Allegaeon

Allegaeon (pronounced: uh-lee-juhn) was formed in 2008 by guitar player Ryan Glisan. Soon thereafter joined the classically trained guitarist Greg Burgess, vocalist Ezra Haynes and bassist Corey Archuleta to round out and form what people have come to know now as the Colorado Kings of Melodic Metal. In 2008, Allegaeon released their 4 song, self-titled EP and quickly gained attention from the local, national and international metal fans as well as Metal Blade records. In 2009, barely a year after releasing their first EP to the world, Allegaeon agreed to a deal with Metal Blade Records and thus began their relationship and Allegaeon’s entry into the ever expanding metal community.

2010 brought Allegaeon’s debut album Fragments of Form and Function (FOFAF). FOFAF was recorded in Denver at Flatline Audio with Dave Otero (Cephalic Carnage, Cattle Decapitation, Vale of Pnath) and was released on July 20th, 2010. Between 2010-2011, Allegaeon had a slew of singles that played in such heavy rotation on the Sirius Liquid Metal Station that they cracked the stations top 20 most played bands list. Metalstorm.net lists Allegaeon’s debut album, FOFAF, as the #4 rated death metal album of all time (by the websites rating standards). FOFAF was critically acclaimed by many and catapulted the band out of obscurity and into the ranks of metals elite new bands.

In January 2012, the band traveled to Southern California and entered Lambesis Studios with Daniel Castleman (As I Lay Dying, Impending Doom, Carnifex, Winds of Plague) to begin work on their follow up record titled Formshifter. The latest album brings forward a sound that both plays off the band’s previous releases mixed in with some new flavors that will be sure to enthrall old and new fans alike. Guitarist Greg Burgess had this to say about the new album, “With Formshifter, I think we kept the sound a lot of our fans love about us, but achieved them through certain compositional challenges. Be it style, or genre mixing, I believe that we seamlessly applied certain elements we didn’t have on Fragments, and it added a color and dimension we didn’t have before”. Guitarist Ryan Glisan adds, “This album to me indicates the future of the band but nods to our past as well. It, to me, is more of where I have envisioned our band being since I started the band a couple years back, it relies on similar songwriting structures and musicality but adds more groove and memorable riffing than our previous efforts.”

Lyrics, an oft over-looked facet of death metal is one the more interesting aspects of Allegaeon. The band crafts their prose with a bit of a different mindset – often touching on space, civilization and philosophy. Vocalist Ezra Haynes elaborates: “Lyrically speaking, this record carries more depth to me than the last. The song Twelve is actually a concept I’ve had in mind for roughly five years. It’s about a pairing of serial killers, but instead of going about it in a more typical death metal setting, such as glorifying it; I chose to point out the stupidity and unfairness of the judicial system. I’ve always wanted to write an anthem-esque type song; something that involves the listeners with present day topics. With “controlled media” as the target I feel A Path Disclosed is a perfect example of that. Tartessos: The Hidden Xenocryst is definitely one that sticks out to me. I was raised on Edgar Cayce readings and tales of Atlantis. When Greg [Burgess] and I knew we wanted to touch base on an ancient civilization, Atlantis was the logical choice. Hopefully the meaning in the songs will be “found”, if you will.”

“The new face of ruthless modern death metal.” Metal Hammer Magazine

ARKAIK

Arkaik’s debut album, “Reflections Within Dissonance”, displayed a unique marriage of superior craftsmanship and a forward-thinking promise rarely seen in a band this young. Their sophomore album, “Metamorphignition” builds on their progressive and adventurous predilections and aims to transcend the boundaries of “technical Death Metal” even as it revels in the sub-genre’s wanton brutality. The band’s founder Jared Christianson (vocals) has pooled an immensely talented core of musicians around the band in its over ten years of progression, including emerging drum phenom Alex Bent (who has already done session work for Decrepit Birth/Rings Of Saturn/Battlecross), bassist Ivan Mungia (Deeds of Flesh), and lead/rhythm guitarists Miguel Esparza and Greg Paulson. Having already toured North America supporting Black Dahlia Murder in 2011, and Cannibal Corpse in 2012, they have been touring ever since creating their own enthusiastic fanbase and pushing the genre forward. Now Arkaik has released another crushing onslaught in the form of their newest full-length release “Lucid Dawn” in late 2015, their third Unique Leader Record release to date. Looking forward with ever increasing determination the band continues to seek out new boundaries of extremity and creativity – and then annihilate them.

AENIMUS

Aenimus is a progressive extreme metal band based out of San Francisco, CA and recently signed with Nuclear Blast Records. Debut album, Transcend Reality, engineered by Nick Botelho of NB Recording. Aenimus takes elements from the best in extreme and progressive metal and seamlessly blends them together into one cohesive crushing debut album.

New album Dreamcatcher out now on Nuclear Blast Records.

SUMMONING THE LICH

Taking inspiration from the best elements of Lord of the Rings, Magic The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and Adventure Time, and wrapping it up in a fantastical death metal parcel, SUMMONING THE LICH has an attention to detail and commitment to storytelling that is second to none. United In Chaos tells the tale of the rise of the Lich and fall of the Kingdom Rodor – and the spread of his wicked influence across the land as his power grows.

SUMMONING THE LICH’s debut album follows a well-received, self-titled demo and live dates alongside heavy-hitters such as Origin, Beneath The Massacre, and several stops on the Summer Slaughter tour. Having honed their craft, they entered Sicktones Studios studio with producer Jack Daniels in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in September 2019. With mastering completed by John Douglass, the result is a technical, abrasive journey through fantasy-driven, modern death metal.

On United In Chaos, SUMMONING THE LICH haven’t just championed a fantasy world, they’ve created one in their own vision; this release marking merely the first chapter in a trilogy of albums that explores the outer limits of their imaginations. By inserting their storytelling chops into songs crammed with memorable hooks and meaty riffs, SUMMONING THE LICH have invited listeners to roll the dice and join the adventure.