HAYLEY JANE

HEAVEN MALONE

HEAVEN MALONE of Chicago Suicide Club

HELLO VICTOR

HOLDFAST

HOOD SMOKE

“Bryan Doherty bends the bass into something rarely heard, but entirely worth the price of admission.” So says All Music Guide, and they’re right: Much like Doherty’s brilliant bass playing, his band Hood Smoke blends soul and pop a la Rufus, David Byrne and The Band. Hood Smoke’s line-up reads like a “who’s who” of Chicago music masters, all of whom have played with everyone from Quincy Jones to Koko Taylor to Steve Coleman and Howard Levy. Rising star Sarah Marie Young’s voice will no doubt turn heads with its uncanny combination of grit and precision. Her voice and her bandmates’ undeniable chops make Hood Smoke’s album, Laid Up In Ordinary, a must-hear release of 2013.

I DECLINE

The words “I Decline” represent a middle finger to the mediocrity in the world of modern hard rock and metal music.  Fusing this creed with the attitude of Punk, riff-laden hooks of Classic and Stoner Rock, and the fury of Heavy Metal, I Decline crafts its own hybrid of hard-edged music that they define as the “New Wave of American Punk Metal” (NWOAPM).  In 2010, I Decline released their 3rd full-length album Time To Shine, a bombastic onslaught of fist in the air anthems for a blue-collar society that touches upon mortality, desolation, and broken relationships.  Time To Shine is a metaphor to the aftermath of 9/11 and the personal struggles we face as humans in this chaotic world, while searching for new hope.  During their fourteen-year history in the Chicago music scene, I Decline has provided support alongside Nick Oliveri (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, Mondo Generator), Joe Preston’s “Thrones” (Melvins, High On Fire, Sunn O))), Earth), Toxic Holocaust (Relapse), Holy Grail (Prosthetic), and Krum Bums (Century Media).

IAN LEITH

DINNER AT THE THOMPSONS

DIRK QUINN

Philly based jazz/funk guitarist Dirk Quinn has been spending the past decade performing and developing his own unique style of music. Having just released his sophomore album, “QuinnTet,” Quinn’s musical prowess appears as prominent as ever. Drawing inspiration from music of all types, his solo acoustic sound has been compared to the guitar “pyrotechnics” of Keller Williams and Michael Hedges, while his full band compositions bear resemblances that range from the honest, urban funk of Soulive to the brave experimentation of Medeski, Martin and Wood. Since the inception of the Dirk Quinn Band at the beginning of 2007, the QuinnTet has landed some prestigious bookings around the region, all the while gaining a strong fanbase with its’ high energy live performances.

DIRT MERCHANTS

District 97

DISTRICT 97

District 97 is undoubtedly the most musically adventurous rock band in the world to feature an American Idol Top 10 Female Finalist. Formed in the Fall of 2006 by drummer/primary composer Jonathan Schang, keyboardist Rob Clearfield, bassist Patrick Mulcahy and guitarist Sam Krahn, the band drew upon influences from heavy metal to avant-garde jazz. The foursome from Chicago honed a no-holds barred style of eclectic and intricate Instrumental Rock before deciding the right vocalist was needed to complement their sound: enter 2007 American Idol Top 10 Female Finalist, Leslie Hunt. With a look, sound, and stage presence comparable to a young Ann Wilson from Heart, Leslie’s dynamic performances pushed the band into a new direction that forged a unique marriage between accessible, catchy vocal melodies and an adventurous instrumental prowess. She was followed shortly thereafter by one of Chicago’s finest guitarists, Jim Tashjian. With this new blend of charisma and stellar musicianship in place, their live shows over the past several years at festivals such as RoSfest, Prog Dreams II and V, and numerous appearances across the USA, UK and Europe cemented the band as a force to be reckoned with onstage as well as in the recording studio.

