Fueled by Fire

 Today in 2010 Fueled By Fire released the album Plunging into Darkness

Norwalk, California Thrash Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 2002-present

The late eighties thrash scene was mightily revitalized in 2006 and 2007, with a host of bands reliving those glory days. Southern California was one place where several such bands originated, such as Bonded By Blood and this here Fueled By Fire. Like BBB and the others, the goal here isn't innovation, not by a long shot, but simply bringing back to life one of metal's finer moments. Who knows where these bands will be in five years' time, but for now they're great fun to listen to.

Annialation Records

Anthony Vasquez Bass

Carlos Gutierrez Drums

Chris Monroy Guitars (lead)

Rick Rangel Guitars (lead), Vocals

1. The Arrival 03:04 instrumental

2. Rising from Beneath 04:07

3. Within the Abyss 05:08

4. Unidentified Remains 02:04

5. Plunging into Darkness 04:11

6. Eye of the Demon 03:58

7. Intro 01:49 instrumental

8. Evoke the Curse 04:24

9. Amongst the Dead 03:50

10. Sickness of Humanity 04:12

11. Mass Infestation 03:31

40:18

They sold limited edition copies (200 only) of "Plunging into Darkness" during their European tour with Violator in 2010.

Re-released on April 27th, 2012 by NoiseArt Records including 1 bonus track:

12. Deadly Restraints (4:00)

Available on CD, gate-fold vinyl (blue, red, or black), and download.

Recording information:

Recorded at Love Juice Labs. Riverside. CA, USA

Warfect

 Today in 2009 Warfect released the album Depicting the Macabre

Uddevalla, Sweden Thrash Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 2003-2008 (as Incoma), 2008-present

Retro thrash is alive and well the world over, as Sweden's Warfect can attest. The band started out as Incoma in 2003 and changed name in 2008, with a debut, Depicting The Macabre in 2009 followed by Exoneration Denied in 2003 (interestingly, reviews of Depicting put that album in the melodic death metal camp, which Exoneration definitely is not, so it looks like a style shift took place). Right down to the 80's cover art, Exoneration leaves no doubt as to its target audience, the band pulling no punches with speedy thrash that, as always, harkens back to the days of Exodus's first album and the like. There isn't a lot of variation here, and by definition retro thrash isn't about originality, but these guys do it as well as anyone these days (though, how many WarX thrash bands do we need? Warbeast? Warbringer? Warpath? Who can keep up?).

My Kingdom Music

Kristian Martinsson Bass, Vocals (backing)

Mattias Kern Drums

Håkan Karlsson Guitars (rhythm), Vocals (backing)

Fredrik Wester Vocals, Guitars (lead)

1. Creation 03:38

2. Heathen Reigns 04:19

3. Depicting the Macabre 03:39

4. Symbol of Submission 03:32

5. I Factor 04:00

6. Supervised Life 03:56

7. Never to Return 04:45

8. Harvest of Trinity 03:42

9. Truth Untold 03:34

10. Atrocity 05:13

40:18

Recorded & mixed: on three different locations; drums recordings enginereed by Chris Dahlqvist

Mixed: by Chris Dahlqvist

Mastered: at Tailor Maid by Peter In De Betou

Pain of Salvation

Today in 2009 Pain Of Salvation released the EP Linoleum

Eskilstuna,Sweden Progressive Rock/Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1984-present

Pain Of Salvation is making serious inroads towards becoming a premier progressive metal band. At first glance the familiar influences are found (early Queensryche, Dream Theater), but it doesn't take long before one realizes that this band is taking this style to another plane. The production is flawless, the musicianship top-notch, and the songs -- rich and majestic, thoughtful and complex. Pain Of Salvation exudes class and quality without being pretentious or self-indulgent. Clearly a top-level band.

