The Showdown

 Today in 2004 The Showdown released there debut album A Chorus of Obliteration

Elizabethton, Tennessee Melodic Thrash/Death Metal/Metalcore (early), Southern/Heavy Metal (later)

Status:On hold

Years active: 2002-2011

The Showdown is a crushing five-piece band from Elizabethton, Tennessee, who have crafted an epic metal sound for listeners who enjoy their music relentlessly. The Showdown’s style shifts effortlessly from southern rock to European death and everything in between. Lyrically, their songs tell stories of heroism, sojourns and battles of life; instrumentally, their crushing rhythms and articulate guitar play take the listener on a roller-coaster ride of emotion and power. The end result is a brutal and honest band who creates anthems for the youth of today.

Mono vs. Stereo Records

Travis Bailey Guitars, Keyboards

Josh Childers Guitars, Vocals

David Bunton Vocals

Eric Koruschak Bass

Andrew Hall Drums, Percussion

Guest/Session

Bryan Kemp Vocals (Track 4)

Brad Moist Gang vocals (Track 9)

Alex Gillette Gang vocals (Tracks 1 and 4)

Way Berry Gang vocals (Tracks 1 and 4)

Jeremiah Scott Gang vocals (Tracks 1 and 4)

Paddy Steading Cello (Track 10)

Bruce Fitzhugh Vocals (Track 6), Gang vocals (Tracks 1 and 4)

Josh Scogin Vocals (Track 4)

1. A Monument Encased in Ash 05:53

2. Hell Can't Stop Us Now 03:36

3. Epic: A Chorus of Obliteration 03:31

4. From the Mouth of Gath Comes Terror 06:28

5. A Proclamation of Evil's Fate 04:03

6. Dagon Undone (The Reckoning) 04:31

7. Iscariot 02:59

8. Dolor per Proelium (Your Name Is Defeat) 02:32

9. Deus Invictus (Your Name Is Victory) 03:02

10. Laid to Rest 05:56

42:31

Recorded at Island Bound Studio in Nashville.

Additional recording at Glow In the Dark Studio in Atlanta by Matt Goldman.

Mastered at Tone & Volume Mastering in Nashville.

Pagan's Mind

 Today in 2004 Pagan's Mind released the album Infinity Divine (Rerecording)

Skien, Telemark,Norway Progressive/Power Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 2000-present

Pagan's Mind is a top-flight progressive metal band from Norway, having formed in 2000 and now three albums into their career. Despite the all-too-familiar influences (Dream Theater and a bit of early Queensryche), Pagan's Mind avoids the heard-it-all-before label by simply doing it right. Basically, the band delivers exactly what prog metal fans want, that being superior musicianship, a crystalline production, soaring vocals, and diverse songwriting. Every instrument is clearly heard and makes its presence felt, and every note is seemingly in the right place. Pagan's Mind is unquestionably among the best melodic progressive metal bands playing today.

Limb Music GmbH

Nils K. Rue – lead vocals

Jørn Viggo Lofstad – guitar

Thorstein Aaby – guitar (R.I.P. 2007)

Steinar Krokmo – bass

Stian Kristoffersen – drums

Ronny Tegner – keyboards

Guest/Session

Gus G. Guitars (lead) (second on "At the Graves")

Glen Drover Guitars (lead) (first on "At the Graves")

All songs written and composed by Pagan's Mind, except where noted.

No. Title Length

1. "Prelude to Paganism" 1:02

2. "Caught in a Dream" 6:02

3. "Infinity Divine" 6:12

4. "Embracing Fear" (lyrics by Øyvind Vang and Nils K. Rue) 5:56

5. "Astral Projection" 5:41

6. "Angels' Serenity" 4:20

7. "Dawning of the Nemesis" 5:09

8. "King's Quest" 5:39

9. "Twilight Arise" 4:35

10. "A New Beginning" 8:08

11. "Embracing Fear 2004" (lyrics by Øyvind Vang and Nils K. Rue) 6:17

12. "At the Graves" (King Diamond cover; written by King Diamond) 9:34

Rerecorded version of their debut album, minus the song "Moonlight Pact" and with two extra songs. The cover art is also slightly changed.

