#spinefarm

[treble-maker1212]

How Sumerian Records fumbled Black Veil Brides

Sumerian Records had an opportunity of a lifetime in 2019. They were a small, indie label with a few popular bands signed to them(Asking Alexandria, Palaye Royale, Bad Omens, Poppy, Etc) Sumerian was an interesting choice for BVB when their contract with Republic was up. Going from a major label to an indie one? It was crazy, but at the time, for a lot of fans including myself, felt it was the best choice for the band. Sumerian had four things going for them that made them a shoe in

1: they are a metal core/rock label that seemed to be artist focused.

That was a big thing for BVB seeing as they were ignored and put on the back burner by their previous label because frankly, republic had no clue what to do with a rock band.

2: a personal connection with the ceo.

A lot of people mainly know Ash Avildsons connection to the band via American Satan and Paradise City seeing as Andy starred in both, but in reality, their connection goes back to the beginning of BVB's career. Ash was their first booking agent. He had been a supporter of the band before they ever got popular so I'm sure they felt a sense of security signing with someone who was there from day 1.

3: connections to artists signed to Sumerian.

BVB has done a million tours with Asking Alexandria, who was one of the first artists to sign with Sumerian and Lilith Czar had signed to Sumerian almost two years before BVB did. This was one of the first times Lilith seemed to be in an environment where she could flourish after years of being independent so I'm sure that didn't hurt at all when the band was making the decision to sign.

4: they let BVB release an ep under them before signing.

Sumerian gave them the reigns. They allowed BVB to test the waters and really see if the label was a good fit for them. This was a big thing and it was one of the first things I noticed and liked about Sumerian. It seemed like they genuinely wanted what was best for the band and that meant the world to us fans.

That was the rise of BVB's relationship with Sumerian Records. Now we get to the fall.

There are many reasons why I believe BVB left Sumerian Records, but these are the main ones.

1: lack of funds.

BVB has always been a grandiose band. Their concepts are bigger than life and extravagant. It was easy to make things happen with a major label that didn't know what to do with you. All they did was throw money at the band and tell them to figure it out themselves so BVB was a DIY band with a massive budget. With Sumerian, they had more help, but with no funds. Andy directed several of the music videos himself, he made costumes, he made set props and helped with makeup, set dressing and editing. One of the music videos(fall eternal) was canceled at the last second due to budget cuts which meant Andy destroying his Scarlet Cross costume for nothing. They also didn't release any sort of merch for the Mourning ep(but suddenly have the money to release a vinyl for it now that BVB is gone🤨). The last music video for The Phantom Tomorrow(Born Again) and I believe both videos for the Mourning ep(Devil and Savior II) were paid for out of pocket by BVB themselves. This, I believe was due to Sumerian focusing their funds on trending bands on their labels which leads to my next part.

2: favoring trending bands

This was a complaint made by many artists that have now subsequently left the label. Sumerian only cares about what's popping off on tiktok. When Bad Omens blew up on there, suddenly that was the only band that was getting any promotion on their social medias. That came to a cost for every other artist on their label. Palaye Royales record, Fever Dream was pushed back nearly two years, tours were randomly canceled for multiple bands(including Bad Omens before they popped off on tiktok) and Lilith Czar revealed in an interview last year that the last two tours she did before leaving Sumerian were paid for completely out of pocket.

Two north American tours.

Paid for out of pocket.

She revealed that she actually left the label the same year that her album Created From Filth and Dust came out because of the treatment.

Back to BVB tho.

It wasn't like the music that BVB was releasing under the label was bombing or that their tours weren't doing well. Quite the opposite. They had the highest charting singles of their career and were playing massive tours and sold out shows. BVB was flourishing... but they weren't trending. Sumerian claimed to be a label by artists for artists, but completely abandoned any band that didn't have songs on tiktok. BVB is not a social media band. They've never been. Sure, back in the MySpace days, they promoted a lot, but they are not from this new generation of bands having to lipsync to their own songs on their phones just so their label will let them release a new single.

