Chicago modern metal powerhouse TRIALS is set to make a triumphant return on May 1st with the release of their sophomore album, “In the Shadow of Swords.”

Coming off the heels of their 2011 debut, “Witness to the Downfall”, “In the Shadow of Swords” sees the band take their blend of melodic death and muscular, technical thrash to the next level. Don’t mistake those words for the typical promotional hyperbole either. TRIALS has truly upped the ante where aggression, songwriting and sheer metallic power are concerned.

Hailing from the Chicagoland area with an “in your face band that will melt your face in the pit.” mentality. En Masse formed in 2010 to create an amalgamation of traditional thrash/death metal with old school hardcore and birthed a new beast. If you are a fan of Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, DRI, SOD, Decapitated, Slayer, Deicide, Pantera, Pestilence, Lamb of God, Possessed and Death. Then you with like the fast, hard hitting beats, riffs, and vocals that are produce. A hard working, regional touring band, in 2014 released Ultimum Tyrannum, which is the re-mastered debut album. Currently working on the sophomore album which is highly anticipated after the self -titled debut album from 2012 and Ultimum Tyrannum (re-master of debut album released 2012). With being comprised of former members Miscreants and Life In Shadow they have formed an old school sound with a new school mix. Hope to see you at a future show. Until then Stay brutal.

Hailing from Indiana, TESTIMONY was formed in late 2009 by drummer Taylor Lambacher who later went on to draft guitarist Michael Gawel, his older brother Derek Lambacher on bass and vocalist Adrian Harris. With their line-up cemented, TESTIMONY set out to create complex, challenging metal music that, while rooted in tradition, has a quality and sound all its own.

With influences that range from musical genres like jazz and funk to legendary metal bands such as Death, Voivod, Iron Maiden, Metallica and Megadeth, TESTIMONY combines elements of thrash and progressive metal, yielding a sort of spacey travel through time that rips like any other band from the ‘80s, but has an artistic flair of its own. In January 2012, TESTIMONY released their debut EP, Transcending Reality. The six track album puts a twist on the classic thrash sound that came out of the 1980s with its dazzling and sometimes drawn out technical performances that truly capture the minds of listeners.

Transcending Reality was a hit and almost overnight the name TESTIMONY began to spread like wild fire amongst the legions of underground thrashers around the world. The album’s success opened new doors for TESTIMONY and soon after Transcending Reality was released TESTIMONY went on to share the stage with national acts like D.R.I., Lazarus AD, Vektor and Revocation. While TESTIMONY was enjoying their new found success the band never once lost focus or let things go to their head, instead TESTIMONY remained hungry, diligently taking notes and learning as much as they could from bands that were on the “next level” while constantly looking to improve on every single song, riff, fill and solo.

In late 2013, nearly two years after the release of Transcending Reality, TESTIMONY announced they would be releasing a brand new EP entitled “The Beast That Prays” in 2014. Following the success of Transcending Reality, TESTIMONY is more motivated than ever before and looks to put the progress in progressive with The Beast That Prays by creating an album that is more complex, better thought out, and heavier than its predecessor.

Look for The Beast That Prays to be released on Tuesday, September 16th.