Tag: epic metal

SMOULDER To Release ‘Dream Quest Ends’ EP In March

Enrico

Firebrand Canadian epic doomsters SMOULDER will release the “Dream Quest Ends” EP next March via Cruz Del Sur Music.
The follow-up to this year’s critically acclaimed “Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring” will feature two new songs, a cover of MANILLA ROAD’s “Cage Of Mirrors”, as well as all three cuts from the band’s debut 2018 “The Sword Woman” demo, including, for the first time on vinyl, their cover of NIGHTMARE’s “The Queen Is Gone”.

The Vinyl Edition will be available in 3 different colors (PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE):
– REGULAR BLACK VINYL (lmt 400) https://tinyurl.com/uzpfbay
– BONE VINYL (lmt 300) https://tinyurl.com/udmfg59
– NEON VIOLET (lmt 300) https://tinyurl.com/rqrszlr

– CD  https://tinyurl.com/uumccw4

“Dream Quest Ends” marks the end of a chapter for SMOULDER. The EP’s two original compositions, “Dream Quest Ends” and “Warrior Witch Of Hel”, was written by drummer Kevin Hester several years ago and accordingly were molded into a “more SMOULDER-esque” sound, complete with more lead guitars and choir-like vocal parts. Both serve as a milestone for SMOULDER — they are the last remaining songs from the band’s demo and “Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring” period.


“I don’t think these songs are what anyone will expect; we zigged instead of zagged,” notes singer Sarah Ann. “On a production front, we dialed it back a bit to make it sound more raw and unusual to match both the MANILLA ROAD track and the fact that a reprint of our demo is on the B-side of the vinyl. As for the A-side, what can we say? It’s unusual and both of the new tracks are slower. They are somewhat more bluesy and psychedelic within the context of power metal or epic doom, and I think that they fit very well alongside ‘Cage of Mirrors’.  

“In the title track, we do more experimentation with quiet acoustic parts, dueling vocals and top it off with a hugely epic triumphant end that sounds like a battering ram,” she continues. “The song lyrically revolves around a warrior sorceress who travels to an alien world to battle her titan nemesis in his sky castle, and Adam [Blake, bass] and I sing from the perspective of the titan and the sorceress to drive the epic-ness home. Meanwhile, ‘Warrior Witch of Hel’ starts out on this lurching, dark note with a repeating riff and lower register vocals. Once we get into the segments about the character — who is on a quest to free a castle full of slaves and cast the sorcerer presiding over it to Hel — it becomes much more upbeat and driving.”

The members of SMOULDER had been kicking the idea around to cover a MANILLA ROAD song ever since guitarist Collin Wolf and Hester joined the band. After leader MANILLA ROAD Mark Shelton’s untimely passing in July 2018, SMOULDER decided to move forward with a cover to honor his memory.

“‘Cage Of Mirrors’ is my absolute favorite track by the band and I’ve wanted to cover it for a long time so it was not a hard decision,” says guitarist Shon Vincent. “With its simple yet powerful structure, emotional vocal delivery and epic story-driven occult sword and sorcery lyrics, it was a perfect fit for us thematically. Sarah worked hard to match Mark’s wavering, unusual delivery, along with his growls, screams and laughs.”

The March release of “Dream Quest Ends” will coincide with the band’s appearance at the Up The Hammers and Horns Up festivals in Greece, as well as a spot at the Hell’s Heroes festival in Texas and Headbanger’s Open Air in Germany. After that, SMOULDER is going to give their collective creative batteries some time to recharge.

“We decided that we want to take some time on the next album rather than rush it out,” closes Sarah Ann. “All our favorite bands do things slow and steady, and we want to do the same to maintain quality.”

TERMINUS Signs With Cruz Del Sur Music; New Album ‘A Single Point Of Light’ Due This November

Enrico

Irish epic metallers TERMINUS have signed with Cruz Del Sur Music for the release of their second studio album, “A Single Point Of Light”. Recorded at the home studio of instrumentalist David Gillespie and mixed and mastered by Richard Whittaker (SOLSTICE), the album will see the light of day this November. The artwork was created by Anaïs Mulgrew.

The TERMINUS/Cruz Del Sur relationship stretches back to 2013 when both parties were tossing around the idea of releasing the band’s “The Reaper’s Spiral” debut. While the idea didn’t come to fruition then, there is no better time than the present — Gillespie says Cruz Del Sur is a “natural fit” for TERMINUS since their friends in RAVENSIRE, ARGUS, LETHEAN, GATEKEEPER and LUNAR SHADOW already call the label home. 

TERMINUS ceased to be a live entity in late 2017 after triumphant appearances at Keep It True, Up The Hammers, Pyrennean Warriors Open Air and Ultimate Revenge in Helsinki, enabling the band (now a two-piece featuring vocalist James Beattie and Gillespie on instruments) enough time to focus on new material. According to Gillespie, the goal with “A Single Point Of Light” was to “evolve enough so that a second album was not a redundant exercise while still remaining true to our core sound.”

“As the principal songwriter, it was self-imposed pressure to prove — to myself — that I wasn’t a one-off and that I could write another record of equal or superior quality,” he continues. “Hence, we did not simply poop out an album in 18 months, but took our time.”

Like its predecessor, “A Single Point Of Light” is a deep dive into the realms of epic and progressive metal, with bountiful guitar harmonies, complex song arrangements and the controlled, but emotive delivery of Beattie. It results in an album that is a comfortable step forward for TERMINUS while not reneging on the core tenets that initially brought the band together in 2012.

“The obvious thing is that we haven’t turned into a Sisters Of Mercy tribute band or anything silly like that,” says Gillespie. “The new album is in the same vein and we have retained our ethos — which seems to have become strikingly popular of late — that the album should fit on one side of a 90-minute tape and should split evenly and sympathetically across both sides of a 12-inch LP. Some elements of the sound have been dropped, some have been focused on and there are a few new textures in there to keep things fresh.”

“A Single Point Of Light” again finds TERMINUS exploring lyrical themes off the traditional heavy metal path. Instead, the band continues their approach of interpreting classic science-fiction tales alongside stories of their own telling.

“We have always been antithetical to the rest of the subgenre, lyrically,” wraps Gillespie. “Our songs are not about heroes and their deeds. They’re about cowards, deviants, deceivers — the scum of the universe, really. There are no heroics and no victories to be found in our world.”

“A Single Point Of Light” track listing:

  1. To Ash, To Dust
  2. Harvest
  3. As Through A Child’s Eyes
  4. Flesh Falls From Steel
  5. Mhira, Tell Me The Nature Of Your Existence
  6. Cry Havoc
  7. Spinning Webs, Catching Dreams

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