Hatebreed

Straight Edge Hardcore from Los Angeles California

Decapitated

Decapitated are a death metal band from Krosno, Poland who formed in 1996 and known for their incredible technicality as they made their mark on the underground metal scene with powerful, unforgettable guitar riffs and blast beat drums.

1349

Musically and visually, Oslo's 1349 have roots deeply implanted in the second wave of Norwegian black metal. Their sound, complete with buzzing (rather than roaring) guitars, abundant blastbeats, Satanic lyrics, unclean vocals, etc., is appended by ghastly corpse-paint, leather, spikes, fire breathing, and more, on-stage. Early recordings, such as Liberation and Beyond the Apocalypse, were drenched in lo-fi production, but won fans due to a sometimes-overwhelming physicality and aggression. Though hardly prolific -- they've issued less than ten albums in 22 years -- they are one of the few surviving entities from the era who continue releasing material and touring, while remaining -- with only two exceptions -- close to their sonic and aesthetic origins, as evidenced by 2014's Massive Cauldron of Chaos. Following long tours, overseeing reissues, and a break, 1349 returned with The Infernal Pathway in 2019. Following the pandemic, they returned to touring, and in 2024 released The Wolf & The King. 1349 took their name from the year in which the black death epidemic arrived on Scandinavian shores. Born in 1997 from the remains of black metal quartet Alvheim, 1349 featured vocalist and drummer Olav "Ravn" Bergene, guitarist André "Tjalve" Kvebek, and bassist Tor Risdal "Seidemann" Stavenes. Second guitarist Idar "Archaon" Burheim would join two years later, in time to perform on 1349's second demo (titled "Chaos Preferred") in 2000, and the ensuing eponymous 2001 EP, which established the band's sound as a single-minded throwback to the devastating style of black metal that made Norway the movement's focal point in the early '90s. 1349 made another connection to that seminal period when they recruited Satyricon drummer Kjetil Vidar "Frost" Haraldstad -- to allow vocalist Ravn to roam free on-stage -- which contributed to the band's burgeoning reputation both as players and as performers, thanks to the usual black metal accouterments. A trio of career-affirming albums followed, namely 2003's Liberation, 2004's Beyond the Apocalypse, and 2005's Hellfire, paving the way for a U.S. run (with a different drummer since Frost was denied entry due to a criminal record) supporting the reunited Celtic Frost, and a few years of dedicated touring and major European festival appearances. In 2006, Tjalve left the band to pursue other projects. After several years off, 1349 got back to the business of recording via 2009's Revelations of the Black Flame album. It marked a radical departure in their sound. Produced in partnership with Celtic Frost icon Thomas Gabriel Fischer, he replaced much of the band's old-school black metal with slower ambient and semi-industrial sounds, outraging most fans. The band added guitarist Secthdamon for the purpose of touring. The following year's Demonoir, with only the original quartet, made only token efforts to redress the situation (with numerous atmospheric pieces sprinkled amid the more typical black metal songs) and further polarized 1349's audience, leaving many unanswered questions as to the band's future prospects. Secthdamon returned as a touring member in 2016, and remains part of the live outfit, as does drummer Nils Fjellström, who replaces Frost for U.S. tours. After four years of working on concert and festival stages, they returned to the studio and issued the Dødskamp EP in April of 2019, followed by a second EP in August, Through Eyes of Stone. Both recordings were back-to-basics affairs and were greeted by fans with enthusiasm. That October 1349 released their seventh full-length, The Infernal Pathway. Engineered by Jarrett Pritchard, the set contained guest lyrics by Kenneth "Destroyer" Svartalv, (Nocturnal Breed's bassist/lyricist S.A. Destroyer) on all but one song. The album was celebrated by critics and fans alike as a welcome return to traditional form. The 2020 global pandemic canceled their touring until 2021. They played festivals and toured across Europe. 1349 returned to the studio, two studios actually. They cut tracks and parts at Amper Tone in Oslo, Norway, and finished at Orlando, Florida's New Constellation R.M.P. with producers Jarret Prichard and Ravn; they also recorded and engineered the recording. Prichard mixed and mastered the final takes. Titled The Wolf & The King, the set was issued in October 2024 by Seasons of Mist.~ Eduardo Rivadavia

Aeon

Swedish death metal band Aeon were formed in the town of Östersund in 1999, and first introduced their uncommonly intense, technically proficient, high-velocity brand of death metal via 2001's Dark Order EP. This has been followed by a pair of impressive albums in 2005's Bleeding the False (released by Unique Leader) and 2007's Rise to Dominate (Metal Blade). Comprised of Tommy Dahlström (vocals), Daniel Dlimi (guitar), Zeb Nilsson (guitar), Max Carlberg (bass), and Nils Fjellström (drums), Aeon have also proved their mettle on tour, gaining many fans thanks to their uncompromising performances and incredible musicianship. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, Rovi