Category: On Tour

Watch Video for ‘Maybe Tomorrow,’ the First Single from ERIC WAGNER’s Posthumous Solo Album. Pre-Orders Open!

Enrico



“Maybe Tomorrow”, the first single from former TROUBLE singer Eric Wagner’s posthumous solo album, “In The Lonely Light Of Mourning”, is available for viewing below.

CD PRE-ORDER: https://tinyurl.com/yybxfk47

LP PRE-ORDER:  https://tinyurl.com/2p95uud9

Recorded at Alpha Sound Services and Aardvark Recording, “In The Lonely Light Of Mourning” was completed and delivered to Cruz Del Sur Music a month before Eric’s untimely passing. Initially scheduled for a November 2021 release, Cruz Del Sur Music — in cooperation with Eric’s manager, Mike Smith — agreed to move the release date to March 2022 to give it the attention it deserves.

The solo endeavor — a longtime goal of Eric’s — serves as a fitting testament to one of doom metal’s most respected voices. Eric tapped former TROUBLE/current BLACKFINGER drummer David Snyder to help him assemble the album’s eight cuts. Along the way, Eric brought in some of his favorite musicians as guests — including past and present members of TROUBLE, BLACKFINGER, THE SKULL, LID, PENTAGRAM, DEATH ROW and PLACE OF SKULLS.

According to Snyder, the origins for “Maybe Tomorrow” had been kicking around for quite some time.

“The pre-chorus part was definitely influenced by Chuck Robinson’s old band, THIS TORTURED SOUL which at that time, I had the pleasure of playing second guitar for a few shows,” he says. “That influenced things for sure. The verses and descending single note parts were Eric’s suggestions and the main riff was originally just single notes. And, just before recording, Eric wanted it heavier, so I added the low droning open note and asked what he thought and in true Eric form, he calmly said, ‘That’s it. It’s a jam.’

“On the first rough mixes you can hear him say it when the song started while he did the vocals, which definitely brought a smile every time I heard it,” Snyder continues. “The songs’ style ended up being a cool full-circle thing with Chuck and I and being fans of Eric’s music, who greatly influenced our own styles. Add in Lothar Keller’s stunning solo and Ron Holzner’s badass bass and it rounded the whole track out rather well, I have to say.”

“It’s very interesting hearing this tune now that Eric has gone to the other side,” adds Keller. “Call it premonition or whatever someone’s take on it is — you can hear it in his voice and it will definitely hit you. I am honored to have been a part of Eric’s last album and his legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of many!”

The aforementioned Robinson played a vital role on “The Lonely Light Of Mourning”. Robinson wrote “Isolation” and “Wish You Well” and co-wrote “Rest In Peace” with Snyder. He also played rhythm guitars on every song except “If He Lost It All” and played bass on “Wish You Well”.

“The groove and vibe on ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ is insane!” says Robinson. “It’s just a killer riff with great drive. Dave is such a great remember. I remember Eric was very adamant how he wanted the feel to be. Eric’s lyrics were so personal to him. He was a master with words, hidden meanings and messages. Only he knew for sure…”

“In The Lonely Light Of Mourning” track listing:

01. Rest In Place

02. Maybe Tomorrow

03. Isolation

04. If You Lost It All

05. Strain Theory

06. Walk With Me To The Sun

07. In The Lonely Light Of Mourning 08. Wish You Well

Italian Metal Veterans DARK QUARTERER Join Cruz Del Sur Music; New Album ‘Pompei’ Coming This Fall

Enrico

Cruz Del Sur Music is proud to announce the signing of one of Italy’s longest-running metal bands, DARK QUARTERER. The label will release this November, the band’s seventh studio album, “Pompei”, on Compact Disc, Gatefold LP with an amazing artwork provided by Italian Artist Paolo Girardi.

DARK QUARTERER and Cruz Del Sur have a previous working relationship — the label released the vinyl versions of the band’s “Symbols” (2018) and “Ithaca” (2015) studio albums. “It was a pretty obvious decision for us to make,” says bassist/vocalist Gianni Nepi. “We’re honored to join a label with so many great bands and look forward to getting ‘Pompei’ in front of an even bigger audience.”

“Pompei” was recorded this January and February at the band’s own W.R.S. Studios in Piombino, Italy. Vocals and keyboards were tracked in May by sound engineer Andrea Ramacciotti, with mastering handled by Alex Marton of First Line Studio in Follonica.  

According to Nepi, “Pompei” takes their sound to the next level, expanding on the bold, classic metal-on-prog sound they have been purveying since 1980. “The new album is cruder, perhaps a bit more visceral and intense. It has a dramatic atmosphere that surrounds the entire album — even during the softest of moments.”

Now at the 40-year mark as a band, DARK QUARTERER, who also comprise drummer Paolo “Nipa” Ninci, guitarist Francesco Sozzi and keyboardist Francesco Longhi, has faced many obstacles, but the one thing that has kept them together is their friendship, something that has helped the band maintain the same lineup since 2003.

“We have great passion and love for the music we make,” finishes Nepi. “Also, the friendship between the four of us really is the glue that keeps us together. Without it, we’re not sure we would have lasted this long!”

A making-of / backstage video of the recording process is available HERE:

THE WIZAR’D Signs With CRUZ DEL SUR MUSIC; New Album ‘Subterranean Exile’ Due In April

Enrico

Cruz Del Sur Music is proud to announce the signing of Australian occult doom metallers THE WIZAR’D. The label will release the band’s new album, “Subterranean Exile” on April 24.

Formed in 2004 by guitarist/vocalist Ol’ Rusty, THE WIZAR’D quickly staked their claim as one of their country’s best representation of vintage doom in the vein of BLACK SABBATH, WITCHFINDER GENERAL, PAGAN ALTAR, SAINT VITUS and TROUBLE. A series of demos, singles and EPs would follow before the band’s first studio album, 2008’s “Infernal Wizardry”. Along the way, THE WIZAR’D (who are completed by second guitarist Master of the Night, bassist Blackie and drummer Maniac Frodsham) developed their own style while paying homage to the aforementioned bands. 2010’s “Pathways Into Darkness” and “Ancient Tome Of Arcane Knowledge” only generated further interest in THE WIZAR’D, with the band notching a prime slot at the 2010 installment of the Hammer Of Doom festival.

The new year will bring forth the band’s latest studio album, “Subterranean Exile”. Drum tracking started in January 2018 at The Green Room in Hobart; the rest of the album was tracked at Heavy Chains HQ and was completed in May 2019. However, as Ol’ Rusty explains, THE WIZAR’D wanted to make sure they were one-hundred percent satisfied with the results. “‘Subterranean Exile’ follows on from where ‘Ancient Tome’ left off, we are still conjuring the same kind of arcane metal magick as the previous two albums, but in a more refined and direct way,” he notes. “The production on the new album is also a big step up from anything we’ve done before, thanks to the lengthy recording and mixing process and also thanks to the mastering job from Patrick Engel.”

As for the band’s deal with Cruz Del Sur, ‘Ol Rusty explains that the band made a list of “cool” labels they wanted to work with. At the top was Cruz Del Sur and its sub-label, Gates Of HellRecords.

“Both have an impressive roster of bands and operate and present themselves in a cool, old-school manner which we think is important,” he says. “Gates Of Hell was impressed by the album but felt that it might be better suited to what their parent label Cruz Del Sur is releasing these days. We are very happy to be included with a roster of legendary bands like SLOUGH FEG!”