Original release credits:

Øyvind Eriksen - Engineer

Per Sælør - Engineer

Mixed in Studio Studio Nyhagen, Norway October 2000 by Ronnie Le Tekrø and Dag Stokke.

Mastered at Masterhuset, Oslo, Norway, October 2000 by Ola Johansen.

Re-recording credits:

Vocals re-recorded at Images & Word Studio, Skien, Norway, January 2004.

Bonus track re-recorded at Mediamaker Studio, Skien, Norway, September 2003 engineered by Espen Mjøen.

Additional editing/clipping/engineering by Espen Mjøen at Mediamaker Studio.

Remixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen at Jailhouse Studio, Denmark, January 2004

Nemesea

 Today in 2004 Nemesea released there debut album Mana

Groningen, Groningen Province, Netherlands Symphonic Gothic Metal (early), Gothic Rock (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 2002 (as Nemesis), 2002-present

A symphonic goth metal troupe based out of the Netherlands, Nemesea were founded in 2002 by vocalist/composer Manda Ophuis and guitarist Hendrik Jan de Jong. Nemesea cut their teeth opening for fellow Dutch brood-rockers After Forever, with whom they were initially compared, before inking a deal in 2003 with independent label Ebony Tears, which would issue the band's 2004 debut album, Mana. Their 2007 crowdfunded sophomore studio LP, In Control, landed Nemesea a distribution deal with Rough Trade, and would eventually steer them in the direction of Napalm Records. Arriving in 2010, Quiet Resistance saw the group adding electronics to its sound, as well as dialing back on some of the neo-classical elements that sugared earlier works, in favor of a more straightforward alt-rock approach. Produced by Guido Aalbers (Muse, Coldplay, No Doubt), the band's much anticipated fourth studio long-player, Uprise, followed in 2016.

Ebony Tears

Sonny Onderwater Bass

Hendrik Jan de Jong Guitars, Vocals (harsh, tracks 3, 5), Voice (tracks 7, 9)

Manda Ophuis Vocals

Chris Postma Drums

Martijn Pronk Guitars

Berto Booijink Keyboards

Guest/Session

Saskia de Vries Vocals (soprano)

Gerard van Beijeren Vocals (tenor)

Ido Gerard Kempenaar Percussion

Sietse Jan Weijenberg Cello

Jan Buizer Viola

Sergey Arseniev Violin

Jeroen Kriek Vocals (track 6), Spoken word (track 7)

Peter van Dijk Spoken word (track 2, 5)

Marieke Bouma Vocals (alto)

Mirjam Leentvaar Vocals (alto)

David van Royen Vocals (baritone)

Judith Bouma Vocals (soprano)

1. Nemesis 01:33

2. Threefold Law 03:44

3. Empress 04:25

4. Angel in the Dark 06:13

5. Mortalitas Part I: The Taker 04:48

6. Mortalitas Part II: Dies Irae 01:25

7. Mortalitas Part III: Moriendum Tibi Est 03:45

8. Mortalitas Part IV: From Beneath You It Devours 03:36

9. Lucifer 04:16

10. Disclosure 04:19

11. Beyond Evil 03:52

12. Cry 03:01

13. Krad eht ni Legna 01:28 instrumental

46:25

Artwork by Caretaker Creations

Tracks 5-8 are part of the history "Mortalitas".

Track 13 is hidden.

Recording information:

Recorded at Franky's Recording Kitchen, Netherlands.

Vocals, choirs & strings recorded at Studio Spitsbergen, Netherlands.

Mixed at SquareWave Studio, Netherlands.

Mastered at Studio Lobbes, Netherlands.