Hybrid Child, the band’s 2010 debut on record label Laser’s Edge, immediately made a big impression worldwide. The album garnered praise such as “District 97 is a wildly ambitious progressive-rock group whose youth belies its accomplishments onstage and on its new Hybrid Child CD” (Jim Derogatis of NPR’s “Sound Opinions” and Rolling Stone Magazine). The release of 2012’s critically-acclaimed followup Trouble With Machines proved the band was the real deal. They had attracted the attention of legendary bassist and vocalist John Wetton (King Crimson/UK/Asia), who sang the role of Chicago serial killer H.H. Holmes on Schang’s “The Perfect Young Man.” With the collaboration heralded as a “tour de force” (dprp.net), the band and Wetton joined forces in 2013 for tours of both Europe and the US, later documented on 2014’s live release, One More Red Night: Live in Chicago. 2013 also saw the band nominated for a Breakthrough Artist Award by Prog Magazine. Rather than rest on their laurels, District 97 took to the studio in 2014 to record the new material they’d been honing at home and on the road. The resulting album, In Vaults (released June 2015), continued and accelerated the upward trajectory of great songwriting and incredible musicianship that had become their hallmark.

In August 2015, Rob Clearfield and Patrick Mulcahy left the group and were succeeded by Andrew Lawrence and TIm Seisser, respectively. The new lineup debuted in highly successful tours across Europe and North America in 2016 and 2017, with highlights including joining the trailblazing prog rock band Yes on their Cruise To The Edge and supporting Pain of Salvation on the In The Passing Light Of Day North American tour. In 2016. District 97 launched the Inside The Vault Club via their website, a monthly subscription series featuring exclusive audio and video downloads, as well as physical releases, the first of which being their stunning Live At De Boerderij DVD. They joined the Dave Kerzner Band for the joint STATIC VAULTS US tour in Fall 2017, and ended the year with a pair of shows with the NYC-based Consider The Source.

2018 saw the band complete a much-lauded North American 10th Anniversary Tour, as well as completing tracking for Screens, their highly-anticipated fourth studio album, and first with the new lineup. Released October 2019 through the UK’s venerable record label Cherry Red, the band featured music from it to great acclaim on Cruise To The Edge, as well as Marillion Montreal Weekend, Seaprog, Summer’s End, and other dates throughout North America, UK, and Europe. One listen perfectly illustrates why iconic drummer Bill Bruford (Yes/King Crimson/Genesis) told Rolling Stone Magazine (10/29/19), “There’s a great band out of Chicago called District 97, who are very good, and they’re here in the U.K. right now. And you know, it’s the next generation of so-called progressive guys who played much better than we ever played.” Mike Portnoy (drummer extraordinaire of Dream Theater/Transatlantic/Liquid Tension Experiment) adds “District 97 continue to prove to be one of the most unique bands in modern Prog!”

The COVID-19 pandemic did not stop the band from innovating. Their Virtual Screening Tour and stunning Ghost Girl animated short film kept them at the top of the prog rock heap. The sprawling double-disc live album Screenplay  (2021) delighted music fans worldwide and served as a preface to live dates in the latter half of 2021 and 2022. With new music having gestated during and following the pandemic, their fifth studio album Stay for the Ending (released October 2023 via Spirit of Unicorn Music) has been widely acclaimed as their greatest work to date. 

DIVIDE

DJ BARBARA BUTCH & UNISEXY/DJS SECRET TRIANGLE

DJ HAPPY

DJ RTC

DK

DON TAKANO

DOUBLE TICKET

Doug James & The Pocket

DOUG JAMES & THE POCKET

You probably want to know who we are, right? Well, we make music that matters to us – part blues, part funk, part r&b, part rock. We play real loose with the proportions, though.

In 2010, former Chicago Dee Jay Doug James recruited a veteran band of Chicago musicians to form Doug James and The Pocket. Since then we’ve been tearing through Chicagoland with shows at the House of Blues, Buddy Guy’s legends, the Hard Rock Cafe, Reggies, Harlem Ave Lounge, the Chicago Blues Fest, Ribfest and other venues. We finally captured our energy in a newly released cd “Leg Up”, available for download on itunes, cd baby, amazon, google plus and on bandcamp. Our music can also be heard all over the world on jango & spotify. We’ve appeared on WGN tv-9’s midday music show as well as frequent guests on the Hambone Blues radio show on wcdb 90.9Fm.

We hope that when you listen to us you dance a lot, laugh some, and yes, maybe even think some. That’s what we’re all about. Hope to see you at the next dance.

