Divebomb Update: Arbitrater, Triphammer and Temporary Insanity
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ARBITRATER "BALANCE OF POWER/DARKENED REALITY" 2xCD PRE-ORDER NOW
** not actual CD cover ** DIVE144 2xCD PRE-ORDER HERE
OVERVIEW: During the late-’80s, legendary U.K. punk band The Varukers underwent an unexpected transformation as its ranks gradually split off into two separate metal-oriented acts. One such group—inspired by the excitement and energy of albums such as Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All in contrast to what was perceived as a stale and apathetic punk scene at the time—ARBITRATER, led by Varukers frontman Anthony “Rat” Martin, would proceed to self-release two full-length albums of taught, crunchy, and subtly melodic underground thrash: 1991’s Balance of Power, and 1993’s Darkened Reality. Despite the strength of the recordings and performing handfuls of shows alongside fellow U.K. thrash lords Xentrix and Slammer, among others, ARBITRATER ran its course before securing the wider exposure that a proper record label may have offered. As a result, out of print for many years, both albums have become extremely sought-after collectibles—so much so that Rat himself was forced to pay £93 for a single copy of Balance of Power for use as source material for this very collection; and Darkened Reality has been documented to have once sold for over $600! So now, more than two decades later, Divebomb Records is proud to represent ARBITRATER via this massive double-disc set, featuring both Balance of Power (appearing for the first time ever on CD) and Darkened Reality, as well as The Conquest demo from 1988—all fully remastered and restored by Jamie King at The Basement Recording. In addition, the packaging includes an insightful new interview with ARBITRATER main man Anthony “Rat” Martin, conducted by renowned musician and author Ian Glasper. For the fans, by the fans! FOR FANS OF: XENTRIX, SLAMMER, SACRED REICH, STONE, BLIND ILLUSION TRACK LIST: CD1 Balance Of Power 1. Allegiance 2. The Treaty 3. Evil Emperor 4. Conquest 5. Life Line 6. Graveyard Of Fools 7. Time For Destiny 8. Deadly Assassin BONUS DEMO TRACKS 9. Conquest 10. Mystical Dreamworld 11. Crash of Thunder CD2 Darkened Reality 1. Judge And Jury 2. Suicide Commercially 3. Guilty Of No Crime 4. No Second Chance 5. Racist Nation 6. Deadline 7. Nightmare Vision 8. Choose Your Weapons 9. Darkened Reality 10. Memories Of Tomorrow (Bonus Track)
TEMPORARY INSANITY "FINAL WALK" CD PRE-ORDER NOW
BOOTCAMP SERIES #33 DIVE146 CD PRE-ORDER HERE
DECLASSIFIED INFORMATION: TEMPORARY INSANITY formed in Boston, MA during the mid-'80s, initially bashing out cover tunes by such acts as Rush, Iron Maiden, Metallica, and so forth. The band's core lineup had been established by 1987, as founding members Michael Lucantonio (guitar) and Randy Odierno (drums) were joined by bassist Steve Cloutman and—standing 6' 9"—towering frontman Glen Rice to begin composing their own original, thrash-leaning material. This lineup put together a crude four-track demo before landing a spec deal with producer Chris Johnson—a relationship which led to the release of TEMPORARY INSANITY's only official cassette, the mighty T.I.D.C., in 1989. Boasting such devastatingly mosh-inducing fan favorites as "D.S.H." and "Arrogant Fuck," T.I.D.C. perhaps should have catapulted the group toward the eventual success of such legendary thrash anthems as "The Toxic Waltz" or "Hello From the Gutter" with its potent brand of thrash metal that was as violent as it was fun. With new second guitarist Jeff Kody in tow, TEMPORARY INSANITY would go on to record a whopping 13 more tracks with Johnson at the helm—from the whirlwind slams of "Toxic Spawn" to the technical fury of later cuts such as "Necrotech." Having opened for Flotsam and Jetsam, Wargasm, Meliah Rage, White Zombie, and many more, the band caught the attention of Maze Records through the help of their friends in Biohazard. Alas, a proper record deal never came to pass, and another of Boston's great many high-level metal prospects folded in 1991—the bulk of their recordings unreleased and painfully obscure for decades to come. So now, more than 25 years later, Divebomb Records is excited to present Final Walk: