Articles by "Combat Records"
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Combat Records is thrilled to announce the signing of Bay Area Metal staples HATCHET, who will release their new album "DYING TO EXIST" on June 22, 2018 via COMBAT RECORDS/EMP LABEL GROUP.

Fueled by the twin guitar attack of vocalist Julz Ramos and Clayton Cagle, bassist Devin Reiche, and drummer Ben Smith, Hatchet have built a name and reputation for themselves carrying the torch of classic Bay Area Metal, through three prior full-length releases of high-energy, intense Thrash, (including their 2008 METAL BLADE debut AWAITING EVIL, 2013’s DAWN OF THE END, and their latest THE END RECORDS’ offering, 2015’s FEAR BEYOND LUNACY) and countless tours supporting names like Metal Church, Flotsam and Jetsam, Soilwork, Warbringer, Act of Defiance, Exmortus, Doyle, DRI and more. The follow-up to 2015’s FEAR BEYOND LUNACY, DYING TO EXIST promises to be the band’s heaviest and most focused release to date.

Says vocalist/guitarist Julz Ramos, "The album itself is the fastest and most creative material to date, with all 4 members contributing our writing efforts throughout the record. This is the most we've sounded like a band collectively, and it’s definitely for the better!"

He adds, "We couldn’t be happier to have found a home on COMBAT! The label is obviously a huge staple in Thrash and extreme Metal, with some of the most infamous bands in close connection to or directly under Combat at some point. Its true history and significance is beyond my years and first-hand understanding, however from what I do know and have seen assures me this is a good home for our new album!"

Says Megadeth bassist, and Combat head David Ellefson, "Hatchet is a great, young band who definitely fit the bill for Combat. Aggressive modern Thrash Metal, with an old-school intensity. I’ve been a fan of these guys for a while now, and we’re extremely proud to add them to the COMBAT roster."

COMBAT was relaunched in 2017 by Ellefson, and partner Thom Hazaert, with all releases manufactured and distributed by Ellefson’s EMP LABEL GROUP, via AMPED in North America, and SPV in Europe.
11:32 AM
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Soulfly/Cavalera Conspiracy guitarist Marc Rizzo has set the release date for his new album "Rotation", in stores March 30th 2018 via Combat Records/EMP Label Group/Amped in North America, and Combat/SPV in Europe. 'Roration" is the 4th solo release for Rizzo, following 2004’s "Colossal Myopia", 2006's "The Ultimate Devotion" (both released by legendary shred label Shrapnel) and the independently released 2010's "Legionnaire".

Produced by Chris “Zeuss” Harris (Hatebreed, Soulfly, Rob Zombie, Chimaira), and featuring cover art by Melody Myers (Escape The Fate), "Rotation" is a blistering showcase of Rizzo’s pummeling eclectic diversity, showcased on album tracks including “Spectral Intensities”, “Thrash Boogie”, and title track “Rotation”, combining Rizzo’s penchant for pummeling, low-end riffs, with thrash-intensive leads and heavy Latin flavor.

Originally a member of New Jersey latin-metal favorites Ill Nino. appearing on their classic 2001 Roadrunner release "Revolution Revolucion", and 2003 follow-up "Confession", Rizzo joined Soufly in 2004, and has since appeared on all subsequent Soulfly records, including "Prophecy", "Dark Ages", "Conquer", "Omen", and "Conspiracy", the side project of Sepultura co-founding brotherly duo Max and Iggor Cavalera and has performed on all of Cavalera Conspiracy releases including "Inflikted", "Blunt Force Trauma", "Pandemonium", and critically acclaimed 2017's "Psychosis".

Also contributing to several of the aforementioned Soulfly albums, including "Prophecy" and "Dark Ages", was Megadeth bassist David Ellefson, who contributed bass to both releases and did some touring, which led to a connection to Rizzo, and the alliance with Ellefson’s reboot of legendary Metal label Combat Records.

Rizzo is also a part-time guitarist for Combat label-mates Dead By Wednesday (first appearing on the band’s 2016 EMP release, "The Darkest Of Angels"), rounding out a label roster that also includes upcoming releases from legendary Metal acts Raven, Helstar, and Wrath.

“Marc’s an awesome guitar player. He’s a badass.” Says Ellefson. “So when Thom started talking to him about his new record, Zeuss sent over some tracks, and we were all really excited. And it just turned out to be a great, natural fit for the new incarnation of Combat. Marc is a brutal, heavy player, but so technically proficient and tasteful, and able to blend so many styles into what he does, whatever he’s doing, whether it’s Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy, or his solo stuff.”