THE DOWN FI

Craig Bell was an original member of the highly influential Cleveland, Ohio punk band Rocket From The Tombs in the Mid 1970’s. Heralded as an important protopunk group, they were little known during their brief lifetime, though various members later achieved renown in Pere Ubu and the Dead Boys. Craig, meanwhile, migrated to the East Coast where he founded the bands Saucers, The Plan, & The Bell System in the fertile Connecticut music scene of the late 70’s & 80’s. Now living in Indianapolis, Craig has enlisted some of your favorite local degenerates, and fine musicians all, from The Dockers, Order of the Black Hand, The Relatives, and Hypnotic Velvet Propellers. We play old-old school style punk from the time before mohawks & niches. Craig describes their style as “enthusiastically skeptical”. Have a listen….

DREADNOUGHT

Nestled among the Rocky Mountains, it’s hard to escape the influence of nature in Colorado. Maybe they didn’t record in the woods or on the high seas, but Denver outfit Dreadnought breathes fresh air through extreme music like a torrential force of nature nonetheless.

DREW BLOMQUIST

DRUG HONKEY

The first incarnation of Drug Honkey arose in 1997 in the form of Chronic Illogic. Paul Gillis (Honkey Head) having come from the death metal outfits Crematorium & Embodied(which had become Gorgasm by this time) & Adam Smith(BH Honkey) emerging from the drum ‘n’ bass & rave scene in Chicago looked to meld  various styles into one & create something different & original.
Struggles with members & creative differences led to a relatively quick disintegration of Chronic Illogic. Paul & Adam moved forward in 1999 under the monicker of Drug Honkey. Their S/T full length surfaced in 2002. It was a harsh mixture of electronics & weirdness. It was also mostly a studio album as there was very little live instrumentation. Sample driven & meticulously concocted, it is an important piece of the bands history & definitely has strong points, but not something reflected upon regularly as it didn’t fully represent the direction they were destined to venture.
In 2003 it was determined that a full lineup was needed & Gabe Grosso (Hobbs) was recruited on guitar & Jason Sneed(Black Honkey) on bass. Adam concentrated solely on drums & Paul handled vocals/synths/samples. With a solid lineup the band polished their style & vision, the result being the 2005 full length “Hail Satan”. This album introduced the groups experimental/Doom sound that is still present today. It also spawned one of the bands most sought after tracks/videos, “Heroin”. After the release of “Hail Satan”, problems arose with Jason & it was decided to make a change. Ian Brown(Brown Honkey) was chosen as his replacement.
Throughout 2006 & 2007 Drug Honkey played several shows with the new & improved lineup @ several great venues in Chicago including the legendary -Metro- as well as the -Double Door- where the band recorded what would become their live unreleased EP “Quatro de Mayo”. This EP showed extreme promise for the direction the band was headed in. The track “China Black(Heroin Pt. 2)” from the EP was a massive piece of work & ended up earning a spot on their then upcoming full length “Death Dub”.
In July of 2008 the third full length “Death Dub” was released, and this showcased the band @ their dirtiest, heaviest, & most tripped out level thus far. Many great shows were played in support of the album throughout Chicago and the surrounding states in the midwest, one of the most memorable being with Today is the Day.
“Death Dub” was circulated independently quite well throughout the underground & received several great reviews all the while the band continued to play more notable shows with bands such as Buzzov*en, Indian, & Coffinworm to name a few. Throughout this period they garnered the attention of many indiviuals including Kunal Choksi, owner of Diabolical Conquest Webzine & newly formed Diabolical Conquest Records. A deal was struck between the two entities & Drug Honkey’s fourth full length “Ghost in the Fire” was released on May 15th 2012.
Since it’s release the band has promoted the album themselves, along with distros such as CM Distro & Crucial Blast. The response has been great. Several excellent reviews have surfaced for the album thus far.
With the release of their strongest album to date, things are looking better than ever for the band. Together they are in the beginning stages of writing new material with plans of releasing an EP in 2014…
“The only drug you need is Drug Honkey”

E.T. HABIT

EDDIE COHN

EDDIE SPAGHETTI

ENSIFERUM

If Black Metal and Power Metal were to ever have a child (gods forbid save this exception) it would be Ensiferum. Ensiferum uses the melodies and choral arrangements without sacrificing the thrash and black elements.

