Warner Music Group Intends to Buy French Digital Music Company Believe SA, Owner of Nuclear Blast Records and Tunecore


One of the largest record labels in the world, Warner Music Group (WMG) has announced it intends to purchase Believe SA, a French digital music company. Among the many companies Believe owns includes a controlling stake in Nuclear Blast Records (acquired in 2018) and its offshoot Blood Blast Distribution, as well as Tunecore a Brooklyn, New York–based digital music distribution, publishing and licensing service founded in 2006. Tunecore distributes music through online retailers such as iTunes, Deezer, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Google Play, Tidal, Beatport. According to the press release you can read below, Warner “would provide Believe with strategic support and financial stability to help the development and growth of the Company, including by accelerating its expansion into new geographies.” Nuclear Blast founded in 1987 in Germany, is home to some of the greatest bands in Metal such as, Slayer, Anthrax, Testament, C.O.C., Nightwish, Sepultura, Sabaton, In Flames, Lamb of God (Europe), and countless others. In addition to their legendary main brand known for Rock, Pop, Country, and Dance music, WMG owns a ton of sub labels boasting some of the biggest names in Hard Rock, Metal and Punk like 10K Projects, 300 Entertainment (Highly Suspect, Waterparks), Asylum, Atlantic (Shinedown, Halestorm) Big Beat, Elektra Entertainment (formerly: Metallica, Slipknot & Paramore – current: twenty one pilots, Brandi Carlile, Sturgill Simpson) Erato, First Night, Fueled By Ramen (Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World, A Day To Remember), Nonesuch, Parlophone (Iron Maiden), Reprise (Lamb of God in the USA, Deftones, Disturbed, Crosses), Rhino (boxed sets, vinyl and CD reissues, and countless legacy releases), Roadrunner (Gojira, Turnstile, Motionless In White, Trivium, newly signed Deafheaven, Coheed and Cambria, Stone Sour), Sire, Spinnin’, Warner Records, Warner Classics, and Warner Music Nashville. WMG’s music publishing arm, Warner Chappell Music, as well as artist management and services divisions. If the sale goes through, it remains to be seen what shape the deal would have and what impact is might have for Nuclear Blast and Tunecore. Stay tuned for more news on this story.Continue reading


Eshtadur Share Guitar Playthrough Video for “Fire Above Mountain Below” Single


Eshtadur guitarist, Jorg August, has shared a video playthrough of the Columbian melodeath band’s latest single, “Fire Above Mountain Below.” The track follows “Umbra” as one of their new songs, after the February 2023 release of their album, From The Abyss, on Nuclear Blast RecordsBlood Blast Distribution and Hateworks. Catch the playthrough and more below.Continue reading


Islander Announce New Album


South Carolina alt metal duo, Islander, have announced that they will release their new album under the title Grammy Nominated. The official date is yet to be set, but the fullh)ength is planned to land early in 2024, via Blood Blast distribution. The band have also already shared two singles and music videos; “Witch” and “Serpents & Daggers”. Check them out below.

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INTERVIEW: Field Cate of Fencer Discusses Their “Garage Opera” Sound, Mental Health Issues, and More


 

Ghost Cult caught up with Field Cate from up-and-coming rockers Fencer late in 2022 to discuss their upcoming debut self-titled album, due out on February 3rd, 2023 via Blood Blast Distribution. The band also recently performed a holiday livestream concert benefiting the Life Rolls On Foundation. You might know Field’s face or voice from his time as a child and voice actor (Pushing Daisies, the Air Bud franchise films), but he has been plying his trade as a musician along with his band, for some time. We discussed the formation of Fencer, the sound of the band, their impactful songs on streaming services, a frank discussion of Field’s mental health struggles, his goals for the band, and much more

Check out the band’s cover of ”Buena” by Morphine

 

Pre-save the album on streaming:

https://fencerband.lnk.to/debut-album

Pre-order the album and follow the band here:

https://linktr.ee/fencerband

 

More about Life Rolls On:

https://liferollson.org/

For the full list of Ghost Cult gear:

http://bit.ly/OJCPicsKit

This video includes a shoutout (mention) to Jaded Truth:

https://www.instagram.com/jadedtruthofficial

 

Get your band or DIY label a mention in our videos by visiting our pinned post on Twitter!

 

https://twitter.com/GhostCultMag/status/1142861626590355456

or

https://mstdn.party/@ghostcultmag/109366911094435791

 

#fencer

#fieldcate

#retrorock

#garageopera

#throwbacksounds

#liferollsonorg

#bloodblast

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INTERVIEW: Cory and Meg from Casket Robbery – “Rituals of Death” Track-By-Track Breakdown


Ghost Cult caught up with Cory and Meg from Caskey Robbery, to discuss their new album Rituals of Death – out now via Blood Blast Distribution. Having followed the band for a long time, we unpacked the last few years of being a DIY enterprise in death metal, the return of touring, energizing their fanbase with social media, creating sick videos, and finally a track-by-track breakdown of their new album.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Brand of Sacrifice – Lifeblood – Blood Blast


 

Father forgive me because we have to talk about Brand of Sacrifice’s Lifeblood (Blood Blast Distribution). Listen, I really wanted to enjoy Lifeblood as we need to build up new stars in heavy music, but this simply isn’t it chief. Maybe if we stripped the many layers of triggered drums, modulated vocals, unimportant guest appearances and waves of synths we could find something worth working with. But as it stands, I cannot sanction this buffoonery.

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Nuclear Blast and Believe Launch Blood Blast Distribution


Nuclear Blast Records, among the greatest metal labels in the world, and Believe, a leading fully independent digital distributor and services provider for artists & labels worldwide, have teamed up to form Blood Blast Distribution. They have created the first worldwide digital distribution offer dedicated to extreme music. Blood Blast provides dedicated distribution to over 200 digital streaming and download platforms and will help bands and artists at all levels make their music available to their audiences on a global basis, whilst benefiting from expert support from the Nuclear Blast team.Continue reading