Says Rizzo, “I spent a couple years talking to David and Thom (Hazaert) about releasing Rotation and when the Combat thing came up it just really felt right. I have known both David and Thom, literally for the better part of 2 decades, and I’m really excited to have such a killer team putting their stamp on my record.”

Check out an album teaser featuring “Spectral Intensities” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4pU91aaGeY.

Rizzo will hit the road with Soufly and Nile in the Spring, and will enter the studio to begin work on the new Soulfly record in January 2018!

TOUR DATES:

4/17/18 Louisville, KY Diamond Pub Concert Hall
4/18/18 Baltimore, MD Rams Head
4/19/18 New York, NY Gramercy Theater
4/21/18 Poughkeepsie, NY Chance Theatre
4/22/18 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts
4/24/18 Greenville, SC The Firmament
4/25/18 Tampa , FL Orpheum
4/26/18 West Palm Beach, FL Kelsey Theater
4/27/18 Atlanta, GA Masquerade
4/28/18 Knoxville, TN The Concourse
5/1/18 Pitstburgh, PA Diesel
5/2/18 Rochester, NY Montage Music Hall 
5/3/18 Detroit, MI Token Lounge
5/4/18 Cleveland, OH Agora Theater
5/5/18 Dayton, OH Oddbodys
5/6/18 Joliet, IL The Forge
5/7/18 Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall 
5/8/18 Minneapolis, MN Cabooze
5/9/18 Kansas City, MO Riot Room
5/10/18 Denver, CO Herman's Hideaway
5/11/18 Salt Lake City, UT Metro Music Hall
5/12/18 Jerome, ID Diamondz Event Center
5/13/18 Seattle, WA Studio Seven
5/14/18 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theater
5/16/18 Berkeley, CA The UC Theatre
5/17/18 Los Angeles, CA Whisky A Go Go
5/18/18 Anaheim, CA The Grove
5/19/18 Phoenix, AZ Marquee Theater
5/20/18 Albuquerque, NM El Rey Theater
5/22/18 Dallas, TX Trees
5/23/18 San Antonio, TX The Rock Box
5/24/18 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall
1:52 PM
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David Ellefson of Megadeth, via his label EMP LABEL GROUP, has announced the relaunch of COMBAT RECORDS, the seminal Punk/Thrash label that started Megadeth’s career.

Most will remember Combat Records as one of the seminal thrash labels of the 1980s, their most prominent artist being, of course, Megadeth. Combat was also home to Helstar, Circle Jerks, Exodus, Nuclear Assault, and many of the most influential Metal and Punk bands of all time.

After a handful of ownership changes and attempted reboots, COMBAT went dormant in the mid-2000s, the catalog got absorbed by SONY, and the label itself ceased to exist. In 2016, David Ellefson, with his partner Thom Hazaert from EMP Label Group, did the due diligence to research and acquire the intellectual property for the COMBAT RECORDS brand, and bring it home to the EMP family.

With the utmost respect to the legacy of the past, COMBAT will relaunch in 2018 as an imprint of EMP LABEL GROUP, releasing not only new releases from classic Thrash and Metal artists, but as a home for new and up and coming artists as well. The first tentative COMBAT releases in 2018 will be the North American release of the upcoming studio album from legendary NWOBHM titans RAVEN, a limited edition classic B-sides release from HELSTAR, (both original COMBAT artists) and new releases from CT Hardcore/Metal staples Dead By Wednesday and 80’s progressive thrash favorites WRATH.

Says Ellefson, “Today is a really exciting day, as after over a year, it was finally announced the we will be relaunching the legendary Combat Records as a new label through EMP Label Group. So excited and honored to be able to revive such an iconic brand that was so instrumental to my history. Even though we signed to Capitol after Killing is my Business, Combat's logo was on all the MEGADETH releases through Countdown To Extinction, and it truly was/is one of the most iconic Metal labels of all time, even being home to some of the other artists who would end up on the EMP roster, like Helstar. The same independent spirit that drove COMBAT in those early days, is truly the same spirit that drives what we do with EMP, and we are honored to launch another amazing conduit to support new and established Metal artists, with great respect to the legacy of the past.

And to clarify, we do not own any rights to the COMBAT back catalog. That is owned, and controlled by SONY, and they have done a great job of curating it through other imprints. COMBAT RECORDS will solely focus on NEW releases under the COMBAT banner. As always, thank you for your support, and stay tuned for more details!”

COMBAT will be distributed through EMP LABEL GROUP, via AMPED DISTRIBUTION in North America, and SPV in Europe.
12:26 PM

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