Metal Inquisitor

 Today in 2010 Metal Inquisitor released the album Unconditional Absolution

Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate,Germany Heavy Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1998-present

Metal Inquisitor originated in the beginning of 1998, as Blumi and Witchhammer decided, to call a real Heavy Metal-Band into life. A short time later they found KronoS (Bass) and El Rojo at the vocal cords, as suitable comrade-in-arms. Middle of 1998 they retreated for a few weekends into their rehearsal room, in order to record three songs on four tracks, which was brought out in form of a demo tape. In 1999 they went to the nostalgic eight-track-studio "Overhead Project" of Joerg "Walli" Walldorf in Koblenz (Germany), in order to record two songs for a single, which in March 2000 under the title "Seven Inches for the Second Attack" has appeared. With the new member T.P., at the second guitar, they have already prepared for a powerful live-sound. At the beginning of March 2000 Witchhammer left the band due to time problems and they found the right successor in Havoc at the drums. In August 2000 a new Demo-Tape was recorded with the same old Four-Track-Equipment as the first Demo was made. After the good resonance's about all Releases Metal Inquisitor took the chance to get a record deal with Iron Glory-Label and released in June 2002 their first full-length Album called "The Apparition". The Reviews of the Album were from "good" to "great", so as the resonance's about the concerts from the following "The Apparition-Tour 2002/2003" through Germany and the adjoining countries too. After their last concert in August 2003 they went back into the rehearsalroom to begin the songwriting for the next album. The Concerts and Festivals in 2004 were absolute fantastic also. They've played among others at the "legendary" Festivals from Rock Hard and Keep It True. After finding a new Label, Hellion Records, Metal Inquisitor released their latest album "Doomsday for the Heretic" in november 2005.

Hellion Records

Blumi Guitars (lead)

El Rojo Vocals, Lyrics

Havoc Drums

T. P. Guitars (rhythm)

Kronos Bass

1. Extinction 05:20

2. Casualty Evacuation 04:11

3. Quest for Vengeance 05:45

4. Drowning Death 04:30

5. Betrayed Battalion 05:57

6. Satan's Host 04:12

7. The Arch Villain 06:37

8. Neropolis 06:00

9. Persuader 05:07

10. Suffer the Heretic to Burn 05:41

11. The Path of the Righteous Man 06:55

01:00:15

All music by Blumi, except "Betrayed Battalion" and "The Arch Villain" by Blumi and T. P.

All lyrics by El Rojo.

Some pressings include a patch.

Recording information:

Recorded and mixed at Toxomusic Studio in Koblenz, January -- March 2010.

Astral Doors

 Today in 2010 Astral Doors released the album Testament of Rock - The Best of Astral Doors

Borlänge,Sweden Heavy/Power Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 2002-present

With power metal still enormously popular in Europe, it's nice to hear a band with a more traditional take on classic metal. Astral Doors formed in 2002 and debuted a year later with Of The Son And Father. Vocalist Patrik Johansson (a veteran of hard rock, having also sung for bands such as Lion's Share and Wuthering Heights) has a husky, powerful voice that is very reminiscient of Ronnie James Dio. Dio is also a fine reference point for the music, along with Rainbow and perhaps a bit of Deep Purple -- in other words, classic heavy metal with a faint 70's edge, due in no small part to Joakim Roberg's tasteful Hammond organ work. Of The Son And Father is very much a sum of its influences, but yet the album comes across as fresh and invigorating rather than stale and dated. Traditional metal fans will no doubt enjoy this band immensely.

Metalville Records

Compilation

1. Cloudbreaker 03:29

2. Time to Rock 04:02

3. Of the Son and the Father 04:52

4. Black Rain 04:24

5. Power and the Glory 04:08

6. Bride of Christ 03:38

7. New Revelation 04:24

8. Slay the Dragon 03:37

9. London Caves 03:27

10. Evil Is Forever 05:23

11. Lionheart 05:04

12. Quisling 03:58

13. Testament of Rock 05:27

14. Victory 04:06

59:59

Tracks 4 and 9 remixed and remastered.

Track 14 previously unreleased.

Månegarm

 Today in 2009 Månegarm released the album Nattväsen

Norrtälje,Sweden Viking/Black/Folk Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1995 (as Antikrist), 1995-present

After wisely discarding their original name, Antikrist, following their first month of rehearsal in late 1995, vocalist Svenne Rosendal, guitarists Jonas Almquist and Mårten Matsson, bassist Pierre Wilhelmsson, and drummer/vocalist Erik Grawsiö came to be known as Månegarm -- the vampire wolf of Norse legend that is prophesied to devour the moon when the time of Ragnarök submerges this world under the oceans! Needless to say, this moniker announced Månegarm's newfound commitment to Viking metal, which they proceeded to refine from their home base of Norrtälje, Sweden, over the course of a pair of demo recordings: 1996's Vargaresa (Wolf's Journey) and 1997's Ur Nattvindar, recorded after the installment of new bandmembers Jonny Wranning (vocals) and Markus Andé (guitar, replacing Matsson).

