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/

Legionary is a death/thrash metal band from The Bronx. Legionary once played live regularly, but is now a one man band headed by mastermind Frank D'Erasmo (Drums/Rhythm Guitars/Main Composer). Frank uses the services of some of the best metal musicians in the Tri-State area, and is currently dedicated to doing studio projects only at the moment.

The band was established in 2007 by Frank. Although Frank put an album to works immediately, It wasn't until early 2010 that a complete line up had been achieved.

Legionary's self titled demo was released in September of 2010, and quickly received high praise amongst NY and NJ metalheads. The demo includes two original tracks "Deceiver" and "Awakening Reprisal". The performance earned Frank the honor of being enlisted on "Sick Drummer Magazine" the website (http://www.sickdrummermagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2064%3Afrank-derasmo-&catid=64%3Adeath-grind&Itemid=100010).

Legionary's full length debut album titled "Arcane Divisions" (later remixed/remastered in late 2014) was released on iTunes in April 2012. It consists of 10 pulverizing tracks, each of which has their own identity. The album continues where the demo left off, but this time punishes you for nearly 50 minutes with riff after riff.

On April 16, 2013, Legionary released a 4 song EP titled "Path Of Tyranny". The songs are politically themed, average around 4 minutes, and feature a new tuning for the band. The songs are in D standard tuning, which is a change from their usual C standard tuning. Regardless of the higher tuning, these songs are quite possibly Legionary's most intense to date, and feature a more thrashy/"epic" feel. The goal this time around was to have a more modern sounding mix. Frank feels that this EP once again made a statement to the Tri-State metal scene that Legionary is not only one of the best unsigned Tri-State metal bands today, but the best.

The "Once And For All" (EP), released in May of 2014, raised the bar even higher. These are the most mature and most technical Legionary songs ever, and feature the return of ex-lead guitarist Tony Barhoum, and newcomer Mike Dreher (Bassist for Condition Critical & Lich King).

18-year-old guy from Hong Kong. Love music especially heavy metal ;)

Favorite bands: Children Of Bodom, Bullet For My Valentine

VISIT http://torley.com FOR MORE MUSIC OMG!

You press down a special key that plays a little melody, a thread in a vast tapestry spanning alternate timelines and parallel universes. You've joined me on a creative quest to recover aurelics, the sonic artifacts that unlock the gateways to the mind's ear.

<i>Next track? The Torley Zone.</i>

ThomasLovesYou! is following