BVB got maybe two posts about the Mourning ep when it was released. That was it.

3: Ash Avildson is actually insane lol

Anyone who is a fan of any Sumerian bands and followed Sumerian probably remembers the anti-vax rant that Ash went on using all of Sumerians socials instead of his own. It was actually concerning. It went on for three or four days. He posted over and over, commented on other people's posts calling out the behavior, said that it was "punk" to not get a covid vaccine(okay, bud). It was insane. Then there were rumors of him refusing to start filming season two of Paradise City until vaccine mandates were removed from film sets(i fully believe that) and a lot of rumors of abuse and harassment from at least one former employee. This was a few months before BVB released their cover of the Sisters of Mercy song Temple of Love which was released under their new label Spinefarm. I'm sure BVB had more than likely already left by then, but I'm sure it cemented their choice.

Now, BVB are with a fantastic label that actually promote them, fund them and seemingly treat them great. Sumerian took them for granted and subsequently lost them to a competing label(same vibe as treating your hot girlfriend like shit and being shocked that they moved on to the guy she told you not worry about). Sumerian has since lost multiple artists including Asking Alexandria and Lilith Czar. I'm happy to see BVB in an environment where they are treated with respect and given the resources they deserve.

[danzameccanica]

Fra i 14 e i 16 c’era un momento in cui fra i miei amici andava di moda Hatebreeder dei Children of Bodom; anche a quei 2-3 che ascoltavano dance o che non avevano una particolare tendenza alla musica. Ricordo ancora che quando stavamo nelle sale dell’oratorio a muovere i primi passi verso le ragazze, le birre e le sigarette c’era questa colonna sonora. Fra lo scambio dei diari e le partite a biliardino, fra un CD del Red Zone e un Festivalbar poteva capitare che ben due o tre persone volessere ascoltare Hatebreeder allo stereo. Non so se perché era un album che gasava, che ti pompava e spronava con le chitarre e le tastiere; non so se perché all’epoca questo disco doveva per forza riempire la casella di “musica estrema” sulla quale tutti volevano per forza transitare. Ricordo chiaramente che questo album è stato il collante col quale legai con Nico, col quale conobbi il Motta e, più tardi, proprio a causa di queste ondate incontrollate di popolarità i Children diventarono anche la mia nemesi: non li ascoltai per anni perché avevo iniziato a reputarli dei baracconi, degli ubriaconi venduti.

Hatebreeder è un disco power metal cantato il stile black metal. Non ci piove, se non per il fatto che negli ultimi anni tutte le etichette propendano per un power metal mischiato al death metal. Prendete gli Stratovarius o i Nightwish e metteteci Alexi Laiho che usa degli screaming. Ma cavoli, vi assicuro che ascoltare praticamente in diretta questo disco era di una libidine davvero pazzesco; non riesco a ricordare e a contare le volte che seduto in camera a risuonare con la chitarra "Bed of Razors," all’epoca considerata una delle canzoni più virtuose che riuscivo a capire, metabolizzare, riproporre. Le chitarre di Alexander Kuoppala sono quasi tutte in stile speed-thrash con palm mute mentre il vero protagonista, virtuoso, bello e dannato (all’epoca visto come il fratello imbastardito di Ville Valo degli HIM) �� Alexi Laiho con le sue mani velocissime che duettano sempre alle tastiere di Janne Warman; esattamente come facevano i Deep Purple dal vivo ora i Children of Bodom fanno di queste gare taglienti come rasoi le colonne portanti della loro struttura. Alcune scale sono super catchy, quasi da videogame. "Hatebreeder", "Silent Night Bodom Night" e "Warheart" sono diventate fra le canzoni più riuscite dei Bodom e fra le più amate dai fan: viste e riviste centinaia di volte nel DVD del Tokyo Warhearts. Mentre l’omonima traccia è una delle mie preferite di sempre che per qualche motivo non è mai rientrata nelle scalette della band. Questo album meraviglioso si chiude con "Downfall", probabilmente il miglior brano che i Children of Bodom abbiano mai composto, un brano che con le sue scale e le sue battles mi riporta davvero ai primi anni 2000, a quando lo ascoltavo a ripetizione nel walkman per andare la mattina presto in stazione, per andare dalle gemelle di Fratta, per scappare nei paesi limitrofi a trovare i primi compagni di liceo. Intorno al 2000 Hatebreeder (e il disco uscito dopo) ha davvero fatto parte della colonna sonora di un paio di anni della mia vita facendo da sfondo ad amicizie che se ne andavano e ad altre che venivano. Tutte sulle sottilissime lame della chitarra di Alexi Laiho.

