Leaves' Eyes

 Today in 2013 Leaves' Eyes released the album Symphonies of the Night

Ludwigsburg, Germany / Stavanger, Norway Symphonic Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 2003-present

Girl sings in band.

Girl marries boy in different band.

Girl and boy's band form new band.

Girl quits old band.

Perhaps not the most traditional of heavy metal biographies, but that's the story behind Leaves' Eyes. Liv Kristine Espenæs achieved fame and fortune singing for Theatre Of Tragedy, as that band transitioned from the prototypical gothic metal band in the early days to a more techno-pop-metal stance on their last couple of releases. She married Alexander Krull, founder and vocalist for Atrocity, and shortly thereafter came the announcement that Liv would front a new project, essentially with Atrocity as the backing band, and thus Leaves' Eyes was born. At around the same time Liv decided to leave Theatre Of Tragedy, citing personal (and perhaps musical) differences. Espenæs and the Atrocity members are no strangers, as she had guested on Atrocity albums frequently in the past. For the rest of the band, this is somewhat of a departure from their norm, as the music here is in the melodic gothic camp, with Liv of course the star of the show (Krull does sing here as well, the duo pulling off the beauty-and-the-beast vocal performance quite well, though his is more of a secondary vocal role). Liv has already proven she knows gothic metal, and with her new band here she seems poised to reach new heights of popularity.

And now the story takes another turn, as Liv Kristine left the band in April 2016, to focus on other projects (not coincidentally, she and Krull have broken up as well). The relatively unknown Elina Siirala is now the new singer.

Napalm Records

Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull Vocals, Lyrics, Songwriting

Alexander Krull Vocals, Keyboards, Samples

Felix Born Drums

Sander van der Meer Guitars, Songwriting (tracks 8, 9)

Thorsten Bauer Guitars, Bass, Mandolin

Guest/Session

Carmen Elise Espenæs Vocals (track 12)

Gwenole Jestin Fiddle

Full Moon Choir Vocals (choirs)

Christoph Kutzer Uilleann pipes, Whistles

Annette Nussbaum Violin (additional)

Anna Sayler Violin (additional)

Lingua Mortis Orchestra Orchestra

Joris Nijenhuis Percussion (additional)

Elvya Dulcimer Dulcimer (track 10)

1. Hell to the Heavens 04:32

2. Fading Earth 04:33

3. Maid of Lorraine 05:13

4. Galswintha 04:14

5. Symphony of the Night 04:58

6. Saint Cecelia 04:12

7. Hymn to the Lone Sands 05:22

8. Angel and the Ghost 03:36

9. Éléonore de Provence 06:24

10. Nightshade 03:41

11. Ophelia 04:24

12. Eileen's Ardency 03:30

13. One Caress (Depeche Mode cover) 03:04

57:43

Includes 70x100 cm flag.

Some CDs contains a sticker with the cat# NPR 513 LTD.

Recording information:

Produced at Mastersound Studio, Stuttgart.

Manufactured by Optimal Media GmbH – AD27745.

Eisregen

 Today in 2013 Eisregen released the album Todestage

Thuringia,Germany Gothic/Black/Death Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1995-present

German death metal band Eisregen is chiefly notable for singing in their native language rather than English and for being "indexed" by Die Bundesprüfstelle für Jugendgefährdende Medien (i.e., the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons). For example, the band's album Krebskolonie (1998) is prohibited from being played in public for audience members under the age of 18, a fate known as verbreitungsverbot, on account of its lyrics, which were deemed "grausamen, menschenverachtenden, frauenfeindlichen und verrohenden" (i.e., cruel, human-despising, misogynistic, and brutalizing). Other Eisregen albums, including Farbenfinsternis (2001) and Wundwasser (2004), were indexed as well -- actions that severely limited the band's commercial ability while at the same time engendering infamy. In fact, it was in the wake of Wundwasser's indexing that the band enjoyed its best chart debut to date, as Blutbahnen (2007) entered the German album chart at number 32.

