October releases from Metal Assault Records

Zych’s Dante’s Inferno Part I will be released on October 22, 2021. Photo: Metal Assault Records.

Happy October, heavy metal fans! Here are this month’s upcoming new releases from Metal Assault Records. (Metal Assault Records, 2021)

ZYCH
Solo artist Zych’s eponymous debut album, the epic progressive power masterpiece Dante’s Inferno Part I, will be released October 22 via Metal Assault Records. The album’s second single “Canto V – Lust” is now live, along with an awe-inspiring guitar play through video. Pre-orders for the album (digital, CD, merch bundles) are available now.

Dante’s Inferno Part I will begin a series of solo albums dedicated to the poetry of Dante Alighieri. Unlike other albums based on Dante’s Inferno, this album goes in-depth into each canto. The album is nearly 70 minutes long with eight intense songs (No fillers). This is a progressive metal album that drops the boundaries between all genres. Every track takes on its own direction with an all-star musical cast of internationally well-known musicians. Also included for each song will be a work from a well-established visual artist. This is a heavy metal soundscape as you read the first eight cantos of The Inferno.

Dante’s Inferno Part I track listing:
1. Canto I – Overture (8:56)
2. Canto II – Gates Of Sorrow (5:23)
3. Canto III – All Hope Abandon (8:27)
4. Canto IV – Limbo (10:04)
5. Canto V – Lust (6:37)
6. Canto VI – The Gluttonous (8:24)
7. Canto VII – The Avaricious & The Wrathful (9:08)
8. Canto VIII – Into the Depths of Hell (11:21)
Total Runtime: 1:08:20

DAEMONELIX
A collaboration between musicians from the US, Canada, Australia and Spain, Daemonelix will release their four-track stomper Devil’s Corkscrew on October 15, 2021 via Metal Assault Records. Engineered and mixed by bassist / rhythm guitarist Derek W. Phillips and mastered by the prolific Maor Appelbaum (Candlemass, Armored Saint, Faith No More, Halford, Dream Theater and several others), Devil’s Corkscrew will be released on digipack CD and digital platforms. CDs, merch bundles and digital downloads are now available for pre-order.

Exhibiting a wide range of influences from Black Sabbath to Tool to Clutch to Lamb Of God and everything in between, Daemonelix has created a sound that is as unique as it is instantly identifiable. Devil’s Corkscrew hits the listener hard with elements of doom, death and groove metal, among several other styles and sub-genres within the heavy music spectrum. Romanian artist Mihai Manescu a.k.a. Obsidian Nibs designed the cover art for Devil’s Corkscrew.

Devil’s Corkscrew track listing:
1. Daemonelix (3:57)
2. Raise Crows (3:37)
3. In the Name of Freedom (5:02)
4. Sing For The Moon (5:58)

Daemonelix is:
Vocals – Ana Garcia Lopez (Spain)
Bass / Guitar – Derek W. Phillips (USA)
Drums – Pat Labuda (Canada)
Lead Guitar – Andrew Luddy (Australia)

ABSOLUM
Louisiana heavy metal band Absolum will unleash their debut album Grand Design October 15 via Metal Assault Records. The album’s second single + video “Black To Red” is now live, and pre-orders for the album (digital, CD, merch bundle) are now available. Tearing through the confines a single sub-genre; Absolum bellows with aggression and groove on Grand Design. Thick, heavy and thrashy, Absolum exhibits a broad range of talent across each track while maintaining their distinctly Louisiana metal vibe throughout the album.

Grand Design track listing:
1. Believer (4:09)
2. Grand Design (3:48)
3. Chemical Abyss (3:29)
4. Black to Red (5:34)
5. The Apath (2:58)
6. Exordium (3:26)
7. Thin Skin (2:43)
8. Bloodlust (4:07)

Total Runtime: 30:14

VANDALIZER
New York City heavy rock ‘n rollers Vandalizer will release their three-song spinner Ride on October 29, 2021 on Metal Assault Records. The anticipated EP is available to pre-order now and will be issued on cassette tape and on all digital platforms. Pre-orders include exclusive merch bundles in addition to the release format of your choice, available now.

On Ride, Vandalizer mixes 1980s NWOBHM with the sounds of ’70s Punk N’ Roll for an exhilarating listen. Stream the EP’s lead single “Time Can’t Count” originally premiered September 3 and is now on YouTube. Vandalizer first entered the scene with their debut EP New Curse in 2015, followed by the Desensitize EP in 2017, giving listeners concise doses of exactly what they describe themselves as – a thoroughly enjoyable hybrid of old-school punk, rock ‘n roll and heavy metal.

