As another year ends and a new one begins, it’s time to look back on our favourite albums from the 12 months. Here at Revolver/Heavy Metal Towers it’s no secret that we have a very diverse music taste encompassing the entire musical spectrum (for better or for worse). So, we decided to let the team pick their Top 5 albums from 2011 and the albums they’re eagerly awaiting in 2012…

Chris (Label Stuff, and yes he’s a massive KT fan)

KT Tunstall – Tiger Suit
KT Tunstall – Scarlet Tulip (EP)
Brian Brushwood – Night Attack!
Radiohead – King Of Limbs
Icicle – Under the Ice

Hot Picks for 2012:
Silversun Pickups -  “3″ (Spring, final title TBC)

Kial (Music Techy things, all things Digital Media)

Metronomy – The English Riviera
The Strokes – Angles
White Lies – Ritual
The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
M83 – Hurry Up, We’re  Dreaming

Hot Picks For 2012:
Lana Del Ray – Born To Die
Tototally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

Emma (Management/Publishing/A&R)

Rise Against – Endgame
Beans On Toast – Trying To Tell The Truth
The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
Skindred – Union Black
The Black Keys – El Camino

Hot Pick For 2012:
Jamie T – TBC

Claire (PR, incumbent Most Hardcore Metalhead & HMRchives curator)

Machine Head – Unto the Locust
Sixx:AM – This is Gonna Hurt
Rhapsody Of Fire – From Chaos to Eternity
Trivium – In Waves
Five Finger Death Punch – Amerian Capitalist

Hot Picks for 2012:
Lamb Of God – Resolution, Caliban – I Am Nemesis,
Epica – Requiem For The Indifferent, Kamelot – TBC

… Now, what will yours be?

HMR’s Hellfighter who released their debut album ‘Damnations Wings’  back in February of 2011 were named as one of Rockchoice’s Top 20 Hard Rock and Metal albums of 2011. 

The band had a cracking 2011, rounded off by performing at Hard Rock Hell Festival, the popular Prestatyn Metal weekend, where they appeared  alongside Black Stone Cherry, Michael Monroe, Quireboys and Orange Goblin.

GetYourRockOut.com and Metal Gods TV caught up with the guys at Hard Rock Hell. See below for Video Interviews:

Some of you may be aware that over the past few months we have slowly been archiving our press collection that covers all of the FM Revolver and Heavy Metal Records (+ associated labels) solo artists and bands.

The finds have been very interesting – particuarly comparing how processes of CD Artwork and Album Covers have changed from the laminated and glued on designs, to fully digitally designed entities in their own right. And of course, handling old Kerrang! and Metal Hammer Magazines and noting changes in house styles and their K! Rating system! It has also been fun to see how the fashions have changed from the 80s hair metal scene as seen in the style of Bitches Brue and Wrathchild to the modern day rock’n'roll look.

In due course, we will be sharing some of the best press and promotional items from our achives from some of the bands who have graced our label since the 1980s. We hope you enjoy viewing the pictures and articles as much as we here at Revolver Records HQ have.

Below is a brief taster of just a few of the thousands of scans we have done thus far – Check out the YOUNG Lemmy with Lisa Dominique! We still have many, many more to get through, so stay tuned for new updates from our history! We will definitely be sharing more of this great collection. You can ‘Like’ us over on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep more up to date with all things HMR and Revolver!

Lisa Dominique with LEMMY!

Wrathchild UK

Marshall Law

Paul Birch (Revolver Records) with Dan Callow at Compton Hospice

The re-opening of Wolverhampton’s Compton Hospice is set to strike a chord with supporters after the release of a song to celebrate the redevelopment.

The reflective pop song One Life has been jointly written by Wolverhampton musician Dan Callow and city school teacher David Anderson. The track features Dan on lead vocals backed by the Compton Hospice choir.

The song was first performed at the re-opening of the main patient unit at the hospice in August, following a £3.5m refurbishment.

The year-long building work involved the creation of 18 single, en suite patient rooms, offering improved dignity and privacy for patients, as well as the re-development of the day unit and therapy facilities.

Wolverhampton’s Revolver Records have released the track; all proceeds will go to the hospice’s Raise the Roof appeal.

Dan Callow, from Bilbrook who is a volunteer in the chaplaincy team at the hospice, said: “We wanted to mark this historic development for Compton Hospice in song. The track is a real celebration of the life and love of Compton Hospice.”

