CRUEL FORCE - The Rise of Satanic Might LP HRR 495, ltd 500, 200 x black + 300 x electric blue vinyl, insert, 2nd pressing: ltd 500, 200 x transparent ultra clear + 300 x white vinyl Carnivore - Vocals Teutonic Slaughter - Guitars Evil Warrior - Bass GG Alex - Drums -Witches Curse -Satanic Might -Forces of Hades -Leather and Metal -Necromansy -Deathstrike -Victim of Hellfire -Queen of Heresy -March for the Pentagram SOLD OUT!

The year was 2010 when Cruel Force unleashed their very first full-length attack “The Rise of Satanic Might”. Formed in 2008, the four-piece from the Rhineland-Palatinate had set out to pay tribute to and play the music they loved, and that meant basically a cross of Bathory, Venom and Celtic Frost, heavily influenced by the staples of good old mid-eighties Teutonic thrash metal, i.e. bands such as Kreator, Destruction, Violent Force, Messiah and Poison (GER). But wait, is it really thrash we’re talking about? Cruel Force always liked to add some classic rock/metal riffs to the mix, and they also preferred the term ‘black speed metal’, as they wanted to achieve an original eighties sound that could not be confused with more modern black thrash. Doesn’t sound very original? Never mind: Cruel Force never wanted to be original, they simply wanted to hold up the flag and pay their tribute to the days of glory. “The Rise of Satanic Might” was recorded at Toxomusic Studio in Koblenz during Autumn/Winter 2009 and released the following year, with the cover artwork done by Velio Art. The band definitely had some fixed ideas on how their debut should sound: “We had little to no clue about the process of recording at all. We had our visions how every instrument should sound but that's it. Wally recorded and produced our album with me constantly telling him that it still sounded ‘too good’.” Once out, Cruel Force’s debut – which also contains a very convincing cover version of Bathory’s ‘Necromansy’ and a guest contribution by Doomhammer of Old-fame – creamed off a bunch of enthusiastic reviews, what took even the band itself by surprise: “We really hadn’t expected anything at all. We never would have believed to score a deal or to sell more than 50 records in total. It seemed so far away. But we were satisfied with all the reactions, and we even got tour offerings for North and South America or a show in Japan.” So everything looked just fine for the young and promising band, which sadly would be put to rest a couple of years later. Still, this piece of gruff, dark and sinister piece of black speed/thrash metal is for everyone who has even the slightest interest in the genre. The High Roller edition will come the original way, as it was first released in 2010: “No triggers, just one guitar track, real amps, no Pro Tools shit whatever. Real music, no fake.” Ulrike Schmitz