Metal Blade Records history by Dan Slessor:
Founded upon owner Brian Slagel's enduring drive to find great bands and get their music out to as many people as possible, since 1982 Metal Blade has brought wave after wave of powerful, innovative, and often genre-defining music to the ever-hungry metal masses. It is this ethos that has seen Metal Blade build up a stunning and diverse catalogue, weather the various storms facing any independent label, and in an age of declining record sales boast the most successful years of its existence as it strides into its fourth decade.

What perhaps makes this achievement all the more notable is the fact that Slagel never even intended to start a label. Working in an LA record store and writing for various publications, Slagel was acutely aware that many great bands in the local metal scene were being ignored, and he decided to release a compilation of tracks drawn from these ranks. "There were a lot of really good bands and I was just bummed out that nobody could hear them. It just seemed like I could help them out and have some fun at the same time, and that compilation was the first Metal Massacre," he states. Collating tracks from then unknown bands including Ratt, Bitch, Cirith Ungol, and Metallica amongst others, the compilation sold out immediately. "How important is Metal Blade to our career? They're only the reason we are enjoying the worldwide success we have today," states Metallica's James Hetfield. "Without Brian's openness to some raunchy teens with a crap sounding cassette tape we would be who knows where, and playing who knows what!" With the popularity of the tape spurring Slagel on, the first seeds of Metal Blade were sown. "After the success of those compilations I just started putting out records of bands that I was friends with, but without ever really intending it to be a label at all," he explains. "After I put out four or five releases I started to feel like something was happening, and I decided to quit the record store and quit college and see where it went."

Battling through the first few lean years, when the label consisted solely of Slagel working out of his mom's poorly ventilated garage in the San Fernando Valley, it gradually grew in both revenue and stature. Within a few years Metal Blade would go on to release the debuts of Slayer, Armored Saint, Trouble, and Corrosion Of Conformity amongst others, fanning the flames of the burgeoning metal scene and launching careers of bands that would go onto reap global success. "Without Metal Blade, there is a damn good chance we never would've made it out of L.A," says Slayer's Kerry King. "That was the one bit of luck we needed. You can be the most awesome band on the scene, and if no one notices you, you don't catch on. And Brian Slagel is still one of the biggest metalheads I know!" This genuine love and devotion to metal is central to the relationship many of the artists have with Metal Blade, and King Diamond credits much of its relevance and strength to this passion. "I refer to it as having 'boots on the ground'," the mighty Dane states. "It's not like a major label where some people might be into what you're doing but a lot of them just see it as a job – there's a genuine love for metal there. Through staying true to that and doing their own thing they've carved out a very specific niche that they control, and as an artist it's wonderful to be a part of that."over the years. Clearly without those people we couldn't do what we do, and to everyone out there who has helped us along by being a fan we are so very grateful to you."

Read more: http://www.metalblade.com/us/about-us/

Spanish singer currently living in The Netherlands/Vocalista española con residencia en los Países Bajos.
www.laam-music.com

Synergy Protocol: The unity in a set of regulations.
 
Yes, dear readers, we are talking about yet another Dutch female fronted metal band. But… this time we are talking about a truely progressive metal band with an 80’ies twist. Unlike so many other female fronted bands these days, Synergy Protocol first and foremost affiliates with bands like Dream Theater, Symphony X, Queensrÿche, Opeth and Ayreon.
 
So how is that progressive?
Well, the music contains a lot of stuff that makes it more complicated than absolutely necessary, like many, many, many signature changes, vocal harmonies and enchanting melodies. We don’t really know what is progressive about that, but that is how they call it anyway. The definition of metal is a lot easier: the distorted guitars are usually loud!
The 80’ies twist comes from early influences like Iron Maiden, Queen, Toto, Metallica and Rush.
This is what clearly distinguishes the band from others.
 
During the first 18 months of their existence the vocals were taken care of by Laura Guldemond. After her sudden departure the band is currently getting back to speed with their new and amazingly talented new vocalist, Laura Martínez, who has made her first public appearance with Synergy Protocol at Occultfest on September 4th, 2015 in Hoogeveen.
As always she will be supported by one of the biggest Dutch talents on drums: Patrick van Mourik; his double kick will make your earplugs melt. Mark Roelofs plays the guitar and takes care of the high pitch in the vocal harmonies. Maarten “Big M” Heeringa is the second guitarist / backing vocalist and together with Wim Smits (bass, ex-Jewel) brings in the experience.
 
With their first singer Synergy Protocol released their first demo in February 2014 and has performed over 40 shows all over the Netherlands, amongst others as a support for Stream of Passion and Vulture Industries on the main stages of De Boerderij and P60. They always manage to leave the audience with a smile on their face, due the humourous and unforgettable live-performance, which reputation is spreading fast understandibly.
 
The first half of 2016 was mainly spent recording the first full-length, and maybe even more, CD. The CD is scheduled to be released shortly after summer 2016. Plans are to accompany this with an extensive tour abroad.
 
Meanwhile they keep striving for entertaining as many people as possible all over the world, whether it is at festivals, clubshows or support slots.
 
Hence: Synergy Protocol!

Synergy Protocol is following