SÖLICITÖR – All Debts on Death: New 7” Available!

New 7-inch from one of North America’s most exciting new speed metal bands!

Hot off the heels of 2020’s no-holds-barred Spectral Devastation, Sölicitör returns with the stopgap All Debts on Death 7-inch that charts new territory while still offering first-pumping speed metal anthems!

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Shortly after the release of 2020’s Spectral Devastation, the members of Pacific Northwest speed metallers Sölicitör took a long, hard look at the process that went into the album’s creation. The band raced to finish Spectral Devastation with an eye toward their first-ever appearance at the legendary Keep it True festival in Germany and European dates that would follow, shows, that, unfortunately, were canceled due to the global pandemic. In doing so, Sölicitör felt they rushed some of the key elements of the album’s songwriting, even though the reaction to the songs was almost universally positive. Going into 2021, Sölicitör decided to push themselves to write songs that were more aggressive and formidable. Enter the searing two-song All Debts on Death 7-inch.

All Debts on Death was recorded in late February 2021 at Sentinel Studios with producer/engineer Detto, who has recently gained attention for his organic production jobs for death metal bands Cerebral Rot, Mortiferum and Oxygen Destroyer. Detto tracked the band on half-inch tape, then recorded the tape to a digital program where guitars and vocals were laid down, ensuring a full and heavy sound.

As a natural function of their collaboration with Detto, Sölicitör ventured into new territory regarding production values. The two songs are devoid of effects, albeit some minor reverb on the chorus on the vocals, although vocalist Amy Lee Carlson opted to completely forego doubled harmonies. The rhythm section of Damon Cleary-Erickson (bass) and Johan Waymire (drums) is much higher in the mix, further complementing the guitar duo of Matt Vogan and Pat Fry. However, the “less is more” approach for studio production doesn’t hinder the two songs. “Killer for Hire” is a classic Sölicitör speed-burner, complete with a fist-bumping chorus, while “Megalomaniac” ventures into new territory, including riffs that bring to mind legendary Norwegian black metallers Darkthrone, topped off by Carlson’s soaring vocals.

As positive signs gradually start to emerge from the pandemic, Sölicitör is chomping at the bit to return to the live stage. In the meantime, the band is slowly assembling the pieces for their next studio album — due sometime in 2022. Consider All Debts on Death a sign of what’s to come!

All Debts on Death track listing:

  1. Killer for Hire
  2. Megalomanic

Sölicitör lineup:

Amy Lee Carlson -Vocals

Patrick Fry – Guitar

Matt Vogan – Guitar

Damon Cleary-Erickson – Bass

Johann Waymire – Drums

Vancouver’s MAULE Sign With GATES OF HELL RECORDS

Gates Of Hell Records is proud to announce the signing of Vancouver, British Columbia traditional metallers MAULE. The label will release the band’s self-titled debut in December 2021.

Formed in 2017, MAULE released the “From Hell” demo in 2019. With the assistance of GATEKEEPER guitarist Jeff Blackwell, the band was put in touch with Gates Of Hell Records, who agreed to release their self-titled album.

The LP was recorded in February 2020 at Little Red Sounds Studio with producer/engineer Michael Kraushaar. MAULE previously worked with Mike on the “From Hell” demo, making him the obvious choice for the production. “He has a very hands-on approach when it comes to recording,” says Johnny. “We appreciated all the input that he gave us during pre-production that we carried on into the album. If we were going to do a full album, we wanted to do it properly. We took our time to make sure everything was 100 percent, and that we could fully utilize the production tools available to us. The sound of the album is cleaner, tighter, more refined than on our demo.”

MAULE, currently comprised of Jakob Wheel (vocals/rhythm guitar), Justin Walker (lead guitar), Johnny Maule (bass) and Eddie Riumin (drums), took on a streamlined songwriting process for their self-titled effort. (Daniel Gottardo played lead guitars on the album.) The result is an LP that more than capably flies the flag for classic, old-school metal.

“Inspiration often strikes at the most inconvenient of times, so I’m used to writing on the fly,” says Johnny. “Either I’ll finish whole songs or have a few riffs that I can string together but have no direction with, in which case I’ll bring them to the band so we can work on them. Jakob and Daniel brought new riffs to the band immediately, so we collaborated on them from the start, and Eddie has always contributed some knowledge, or even riffs of his own.”

 

Like so many Canadian bands, MAULE has to bide their time until they can resume live show activity. In the interim, the band is doing its best to stay busy.

 

“While we wait to get back on stage, we’re busy writing and refining new material for our next album,” closes Johnny. “We like to take our album on the road in 2022, and get back into the studio as well.”

TRACKLIST:

  1. Evil Eye
  2. Ritual
  3. Summoner
  4. Maule
  5. Red Sonya
  6. Sword Woman
  7. Father Time
  8. March of the Dead
  9. We Ride

TENTATION release “Le Couvent” lyric video from upcoming album “Le Berceau Des Dieux”

For those who missed last Saturday’s Keep It True TV Episode X: “Le Couvent”, first single taken off Tentation’s upcoming full lenght album “Le Berceau Des Dieux”, is now on our youtube channel. Check it out!

“Le Berceau Des Dieux” will be out on Sept. 24th on CD, LP (strictly black vinyl), tape and digital on Gates of Hell Records.

