Sworn Enemy

 Today in 2007 Sworn Enemy released the album Maniacal

New York City, New York Hardcore (early), Crossover/Metalcore (later)

Status:Active

Years active:1997-1999 (as Mindset), 1999-present

Queens, NY, metal-hardcore hybrid group Sworn Enemy have been playing together since 1997. Vocalist Sal "Enemy" LoCoco, drummer Paulie Antignani, and guitarists Lorenzo Antonucci and Mike Raffello gigged often in the New York area, eventually attracting the attention of Hatebreed vocalist Jamie Jasta, who released the group's debut EP, Negative Outlook, on his Stillborn Records label in 2001. After adding bassist Mike Couls (formerly of Detroit's Cold as Life) the group continued its hard work ethic, clocking in over 100 shows in the second half of 2001. The popularity of their EP led to a major-label deal with Elektra and in 2003 their first full-length, As Real as It Gets, was released. Sworn Enemy then jumped back to the indies (Abacus to be exact) for the October 2005 release of The Beginning of the End. Soon after, the band underwent a drastic makeover, replacing their bassist, drummer, and guitarist Mike Rafello. The new lineup made for a more metal edged sound, akin to speed metal icons Exodus and Testament, and with a new blueprint set in place, the band made plans to record their sophomore album with I Lay Dying drummer Jordan Mancino filling in on the skins. Maniacal was released on February 12, 2008.

Century Media Records

Sal LoCoco Vocals

Jamin Hunt Guitars, Vocals (backing)

Lorenzo Antonucci Guitars, Bass

Guest/Session

Jordan Mancino Drums

Jason Suecof Guitars

Mike Raff Sr. Guitars

Jasun Krebs Guitars

1. Ignorance 02:43

2. Time to Rage 02:21

3. A Place of Solace 04:14

4. Weather the Storm 03:41

5. Destroyer 02:58

6. The American Way 03:17

7. Fear of Failure 03:19

8. No End to This Nightmare 03:18

9. Talk Is Cheap 02:59

10. Said and Done 05:24

34:14

One Man Army and the Undead Quartet

 Today in 2006 One Man Army and the Undead Quartet released the single Christmas for the Lobotomizer

Trollhättan,Sweden Death/Thrash Metal

Status:Split-up

Years active:2004-2012

This lengthy-titled band was one of several offshoots of The Crown, here featuring vocalist Johan Lindstrand. As heard on their debut album, 21st Century Killing Machine, their style wasn't a million miles away from The Crown, but nor was it a continuation of that band either. Rather, they played crunchy, modern thrash (inevitably bands in this style are compared to The Haunted, and One Man Army are in the same league), relentless and intense, with a spot-on production and venomous, convincing vocals from Lindstrand. After four albums, the band called it quits in late 2012, with Lindstrand back in his old, reformed band.

Nuclear Blast

Robert Axelsson Bass

Marek Dobrowolski Drums

Johan Lindstrand Vocals

Pekka Kiviaho Guitars (rhythm)

Mikael Lagerblad Guitars (lead)

1. Christmas for the Lobotomizer 04:08

2. Devil on the Red Carpet (live at Summer Breeze 2006) 05:48

3. Hell Is for Heroes (live at Summer Breeze 2006) 04:41

4. Bulldozer Frenzy (live at Summer Breeze 2006) 03:47

18:24

Limited to 500 copies, only available directly from Nuclear Blast.

Cruachan

 Today in 2006 Cruachan released the album The Morrigan's Call

Dublin,Ireland Celtic/Folk/Black Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1992-1997, 1999-present

Of the few bands that profess to be folk metal, Cruachan is arguably the folkiest -- many bands in this field are first and foremost metal bands with varying folk influences, but Cruachan almost does it the other way around, as their heavily Celtic folk aspect is as predominant as the metal aspect in their sound. The band has been active since 1992, when they formed as a result of the disbandment of another band (Minas Tirith), with many having come and gone over the early years. The folk sound can be startling upon first listen, especially if one is expecting a harder metal style, but Cruachan capture the Celtic ethos perfectly, and their blend of traditional melodies with metal is impressive and quite interesting.

