BLOOD OF TYRANTS Label Imprint Announced

Early 2004 will see the formation of a new exclusively metal label, Blood
of Tyrants, formed as an imprint of seminal Indianapolis-based punk/hardcore label Happy Couples Never Last Records.

"I have just passed up too many killer releases that I desperately wanted
to do but didn't think that they were logical or appropriate for the current roster of HCNL artists," says HCNL Records owner Clark Giles. "I have always wanted to find a way to support the underground metal scene here in the Circle City and abroad but have been hard-pressed to find an appropriate way of doing it while preserving the authenticity of two 'related' but in the end 'different' scenes. An imprint label dedicated solely to the classic authentic genres of the metal scene whether it be doom metal or grind-core was the only logical conclusion to preserve the integrity of what I am trying to do. This is a METAL label in the purest sense. No metalcore, no pretty $200 haircuts. A true 100% metal ONLY imprint."

While Happy Couples has traditionally focused on everything from mathematical indie-rock to blasting hardcore thrash, all things "metal" will now be released under the Blood of Tyrants moniker. The label is starting with a bang already pushing an aggressive release schedule for 2004.

* THE GATES OF SLUMBER "The Awakening" CD/LP - Pure old-school doom
metal in the vein of ST. VITUS and CELTIC FROST. Following an appearance on the Shroud of Woe comp, "Tune Down, Doom Out" comp (Church of Doom),and "At the Mountains of Madness II" (Miskatonic Records) THE GATES OF SLUMBER finally drop their debut full-length record. The vinyl version of this record sports an embossed cover and an extra track.

* HARAKIRI "Twilight of the Idols" LP - vinyl version of this now classic slab of American death metal. Colored vinyl, featuring one extra bonus track not found on the CD or anywhere else for that matter.

* THE HIDDEN HAND/WOOLY MAMMOTH split LP (split with McCarthyism Records, CD version on Meteor City Records) — Wino (ex-ST. VITUS, THE OBSESSED) does it again with his new opus. Okay, okay, so we haven't technically heard it yet so we can't tell you much about it. But does any band with Wino ever fail to bring the rock?

* DEMIRICOUS full-length CD - The melody of the New Wave of Swedish metal tempered with the harsh brutality of classic American death metal. These guys have bowling over metal crowds all over the Midwest with their amazing live show. Their debut full-length will be sure to become a force to be reckoned with in the coming year.

A web site is currently in the works with plans for an early spring launch. In the meantime, questions can be addressed to Jason McCash at: [email protected].