Dying Victims Productions is proud to announce the following new releases:
DVP 217 Ironhawk – Ritual of the Warpath LP/CD
DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present the highly anticipated debut album of Australia’s IRONHAWK, Ritual of the War Path, on CD and vinyl LP formats.
From the remote backwaters of Tasmania, IRONHAWK emerged in 2013 at a ramshackle basement gig where a hijack of the stage to butcher a handful of Motörhead covers lit the fuse, which in turn exploded as the unholy trinity of Simon (ex-Bastard Squad, Distroy), Mitch (ex-Vulgar, Bulletproof), and Ange (The Wizar’d, Tarot) cast blackened metalpunk forged in the flames of Bathory, Amebix, Sacrilege, Venom, and English Dogs.
The year 2014 saw the first round of tracks to be released as the mini-album Boozehounds From Hell. However, it was in the years that followed that IRONHAWK would gain momentum, with rowdy live shows around Australia and beyond, building their following of headbangers and hellraisers. The year 2017 saw the Cemetery of Steel EP give the taste of metalpunk fury, and upon the plague of 2020, IRONHAWK turned to the studio to lay down their long-awaited full-length debut, Ritual of the War Path.
Like a time-warp to 1985, Ritual of the War Path is a grandiose-yet-grimy statement of ancient metalpunk powers known only to the most devout. To say that IRONHAWK are indeed “devout” – and direly so – to their etched-into-steel influences would be an understatement; to say that the power-trio actually DO something with those influences is also an understatement. Thus, we hear the cavernous crunge of early Bathory, the sooty surge of early Sacrilege, the burning spirits of prime English Dogs, and definitely (and uniquely for this style) the epic landscapes of mid ‘80s Amebix across the album’s surprisingly dynamic 37 minutes. It’s that lattermost element, in particular, which puts Ritual of the War Path into rarefied territory, for instead of merely aping Amebix’s most characteristic moments (or whole riffs themselves), IRONHAWK thread those textures into most of the album’s songs, giving Motörcharge a new look – but one still rooted in a road warrior past.
Life is bleak, dark, perhaps beyond redemption. Why not hop on a rusty, bespiked dune-buggy and set out for new adventures on the wasteland with IRONHAWK’s Ritual of the War Path?
– Regular edition on black vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card and download code.
– Special edition on kelly green vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card, download code and patch.
– CD edition with sticker.
DVP 218 Animalize – Meat We’re Made Of LP/CD
DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present the highly anticipated debut album of France’s ANIMALIZE, Meat We’re Made Of, on CD and vinyl LP formats.
The roots of France’s ANIMALIZE go back to 2014, when the moniker was first chosen, but their lineup didn’t solidify until 2018. From the beginning, the power-trio’s influences were set: heavy metal from the ‘70s and ‘80s, but specifically the likes of Loudness, W.A.S.P., Tokyo Blade, Glenn Tipton, Ritchie Blackmore, Glenn Hughes, and Annihilator and especially classic French heavy metal like ADX, Malediction, Sortilège and Warning. Synthwave and New Wave, both old and new, also musically influence ANIMALIZE.
However, it is the band’s love of movies which arguably influences ANIMALIZE’s outlook the most. For them, a visual identity and atmosphere – whether in their visual aesthetic, be it artwork or onstage, or especially their upcoming videos – is of the utmost importance. Film also feeds their lyrics, quite often. The band states that such movies as Evil Dead, Mad Max, Pet Sematary, Masters of the Universe, and Terminator are among their most beloved.
Armed with these noble touchstones, ANIMALIZE released their debut EP, Tapes from the Crypt, in 2020. A swift and solid 20 minutes, the EP displayed massive promise from ANIMALIZE, which they’ve handily surpassed with their full-length debut, Meat We’re Made Of. Graced again with an unforgettable cover, Meat We’re Made Of is a breathless and breathtaking statement. Its sound races all over the place, from cruising speed to tricky detours to headbanging mid-tempos, with an organized sort of mayhem, as explosive solos and dramatic vocal layering turn these nine beguiling songs into impossible anthems. That sound is undeniably HEAVY METAL, but ANIMALIZE manage to synthesize speed metal with power-thrash and traditional metal into a dizzying-yet-addicting blend that jumps across countries and even continents with insane ease. It’s both futuristic and firmly rooted in the past, and the album’s sterling production sharpens it to a katana.
Maybe most amazingly, this dazzling interplay comes from a power-trio, but ANIMALIZE will become a quartet for upcoming live shows. Likewise, Meat We’re Made Of had, in fact, been finished for some time, but the band have prepared two music videos for its release which tell a story – eight actors in addition to the band, with tons of action and FX. Altogether, a suitably grand entrance for what will be one of metal’s most literally explosive debuts this year!
– Regular edition on black vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card and download code.
– Special edition on bone colored vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card, download code and patch.
– CD edition with sticker.
DVP 219 Spellforger – Upholders of Evil MLP
DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present SPELLFORGER’s explosive debut EP, Upholders of Evil, on 12” vinyl format.