ESCAPE THE FATE

EZURATE

Pure Armafuckingeddon Soul Raping Black Metal” – the way it should be
from Chicago, IL USA

F. STOKES

FAREWELL FIGHTER

FATALIST

FILLABUSTER

We are an original 4 piece rock band from the south west suburbs of Chicago. Like any good local band we have a lot of hart and little cash. Unlike most bands however we have trouble pinning down a genera we fit into. From what are fans tell us “Fillabuster” has a sound that echos from mid 80’s underground punk up to early 90’s grunge. Our chord progressions are not intended to resemble any specific brand of music and are lyrics are deeply personal and thought out. We would like to make enough money at this to be able to quit our jobs and devote all our time to creating and performing. But the likely reality of being a struggling musician is we will forever be struggling. So we will continue to create our noise and perform simply for the love of self expression.

FOOTWORKINGZ

FORD PIER

CHICAGO DEAD BEATS

CHLOE CHARLES & ALY TARDOS

CHOCOLATE OF CHEESETOWN

Come out for the triumphant return of the ultimate tribute to the greatest rock band of our generation. We take it to the streets of Chicago, specifically the legendary stage of Reggie’s Music Joint. Call up your friends in Chicago. Make it a night. Carpool. Whatever you have to do… just don’t miss this show!

CHRIS TIRITILLI & THE PEOPLE

A Chicago musician, Chris spreads a message of positivity. He blends soul/blues/pop with the likes of John Mayer/John Legend and the guitar playing of Jimi Hendrix/SRV. He has also appeared on the “WGN Morning Show”.

CHUDA

CONDUCTING FROM THE GRAVE

COSTUME CONTEST

Crowbar

CROWBAR

The moment you hear it, you know it’s CROWBAR. Praised by Pitchfork, VICE, and Metal Hammer. Twice immortalized by Beavis and Butt-Head. The group is worshipped by the heartbroken and downtrodden – those who exorcise their demons in smoke-covered riffs of mournful devastation. A genuine band’s band, with a wide-ranging influence across multiple genres, Crowbar “helped draw up the sludge metal blueprints” (Kerrang!). Celebrating a recent 30th anniversary, Crowbar is led by one of the most beloved figures in heavy metal, riff overload Kirk Windstein. His menacing bellow and smooth drawl put resilient, unrepentant strength behind even the most somber odes to suffering.

Crowbar songs are unapologetic emotional outpourings, with a bare-knuckle resolve alongside its soul-searching vulnerability, reliably delivered with crushing heaviness. Zero and Below, which cements the band’s dense catalog as exactly one dozen studio albums deep, is the most unforgivably doomy Crowbar record since their landmark 1998 effort, Odd Fellows Rest. Zero and Below is reverently old-school, counter-balanced by a resonant melodicism that’s stunningly mature. Songs like “Chemical Gods,” “Bleeding From Every Hole,” and “It’s Always Worth The Gain” demonstrate what Crowbar does better than any other band: powerful, evocative, and crushingly heavy music.

Gargantuan-sounding career-resurgence slabs Sever The Wicked Hand (2011), Symmetry in Black (2014), and The Serpent Only Lies (2016) sits mightily alongside Crowbar classics like Time Heals Nothing (1995), comprising a robust catalog worthy of examination, dedication, and repeat listens. Songs like “Planets Collide,” “Existence Is Punishment,” and “All I have (I Gave)” are anthems as demonstrative of the sludge sound as early songs by Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth represent Thrash.

Sever The Wicked Hand introduced guitarist Matt Brunson and drummer Tommy Buckley to the Crowbar faithful. Symmetry in Black began a partnership with producer Duane Simoneaux. Rolling Stone named it as one of the 20 Best Metal Albums of 2014; Pitchfork praised it as well. Exclaim! honored The Serpent Only Lies as “another worthy album to add to Crowbar’s influential and highly revered catalog.” Rounded out by bassist Shane Wesley, Crowbar and Simoneaux work their magic repeatedly on Zero and Below. As Metal Hammer astutely observed, Crowbar “exists in a genre of one.”

