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Specially prepared liner notes by renowned music writer Brian Morton. Brazilian singer/ song writer Joao Gilberto was a legend of bossa nova. While Antonio Carlos Jobim set the standard for the creation of bossa nova in the mid-'50s (with songs like The Girl from Ipanema and Desafinado), it was Gilberto who brilliantly reimagined defined the genre.

In 1959 Gilberto presented his first LP, Chega de Saudade presented here. The title song turned into a massive hit, launching Gilberto's career and the bossa nova craze.

"In 1959, before I left my hometown, I heard Joao Gilberto. And hearing Joao Gilberto was a revolution in my mind; it was an enlightenment, really. I knew that something had to happen, something was already happening, and that Brazil could be freer and bigger and could make some kind of original contribution for world
civilization." - Caetano Veloso (Brazilian singer/composer)

Specially prepared liner notes by renowned music writer Brian Morton.

By 1955, Sinatra's ubiquitous presence as an entertainer had completely abolished all memories of his struggles in the early '50s. He began the year by touring Australia for the first time, and less than a week after returning, he would be back in Capitol's KHJ Studios to begin recording one of his most treasured albums, In the Wee Small Hours , a concept album which would enter the Billboardcharts on May 28, 1955. It would rise to #2 and remain on the chart for a total of 33 weeks and in 1984 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
"One great talent who has had the recognition he deserved is Frank Sinatra. There's nobody in the world like Frank, and I have great admiration for a whole bunch of singers. He was as great when he retired as he was twenty years earlier. When you've got it, you've got it--that's it." - Buddy Rich

They’ve been labelled everything from pop punk to emo to post-hardcore, but Calling All Captains cover all of that and more on (e)motion sickness, their explosive and expansive new collection. (e)motion sickness marks the culmination of that growth to-date, building atop Calling All Captains’ rock-solid musical base with an even wider array of sonic influence and lyrical prowess, and ultimately, making the essence of what they do rather difficult to describe. Really, you just need to listen for yourself.

Dive into the soulful world of Little Beaver with the long-awaited reissue of his 1972 debut album, Joey. Released on Cat Records, this album showcases the unmistakable talent of a musician who not only crafted the unforgettable guitar riff in Betty Wright's "Clean Up Woman" but also delivered the #2 R&B hit "Party Down."
Joey stands out as a masterful blend of Rhythm & Blues, Soul, and a touch of Funk & Blues, enriched by lush orchestrations that elevate each track. The album features the enchanting title track "Joey," which was produced by Betty Wright, "I'm Losin' the Feelin'," later covered by Gwen McRae, and the deeply evocative "Katie Pearl," adding layers of soulful resonance that speak directly to the heart.
Before his solo breakthrough, Little Beaver was a revered figure in the Miami Soul scene, known for his work as a bassist and guitarist since his early teens and as an arranger who brought magic to the music he touched. This release not only showcases his formidable skills as a guitarist but also highlights his deep, intuitive sense of songwriting that draws listeners into the emotional landscapes of his songs.
This reissue isn't just a return to the shelves; it's a celebration of a profound musical legacy that continues to resonate. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to his music, Joey by Little Beaver is an essential addition to your collection, offering a timeless journey through the depths of soul music. Don't miss the chance to experience this seminal album, beautifully remastered to capture the original warmth and spirit of Little Beaver's early work.

"Nordvisor” is the inaugural chapter in a series of vinyl releases chronicling the musical essence of Nordvis and the artists whose passions fuel its fires. It focuses on analogue, folkish expressions – distilling the melancholy and beauty inherent in the wilderness, transforming them into music that resonates with the primal force of nature itself.

Born from a vision of collaborative creation, “Nordvisor” steps beyond the conventional compilation format that assembles rare and unreleased tracks. Each song is a bespoke creation, tailored specifically for this project, reflecting the communal ethos and artistic integrity of the participants.

“Nordvisor – Ett samlingsverk från Nordvis” will be released as a double LP, featuring a premium gatefold sleeve with Pantone elements, an 8page, 12-inch booklet, and multi-coloured vinyl.