The second demo saw folk music elements gaining more ground within the band's complex sound, thanks to the addition of violins and female vocals in the studio, and it was this intrinsically Scandinavian new sound that landed Månegarm a contract with Displeased Records a short time later -- although they'd have to audition new singers once again, hiring Stockholm-based Viktor Hemgren, before starting work on 1998's official debut album, Nordstjärnans Tidsålder. The title, which translates to English as The Age of the Northstar, proudly proclaimed the group's Viking metal mission to a host of new fans, who eagerly embraced its striking marriage of black metal ferocity and native folk music, driven home yet again by the session female vocals and violins performed by Ymer Mossige-Norheim and soon to be permanent member Janne Liljequist, respectively.

But hanging onto their male vocalists continued to pose a challenge for Månegarm, so after firing their most recent frontman, Hemgren, halfway through the recording of their sophomore album, Havets Vargar (meaning Wolves of the Sea, in case you were wondering), it was decided that drummer Grawsiö would cope with all vocals for the album that would eventually emerge in the year 2000. This elicited no complaints from the band's faithful fans, so after taking a short break to recharge their creative batteries, the same lineup got to work on next full-length Dödsfärd (Death Journey), which was released in 2003 and boasted both a greater variety of tempos (sub-light speed ones, to be precise) and more clean vocals mixed in with lingering black metal croaks.

Both of Månegarm's now legendary demos were remastered and released on CD in 2004, and their fourth album, Vredens Tid (The Age of Wrath) arrived the following year, quickly being hailed as Månegarm's finest album thus far, and resulting in their first ever concerts on the European festival circuit that summer. Månegarm's next release -- a folk-infested EP entitled Urminnes Hävd (The Forest Session) -- marked the end of their relationship with Displeased, and the start of a new one with Swedish label Black Lodge, which quickly bore fruit in 2007 with the release of the group's sixth album, and arguably best yet, Vargstenen (Wolf Stone).

Regain Records

Erik Grawsiö Drums, Vocals, Guitars (acoustic) (track 9), Horn (track 8)

Jonas Almkvist Guitars

Markus Andé Guitars

Pierre V. Wilhelmsson Bass, Jew's Harp (tracks 1, 3)

Janne Liljekvist Cello (tracks 2, 9), Violin, Flute

1. Mina fäders hall 05:12

2. Nattsjäl, drömsjäl 05:54

3. Bergagasten 05:10

4. I den svartaste jord 07:17

5. Hraesvelg 01:48

6. Vetrarmegin 04:59

7. Draugen 04:17

8. Nattväsen 05:51

9. Delling 04:38

45:06

Song translations:

1. My Father's Hall

2. Nightsoul, Dreamsoul

3. The Mountain Ghost

4. In the Blackest Soil

5. Hraesvelg

6. Winter Force

7. Draugen

8. Night Creatures

9. Dawn

Recording information:

Recorded, mixed & produced at Studio Underground, 1-21 September 2008.

Northern Kings

 Today in 2008 Northern Kings released the album Rejoined

Finland Symphonic metal, power metal, progressive metal

Status: On Hold

Years active 2007 - 2010

One of those oddities that could only come about in a culture soaked heavily in the sounds of heavy metal, Northern Kings are a symphonic power metal supergroup. While that may not be an oddity on its own, what has made Northern Kings unique is that they are a symphonic power metal supergroup that exclusively plays covers. And to make it even more peculiar, the band covers songs that were decidedly not metal -- Tina Turner's "We Don't Need Another Hero," "I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight" by Cutting Crew, and "Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straits, to name a few. Northern Kings are comprised of four vocalists from some of the leading bands in metal -- Tony Kakko of Sonata Arctica, Marco Hietala of Nightwish, Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto of Charon, and Jarkko Ahola of Teräsbetoni. Their first single, a cover of the aforementioned Tina Turner track from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, was a hit in Finland, and their debut album, Reborn, was released in October of 2007. The concept proved to be a success, as the debut full-length managed a Top Ten placement in the Finnish charts.

