Heaven & Hell

 Today in 2010 Heaven & Hell released the Live album Neon Nights: 30 Years of Heaven & Hell

Birmingham, England / New York, United States Heavy/Doom Metal

Status:Split-up

Years active:2006-2010

Surely one of the most talked-about band formations in some time, Heaven And Hell brought together the Black Sabbath lineup from their album of the same name ... well, actually not, it's the Mob Rules lineup, but that name was already taken! The debut album, 2009's The Devil You Know, lived up to the expectations, drawing rave reviews, and in general it's pretty much what one would expect, a more modernized version of the early 80's Sabbath sound. The band intended to play on, but Ronnie James Dio's illness and sad passing in May 2010 has brought the band to a close.

Armoury Records

Ronnie James Dio (R.I.P. 2010) Vocals

Tony Iommi Guitars

Geezer Butler Bass

Vinny Appice Drums

Guest/Session

Scott Warren Keyboards

1. The Mob Rules 03:47

2. Children of the Sea 06:31

3. I 06:17

4. Bible Black 06:30

5. Time Machine 04:40

6. Fear 04:36

7. Falling Off the Edge of the World 05:40

8. Follow the Tears 06:12

9. Die Young 06:42

10. Heaven and Hell 17:49

11. Neon Knights 05:45

01:14:29

Recorded live at "Wacken Open Air 2009" on July 30th 2009

Halestorm

 Today in 2010 Halestorm released the Live album Live in Philly 2010

Red Lion, Pennsylvania, Hard rock, heavy metal, alternative metal, post-grunge

Status:Active

Years active 1997–present

Siblings Elizabeth and Arejay Hale, the core members of the hard rock band Halestorm, formed the group in late 1997 near York, Pennsylvania, with Arejay on drums and Elizabeth on vocals and keyboard. Wanting to expand their sound, the duo invited their father, Roger, to play bass for Halestorm. Soon after their first professional gig in 1998 at the Blue Mountain Coffee House in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the band added various guitar players and released an EP, 1999's (Don't Mess with The) Time Man. More lineup changes occurred, but Halestorm finally solidified with Elizabeth (who was by then going by Lzzy) on vocals and guitar, Josh Smith on bass, Arejay on drums, and Joe Hottinger on guitar. The band caught the attention of producer David Ivory as well as Atlantic Records -- both were involved in the band's major-label debut, 2006's One and Done, a five-song EP recorded live at a show in Philadelphia. They would finally make their full-length studio debut in 2009 with the eponymous Halestorm, all the while maintaining a rigorous touring schedule that would see them playing upwards of 250 shows a year. The following year, Halestorm released the concert recording Live in Philly 2010, and Reanimate: The Covers EP appeared in 2011, featuring the band's takes on songs by Heart, Guns N' Roses, and Lady Gaga. Their sophomore album, The Strange Case Of..., followed in 2012, and the single "Love Bites (So Do I)" earned the group a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance. Reanimate 2.0 was released in 2013, this time finding the band tackling Fleetwood Mac, Daft Punk, and Marilyn Manson. The band's eclectic third studio long-player, the Jay Joyce-produced Into the Wild Life, was released in April 2015, and was preceded by the single "Apocalyptic." The live EP Into the Wild Live: Chicago arrived in 2016, followed in early 2017 by Reanimate 3.0, which featured covers of songs by Whitesnake, Metallica, and Soundgarden.

Atlantic

Lzzy Hale - vocals, guitar, keyboard

Arejay Hale - drums, percussion, backing vocals

Joe Hottinger - guitar, backing vocals

Josh Smith - bass guitar, backing vocals

Track listing (CD)

No. Title Length

1. "It's Not You" 5:55

2. "Innocence" 4:14

3. "Bet U Wish U Had Me Back" 3:34

4. "Love/Hate Heartbreak" 5:24

5. "I'm Not An Angel" 4:41

6. "Familiar Taste of Poison" 5:18

7. "Boom City" 5:21

8. "Nothing to Do with Love" 4:08

9. "Dirty Work" 3:48

10. "I Get Off" 3:49

11. "Tell Me Where It Hurts" 4:07

12. "Better Sorry Than Safe" 3:42

Track listing (DVD)

"Intro." –

"It's Not You" –

"What Were You Expecting" –

"Innocence" –

"Bet U Wish U Had Me Back" –

"Love/Hate Heartbreak" –

"I'm Not An Angel" –

"Familiar Taste of Poison" –

"Boom City" –

"Nothing to Do with Love" –

"Dirty Work" –

"I Get Off" –

"Tell Me Where It Hurts" –

"Better Sorry Than Safe" –

Live in Philly 2010 is the first live performance released by the hard rock band Halestorm, and the second album released overall by them. The album was made available for pre–orders on October 21, 2010, but was not released until November 16, 2010. This live performance was recorded at the TLA in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 30, 2010.

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