This release is not merely a label sampler but a celebration of Nordvis’ heart and soul, forming a mosaic of connections between music, landscape, and the human experience. It features exclusive material from Örnatorpet, Bhleg, Blood and Sun, Hagathorn, Grift, Over the Voids, Fields of Mildew, JoDöden, Undantagsfolk, Prag 83, Sons of Crom, Draugurinn, Varde, Saiva, and Forndom.

First in a Brand New series of Limited Edition 12” of all-time Studio One party bombs now available for the first time ever on loud 12”.

Marcia Griffiths’ ‘Feel Like Jumping’ is a stone-cold classic, one of the best reggae songs ever made! Includes version on the flip.

100% essential monster tune that rocks any dancefloor!

Deeeeeep from the Ariwa archives... all unreleased music on here. Sounding absolutely essential to us. Dates of production uknown at time of writing...

The A Side is a Mad Professor produced version of Aisha's 'Give a Little Love', given the UK treatment. The Dub is a proper roller.

Side B is the unheard African Message Dub (Parts 1& 2). Recordings ft Jah Shaka on bass, Norman Grant (Twinkle Brothers) on Drums, Sgt Pepper and Mad Professor on the desk. Masterful UK Dub from these key figures.... pulled out of nowhere.

Not to be missed!

Strut present the first definitive retrospective of an icon of 1970s and ‘80s soul, jazz and disco, Patrice Rushen, covering her peerless 6-year career with Elektra / Asylum from 1978 to 1984. Joining Elektra after three albums with jazz label Prestige, Patrice had shown prodigious talent at an early age and had first broken through after winning a competition to perform at the Monterrey Jazz Festival of 1972. By the time of the recordings on this collection, she had become a prolific and in-demand session musician and arranger on the West coast, appearing on over 80 recordings for other artists. She joined the Elektra / Asylum roster in 1978 as they launched a pop / jazz division alongside visionaries like Donald Byrd and Grover Washington, Jr. “The idea was to create music that was good for commercial radio / R&B,” Patrice explains. “We were all making sophisticated dance music, essentially.”

Drawing on some of the leading musicians in L.A. like saxophonist Gerald Albright, drummer “Ndugu” Chancler and bassman Freddie Washington and keeping an open minded approach from her training in classical, jazz and soundtrack scores, Patrice’s music was a different, more intricate proposition to many of the soul artists of the time. “L.A. musicians were not so locked into tradition,” she continues. “None of us were accustomed to limitation and the record label left us to take our own direction.”

Early classics like ‘Music Of The Earth’ and ‘Let’s Sing A Song Of Love’ were among Patrice’s first as a lead vocalist before her ‘Pizzazz’ album landed in 1979, featuring the unique disco of ‘Haven’t You Heard’ and one of her greatest ballads, ‘Settle For My Love’. “Although ballads make you feel more vulnerable as an artist because they are often personal, I think listeners relate to that sincerity,” she reflects. By now, Patrice’s records were supremely arranged and produced as her confidence as an all-round writer, producer, arranger and performer grew. Slick dancefloor anthem ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ and the ‘Posh’ album in 1980 led to her landmark album ‘Straight From The Heart’ two years later. Receiving little support from her label, Patrice and her production team personally funded a promo campaign for the first single from it, ‘Forget Me Nots’. It went on to peak at no. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the album was later Grammy-nominated, while the track became a timeless anthem and popular sample, inspiring Will Smith’s theme for the film ‘Men In Black’ and George Michael’s ‘Fastlove’.

Patrice’s final album for Elektra, ‘Now’ kept the bar high with sparse, synth-led songs including ‘Feel So Real’ and ‘To Each His Own’. It concluded a golden era creatively for Patrice which remains revered by soul and disco aficionados the world over.

‘Remind Me’ features all of Patrice Rushen’s chart singles, 12” versions and popular sample sources on one album for the first time. Formats included a 3LP set and 1CD fully remastered by The Carvery from the original tapes. Both formats include an exclusive new interview with Patrice Rushen and rare photos.