Warner Music Finland

Marco Hietala - vocals

Tony Kakko - vocals

Jarkko Ahola - vocals

Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto - vocals

with

Erkka Korhonen (of the Ari Koivunen band) - guitar[6]

Mirka Rantanen - Drums

Mikko P. Mustonen - Orchestrations

Two Finger Choir - Backing Vocals

Vili Olila - Piano, Keyboards

Erkki Silvennoinen - Bass

1"Training Montage" (Vince DiCola cover, from the film Rocky IV) - (Instrumental) - 3:36

2"Wanted Dead or Alive" (Bon Jovi cover) - (by Marco Hietala) - 3:56

3"Kiss from a Rose" (Seal cover) - (by all) - 4:56

4"A View to a Kill" (Duran Duran cover) - (by all) - 5:26

5"Nothing Compares 2 U" (Prince cover, although chiefly associated with Sinéad O'Connor) - (by Tony Kakko) - 6:51

6"My Way" (Frank Sinatra cover) - (by Jarkko Ahola) - 4:31

Instrumentals incorporate elements of Queen's "The Show Must Go On".

7"Strangelove" (Depeche Mode cover) - (by all) - 4:41

8"Take on Me" (A-ha cover) - (by all) - 4:01

9"I Should Be So Lucky" (Kylie Minogue cover) - (by Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto and Jarkko Ahola) - 4:51

10"Killer" (Adamski feat. Seal cover) - (by all) - 4:36

11"Róisín Dubh (Black Rose): A Rock Legend" (Thin Lizzy cover) - (by Jarkko Ahola and Marco Hietala) - 7:36

12"They Don't Care About Us" (Michael Jackson cover) - (by Marco Hietala and Tony Kakko) - 4:46

Bonus track on the Japanese release.

13"They Don't Care About Us (Orchestral Edit)" (Michael Jackson cover) - (by Marco Hietala and Tony Kakko) - 4:46

iTunes bonus track

Rethroned is the second album by Finnish symphonic metal band Northern Kings. It was released on November 19, 2008, as a CD in Finland and to download via the European iTunes Store. Upon release, the album entered the Finnish charts at number 16.The album was released in Japan on February 25, 2009, with the Michael Jackson cover "They Don't Care About Us" as a bonus track. The iTunes edition included also the orchestral version of "They Don't Care About Us".

The first single and music video released off this album was the Seal cover "Kiss from a Rose" (originally from the soundtrack of the film Batman Forever).The album also includes two other movie-based tracks: "Training Montage" (from Rocky IV) and "A View to a Kill" (from the 1985 James Bond 007 film of the same title).

Tarja

 Today in 2007 Tarja released the album My Winter Storm

Kitee,Finland/Buenos Aires (Argentina)Symphonic Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 2004-present

Tarja Turunen is a Finnish lyric soprano singer, songwriter and composer. She is best known as the original member and the former lead vocalist of Finnish operatic/symphonic power metal band Nightwish, founded by herself, Tuomas Holopainen and Emppu Vuorinen in 1996. She was dismissed from the band after nine years, on October 22, 2005, through an open letter written by Holopainen, that was signed by the other members of Nightwish too. Turunen responded through another open letter, which was posted on her website in both Finnish and English.

Vertigo

Tarja Turunen Vocals, Piano

Doug Wimbish Bass

Alex Scholpp Guitars

Earl Harvin Drums

Torsten Stenzel Keyboards

Guest/Session

Martin Tillman Cello

Kiko Loureiro Guitars (acoustic) (track 19)

Izumi Kawakatsu Piano

Lili Haydin Violin

Tony Turunen Vocals (backing) (track 11)

Kid Crazy Keyboards (track 9)

Tea Tähtinen Vocals (backing) (track 11)

Daniel Presley Vocals (backing) (track 11)

1. Ite, missa est 00:27

2. I Walk Alone 03:53

3. Lost Northern Star 04:22

4. Seeking for the Reign 00:58

5. The Reign 04:07

6. The Escape of the Doll 00:32

7. My Little Phoenix 04:02

8. Die Alive 04:04

9. Boy and the Ghost 04:36

10. Sing for Me 04:16

11. Oasis 05:10

12. Poison (Alice Cooper cover) 04:01

13. Our Great Divide 05:05

14. Sunset 00:36

15. Damned and Divine 04:29

16. Minor Heaven 04:00

17. Ciarán's Well 03:37

18. Calling Grace 03:06

01:01:21

Recorded between 2006 and 2007 at verious studios: Grouse Lodge Studios, Westmeath, Ireland; Can del Sol, Ibiza, Spain; The Village, West Los Angeles, USA; Petrax Studio, Hollola, Finland; Rudolfinum, Prague, Czech Republic, Finnvox Studios, Helsinki, Finland; Remote Control Productions, Santa Monica, USA; Fusão Estúdios, San Paulo, Brazil; Sound Development AG, Zurich, Swiss; Jojo Music Studios, Stuttgart, Germany.

