Following the release of their well-received Border World EP in 2022, VOLCANDRA breathed life into their continually evolving universe of myths and extreme metal fantasy epics across stages in North America. Amassing tours alongside labelmates Tómarúm, multiple solo headline runs, and a support stint with The Convalescence, VOLCANDRA’s dynamic as a unit in 2024 is one of unwavering confidence and lofty ambition. Galvanized by their growing rapport and momentum from the road, The Way of Ancients’ writing process came quickly and naturally to the band in the winter of 2022. Vocalist and lyricist Dave Palenske’s affinity for concept albums led to The Way of Ancients’ creative decision to implement an overarching story, with particular influence from the classic early Diablo video game series as well as the escapism found in sword and sorcery eighties films such as Conan, Clash of the Titans and Excalibur. Commencing production in January 2023 with Mike Low (Cattle Decapitation, Khemmis, INFERI) at the helm for tracking, mixing and mastering, VOLCANDRA also enlisted Entheos’ Chaney Crabb and Navene Koperweis for drum recording. Further contributions also see choral singing throughout the release from Oubliette’s Emily Low. Whilst The Way of Ancients retains VOLCANDRA’s inclination for melodicism, both in songwriting and production value, guitarists River Jordan and Jamie DeMar’s synergy and growing desire for a more bellicose approach to the blackened aspects of their sound is evident throughout the near 40 minute runtime. Intent to keep aesthetic continuity of their established narrative thread, longtime collaborator Varises Otak (Cryptopsy and Amon Amath) masterfully brings The Way Of Ancients’ visual identity to life with the cover art.

In 2010, members from buried project The Last, the almighty Minos and Dread Veil came together with a simple goal: to create the music they wanted with no genre restrictions whatsoever. The result was something that had some rhythmicalqualities and aesthetics coming from the black metal genre, but paired up with some contrasting melodic influences from genres such as progressive metal, post-rock, doom metal and even a bit of folk. We don't really know what to call it, we just try to call it metal. The name "Amiensus" is derived from the famous Amiens Cathedral located in Amiens, France. We liked the imagery of the church and the aesthetic qualities the name had when the "-sus" prefix was added.   Our first release: The Last EP, which was mixed by Abigail Williams frontman Ken Sorceron was released early summer of 2010. It mainly covers material written by members of The Last.   Our first full-length: Restoration was released digitally on Bandcamp NYE 2012 and made #5 bestselling metal album that week thanks to a good following.   Digipaks for Restoration are OUT NOW and available through our Bandcamp/Pest Productions. "The Gathering" Split with Oak Pantheon out November 5th, 2013 via Tridroid Records, is a free download on all three parties bandcamps, WE HAVE NEW COPIES AVAILABLE ON OUR BANDCAMP. Our third album ASCENSION is available via bandcamp in three formats- digital, cassette and digipak. Pick it up now! http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Amiensus/3540347443

TOXIC RUIN was formed in 2014 with a mission of blending classic thrash metal, old-school death metal, and modern technicality into a wicked headbanging brew. Operating out of their collective hometown of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the band released their debut album, “Subterranean Terror,” in 2016. The group followed up that debut record with the release of their 2018 EP, “Mortal Insolence.” The effort saw the current lineup of TOXIC RUIN take shape with Behrendt stepping into the vocalist position and the debut of rhythm guitarist Blake Toltzmann alongside lead guitarist Jacob Baneck and drummer David Miller. The effort saw the group further evolve their sound, leading to praise from Dead Rhetoric.com for showcasing “a stronger level of confidence and insight into dynamic songwriting for a thrash band not content to rest on recycling the past, but rather creating a bright future." The new lineup began writing and recording songs for their second full-length album while relentlessly touring the United States in 2019 alongside bands such as LichKing, Micawber and Stonecutters and playing multiple festivals including FULL TERROR ASSAULT and Slam Dakota, plus winning 2nd Place in the 2019 Wacken Metal Battle USA. The result is TOXIC RUIN's most mature and complex record to date, while also being their heaviest display of metallic force so far. “Nightmare Eclipse” is the next evolution in blending the heavier sounds of metal's past with the modern musicianship of metal's present.