[hornsofash]

I'm so excited--I ordered the gray mineral wash TPWBYT hoodie from Spinefarm, and it arrived today!! It looks great and feels super soft on the inside, I can't wait to wash it and try it on! If anyone wants to see it, I'll try to figure out how to take some decent photos! 🩶🩶

[allaboutherock2011]

Genre-bending legends earthtone9 celebrate 25th anniversary of ArcTanGent with special tour

Iconic British metal pioneers earthtone9 are set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their groundbreaking album ArcTanGent with a special tour across the UK and Ireland this autumn, where they will perform the album in full. Comments vocalist Karl Middleton, “These 25th anniversary ArcTanGent shows are going to be truly special, and a real celebration. We’re going to play ArcTanGent in full on…

[slrmagazine]

WHILE SHE SLEEPS Announces North American Tour for April 2025

WHILE SHE SLEEPS Announces North American Tour for April 2025. #whileshesleeps @whileshesleeps

WHILE SHE SLEEPS have announced a new North American Tour to support their most recent Spinefarm release, ‘Self Hell.’ The tour is supported by Bury Tomorrow with openers Vended. Dates kick off in Cleveland, OH on April 2nd at The Roxy and close out on the 30th in Charlotte, NC at The Underground. A full list of dates is below. Presales begin Thursday, December 12th at 10 AM local time; general…

[gbhbl]

Album Review: Winterfylleth – The Imperious Horizon (Candlelight / Spinefarm)

Reflecting a world that is dark and dangerously fractured, The Imperious Horizon finds Winterfylleth in a much bleaker mood. Even if a new release from this iconic black metal band makes everything feel that little brighter.

Four years since the release of their critically acclaimed 7th album, ‘The Reckoning Dawn’, British black metal forerunners Winterfylleth return to the fray with their new album, ‘The Imperious Horizon’ on 13th September via Candlelight/Spinefarm. Photo Credit: Lee Barrett Reflecting a world that is dark and dangerously fractured, The Imperious Horizon finds Winterfylleth in a much bleaker mood.…

[thephotopitmagazine]

DAYSEEKER ANNOUNCE SPRING 2024 HEADLINE TOUR POLARIS, RAIN CITY DRIVE, AVOID, + AYRON JONES ALSO SET TO APPEAR ON SELECT DATES BAND PERFORMING AT SEVERAL KEY FESTIVALS TOUR KICKS OFF ON APRIL 19 IN TAMPA

  DAYSEEKER ANNOUNCE SPRING 2024 HEADLINE TOUR POLARIS, RAIN CITY DRIVE, AVOID, + AYRON JONES ALSO SET TO APPEAR ON SELECT DATES BAND PERFORMING AT SEVERAL KEY FESTIVALS TOUR KICKS OFF ON APRIL 19 IN TAMPA   Southern California’s DAYSEEKER will embark on a headline tour this spring. The tour kicks off April 19 in Tampa and runs through May 25 in San Diego. All dates are below, including key…

[vagueconfusion]

[triste-guillotine]

DECEMBER MOON "Source of Origin" CD 1996 ('...The light of the August sun... Fades to a December Moon...')