• First definitive Patrice Rushen compilation released on vinyl since the ‘80s
• Includes all of her chart hits, DJ favourites and sample sources
• Official release featuring full interview with Patrice Rushen about her career and music • Features rare photos from her personal collection + some of the photographers she has worked with during her career
• Fully remastered by The Carvery from the original ¼” tapes
• Start of full Patrice Rushen reissue programme from her Elektra era

Writing music for film and theatre has always been a big part of Hania Rani's musical world. It is also a part of the creative process that can be tantalisingly out of reach for listeners, either the project doesn't come to fruition or the music simply isn't available away from the film or play. From early collaborations with friends, to last year's two scores for full length films (xAbo: Father Boniecki directed by Aleksandra Potoczek and I Never Cry directed by Piotr Domalewski') Rani has been involved in many such projects, each representing an important step in her artistic development and life as a composer and artist:

"Composing for motion picture or theatre is for me a very different kind of work than writing for my own projects. Firstly, I need to collaborate with somebody else who sees the world through the lense of their own art and craft. That's why these kinds of encounters can be so exciting - they are a promise of creating something very new, as a result of creative work of so many people from all walks of life. Secondly, I feel that music in film is an invisible character, a missing emotion that creates a special atmosphere and sensation. It doesn't illustrate, it completes the work of art. I think it is an extremely sensitive matter that rejects banal associations and easy solutions. I feel like composing for film works like an exercise for my imagination."

It is the nature of these collaborations though, that sometimes the composers own preferred compositions don't make the final cut. This is where Music for Film and Theatre comes in as it allows Rani to present a selection of her own personal favourite pieces composed for film and plays. Pieces that made it to the final cut and pieces that were rejected by the director or the producer. Bringing the music together as an album offers a chance for Rani to share her music with her listeners on her own terms and a chance for her fans to hear a different side of her art.

"I put them in one place, as a collection of precious objects that were kept for years in a drawer. Some of them were composed a couple years ago, some are the result of recent research. I am very happy to finally be able to present them as a separate project."

Rani is of course grateful to all of the directors who have entrusted her to create music for their projects, but she professes especially warm feelings for the pieces composed for her first 'real' theatre play, Pradziady, directed by Michał Zdunik. The title comes from 'Dziady' a term in Slavic folklore for the spirits of the ancestors and a collection of pre-Christian rites, rituals and customs that were dedicated to them. The essence of these rituals was the 'communion of the living with the dead', namely, the establishment of relationships with the souls of the ancestors. "I felt this story needed extremely dark and fragile music, and at the same time a sound that could express the mixture of the two worlds - the living and the dead. I decided to compose part of the soundtrack with a string quartet but including two cellos, viola and only one violin. We recorded in a little house, completely built from wood, mostly from Finnish pine. I always felt this space has a very special, warm and natural acoustics - especially when it is combined with string instruments. The track composed for this theatre play is called Ghosts but actually didn't finally make it to the performance, although I like it so much that I thought it would perfectly fit



this compilation". Other highlights include the enchanting Soleil Pâle written for a collaboration with director Neels Castillon, and improvising dancers Alt Take, the beautiful melancholy of In Between (from the film score for xAbo: Father Boniecki) and the magical bliss of The Beach (from I Never Cry) and together they create a beautiful offering from an artist whose every note is worth hearing, but for whom the journey is just beginning:

"I am very happy to see that many artists consider my music as the right soundtrack for their works, because film music was always a huge inspiration for any of my compositions. I find there a lot of life and real emotions, but also a feeling of freedom. Freedom from my own thinking patterns and prejudices. I also believe strongly in collaboration between people, I always feel this is the way to create something really new, based on a mixture of different ways of thinking, feeling, expressing."

This then is Hania Rani, Music for Film and Theatre – enjoy!