InsideOut Music

Daniel Gildenlöw Vocals, Guitars, Bass

Johan Hallgren Guitars, Vocals

Fredrik Hermansson Keyboards

Léo Margarit Drums

Guest/Session

Per Schelander Bass on "Mortar Grind"

1. Linoleum 04:54

2. Mortar Grind 05:51

3. If You Wait 02:50

4. Gone 07:55

5. Bonus Track B 02:28

6. Yellow Raven (Scorpions cover) 05:39

29:37

A video was made for the title track.

Miseration

 Today in 2009 Miseration released the album The Mirroring Shadow

Sweden Melodic Death Metal (early), Death Metal (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 2006-present

Miseration is a melodic death metal collaboration between Jani Stefanovich (DivineFire, Essence of Sorrow, ex-Crimson Moonlight, ex-Renascent, ex-Am I Blood, ex-Sins of Omission, ex-Hilastherion) and vocalist Christian Älvestam (Incapacity, Solar Dawn, Torchbearer, Quest of Aidance, guest for Zonaria,ex-Scar Symmetry, ex-Syconaut, ex-Angel Blake, ex-Carnalized, Unmoored, Solution .45) Others involved in the sessions included guitarist Patrik Gardberg of Ammotrack and Divinefire plus former Renascent vocalist Barry Haldan.

The project released its debut album, 'Your Demons - Their Angels', on December 21st 2006 in Japan through King Records. A European release came in early 2007 through Rivel Records.

Lifeforce Records

Johan Ylenstrand Bass

Stuka Drums

Marcus Skägget Guitars

Christian Älvestam Vocals

Jani Stefanović Guitars, Keyboards

1. Dreamdecipher 02:13

2. Blueprinted Aeon Collapse 03:58

3. Voyaging the Seas of Thought 04:05

4. The Mirroring Shadow 04:55

5. A Trail Blazed Through Time 03:36

6. Dimorphic 04:30

7. Sulphury Sun 04:20

8. Imago 2.0 04:16

9. Theca 04:10

36:03

Release dates:

Europe - November 16, 2009

North America - January 19, 2010

Recording information:

Recorded at Panic Room Studios.

Hirax

 Today in 2009 Hirax released the album El Rostro de la Muerte

Buena Park, California Thrash/Speed Metal/Crossover

Status:Active

Years active: 1981-1983 (as L.A. Kaos), 1983-1984 (as K.G.B.), 1984-1989, 2000-present

A long-lost (until recently) cult LA band, Hirax was one of the earlier Metal Blade signings in the mid-eighties. They specialized in frenzied speed/thrash metal, almost hardcore in style with the notable exception of Katon DePena's vocals, who steered well clear of the usual gruff thrash or barked hardcore styles, instead employing a mid-range clean, yet almost atonal sound, which was enough to give the band just a bit of originality. Two albums were released, along with assorted singles and live tracks, before disbanding in the late 80's. DePena later was in a band called Phantasm, featuring no less than original Metallica bassist Ron McGovney, though only a rough demo came of this. Sensing that the band's popularity has not waned over the years, DePena reformed the band in 200, at one point possibly featuring the other original members but later with an all-new lineup, and have recorded quite steadily ever since.

Black Devil Records

Katon W. De Pena - Vocals

Glenn Rogers - Guitar

Lance Harrison - Guitar

Steve Harrison - Bass

Jorge Iacobellis - Drums

1. Baptized by Fire (4:19)

2. Flesh and Blood (5:45)

3. Eradicate Mankind (3:39)

4. Chaos and Brutality (3:38)

5. El rostro de la muerte (The Face of Death) (6:24)

6. Blind Faith (2:51)

7. Horrified (2:52)

8. Battle of the North (1:34)

9. The Laws of Temptation (4:40)

10. Death Militia (1:52)

11. Broken Neck (2:01)

12. Violent Assault (3:31)

13. Cuando cae la oscuridad (When Darkness Falls) (1:54)

14. Satan's Fall (6:25)

Recorded by John Haddad at Trench Studio in Corona, CA

Mixed by Andy Haller at Android Audio

Mastered by Maor Appelbaum

"Chaos and Brutality" is a bonus track, originally released in Europe (Selfmadegod Records).

