DARK FOREST announces line-up change

Cruz del Sur Music and DARK FOREST would like to render public the latest news regarding the bands’ ongoings, as over the last couple of months things may have seemed quiet in the Dark Forest camp but under the surface there has been a lot going on!

Firstly, DARK FOREST has been busily engaged in the writing and rehearsing of a new album which will be released some point later this year.

Secondly, it is our painful duty to announce that James Lees has left the band. This may come as a shock for fans that have followed us since the early days, as Jim was one of the original Dark Forest members, joining the band ten years ago when he was just thirteen years old! He decided to call it a day, saying that he feels his time in the band has run its course and he wants to explore and concentrate on other areas in his life. Even though it was painful for the band to accept, we respect his decision and would like to thank Jim for his huge contribution in making Dark Forest what it is and for all the fun we’ve had over the last ten years! We’re all still best of friends with Jim and he continues to support the band whole heartedly.

Thirdly, DARK FOREST has been extremely fortunate in finding a new guitarist who is, we all agree, the only person who could possibly have replaced Jim.

Here is a message from Jim –

“It’s been a terrific 10 years of crisp melodies, rampant intoxication and illegitimate children. Thanks to all of the labels over the years for supporting many ventures and taking the Forest to foreign shores. Huge gratitude to the many fans out there, thanks for the support. I leave Dark Forest in the capable hands of Mr Patrick Jenkins (of Grene Knyght fame), he will takeover my guitar duties, the lucky sod. And of course, thanks to the Dark Forest boys themselves, cheers chaps, it’s been a fucking blast! Be seeing you.”

So it is our delight to announce that Patrick Jenkins is officially on board with us as second lead guitarist. Read more “DARK FOREST announces line-up change”

PAGAN ALTAR “Lords of Hypocrisy” Pre-Orders OPEN NOW!!

Welcome to year 2013, Cruz del Sur Music’s fans!! This year will be an incredible one in terms of our releases, and kicks off with the reissue of PAGAN ALTAR‘s classic 2004 lost album, dragged back out from the quicksands of time and served to you perfectly remastered and with a new booklet design (the band itself commented on their Facebook profile that it is “really pleased with the fine job Cruz del Sur Music has done… well done guys!”) complete with lyrics, original pictures provided by the band and a brief history on the making of the album taken from the band’s own “The End of the Enigma” biography.
The CD will hit the streets on January 18th 2013, and you can pre-order your copy NOW by clicking here:

“Very dark, melodic, catchy and also damn cranky, weird, but extremely whacked out. Weird, rare and absolutely brilliant.” METAL OBSERVER

“There’s still the odd sharper, hungrier NWOBHM-edged riff and shredding solo in here, but the seventies rock influences are more to the fore and merging directly with the doomier components.” DESTRUCTIVE MUSIC

Are you not convinced yet? Listen to a free streaming preview of the full album at our Bandcamp:

NPR Radio loves PHARAOH: Top 10 Heavy Metal Releases of Year 2012

It is with a clear feeling of accomplishment that we are about to close off this hardworking year 2012 with a great new: PHARAOH’s “Bury the Light” album on Cruz del Sur Music has appeared in the 2012 Top Ten  Heavy Metal albums chart of NPR according to writer Lars Gotrich!! Check it out here.

This is what NPR had to say about Bury the Light:”Chris Black is one of metal’s most tireless musicians, typically working in the denim-shredded realm handed down by Iron Maiden and Jag Panzer. In 2012, the drummer and songwriter appeared on three albums that span the early spirit of metal: Superchrist‘s tallboy-downin’ Holy S—, Dawnbringer‘s heartfelt, but no less hair-raising concept album Into the Lair of the Sun God (Black’s baby, so to speak), and Pharaoh‘s Bury the Light. I loved all three for different reasons, but few records this year felt as epic as Bury the Light. Not “epic” in the way that metal journos typically overuse the word, but in the way that vocalist Tim Aymar might as well be wailing an epic poem handed down generations.” Read more “NPR Radio loves PHARAOH: Top 10 Heavy Metal Releases of Year 2012”