the long overdue 18-song discography from TEMPORARY INSANITY. Fully remastered by Jamie King at The Basement Recording, Final Walk also includes a massive 24-page booklet packed with lyrics, photos, memorabilia, and a retrospective interview with guitarist Michael Lucantonio—all wrapped up in stunning new artwork by longtime TEMPORARY INSANITY fanatic Brian Vocal Terror (Ladybug Smashers, Watchmaker, Annihilust). For the fans, by the fans! COMRADES IN ARMS: Nuclear Assault, Wargasm, Tankard, Anthrax and S.O.D. ARSENAL: Limited edition CD – only 500 units pressed worldwide – Cover art by Brian Vocal Terror – digitally remastered – band supplied photos – full color 24 page booklet with new band interview T.I.D.C. (1989) 1. D.S.H. 2. Arrogant Fuck 3. Final Walk 4. Commuters 5. My Brush Demo #1 (1989) 6. Toxic Spawn 7. Vicious Circle 8. Abortive Condition 9. Telephone Rot 10. Zoof 11. Safety Mosh 12. Spuds 13. Carcinogen 14. Legalized Murder Demo #2 (1990) 15. Necrotech 16. Selfish But Justified 17. Toxic Spawn 18. Zoof
TRIPHAMMER "YEARS IN THE MAKING: 1992-1995" CD PRE-ORDER NOW
BOOTCAMP SERIES #34 DIVE147 CD PRE-ORDER HERE
DECLASSIFIED INFORMATION: TRIPHAMMER was formed in Brockton, MA in 1990 by members having served time in Bad Karma, Poseidon, and RumbleStiltskin. The group quickly struck up a close friendship with fellow local metalheads Wargasm, whose guitarist Rich Spillberg helped engineer their debut demo, It's About Time, in late-1991. Such powerfully epic and catchy yet thrash-rooted songwriting was just as capable of appealing to fans of Queensrÿche as it was to those of Pantera, and subsequently found TRIPHAMMER opening for everyone from Savatage and Overkill to Biohazard and Mucky Pup. A second four-song demo followed in 1994, subtly hinting at influences borrowed from the era's grunge-tinged sounds of Alice in Chains and Soundgarden, but remaining true to the band's melodic thrash roots. However, utilizing a new rhythm section that included former Wargasm drummer Barry Spillberg, TRIPHAMMER would reinvent itself in 1995, tracking one final demo centered around shorter, more in your face material designed to incite a response from live audiences. Somehow, despite a wealth of potential—and interest from Noise Records, among others—TRIPHAMMER failed to secure a recording contract. By 1996, frontman John Falzone was out, guitarist Dan Dykes had taken over the vocals, and the group was soldiering on under a new name: Every Second. TRIPHAMMER would later go on to self-release their first two demos on CD in 2003, performing sporadic reunion shows ever since; but a proper, complete discography never saw the light... Until now, as more than two decades after the fact, Divebomb Records is proud to present Years in the Making: 1992 - 1995. This definitive 13-song collection includes all three TRIPHAMMER demos, plus a bonus live track recorded during their 2003 reunion. Remastered by Jamie King at The Basement Recording, the disc is housed alongside an extensive 24-page booklet loaded with photos, flyers, press clippings, lyrics, and a retrospective interview with the band. For the fans, by the fans! COMRADES IN ARMS: Heathen, Flotsam & Jetsam, Wargasm, Meliah Rage and Intruder ARSENAL: Limited edition CD – only 500 units pressed worldwide – Cover art by Steven Cobb – digitally remastered – band supplied photos – full color 24 page booklet with new band interview It’s About Time Demo – 1992 1. The Life That's Left 2. The Real World 3. Subject: Human 4. Under One God Demo – 1994 5. Flies 6. Reflections 7. Loaded Gun 8. Early Grave Demo – 1995 9. Breakdown 10. More Than This 11. War Is On 12. No Chance Live – 2003 13. The Real World (Live)
DEADLY BLESSING "PSYCHO DRAMA" SHIPPING NOW
Watch "Psycho Drama" video here
