Funeral Rain Press Corps

Italian Metal Powerhouse Scarlet Records has announced their second set of releases in the North American Market. They are Bloodshot‘s Murder the World” and The Georgian Skull‘s Mother Armageddon, Healing Apocalypse. Both releases are scheduled for release on March 8, 2011. This is the first time that both albums have been available in North America.

Following the critically acclaimed album Ultimate Hatred, released by Scarlet Records in 2006, and having already shared the stage with renowned acts such as Six Feet Under, Born From Pain, Gojira, Stamping Ground, Heaven Shall Burn, Caliban, Sworn Enemy, Cataract and many more, Belgian hardcore-metal masters Bloodshot are finally ready to release their third full length effort, Murder The World.

Bloodshot‘s new effort, which will once again be released by Scarlet Records, is more vicious and aggressive than ever before, redefining brutality and combining the best elements of metal and hardcore to a perfect war machine crushing everything on its path. Bands like Full Blown Chaos, Sworn Enemy, Hatebreed, Cataract and HateSphere come to mind but yet Bloodshot experiences no difficulties in creating their own well distinctive sound, giving them an original touch in the metalcore scene nowadays. Murder The World will be once again dealing with the acts of another serial killer, Richard Ramirez! Recording sessions took place at Jonathas studio and DeStudio, with Dirk Miers (Do Or Die, Born From Pain) handling the mixing duties. Mastering took place at West West Side Music in New York City.

Bloodshot are ready to take their ambitions to the next level, playing and touring as much as possible, promoting the new CD’s in the most professional way, spreading the Bloodshot madness on the crowds all over the world!!

Inspired by 1970′s Heavy Metal such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Thin Lizzy, Georgian Skull have fused the past with even heavier metal bands like Clutch, Pantera and Entombed. Georgian Skull continues to redefine their sound and presence as one of the most important bands to have come out of Canada. The death of the stoner band Mister Bones brought out the most significant chapter of the band’s life: its afterlife. Which is simply known as Georgian Skull. A revolution is on its way, a great tale is about to be told, and the power of the Doom and Groove that possess this band will set out to unleash a masterful work in their new album, set to be released on Scarlet Records. Georgian Skull is absolutely one of the most crushing live bands around, a real must for any fan of Black Sabbath. Georgian Skull is a four-piece out of Windsor, London and Hamilton, Canada, fronted by vocalist/lead guitarist Al “The Yeti” Bones (also frontman for U.S.A ‘s sludge king’s The Mighty Nimbus). Mother Armageddon, Healing Apocalypse is the confirmed title of the band’s debut full length album: Apocalyptic lyrics meshed with life’s struggle for sanity, crossed with the biggest, baddest riffs around. Georgian Skull command the attention of every audience they’ve played for. Bands they have shared the stage with have been Anvil, Cryptopsy, Today Is The Day, Goatwhore, Trouble, Sons Of Otis, and many, many more. Artwork duties were handled by Vince Locke (well known for his work with death metal legends Cannibal Corpse).

Genre: Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Thrash
Label: SPV GmbH

The Sickness Within continues my new love of HateSphere, and contributes to my quest of writing questions for Peter.
It’s odd to hear newer material from a band, then go back in the past with their older songs, and this is exactly what I’ve done. I’m finding The Sickness Within is definitely less death metal than To the Nines, with more metalcore and thrash going on. I’m definitely liking this.
The technical side of things seems to be up there a bit, with some fancy fingers going on with the guitars and bass through the leads and some of the rhythms, but when there’s a breakdown the riffs simplify and the heads bang.
Anders’ drumming will never be considered mindblowing for this album,  but he’s solid like a rock, and his use of smaller toms in fills rather than just straight bass/snare work is great to hear. A good example of what I’m talking about comes in “Murdrous Intent” and “The Coming of Chaos”.
Of course, with hard music in general, it’s all in the voice for some people. And Jacob’s throat is in fine form for this album, with an impressive roar that puts lots of metalcore singers to shame. It’s a great voice for thrashy parts, it’s great for more deathy parts, and thankfully it never gets melodic with annoying clean singing.
If you’re a fan of HateSphere and you don’t have this, get it. If you’re a metalcore fan and you don’t have this, get it. If you’re a thrash fan looking for something new to the collection that’s a little off the beaten thrash path, get it.
7.5 out of 10.

HateSphere on MySpace.

Genre: Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore
Label: Napalm Records

I will admit it: I never really heard HateSphere until I found out they were coming to Edmonton to open for Nevermore. Then I made a definite point to buy as much as I could find before the show. So far I’ve only found To the Nines, but my hunt continues…
Anyway, To the Nines. It’s fucking great. A nice mix of Dutch melodeath and metalcore, full of wicked riffs (“Clarity” has my favorite opening riff on the album, having a hard rock feel) and throat ripping vocals. It really sticks out in a crowded genre because of the straight rock influences, at least for me. Lyrically too, taking a vaguely political stance in some cases, a misanthropic air pervading almost everything, and a feeling of disgust at what humanity is doing to itself.
Like I said, fucking great.
8 out of 10.

HateSphere on MySpace.

In support of their newest album To the Nines, HateSphere will be coming through North America once again, opening for Nevermore. And I will be lucky enough to meet and interview someone from the band, if not the whole band.
I’ll provide more info as I get it.

Genres: Death Metal, Hardcore, Thrash
Label: Napalm Records

This here is an oddity from the Netherlands. The Kandidate are mixing a couple unlikely elements from three genres and turning it all into their own thing. There’s the basic framework of thrash, with some small death metal elements, and tons of hardcore, probably New York style (I don’t know a lot of hardcore, so I don’t know exactly), and hardcore’s brother genre, punk.
But don’t think of this as some kind of metalcore or deathcore; rather think of it as The Kandidatecore.
I’m thoroughly enjoying this, and I can understand why Typhon enjoyed it a lot too. Personally I only know Jacob Bredahl (vocals) from some of his work with HateSphere (never really heard lots of them), and the other guys are all pretty new to the scene so I don’t know them at all. But from what I’ve heard from Until We Are Outnumbered, I hope this band is around for a loooooooong time. This is awesome.
8.5 out of 10.

The Kanidate on MySpace.