PYRACANDA
Originally founded in 1987, PYRACANDA hit the scene with their debut album "Two Sides Of A Coin" in 1990 – an explosive mix of high density speed metal & strong melodies. Produced by Armin Sabol (i.a. Rage and Sinner). Influenced by the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal and early Metallica, singer Hansi Nefen, the guitarists Sven Fischer & Dennis Vaupel, bassist Dieter Wittbecker and drummer Elmar Gehenzig created a unique blend of furious riffs & lush chord progressions that set them apart from their competitors. Along with labelmates Blind Guardian, PYRACANDA was another treasure coming out of the No Remorse Records camp. The follow up album „Thorns“ – released in 1992 – was produced with Mekong Delta mastermind Ralph Hubert and saw PYRACANDA adding some progressive rock elements. Both albums feature exceptional cover artwork by renowned artist Joachim Luetke (Kreator, Dimmu Borgir, Arch Enemy, Marilyn Manson, Destruction i.a.). With Gehenzig leaving the band (who was then replaced by Patrick Grün – now also with Caliban) and Fischer joining the metal institution Rage a year later, things were paused. For a long time. And they came together again. In 2020, PYRACANDA announced their reunion, playing the old hits for their loyal fans after all these years and working on new music at the same time. On 10 October 2024, the time has come. After 32 years, the new album „Losing Faith“ comes in good old PYRACANDA style. It is 100% oldschool composed and recorded. No frills, no drum computers. Everything was composed in the rehearsal room and recorded by hand in the studio. But it doesn’t come across as old-fashioned. It’s real, true and new heavy metal.
SACROSANCT
SACROSANCT, established in 1988, are a well respected name in the metal scene, most known for their three classic albums during the early 1990s: “Truth is – what is”, “Recesses for the depraved” and “Tragic intense”. The SACROSANCT signature sound gradually progressed from sophisticated thrash metal to a more edgy, melodic and atmospheric aural landscape. The brainchild of founding member and lead guitar player Randy Meinhard (ex-Pestilence) returned in 2018, after a 25-year hiatus, with their fourth album “Necropolis”, which was highly acclaimed and bears all of the hallmarks and intricacies that defines SACROSANCT, with a strong emphasis on melancholic melodies and harmony guitar parts as well as a focus on thought-provoking lyrics. Six years later, SACROSANCT return with the even more powerful, still complex, but catchy “KIDRON”, featuring their new singer Max Morton, who outshines the album with his clear, dynamic and unique voice. “The album combines all our trademarks, has a unique atmosphere due to all the circumstances we had to go through and is accessible and complex at the same time”, comments Randy Meinhard. By the time Covid-19 hijacked the world in March of 2020, Randy had started collecting ideas and writing eight brand new songs that comprise a musical spectrum that – although still true to its roots – shows the unparalleled range SACROSANCT is capable of covering. Close to completion both the band and vocalist Ron Brouwer decided to split ways. “The corona period has touched, influenced, and probably changed us as people. This also led to the split with Ron this album was completed at the end of 2021. It wasn't corona as such, but the resulting circumstances. From today's perspective, it's good the way it turned out”, reflects the guitar player. Luckily, Max Morton – who was supposed for the role of the recording bass player - was available and directly offered his help and stepped in as the new vocalist. “He has an incredible vocal range and a power in his voice that gives the songs even more depth. It also has a high recognition value, and he has his very own way of interpreting music”, ennobles the band-leader. Everything turned out great, but then came the war between Russia and Ukraine, and Max being in Kiev. “It was and is hard, quite honestly. Unfortunately, we never met in person, not even during the work on “Necropolis”. When Max told us that he wanted to re-record “KIDRON” as a singer, it felt to me personally like it was always the grand plan of the universe. Things fell into place. Max, Jonas and Gerrit probably see it more pragmatically, but it was an interesting coincidence. We had even discussed initial plans to meet up in the Ukraine for possible video shoots. Unfortunately, this was no longer possible, and the recording gauntlet was thrown down. Today we communicate at certain intervals via Messenger. It's primarily about music, the band and, of course, cats. Max is also a cat lover”, summarizes Release | Europe: March 07, 2025 | North America: March 07, 2025 Label: RPM | Roar | Sub-Genre: Progressive Metal | Producer: Max Morton/ Randy Meinhard | Cover Artwork: Giannis Nakos | Photographer: Sacrosanct | Artist Origin: The Netherlands Sacrosanct +++ Kidron +++ Meinhard. In addition to this, Lyricist Per Albinsson appeared on the scene, also working with Therion, Jaded Heart and Lord Belial among others. After listening to the new tracks Per decided to bring his lyrical talent to the material. “When Max took over the vocals, Per Albinsson wrote all the new lyrics and titles for “KIDRON”. Per is incredibly fast in his realizations and an exceptional and very experienced lyricist. Per even knew our first albums and he immediately had an idea of what was important to us.” At that time the band also decided to name the album “KIDRON”, referring to Kidron Valley. “It is the modern name of the valley originating slightly northeast of the Old City of Jerusalem, which then separates the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives and ending at the Dead Sea. Per´s epic and inspiring lyrics put a finger on many a sore spot, relating tales and images that deeply move us as human beings, make us incredibly sad or infuriate us.” For “KIDRON” once again Giannis Nakos designed the epic cover art, given free hands by the band, and in addition to SACROSANCT’s Avenging Angel mascot it contains stunning images, brilliantly conveying the intriguing lyrical subjects. Max, who has worked in the studio with a wide variety of acts, including prominent Ukrainian combo Jinjer. already engineered, mixed and mastered the previous “Necropolis” album, remastered the entire SACROSANCT back catalogue (expanded editions which have been re-released on CD and limited double colored vinyl) and did another great job with the production, mix and master of the new album “KIDRON”. “Well, Max has worked with Jinjer and simply has immense experience. He also knows exactly what we want. He has a feel for what a band or an album needs. For “KIDRON”, for example, he really wanted a real drum kit. This naturally resulted in a fundamentally different and at the same time beautifully transparent sound.” To sum it up, SACROSANCT are more than happy and proud about their fifth, new strike. Maybe the best records need their intense tragedy? Randy Meinhard is first and foremost glad, that the album has been happily completed despite all the adversity. “Working on this album became an ordeal. We were and still are afraid for Max as a person and I don't think many people would have recorded an album at such a time. He is a unique person, musician, and producer/engineer. The influences of Jonas and Gerrit can also be heard for the first time on this album. Gerrit is well known in SACRO history, so to speak, and I'm glad that he's back and that we can get to know each other again today. Jonas is also an incredibly talented drummer. No, he's not the one who practices >260 bpm every day, but he has his own technical and at the same time groovy way of playing that makes “KIDRON” even more exciting.” The special thing about SACROSANCT is, that every album sounds different. “We always write and play songs in our own way. We can't and won't deny our roots. Of course, our first albums were more thrash-heavy, but there was a lot more going on in the songs. You just can't reduce us to that. I personally love metal from Maiden to Priest to Fates Warning, VoiVod or Slayer. When writing songs, I try to find out how heavy or "commercial" a song can be in our own way. But we always want to touch people with the music and if, for example, a blastbeat can be combined with the classic Sacrosanct riff trademarks, then we have arrived at “KIDRON”."
