Hey, you: have ya heard? March Is Metal Month! This is not just some clever re-naming of a month that starts with “M” done so in the name of celebrating metal, although it’s certainly that too. Throughout all of March, EMI/Caroline and the metal labels they distribute (among them Century Media, Nuclear Blast, Earache, Candlelight, Season of Mist, Willowtip and Earache) will be teaming up with retail stores and metal websites to provide special new releases and prizes.

This year’s prizes: 2 tickets to Rockstar Mayhem on behalf of Century Media artist Suicide Silence (transportation will not be provided), a Carcass box set on behalf of Earache and prize packs from Season of Mist and Century Media TBD.

For March is Metal Month two years ago we ran a “Show Us Your Metal” contest, so this year we’ve decided to bring that back. To enter, simply go to the metal section of your local record store and take a picture of yourself doing something metal. That’s it. You don’t even have to be wearing MetalSucks garb (although that would certainly increase your chances of winning!). Vince and Axl will choose the winner in early April. Send your photo to news [at] metalsucks [dot] net with the subject line MARCH IS METAL MONTH, and you’ll be entered to win.

Hip-hip-hoo-ray for Jason Burris, who correctly identified last week’s logo as that of the band Triste. Jason wins a Rotting Christ luggage tag, which is sure to make him the hit of his next flight and the talk of baggage handlers-everywhere. You work it, Jason!

Alas, all good things must end, and so March is Metal Month is rapidly coming to its conclusion. But we have one last super-duper prize to celebrate – a signed shirt from Arsis! It’s Arsis! It’s a shirt! It’s signed! You want it! So enter this contest!

All you have to do to win is identify the name of the band whose logo appears below, then shoot me an e-mail at axl AT metalsucks DOT net with your answer, your name, and your address. From everyone who gets it right, we’ll randomly select one winner and announce his or her name next week.

And it’s Isaac Schwarz again FTW…

-AR

Congrats to Brian Farneth, who correctly identified last week’s logo as belonging to the band Obscura Monotonia Animae. Brian wins a neat neat The Dillinger Escape Plan Option Paralysis cube thingie. Nice work, Brian!

Ain’t no party like a March is Metal Month ’cause a March is Metal Month party don’t stop (’til April)! This week we’re giving away a Rotting Christ luggage tag. Yes, a Rotting Christ luggage tag. Have you ever thought, “Gee, I wish my luggage tag had a the logo for a fairly offensive band name on it?” You have?!? Then this is the prize for you!

All you have to do to win is identify the name of the band whose logo appears below, then shoot me an e-mail at axl AT metalsucks DOT net with your answer, your name, and your address. From everyone who gets it right, we’ll randomly select one winner and announce his or her name next week.

Isaac Schwarz, once a-fucking-GAIN, has provided this week’s logo…

-AR

What the hell does this interview have to do with March is Metal Month? We’re not entirely sure, to be honest. But it was offered to us as part of that ongoing event, and we wanted to do it! So we hope you enjoy. – Eds.

Deströyer 666 put out one of the best thrash/death/black/whatever you want to call it (how about “balls-to-the-wall riff fests?”) of 2009 with their fourth full-length, Defiance (which made my top twenty albums of 2009 list). The record marked the band’s return after some six years’ absence, as well as a tour of their homeland, Australia. Sure, that might not be a long time for Tool or Metallica, but Deströyer always seemed to fill time between LPs with a slathering of EPs throughout the band’s fifteen-year career arc.

Deströyer 666 were originally formed by guitarist/vocalist K.K. Warslut as more of an outlet for riffs that were thrashier than those he could utilize in Bestial Warslut, his then-main project. Fast forward, though, and it seems Deströyer 666’s priorities have shifted a bit over the years… and so have the members. Literally.

I recently spoke with lead guitarist Ian Shrapnel about all things Deströyer 666. Read our full chat after the jump.

Click to read more…

Hats off to Karina Rucinque. She correctly identified last week’s logo as that of the band Nasty Pig Dick. For her troubles, Karina wins a copy of Arsis’ new album, Starve for the Devil, signed by the band, and an Arsis poster that is also signed by the band. Congrats, Karina!

March is Metal Month continues now with another awesome prize: an autographed copy of Shovel Headed Tour Machine, the excellent new two DVD/CD set from legendary thrashers, Exodus. It’s Exodus! It’s autographed! You want it! Enter the contest!

All you have to do to win is identify the name of the band whose logo appears below, then shoot me an e-mail at axl AT metalsucks DOT net with your answer, your name, and your address. From everyone who gets it right, we’ll randomly select one winner and announce his or her name next week.

This week’s logo was once again suggested by read Isaac Schwarz. You rule, Isaac!

-AR

MARCH IS METAL MONTH IS UNDERWAY!!! And as Vince promised last week, there’s a free sampler now avail featuring artists from many of the participating labels. That means you can download tracks by Fear Factory, Ihsahn, Triptykon, Suicide Silence, Lacuna Coil, Queensryche, White Wizzard, and more, all for the cost of breathing. Head over to Amazon to get the absolutely free download.

We’ll also have lots more March is Metal Month goodness in the coming weeks, including additional interviews and contests. Keep checking back here, or head over to MarchIsMetalMonth.com for all the latest.