AFM Records

Karen Gilligan Vocals

Keith Fay Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Banjo, Bodhrán, Percussion

John Clohessy Bass, Aldotrube

John Ryan Fiddle, Violin, Mandocello, Bowed bass, Banjo, Vocals (grunts, track 1)

Joe Farrell Drums, Percussion

Guest/Session

John O'Fathaigh Irish flute, Tin whistle, Low whistle, Recorder

Aine O'Dwyer Irish harp

1. Shelob 03:05

2. The Brown Bull of Cooley 05:26

3. Coffin Ships 01:50 instrumental

4. The Great Hunger 06:10

5. The Old Woman in the Woods 01:52

6. Ungoliant 03:56

7. The Morrigan's Call 01:52

8. Téir Abhaile Riú 04:16

9. Wolfe Tone 02:58

10. The Very Wild Rover 04:04

11. Cuchulainn 06:24

12. Diarmuid and Grainne 05:15

47:08

"The Very Wild Rover" is an adaptation of the well-known folk song "The Wild Rover".

"The Old Woman in the Woods" is an adaptation of the nursery rhyme "The River Saile".

Recording information:

Recorded and produced at Sun Studios in Dublin, during January and February 2006.

Mixed by Gail Liebling and Cruachan.

Decadence

 Today in 2005 Decadence released the album The Creature

Stockholm,Sweden Melodic Thrash Metal

Status:Split-up

Years active:2003-2012

Decadence is a melodic thrash metal band from Stockholm, Sweden founded in 2003 by former Devastator guitarists Christian Lindholm and Niclas Radberg, Demented bassist Kenneth Lantz, and vocalist Kitty Saric, previously of Divine Dominion and Dekapitera. Ironically, only the latter pair would still be involved with the group (which was originally, briefly named Ravenous) by the time their eponymous debut emerged in 2005, with rhythm guitarist Michael Sjölund (ex-Tramumatage) and drummer and Patrik Frögéli (ex-Defeaning Silence) rounding out the band's lineup. A second album entitled The Creature followed later the same year, and then 3rd Stage of Decay, in 2007, at which point Decadence's ever-shifting membership included Saric, Lantz, second guitarist Daniel Green, bassist Joakim Antman, and drummer Erik Röjås.

Independent

Kenneth Lantz Guitars (lead)

Kitty Saric Vocals

Joakim Antman Bass

Erik Röjås Drums

Daniel Green Guitars (rhythm)

1. Red 04:14

2. Labyrinth 05:32

3. The Creature 04:16

4. Wasteland 03:06

5. Possession 03:48

6. Killing Perseverance 03:46

7. Desperate Secrecy 03:31

8. Inside 03:52

32:05

Recorded at Teleon Studio.

The Forsaken

 Today in 2003 The Forsaken released the album Traces of the Past

Landskrona,Sweden Melodic Death/Thrash Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1997-1999 (as Septic Breed), 1999-present

The Forsaken's style slots midway between the classic early Gothenburg melodic death metal and the more brutal Floridian death metal style, with a healthy dose of straight thrash as well.

Century Media

Stefan Berg Bass

Anders Sjöholm Vocals

Stefan Holm Guitars

Patrik Persson Guitars

Nicke Grabowski Drums

1. A Time to Die 04:59

2. One More Kill 04:21

3. Acid with Acid - Piece by Piece 04:51

4. Glitches Will Tell 04:32

5. Traces of the Past 04:34

6. Serpent's Tongue 05:17

7. God of Demise 03:58

8. Massive Machinery 04:34

9. The Empire 04:07

10. First Weapon of Choice 04:48

11. Blackened (Metallica cover) 06:13

52:14

Japanese version bonus tracks:

12. Shredding My Skin (03:05)

13. Counteract the Dead (04:29)

US version (June 29th, 2004) bonus tracks:

12. Creeping Death (Metallica cover) (6:07)

13. Spirit in Black (Slayer cover) (3:55)

14. You'll Never See (Grave cover) (5:11)

15. Project: The New Breed 666 (4:32)

Recording information:

Recorded and mixed at Abyss Studio between 1st & 24th of May 2003.

Mastered at DMS, Marl, Germany.

Tad Morose

 Today in 2003 Tad Morose released the album Modus Vivendi

Bollnäs, Sweden Progressive Metal (early), Power/Heavy Metal (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1991-present

Tad Morose formed in 1991 and released four albums in the mid-nineties, at which time they were a progressive metal band with a strong Dream Theater influence in their music. At that time such bands were in abundance and Tad Morose found it difficult to forge a unique sound, though their albums were well received by fans and critics. Following 1996's A Mended Rhyme they lost longtime keyboardist Fredrik Eriksson, but his replacement was a second guitarist. Their releases since that time, then, have focused less on melodic progressive metal and more on a harder-edge traditional metal sound, though still with a melodic edge.