A special edition of 200 vinyls will include poster, woven patch and signed band photo.

Soon more info about preorders!

French Metallers TENTATION To Release ‘Le Berceau Des Dieux’ This Summer

French metallers TENTATION will release their first full-length album, “Le Berceau Des Dieux”, this summer via Gates Of Hell Records. Instruments were tracked this past February and March at Record It Studios in Perpignan, France, with additional refinements taking place at the band’s own studio, L’art ou Cochon. The album mixed and mastered at Moontower Studio in Barcelona, Spain by Javi Félez Rodriguez.
Referring to the cradle of ancient gods preparing for their return to earth, “Le Berceau Des Dieux” (English translation: “The Cradle Of The Gods”) delves deep into TENTATION’s interest in mythology and ancestral legends. It’s the perfect pairing to the band’s inspiring blend of classic metal sung entirely in their native tongue of French.

According to bassist Guillaume “Guix” Pastor, the writing process for TENTATION is usually generated by guitarist Guillaume Dousse, after which, the rest of the band starts to work on the structure. Vocalist Patrice “Darquos” Rôhée will then pick a theme for the lyrics, although on the new album, he had some help with some local friends. Pastor says in most cases, a TENTATION song will go through at least three revisions before the final product is ready.

“We think our new songs are more mature than before,” he notes. “We took a lot of pleasure in writing them and hope that heavy metal maniacs will appreciate what we created. We took the time to try to compose different atmospheres and do multiple tests of structures and riffs on several tracks. The composition work began a few months after the release of the split album [with IRON SLAUGHT] at the end of 2018.”

TENTATION formed in 2012. To date, the band has their debut, self-titled 2015 EP and a single and the aforementioned split released in 2018. Therefore, a full-length is long overdue. However, Pastor stresses that the making of “La Berceau Des Dieux” was a positive one largely because of producer Javi Félez Rodriguez and sound engineer Mathieu Lesieur.

“He is a very patient and talented guy, so recording at his studio was a real pleasure. With his experience we were able to move forward quickly. We took ten years because music is just a hobby and a passion for us. But, we are very happy and honored to work with Gates Of Hell Records. It’s for us a real recognition of our work. We worked hard for this album and hope it will receive a warm response from the metal scene!”

BLAZON RITE To Release New Album ‘Endless Halls Of Golden Totem’ in June

BLAZON RITE To Release New Album ‘Endless Halls Of Golden Totem’

Philadelphia primal epic metallers BLAZON RITE will release their first full-length, “Endless Halls Of Golden Totem” in June via Gates Of Hell Records. The album was recorded from mid-December 2020 to January 2021 at guitarist James Kirn’s home studio. Richie Rabid served as engineer, while Will Mellor handled mixing and master duties. The album will feature hand-painted cover artwork from Matt Stikker.

Due to the global pandemic, BLAZON RITE, who also include vocalist Johnny Halladay, bassist Pierson Roe and drummer Ryan Haley, employed some ingenuity to record. The band created isolation booths in Kirn’s basement, resulting in a more polished, triumphant effort that takes BLAZON RITE beyond their well-received 2020 “Dulce Bellum Inexpertis” EP.
“The recording process took a while because we were only doing it on the weekends and really taking our time with tones,” says Kirn. “It was fun because we were documenting ourselves in some of the sessions with pictures and videos, which we’ve never done before!”
The band’s inspiring blend of NWOBHM and European power metal ala BLIND GUARDIAN and HELLOWEEN is even more realized on “Endless Halls Of Golden Totem”. According to Kirn, the album’s eight tracks benefit from more focused songwriting. But, unlike the “Dulce Bellum Inexpertis” EP, it is not a concept record.
“I think we have a lot of variety from song-to-song vibe-wise and really provide a nice journey for the listener,” he says. “From power metal and traditional epic heavy metal to acoustic LED ZEPPELIN parts and Viking influenced metal, I think we really give a lot on this full-length. Each song is a whole story within itself.”

“Endless Halls Of Golden Totem” track listing:

 

  1. Legends Of Time And Eidolon
  2. Put Down Your Steel (Only For The Night)
  3. The Executioners Woe
  4. Endless Halls Of Golden Totem
  5. The Alchemists Brute
  6. The Watchmen Of Starfall Tower
  7. Consumed By Glory Light
  8. Into Shores Of Blood

HERZEL: New song online, Vinyl edition SOLD-OUT, repress on the way.

When we got at our office yesterday morning and switched on our computers we were shocked – in the most pleasant way – to find out that, only a few days after they were delivered from the plant, all of the Herzel LPs were completely sold out two weeks before the release-date!

We have no words to express how happy we feel. For the Herzel guys in the first place: Ion and his band mates are not only super-talented, passionate, hard-working artists, but also incredibly nice, down to earth people who have been a real pleasure to work with.

We are very thankful to all of you who supported the album, literally everywhere in the world.

And to the French warriors in particular (you guys are true maniacs!) for the unbelievable response to this awesome release.

Since we are still getting many requests for the LP we have decided to immediately reprint more vinyls, which should be in stock and ready to ship in late April.

Preorders for the repress (which will be on black vinyl and include poster, just like the first pressing) start today, on the occasion of Bandcamp’s no-fees Friday.

Congratulations Herzel! And thank you all, brothers of metal!

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