Krieg, The Banner, Outer Heaven, Stinger

Krieg was formed in 1995 under the usual circumstances before the budding U.S. black metal scene took hold internationally. After recording three demos and appearing on several compilations Krieg recorded a full-length Rise of the Imperial Horde for Blood Fire Death Records in 1997. Krieg continually recorded for several splits and demos until 2001 when they signed to Red Stream records for the release of Destruction Ritual and 2003's critically acclaimed The Black House. In 2004 Krieg announced its hiatus with a final record Blue Miasma. In between 2000 and 2007 the project released several splits, vinyls and cassettes on almost every important underground label including Painiac Records, Sombre Records and Spikekult. Krieg's released output exceeds more than 40 items, not counting numerous bootlegs and unreleased material.

Krieg also became a prominent live band doing several DIY style tours in America and Europe, including being the first American black metal band to play in Romania and Serbia. Shows have ranged from violent, nearly punk styled 20 minute bursts of noise to over an hour of well honed material culled from close to 15 years of activity.

In 2008 Krieg announced its full return with several live performances in the U.S. and the recording of a split 7 inch with Caina. 2009 saw Krieg headline several fests and undertake a reclamation of their reputation for emotional and violent performances. The Black House was also named in Terrorizer Magazine's black metal special as one of the ten most important American black metal records.

Krieg's sole member, Imperial (Neill Jameson) is also involved with ambient/shoegaze black metal duo N.i.l, Twilight (featuring members of Nachtmystium, Leviathan and Isis) as well as collaborations and session work with Judas Iscariot, Nachtmystium, members of Profanatica, Nyktalgia, Kult ov Azazel and Averse Sefira.

2010 will bring the new record The Isolationist which will be Krieg's most challenging and bizarre release to date, continually pushing boundaries as the goal has always been.

From the state that brought you The Misfits, Thursday, My Chemical Romance and For the Love of comes one of New Jersey's newest and strongest outfits, THE BANNER, who have come to claim their place at the top of the heavy music mountain. Like a constantly evolving. mutating monster from the late night creature features, the Banner crushes stereotypes of what horror rock is and should be.

THE BANNER's schizophrenic blend of hardcore, punk and black metal flavor blasted its way into the New Jersey hardcore scene in 2000, and have since rocketed their way to the top tier of northeastern hardcore bands. From gut wrenching, metal tinged ballads, to bone crushing, mosh-laden breakdowns, the band seamlessly blends their influences into a finely honed and unique sound. Known through out the tri-state area for their insane live shows, the band earned spots on The Warped Tour and Skate and Surf fest as well as opening spots for many of the nations premier hardcore, punk and metal acts including Poison the well, My Chemical Romance, Bleeding Through, Eighteen Visions, Death By stereo, Throwdown, Dillinger Escape Plan, The Locust, A Static Lullaby and many others.

During the span of their existence, fans of the band have become accustomed to blood drenched insanity on the stage. The band is adept at drawing in a crowd, balancing the serious and aggressive lyrics of charismatic singer Joey Southside with a sense of fun and audience inclusion that blurs the line between band and audience.

The energy The Banner brings to the live environment can also be found in their collected recordings. After recording a widely circulated demo, the band released their first ep, "Posthumous"(2004) on Blackout! Records. The songs exhibited both heavy and melodic elements that blend together into unique, energetic hardcore anthems, with Joey providing horror-themed lyrics as metaphors for intensely personal musings. The band further honed their sound on following recordings, including a split with Dead Wrong on War Machine Records (2004), and a full length on Blackout!, titled "Your Murder Mix Tape"(2004). Following this, the band chose to finish their contract on Blackout! With a more experimental piece, a 32 minute song that allowed for guitarists Garrett Defalco and Chris "Beef" Leboeuf to expand their musical range, while the rhythm section of Ian Mullen (drums) and Fingerz (bass) provided both Neurosis-inspired pounding and more ethereal, light moments within the span of the piece.

The present and the future for the Banner continues to look bright. With their recent release of 'Each Breath Haunted', their Ferret debut, The Banner has unleashed their monster on the music scene. They'll be supporting 'Each Breath...' with rigorous touring through 2005 and 2006... Look for the Banner on tour in your local graveyard soon!

Pennsylvanian slow and low.