Massacre Records

Roth Vocals, Lyrics

Yantit Drums, Programming

Lenz Guitars

Franzi Keyboards

West Bass

Guest/Session

Martin Schirenc Guitars (Track 3)

Frau N. Feind Brache

1. Waldgott 06:33

2. Todestag 03:40

3. DSDSL (Deutschland sucht die Superleiche) 04:36

4. Höllenfahrt 04:04

5. Lang lebe die Nadel 05:24

6. Familienbande: Vater Tod & Mutter Nacht 03:35

7. Oh wie sie schrie 04:12

8. Mitternacht 04:33

9. Oststern am Narbenhimmel 04:28

10. Tot / Untot 04:02

11. Seele mein 05:26

50:33

Recorded at Klangschmiede E, Mellrichstadt in July - August.

Pre-production in January - July 2013 at The Hen Rooms.

Mixed and mastered in August 2013.

Hellbastard

 Today in 2012 Hellbastard released the album Sons of Bitches

Newcastle, England Crust Punk/Crossover/Thrash Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1986-1992, 2007-present

An early Earache Records signing, Hellbastard are often mentioned as being punk or grind. While that may be true in their early days, it's not really the case on 1990's Natural Order, as there the emphasis is on standard thrash accentuated by gruff vocals by Scott Lewty. Lewty and drummer Brian Newton were later seen in the very different Nero Circus, and Lewty has kept the band alive with scattered recordings throughout the years.

PATAC Records

Paul Bass, Vocals (backing)

Tom McCombe Guitars

M.S. "Scruff" Lewty Vocals, Guitars

Nathan Ellis Drums

Side A

1. Arcadia 04:51

2. Sons of Bitches 03:51

3. System Whore 05:44

Side B

4. We Had Evidence 06:18

5. Throw the Petrol Bomb 02:11

22:55

Track 4 is a re-recorded version of 1988 song "We Had Evidence."

100 copies on white vinyl with woven patch

400 copies on green vinyl

35 hand numbered test pressings with woven patch, alternate silk screened sleeves. Pre-Orders came with a limited t-shirt.

Folkearth

 Today in 2012 Folkearth released the album Valhalla Ascendant

International Epic Folk/Viking Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 2004-present

Folkearth is an international folk metal supergroup. Until now they have released seven albums. Their debut 'A Nordic Poem' was released in 2004, their second album 'By The Sword of My Father' followed in 2006, third came 'Drakkars In The Mist' in 2007, the fourth, fifth and sixth (respectively 'Father of Victory', 'Songs of Yore' and 'Fatherland') were out in 2008 and their latest work 'Rulers of the Sea' was released in 2009.

Stygian Crypt Productions

Juan Pablo "Juskko" Churruarin Accordion

Michaël Fiori "Saga" Guitars, Bass, Vocals

Simon Müller Guitars (acoustic), Mandola, Flute

Kyle Freese Drums

Hildr Valkyrie Vocals (female)

Jaco Bass, Guitars

Gianluca Tamburini Guitars, Bass

Nostarion Cello

Dennis Schwachhofer Drums

Ruslanas Danisevskis (R.I.P. 2013) Vocals

Yanina Zelenskaya Vocals (female)

Anaïs Chevallier Vocals (female)