VANDALIZER is:
Mike McWilliams: Vocals/Guitar
Stosh McMichael: Drums/Backup Vocals
Sam Harris: Bass/Backup Vocals

Solo artist Zych to release debut album via Metal Assault Records

Zych’s will release debut album Dante’s Inferno Part I via Metal Assault Records on October 22, 2021. Photo: google

Multi-instrumentalist and composer Justin Zych, better known as Zych, has joined the Metal Assault Records roster as the label’s first ever solo artist signing. He has toured internationally and worked with bands such as Zephaniah (Indiana), Viking (Los Angeles), Munroe’s Thunder (US / UK), Them (NY / Germany) and many more. (Justin Zych, 2021)

Dante’s Inferno Part I, slated for release October 22 on Metal Assault Records, will initiate a series of solo albums dedicated to the poetry of Dante Alighieri by Zych. Unlike other albums based on Dante’s Inferno, this album goes in-depth into each canto. The album is nearly 70 minutes long with eight intense songs (No fillers). This progressive metal heavyweight of an album evaporates the boundaries between all genres. Every track takes on its own direction with an all-star musical cast of internationally well-known musicians. Each song is also accompanied by outstanding artwork from a well-established visual artist. This is THE heavy metal soundscape to lend your ear to as you read the first eight cantos of The Inferno.

Metal Assault Records will release Dante’s Inferno Part I on October 22, 2021 on deluxe digipack CD and digital platforms. The album’s cover is a scan of a canvas piece created by Tricia Cavender. Pre-orders for the digital album, deluxe digipack CD (with a full 16-page booklet included), and special merch bundles featuring the “Canto VII” t-shirt design, 12” x 12” giclee prints of the album cover art, stickers, and guitar picks, are available now via the Zych Bandcamp page.

The album’s lead single and opening track, “Canto I – Overture” premiered on August 6 along with a stunning music video in all its 4K glory.

Dante’s Inferno Part I track listing:
1. Canto I – Overture (8:56)
2. Canto II – Gates Of Sorrow (5:23)
3. Canto III – All Hope Abandon (8:27)
4. Canto IV – Limbo (10:04)
5. Canto V – Lust (6:37)
6. Canto VI – The Gluttonous (8:24)
7. Canto VII – The Avaricious & The Wrathful (9:08)
8. Canto VIII – Into the Depths of Hell (11:21)
Total Runtime: 1:08:20

Full list of participating musicians:
Justin Zych (Zephaniah, Viking) – Guitars, Synths, Bass, Vocals
Albert Rybka (Acracy, Kategory V) – Vocals
Ronny Munroe (Ex-Metal Church, Between Worlds) – Vocals
Ty Christian (Lords of The Trident) – Vocals
Troy Norr (THEM, Coldsteel) – Vocals
Patick Parris (Project Roenwolfe) – Vocals
Zebah Latifi (Zephaniah) – Vocals
Angel Cotte (Demolition Hammer, THEM) – Drums
Ed Stephens (Ringworm, Vindicator) – Bass
Ian Bender (Zephaniah) – Bass
Paul Kendall (Valhalla) – Piano, synth, guest soloist
Shaun Cothron (Zephaniah) – Guest Soloist
Brian Koenig (Lords of the Trident) – Guest soloist
Kyle Smith (Death On Fire) – Percussion
Kenny Woods – All Saxophones
Paul Rowan – All trumpets
David Cooke – All trombones
Ilona Orban – All violins
Derek Reeves – All violas
Bennett Spickelmier – All Cellos

Zych (Justin Zych) is a musician specializing in guitar, bass, and piano. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music performance from IPFW and currently teaches music online. He is an experienced international touring musician and guitar technician, who has worked with world renowned bands such as Zephaniah (IN), Viking (CA), THEM (NY/GER), Munroe’s Thunder (USA/UK) and many others.

As a composer, Zych has created several compositions for musical groups, commercials, and scores for online videos. His technical prowess and heartfelt melodies define his style and inspire young and old musicians. He has played guitar for over 20 years and continues to excel at his craft by introducing new techniques and musical concepts to his playing.

Zych has created over four hundred arrangements/transcriptions for clients over the last three years and continues to on a regular basis. Some are as simple and short as a thirty second piano piece and some are as complex and intense as a ten minute orchestral piece. His compositions reflect a mixture of romantic period composition mixed with the complex structures of 20th century composition and jazz. Add a heavy metal element to that and you get a new, diverse and extremely full sound.

Justin Zych. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
2021-10-22T13:03:00

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Dante’s Inferno Part I release date