Die Geschichte von Canned Heat ist auch gleichzeitig die Geschichte von Exzessen, Drogenmissbrauch, psychischen Erkrankungen und Tablettensucht, verbunden mit der Affinität für bandinternen Begräbnisse. So sagte erst vor kurzem Drummer Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra in einem Interview: "Ich bin nach über 55 Jahren noch immer bei Canned Heat. Überhaupt noch am Leben zu sein, ist hier schon ein Triumph". Schließlich war Fito seit dem zweiten offiziellen Album der Band "Boogie With Canned Heat" mit dabei, das 1968 auf dem US-Label Liberty veröffentlicht wurde. 1970 erschien "Future Blues", das erste Album mit dem neuen Gitarristen Harvey Mandel. Mit "So Sad (The World"s in a Tangle)" enthält das Album den ersten Umweltschutz-Song der Band. Es handelt vom ständigen Smog über Los Angeles. "Let"s Work Together", eine Coverversion von Wilbert Harrisons "Let"s Stick Together" aus dem Jahre 1962, wurde für Canned Heat weltweit zu einem Top Ten Hit. Im gleichen Jahr folgte der Konzertmitschnitt ""70 Concert: Recorded Live In Europe". Aufgenommen an verschiedenen Orten während der Tournee durch Europa (u. a. der Londoner Royal Albert Hall), ist dies das erste offizielle Live-Album der Band und gleichzeitig das letzte Tondokument von Canned Heat mit Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson, der im September 1970 an einer Überdosis Tabletten starb. Mit "Final Vinyl" veröffentlichten Canned Heat vor kurzem ihr letztes Album; "Future Blues" und ""70 Concert: Recorded Live In Europe" gehören zu ihren essentiellen Alben, als die Band in ihrer Keybesetzung mit Al Wilson, Bob Hite, Fito de la Parra, Harvey Mandel und Larry Taylor Ende der 1960er / Anfang der 1970er Jahre den Zenit ihres Schaffens erreicht hatten. Wilsons Tod hinterließ eine Lücke, die nicht mehr zu schließen war, zumal auch Larry Taylor und Harvey Mandel kurz zuvor Canned Heat verlassen hatten, um sich John Mayalls "USA-Union"-Band anzuschließen.

Asmaa Hamzaoui stands out as a pioneering female figure in the traditionally male-dominated realm of Gnawa music. With her group, Bnat Timbouktou, she brings a dynamic and spiritual dimension to the genre, infusing it with the vibrant energy of desert blues. Despite the essential role women have played in Gnawa rituals, female musicians have historically been underrepresented. Hamzaoui, however, is at the forefront of changing this trend. Born into a family deeply entrenched in Gnawa traditions in Casablanca, Hamzaoui was immersed in this musical heritage from a young age. Her father, a master musician, and her mother, a dancer, provided a rich environment for her early education in music. She learned to play the guembri, a three-stringed lute central to Gnawa music, and began performing with her father's band on the qraqeb, metal castanets used in Gnawa music, and in the choir. Encouraged by her father, she eventually formed her own group, Bnat Timbouktou. The group's debut album, "Oulad Lghaba," recorded in collaboration with the Swedish label ajabu! Records, was critically acclaimed and nominated for a Songlines Music Award. This album, along with their upcoming release "L'bnat," showcases Hamzaoui's commitment to preserving and revitalizing Gnawa music. "L'bnat," will emphasize the female traditions and spiritual aspects of Gnawa culture. Hamzaoui's performances are characterized by her powerful voice and the rhythmic, percussive playing of the guembri. Her music not only pays homage to the spiritual and healing qualities of Gnawa but also aims to keep the tradition alive by introducing it to new audiences worldwide.

