When it comes to virtues such as endurance, unconditional commitment and a thoroughly down-to-earth attitude, Anvil are the measure of all things. Like few other metal acts, the band’s founding members Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow (vocals, guitars) and Robb Reiner (drums), plus bassist Chris Robertson, have earned their laurels of blood, sweat and tears. Since their 2009 documentary film “The Story Of Anvil”, which revealed the unvarnished truth about the music industry, the world was made aware that the day-to-day life of most musicians doesn’t consist of MTV Awards, Grammy ceremonies, red carpets, champagne and caviar, but mainly of energy-sapping tours de force with little sleep, junk food and meagre earnings. Yet these difficult conditions have made Anvil what they are today: a band that stands solid as a rock in the turbulent waters of a musical genre that produces like no other music by fans for fans. Anvil has been rocking for over 40 years releasing countless classic albums, and their legacy was continued in 2020 with the release of “Legal At Last”.

Burning Witches are an all-female band clad in jeans and leather. A band feverishly committed to the true, real, galloping thunder of traditional heavy metal. Secondly, they are an inseparable unit, an alliance whose all-weekly Thursday rehearsal is their innermost sanctum. Their holiest rite that they simply never miss, with their rehearsal space being their cathedral. Thirdly, and maybe most importantly: Burning Witches are living proof that it always pays off to thoroughly burn for a cause. Their cause is heavy metal. And they oh so gladly burn for it. Not long after their self-released debut they came to the attention of Nuclear Blast where they signed, without hesitation, and in 2018 released Hexenhammer, one of the strongest heavy metal albums of the 21st century. Period. Big was the cheer, even bigger was the fury those ladies unleashed upon the stages far and wide. A tour with GRAVE DIGGER or slots at Bang Your Head!!! or Wacken were the logical result and the icing on two absolutely insane years. Still, resting on their laurels never was their thing. Their third record, “Dance with the Devil”, released in March of 2020, embodies the momentum of its predecessor and their countless live shows, propelling their sound onto a whole new level.

Destruction are one of the “Big Four” of the German thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator, Sodom, and Tankard. Destruction was part of the start of the second wave of thrash metal in the mid 1980’s, along with American bands Testament, Death Angel, and Sacred Reich, among others. Known as legends in thrash metal for over 35 years, the band has an extensive catalog of classic albums including early releases like “Infernal Overkill” and “Release from Agony”, up to more recent classics like “Day of Reckoning” and “Under Attack”. Founding members, Schmier (bass/vocals) and Mike (guitar), continue to lead the charge and in 2019, they changed from a longtime trio into a four piece and released the album “Born to Perish”. In 2020, the band would release a live album, “Born to Thrash”, showing the power of the new line-up.

Doro Pesch is known as the “Queen of Metal” and as a legend in the metal scene in her native Germany and all across the globe. Gold and platinum awards, nearly 10 million records sold, nearly 3,000 live shows on four continents and in 60 different countries, 20 studio records, and countless cover stories on all important music magazines and millions of overwhelmed fans around the globe. Doro got her start in 1982 fronting the band Warlock. With the success of the single, “All We Are”, which received heavy airplay on MTV and sold millions of records, Warlock would tour arenas around the world supporting Dio, Judas Priest, Scorpions, and Motorhead. After Warlock, Doro would go on with her own band, DORO, and release album after album to reach her iconic status. In 2020, she released a 56-song compilation album, “Magic Diamonds – the Best of Rock, Ballads, and Rare Treasures”, through her own label, Rare Diamonds.

Exhorder is an American hardcore-inspired thrash metal band from New Orleans, Louisiana formed in 1986. In 1987 with a new batch of intense music, the band re-entered the studio to record the controversial classic demo, Slaughter in the Vatican. From this point on, the international attention the band drew via the world of underground tape trading was undeniable. In 1990, Slaughter in the Vatican was released on Roadracer affiliate R/C Records with the assistance of legendary producer Scott Burns. In 1992, The Law was released, composed of a mixture of new material, songs from the Get Rude demo, and a remake of the Black Sabbath classic, “Into the Void”.​ After six years of highs and lows, the band was inactive aside from a handfull of performances until reuniting in 2017. The first release in twenty seven years, Mourn the Southern Skies, was released via Nuclear Blast to much fanfare and acclaim in 2019.

