IN FLAMES

In Flames represent the best of metal’s past, present, and future. In Flames are as vital and even more energized today than when they unleashed classics like Come Clarity and Clayman in decades past. 

The band built a stunning reputation with devastating, crowd-moving, inspired performances around the world at every major rock and metal festival imaginable, headlining multiple treks, and touring with the likes of Slipknot, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Killswitch Engage, Within Temptation, and Lamb Of God. They regularly headline some of the biggest stages and festivals in the world. 

Foregone, the furious fourteenth studio album, combines the greatest aggressive, metallic, and melodic strengths of their landmark records with the seasoned songwriting of their postmodern era.

The melodic guitars, crushing riffs, and high-speed tempos that define much of the In Flames catalog first crystalized on their second album, The Jester Race (1996), complete with hints of the catchy choruses to come. Whoracle (1997) is the rawest and arguably heaviest In Flames album from the 90s. Metal Hammer declared melodeath masterpiece Colony (1999) “an undisputed fireball of an album.”

Clayman (2000) introduced synths and more prominent clean vocals, without sacrificing the band’s intensity. Reroute to Remain (2002) took the groove element further. Soundtrack to Your Escape (2004) expanded the rock bombast. Come Clarity (2006) is a perfect metalcore slab. A Sense of Purpose (2008) delivered some of the band’s best and most eclectic songs. The gothic groove metal of Sounds of a Playground Fading (2011) paved the way for the unapologetic Active Rock hooks of Siren Charms (2014) and Battles (2016). Fans of the aggressive side of In Flames praised I, the Mask (2019). Foregone masterfully, if improbably, manages to serve all sides of the In Flames fanbase, with powerful force.

A sense of pride, accomplishment, and continued vitality are evident every time the band takes the stage, and all over Foregone. Melodic death metal pioneers and innovative purveyors of groove, the artistry, influence, stature, and future of In Flames loom as large as the heavy metal horizon itself.

A savage, old-school death metal unit based out of Arizona, Gatecreeper's uncompromising blend of doom and death evokes names like Grave, Obituary, Bolt Thrower, and Dismember.

Founded in 2013 around the talents of vocalist Chase Mason, guitarist Eric Wagner, bassist Sean Mears, and drummer Matthew Arrebollo, the quartet issued a series of independently released EPs and splits before inking a deal with Relapse Records. Their full-length debut, 2016's Sonoran Depravation, was produced by Ryan Bram at Homewrecker Studios and mixed by Kurt Ballou (Converge, Nails, Black Breath) at God City Studios. A split LP with Take Over and Destroy arrived later that same year, and in 2018 the band released another split LP, this time with crossover/thrash unit Iron Reagan. In 2019, the group unleashed their sophomore full-length effort, Deserted. Gatecreeper slimmed things down for their third effort, 2021's An Unexpected Reality, an adventurous set that lasted just 17 minutes. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi

CREEPING DEATH is on a quick and furious ascent from the underground. The Texas death metal crew repeatedly delivers a relentless bludgeoning summoned from the furthest reaches of the genre's past, present, and future. A triumphant celebration of the style itself, the Lone Star State fivesome whips up gruesome riffage and Southern grooves with an improbable cathartic glee.

As Revolver Magazine observed, CREEPING DEATH "assemble hulking riffs, screaming guitar solos, and ghastly vocal lows, and play them with the urgent momentum of a sterling hardcore band."

The band's formula hits perfection with the brilliant Boundless Domain, a sophomore slab of spectacular weight, dimension, and might. Produced by Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz (As I Lay Dying, The Acacia Strain, Underoath), Boundless Domain is a certified ripper, top to bottom.

Boundless Domain boasts future death metal classics like the super heavy, fast, and groovy "Intestinal Wrap" (which features George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher of Cannibal Corpse). "Vitrified Earth" showcases Creeping Death's increasing skills at songcraft, most evident with the cadence and phrasing of Alavi's vocals while never neglecting the sick riffs. Toward the album's end, there's even a bit of a spaced-out atmosphere, with guitar effects, harmonies, and heady time signatures.