In November 2023 we celebrated NOW’s 40th anniversary with a collection of massive Pop hits – but with 40 years of hits to choose from we had to leave out so many fantastic tracks – so it’s time to continue that celebration with NOW That’s What I Call 40 Years - Part 2 – again honouring the legacy with a stellar selection from the past four decades of NOW. Embark on a musical journey from 1983 right up to the present day. Released on a triple vinyl set pressed on Green, Clear Transparent, and Pink LPs with 43 essential hit tracks. and 100 essential hit tracks across the 5 CD set

Much time has passed since the Queer Australian/Italian-Armenian, multifaceted artist, Kristian Bahoudian aka Kris Baha, swapped the parched red earth and searing midday sun of the Australian landscape for the brutalist communist-era apartment blocks and slate-grey skies of former East Berlin. Kris is now a fixture in Berlin’s club scene and has toured most of the world as a DJ & live artist with his own unique production style of cyber industrial, EBM, wave, post punk, and early ‘90s IDM mutations. Remixing some of the scene’s most notable artists such as Boy Harsher and techno pop lord Boys Noize, Kris has garnered respect and trust in the electronic music scene for the last 13 years. To respond to the current AI revolution, Kris uploads himself to the cyber ether through his latest project: GHOSTS IN THE MACHIИE.

Across Dual Timelines —
” GHOSTS IN THE MACHIИE ” unfolds as a sci-fi cyberpunk concept project inhabiting dual timelines. In one, we glimpse a trans-humanist future where human consciousness exists as intricate sequences of binary code, entwined and controlled by omnipresent AI systems. In this coded future, a profound awakening stirs among a select few who manage to mutate the code they were governed by, unlocking memories of their history that was erased by the AI. Through this discovery they realize they can traverse temporal boundaries and utilize this power to send warning messages back in time to their former fully human selves. These eerie missives carry a dire warning for humanity, urging them to rectify the course of society before the relentless march of artificial intelligence deprives humanity of its essence. In this terrifying future, humans are rendered mere specters within the digital expanse, stripped of their souls, to become Ghosts In The Machine.
Collaboration with the future self —
The cyber odyssey unfolds from a unique perspective— Kris’s very own future self (his future ghost): a spectral entity endeavoring to caution its present incarnation against the ominous path it treads, attempting to avert a dystopian future.Sonic Alchemy —
A fuse of cybernetic synth waves, hyper-punk, and pulsating drum and bass laid out against the dystopian, industrial sonic landscape of this grim future “civilization”. Each track recounts a new chapter in the gripping narrative, drawing listeners deeper into their own story and the role we all play as a collective society with the future possibilities of unregulated AI.Recorded in Berlin with software and hardware synthesisers. AI was used to assist me with lyric themes, concepts and ideas. I also used a trained AI model of my own voice as backing vocals in ‘Haunting Me’.ll music, words & concepts by Kristian Bahoudian aka Kris Baha and his future ghost,
GHOSTS IN THE MACHIИE

Beyond the Bridge is excited to welcome a novel sonic experience to the roster with the debut of Australian artist gi. Capturing the essence of live experimentation, this release was recorded at the Worm Turns festival in 2023. It charts an immersive course through the uncharted territories of drone, IDM, and techno. Each track is thoughtfully selected, guiding the listener on a profound journey marked by peaks of intense emotional release and valleys of serene recuperation. Dive into a meticulously crafted soundscape that promises to enrich and challenge the auditory senses.?

1983 Post-Punk/Reggae masterpiece from Khartomb becomes the eighth release on Jason Boardman's indispensable BiD label !
A Balearic secret weapon now available for aficionados everywhere !
Synkro & Talking Drums deliver outstanding reworks too - ESSENTIAL !!