Mixed at Remote Control Productions, Santa Monica, USA.

Mastered at Marcussen Mastering, Hollywood, USA.

Nifelheim

 Today in 2007 Nifelheim released the album Envoy of Lucifer

Dals Långed, Sweden Black/Thrash Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1990-Present

Nifelheim was formed in 1990 by Tyrant (bass/guitar), Demon (drums) and Hellbutcher (vocals). Soon they were also joined by guitarist Morbid Slaughter. Around New Years 92/93 the band made their first recording and released the legendary landmark of metal - "Unholy Death Demo". Reviewers were shocked! Nifelheim delivered music unheard of since the glory days of Venom, Hellhammer, Bathory and early Mayhem. Great reviews in mags and a massive underground word of mouth got the record labels interested.

The band signed with Necropolis Records and in 1994, after kicking out Morbid Slaughter they entered Studio Fredman to record their self titled debut album. The band is still banned from that studio... John Zweetsloot and Jon Nodtveidt from Dissection joined in to play guitar on the album that thoroughly crushed all competition. 1996 saw the band record a Vulcano-cover (featuring Goat ex. Satanized) on vocals for the Headbanger's Against Disco 7" series as well as participate on the Gummo movie soundtrack released by Polygram/London records.

In 1997 they recorded their second album - The Devil's Force. Once again a devastating blow to everything wimpy in the metal scene and once again with help by John & Jon. Of course it was greeted with great reviews worldwide, as Nifelheim once again showed how black metal was (and still is for that matter) supposed to be played! When the time had come to record a new album, Nifelheim discovered they had outgrown current label Necropolis Records, and therefore chose to go their own way, to get get a record company that could handle their demands in their evergoing mission to conquer the world.

After spending time out to write new songs, record tracks for Bathory and Motorhead tributes, look for a drummer, the band returned to the studio in March 2000 to work on their third release - Servants Of Darkness on new record label Black Sun Records. Their most brilliant piece of work to date! In May 2001 the band finally got a full line up and played their first gig ever as headliners at the 2heavy4you festival in Sweden. Since then Nifelheim have done a couple of deadly concerts in Europe to spread total death!

Regain Records

Hellbutcher Vocals, Songwriting

Tyrant Bass, Songwriting

Vengance from Beyond Guitars

Apocalyptic Desolator Guitars

Insulter of Jesus Christ! Drums

Guest/Session

Set Teitan Vocals (backing)

1. Infernal Flame of Destruction 04:14

2. Evocation of the End 02:18

3. Gates of Damnation 04:31

4. Claws of Death 05:02

5. Storm of the Reaper 04:15

6. Envoy of Lucifer 03:27

7. Evil Is Eternal 03:59

8. Raging Flames 04:18

9. Belial's Prey 04:24

10. No More Life 07:33

44:01

LP released in early 2008, first press limited to 500 copies. Comes in gatefold cover.

Recording information:

Recorded strictly analogue between the period of May 4 until June 28, 2007 at Ace Tone Studios, Stockholm.

Mastered at Tailormaid Mastering Studio, Stockholm August 4, 2007.

Necromantia

 Today in 2007 Necromantia released the album The Sound of Lucifer Storming Heaven

Athens, Attica,Greece Black Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1989-present

Necromantia is probably Greece's most well-known black metal bands, as well as the main home for Magus Daoloth, arguably the most popular Greek metal figure of all time and who seemingly has had his hands in practically every other Greek band of note, as well as being of the guys in charge of the Black Lotus record label. The band essentially exists as a duo with various session players filling out the album lineups.

Dockyard 1 Records

Baron Blood (R.I.P. 2019) 8-String bass, Keyboards

The Magus Bass, Vocals, Keyboards

Fotis Benardo Drums

1. The Sound of Lucifer Storming Heaven 02:36 instrumental

2. Order of the Black Sphinx 05:55

3. For the Elder Magi: I - Eibon the Necromancer 07:07

4. Architecture of Exquisite Madness 04:54

5. Knights of the Black and White Eagle 05:25

6. The Invisible Empire 05:15

7. Hellseher 05:45

8. Les Litanies de Satan - Act II: From Hell 04:51

41:48

All music, orchestrations by Necromantia.

All lyrics by Necromantia except "Les Litanies de Satan - Act II: From Hell" (taken from "La-Bas" by J.K. Huysmans, translation by Brendan King, alterations by The Magus).

Recording information:

Recorded and mixed at Hell's Kitchen studio during July - October 2007.

Produced by Necromantia.