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


INTERVIEW: Crysis Talks About Their Upcoming Album, Future Shows, and Thrash Culture


With each decade comes its own corresponding music genres. Some genres fade with the passage of time, but it’s often that certain sounds persevere, mostly because of artists that keep them alive. Thanks to Crysis, old school metal is burning bright in their home city of Columbus, Ohio, and the brightest flames can be found within younger generations of metalheads.Continue reading


Eloy Casagrande Comments on His Quitting Sepultura “Decisions Needed To Be Made Thinking About New Cycles That Will Come”


World-renowned Drummer Eloy Casagrande made his first public comment since Sepultura announced yesterday (February 28th, 20224) that he had quit the band a month ago, and just few months after the band announced their farewell tour and the death of the band. Eloy says that his decision to leave Sepultura was made “with a view toward new cycles that will come. There is massive speculation that Eloy will be the next drummer for Slipknot. Continue reading


Eloy Casagrande Quits Sepultura, Replaced by Greyson Nekrutman (Suicidal Tendencies)


Sepultura announced that they has added drummer Greyson Nekrutman (Suicidal Tendencies) to the band for their planned upcoming farewell tour, in the wake of the surprise announcement that Eloy Casagrande has quit the band “for another opportunity” after almost 10 years. Read an extensive statement from the band below. Casagrande informed the band in the last month he was leaving. Eloy has been rumored to be the replacement for Jay Weinberg in Slipknot. Continue reading


INTERVIEW: Max Cavalera Talks About the Power of Go Ahead and Die, Hardcore, and More


Ghost Cult Keefy caught up with our old friend Max Cavalera (Soulfly, Cavalera, Killer Be Killed, ex-Sepultura) to discuss another of his heavy projects Go Ahead And Die! We talked about their recent album “Unhealthy Mechanisms” (read our review here) and their current headline tour of the same name, how the new material is going over live, the band’s new lineup, some thoughts on the timeline for the next Soulfly record, and much more! Continue reading


Watch Dirk Verbeuren of Megadeth Perform a Drum Playthrough for The Track “The Last Howl” by Savage Lands


Dirk Verbeuren has shared a new drum playthrough for the “The Last Howl” track from his new project Savage Lands. Savage Lands is a non-profit organization co-founded by Dirk, focused on the preservation and reforestation of threatened lands in Costa Rica. “The Last Howl” is their first single and features John Tardy (Obituary) on vocals and Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) on lead guitar. Watch Dirk’s playthrough with his new Meinl Cymbals, on their YouTube channel. Continue reading


Sepultura Books 40th Anniversary Farewell Tour with Jinjer, Obituary, and Jesus Piece


Sepultura has announced in 2024 they will embark on an 18-month long farewell tour, celebrating the entire history of the band. They commented:Sepultura has reached the end of the road and has chosen to depart via a conscious and planned death. Throughout the next 18 months we will celebrate 40 years of existence together along with our loyal fans on a farewell tour across the entire globe. It will be a celebration of the past and the present for one final time.” Supporting the band on the initial run of dates announced today in Europe will come from Jinjer, Obituary, and JContinue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Going Off – Kill List


There’s a saying in the UK that it’s grim up north and what better place for a Hardcore band to emanate from than Manchester, in this case a five-piece called Going Off, who formed in 2020. Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: CAVALERA – Incite – Recall the Remains Live at KK’s Steel Mill


 

Another cold night in wintry Wolverhampton beckons but KK’s Steel Mill is always a welcome sight. A former factory building owned by former Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing, the venue, opened in 2018, has already gained a great reputation, landing many top quality metal acts ahead of other local rivals.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Go Ahead And Die – Unhealthy Mechanisms


 

It’s one thing to see siblings together in music, but two generations in one band is not as typical. Go Ahead And Die features legendary Max Cavalera (ex-Sepultura, Cavalera Conspiracy, Soulfly, etc.) and his son, Igor Cavalera Jr. (Healing Magic, Lody Kong). What’s more, Johnny Valles (live drummer for Cerebral Rot, Black Braid, etc.) has picked up the drumming role on their latest album, Unhealthy Mechanisms (Nuclear Blast Records). The three-piece specializes in a groovy death metal band with some crossover punk spilled over the top.

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