Over the years, the legend of Exhorder grew exponentally throughout the music community and metal circles all over the world. Touring more now than ever before, the band finally has begun to see the original dream born in rehearsal spaces come to fruition. Supporting headiners Kataklysm in 2019 and Overkill in 2020, Exhorder has flourished on the big stage. After seventeen months of a halt in touring due to the pandemic, Exhorder put on a legendary performance of Slaughter in the Vatican in its entirety at Psycho Las Vegas 2021. With Slaughter in the Vatican having been honored recently in the Decibel magazine Hall of Fame and the album re-released on vinyl, the band completed a full US headlining tour in late 2021 honoring the album in its entirety.

Shortly after the tour was completed, the band parted ways with guitarist Marzi Montazeri. As a permanent solution to the revolving door at the guitar position, Kyle decided to take on the duties himself in addition to vocals. Veteran guitarist and friend of the band, Pat O’ Brien (Cannibal Corpse, Nevermore) loaned his services to Exhorder for a crushing set at Maryland Deathfest 2022. He is currently working with the band on more live dates, and possibly on the upcoming album as well. Sessions for the album will begin after festival obligations in the summer have completed.

After the successful release and touring off their sophomore effort “Ambition’s Price” and an unexpected prolonged hiatus, Graveshadow are back! Fans will notice quite a few new faces in the mix in bassist Luci Rae, drummer Brazdon Goodwin and vocal powerhouse Rachl Raxx Quinn. In the tumultuous back drop of 2020, guitar duo Aaron Robitsch and William Lloyd Walker III began working with the new group on a fresh and exciting batch of new material. With the positive response to their new single ‘Gwynnbleidd’ inspired by the popular fantasy series “The Witcher” the band decided to roll what was meant to be an EP into the band’s third full length effort. The energy brought into the project from the new members has opened up new creative avenues that the group can’t wait to share with everyone. Excited to hit the ground running Graveshadow is back and stronger than ever. The new album will be released through the M-Theory Audio imprint owned by Marco Barberi. Details soon to come including title and artwork!

Hand of Juno was formed in the summer of 2021 after arising from the ashes of the former all-female band Killin’ Baudelaire. Killin’ Baudelaire had formed in 2015 and made an impact on the metal scene releasing a full-length album and EP, while touring in Europe and the UK, and playing on big stages like I-days 2017 with Linkin Park, Sum 41, Blink 182; Nova Rock Festival 2018 with Marilyn Manson, Avenged Sevenfold, The Prodigy and many more; and Metal For Emergency 2019 with Anthrax.
In the summer of 2021 when a line-up change brought in new vocalist, Melissa Bruschi, the band decided to cut ties with the past and start with a totally new musical project, and Hand of Juno was born.

Hand of Juno delivers a darker wave of metal, one that is heavier than Killin’ Baudelaire, with chunky guitars infused with electronic/techno influences, industrial noise, and apocalyptic lyrical vibes.

Hand of Juno are:
Alice Lane Pandini (Bass)
Elisa Helly Montin (Drum)
Melissa Bruschi (Vocals)

IMONOLITH features an impressive pedigree of accomplished and known Canadian metal musicians. The band showcases the dynamic songwriting team of drummer, Ryan ‘RVP’ Van Poederooyen (Devin Townsend Project) and vocalist, Jon Howard (Threat Signal, Arkaea), who are collectively the brainchild of the diverse Imonolith sound. The band also features guitarist, Kai Huppunen (Methods of Mayhem, Noise Therapy), and bassist, Conan Freeman (PunchDrunk). Each member’s vast experience and dedication over the past 20 years in the professional music industry has collectively allowed them to tour world-wide with various famous musical acts. Their background, know-how, and drive has conformed into what Imonolith has become today and only adds to the potential of what the band will ultimately become.

IMONOLITH released two albums on their own label, Imonolith Music. Their first album, ‘State of Being’ was released in March 2020, and their second release, ‘Progressions’, was released in May 2022. Both albums were produced by Jason ‘JVP’ Van Poederooyen (Mother Mother, Nickelback, Simple Plan). Unfortunately, the album cycles were heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which ultimately prohibited the band from touring to support both albums. Imonolith has still managed to gather a worldwide following even with the misfortunes that have been bestowed upon them. With new music being written for a third album, Imonolith is primed and ready to finally tour their brand of music world-wide and achieve their dream of being a household name in the metal genre.  

Back in 2016 vocalist Liv Jagrell, known worldwide as the frontwoman for Sister Sin, let the music world know that she had formed a new band. LIV SIN, driven by massive guitar riffs and a heavy modern metal sound released their debut album “Follow Me” in 2017. Their second album, “Burning Sermons” was released in 2019. Both albums spawned multiple popular singles such as Let me Out and Blood Moon Fever.

