MMM Presents: CASTLE (USA) + UNIVERSE 217 (Greece)

Reservations: castle@mariosmetalmania.com

CASTLE (USA): CASTLE is pleased to announce the release of their breakout fourth full-length this Summer via Ván Records worldwide. Titled Welcome To The Graveyard, the follow up to 2014’s critically-lauded Under Siege was recorded by Billy Anderson (Sleep, Neurosis, Brothers Of The Sonic Cloth, Eyehategod, Ommadon et al) at Type Foundry Studios in Portland, Oregon this past Winter. Welcome To The Graveyard is set for official unveiling July 15th. Comprised of 8 tracks written over the last year, Welcome To The Graveyard sees CASTLE merge their doom powered riffing with soaring 1970s rock . The album features a new level of confident songwriting and is a creepy-crawl through the wastelands of the band’s new L.A. ¬¬home; a hard-boiled barrage of classic heavy metal riffery tempered with blasts of melodic orchestrated doom. The perfect soundtrack for a Hollywood cult initiation. Elizabeth Blackwell's haunted vocal style draws a sigil of death and madness - imagine the Wilson sisters singing hymns from the stygian void, while lyrically CASTLE adapt the stark and compelling vistas of Aleister Crowley’s “Amphora” for the song "Traitors Rune" and Eliphas Levi's “Transcendental Magic”, whose mystic rumination inspires the lyrical backdrop for the lead-off single "Flash of the Pentagram". CASTLE was forged in San Francisco in 2009 and released their debut full-length, In Witch Order, on Germany’s Ván Records in 2011. The album brought light to the newly-formed band and earned them “Album Of The Year” honors from Metal Hammer Norway, as well as Roadburn Festival’s “Newcomer Of The Year.” Shortly thereafter, the band joined the Prosthetic Records roster in North America and released their critically-adored sophomore album Blacklands. The record left to a Canadian JUNO nomination for “Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year.” CASTLE performed over two-hundred shows worldwide in support of the release alongside the likes of The Sword, Conan, Intronaut and Pentagram among many others as well as appearances at some of the underground’s largest fests including Roadburn and the London and Berlin Desertfests. Since the release of Under Siege in 2014, CASTLE, which consists of vocalist/bassist Liz Blackwell, guitarist/vocalist Mat Davis and drummer Al McCartney, has maintained a relentless touring schedule with multiple expeditions throughout the US, Europe and Canada including stops at the 2015 edition of Heavy Days In Doomtown Fest in Copenhagen, Denmark and the Acherontic Arts Fest in Oberhausen, Germany.

UNIVERSE 217 (Greece): In case you didn’t know, the Greek rock & metal scene has been thriving during the last few years. Universe217 is one of the... best and most vibrant bands in the particular scene, with lots of gigs and steadily frequent record releases. Since 2007 the band has released 3 full-length albums, 2 EPs and 2 split-7’’ singles (you can find more information in the “discography” section), all welcomed with raving reviews both from Greek and international music media. Moreover, the band’s impressive performance on stage (whether it’s live shows with other Greek bands, festival slots or supporting international artists like Amenra, Anathema, Madder Mortem, OM, Saint Vitus, Scott Kelly,Wovenhand & Neurosis) has earned U217 an excellent reputation as a live act. In 2014, Universe217started its collaboration with Ván Records, with the release of an acoustic EP entitled “Ease” followed by the reissue of the band’s latest album, “Never”. As a result, the Greek quartet participated in the “Acherontic Arts” festival in Oberhausen, Germany (1-2/5/2015), receiving some very positive feedback.
Their latest album reveals once again the adventurous spirit of this band, proving that for Universe217 heavy music does not fit in little boxes. Frequently used terms like doom, post rock/metal, drone, psych, atmospheric, ambient etc. are not regarded by this Greek foursome as “protective shells” under which it can feel complacent about its music, but more like “creative playgrounds” where Universe217 can express freely, experiment or even confront genre limits and standards. This specific mentality combined with the band’s baritone, heavy sound and the outstanding voice of female singer Tanya, results in a highly distinctive, personal music style. Once you have listened to Universe217, you cannot confuse them with any other band; and this is truly rare in contemporary music reality.

Reservations: castle@mariosmetalmania.com
Place; Little Devil, Stationsstraat 27, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Date: Saturday 15 October 2016
Doors: 19:00
Entrance: € 5,--
www.mariosmetalmania.com
www.littledevil.nl