Released in Argentina by Hurling Metal Records with two bonus tracks. They are mistakenly listed, the order of the songs should be listed this way:

15. El Diablo Negro (04:13)

16. Bombs Of Death (01:49)

El Rostro de la Muerte is the fourth album by thrash metal band Hirax and the second after the reunion

Devin Townsend Project

 Today in 2009 Devin Townsend Project released the album Addicted

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Progressive Metal/Rock, Ambient

Status: Active

Years active :2008-present

Sixteen years into a recording career that began with an appearance on Steve Vai’s 1993 album Sex and Religion, the Vancouver-born, eccentric, prolific metal performer and producer Devin Townsend revealed details of the Devin Townsend Project. Following the brief hiatus that came after his 2007 rock opera Ziltoid the Omniscient, a newly shaven-headed and teetotaling Townsend announced an intended four-album sequence under this moniker, with the primary goal being that he wanted to make music without the assistance of drugs. Townsend’s vision also revealed an ambition to record with different musicians on each album, in order to keep things fresh. May 2009’s Ki was one of the more restrained releases in his canon, particularly in comparison to his strident Strapping Young Lad material. It touched on laid-back funk and ambient rock -- as displayed on the tranquil “Ain’t Never Gonna Win” -- and featured Duris Maxwell, who had previously drummed with Motown act Bobby Taylor & Vancouvers in the ‘60s and Jefferson Airplane in the ‘70s.

HevyDevy Records

Devin Townsend Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Programming, Vocals (choirs), Lyrics, Songwriting

Ryan van Poederooyen Drums, Vocals (choirs)

Brian Waddell Bass, Songwriting (track 8)

Mark Cimino Guitars, Vocals (choirs)

Guest/Session

Anneke van Giersbergen Vocals (lead), Vocals (backing)

Dave Young Keyboards (additional)

Susanne Richter Vocals (additional) (on "Ih-ah!")

Rob Cunningham Vocals (choirs)

Hugh Gilmartin Vocals (choirs)

John Rafferty Vocals (choirs)

1. Addicted! 05:36

2. Universe in a Ball! 04:09

3. Bend It like Bender! 03:37

4. Supercrush! 05:13

5. Hyperdrive! 03:36

6. Resolve! 03:12

7. Ih-ah! 03:45

8. The Way Home! 03:14

9. Numbered! 04:55

10. Awake!! 09:44

47:01

"Hyperdrive" is a re-working of a song from the Devin Townsend album 'Ziltoid the Omniscient.'

A video was made for "Bend It Like Bender!".

American release at November 17th by InsideOut Music (cat. # 0507-2)

Released on double LP by Back On Black. First press of 1000 on red vinyl.

Recording information:

Recorded at Studio 'D', Vancouver, B.C.

Drums recorded at The Factory, Vancouver, B.C.

Additional vocals engineered at Strait Sound Studios.

Anger as Art

Today in 2009 Anger As Art released the album Disfigure

Pasadena, California Thrash Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 2004 (as Steve Gaines), 2004-present

Formed in 2004, Anger As Art features four established LA-area thrash veterans with some fine pedigree. They've rather quietly released four albums thus far, and as heard on 2009's Disfigure, the style is not suprisingly thrash, frenzied and aggressive and a bit more in-your-face compared to the 80's/90's style from these guys' former outfits.

Old School Metal Records

Rob Alaniz Drums, Vocals

Danny Oliverio Guitars, Vocals

Steve Gaines Vocals, Guitars

Angelo Espino Bass, Vocals

1. The Crush 04:28

2. Appease an Angry God 04:13

3. It Feels Like Blood 03:21

4. Disfigure 05:02

5. The All Fall Down 04:57

6. Master Becomes the Slave 03:54

7. Seed of Hate 04:16

8. I Am Your Enemy 03:49

9. Anger Is a Gift 04:26

10. Dissention 04:27

42:53