 

CRUCIFORM INJECTION

Czar

CZAR

Chicago melodic doom cryptic sludge, in the key of ursa minor. Formed in 2009 from the ashes of Acumen Nation. Released 2 LPs and 1 EP on Cracknation Records, toured with Killing Joke in 2013, new album coming fall 2015. “Embraces their terse ugliness and yet they shove a lot of their bleak arrangements into elevating, cathartic pastures… they represent what’s innovative and intrepid in American underground metal.” -BLABBERMOUTH. Welcome to a depthless paradise of terror.

 

D.BESS OF PUBLIC PROPERTY

D.MEEKS & MIKEY STREETZ

D’NICK THE MICROPHONE MISFIT

DARIUS KENNEDY

Darius Kennedy is a native Chicagoan, and comedian. Raised on the South Side of Chicago, and the Northern Suburbs of Lake County, Illinois. He has studied at “Piven Theater”, “Second City Training Center”, and “Chicago Actors Studio”. He has been performing in the Midwest for nearly 20 years, opening and featuring for such notable performers as: Dwayne Kennedy, Hannibal Buress, and Josh Blue. With producing credits for “Entertainment Chicago LIVE”, “COCAINE MURDER JAM”, “Bad N Boozy”, “Neapolitan Comedy at the Store”, and “Night Night LATE Night”. He was recently performing on the “Milwaukee Comedy Festival 2019”. His album “The Ballad of Lonny Krivitz” is streaming on Spotify and ITunes, and was recently seen in the film “Tom Of Your Life” featured on Amazon Prime, iTunes, and at Chicago’s Music Box Theater.

DARRIN JAMES BAND

DARRIN JAMES BAND: THE LOVELY UGLY TRUTH

“Brooklyn singer-songwriter Darrin James touches on Robbie Robertson’s gruff soulfulness, Tom Waits’ vaudevillian menace and Paul Westerberg’s ramshackle charm…” Time Out New York

Much is known about the way music impacts the brain; very little is known about its effect on the heart. That instant, visceral sensation when a song connects is universal; while sincerity and authenticity are intangible qualities, they are always present in the positive listening experience. Darrin James has been a guitarist for 15 years and a songwriter for just under a decade, drawing on his love for blues, soul, country and other roots genres to create songs with a timeless quality. “As a songwriter, I have wanted to combine honest, dark lyrics with old school blues and a fusion of styles, to express the emotions and stories of tragic or flawed characters.” Darrin has succeeded mightily at this aim, his debut album, Thrones of Gold earned a wealth of kudos in the music press – The Deli Magazine had this to say, “The man’s got Joe Henry versatility, a crackerjack studio band and a great sense of craft…from a Lovett/Waits blues into a John Prine diatribe then rocketing off with an Elvis Costello pop gem.” The title track placed in American Songwriter’s Lyric Writing Contest with the lyrics appearing in the Nov/Dec 2006 issue. “Crazy World” was used in the segment of Emmy-nominated reality TV fave The Deadliest Catch in which the crew demonstrate advanced cases of “Bering Sea Dementia.”

The Lovely Ugly Truth is the follow up album, and it’s filled with parables that illustrate moral dilemmas and regret, outlaw stories, murder ballads and even a contemporary protest song that confronts the immigration debate. “I have always loved the saddest songs the best, so that is what I write most often,” explained James, who produced the album and assembled an ensemble of New York’s finest players, including staff from Antibalas, TV on the Radio, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Beirut and Arcade Fire. The tracks were recorded between 2007 and 2009 in numerous studios in New York by Matt Gill, who has worked with bands like Fischerspooner, Aimee Mann, The Raveonettes and Aqualung.

DAVID & GOLIATH

DAWN O’KEEFE WILLIAMS AND THE LUCKY DOGS

DEAD WINTER CARPENTERS

DECIBEL HOGG

DECIBEL HOGG is a “Rock and Roll Mutt” that tests the limits of contemporary song writing and instrumentation. The band is livin’ large, making the most of life, drinking beer and lovin’ whiskey. Decibel Hogg is well known for their extremely tight rhythmic grooves and unique vocal stylings offering a new experimental twist on the rock genre as you know it. Live shows are energy packed aimed to stimulate the entire audio and visual experience. CARPE DIEM SUCKAZ!!

