New albums on Metal Blade Records.

Accuser reveals details for new self-titled album.

On November 13th, Accuser will release their new self-titled album via Metal Blade Records. For a preview of Accuser, a performance video for the first single, “Phantom Graves”, can be viewed at: metalblade.com/accuser – where the record can also be pre-ordered in the following formats: digipak-CD (incl. bonus track) / 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive) / golden brown marbled vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 200 copies) / ivory – beige – grey marbled vinyl (Limited to 200 copies) / gold – black melt vinyl (Kings Road exclusive – limited to 100 copies).

Since they began flying the flag for German thrash in the 80s, Accuser have gone on to prove themselves one of the most enduring forces in global metal. With eleven full-lengths behind them, they return in 2020 with their latest masterwork: a blistering collection that captures everything that makes the band so vital, produced by longtime collaborator Martin Buchwalter (who has worked on five Accuser albums) and mastered by Dan Swanö. “You stay fresh through curiosity,” states vocalist/guitarist Frank Thoms. “Writing new songs keeps you fresh, and it is always exciting how things develop and how the listener reacts to them afterwards. This process never gets boring. It is always exciting and invites you to try new things.” The result is a dynamic album that is very much rooted in thrash, but still takes the listener through various moods and styles, further cementing Accuser‘s status as leaders, not followers.

The return of lead guitarist René Schütz to the band’s ranks – who appeared on multiple Accuser records prior to 2011 – only served to up the ante on Accuser. “We are very, very happy to have him back in the band, and as you will be able to hear, his leads are definitely over the top. From my perspective, he is one of the very, very few thrash metal guitarists who are able to combine technique and feeling in a proper way.” With writing for the new record commencing as soon as 2018’s The Mastery was completed, Thoms pushed himself until he was in “100% concentration mode”, knowing he is on the right path when he forgets his daily routine and normal life falls away. With no structure or plan envisaged, the songs came together naturally, as they always have. “The Accuser sound is in our DNA, and at the end of the day, it is our own blend of thrash metal. To be honest, that’s what I like best during the process of making a record, seeing how the music develops and how the album is taking shape.” The shape Accuser took is definitely versatile, and perhaps sounds simpler than it actually is. “We managed to make well thought-out songs sound simple. Crazy things don’t seem like a disturbance or a foreign body. In addition, we have inconspicuously processed various genres of metal. Ultimately, we just tried to offer the essence of the band, the groove from ‘Repent’ (1992), the riffs in the veins of ‘Who Dominates Who’ (1989), plus structures that could be found on the first album ‘The Conviction’ (1987) and stylistics that could be from ‘Reflections’ (1994) or ‘Taken By The Throat’ (1995) – everything put together in catchy songs.”

The combination of these elements that shout back to earlier Accuser releases – without repeating or copying themselves – alongside the return of Schütz, led Thoms to believe this album “must be called Accuser“.

‘Accuser’ track-listing: 1. Misled Obedience 2. Phantom Graves 3. Temple of All 4. Lux in Tenebris 5. Be None the Wiser 6. Rethink 7. Psychocision 8. Contamination 9. The Eliminator 10. Seven Lives 11. A Cycle’s End

Accuser line-up: Frank Thoms – vocals, guitars / René Schütz – guitars / Frank Kimpel – bass / Olli Fechner – drums

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Harlott reveals details for new album, ‘Detritus of the Final Age’.

On November 13th, Harlott will release their new album, Detritus of the Final Age, via Metal Blade Records. For a preview of Detritus of the Final Age, the first single, “As We Breach”, can be heard now at: metalblade.com/harlott – where the record can also be pre-ordered in the following formats: digipak-CD / 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive) / toxic viole(n)t marbled vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 200 copies) / polluted earth melt vinyl (Kings Road exclusive – limited to 100 copies) / contaminated yellow – green marbled vinyl (US exclusive).

More than 30 years after its inception, thrash refuses to die, and with Australia’s Harlott stoking the fires, the genre is in very good hands. Returning with the follow up to 2017’s mighty Extinction, Detritus Of The Final Age sees them continuing to fight the good fight, delivering a collection of serrated riffs, rampant rhythmic battery and bilious lyrics, hitting hard in all the right places. “For the first time ever, I went into this album with a blank slate,” says vocalist/guitarist Andrew Hudson. “No ideas or requirements, just an empty record ready to be filled with whatever took me. Obviously thrash metal is the wheelhouse of what we do, and it came out pretty thrashy, but it was great to be able to set that aside and explore other avenues.” The result is perhaps the band’s most dynamic release, while holding on tight to that signature Harlott sound that has drawn in a legion of fans from around the world.

Helping to realize the new record, the band’s ranks were refreshed with two new members, Glen Trayhern on drums and Leigh Bartley on guitar. “Both bring their own skills and abilities as well as fresh enthusiasm and ideas. Glen is an absolute machine on the kit and lays a rock solid foundation for us to play to, and Leigh is a weapon on the guitar and such a unique lead writer. I couldn’t have had a better ensemble for this release, and the live show is as violent as ever.” Spending longer writing the record than any of its predecessors, for more than a year Hudson worked on it, experimenting with ideas and styles. Determined to make a record that he would want to listen to – and proudly drawing inspiration from the many bands that have shaped the genre ahead of them – it was integral that he was proud of everything included on the record, and he focused on every aspect of the songs. “Whether its lyrics or riffs or breakdowns, I always make sure that every song has at least one bit that makes you go ‘fuck yeeeeah’. I don’t like the idea of thinking a song or line is ‘good enough’, so I try to make sure the elements of the song are strong enough for them to stand alone outside of the ensemble that they are part of.” The result is “thrash metal with a bit of darkness, a bit of sorrow, a bit of melody and a few hooks thrown in for good measure,” something that Harlott fans will recognize while surely drawing in new listeners.

Detritus of the Final Age track-listing: 1. As We Breach 2. Idol Minded 3. Bring on the War 4. Detritus of the Final Age 5. Prime Evil 6. Nemesis 7. Slaughter 8. Grief 9. Miserere of the Dead 10. The Time to Kill Is Now