We believe that Imperial Vengeance deserve as much of 2011′s spotlight on new releases as they can possibly endure… before lowering their darkened glasses revealing one of those disapproving looks; the kind that one would normally reserve for the energy-drink-swilling under-classes.

In light of this (and their unquestionable musical talent), they have returned in response to the adulation and the crowds’ calls for an Encore!

The Twenty Shilling and Fourpence V-disc is a bitesize version of their recently venerated album release, BLACK HEART OF EMPIRE, but in true IV-style, it has it’s exclusive content for both the die hard fans and those looking for further persuasion to come to the Dark Aristocratic side of Metal.

“The album is a vast conceptual work and we thought by releasing a little stand-alone slice that would be accessible to both the more longstanding fan and those who are just discvoering the Imperial Vengeance world. The release  of course features guest vocals from Dave Courtney – whom we believe is the absolute embodiement of the true voice of Old London.  We are releasing digitally as the preffered format – either wax cylinder or shellac, based vinyl is not really being played by so many folks these days, though for those who miss the actual disc itself, we are including a compromise within the artwork.” - DB

The third, and leading, track ‘Upon the Stair – and in the Chamber‘ is a previously unheard “Arrangement for Strings in Microcosm” and alongside further artwork designed specifically for this release, I don a French accent and say “with this release, they are really spoiling us“.

“The string arrangement of Upon the Stair is actually the original version of the idea that evolved into the track on the album. I always wanted this arrangement to go on the album but there was nowhere for it to go that didn’t feel contrived, so I held it back to use later. When we decided to do the single, this seemed like an obvious little extra to throw in, and possibly gives a small insight into the composition process IV material often goes through.” - CEA

This process resulted in the revered BLACK HEART OF EMPIRE.

Now whether this was a result of their sheer genius, insight and skill or the rather inspiring/threatening [delete as appropriate] advert featuring Dave Courtney, we will never know, none the less it has put Imperial Vengeance on a platform that supercedes all around it.

“Listening to Imperial Vengeance will make you smarter” - Dom Lawson, Metal Hammer

For more information – and some very exciting new to come – join the Gentleman’s discussion over at www.facebook.com/ImperialVengeance

FOR YOUR COPY OF THE EXCLUSIVE PREMIUM PACKAGE including the full feature length album with 48 Page Penny Dreadful style book artwork, *CLICK HERE*

artist | Elimination
release title | The Blood of Titans
release date | November 28th 2011
format | digital 9-track album
label | Transcend Music

One of the best bands at the moment truly representing all that is British and Metal is due to be release their debut album with Transcend Music, on November 28th 2011.
After the success of their 3-track EP released earlier this year, ELIMINATION took to the road supporting Evile on their UK Tour and have since been committed to writing and recording and the result is one giant ball of British Steel forged in Middle Earth:

“The new album demonstrates a definite progression in terms of both our songwriting and musicianship from our last record. This has been helped to no end by the amount of shows we’ve played together, and the intense rehearsing, and writing schedule we’ve had over the past year” says guitarist Dave Spicer, “The sound on this record is much more refined, and totally representative of where Elimination are right now.”

THE BLOOD OF TITANS has progressed beyond the confinements of their previous ‘Thrash‘ tag; embracing melodic interventions and a heightened dynamism, they have now outgrown the predictable content of Thrash.

Normally, in avoiding their fate, most bands fall into the path of a hyper-clinical ‘modern’ sound, but Elimination have remained true to their musicianship and songwriting skills and turned their attention instaead to the production:

“The production on this album is more akin to records like ‘Clayman’ and ‘Slaughter of the Soul’. We spent a lot more time in the studio with this record, and we think that it really shows. There has been a lot more care put into the making of this record, both by the band and James Dunkley, who engineered, mixed and produced this album.”

This isn’t just a new album from Elimination. This album marks a new era.

THE BLOOD OF TITANS is mature in every sense of the word; The messages are consistent and the delivery is confident.

It knows what it wants to do, it know what it wants to say and it knows exactly how to achieve both.

If you have not heard of THE DIRTY YOUTH then here is all you need to know about a band that have burst through the scene, become a media sensation and setting the bar even higher for female-fronted bands – move over Miss Williams:

1. The Dirty Youth have fast become one of the most exciting new acts on the scene in 2011. Fact.

2. They are from South Wales – do NOT challenge them to a drink off.

3. They performed at this year’s Download Festival, strutting with ease onto the Download highlights page.

4. Their single ‘FIGHT‘ (Sep 5th 2011) has received an unequivocal thumbs up from every review so far, outshining artists with which they draw comparison to the point of eclipse.

5. The band themselves already have a CV full of impressive musical accolades: Matt Bond (guitar/piano/composition) featured on piano on Bullet For My Valentine’s last album and during their live performance at the BBC Maida Vale Studios on Radio 1′s Zane Lowe show. Danni too, was asked to guest on one of CBS’ Radio stations in New York after being hand picked by DJ Frankie Russo for the ‘World Rock Chicks’ Live Show, which has included guests such as Joan Jett, Chrissie Hynde and Gwen Stefani.