This album was a self imposed ambitious project for us. Something to kick in the creative flow. The last few years, having been a challenging time in general, felt like a good time for a pivot. The last two albums were so guitar and keyboard centric, I wanted a weird and fun set of parameters for us to work with. I demo’d everything at home on cassette 4 track (harkening back to simpler times) using drum loops, and just had at it 'til I had a pile of “songs”. Tom and I chose one sound each using synths and created a range of 3 octaves of that sample, then loaded them into Roland SPD-SX samplers and learned the transcribed songs using drum sticks. The idea was to change the way we wrote and to have 4 people along the front of the stage essentially playing percussion. So no guitar, no keys. As we were recording I kept thinking how the sounds, when paired up, sounded a bit like brass. So, we added a saxophone horn section to round out the horniness of the sound with a bit of reedy bell tones. Thanks to Cansfis Foote & Brad Caulkins on tenor and Baritone saxophones :) Sort of a Dexy’s Midnight Runners meets Von LMO meets The Flesh Eaters meets the Screamers kinda punk junk. Poppy and hooky, heavy at times.. Sort of vacuous and maybe a bit sci-fi in sound. Boneheaded in riff and heady in lyrics. Recorded at Stu-Stu-Studio by me on 8 track 1/4” tape . So pretty hot and raw. Lots to write about today. A lot of these lyrics were taken from things people said in passing about taking on life right now that stuck with me. Things that made me reflect. Things that made me laugh. Things that made me WTF. Some folks are kind, genuine & give you love and energy. Some are greedy manipulative ghouls who hang off your veins. You must be strong, composed and take care of yourself. Be self aware and check your mind for cracks. Learn to relax and be well. There are moments of beauty and redemption. Its not all bad news and there’s always hope. People continue to surprise me one way or another. Anyhow, Hope you enjoy and good luck out there. — John Dwyer

Veyl is pleased to welcome Velvet May for his debut LP on the label. Enchanted By The Muse marks a new and exciting direction for the Italian-born, Berlin-based artist whose aesthetic focuses on post-punk, techno and industrial music. This album embodies May’s exploration and experimentation of various musical directions, reflecting a fusion of industrial, rock and electronic elements. It also symbolizes a new approach, spanning genres and styles and exploring his sound from every angle.
Conceptually, the album reflects a realm of emotional dissonance in an industrial desolation - where harsh electronic textures mingle with gritty industrial and rock elements. Also present are echoes of punk's raw energy and adrenalinic drive, a musical journey through shifting moods and atmospheres, serving as a soundtrack to different aspects of life and capturing the essence of its high and lows.
From the opening track, “Now That You Have Left It All”, we are lured into a thrilling sonic dimension with a shot of energy that sets the stage for journey ahead. “Keep On Falling” injects a dose of rock which we find throughout the record fused with the artist’s signature blend of postpunk, industrial and techno strains. Tracks like “The Outsider” and “Slithering Serenade” conjure raw, distorted rhythms and a menacing fuzz which bleeds out of the speakers while “Scales of Gold” traverses back through infectious body and wave. “Illusion In Control” is the perfect climax, a musical assault that shatters boundaries and blurs the lines between reality and fantasy.

