There’s no escaping the fact that Sweden is an incomparable breeding ground for some of the heaviest and most crushing metal bands in the world right now. Amon Amarth, Grand Magus, Candlemass, Vokonis, Monolord… all have crossed the water and duly conquered in recent years. In fact, even those yet to arrive can more often than not be found waiting in the wings, battle horn in hand heralding trepidation, Scandinavian-promise and riffs the size of long ships.

One such band waiting to scorch the earth upon which they land is Gothenburg trio FIREBREATHER who will release their self-titled debut album on Suicide Records this coming October. Relatively new to the fold having formed in the spring of 2016 from the ashes of underground doom heavyweights Galvano, FIREBREATHER is a devastatingly weighty statement of intent. Taking in four tracks that swallow time behind tooth shattering riffs from guitarist/vocalist Mattias Nööjd and crunching rhythms via bassist Kyle Pitcher and Tommy Hanning (newly replaced by drummer Fredrik Käll), FIREBREATHER are a jaw-breaking triptych of sludge and doom rock.

Mastered by Brad Boatright (Sleep, Corrosion of Conformity, Beastmilk, Obituary) at his Audioseige Studio in Portland, OR and featuring artwork by legendary underground artist Adam Burke, FIREBREATHER are out to make 2017 their own. With a European tour announcement on the horizon, in the meantime head on over to Decibel Magazine now for an exclusive look at their brand-new video for ‘The Ice Lord’ – https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2017/08/01/video-premiere-firebreather-ice-lord/

FIREBREATHER is released on 13th October 2017 on Suicide Records.

Events, News, Releases

The Necromancers to release debut album | Share new video for ‘Black Marble House’

18/07/2017 shelteredlifepr

Ripple Music is thrilled to welcome psychedelic occult rockers The Necromancers to its ever-growing roster of new and exciting young bands.

Hailing from Poitiers in western France, the quartet will release their debut album Servants of the Salem Girl on 18th August through the Californian label, which has already proven itself to be a respected mainstay for fans of rock, stoner, doom and psych in 2017 with releases from Mothership, Wo Fat, Steak, Vokonis and many others.

Drawing on antiquated inspirations in mythology, religion, fantastical tales from European literature and an obsession for classic horror cinema, The Necromancers are a curious alliance of musicians, and together are a strange beast to behold. Experimenting with progressive rock, heavy psych and the 70s pagan/proto-metal of bands like Black Sabbath and Coven, they take these influences, throw in the urgency of NWOBHM and douse the entire lot in lysergic illusions. All with a mind to create a debut album for the ages.

Having performed at many of Europe’s largest metal and rock festivals the band also toured Europe recently with London-based stoner rockers Elephant Tree and are set to embark on a short tour later this year with Monkey 3.

“The band is still young,” explains vocalist and guitar player Tom Cornière. “We never would have thought of signing with a label like Ripple. We could hardly have hoped for better. It’s an honour and a surprise. Now, we are looking forward to the next tour and to be able to share our album wherever we can.”

Servants of the Salem Girl by The Necormancers is released though Ripple Music on 18th August 2017 in limited edition, multi-coloured vinyl and worldwide in a black vinyl edition, as well as on CD and digital.

Tour Dates:
20th Sept – Le Ferailleur – Nantes (FR)*
21st Sept – Backstage – Paris (FR)*
30th Sept – Vortex – Siegen (D)*
2nd Oct – Muz – Nürnberg (D)*
4th Oct 4 – Scheune – Dresden (D)*
6th-7th Oct – Up In Smoke Festival – Pratteln (CH)
17th Oct – L’Usine – Geneva (CH)
22nd Oct – Keep It Low Festival – Munich (D)

*With Monkey 3

News, Releases

Granite City Rockers The Judge to release new album on Ripple Music

06/07/2017 shelteredlifepr

Originally formed in 2010 by long-time friends Dylan Jarrett and Evan Anderson, The Judge is a hard rock quartet of impeccable vintage, formed in the fittingly named stronghold of Granite City, Illinois.

After the band’s initial incarnation as Unfallen – with Jarrett on guitar and Anderson on drums – the duo quickly became a trio for a period, touring music venues across the St. Louis area with new member Kevin Jones taking up bass and vocal duties. Increasingly influenced by the Britannic rock majesty of groups such as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, and with it that unshakeable ‘band of brothers’ mentality’, in 2013 the trio finally discovered the missing piece of a puzzle with the addition of their very own enigmatic front man, Tyler Swope.

As a criminally young quartet happily graduating from the riffs of old, Jarrett and Anderson started to uncover a new wave of hard rock acts occupying radio waves and record store shelves. Music by the likes of Graveyard and Kadavar helped inspire The Judge to develop their own special breed of slow burning psychedelia and sonic stew of traditional classic rock’n’roll and heavy backroom blues, the results of which can be heard on their brand-new studio album Tell It To The Judge, which follows on from the release of last year’s acclaimed self-titled debut and first for Ripple Music.

Tell It To The Judge by The Judge is released on 8th August 2017 on Ripple Music. Stream and share new song ’Empty Halls’ below:

News, Releases

RESCUE RANGERS: French rockers to release new album Join Hate this September

28/06/2017 shelteredlifepr

This September will see the official release of Join Hate, the explosive new studio album (and third in the canon) from French rock and rollers, Rescue Rangers.

Since their formation in 2007, for lead singer and guitarist Pascal Mascheroni every day since has only served to heighten and advance his near talismanic-like qualities as a songwriter. A long-serving student and practitioner of classic rock, stoner metal and hardcore punk, after performing at a local show in Marseilles with desert rock nonconformist Nick Oliveri, the band were invited to join Mondo Generator on tour across North America later that summer. Deep in the process of writing and recording new material at the time, Mascheroni gladly obliged and in return asked Oliveri to lend his vocals to the song ‘Creeper, The One Who Creeps,’ on Rescue Ranger’s brilliant 2012 album, Manitoba.

As fellow kindred spirit and stoic campaigner of high octane rock’n’roll, it was following a performance on stage in LA with the former Kyuss/QOTSA bass player that he was introduced to another cult luminary and equally enamoured Rescue Rangers-supporter in Page Hamilton. By request the band has just this month returned from an extensive tour supporting Hamilton’s legendary NYC noisemakers Helmet across France and are currently readying themselves for the release of their new album this September on F200 Records.

Produced by Hamilton, Join Hate is the French quartet’s third studio effort and an out-and-out treat for fans of heavy rock and electrifying song writing. Ballsy, voluminous and best of all stacked with promise, for anyone just discovering the band it’s an ear opener, and for those already in the know, a real statement on just how far they have progressed since day one.

Join Hate by Rescue Rangers is released on 1st September 2017 through F200 Record.