1. Exaltation of Power 2. You Can't Bless the Damned 3. Nocturnal Transcendency 4. Winter Sunset 5. Black Millenium 6. The Apparition of Mother Earth 7. Twinned With Destiny 8. An Empty Gesture

"I swoon as I ascend this lifeless body Thoughts perish as I pass between worlds, Confused I direct my eyes, perchance to see... With sorrow I remember lost surroundings, The taste of wonder collapsed to solemnity, Meanings fade and wither in my unholy tomb

My abundance being my only regret, Brighter than life yet infinity damned, To be or not is no longer any question ! I bid welcome to the realm of conception Unable to realise my bleak surroundings, The further I reach, the darker I shine, And nothing else reveals...

Exposing my force to swirling void, Outstretched hands of no avail, I yearn for none of this cold desolation As I transcend my present state Images of my former existence, Return again to tease my being I see despondency from my only portal...

Through helplessness I find security, This conciousness is neverending... As my minds eye twists into ecstasy All is dark and dismally blessed... In this castle I am lord, And here I shall reign forevermore, Tomorrows dreams... Sleep perchance to dream !"

[metalsongoftheday]

Tuesday, June 25: He is Legend, "Air Raid"

He is Legend had been low-key plying their trade over four records on tiny labels before Spinefarm gave them a slightly larger platform for few, and while the band’s approach hadn’t altered significantly, “Air Raid” presented greater clarity of focus thanks to the bigger budget supporting Adam “Nolly” Getgood’s mix.  Schuylar Croom had likewise arguably matured as a vocalist, more seamlessly transitioning between haunting clean humming groans to ornery shrieking, as the music ebbed and flowed.  In many ways the band had been working towards this moment, homing their chops over a series of pleasurable albeit choppy records to show how much more they could accomplish if they were given just a little more to work with.

[thepermanentrainpress]

Gallery: dayseeker @ Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, BC Date: April 26, 2023 Photographed by: Josh Papalia

[theringmasterreview]

Raging Speedhorn - Night Wolf

pic Andy Ford There is no introduction needed when it comes to imposing heavyweight metallers RAGING SPEEDHORN, a band who has been to the fore, indeed been an inspiring presence in the UK sludge/groove rock landscape for a long time. This march sees the sextet release their new album in the feral shape of Night Wolf and after 25 years plus of helping shape the journey of British metal it is…

[slrmagazine]

ELECTRIC WIZARD to Release Double Live Album 'Black Magic Rituals and Perversions Vol. 1' on December 13, 2024 via Spinefarm

ELECTRIC WIZARD to Release Double Live Album 'Black Magic Rituals and Perversions Vol. 1' on December 13, 2024 via Spinefarm. #electricwizard @electricwizard0 @Spinefarm

Spinefarm has confirmed that legendary British doom outfit, ELECTRIC WIZARD, will release ‘Black Magic Rituals and Perversions Vol. 1,’ their new 2-disc live-to-tape album, on December 13, 2024. Pre-orders are now live HERE. Recorded onto a 16-track tape machine, capturing their essence and malevolence, ‘Black Magic Rituals and Perversions Vol. 1‘ is as heavy as can be expected from The…

[gbhbl]

Album Review: A Chapter Called Children of Bodom by Children of Bodom (Spinefarm Records)

The curtain closes on the story of Children of Bodom with the final chapter, A Chapter Called Children of Bodom. The Finnish melodic death metal band will release the closing album of their career, a live recording from their final show at Helsinki Ice Hall in 2019, on 15th December via Spinefarm Records. Children of Bodom need no introduction really, but, just in case, they were a Finnish…

[thephotopitmagazine]

SLEEP TOKEN ANNOUNCE SPRING 2024 TOUR

  LISTEN TO “TAKE ME BACK TO EDEN” ALBUM   SLEEP TOKEN ANNOUNCE SPRING 2024 TOUR RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL + RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE SHOWS SOLD OUT WITHIN MINUTES TOUR TO FEATURE SPECIAL GUEST EMPIRE STATE BASTARD   Sleep Token are pleased to announce their Spring 2024 headline North American tour.  These dates are in addition to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Radio City Music Hall dates, which were…

[horrorpatch]

Doom Metal Icons ELECTRIC WIZARD To Release Double Live Album, 'Black Magic Rituals and Perversions Vol. 1' This December!