Hailing from Indonesia, SPELLFORGER began in early 2020, highly influenced by early proto-black metal such as Celtic Frost, early Slayer, Bathory, Possessed, and also modern black metal-influenced thrash metal bands such as Cruel Force, Deathhammer, Condor, and Inculter. And since most of the members are a huge fans of the old-school style of death metal, SPELLFORGER’s music also bears some slight ’90s death metal influences, as well.
SPELLFORGER was formed by Demi Raldi (AKA Middernacht), and then he also invited a close friend named Jamie (AKA Carrion), who is also guitarist in the black metal bands Ashtarothum and Neurotic of Gods. Together, they then invited a veteran black metal drummer named Yaya (AKA L. Tchort), who has been involved in the black metal scene since the mid ’90s. Some time after, SPELLFORGER was finally formed, with Middernacht recruiting a friend named Fauzan (AKA Horrifier) to fill the position of bassist even though his real skill is playing drums.
A few weeks after the band had formed, SPELLFORGER started to write their first single, “Pestilentia,” and it was recorded three weeks later without any rehearsal. The song was widely well-received with black/thrash fans, with some viewing the band as giving a new, fresh injection into their local metal scene – this because Indonesia (in this case, Bandung) is widely known for its huge death metal scene, mainly focused on the brutal/slam style, which has largely been overdone. Instead, SPELLFORGER wanted to revive the spirit of old-school metal within their local scene, bringing a strong anti-poser attitude in their music and lyrics. The band are also against any other sort of trends that’ve been going on for quite some time within that local scene. Alas, SPELLFORGER released their debut EP, Upholders of Evil, on CD in early spring 2021 via Personal Records. Bearing six tracks in 22 minutes, Upholders of Evil is a fresh blast of old air, the band honoring the ancient ways – actual songwriting, live playing, unpolished recording – with utmost aplomb whilst never reeking of “retro” regressionism. The record reaped widespread acclaim, and came to the attention of DYING VICTIMS, who are now releasing it on the format it so rightly deserves: VINYL!
Simply put, this is METAL played by METAL maniacs – and DYING VICTIMS is indeed home to some of nowadays’ most maniacal metal. If anyone needed further convincing, the title alone to Upholders of Evil should say more than enough, as SPELLFORGER likewise exude a tangible evil here: never overwrought nor overly obvious, this atmosphere authentically harkens to those ancient forebears. No other words needed: SPELLFORGER’s Upholders of Evil will at last spread its black magick on vinyl!
–Regular edition on black vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card and download code.
– Special edition on gold colored vinyl, with insert, poster, sticker, post card, download code and patch.
DVP 215 Bestialis – Prawdziwa Bestia MC
DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present BESTIALIS’ debut demo “Prawdziwa Bestia” on music cassette format.
Hailing from Florida, Bestialis was started in mid-2020 by members of Hexorcist, Gnosis and Devastator with the mission to pay homage to the Eastern European Speed/Heavy Metal bands that all band members have been worshipping for decades. Legendary hordes such as KAT, Destroyers, Turbo, Pokolgep and Ossian are running through their veins and “Prawdziwa Bestia” represents these influences melted together into evil speed metal – a first step on their way to a full length.
– MC edition with sticker, button, download code.
DVP 220 Hallucinator – Another Cruel Dimension deluxe edition CD
DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present HALLUCINATOR’s debut album “Another Cruel Dimension” as an enhanced deluxe edition on CD format.
These Oakland, California based maniacs have devoted themselves to a rabid mix of first wave black metal, 80’s death metal and the most extreme thrash metal. Think of a rampaging mélange of Tormentor, Repulsion, Kreator, Morbid and Death. This should make any 80s extreme metal fan want to take the trip and Hallucinator will lead into the darkest corners of human consciousness
This deluxe CD edition includes their 2020 “Another Cruel Dimension” debut album as the center-piece, enhanced by the new ep “Nightmare Idol” which came out in 2021 as well as their 2015 “Primeval Power” demo. A total of 22 songs with a playing time of 73 minutes! Are you strong enough to withstand the primeval nightmare which is Another Cruel Dimension?
DVP 226 Knife – Sounds of Sacrifice MC
DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present KNIFE’s “Sounds of Sacrifice” session on music cassette format.
From the dark dungeons the KNIFE arises in fury. Celebrating the true force of fast, raw and black Speed Metal, KNIFE sacrifice their souls to the Gods Rock ‘n’ Roll. Their new tape “Sounds of Sacrifice” brings you one new track by the band and two tributes to the real masters of Black Metal, Bathory and Venom.
MC comes with sticker, button, download code.
DVP 227 Insane / Karloff – Rough Cuts MC
DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present “Rough Cuts”, a live recording between KARLOFF and INSANE on music cassette format.
Having released much acclaimed full-length albums via Dying Victims in 2021, the two bands, which are bound by a longtime friendship, teamed up for one concert in Sweden, when the plague did not allow for widespread touring. It was rough, it was wild, this is the underground! The cassette is the physical manifestation of this one-off night, featuring 4 songs each.