Heavy Metal Video Racks Up Half Million Views After Being Named 'Most Awful' Clip Of 2011

"The King That Never Was", the new video from Cleveland metallers ALTERNATE REALITY, has racked up more than half a million views on YouTube after being named "The Most Epically Awful Video Of 2011" by Lyndsey Parker of Yahoo! Music's "Video Ga Ga" music blog.

Parker writes: "Do not attempt to adjust your computer monitor. Do not assume that the video you are about to see is the result of some egg-nog-induced fog. Deluded Cleveland metal band ALTERNATE REALITY really did shoot an ambitious video about, according to lead singer Steve Delchin, 'the legend of King Arthur and his quest for the Kingdom of Metal.' The result is a video not even the most diehard Dungeons & Dragons enthusiast or Comic-Con season-pass-holder could appreciate or sit through more than once. Actually, if this video were intended to be ironic, we would say it was the most genius video of all time. Ditto if it were a video by SPINAL TAP, TENACIOUS D, or Bill & Ted's WYLD STALLYNS. But sadly, it seems like these not-so-shining-armored guys' tongues were nowhere near the vicinity of their cheeks when they filmed this video atrocity. Apparently they really do live in an alternate reality in which dressing up like Mickey Mouse from Fantasia and engaging in Camelot swordfights is the epitome of cool. Obviously, this is not a reality in which any sane person would choose to live."

"The King That Never Was" will appear on ALTERNATE REALITY's forthcoming EP, scheduled for release in 2012. The clip was filmed on location at historic Squire's Castle in Willoughby Hills, Ohio between July and November of 2011. DESTRUCTOR vocalist and guitarist Dave Overkill has a staring role in the video as the character Mordred.

ALTERNATE REALITY uniquely features two Cleveland lawyers who are brothers in its ranks, vocalist Steve Delchin and guitarist Bob Delchin. ALTERNATE REALITY also features bassist Jon Engeman and drummer Bob Schwartz, who were both former members of THE MOUTHBREATHERS. Schwartz is the son of Glenn Schwartz (ex-JAMES GANG, PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC),one of the greatest living electric guitarists alive today.

"I'm extremely excited to unleash our new music video onto the world," said ALTERNATE REALITY vocalist Steve Delchin, who plays the role of King Arthur in the video. "It's about the legend of King Arthur and his quest for the Kingdom of Metal."

"The fact that we have two lawyers in the band is definitely unique," added guitarist Bob Delchin, who also hosts the long-running "This Is Metal" show on Cleveland State University's WCSB radio station. "Our new video certainly has a legal flavor to it. A number of the actors appearing in the video enjoy careers in the legal field as lawyers, paralegals, and secretaries."

"The King That Never Was" video features special guest appearances from members of the Cleveland rock and metal community. In addition to Dave Overkill as Mordred, the video also includes Chris E. (CELLBOUND) as the evil Pagan Warrior, Dan Ullrich (PINCH POINT) as Sir Lancelot and Bill Peters (Auburn Records) as The Wicked Necromancer. Dave Overkill comments, "This video has it all! Tons of swords, blood, killing, medieval wizardry, and beautiful women clad in warrior gear. Talk about metal! My son, Hunter, even makes a guest appearance as the archer, and he lays a serious hurt on the warrior princesses."?

"I had a great time shooting the video back in July", said Auburn Records president Bill Peters, "not the least of which included being escorted to Squire's Castle in a special luxury limo. Everyone thought I was an extra for 'The Avengers' movie when some of the limo photos leaked out, which happened to be filming here in Cleveland at the same time, but in fact I was really going to the secret ALTERNATE REALITY video shoot. For anyone who has ever wanted to see me don a wizard outfit and cast magical spells (laughs),this is the video for you!"

"Cleveland has a lot of hidden gems, both location-wise and talent-wise", added Chris E. "It was great fun to be part of ALTERNATE REALITY's vision. All hail the king!"

"The King That Never Was" video was written, directed and produced by Steve Delchin.

When asked about his decision to shoot the video at Squire's Castle, Delchin said, "You can't get more metal than Squire's Castle. This may not be the first music video ever shot at Squire's Castle, but it certainly is the first video in which Squire's Castle burns down. Now that's metal!"

ALTERNATE REALITY have played a handful of shows in the Cleveland area, including an opening stint with LOUDNESS earlier this year. The band's next live performance will be at the third annual WJCU/IronIngo Holiday Benefit Concert, set to take place on December 23 at The Saw Concert Club in Cleveland. The charity event, which benefits the Cleveland Foodbank and Friends Of The Cleveland Kennel, is being organized and sponsored by Auburn Records.