The 'For All Time' LP is out now: https://mayerhawthorne.lnk.to/foralltime

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/

Brazilian DJ/Producer based in Salvador - BAHIA
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BAND BIOGRAPHY

Some people seem to have come into the world to confuse, annoy, swim against the current, like the guys from Gangrena Gasosa, the first and only Sarava Metal band of the universe. They confused, for example, Jello Biafra, former Dead Kennedys vocalist who misunderstood the irony on the back cover of their second album, "Smells Like a Tenda Spirita" - a joke on famous brands that Punk-Mor thought was commercial support. Also confused entities from santeria yard near the “Garage”, Rio’s Metal/Alternative temple at the 1990´s. Or the audience of “Jô Soares Onze e Meia” TV Show, when they did an anthological interview,  at a time when was unthinkable to a pre-internet underground band, powered by photocopied fanzines and demo tapes, draw attention  from an icon of great media.

Jello also commented that the band´s propose was interesting, but it would be perfect if they could mix together Metal and the african rythms in their sound, instead using vignettes only. He referred the demo tapes and the first album “Welcome to Terreiro”, that was musically gross, because conceptually they've always been. Well, it happened! After a great evolution on the second album, the mentioned “Smells” and on the following 6|6|6 EP - released on 2006-06-06, “El dia de la Bestia” - the fusion took shape in a perfect way on the new play, “Se Deus é 10 Satanás é 666”. That´s a cult of noisy music; On percusion, two monster drummers Elijan Rodrigues and Anjo caldas, percussionist from Elba Ramalho and Catapulta band. The ultimate incorporation of percussion in the band´s sound was crucial to complete the spell.

To celebrate and promote the new album they´ve made memorable shows, such as the “Goiânia Noise” Fest, Domination Rio Extreme Fest, in the Roça´n Roll Fest with Cathedral and at the Circo Voador, with Ratos de Porão and Cannibal Corpse. Having often been pointed by the trade media as one of the best presentations on these fests.


DESAGRADAVEL DVD

After a lot of turbulence and lineup changes, the consecration phase came with the release of the “Desagradavel” (Displeasing) double DVD. This funny documentary details the cursed´s trajectory and a full show recorded in São Paulo, at “Inferno Club” (where else?), in December 3, 2011. The show was recorded in Full HD and psyco lighting along the stage scenography, creating a perfect macabre ambience to the percussive unholy curses from the deeper boiling brazilian ground. In this live performance Gangrena’s entities interact with the special effects from the master Kapel Furman, known for his FX production in the 2008 Coffin Joe’s movie, “Embodiment of Evil”. The show also counts with a very special participation of Jão, guitarist of Ratos de Porão, remembering his time as “crooner” and costumed like a “Voodoo Saints Priest”, to sing “Benzer até Morrer / Kurimba Ruim”, a Gangrena´s version for two classic songs of the masters of the Brazilian Hardcore. That´s fair enough, since Gangrena was born with the only intention to open a Ratos de Porão gig.

The documentary was produced by Black Vomit - the same (ir)responsible for the classic "Guidable, The true history of Ratos de Porão" - and covers all the 23 years of the band. A special reunion of people that stirred the underground scene of 90´s until today. All the legends, detailed in a film that will show the most shameful chapters in history of Brazilian Rock. Jello Biafra, Jão and João Gordo, BNegão, Marcelo D2, Anjo Caldas, Dado Villa-Lobos, Rafael Ramos, Fabio from Garage, Marcos Bragatto, Tom Leão, Pedro Só, Adilson Pereira, Larry Antha and the former members (more than 15!) recalls the regrettable moments that Sarava Metal happened in their lives. Archive images, photos and videos to prove, once for all, that “Home Saint makes miracles too”.

Worldwide Bookings
Abel Reynolds 
E: abel@fingerlickin.co.uk
T: +44 (0) 20 7255 2660 
http://fingerlickinmanagement.co.uk/krafty-kuts

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