German hard rockers HARD RIOT are the latest addition to our roster with the band’s debut album, “Living on a Fast Lane”, due for release on April 10^th, 2012.

HARD RIOT were formed in 2006 in the city of Heilbronn, Germany and the band consists of four young friends who share the same passion – hard rockin’ music.

Their powerful stage presence and performance has landed them with numerous live shows over the past few years and many devoted fans. In 2009 HARD RIOT released a self-financed 5-track EP (“The Hidden Truth”) and in 2011 they entered Maranis Studios in Backnang, Germany, relying on the excellent skills of producer Vagelis Maranis who oversaw the entire recording and production of their debut album.

HARD RIOT is Michael Gildner on vocals, Andreas Rockrohr on guitars, Mario Kleindienst on bass and Carmine Jaucci on drums. Their influences include AC/DC, Metallica and the Scorpions among others but their influences don’t stop here. These and many more are clearly evident throughout their music. The band’s main style is hard rock but one can also find a good dose of heavy/speed metal in their music. One thing is certain when listening to HARD RIOT perform, they are enjoying every moment of their music and that’s something that is undisputedly conveyed to the listener!

“Living on a Fast Lane” will be available worldwide on April 10^th, 2012, through Pitch Black Records and our distribution partners as well as through all major mp3 stores.

Tracklisting:
1. Get Ready
2. Hellfire Rock
3. Don’t Need You
4. No Surrender
5. Tears in the Rain
6. Turn on the Lights
7. Nothing but You
8. Take me Down
9. Hard Way Down
10. Black Widow
11. Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw

Check out the song “Hellfire Rock” which is also available as a free download:

2011 is now history and we are moving full speed ahead into 2012 with… what else, PBR 012!

We feel great about all 4 releases we’ve had in 2011, all of them have received notable reviews and were embraced by fans. Just a quick recap, last year saw the release of the following Pitch Black titles:

EMERALD SUN “Regeneration” (PBR 008)
Brilliant power metal from Greece, featuring a superb cover of the 80’s classic “Holding out for a Hero”. This album was picked up for a special release in Japan by Rubicon Music.

CHAINED AND DESPERATE “Divine Authority Abolishment” (PBR 009BPS)
Our first black metal release which also gave birth to the ‘BLACKEST PITCH SERIES’. All releases under this will feature an “eclectic” blend of black metal with the first pressing always limited to 333 numbered copies housed inside a unique digipack with silver metallic printing on glossy black.

ARRAYAN PATH “Ira Imperium” (PBR 010)
Slightly altered name but still the same kick-ass band offering the same epic greatness and music! There hasn’t been a single negative review so far about this album and it has already made it into a number of ‘best of 2011’ lists by webzines and magazines all over the world. Of course we shouldn’t forget the guest appearance by legendary vocalist Tony Martin (ex Black Sabbath) on this album.

ILLNATH “Third Act in the Theatre of Madness” (PBR 011)
Unavoidably a lot of people compare ILLNATH’s front woman with Angela Gossow of ARCH ENEMY but Mona Beck has a really unique style that makes her shine throughout the album and she does offer a lot to ILLNATH’s sound. No one would be able to guess the kind of voice that this girl holds inside her just by looking at her! This album will be released in Japan very soon by Spiritual Beast Records.

In 2011 we also supported the debut album of Cypriot 80’s rockers R.U.S.T., “Forged in the Fire of Metal”. Another fine example of the great musicianship and immense passion for metal that the Cyprus scene has to offer.

On with 2012 now! While we can’t reveal a lot of details yet, the new year will see at least 5 new Pitch Black releases, including a German hard rock band, some heavy and power metal bands from Russia and Poland and another couple of Cypriot releases including a VERY special one for which we’ll… just leave it to that, for now! Also, the second ‘BLACKEST PITCH SERIES’ release will come out this year.

We will also become involved with some concerts this year, starting of course with the annual POWER OF THE NIGHT metal festival, now in its 7^th instalment. The festival has its own website now and everyone should check it out at www.potn-fest.com.

Lastly, we’re working hard on our very own mobile app and it should be going live soon. We’ll kick off with the android version but over the course of time we’re hoping to have it available on as many platforms as possible including the iphone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and others. Don’t expect a rocket science app, just a very simple app to have Pitch Black Records a bit closer to you, keeping you updated and more connected to us…

So, a happy new year to everyone and we look forward to sharing some more great music with you this year!

“Ira Imperium” is currently available for purchase from the following online locations:

Pitch Black Records Online Store
Play.com
Hmv
Nuclear Blast
Amazon.com
CD Inzane

And here’s some new ARRAYAN PATH merchandise which has just become available exclusively in our online store:

“IRA IMPERIUM” SPECIAL EDITION
Strictly limited to 50 numbered copies – Includes a signed CD on the backside of a mini canvas (yes, it’s even suitable for hanging on a wall)

€24.99

“IRA IMPERIUM” Official Tshirt

€17.99

ARRAYAN PATH original ZIPPO

€24.99

ARRAYAN PATH “IRA IMPERIUM” REVIEWS & RATINGS

“artfully combining lyricism, epicness and grandeur”
Metal Hammer (Greece) – 8/10

“an album that will simply make many international “best-of 2011″ lists, in an already overloaded with quality metal year! I just feel extremely privileged to have witnessed the birth of this masterpiece!”
rockcyprus.net

“One of the better ones this year in the power metal genre”
powerofmetal.dk – 88/100

“Every song stands on its own”
dangerdog.com – 3.5/5

“flawlessly executed and it won me over”
metal-rules.com – 4/6

“a hellish power metal release, by one of the best metal acts nowadays”
Metal Perspective – 9/10 (Editor’s Choice)

“the right blend of high quality power metal”
battlehelm.com

“a good album, well performed and with an exciting guest performance from Tony Martin on the title track”
melodic.net (3/5)

“Rich in musical and lyrical detail “Ira Imperium” is an album every enthusiast of innovative power metal should be positively smitten with.”
blackwindmetal.com (4/5)

“it’s multi-sided, keeping you interested from start to finish. A candidate for album of the year!”
rockoverdose.gr

“impossible to single out just one song”
metalholocaust.gr (92/100)

We are pleased to welcome Danish female-fronted melodic death metal outfit ILLNATH into our roster of artists with the band’s third release, “Third Act in the Theatre of Madness” scheduled for release on November 18^th (21^st in the UK) 2011.

Formed in 1999, ILLNATH are a band which has evolved explosively through the years. Initially labeled as a symphonic black metal act their style is now a “mature” blend of melodic/symphonic death metal.  Having released a demo in 2000, IILLNATH’s debut album (“Cast into Fields of Evil Pleasure”) came in 2003 with the follow-up (“Second Skin of Harlequin”) in 2006. The band toured extensively in Europe and has also played in various European festivals. The band’s third album (“Third Act in the Theatre of Madness”) is the band’s most melodic yet at the same time extreme offering to date.

The band has a completely new lineup comprised of original member Pete Falk on guitars (also handling the main songwriting tasks), the powerful voice of Mona Beck, the killer basslines of Kenneth Frandsen and session drummer Reno Killerich.

“Third Act in the Theatre of Madness” will be available worldwide through Pitch Black Records and our distribution partners as well as through all major mp3 stores. The CD version will also feature a bonus track.

Tracklisting:
1. Third Act
2. Scarecrow
3. Lead the Way
4. Snake of Eden
5. Shorthanded
6. Spring Will Come
7. Tree of Life and Death
8. Fall of Giants
9. Vampiria
10. Kingship Incarnate (CD Bonus)

‘Snake of Eden’ is already streaming in our playlist.