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Tracking Spanish Metal Since 2002

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Despite Launch E-Liquid

November 20, 2017 /

Vaping is becoming increasingly popular around the world with new flavors being introduced every day. Despite, a Metal band formed in Sweeden in 1998, is doing something pretty awesome in regard to the vaping industry.

This extremely talented group of hard-core, devoted vapers are using their fame and following to advance vaping as an alternative to smoking, and smoking cessation. They have previously given a sneak peak of their new E-Liquid, made possible by Vapemate, to their followers via Instagram and Twitter. Vapemate is a company in the U.K. who not only makes E-Liquids, but also provides electronic cigarettes and accessories as well. An E-Liquid is simply the fluid used in electronic cigarettes which gives them fuel. The band planned to release the unique E-Liquid accompanied by their (also new) album, Synergy, in July 2016.

Aspire, an electronic cigarette manufacturer has even designed an interesting, one-of-a-kind mechanical mod for the band. Despite has pictures of this posted on their Instagram page as well.

With the younger populations tend to be easily influenced, this is a great way to turn them away from smoking and toward an alternative. Additionally, most of those in younger generations want to do the same thing their role models are doing. By being easily influenced by their environment, along with raging hormones, teens and young adults are prone to make impulsive decisions. Sometimes this means taking on a bad habit, such as smoking. It is so easy to get caught up in listening to a great song and before you know it you are following this band on the media or social networks.

When you see them making certain decisions or practicing certain behaviors, it can be hard not to follow. Think about it this way: if you are a smoker yourself, think back to the time when you started. It was likely in your late teens or early twenties. This is a time in our lives when we are easily influenced, so it is important to have great role models, especially the cool metal band kind of influence. Despite is doing some really awesome things right now that most certainly deserve our attention.

In Profile: Vhäldemar

November 20, 2017 /

Vhaldemar is a Spanish heavy metal band, which was founded in 1999 by singer and guitarist, Carlos Escudero and guitarist Pedro Monge. They later added a drummer, Eduardo Martinez and bassist Oscar Cuadrado. They sent in their first demo to Arise Records in June 2001, who then helped them make and release their first album, Fight to the End in 2002. Fight to the End was followed by I Made My Own Hell. Both were recorded in The Rock Studio via Arise Records in Bilbao. The albums have been released in Japan, the U.S., South America, and Europe. In Brazil, Vhaldemar was voted the best international album upon the release of their first album. The following year, Brigade Magazine voted I Made My Own Hell the top heavy metal band.

In 2007, Vhaldemar performed at the Bilbao BBK Life Festival, which was followed by the release of Metal of the World. Their fourth album, Shadows of Combat followed in 2013. Earlier in 2017, they signed a contract with Fighter Records to release several new albums. First, they re-released their first two albums, Fight to the End and I Made My Own Hell, containing five extra tracks as a double CD pack in April 2017. In May they released yet another album, Old King a Visions, which include five extra tracks as an introduction to their next album, Against All Kings.

In August 2014, Vhaldemar performed in the Legends of Rock Festival with several other heavy metal bands. Among these bands were Arch Enemy, Megadoth, and Amon Amarath.

Vhaldemar plays only traditional heavy metal. Their music has been compared to Manowar due to both having aggressive tempos and melodies. Even though Oscar Cuadrado left his position as their drummer in 2014, he still works with them behind the scenes as their full-time manager. Gontzal has since replaced Cuardrado as their drummer. They have also since added keyboardist Jonkol Tera and bassist Adolfo WB. As a result, it could be said that the future still looks very strong for Vhaldemar. With one of their instrumentalists-turned-manager knowing the band from the inside out, the band definitely has one solid platform.

Why Metal Music Fans have embraced Vaping

November 17, 2017 /

Metal music was certainly one of the groundbreaking genres that came out of the 1980’s. It embraced the spirit of punk and over time was able to fashion itself its own identity. The new trend of vaping can have the same thing said of it. Vaping is an alternative to regular smoking. Metal music was an alternative in the same sense. For that reason, one can really say that is the reason that metal music fans have embraced vaping.

One major reason that metal music fans have embraced vaping is that a lot of the older and original fans have now reached up to an advanced age. The teenage fans of metal music in the 80’s have now developed into grandparents. With that being said, a lot of these old fans were smokers back in the day and are looking for an alternative to cigarettes. Vaping is certainly a recognized alternative to cigarette smoking. Vaping will allow the old time metal music heads to still be able to smoke but do it in a more safer way.

Then there are the young fans who like to vape. They were introduced to this alternative way of smoking at a young age which is certainly a very good thing. There are also the metal music artists themselves. They are older and have been smoking for decades. Some of the major music artists as a whole have embraced vaping and have been spokespeople for some of the major vaping brands. When metal music fans see their favorite bands and artists using a certain vaping product, obviously they are going to want to follow their metal music gods.

Gwar is a prime example of a metal music group who vapes, have their own products, thus having fans embrace vaping. Gwar’s vaping line is as zany as the characters themselves on stage and performing. There are actually several major metal music bands who have their own line of vaping products. These bands always have special promotions such as giving out samples at their concerts and having exclusive online promotions. All of these things lend credit for the high popularity that vaping has had with metal music fans.

In Profile: Dark Moor

November 17, 2017 /

Straight from the “Shadowland” comes Dark Moor. For those not up on their international artists, a bit of background on the band in question. Dark Moor is a metal band from Madrid, Spain.

The group was formed in 1993 by guitarists Enrik Garcia and Javier Rubio. The band roster would go through a number of changes until the current line-up would include original lead guitarist Garcia and Alfred Romero (vocals), Dani Fernandez (bass) and Roberto Cappa (drums). The act’s signature sound is a mix of multiple music genres including hard rock, neoclassical metal, progressive metal, and symphonic power metal.

The band’s rock resume includes two demos, four EPs, and 10 full-length platters. Their first release was the demo “Dreams of Madness”. The band’s official full-length debut disc, however, was “Shadowland” which was recorded and released in 1999.

There have been numerous interesting moments thus far in the band’s career. In the summer of 2000, while recording their second album, The Hall of the Olden Dreams, the group covered the instrumental “Halloween” which was featured on the compilation disc “The Keepers of Jericho part I – A Tribute to Helloween”. In June of 2001, Dark Moor dropped the limited edition EP titled The Fall of Melnibone. Only 1,500 copies were put out and those were only available in Spain.

Dark Moor laid down four exclusive tracks with a string quartet in August of 2003. They were included on their April 2003 release “Between Light and Darkness”. Unfortunately for the band, they could not all agree on the specific musical direction for their next album and then lead singer Elisa Martin, drummer Jorge Sáez, and guitarist Albert Maroto quit to start a new group named Dreamaker which disbanded in 2011.

Dark Moor continued with yet another new roster. Their eighth audio offering, named “Ancestral Romance”, was highlighted by the inclusion of guest vocalist Berenice Musa. The record dropped in November 2010.

The band’s ninth LP, titled “Ars Musica”, hit stores on June 18, 2013. Interestingly, the limited-edition, Japanese version included a free bonus CD with a total of five bonus tracks. Dark Moor toured Asia, Europe, and Mexico in support of the album.

The act’s most recent release is called “Project X”. They recorded this tenth platter in the summer of 2015. It hit European record racks in November of that same year.

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