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


ALBUM REVIEW: Exhorder – Defectum Omnium


After returning from hiatus with the rather good comeback album Mourn The Southern Skies in 2019, New Orleans Thrash Metal legends Exhorder are at it again with new album Defectum Omnium (Nuclear Blast Records) – thankfully not making us wait another twenty-seven years. Continue reading


Cult Of Fire to Perform with Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague at Brutal Assault



In a unique tribute to Czech classical composer, Bedřich Smetanat, black metal band, Cult Of Fire will join their forces with the Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague. Together they will deliver a special set commissioned by Brutal Assault, an experience not seen at the festival before, and rarely elsewhere. Keep reading below for more details.
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


Anthrax and Kreator Book Co-Headline Tour Dates with Testament


International metal forces join in a monstrous union between US metal monsters, Anthrax and German thrash titans, Kreator. Completing this unmissable line-up, a very special guest, the Bay Area’s metal machine, Testament! Tickets go on-sale on January 26th at the links below, and are expected to sell quickly for this highly anticipated tour, between three of the genres’ most legendary bands.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


Milwaukee Metalfest Books Hammerfall, Testament, Soilent Green, Paleface Swiss, Exhumed, It Dies Today, Errors Of Humanity, Casket Robbery, Hellwitch, Belushi Speedball, and More


Catton Park, United kingdom, 12 Aug 2022, Testament performing on the Ronnie James Dio Stage at Bloodstock Open Air Festival Credit: Rich Price/Ghost Cult Magazine

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 Testament, Hammerfall, Soilent Green (Reunion), Paleface Swiss, Exhumed, It Dies Today, Errors Of Humanity, Casket Robbery, Hellwitch, Belushi Speed Ball and Illusion of Fate.Continue reading


Testament, Exodus, Armored Saint, Sadus, Havok, Toxic Holocaust, and Laid To Waste Join Brutal Assault


Brutal Assault has just added Testament, Exodus, Armored Saint, Sadus, Havok, Toxic Holocaust, and Laid To Waste to its 2024 bill. They join The Black Dahlia Murder, Behemoth, Emperor, and many more at the Czech festival next August 07th – 10th. Keep reading below for more details and the full lineup.

Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Ringworm – Seeing Through Fire


 

 

Alongside Integrity, Ringworm are one of Cleveland, Ohio’s premiere Hardcore outfits. Formed in 1989 the band’s original run lasted until 1994 and yielded the classic The Promise debut album. Since their 1999 reunion, the band have been prolific with Seeing Through Fire being their ninth release and first since 2019’s Death Becomes My Voice.

Continue reading


The Debut Metal Injection Festival Books Max and Iggor Cavalera, Testament, Machine Head, Fear Factory, Exhumed, and More


The Inaugural Metal Injection Festival will take place in Orange County, CA this September. 16th and 17th, 2023! Metal Injection Festival will take over two iconic venues – The Observatory and House of Blues Anaheim. The stacked and diverse lineup includes Max and Iggor Cavalera, Testament, Machine Head, Fear Factory, Exhumed, and many more. Tickets for day one are on sale now with day 2 going on sale this Friday, June 16th. Watch the trailer here.

Continue reading