Century Media Records

Urban breed Vocals, Keyboards, Vocoder

Christer 'Krunt' Andersson Guitars

Anders Modd Bass

Peter Morén Drums

Daniel Olsson Guitars, Bass, Keyboards

Guest/Session

Stefan Zell Vocals (backing)

1. Anubis 03:54

2. No Mercy 04:14

3. Afraid to Die 05:28

4. Clearly Insane 03:49

5. Cyberdome 04:37

6. Take On the World 05:21

7. Mother Shipton's Words 04:03

8. Unwelcome Guest 04:02

9. Life in a Lonely Grave 07:15

10. When the Spirit Rules the World 04:33

47:16

A music video was made for Anubis.

Recording information:

Produced by Tad Morose.

All songs arranged by Tad Morose.

Recorded at Studio Soundcreation, Bollnäs, Sweden.

Backing vocals and sound effects recorded at the "Frop Farm", Flaxenbo, Sweden.

Mixed at Studio Fredman, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Mastered at DMS, Marl, Germany by Ulf Horbelt.

Motörhead

 Today in 2003 Motörhead released the Live album Live at Brixton Academy

London, England Heavy/Speed Metal, Hard Rock

Status:Split up

Years active: 1975 (as Bastard), 1975-2015

Led by one of metal's most iconic figures in Lemmy Kilmister, Motorhead formed in 1975 and really never let up for an amazing 40 years, dishing out their brand of dirty speed/rock metal with surprising regularity. Lemmy himself got his start as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix, later played in the seminal space rock band Hawkwind, and after being fired from that band for doing drugs (!), he struck out on his own with Motorhead, and the rest is history. Of course there's the seminal early period of the band, when the Kilmister/Clarke/Taylor lineup released a string of albums such as Bomber, Overkill, and the unmatchable Ace Of Spades, but unlike many bands, Motorhead managed to scarcely alter their style from one album to the next and yet released quality albums late in their career, culminating with 2015's Bad Magic.

Sadly, all things do come to an end. With Lemmy in failing health, the band completed a European tour in late 2015, and a late cancer diagnosis resulted in Lemmy's passing away in December, officially putting to rest one of heavy metal's most enduring bands.

Postscript: drummer Mikkey Dee hooked up with Scorpions of all bands, while Phil Campbell recruited three of his own sons and has put an EP under the title Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons.

Steamhammer Records

Lemmy Kilmister (R.I.P. 2015) Bass, Vocals

Phil Campbell Guitars

Mikkey Dee Drums

Special guests "Fast" Eddie Clarke(R.I.p. 2018) (ex-Motörhead) on "The Chase Is Better Than The Catch" and "Overkill"

Todd Campbell (Phil "Wizzö" Campbell's son, Psycho Squad) on "Killed By Death"

Paul Inder (Lemmy's son) on "Killed By Death"

Whitfield Crane (ex-Ugly Kid Joe) on "Born To Raise Hell"

Doro Pesch (ex-Warlock) on "Born To Raise Hell"

Brian May (Queen) on "Overkill"

Ace (ex-Skunk Anansie) on "Overkill"

Disc 1

1. We Are Motörhead (2:54)

2. No Class (2:49)

3. I'm So Bad (Baby I Don't Care) (3:36)

4. Over Your Shoulder (3:37)

5. Civil War (3:20)

6. Metropolis (3:44)

7. Overnight Sensation (4:50)

8. God Save the Queen (3:32)(Sex Pistols cover)

9. Born to Raise Hell (6:31)

10. The Chase Is Better Than the Catch (5:42)

11. Stay Out of Jail (3:33)

12. Dead Men Tell No Tales (2:45)

Total Time: 46:58

Disc 2

1. You Better Run (6:48)

2. Sacrifice (5:49)

3. Orgasmatron (6:50)

4. Going to Brazil (2:36)

5. Broken (4:59)

6. Damage Case (3:52)

7. Iron Fist (3:16)

8. Killed by Death (7:26)

9. Bomber (4:16)

10. Ace of Spades (4:23)

11. Overkill (7:44)

Total Time: 58:03

Contains the band's complete 25th anniversary concert from October 20, 2000.

DVD version released as "25 & Alive - Boneshaker".

Live at Brixton Academy is the fourth official live album by the British band Motörhead. Recorded at their 25th anniversary concert on October 22, 2000 at the Brixton Academy, London, UK. Various guests made appearances, including Queen's Brian May and ex-Skunk Anansie guitarist Ace. The concert has also been released as a DVD entitled 25 & Alive Boneshaker