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


In Flames Release a New Bonus Track and Visualizer “Become One” – Deluxe Version of “Forgone” is Streaming Now


In celebration of the first anniversary of the band’s latest studio album Foregone (Nuclear Blast Records), Swedish melodic death metal icons In Flames have released a digital bonus version of Foregone today on all streaming platforms. Read our review of the album here. The anniversary edition of this highly lauded part of the group’s discography comes accompanied by alternative artwork as well as including a new bonus track, “Become One.” Watch the visualizer for “Become One” below and stream Foregone! Continue reading


Milwaukee Metalfest Adds Municipal Waste, Autopsy, Terrorizer, Macabre, Nunslaughter, Gatecreeper, Skeletal Remains, Creeping Death, Upon Stone, Stabbing, and More to 2024 lineup!


Milwaukee Metal Festival has completed its 2024, lineup with a bunch of new bands in the bill. The iconic midwestern, multi-day event is now les for the highly anticipated 2024 edition, with more TBA! The festival is now welcoming brings Municipal Waste, Autopsy, Terrorizer, Macabre, Nunslaughter, Gatecreeper, Skeletal Remains, Creeping Death, Upon Stone, Stabbing, Monochromatic Black, Deathray Vision, Backlash, Bewitcher, Morbikon, Dead By Wednesday, Engineered Society Project, Hatriot, and Time To Kill. In addition, the details for the pre-party on May 16 have also been revealed! The event is free to anyone who holds a 3-day pass for the festival and will be headlined by a special Jasta and Friends set, featuring Bobby Blitz, Zetro, Bobby Hambel and more. There will also be performances by TOXIC RUIN and H1Z1.Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: Machine Head – Fear Factory – Orbit Culture – Gates To Hell Live at The Warfield


Kicking off 2024 with bang, we headed out to the first show of the year at legendary The Warfield! Hometown heroes Machine Head have not played the city in a few years, and joining them on this epic tour was Fear Factory who missed last year’s show in the city with Static-X. Joining them on this joint are current buzz band Orbit Culture who just got signed to Century Media Records, and Gates To Hell from Louisville opening This is a very strong bill top to bottom especially with two of the most dominant and enduring names in Metal from the nineties still at the top!Continue reading


In Flames Books a Headline Tour with Gatecreeper and Creeping Death


Sweden’s iconic masters of metal In Flames are set to infiltrate the US for a spring headlining US tour with special guests Gatecreeper and Creeping Death. The skull crushing lineup will kick off the excursion on May 1st in Portland, ME and will wrap it up on May 26th in Dallas, TX. In Flames continues to tour behind their 2023 album Foregone, out now on Nuclear Blast! Read our review here.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Upon Stone – Dead Mother Moon


Look alive kids, it’s time for America’s favorite game: initial impressions. Not going to lie, there was some editorial concern when noticing the album art for Upon Stone’s Dead Mother Moon (Century Media). When presented with an image depicting an armored warrior with broadsword in hand and the full moon lighting him from behind, I had some thoughts. Worst case scenario is this is some Dungeons & Dragons inspired Power Metal nonsense. Best case scenario, it’s very Castlevania by way of airbrushed art on the side of a van.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: South of Salem – Death of the Party


With a distinctly American sound and name, you might believe South of Salem hail from sunnier US climes rather than from right here in the good old UK. Only really notable for its beaches and a football team of intermittent quality, Bournemouth might not be a seething hive of metal activity but it is home to one of the best up and coming bands of the last few years. Continue reading


I AM MORBID to Perform All of “Altars of Madness” in Full at Milwaukee Metal Fest 2024


After a successful return of Milwaukee Metal Festival in 2023, the iconic midwestern, multi-day event is now revealing 11 more bands and daily schedules for the highly anticipated 2024 edition, with more TBA! The festival is now welcoming I AM MORBID, who will be performing the iconic Morbid Angel record, ‘Altars of Madness,’ in its entirety on Sunday, May 19! the band reunites Morbid Angel’s David Vincent and Pete Sandoval. In addition, fans can use code DEATH5 to save $5 on single day tickets at the link below. Continue reading


END OF YEAR GUEST POST: Tony Rouse of At The Plates – Top Albums of 2023


We are still wrapping up all the goodness of 2023 with some fun guest posts from bands, friends and fiends. Tony Rouse of At The Plates is dropping their new album for all tastes Omnivore on January 5th, 2024! Pre-rder Omnivore here:
https://attheplates.bandcamp.com/album/omnivore In the meantime, check out his list of his top albums for 2023. Continue reading


END OF YEAR GUEST POST: Corey Pierce of God Forbid and Disciples Of Verity – Top Albums of 2023


We are still wrapping up all the goodness of 2023 with some fun guest posts from bands, friends, and fiends! Our bro – drummer and producer Corey Pierce of God Forbid and Disciples Of Verity has a lot of plates spinning for 2024 with shows, new music, and more! Check his list of top Albums that came out in 2023. Continue reading