6. After Harry took and became the master of the Elder Wand, Draco Malfoy took to wielding another alchemic instrument instead: a Music Man Stingray HH Bass Guitar.

7. Their hotly anticipated video to single release ‘FIGHT‘, exclusively debuted as a featured video on Rocksound.tv, has since been taken up by Scuzz, Kerrang, MTV and  and is accurate taster of the live potential this band have.

8. Now, RED LIGHT FIX is the relentless and passionate debut album release from a band whose songwriting ability sets them apart from your usual female fronted act: this album alone puts The Dirty Youth on the map, compunding their undeniable talent and songwriting ability, that captures all the energy and dynamism of a live performance.

Below is all you need to know about The Dirty Youth: these facts will fully equip you with witty insight, current goings on and the essential facts to avoid any heads hanging in shame (…but seriously, where HAVE you been the last few months?!):

1. The Dirty Youth have fast become one of the most exciting new acts on the scene in 2011.

2. They are from South Wales – do NOT challenge them to a drink off.

3. They performed at this year’s Download Festival, strutting with ease onto the Download highlights page.

4. Their single ‘FIGHT‘ (Sep 5th 2011) has received an unequivocal thumbs up from every review so far, outshining artists with which they draw comparison to the point of eclipse.

5. The band themselves already have a CV full of impressive musical accolades: Matt Bond (guitar/piano/composition) featured on piano on Bullet For My Valentine’s last album and during their live performance at the BBC Maida Vale Studios on Radio 1′s Zane Lowe show. Danni too, was asked to guest on one of CBS’ Radio stations in New York after being hand picked by DJ Frankie Russo for the ‘World Rock Chicks’ Live Show, which has included guests such as Joan Jett, Chrissie Hynde and Gwen Stefani.

6. After Harry took and became the master of the Elder Wand, Draco Malfoy took to wielding another alchemic instrument instead: a Music Man Stingray HH Bass Guitar.

7. Their hotly anticipated video to single release ‘FIGHT‘, exclusively debuted as a featured video on Rocksound.tv, has since been taken up by Scuzz, Kerrang, MTV and  and is accurate taster of the live potential this band have.

8. Now, RED LIGHT FIX is the relentless and passionate debut album release from a band whose songwriting ability sets them apart from your usual female fronted act: this album alone puts The Dirty Youth on the map, compunding their undeniable talent and songwriting ability, that captures all the energy and dynamism of a live performance.

Imperial Vengeance has become the answer to our call for a modern day Victorian-era partnership – The Gilbert & Sullivan of Metal if you will.

You didn’t ask for one? Well tough. Stick it in your pipe and smoke it. Whether you like it or not this duo  have already attracted the attention of the ever scrutinising ears of reviewers and DJ’s alike. With many DJ’s drowning airwaves with their symphonic Metal masterpiece, and the album being deemed everything gratifying from “insane … perfect” to “bloody brilliant”, the time is almost upon us when BLACK HEART OF EMPIRE emerges from the sinister back streets of Old London, revealing itself as Ten Dastardly Tales of Intrigue, Phantasm and Derring-Do…

The album, available in three formats, will be unveiled on September 23rd 2011 – The Autumnal Equinox – mirroring in it’s release, the shift into darkness – The Empire strikes Black!

As well as the sheer genius in the musical ability and orchestration, Imperial Vengeance’s Dave Bryan does not write lyrics: he writes decadent prose. No word is trivial, nor superfluous. Every verb, every historical reference, every bold statement is intended, from a man whose intelligence, acumen and resourcefulness paints a picture in the mind, that the likes of Doré would even applaud . From behind his broadsheet, brandy in hand, he is not short of a few controversial/justified opinions [delete as appropriate!].

As part of their overall audio-visual experience, and in the lead up to their release, Imperial Vengeance have released a few promotional images for you to take and use as you please:

*cough* Social Media profile picture?! *cough* … my apologies, that pipe smoke really gets you….

More about the album:

Beginning with a four part song cycle entitled ‘The Gaslight Aria‘, the album proceeds through a collection of narratives that present a singularly dark vision. The resulting journey is a breathtakingly complex, opiated haze of inspired guitar riffing and dramatic orchestration, awash with neo-Victorian aesthetics and containing no less than one hour of quintessential British Metal.

This nightmarish tapestry of foreboding Doréan atmosphere also contains a cast of featured artists, including Therion soprano Lori Lewis, Vulture Industries vocalist, Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen,”the voice of Old London” Dave Courtney , sewn together by acclaimed producer Russ Russell (Dimmu Borgir, Napalm Death, Samael):

“We were thrilled to have Russ add his stamp of quality to the album, especially since he has an inherent understanding of the insanity we are creating.”

Imperial Vengeance’s Black Heart of Empire is a complete audio-visual experience. The Premium Package (only available via Transcend Music) includes a 46-page ‘Penny Dreadful’ style booklet, which amongst the assorted simulacra and ephemera contains extracts of the orchestral score, photo galleries, Victorian horror and extensive insight by C. Edward Alexander and David Bryan into the background and composition behind the album.

Should you need further convincing then they are offering a free downloadable audio-visual sampler: simply click the link below to get ahold of yours: