Gates of Hell Records presents: “Iron & Hell Vol. 2” CD

Italy’s Gates of Hell Records has brought together four of the most promising names in epic speed/thrash metal for a compilation to be remembered! Sölicitör, Blood Sport, Thundersson and Serpent Rider all rise to the occasion for the glory of pure metal!

Gates of Hell Records has been prowling the underground since 2015 in search of new talent that plays metal the way it was supposed to be played: Fast, uncompromising and raw! On Iron & Hell Vol. 2, the label is giving ‘bangers a fresh dose of speed with two American and two Finnish bands that are sure to assault the senses and bang the head!

Sölicitör
“The future is fast. Keep it nasty, keep it mean.” Such are the words from Sölicitör frontwoman Amy Lee Carlson when encapsulating her band’s unrelenting, old-school thrash sound. The follow-up to their 2020 Spectral Devastation full-length, the All Debts on Death seven-inch is included on Iron & Hell Vol. 2. and features “Killer for Hire,” 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. Now assembling material for a new studio album, Carlson’s above quote couldn’t ring more true: Sölicitör will it bring fast, nasty and mean!

Blood Sport
Blood Sport formed in 2020 with one thing on their mind: There wasn’t enough speed metal in the scene. The members of Blood Sport took it upon themselves to change that with the Hot Blood and Cold Steel EP, which is featured on Iron & Hell Vol. 2. Self-described as the “hyperactive bastard child of Judas Priest and Venom,” Blood Sport also leans into Show No Mercy-era Slayer for inspiration. The Finns ably combine all three bands on Hot Blood & Cold Steel, boasting a vast array of fleet-of-foot riffing, rafter-reaching vocals and blazing drum work that effortlessly recaptures the glory that originated in the 1980s.

Thundersson
The one-man metal Finnish metal brigade, otherwise known as Thundersson, will be making his Gates of Hell Records debut on Iron & Hell Vol. 2! Included are “Hanged, Drawn & Quartered” and “Dream Logic,” two cuts that show off Thundersson’s penchant for vintage, melodic speed metal akin to classic Accept, Riot and Running Wild. Stocked with charging gallops, blazing guitar melodies and rousing choruses, Thundersson is assured to be one of the most talked-about names in Scandinavian metal in no time!

Serpent Rider
From the rain-soaked climes of Seattle, Washington, comes Serpent Rider. Formed in 2018, the band brings a fresh take to classic metal by employing epic, complex song arrangements and towering riffs. It makes sense since their name was taken from the Manilla Road song “The Ram,” where the legendary Mark Shelton sang, “Ride the serpent and make your stand.” The band’s inclusion on Iron & Hell Vol. 2 is the 2019 Pour Forth Surquidous demo. The two songs from the demo are laced with mysterious odes to occult metal giants of yesteryear with a forward-looking eye toward new, adventurous soundscapes with no limitations!

 

 

 

Iron & Hell Vol. 2 track listing:

 

  1. Sölicitör – Killer for Hire
  2. Sölicitör – Megalomaniac
  3. Blood Sport – Machine Gun
  4. Blood Sport – Sin Unto Death
  5. Blood Sport – Niterider
  6. Blood Sport – Steel System
  7. Blood Sport – Agitator
  8. Blood Sport – Blood Sports
  9. Thundersson – Hanged, Drawn & Quartered
  10. Thundersson – Dream Logic
  11. Serpent Rider – Portent of Doom
  12. Serpent Rider – Pour Forth Surquidous

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!

ORDER HERE!

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