Category: blazon rite

Philadelphia Epic Metal Heroes BLAZON RITE Return With ‘Wild Rites And Ancient Songs’

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Emerging Philadelphia epic metal heroes BLAZON RITE will release their second album, “Wild Rites And Ancient Songs”, on April 14 via Gates Of Hell Records.

Recorded in May 2022 with Kevin Bernsten at Developing Nations Studios, “Wild Rites And Ancient Songs” is the highly anticipated follow-up to BLAZON RITE’s masterful 2021 debut, “Endless Halls Of Golden Totem”. With scores of ears awaiting the band’s new long player, guitarist James Kirn says BLAZON RITE rose to the challenge.

“We are really grateful for everyone who supported ‘Endless Halls Of Golden Totem’ and hope we made something that people will always go back to,” he says. “The only pressure I think we felt was to deliver something different and fresh from what we’ve already presented to the world. While I think the new album isn’t a huge departure, we did some things creatively with this record that differ from our first full length and push us forward. At times, we simplified things and set out to make songs more hard-hitting and powerful. We really took our time with this album and I think it shows in the quality of the overall product.”

Comprising seven cuts that dig into the ethos and essence of what true metal should be in 2023, “Wild Rites And Ancient Songs” boats BLAZON RITE’s now patented blend of strident guitar melodies and true metal persuasiveness. However, “Wild Rites” emerges as a more direct and catchy offering than its predecessor, something Kirn says was the goal from the start.

“I just wanted to try new things and explore different moods and feelings with this new album. We leaned in so many different directions on this release. We have some traditional power and epic metal elements, some NWOBHM parts, and even folk vibes. I really just wanted to give the listener a wholly memorable experience. We tried to simplify the lyrics and vocal melodies a bit to make them more impactful and anthemic as well. I also think the tones we achieved on this record are great and new for us. I want to mention that Pierson [Roe] took the solos and leads to a new epic place this time around.”

BLAZON RITE rapidly emerged as one of the new leading faces in the American traditional metal scene. The excitement and strong press surrounding “Endless Halls” was significant — and justified. This year promises to be a busy one for the band. Playing as many shows as possible behind “Wild Rites” will be the next step on BLAZON RITE’s epic metal journey.

“We are really amped to hear what everyone thinks of this new album and hopefully, the word spreads even more about us,” closes Kirn. “I think people will appreciate the polish and the development we’ve put on this album. Hopefully, we can get some buzz about the album and play some cool shows with some good lineups.”

“Wild Rites And Ancient Songs” track listing:

  1. Autumn Fear Brings Winter Doom
  2. Salvage What You Can Of The Night
  3. The Fall Of A Once Great House
  4. Mark Of The Stormborn Raiders
  5. Wild Rites And Ancient Songs
  6. Troubadours Of The Final Quarrel
  7. The Coming Tide Of Yule

BLAZON RITE To Release New Album ‘Endless Halls Of Golden Totem’ in June

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BLAZON RITE To Release New Album ‘Endless Halls Of Golden Totem’

Philadelphia primal epic metallers BLAZON RITE will release their first full-length, “Endless Halls Of Golden Totem” in June via Gates Of Hell Records. The album was recorded from mid-December 2020 to January 2021 at guitarist James Kirn’s home studio. Richie Rabid served as engineer, while Will Mellor handled mixing and master duties. The album will feature hand-painted cover artwork from Matt Stikker.

Due to the global pandemic, BLAZON RITE, who also include vocalist Johnny Halladay, bassist Pierson Roe and drummer Ryan Haley, employed some ingenuity to record. The band created isolation booths in Kirn’s basement, resulting in a more polished, triumphant effort that takes BLAZON RITE beyond their well-received 2020 “Dulce Bellum Inexpertis” EP.
“The recording process took a while because we were only doing it on the weekends and really taking our time with tones,” says Kirn. “It was fun because we were documenting ourselves in some of the sessions with pictures and videos, which we’ve never done before!”
The band’s inspiring blend of NWOBHM and European power metal ala BLIND GUARDIAN and HELLOWEEN is even more realized on “Endless Halls Of Golden Totem”. According to Kirn, the album’s eight tracks benefit from more focused songwriting. But, unlike the “Dulce Bellum Inexpertis” EP, it is not a concept record.
“I think we have a lot of variety from song-to-song vibe-wise and really provide a nice journey for the listener,” he says. “From power metal and traditional epic heavy metal to acoustic LED ZEPPELIN parts and Viking influenced metal, I think we really give a lot on this full-length. Each song is a whole story within itself.”

“Endless Halls Of Golden Totem” track listing:

 

  1. Legends Of Time And Eidolon
  2. Put Down Your Steel (Only For The Night)
  3. The Executioners Woe
  4. Endless Halls Of Golden Totem
  5. The Alchemists Brute
  6. The Watchmen Of Starfall Tower
  7. Consumed By Glory Light
  8. Into Shores Of Blood

BLAZON RITE to release “Dulce Bellum Inexpertis” MLP in September

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BLAZON RITE – “Dulce Bellum Inexpertis”
RELEASE DATE: SEPT 25, 2020
FORMAT: MLP
PRE-ORDER: https://tinyurl.com/y7zdc35m

 

                                

Primal and epic metal from the dungeons of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
Dungeons and Dragons-influenced metal that deals a deadly dose of NWOBHM and power metal complete with a resounding four-song concept.

Upon the 2019 formation of Blazon Rite, guitarist and primary songwriter James Kirn had quite the simple, but universal edict: He wanted “heads to bang.” While such an approach has defined metal for the past 40 years, Kirn wanted to put his twist on the genre by combining his love of obscure ’70s hard rock and power metal while exploring the vast fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons. In the span of a few months, Blazon Rite had assembled and recorded the four songs that would comprise their debut four-song EP, Dulce Bellum Inexpertis, which is being released worldwide via Gates of Hell Records.

Recorded and mastered by Rich Scott at 8th House Recordings in 2019, Dulce Bellum Inexpertis finds Blazon Rite (who are rounded out by bassist-turned-vocalist Johnny Halladay, drummer Ryan Haley and bassist, lead guitarist and keyboardist, Pierson Roe) expertly crafting punchy, anthemic numbers that jousts between vintage, NWOBHM-inspired metal and dramatic European acts such as Blind Guardian and Helloween.
Dulce Bellum Inexpertis is highlighted by a Kirn-created concept that follows a man’s transformation from a warrior pledged to an earthly cause to a wilderness wanderer to ultimately being a king on earth under the will of a mysterious horned demi-god. Here, the co-mingling of Dungeons and Dragons and epic metal come together in perfect harmony. Kirn uses the D&D world as a backdrop to tell stories ranging from solitude, love and passion, to anger and aggression — the perfect backdrop for the EP, with all four cuts serving as the perfect introduction to the epic power metal world at large.

2020 started off fast for Blazon Rite — the independent release of Dulce Bellum Inexpertis was immediately embraced by the underground metal scene, drawing both surprise and elation from the band. But, like so many of their contemporaries, Blazon Rite must bide their time until live shows resume. (To date, the band only has one live appearance to their credit.) Until tha happens, Dulce Bellum Inexpertis is the primal, adventurous true heavy metal soundtrack to the quarantine!