Pulchra Morte (ˈpul.kʰra / ˈmɔr.te) - comprised of Adam Clemans (Skeletonwitch, Wolvhammer), John Porada(Wolvhammer, Abigail Williams), Jarrett Pritchard(Eulogy), Clayton Gore (Eulogy, Harkonin), and Jeffrey Breden(Leagues Below) - began in 2017 with the idea to rekindle a feeling that has become increasingly scarce in the dense landscape of extreme music today - formation of songs containing weight, atmosphere and feeling. 2019 began with the release of The critically-acclaimed debut album Divina Autem Et Aniles and continued with the performance of many shows throughout, including the Full Terror Assault Open Air Vfestival, as well as several sold-out shows in support of the 1349 / Uada / Cloak North American tour. We spent the majority of the year composing material for our follow-up album, entering the studio in September to begin work in earnest. While DAEA explored the many facets of death, for our next effort we wanted to pull the veil back a bit and expose more of our collective path and intention. Ex Rosa Ceremonia, with cover art featuring a photo by Brian Sheehan/LGRDMN, conceptually refers to a need for a mental and spiritual renaissance. Looking back throughout history, there have been movements that inspired and created many metaphysical systems and philosophies that, upon deeper inspection, led us forward as a species in many ways, though hidden behind the curtain of magical order and secret society. As the near-sighted corral the blind and the masses happily stab their third eye with a constant diet of blue light among other things, we have arrived at a time that begs deeply for the need of an expanded consciousness. We see masses being led by the governing of robotic suggestions to align with your enemy based on alarmist response-seeking propaganda. A world of experts lacking substance, clamoring for the dopamine endorphin-guzzling pastime that becomes a virtual existence for many. Words like "influencer" and "trending" that are spoken instead of vomited, as they should be. The suggestion to “get in line” or be destroyed through character assassination. The record speaks of the power of unity when like minds join, the strength of a creature like us with nothing to lose when tenacity is put to the test with no alternative conceivable. People have become willingly blind to the power of the human mind when it is quieted and directed, when the bulb of the strobe light effect of media blitz hypnosis is smashed. The power of focus and purpose. And the rose of ceremony. For ERC, drums were recorded to tape in the analog environment of Earth Analog studios (Clayton uses Pearl Drums, Paiste Cymbals, ACD pedals, Vater sticks). Guitars, bass, vocals, cellos, and everything else was recorded at New Constellation RMP (Jarrett and Jeff use ESP guitars, SIT strings, and Fowl Sounds pedals). The album was produced, engineered, and mixed by Jarrett Pritchard on New Constellation’s 1983 Trident 80B desk. Mastering was courtesy of Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering. The album features a guest lead from Jay Fernandez (Brutality), guest vocals from Heather Dykstra, cello once again courtesy of Naarah Strokosch, and backing vocals from a gang of dozens of folks known collectively as... The Serpent's Choir: Jim Adolphson, Archaon, Jason Avery, Corey Barhorst, Dylan Barnes-Trout, Caleb Bergen, Jason Blackerby, Chase Brown, Mike Browning, Maria Burheim, Noah Cabitto, Matt Castro, Mike Connors, Blaine Cook, Vanessa Cordoba, Josh Crouse, Ross Dolan, Kim Dylla, Charles Elliott, Diane Farris, Damiano Fedeli, Andrew Gerrity, Matt Harvey, Dan Horton, Ryan Huff, John Jarvis, Øyvind Kaslegard, Espi Kvlt, Bruce Lamont, Jared Louche, Chris Lytle, Sage MacDonald, Scott MacDonald, Danielle Masek, Matt McClelland, Rob Miller, Karen Milligan, Sean Milligan, Erika Morgengrau, Jamey Morris, Nick Oliveri, Ravn, Billy C. Robinson, Blood Slaughter, Tor Stavenes, Jake Superchi, Eric Syre, Jeff Tandy, Scott Taysom, Oliver Thiel, Kyle Thomas, Mike Thompson, Terry Thornton, Tim Van Velthuysen, Rob Verret, Kevin Warhaft, Matt Wilson. As it was in the beginning, the idea remains the same - feeling, atmosphere, songwriting, and weight with unabashed creativity above all else. We are in an excellent spot. We have the ability to create and record as often as we like, and will do exactly that.

Formed in Indianapolis, Indiana, Flesher are a gore-soaked power trio consisting of Paul Breece, Davy Jaggar and Dustin Boltjes. Flesher was forged in the summer of 2022 and shortly thereafter released the Murder Sessions demo. Taking inspiration from the past, everything Flesher does pays homage to classic horror and 90’s death metal. In less than a year as a band, Flesher have released a demo and toured the midwest already sharing the stage with the likes of Internal Bleeding, Exhumed, Sanguisugabogg, Vomit Forth, Enterprise Earth and more. The band were also featured on Metal Injection’s Metal Monday, in which they praised, “This thing is fucking grotesque and I love it!” Earlier this year, Flesher signed with Redefining Darkness Records and recorded their first full length album under the guise, Tales of Grotesque Demise. The band pulled out no stops on their debut with Dan Swanö handling the master, legend Ed Repka providing the cover art and featuring guest vocals from Devin Swank of Sanguisugabogg.