In 1989, following the success of their debut album, Ascend From the Cauldron, New Jersey power metallers DEADLY BLESSING made the pivotal decision to part ways with their iconic-yet-polarizing frontman, Norman "Ski" Kiersznowski. In search of a more aggressive singer who could still be melodic, the band approached Larry Betson; whose gruffer, less over-the-top approach provided a perfect fit as the group continued to open for increasingly heavier national acts such as Biohazard, Dark Angel, and Pantera. The following year, influenced by hardcore thrash from the Bay Area to New York, DEADLY BLESSING recorded two hard-hitting demos—the well-received Psycho Drama, and the never officially released Mechanical Solutions—before rechristening themselves OPTIMUS PRIME for one last demo, taking some inspiration from that era's increasingly ubiquitous "grunge"-leaning sounds. However, as work began on their sophomore full-length, internal uncertainties combined with label and management woes left the group without a proper home, and the lineup eventually unraveled. So now, more than 25 years later, Divebomb Records is beyond thrilled to finally deliver this deluxe edition of Psycho Drama: a massive two-disc set representing the Larry Betson era of DEADLY BLESSING into OPTIMUS PRIME across 18 studio and 11 live tracks—many appearing here for the first time ever—fully remastered by Jamie King at The Basement Recording. You'll also find archival photographs, studio memories from Psycho Drama engineer Bob Kimmel, and an all-new retrospective interview with the band. For the fans, by the fans! FOR FANS OF: HELSTAR, TYRANT'S REIGN, LIEGE LORD, REALM, TOXIK
TRACK LIST: CD1 Psycho Drama (Demo – 1990) 1. Asylum Awaits 2. Good As Dead 3. Psycho Drama 4. Solitary Confinement 5. Burial Dream 6. Requiem Mechanical Solutions (Demo – 1990) 7. Question & The Answer (I Look Down) 8. Mechanical Solutions 9. Four Walls 10. FA-Q 11. Nothing To Fear Live 12. The Immortal 13. Warrior Unknown 14. Shredder 15. Nothing To Fear 16. Mechanical Solutions 17. Still In Vengeance CD2 OPTIMUS PRIME demos 1. Inside Out 2. Remove Your Face 3. Stand In Line 4. Turn It Over 5. Eye Can't See 6. Sometimes 7. Disappearing World Live 8. When We Come 9. Shapes Of Things 10. Sometimes 11. I Feel You
BUGZY "PLAN B" SHIPPING NOW
Watch "One Man" video here
BOOTCAMP SERIES #32 DECLASSIFIED INFORMATION: The roots of BUGZY date back to late-1983, when 19-year-old guitarist/vocalist William "Bugsy" Boyer, keyboard player Franki Gorgo, and drummer Bob Kimmel crossed paths as members of a full-time, internationally touring cover band called Pentagon. By 1985, Bob and Franki had struck out to create their own original material in an attempt to sell songs to a major artist or publishing company. Initially still a member of Pentagon, Bugsy would join their sessions whenever his schedule allowed, but by 1988 the three had officially joined forces and fleshed out a lineup to begin performing live—"BUGZY" being the simple result of needing a name for their first gig. Within a year, a short-lived production deal with producer Tony Bongiovi led the group to record a few tracks in New York City's historic Power Station studio; and in 1990, a production/management deal with L.A. record producer John Ryan (Santana, etc.) resulted in three years of nonstop work on new material with an assortment of session musicians. Into the mid-'90s, with the help of hit record producer Chris Lord-Alge, BUGZY was courted by no less than three major labels—RCA, Polygram, and EMI—but the trio's decade of hard work would shockingly fail to yield the release of one single piece of music... ...until now! 20+ years later, Divebomb Records is proud to shed light on BUGZY's Plan B: 17 tracks of spectacularly catchy AOR/hard rock culled from the band's extensive personal archives, and graciously rescued from permanent obscurity. Sure to delight diehard fans of heavy-hitters such as Bad English, Night Ranger, Giant and The Hooters; the collection also boasts an all-new 20 page booklet featuring band interview covering the ins and outs behind this prolific songwriting team. For the fans, by the fans! COMRADES IN ARMS: Bad English, Tall Stories, Night Ranger, The Hooters, Giant and The Choirboys ARSENAL: Limited edition CD – only 500 units pressed worldwide – Cover art by Steven Cobb – digitally remastered – band supplied photos – full color 20 page booklet with new band interview
1. One Man 2. Say A Prayer 3. A Glimpse Of Paradise 4. Your Love Leaves Me Cold 5. Young At Heart 6. Lies 7. Don't Ever Let Go 8. Piece Of The Puzzle 9. The Bigger The Heart 10. Angel 11. A Million Miles Away 12. I Can't Let Go 13. Eyes Of Steel 14. Shadow From The Light 15. Easy Way Out 16. Just Say Goodbye 17. Secrets
