Tag: hammer of doom

German Epic Doom Metallers WHEEL Join Cruz Del Sur Music; New Album Due In April

Enrico

Cruz Del Sur Music is proud to announce the signing of Dortmund, Germany doom metallers WHEEL. The label will release the band’s long-awaited third studio album, “Preserved In Time” this April.

“Cruz Del Sur was candidate number one for me when we were looking for a new label home simply because I buy a lot of records from them,” says guitarist Ben Homberger. “Every time I see an advertisement of them in ‘Deaf Forever’ magazine I most often buy their releases blind. So, I approached Cruz Del Sur A&R/WHILE HEAVEN WEPT leader, Tom Phillips. I sent him the new album, he liked it, talked to Cruz Del Sur owner, Enrico and here we are.”

“Preserved In Time” was recorded by Homberger in the band’s rehearsal room save for two vocal sessions at a friend’s house. Tracking WHEEL this way was of crucial importance for the guitarist: He wanted real drums and real guitars; no “plug-ins” or “cheating,” meaning, he wanted to capture the spirit of the band’s performances without relying on technology. Due to the global pandemic, the album was tracked in various sessions starting in autumn 2019 to summer 2020 with it finally ending up in the hands of Dennis Koehne for mixing and mastering. Koehne had worked with WHEEL on their cover of ROKY ERICKSON’s “Night Of The Vampire,” which was found on their 2010 debut self-titled album.

WHEEL — who are rounded out by vocalist Arkadius Kurek, bassist Marcus Grabowski and drummer Carsten Jercke — was founded in 2009. The band issued a demo that year, then WHEEL released their self-titled debut a year later via Eyes Like Snow. “Icarus” would follow in 2013, then the “Live At The Hammer Of Doom 2013” live album arrived in 2014.

According to Homberger, the delay between studio albums can be attributed to the band losing their rehearsal space and real-life events such as parenthood. However, this long gestation period gave the members of WHEEL the opportunity to fine-tune what is arguably the finest and most epic set of songs to date.

“It’s more metal and more focused,” notes Homberger. “On ‘Icarus’, we had a lot of different influences mixed in the sound, like 70s prog and stuff like that. Also, the songs on the new album focus more on good structure and catchy choruses. The sound is a lot heavier and better than last time since I gained a lot of experience in recording and Dennis was the perfect match to work on the mixing and mastering. It was the first time we did proper vocal editing — so it sounds a lot more professional this time.”

Heading into 2021, WHEEL — like the rest of the general population — is waiting to find out whether a vaccine will slow the global pandemic. If it does, it’s very likely WHEEL will bringing their doom wares to audiences across Europe.

“We likely wouldn’t tour due to our day jobs and families, so weekend shows and festivals are the goal,” closes Homberger. “One of my personal goals is to play the Roadburn festival in the Netherlands. It’s one of the most relaxed festivals I know and it’s in such a beautiful city.”

“Preserved In Time” track listing:

1. At Night They Came Upon Us

2. When the Shadow Takes You Over

3. After All

4. She Left In Silence

5. Aeon Of Darkness

6. Hero Of The Weak

7. Daedalus

Related links:
https://www.facebook.com/Wheeldoom

https://wheeldoom.bandcamp.com/

OLD MOTHER HELL:”Lord of Demise” to be released Oct 23

Enrico1 Comment

Three years after the release of their self-titled album and countless gigs / festival appearances in between, OLD MOTHER HELL returns on October 23, 2020 with their second album “Lord of Demise”.

Not even COVID-19 was able to stop this amazing German band to start and complete the recordings of their sophomore  album. And today we are pleased and extremely proud to present you the opening track “Betrayal At The Sea”.

Old Mother Hell took the unorthodox and now rarely-taken step of recording Lord of Demise live (at Rama Tonstudio in Mannheim with Jens Siefert, with additional vocal tracking taking place at Sculpt Sound Studios in Cologne with Laurent Teubl / Chapel of Disease), with all member in the same room at the same time.

In turn, the album sounds powerful and crisp, stacked with eight songs that embrace their classic metal roots.

The amazing cover artwork and layout was provided by Zenz-Art.

“Lord of Demise” will be available on Compact Disc, LP, Digital.
Pre-orders will start in 2 weeks. Stay Tuned!

PALE DIVINE Brings The Doom To CRUZ DEL SUR MUSIC

Enrico

Cruz Del Sur Music is proud to announce the signing of Pennsylvania doom mainstays PALE DIVINE.

Founded in 1995, PALE DIVINE has made a name for itself with its time-honored and distinctive take on classic doom metal. Albums such as 2004’s “Eternity Revealed” and 2007’s “Cemetery Earth” cemented the band’s reputation as one of the best pure torchbearers of BLACK SABBATH and SAINT VITUS-styled doom, while their most recent 2018 self-titled album was hailed by Last Rites as “true-blue doom for the truly doomed.”

PALE DIVINE — who comprise of vocalist/guitarist Greg Diener, guitarist Dana Ortt, bassist Ron McGinnis and drummer Darin McCloskey — is currently hunkered down in the studio with producer Richard Whittaker recording their sixth studio album, “Consequence Of Time”, which will see the light of day in May 2020. The album’s artwork will be handled by Brian Tutlo, the man responsible for the eye-catching “Thunder Perfect Mind” and “Eternity Revealed” covers.


“It’s definitely a natural progression but maybe not in the way people might expect, which is one of the reasons we’re excited,” says McCloskey. “We have a new lineup now which includes Dana, whom Greg and I played with in BEELZEFUZZ. Dana has brought a new element to the band that blends perfectly with PALE DIVINE that has helped us take things to the next level.”  

PALE DIVINE came to join Cruz Del Sur Music through a familiar face: WHILE HEAVEN WEPT leader Tom Phillips. The band originally crossed paths with Cruz Del Sur label head Enrico Leccese at the 2018 Hammer Of Doom festival in Germany, but it was Phillips who initiated the proper discussions. After that, according to McCloskey, it was a no-brainer to sign with Cruz Del Sur.

“We had heard great things about Cruz Del Sur from our friends in ARGUS and APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE so we were already familiar and very interested. We discussed things with Enrico and he offered us a great deal. Moving forward, we’re really excited to be part of the Cruz Del Sur Music roster. It feels like we’re part of a family now. This is where we belong.”

PALE DIVINE will be celebrating its 25th year as a band in 2020. McCloskey says the highlights have been numerous, starting with the bands they’ve played with and the people they’ve met over the years, as well as their first trip to Germany in 2005 playing alongside PLACE OF SKULLS and RISING DUST. “In many ways, it always sort of feels like we’re just starting out,” he says. “Every new experience, every new song and new album pretty much reinforces that. We still have a lot of music in us and a lot more to accomplish. It hardly seems like it’s been 25 years, in all honestly. Going overseas for the first time and playing for people who were fans of our music was pretty mind-blowing for us at the time…still is, really. Even our recent trip to Würzburg last year for Hammer Of Doom was an awesome experience as well. Certainly, the chemistry we have in our current lineup has been a big highlight and, of course, signing with Cruz Del Sur!”