Fear Factory

 Today in 2004 Fear Factory released the single Bite The Hand That Bleeds

Los Angeles, California Industrial/Death Metal (early), Groove/Industrial Metal (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1989-1990 (as Ulceration), 1990 (as Fear the Factory), 1990-present

Bursting onto the metal scene in the early 90's, Fear Factory's fusion of death metal and industrial influences has since proven to be enormously influential in the metal world since the band's inception, with Soul Of A New Machine still a landmark release. They peaked popularity-wise with '98's Obsolete, and also garnered acclaim for their interesting take on Gary Numan's "Cars", which they covered a year later. But the band's followup album, 2001's Digimortal, received only mixed reviews, and following some personal differences between band members, vocalist Burton Bell announced his leaving in March of 2002, and the band immediately disbanded. Later interviews with the various members indicated that a rift had developed between guitarist Dino Cazares and the rest of the band. Sure enough, the other three members (including Bell) announced their decision to reunite (with bassist Chistian Wolbers taking over on guitar) and continue as Fear Factory, while Cazares continued with his earlier side projects such as Asesino and Brujeria, as well as a new band, Divine Heresy. Arguably, the two post-Dino albums (Archetype and Transgression) haven't had the impact of their earlier works, preferring to play it a tad safe and stick to their earlier style. Also released after the split were Concrete (the band's first recording, originally done in 1991 and produced by Ross Robinson) and Hatefiles, a collection of leftovers and remixes.

After several years of relative quiet came the rather surprising news in 2009 that not only had Cazares and Bell put their differences behind them, but that Cazares was back in a new-look Fear Factory that excluded core members Christian Wolbers and Raymond Herrera, with well-travelled veteran Gene Hoglan and former Strapping Young Lad bassist Byron Stroud rounding out the group. Wolbers and Herrera stated that they never really left the band, which seemed to imply that there would be a legal issue surrounding the band name. The new Fear Factory recorded albums in 2010 and 2012 and have since replaced both Hoglan and Stroud, while Wolbers and Herrera went on to form their own band Arkaea.

Liquid B Records

Burton C. Bell Vocals

Christian Olde Wolbers Guitars

Byron Stroud Bass

Raymond Herrera Drums

Disc 1 (CD)

1. Bite The Hand That Bleeds 04:08

04:08

Disc 2 (DVD)

1. Cyberwaste 03:34

2. Archetype (Narritive) 03:52

3. Archetype Remix (Anime) 04:27

4. Archetype (Performance) 03:53

5. Bite The Hand That Bleeds 04:03

19:49

E-Town Concrete

 Today in 2004 E.Town Concrete released the album Made for War

Elizabeth, New Jersey Hardcore punk, rap metal, alternative metal

Status: Active

Years active 1995 - 2006, 2008 - present

Formed in 1995 in Elizabeth, NJ, E-Town Concrete released their debut album, Time 2 Shine, on Back to Basics in 1997. In 2000, the metal heavy hitters Triple Crown Records released their follow-up The Second Coming. Fusing metal, hip-hop, and hardcore, the foursome developed a cult of fans on the East Coast, selling 4,000 copies of their album in one record store alone, Vintage Vinyl in Fords, NJ, largely due to their New Jersey based shows and constant touring.

Ironbound

Anthony "Ant-Money" & "'Ignant Ass Ant" Martini - vocals

David "DeLux" Mondragon - guitar

Eric DeNault - bass

Ted P. (Theodore Panagopoulos) - drums

1

Pariah 4:47

2

Ploughshares and Swords 2:50

3

Wide Awake 2:18

4

The Distance 3:27

5

Do You Know What It's Like? 5:02

6

Blood 4:17

7

A Setup 2:54

8

What Can I Do? 3:29

9

Made for War 3:54

10

All That You Have Is Still Not Enough 3:52

11

There Goes the Neighboorhood 3:41

Total length: 40:31

A Perfect Circle

 Today in 2004 A Perfect Circle released the album Amotion

Los Angeles, California, Alternative rock alternative metal progressive metal progressive rock hard rock art rock

Status:Active

Years active 1999–2004, 2010–present

Formed by Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan and former Tool guitar tech Billy Howerdel, A Perfect Circle is an extension of the alt-metal-fused-with-art rock style popularized by Tool in the early to mid-'90s. While similar to Tool in intensity and melancholy, A Perfect Circle is less dark and more melodic, with a theatrical, ambient quality that incorporates occasional strings and unusual instrumentation.