As Axl revealed to you all yesterday via the Completely Unreadable Band Logo contest… MARCH IS METAL MONTH! But what does it all mean?!?

To make a long story short, a bunch of legendary metal record labels, including Century Media, Nuclear Blast, Earache, Candlelight, Season of Mist, Willow Tip, Crash Music and more, are teaming up on a “get out the vote”-style initiative to drive traffic to independent retail music stores. The sale of recorded music is still the financial cornerstone of the music we all love, so MetalSucks has jumped on board to help out.

Throughout March is Metal Month you’ll see a bunch of fun contests here and on Metal Injection and Metal Insider, a CD sampler featuring some of the best bands on the above labels, exclusive merch available only at select retail locations and much more.

Read more about March is Metal Month at MarchIsMetalMonth.com or read the full press release after the jump.

Click to read more…

First of all, congrats to Norman Schrader, Ryan Torchia, and a reader who asked that she be identified only as “Barbara” – they each correctly identified last week’s logo as belonging to the band Thyrfing, and they each win an autographed 7-inch from Goes Cube! Good for you, kids.

Now that we have that out of the way: did you know that MARCH IS METAL MONTH?!?! It’s true! And there’s gonna be all sorts of kick-assery to celebrate. You can go here for all the latest details; in the meantime, “Completely Unreadable…” is going to be partnering with MARCH IS METAL MONTH (gggggrrrr) for, well, the entire month of March to give away super-duper awesome prizes. First up: a copy of Arsis’ new album, Starve for the Devil, signed by the band, and an Arsis poster that is also signed by the band. Starve is a really fantastic record that you should own anyway, but you throw in the autographs, and, well, if I was you I’d get crackin’ on this here logo.

All you have to do to win is identify the name of the band whose logo appears below, then shoot me an e-mail at axl AT metalsucks DOT net with your answer, your name, and your address. From everyone who gets it right, we’ll randomly select one winner and announce his or her name next week.

This week’s logo was suggested by read Isaac Schwarz. Thanks, Isaac!

-AR

MetalSucks, MetalInjection and BITPOM, in conjunction with EMI (which serves such labels as Century Media, Nuclear Blast, Earache, Candlelight, Season of Mist, Willowtip and Crash Music), are bringing metal to the masses with an extensive “March is Metal Month” campaign with independent retailers across the U.S.

During the “March is Metal Month” campaign, we’ll be running a series of 3 weekly “Show Us Your Metal” contests. To enter, take a picture of yourself at a record store doing something metal; throwing up the horns, making sweet love to a David Lee Roth Crazy From the Heat EP, posing in front of a Beyonce endcap in corpsepaint, buying something that costs $6.66, etc. Be creative! Send all submissions to news AT metalsucks DOT net along with your full name and address and “MARCH IS METAL MONTH” in the email subject line.

Congrats to Jake Kobrin who won last week’s prize, a ridiculously awesome Cynic box set, for the picture at left.

This week’s prize: Signed CDs and posters from Psycroptic and All Shall Perish, courtesy of Nuclear Blast. Send in all entries by the end of Tuesday, March 31st to win!

MetalSucks, MetalInjection and BITPOM, in conjunction with EMI (which serves such labels as Century Media, Nuclear Blast, Earache, Candlelight, Season of Mist, Willowtip and Crash Music), are bringing metal to the masses with an extensive “March is Metal Month” campaign with independent retailers across the U.S.

During the “March is Metal Month” campaign, we’ll be running a series of 3 weekly “Show Us Your Metal” contests. To enter, take a picture of yourself at a record store doing something metal; throwing up the horns, making sweet love to a David Lee Roth Crazy From the Heat EP, posing in front of a Beyonce endcap in corpsepaint, buying something that costs $6.66, etc. Be creative! Send all submissions to news AT metalsucks DOT net along with your full name and address.

This week’s prize:
A sweet Cynic box set ($75 value) courtesy of Season of Mist! Awesome fucking prize. Deadline is Monday, March 23rd, so get crackin!

MetalSucks, MetalInjection and BITPOM, in conjunction with EMI Music’s Label Services unit (which serves such labels as Century Media, Nuclear Blast, Earache, Candlelight, Season of Mist, Willowtip and Crash Music), are bringing metal to the masses with an extensive “March is Metal Month” campaign with independent retailers across the U.S.

During the “March is Metal Month” campaign, we’ll be running a series of 3 weekly “Show Us Your Metal” contests. To enter, take a picture of yourself at a record store doing something metal; throwing up the horns, making sweet love to a David Lee Roth Crazy From the Heat EP, posing in front of a Beyonce endcap in corpsepaint, buying something that costs $6.66, etc. Be creative! Send all submissions to news AT metalsucks DOT net along with your full name and address by the deadlines listed below.

The prizes and deadlines are as follows:
Week 1, deadline March 12: Signed CDs and posters from In This Moment, courtesy Century Media (we know, we know… that’s what they offered.)
Week 2, deadline March 19: Cynic box set ($75 value) courtesy of Season of Mist
Week 3, deadline March 26: Signed CDs and posters from Necroptic and All Shall Perish, courtesy of Nuclear Blast.

Show us your metal!