Alles endet. Selbst in den legendären Gefilden des Heavy Metal, wo Mythen und Legenden tagtäglich in die
alltägliche Realität eindringen. Mitglieder und Fans der amerikanischen Metal-Giganten Metal Church wurden
sich dessen schmerzlich bewusst, als sie im Juli 2021 ihren legendären Sänger und Frontmann Mike Howe
verloren. Von 1988 bis 1994 und noch einmal ab 2015 war Howe der Frontmann einer der meistgeliebten und
geschätzten Metal-Institutionen Amerikas und nahm bahnbrechende und essentielle Werke wie "Blessing in
Disguise" und "The Human Factor" auf.
Mike Howe war ein herausragender Sänger, ein charismatischer Frontmann und für viele die Stimme des
amerikanischen Heavy Metal. Am 26. Juli 2021 starb Howe im Alter von 55 Jahren in seinem Haus in Eureka,
Kalifornien. Die Welt hat an diesem Tag eine einzigartige Stimme und ein einzigartiges Talent verloren. Sein
Vermächtnis wird natürlich weiterleben, in seinen vielen Freunden, Anhängern und Fans, in seinen klassischen
Alben und in den Erinnerungen seiner Bandkollegen. Zum dritten Jahrestag seines tragischen Todes wird
Reaper Entertainment seinen eigenen Beitrag zum Gedenkaltar einer wahren Ikone leisten: ein Live-Album mit
dem Titel "The Final Sermon", aufgenommen bei seinen letzten Auftritten - am 24. und 25. August 2019 im Club
Citta in Kawasaki, Japan. "The Final Sermon" zeigt nicht nur Howe auf seinem stimmlichen Höhepunkt, der
singt, schreit und schmettert, als gäbe es buchstäblich kein Morgen, sondern auch eine Band in bestechender
Form. Thrash-Gitarren-Pionier und -Gründer Kurdt Vanderhoof, Gitarrist Rick Van Zandt, Bassist Steve Unger,
Schlagzeuger Stet Howland und Live-Bassist Bobby Ferkovich waren in diesen zwei langen Nächten in Japan in
Hochform, eine eingespielte Metal-Maschine, die zu allem bereit war. 14 Songs unterstreichen ihren Status als
Quintessenz amerikanischer Metal-Overlords, eine Band, die musikalisch alle Register zieht und gleichzeitig eine
politische, sozial bewusste, philosophische Denkweise verkörpert. Aktuelle Knaller wie das furiose
"Damned if you do", Klassiker wie die bedrohliche Riffwand von "Fake Healer" und frühe Klassiker wie "Beyond
the Black" zeigen eine Band, die sich ihrer Vergangenheit bewusst und stolz darauf ist, sich aber in der
Gegenwart wohl fühlt. Dies ist keine Veteranengruppe, die mit vergangenem Ruhm prahlt, sondern eine Band,
die auch vier Jahrzehnte nach ihrer Karriere noch ein hungriges und gefährliches Wolfsrudel ist.
Das ist das Schöne an Metal Church. Die Band wurde 1980 in der aufkeimenden Metalszene der Bay Area
gegründet und ließ sogar Lars Ulrich für den Posten des Schlagzeugers vorspielen, bevor er die Band verließ, um
eine andere Bay Area-Band zu gründen. Ihr Debütalbum "Metal Church" (1984) ist einer der großen Klassiker
des amerikanischen Heavy Metal und begründete eine internationale Karriere. Die Band spielte mit allen
großen Vier des Thrash (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax), trat bei MTVs "Headbanger's Ball" auf und
prägte die amerikanische Metal-Landschaft wie keine andere. Die Band ist auch heute noch quicklebendig, aber
die legendäre Ära der achtziger und frühen neunziger Jahre wird durch die Spuren, die Sänger Mike Howe in
der Band hinterlassen hat, nie übertroffen werden: "The Final Sermon" ist der lebende Beweis dafür, dass, auch
wenn alle Idole irgendwann fallen, ihr Vermächtnis weiterlebt. Durch uns alle.

