better to stop … I still believe that was the best thing we did then … no...

    'Kill All Kings' is the sixth studio album from Belgian Heavy Metal band, Channel Zero. Regarded as one of the biggest Metal bands in Belgium the band have had many trials and tribulations leading up to this new release; disbanding at the height of their career back in 1997, then embarking on reunion tours in 2010, and more recently in 2013 they tragically lost their former drummer Phil Baheux, who died aged 45. Later that year they announced they were working on a new album with Roy Mayorga playing drums. With all that the band have been through now they are back to honour Phil with their new album and start a new chapter in their career....   Opening track, 'Dark Passenger' comprises of heavy thrashing groovy riffs, raw energy and impressive and varied vocals from Franky, ranging from vicious to highly melodic and all resulting a seriously catchy metal offering that sets the bar high for this release!..   The interes...

Darkest Era are a celtic metal band from Northern Ireland, although not just strictly celtic metal as they have other genres mixed in to create their epic sound. The band signed with the mighty Metal Blade Records back in 2010 and released their first full length debut through the label, the brilliant, "The Last Caress Of Light". This band is one to look out for! They have recently just finished a 14 date tour with 'pirate metal' band, Alestorm and Australian folk metal band, Claim The Throne on the "Useless Drunken Bastards" UK and Ireland tour in February 2012. I was lucky enough to witness all 3 bands in action on the 14th of February in Brighton at The Haunt. If you haven't seen Darkest Era or heard their music, you best do it now! I asked guitarist, Ade Mulgrew about touring with Alestorm, live shows, signing with Metal Blade Records and what the future holds... So I saw you at The Haunt in Brighton on the February 14 th , and th...