Emily Cooper Soprano recorder, Alto recorder, Piccolo, Tin whistle

1. Valhalla Ascendant 04:02

2. Solstice Fires 04:08

3. No Mercy 04:09

4. Winter Enthroned 05:26

5. Hrolfr, the Viking 04:47

6. Dragon's Blood 04:04

7. The Brave 04:27

8. Sail in the Wind 05:22

9. Carved in Runes 04:07

10. The Legend of Thule 04:03

44:35

Agoraphobic Nosebleed

 Today in 2012 Agoraphobic Nosebleed released the single Merry Chrystmeth

Springfield, Massachusetts Grindcore

Status:Active

Years active 1994–present

Headed by guitarist/bassist/drum programmer Scott Hull (also of Pig Destroyer and formerly of A.C. as well), grindcore nut-cases Agoraphobic Nosebleed have existed in various forms since 1994. Their bleak, punishing sound mixes together caustic vocals, harsh (and inhumanly fast) drum-machine beats, and Hull's Earache-schooled guitar riffing. Their songs are short and compact, in most cases clocking in at less than a minute long. Their lyrics are often as unorthodox and/or inscrutable as the band's name and song titles (e.g., "Chalking the Temporal God Module," "The Fatter You Fall Behind," "Lives Ruined Through Sex") would seem to suggest. Topics such as crackpot apocalypse theories, homophobia and misogyny, drug conspiracies, mind control, rampant capitalism and consumerism, and bio-terrorism have all surfaced in their songs; and are often addressed in ambiguous, free-associative ways, interspersed with plenty of tasteless scatological outbursts, sometimes with a humorous slant and sometimes not.

Honky Reduction Following a few split and EP releases and a couple of lineup shifts, Agoraphobic Nosebleed's first "full-length" -- the 26-song, 19-minute Honky Reduction -- came out in 1998 on Relapse Records and was recorded by the lineup of Hull and vocalist/electronics manipulator Jay Randall. The following year saw the release of a 6" EP entitled PCP Tornado as well as a split CD with the Boston, MA, hardcore band Converge entitled The Poacher Diaries. For The Poacher Diaries, Agoraphobic Nosebleed's lineup was expanded to include a second vocalist, J.R. Hayes (also the lead vocalist for Pig Destroyer). Agoraphobic Nosebleed's second full-length, the long-promised Frozen Corpse Stuffed With Dope, finally came out in 2002, once again on Relapse. This time around, Hull and Randall were officially joined by vocalist Carl Schultz and bassist/vocalist Richard Johnson (of Enemy Soil and the Index, and also a member of Agoraphobic Nosebleed in their earlier days). The album also featured guest vocal appearances by Hayes as well as members of Benumb, Necrophagia, Cephalic Carnage, and Brutal Truth.

Decibel

Kat Vocals

Jay Vocals

Scott Guitars, Drum programming

Rich Vocals

Single-sided

1. Merry Chrystmeth 03:30  

  03:30  

Issued on white vinyl and green vinyl.

Included with the January 2013 Decibel Magazine #099.

Recording information:

Recorded and mixed at Visceral Sound in Bethesda, Maryland in October, 2012.

Vile

Today in 2011 Vile released the album Metamorphosis

Concord, California Brutal Death Metal (early), Melodic Death Metal (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1996-present

Formed in 1996, from the remnants of numerous local bands, Concord, CA, death/black metal band Vile (not to be confused with the New York doom band with the same name) combine high velocity, crude guttural power, and no small amount of technical prowess for a brutalizing sound reminiscent of Suffocation and Nile. After warming up with two demos, vocalist Juan Urteaga, guitarists Colin Davis and Aaron Strong, bassist Jef Hughell, and drummer Mike Hampton (soon to be replaced by Tyson Jupin) unleashed their first album, Stench of the Deceased, in 1999, then signed with the Unique Leader label for their second, 2002's Depopulate. Urteaga and Strong have since departed and various replacements helped out with tours of the U.S. and Europe that took place in 2004.