Alles endet. Selbst in den legendären Gefilden des Heavy Metal, wo Mythen und Legenden tagtäglich in die
alltägliche Realität eindringen. Mitglieder und Fans der amerikanischen Metal-Giganten Metal Church wurden
sich dessen schmerzlich bewusst, als sie im Juli 2021 ihren legendären Sänger und Frontmann Mike Howe
verloren. Von 1988 bis 1994 und noch einmal ab 2015 war Howe der Frontmann einer der meistgeliebten und
geschätzten Metal-Institutionen Amerikas und nahm bahnbrechende und essentielle Werke wie "Blessing in
Disguise" und "The Human Factor" auf.
Mike Howe war ein herausragender Sänger, ein charismatischer Frontmann und für viele die Stimme des
amerikanischen Heavy Metal. Am 26. Juli 2021 starb Howe im Alter von 55 Jahren in seinem Haus in Eureka,
Kalifornien. Die Welt hat an diesem Tag eine einzigartige Stimme und ein einzigartiges Talent verloren. Sein
Vermächtnis wird natürlich weiterleben, in seinen vielen Freunden, Anhängern und Fans, in seinen klassischen
Alben und in den Erinnerungen seiner Bandkollegen. Zum dritten Jahrestag seines tragischen Todes wird
Reaper Entertainment seinen eigenen Beitrag zum Gedenkaltar einer wahren Ikone leisten: ein Live-Album mit
dem Titel "The Final Sermon", aufgenommen bei seinen letzten Auftritten - am 24. und 25. August 2019 im Club
Citta in Kawasaki, Japan. "The Final Sermon" zeigt nicht nur Howe auf seinem stimmlichen Höhepunkt, der
singt, schreit und schmettert, als gäbe es buchstäblich kein Morgen, sondern auch eine Band in bestechender
Form. Thrash-Gitarren-Pionier und -Gründer Kurdt Vanderhoof, Gitarrist Rick Van Zandt, Bassist Steve Unger,
Schlagzeuger Stet Howland und Live-Bassist Bobby Ferkovich waren in diesen zwei langen Nächten in Japan in
Hochform, eine eingespielte Metal-Maschine, die zu allem bereit war. 14 Songs unterstreichen ihren Status als
Quintessenz amerikanischer Metal-Overlords, eine Band, die musikalisch alle Register zieht und gleichzeitig eine
politische, sozial bewusste, philosophische Denkweise verkörpert. Aktuelle Knaller wie das furiose
"Damned if you do", Klassiker wie die bedrohliche Riffwand von "Fake Healer" und frühe Klassiker wie "Beyond
the Black" zeigen eine Band, die sich ihrer Vergangenheit bewusst und stolz darauf ist, sich aber in der
Gegenwart wohl fühlt. Dies ist keine Veteranengruppe, die mit vergangenem Ruhm prahlt, sondern eine Band,
die auch vier Jahrzehnte nach ihrer Karriere noch ein hungriges und gefährliches Wolfsrudel ist.
Das ist das Schöne an Metal Church. Die Band wurde 1980 in der aufkeimenden Metalszene der Bay Area
gegründet und ließ sogar Lars Ulrich für den Posten des Schlagzeugers vorspielen, bevor er die Band verließ, um
eine andere Bay Area-Band zu gründen. Ihr Debütalbum "Metal Church" (1984) ist einer der großen Klassiker
des amerikanischen Heavy Metal und begründete eine internationale Karriere. Die Band spielte mit allen
großen Vier des Thrash (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax), trat bei MTVs "Headbanger's Ball" auf und
prägte die amerikanische Metal-Landschaft wie keine andere. Die Band ist auch heute noch quicklebendig, aber
die legendäre Ära der achtziger und frühen neunziger Jahre wird durch die Spuren, die Sänger Mike Howe in
der Band hinterlassen hat, nie übertroffen werden: "The Final Sermon" ist der lebende Beweis dafür, dass, auch
wenn alle Idole irgendwann fallen, ihr Vermächtnis weiterlebt. Durch uns alle.

Shop Assistants formed in Edinburgh in 1984 and quickly gained a cult following, playing with kindred spirits the Pastels and the Jesus & Mary Chain and gaining positive coverage in fanzines and the music press. Their Shopping Parade EP and Safety Net single both hit the top of the indie charts and charmed listeners with their unique melodic blend of punk rock and 60s pop. The band signed to Geoff Travis' new Chrysalis Records imprint, Blue Guitar, in 1986 for the release of their debut album 'Will Anything Happen'. The album has since become a cult classic and is an essential listen for fans of indie, dream-pop, and shoe gaze. Stand-out songs include the lead single 'I Don't Wanna Be Friends With You', 'All Day Long', and 'Somewhere In China'. This newly expanded edition has been remastered from the original master tapes and compiled in collaboration with David Keegan and Laura McPhail from the band. CD 1 features the newly remastered version of 'Will Anything Happen' accompanied by B-sides from the era, plus previously unreleased instrumental demos from 1986. CD 2 contains a further 18 previously unreleased tracks including recently unearthed alternate versions and rough mixes from the making of the album, live recordings from London and Deinze, and a John Peel session featuring a cover version of Motorhead's 'Ace Of Spades'. The discs are housed in a 6-panel digisleeve with a 12-page booklet featuring lyrics and photographs.