Hailing from Chicago and the UK, CRUSADER is relatively new to the metal scene in Chicago, although they are all veterans of playing live music, having only been officially a band since spring of 2010. Tired of hearing run-of-the-mill corporate produced ‘metal’, CRUSADER decided to raise the flag and rally the troops to their banner.
Raised on classic rock, speed metal and thrash through to doom, and everything in between and beyond, CRUSADER proudly and unashamedly wear their influences on their sleeves.
Early 2011 saw the release of CRUSADER’s self released EP ‘Rise of the Templars’ which has received rave reviews:
‘If you close your eyes, you can picture hundreds of spiked gauntlets, punching the sky, lock step, united in war against poseurs. When the song takes off, it’s a groove thrasher with crooning vocals that reminds me a lot Death Angel’ – American Aftermath Webzine
‘Rise of the Templars’ is one great epic metal release, I do love the bass sound, this is indeed everything I want from a metal release in all fairness right down to the Grave Digger inspired EP cover artwork. The gauntlet is laid down and the challenge is accepted. Setting their stall out to emulate the metal giants (credit vidovic at dhead tech), Crusader makes a good account of themselves and I for one simply love this EP’ – Brutalism Webzine
‘This is prime NWOBHM inspired heavy metal taking you back to the days of Black Axe and Angel Witch…’ – Powerplay UK Magazine
‘Their NWOBHM sound, the epic-driven song titles and the cool performance are enough to guarantee you that you are gonna have great time when these guys are onstage. During their 30 minutes’ performance, I enjoyed “Templar” and “Asgard’s Fire” and the sure thing is that I’m going to dig their EP asap. Just a perfect way to warm up for ANVIL’s invasion, don’t ya think? – Metal Kaoz review – show with ANVIL
2012 will see the band recording their full length album and taking their sound all over the country. Think of a Crusader tank driving over a minefield littered with the skulls of the enemy dead…they’re taking it back to the roots: Drinking beers, throwing the horns and playing metal…

Tattoo the Devil is a progressive metal sextet from Chicago, IL and makes it’s mark by not being held to one rock or pop genre very easily. The band started as a project to write great sounding accessible progressive rock music without the confines of a production team and what normally belongs on the radio. It has been said to have reminisce of 70s prog bands with modern heavy metal grit and backbone. Fronted by amazing vocal talent, well placed guitar and piano melodies atop a bittersweet and slightly creepy overall feeling, Tattoo the Devil has it’s own new breed of rock music.

Panzer was first formed in the Spring of 2009. The band first jammed on covers whilst searching for a steady bassist and solidifying their goals. After a few months Billy McCartney was added to the band and the band spent the next several months writing and rehearsing original material in addition to a shrinking list of cover tunes. The band began recording a self-produced demo of four original tracks in late February 2010, which was finished in late March. After a brief hiatus over the summer, the band has since been writing more material, and playing gigs. There are plans to re-record the demo in December 2010 and possibly record a full-length in Spring 2011.