Willowtip

Tyson Jupin Drums

Colin Davis Guitars, Bass

Mike Hrubovcak Vocals

Guest/Session

J.J. Hrubovcak Guitars on the song "Rise"

1. March Towards the Dawn (3:36)

2. The Revealing (3:49)

3. What Lies Beyond (3:36)

4. Rise (3:23)

5. I Am Alive (3:52)

6. Wolf at Your Door (2:12)

7. I Am Become Death (2:05)

8. Shadow Work (4:55)

9. Prophetic Betrayal (4:36)

10. As One (3:26)

11. Redemption (2:52) (instrumental)

Total Time 38:22

Ancient Bards

 Today in 2011 Ancient Bards released the album Soulless Child

Rimini, Emilia-Romagna, Italy Symphonic Power Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 2006-present

The Ancient Bards project takes its origin in the january of 2006 from the mind of the keyboards player Daniele Mazza, whose intent was to create a metal band with epic and symphonic sounds. After the meeting with the bass player Martino Garattoni the project began to materialize. Initially the line up was not stable beacuse of several problems, but in the summer of 2007, after a period of inactivity, the band found it’s final line up with Sara as singer, Claudio as solo guitarist, Fabio as rythm guitarist and Alessandro as drummer. The sextet imediately sarted working on the demo ep “Trailer” containing four excerpts of the exciting Black Crystal Sword Saga conceived by Daniele himself, that is influenced from fantasy nordic tales and japanese stories like Final Fantasy. During the realization of the demo, the bards were also busy performing in several Italian live contests from which they gained great results always reaching the first place. In May 2008 Trailer was finished and was reviewed by many italian webzines and magazines always obtaining high marks. In the meantime they were noticed by Emiliano Nanni, the president of the promotion and booking agency BRC (Bologna Rock City), that brought them on the stages on many italian live clubs supporting bands such as Turisas, Over The Rainbow, Almah, White Skull, etc. getting loads of success. In the summer of 2009 the band recorded at Fear Studio in Ravenna it’s first full-length album that merges Sara Squadrani's vocals with clean choral singalongs and heavy guitar sounds, to create an album teeming with ultra-catchy gems. Up to now the path of the six bards has led them to sign with Limb Music Products (Rhapsody, Luca Turilli, Pagan’s Mind, Eldritch and many more!). The rest of the Ancient Bards’ adventure is still to be written…

Limb Music

Martino Garattoni Bass, Vocals (choirs)

Claudio Pietronik Guitars

Fabio Balducci Guitars

Sara Squadrani Vocals, Vocals (choirs)

Daniele Mazza Keyboards, Vocals (choirs)

Federico Gatti Drums

Guest/Session

Joseph Spiller Vocals (choirs)

Chiara Delvecchio Vocals (choirs)

Claudia Saponi Vocals (choirs)

Giorgia Palmerini Vocals (choirs)

Claudia Rivoli Vocals (choirs)

Ala Ganciu Vocals (choirs)

Raffaella Ceccarelli Vocals (choirs)

Fabrizia Conti Vocals (choirs)

Maria Letizia Sassaroli Vocals (choirs)

Maria Luisa Cenci Vocals (choirs)

Giambattista Volpones Vocals (choirs)

Edoardo Canducci Vocals (choirs)

Michele Canducci Vocals (choirs)

Giovanni Frison Vocals (choirs)

Roberto Coffee Vocals (choirs)

Gian Maria Vocals (additional) (track 9), Vocals (choirs)

Simone Mularoni Guitars (acoustic) (tracks 5, 10), Vocals (choirs)

1. Struggle for Life 01:53

2. To the Master of Darkness 07:33

3. Gates of Noland 05:13

4. Broken Illusion 05:11

5. All That Is True 09:55

6. Valiant Ride 04:13

7. Dinanzi al flagello 01:29

8. Soulless Child 09:15

9. Through My Veins 07:19

10. Hope Dies Last 14:31 01:06:32

Japanese Bonus track:

11. The Skies Above (Final Fantasy X - Zanarkand's Theme) (03:07)

All music and lyrics written by Daniele Mazza.

"The Black Crystal Sword Saga" written by Daniele Mazza.

Logo design by Flush Design.

Recording information:

Recorded at Domination Studio between June and July 2011.

Mixed and Mastered at Domination Studio.

Produced by Ancient Bards.