DEICIDE

Twenty years ago, an underground cult movement surfaced in Tampa, Florida that revolutionized the metal world. The pioneers of this burgeoning scene, DEICIDE, are still striking fear into hearts of the masses to this day. Century Media Records are extremely proud to announce a worldwide deal with DEICIDE, one of the founding fathers of death metal and easily one of the most influential and controversial bands ever. With a relentlessly brutal sound and uncompromisingly blasphemous lyrics, DEICIDE helped set the standards for extreme metal and have maintained those standards ever since.

DEICIDE led by original members Glen Benton (vocals, bass) and Steve Asheim (drums) have been busy at Audiohammer Studios with Mark Lewis (Black Dahlia, Chimaira) and are looking at a summer ’09 release. The group have reunited with legendary guitarists Jack Owen (ex-Cannibal Corpse) and Ralph Santolla (Obituary, ex-Iced Earth, Death) and will embark on a two-week European tour in January 2009.

Benton states: “I want to say it is an honor to be an official CM artist. I look forward to working with the fine folks at CM and providing them with our style of metal. I can ensure you that what surfaces will definitely be nothing less than a total bash-your-face-in-from-start-to-finish, bastard. HAIL SATAN!!!!”

Asheim further comments: “I’m happy to be a part of the CM family and look forward to working with them. The new DEICIDE material in the works should be a good way to kick off the new deal. It’s a totally sick new record with a totally sick new label, but the same ol’ sick DEICIDE. See you all in 2009 and hold onto your balls!”

DEICIDE released their groundbreaking self-titled debut in 1990. Recorded at Tampa’s Morrisound Studio (the legendary studio where the band would go on to record all its albums), the vicious debut would soon be hailed as one of the “Top 100 Metal Albums of the 90’s” by England’s metal authority, Terrorizer Magazine. In 1992, DEICIDE followed up their debut with “Legion”, which was an instant success, further establishing their furious musical intensity and vengeful anti-Christian stance. This landmark extreme metal release secured their place at the forefront of the American death metal scene as they rapidly earned a reputation for controversy.

DEICIDE’s appearance and live antics matched the extremity of their music and lyrics. With an inverted cross branded into his forehead, Benton cast himself as the incarnation of pure evil. At shows, he was known to pull such stunts as dousing the crowds with bags full of real animal organs. DEICIDE quickly found themselves banned from clubs, boycotted by magazines, and blacklisted by Christian groups and animal-rights activists. Anti-establishment to the core, DEICIDE embodied the worst fears of the conservative masses, and loved it. Rather than shy away from controversy, DEICIDE provoked it and willingly engaged in it.

DEICIDE stormed ahead into the future, releasing numerous albums engulfed by waves of controversy, as their popularity continued to ferment within the scene. However, it was the 2006 release “The Stench of Redemption” that put the band back on the map as the leaders of the genre. This was their first album to showcase the more melodic leads of guitarists Owen and Santolla which only added to their riotous and enigmatic success. DEICIDE looks forward to taking things to the next level in 2009, promising to deliver the album of their already heralded career.

BAREFOOT FRED

BARREN EARTH

BAT MASTERSON

BEARKAT

BEARKAT, the musical progeny of multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Katy Pearson, is rich with influences of almost every musical idiom.

Born in Columbia, MO, raised in Maryland, Bearkat’s real home is on the road. She will be regularly touring and traveling this great country. With her toes dipped in the traditions of jazz, rock, old-time and the traditional harmony of Bach and the like, Bearkat weaves a new melodic tapestry from old cloth.

Bearkat started back in 2007, releasing her first full length album, “Suitcase Swimmers” in 2008. Now, with 2 albums under her belt (Releasing her EP The Happy in 2010) Bearkat will release her 3rd album, “Houses on a Hill” on September 4th, 2012. This album is truly a labor of love, Pearson and her drummer man/band mate Brian Bringelson playing all of the instruments on the record, which when they counted totaled some ridiculous number of 20 or something! Hunkering down in her parents house for 2 months and then more hunkering back in California, Bearkat and Bringelson have finally completed what feels to be Pearson’s most adventurous record to date.

