Category: Cruz Del Sur Releases

CRUZ DEL SUR ANNOUNCES VINYL REPRESS OF SOLD-OUT DEBUT ‘TIMES OF OBSCENE EVIL AND WILD DARING’ LP BY CANADIAN POWER/DOOM FIREBRANDS SMOULDER

Enrico

Cruz Del Sur Music is proud to announce the second vinyl pressing of the critically acclaimed full-length Times of Obscene Evil & Wild Daring from Canadian firebrands SMOULDER. Merging fantasy, glory and heroism, under the banner of epic doom and power metal, the album was released on April 26 and quickly sold out worldwide. With prices quickly inflating due to unscrupulous Discogs sellers , Cruz del Sur prioritized the fans who missed out. Pre-orders for the second vinyl press are available now HERE: this edition comes with a A2-poster depicting the gorgeous Michael Whelan cover art.

Here’s what the press is saying about SMOULDER:

“What we’ve got here is metal of the dragon-slaying, ass-kicking, stick-to-your-ribs variety, packed full of solos that cleave and chug, vocals that glide and soar, and arrangements that stampede on and on miles.” – Bandcamp Daily; This Week’s Essential Releases 

“Going back to Ronnie James Dio, Manowar and Cirith Ungol, fantastical tales of swords and sorcery god hand in hand with heavy metal, and Toronto-based Smoulder honour that storied tradition on their sterling debut album Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring… Similar to modern standouts Atlantean Kodex and the late Dawnbringer, Smoulder combine stately doom arrangements with fiery porto-power metal bombast.” – Decibel Magazine

“Canadian newcomers Smoulder play one of my favorite traditional metal varietals: epic doom, of the sort we rarely hear performed at this level, except by cult acts like Atlantean Kodex, Reverend Bizarre, Scald, and Solstice.” – Stereogum 

Signed by Cruz del Sur shortly after their Hammer of Doom performance in October 2018, SMOULDER originally exploded onto the scene following the release of their April 2018 demo The Sword Woman. Released by Hoove Child Records on a limited run of 150 copies, the demo sold out immediately. Soon, the label pressed a 300 run of the demo to vinyl, which sold out within weeks of release. SMOULDER then caught the eye of Cruz Del Sur Music owner Enrico Leccese, who offered the band a deal shortly after they recorded their debut Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring. Captured throughout 2018 at Chicago’s Swift Road Studios and Toronto’s Lincoln County Social Club, Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring was mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk (Eternal Champion, Sumerlands). The striking artwork was created by iconic fantasy painter Michael Whelan (Cirith Ungol). Within a month of release, the album had sold out worldwide. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to get a copy!

Track Listing

1. Ilian of Garathorm
2. The Swordwoman 
3. Bastard Steel
4. Voyage of the Sunchaser
5. Shadowy Sisterhood
6. Black God’s Kiss

THE NEPTUNE POWER FEDERATION Complete Recording Sessions For ‘Memoirs Of A Rat Queen’

Enrico

Australian psychedelic rock and roll occultists THE NEPTUNE POWER FEDERATION have completed the recording sessions for their forthcoming fourth full-length, “Memoirs Of A Rat Queen”. The album, tracked by bassist Jaytanic Ritual and The Pet Food Factory in Marrkville, Sydney, will be the band’s first for Cruz Del Sur Music and will see the light of day this September. 

“It took a while longer than we originally anticipated, which is what we should have expected,” says guitarist Inverted CruciFox. “We try to include a lot of small details that reward headphone-wearing listeners who use our records to travel to alternate dimensions. There has to be enough fuel to accommodate their journey.”

Accordingly, the band’s blend of progressive, metal and space rock will be on full display on their new album, sure to please followers of the band. “It feels a bit different, yet a natural progression, which was the aim,” says CruciFox. “I feel like we have paid our sonic respects to QUEEN, MOTÖRHEAD, T-REX and many others.”

Since The Pet Food Factory is run by Ritual, there is a certain sense of familiarity with the studio’s confines. CruciFox says that other underground acts in Sydney often benefit from “residual magicks leftover by [vocalist] The Imperial Priestesses’ occasional presence there.” Therefore, it is little surprise the rest of THE NEPTUNE POWER FEDERATION takes cues from their imitable frontwoman.

“There are few specific recollections of the process,” notes CruciFox. “We simply present at the studio and swiftly fall under the thrall of the Imperial Priestess who conducts the music through us via mind control. There is a feeling of disorientation and euphoria followed by shock that 12 months has passed and the album is complete.”

With “Memoirs Of A Rat Queen” now in the bag, all CruciFox and his THE NEPTUNE POWER FEDERATION bandmates can do is bide their time until it’s unleashed upon the unwitting metal masses. “We are awaiting the response of the ancient ones — a centuries-old council of mystic faeries who determine which of the new songs shall be added to the set. It’s an unconventional approach, but we stand by our methods.”

Related links:
https://theneptunepowerfederation.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theneptunepowerfederation

HAMMER KING Releases Energetic ‘Locust Plague’ Video

Enrico

German traditional metal heroes HAMMER KING have issued the video for “Locust Plague”, which comes from their 2018 studio album, “Poseidon Will Carry Us Home”. The video — shot in the band’s natural live element in front of their loyal, headbanging fans — was edited by Christian Palm.

The decisioning behind the “Locust Plague” video was simple for HAMMER KING. In an album filled with triumphant, sterling anthems, “Locust Plague”, in its barn-burning glory, has become an instant live favourite.

“We just recently moved the song up to third in the setlist,” says guitarist/vocalist Titan Fox. “We also love the song because it captures the weekend we spent in Rome playing Cruz Del Sur Music’s ‘Burn This Town’ festival with ROSAE CRUCIS and SACRED STEEL — it’s all there in the lyrics. I’ve always liked songs that told a true story, sort of like SAXON’s ‘And The Bands Played On’. Gladly, the King gave us a song to remember the festival forever.”

“The Poseidon Will Carry Us Home” album cycle has surpassed expectations for HAMMER KING. In addition to critical and journalistic acclaim, the band has expanded its reach in the continental metal scene, something the King is very pleased about, according to Fox. The immediate future will find HAMMER KING playing a handful of important live dates, with other more “pleasurable” happenings taking place as well.

“HAMMER KING will certainly spend some days refuelling at the nudist beach of Saint Tropez Kingdom,” says Fox. “You know, beautiful naked women to our left, beautiful naked women to our right. But we will keep playing shows as well. A benefit festival with TANKARD is next, we will play a very small metal cruise on a river in the French-German borderland, then there is a festival with GRAVE DIGGER and GIRLSCHOOL.

“At the same time, we are already working on songs for our fourth album. Around 20 ideas are floating, but not all will be on the album. We have started early this time, so there is plenty of time to pick only the best of the best of the King‘s songs for the next album.”