LIEGE LORD (Stamford, CT) – With a healthy amount of speed and thrash influence, Liege Lord are true American power metal pioneers, still delivering the goods on live stages around the world.

(Los Angeles, CA) – Since 1983, the name Lizzy Borden has been synonymous with heavy metal music of the highest caliber and stage show to match.  We all need - American Metal!

(Newcastle, England) – Original NWOBHM legends spinning proto-thrash speed metal of the highest quality, still releasing some of the best material of their career with twin guitar agility and masterful vocals.

MIDNIGHT 20 YEARS OF THE FILTHIEST BAND AROUND 20 YEARS OF SPEED AND DARKNESS   “Rebirth By Blasphemy is a rebirth,” states Midnight’s sole driving force, Athenar. “It’s a change in life and it’s a rebirth of doing whatever the fuck you want and seeing what happens after that. It’s about saying yes, taking opportunities, taking a fucking chance.” These sentiments are backed up by the notorious - and prolific - underground band’s trademark blend of speed metal, black metal and punk rock, sounding both fuller and more raucous than ever before. “Overall, I would say the sound is pretty vicious, vicious but I keep things hooky, and that’s what I like it to be. I want to still keep it raw but at the same time I wanted this record to be a little more hi-fi, which was my only plan when I started making it.”   Dating back to the band’s inception in 2002, vocalist/guitarist/bassist/drummer Athenar has always known exactly what he wanted Midnight to be, and over the course of countless demos, EPs, compilations, splits and three full-lengths he has stayed true to his roots. Building up a strong reputation and a rabid following in the underground, Midnight’s most recent opus, 2017’s Sweet Death And Ecstasy, stood as their most accomplished work to date. “Looking back on that record I think it’s a fantastic piece of work, really. It’s pretty varied, it has a nice bookend front and back song. I think the lyrics are thought provoking, and I think it’ll be a pretty important piece of work over time, up there with the Mona Lisa.” Making the jump to Metal Blade Records did not mean any change in the way Athenar went about making Midnight records. “I never really thought about writing a follow up to Sweet Death. If a song comes it comes and where it goes is wherever it goes, but nothing is ever really intended as ‘this song will be on the new album’.” There is also no denying that, like its predecessors, Rebirth By Blasphemy is a ruthlessly catchy collection, every song, vicious as they are, wielding the kind of hooks that sink deep and don’t let go, and this too came naturally. “There’s no real intent. I think a rock song in general should be catchy, so if someone thinks it’s catchy that’s a good thing. If they don’t think it’s catchy then they probably don’t have ears.” While the likes of opener “Fucking Speed And Darkness”, “Escape The Grave” and “Warning From The Reaper” are all d-beat-driven thrashers they don’t lack when it comes to hooks, and “Rising Scum”, built on a titanic stomping beat, reins in the speed but is easily one of the standout tracks on the record, Athenar referring to it as being “quite 1979 Priest-like, just with its drum and vocal.”   When it came to penning lyrics for the record, Athenar’s perspective shifted over the course of the writing process. “I would say I started out in a very positive frame of mind. One of the first tunes written was “Escape The Grave”, and from there I went on the positive path - and then it turned negative by the end of the album. The title track is very negative lyrically, so I ended it again with complete and utter disgust for humans in general, but then you want that to come out of you. Just like you take a poop and you take a pee you want the rotten shit to come out of your body, because if you keep the rotten shit in your body it’ll rot you internally.” Handling every instrument himself and being quite unfussy when it comes to production typically means that the recording process is a straightforward one for Midnight, and this time was no different. Staying in his home town of Cleveland he opted to record at Mercenary Studios with the assistance of Noah Buchanan, laying the drums down in a day, the guitars in a little more than that, bass in a few hours and then tracking the vocals to two or three songs a day, depending on how his voice was holding up. “I think there’s really no production value on the album, it’s really just get in there, press record and see what happens. Maybe you can tell that the sessions went pretty quickly when you listen to it. There are so called mistakes, of course, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He also wouldn’t have it any other way when it comes to touring this latest collection hard, with a lot of dates with a variety of bands already locked down. “It’s the rebirth, it’s saying fuck it and getting out there and doing what you’re supposed to do, and we’re supposed to play music. If people want to damage their ears by listening to it that’s welcomed.”

(Honolulu, HI) – Formed in 1980, Sacred Rite is a melodic progressive metal band with a unique delivery. The band later moved to Tulsa, OK and some members went on to form Tragic Nancy.  Their performance at 2MTT will be a Tulsa metal reunion of sorts.

(Houston, TX) – An indelible force in spreading the unholy gospel of power and thrash metal, through themes of vampire and goth desires.

(Louisville, KY) –This horror-inspired band delivers a brand of metal that will appeal to occult rockers, thrashers and NWOBHM fanatics alike.

(Fresno, CA) – Catchy melodies and galloping guitar harmonies are the foundation of this sound, while channeling the majesty and sonic might of all things traditional metal.

(Wichita, KS / Germany) – Sentry features three members of the band Manilla Road and was formed from the brotherhood and camaraderie of those musicians after the death of Mark Shelton.  While Sentry is not a tribute to Mark, it is most definitely inspired by him.

(Murcia, Spain) – Huge power chords, spandex screams and down and dirty lyrics, a true throwback to the classic 80’s and NWOBHM, with the right balance of riffs, chops and anthemic vocals.

(Edmonton, Canada) – Traditional and blistering power and speed from the Great White North.  The Claw is the Law!

(Raleigh, NC) – Heavy metal, sorcery, and super science, featuring twin guitar leads in the classic British metal style with fantasy inspired lyrics from the dustiest old book collection.

Wretched Warriors and Devout Defenders of the TrÜest of Faiths from Tulsa, OK. "You cannot kill our magick, with sword or Stolen Cross!"

(Lafayette, LA) – Relentless riffs, thunderous drums, and electrifying energy are the foundation of this explosive Louisiana powerhouse thrash outfit.

Tulsa Metal Vocals: Nico Guitar: Kyle Williams Sr. Bass: Chris West Drums: Garrett Heck Lead guitars: Travis Rowe