Virgin

Compilation

All lyrics are written by A Perfect Circle.

No. Title Music Length

1. "Judith" (Renholdër Mix) Danny Lohner, Joshua Eustis 4:24

2. "3 Libras" (Feel My Ice Dub Mix) Danny Lohner 4:28

3. "The Outsider" (Apocalypse Mix) Danny Lohner 5:28

4. "Weak and Powerless" (Tilling My Grave Mix) Danny Lohner, Wes Borland, Joshua Eustis 3:05

5. "The Outsider" (Frosted Yogurt Mix) James Iha 4:07

6. "Blue" (Bird Shake Mix) James Iha, Geoff Sanoff 3:56

7. "3 Libras" (All Main Courses Mix) Robert "3D" Del Naja & Grant "Daddy G" Marshall (credited as Massive Attack) 7:16

8. "The Hollow" (Constantly Consuming Mix) Paz Lenchantin 3:39

9. "The Hollow" (The Bunk Mix) Troy Van Leeuwen, Josh Abraham 3:12

DVD track listing

No. Title Length

1. "Judith" (Unedited music video) 4:07

2. "3 Libras" (Music video) 3:39

3. "Weak and Powerless" (Unedited video) 3:26

4. "The Outsider" (Edited music video) 4:17

5. "Thinking of You" (Music video) 4:38

6. "Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums" (Music video) 5:59

7. "Blue" (Music video) 4:03

8. "The Noose" (Live video) 5:49

9. "Imagine" (Music video) 4:57

10. "The Outsider" (Director's cut music video) 4:26

11. "Blue" (Runner-up A music video)  

12. "Blue" (Runner-up B music video)  

13. "Blue" (Runner-up C music video)  

14. "Bikini Bandits Experience" (Trailer)  

15. "Bikini Bandits Save Christmas" (Trailer)  

16. "Bikini Bandits Sauvent Le Monde" (Trailer)

Amotion (stylized as aMOTION) is a DVD–CD set released by American rock band A Perfect Circle on November 16, 2004, only two weeks after the debut of the band's third album, eMOTIVe. The DVD consists of music videos for singles such as "Judith", "3 Libras" and "Weak and Powerless" as well as previously unreleased videos for singles such as "Blue" and "Thinking of You". The CD is composed entirely of remixes of the singles from Mer de Noms and Thirteenth Step. The songs were retooled by Danny Lohner, Joshua Eustis, Massive Attack, and James Iha among others. The video album debuted at number four on the SoundScan Top Music Video chart and number ten on the Australian music DVD chart. aMOTION was certified Platinum by the RIAA on 17 December 2004

220 Volt

 Today in 2002 220 Volt released the album Volume 1

Östersund,Sweden Heavy Metal (up to 1985), Hard Rock (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1979-1990, 1990-1992 (as Voltergeist), 2002-present

220 Volt was one of the earlier Swedish metal bands that formed during the NWOBHM movement, following in the footsteps of Heavy Load (for whom these guys opened at least once). The band formed in the late 70's and after several years of gigging had built enough of a following to win a major label contract, quite rare for metal bands anywhere at that time. They put out a several albums in the early to mid 80's before initially disbanding around 1992, reuniting many years for some anniversary gigs and, eventually, the Made In Jamtland live album in 2005. As evidenced on their early material, their style mixed a bit of NWOBHM rawness with hard rock accessibility. Finally, in early 2013 came the news that the band was back in business.

Power Play records

Compilation

1. Intro - Sauron 01:16 instrumental

2. Sauron 04:29

3. On Top of the World 04:20

4. Don't Come My Way 04:23

5. You 04:18

6. Prisoner of War 03:16

7. Sauron (Live) 06:58

8. Woman in White (Live) 03:53

9. Gypsy Queen (Live) 04:02

10. The End of the World (Live) 06:01

11. Child of the Night/Medley (Live) 09:31

52:27

The live tracks were recorded at Sweden Rock Festival 2002.