Fast forward to 2023, after a two-year down period and revamped line-up, LiV SiN is now completely recharged and ready to hit the stages again. Not forgetting the record shops’ racks, with their new album, “KaliYuga”. “KaliYuga” referring to the fourth of the four “Yugas” in Hinduism, the era precisely dedicated to the present age, full of conflict and… sin. The theme of Kali Yuga was also reflected in the album’s writing process.

Musically, “Kali Yuga” is LiV SiN, on steroids! Jagrell explains how the creative process developed into an energetic and varied set of songs: “We took influences from everywhere, from newer metal acts such as Architects, Parkway Drive to vocal inspiration from King Diamond. I am ecstatic with the outcome”.

With such an album in hands, LiV SiN could only pick a production team that would do justice to the songs. Simon Johansson (from Wolf and Memory Garden fame) and Mike Wead (King Diamond and Mercyful Fate axeman) were summoned to record the album, while the mix and mastering duties were delivered to console-wizard Tue Madsen (Witchery, The Haunted, At The Gates, etc). A winning team for a strong and cohesive album that will for sure kick off 2023 in a true heavy way.

Razor is widely regarded around the world as one of the pioneers of thrash/speed metal. Formed in Guelph, Ontario, Canada in 1983, the band has released nine studio albums including classics like “Executioners Song” (1985), “Evil Invaders” (1985), “Malicious Intent” (1986), and “Violent Restitution” (1988). “Violent Restitution” is considered by many to be an essential classic. Its release set the bar high in the world of speed metal and incredibly influential becoming one of the bands most critically acclaimed releases to date. The release of “Shotgun Justice” (1990) was a big catalyst in their growing fan bases in North America, Europe, Japan and South America. 

Since early 2015, the band has returned in full form and has played numerous festivals throughout North America and Europe. The demand for a new studio album was extremely strong, and as a result, Razor released a new album entitled “Cycle of Contempt” in 2022.

VINTERSEA is a female-fronted metal band from Oregon. Fronted by the charismatic voice and presence of Malaysian-born vocalist, Avienne, and combining the essential elements of metal’s most revered sub-genres with memorable and anthemic song-writing sensibility, VINTERSEA has crafted a unique brand of crushing, blackened progressive metal inspired by the darkened skies of the Pacific Northwest. In late 2019, VINTERSEA signed a world-wide record deal with M-Theory Audio, and released their sophomore album, “Illuminated”, to a slew of positive reviews and Album-of-the-Year mentions. The band has completed recording for the next album through M-Theory Audio, which will see release in the summer of 2023.

VINTERSEA is a major creatively visual sonic force with several professional music videos, which have garnered millions of views and countless positive reviews. This visual element has been a key to growth and demand during the pandemic.

Since 2017, VINTERSEA has opened for world-wide touring acts including JINJER, NE OBLIVISCARIS, SARAH LONGFIELD, THE OCEAN COLLECTIVE, ARKONA, and SIRENIA, among others. They have built a strong and dedicated fan-base regionally, which has resulted in dozens of sold-out concerts, all while cultivating a rabid global audience of thousands through the utilization of social media.

Formed in the Bay Area in 1985, Oakland thrashers VIO-LENCE helped define and refine what came to be known as the Bay Area sound. They instilled themselves as groundbreakers of the second wave of thrash with their revered 1988 debut album “Eternal Nightmare”. Throughout ’88 and ’89, VIO-LENCE toured the album to great success alongside thrash comrades like Testament, Voivod, Death Angel, Sanctuary, Nuclear Assault, D.R.I., M.O.D. and the Cro-Mags.

In ’89, Megaforce Records/Atlantic signed the band, leading to the release of the bands’ second album “Oppressing the Masses” (1990). The band toured the album to packed crowds alongside bands like Overkill, Forbidden, Exodus, Flotsam & Jetsam, and Prong.

In 1991, VIO-LENCE released their EP “Torture Tactics” and their third studio album “Nothing to Gain”.

1993 brought the unfortunate break-up of the band, with some members splintering off to form TORQUE and MACHINE HEAD. In 2019, the band re-united at last as VIO-LENCE. The band currently features original members Sean Killian (vocals) and Phil Demmel (lead guitar), and a new member in former FEAR FACTORY bassist, Christian Olde Wolbers.