Belphegor

BELPHEGOR

An uncompromising Austrian blackened death metal group, Belphegor emerged in 1993 from the ashes of the like-minded Betrayer. Led by vocalist/guitarist Helmuth Lehnerl, the band issued their debut album, The Last Supper, in 1995. Their overtly Satanic, European-style black metal eventually found favor overseas, resulting in a string of internationally charting efforts like Walpurgis Rites: Hexenwahn (2008), Blood Magick Necromance (2010), Conjuring the Dead (2014), and Totenritual (2017). Belphegor released their 12th studio album, Devils, in 2022.

Formed in 1991 under the moniker Betrayer by vocalist/bassist Maxx, guitarists Helmuth and Sigurd, and drummer Chris, the band quickly made inroads in their Austrian homeland. They adopted the name Belphegor (one of the seven princes of Hell) in 1993 and issued a demo, Bloodbath in Paradise. Maxx left the group shortly after that, allowing Helmuth to take over vocal duties. A re-tooled lineup that saw the addition of bassist Mario “Marius” Klausner converged in 1995 to release the band’s first studio album, The Last Supper, which was reissued by — it was later reissued by with six bonus tracks (some from their rare 1994 Obscure and Deep EP). Blutsabbath (1997) and Necrodaemon Terrorsathan (2000) were released via , and in 2003 Belphegor inked a deal with for their fourth studio long-player, Lucifer Incestus.

Arriving in 2005, Goatreich-Fleshcult would be the band’s last outing for the label, as the following year saw them move to and issue Pestapokalypse VI –- by this time, Helmuth was the last original member remaining. Released in 2008, Bondage Goat Zombie was partly inspired by the writings of the Marquis de Sade, while 2009’s Walpurgis Rites: Hexenwahn cited the history of witches as its inspiration. Both albums appeared on the German and Austrian charts, with the latter effort racking up sales in the U.S. Blood Magick Necromance (2011) followed a similar narrative path and was the first Belphegor release to chart in the United States. 2014’s acclaimed Conjuring the Dead, which Erik Rutan recorded at Mana Recording Studios in Florida, became the band’s highest-charting effort to date. The merciless and bludgeoning Totenritual appeared in 2017, followed by the equally unrelenting Devils, the extreme metal veterans’ 12th long-player, in 2022. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia & James Christopher Monger, Rovi

BIG SEAN

BLACK ANVIL

BLACK BERET

Black Milk

BLACK MILK

As one of the most celebrated producers and rappers of his generation of hip-hop artists, Black Milk has conditioned fans and critics to expect the unexpected with each release. Few producers have earned the notoriety and respect he has as a musician, and when that is coupled with commanding talent as an emcee, it’s no surprise that his solo releases are met with exalted anticipation. His forthcoming full-length album If There’s A Hell Below continues Black’s trend of releasing material that maintains his signature sound while pushing it into new territory.

With more than a decade of industry experience and a rich catalog of recordings, Black Milk has transitioned from one of hip-hop’s young rising stars to a veteran with a uniquely well-rounded pedigree. After scoring his first production credit for Slum Village as a teenager in 2002, he eventually worked closely with the group and co-produced much of their two following albums. His self-released, full-length project Sound of the City (2005) led to his first record deal, and he began to gain international attention for the soul-sample driven style on his proper solo debut Popular Demand (2007). Four solo rap albums (Tronic, Album of the Year, No Poison No Paradise and Glitches In The Break), an instrumental album (Synth or Soul), numerous collaboration albums (Caltroit with Bishop Lamont, The Set Up with Fat Ray, Black and Brown with Danny Brown, Random Axe with Sean Price and Guilty Simpson and Burning Stones with Mel), and 2 singles with Jack White later, Black Milk remains one of hip-hop’s most consistent artists.

Bringing his numerous recordings to life with live band Nat Turner, Black Milk has also been recognized as a genuine and poised performer, one of hip-hop and music’s most acclaimed live acts.