Katie Love, from the Compton Hospice fundraising team, said: “Dan got a great response from the crowd when he performed the song at the re-opening of the hospice. We hope One Life will enable more people to take part in and enjoy this major landmark for the hospice.”

Paul Birch, managing director of Revolver Records, said: “It’s a great track for a really good cause. We’re just really pleased to able to help two Wolverhampton musicians with their charity track for such a fabulous local organisation as Compton Hospice.”

The track costs 79p to download and is available at www.revolverrecords.com or on iTunes.

We have always supported community charities and organisations. Compton Hospice does outstanding work in supporting people with life limiting illnesses and their families throughout the West Midlands. Some of us at Revolver have had friends blighted by terminal illness who have been supported by hospices, so we speak from the heart when we say that hospices play a critical – and largely unsung – role in recuperative and palleative care.

Compton is one of many hospices around the UK supporting those suffering from illness who cannot receive the care they require through the mainstream NHS. We’re helping with their Grand Re-opening today (the 5th of August) by releasing their charity single – “One Life” – performed by Dan Callow. Proceeds from single sales go to Compton Hospice, so please – even in these difficult times – consider pledging just a little (less than £1) to help the Hospice continue its invaluable work helping those who are suffering.

Who knows, perhaps someone you know or love may be helped by Compton Hospice one day!

You can buy the “One Life” single right now:
just head over to iTunes to get your copy.
On behalf of ourselves and Compton Hospice, thank you for your support!

The prestigious German Heavy Metal Festival, Wacken Open Air, has already announced a selection of bands for next years (2012) festival line-up. Next year marks the 23rd Anniversary of the festival which initially commenced as a small festival for local German bands in 1990. Wacken is now one of the imminent highlights of the European Festival Calender with Festival Punters worldwide travelling to the event year on year to witness more than 70 bands perform over the three days. With a consistently impressive line-up, this is one event that no Metal Head should miss!

Amongst the names announced for 2012 are  Scorpions (LAST EVER GERMAN APPEARENCE!), reformed Industrial Metallers, Ministry, Power Metal heroes. Hammerfall and Gamma Ray, and Viking Metal Giants, Amon Amarth. Also included in the line-up thus far are Cradle Of Filth and U.D.O, with many more bands to be announced in the coming months.

The festival is set to take place from the 2nd August 2012 to the 4th August 2012, with pre-sale tickets on sale from the 8th August 2011. Tickets can be purchased through the Wacken Open Air website.

Scorpions ‘Lonesome Crow’ (Remastered) is available for purchase through Revolver Records.

Matt Seddon of  the online Heavy Metal Webzine ‘Metal Rules’ recently reviewed Hellfighter’s latest album ‘Damnation’s Wings’ (2011);

“Before I got this to review, I can safely I say, I did not have a clue who Hellfighter where. But after being blown away by every single song on their latest album entitled Damnation’s Wings, it is safe to say that it is a must have for any metal fan in 2011! With fast paced riffs and one hell of a powerful metal voice, Hellfighter manage to bring the thunder with their thrash metal masterpiece which not only is the best thrash album of 2011 thus far, but possibly the best thrash metal release you will have heard in a long time!”

You can read the full review on the Metal Rules Website.

Damnation’s Wings can be purchased via Heavy Metal Records.

If you have a Demo that you’d like us to hear, then send it our way.  We’re always looking for new and undiscovered talent! Our preferred method of submission is via Soundcloud, but you can also submit demos the “old fashioned” way in the post! Check out the Demo submission page on the Revolver Records website for more details. We look forward to hearing your music!

Canadian Rockers, Art Of Dying, have been added to the line-up of 48 Hour Festival. The festival held in Las Vegas will see a plethora of bands perform across two days on the 15th and 16 of October 2011 including big name bands Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch and Bullet For My Valentine.

Details of the full line-up and ticket information can be viewed on the 48 Hours Festival website.

Art Of Dying’s self-titled debut album release can be purchased through Revolver Records.

On the 23rd August 2011, British Glam Metal veterans, Wrathchild (known as Wrathchild UK in the US), will release their eagerly awaited fourth studio album. The album entitled ‘Stakkattakktwo‘ will be released through Perris Records (USA) with a full tour under the name ‘“Glam Godz – Stalkin’ The Earth Tour” set to follow later in the year.

“Stakkattakktwo” track listing:

01. Goin’ Down
02. All About U
03. Cherie Cherie
04. Trikk Or Treat
05. Hollywood Or Bust
06. Nice ‘N’ Eazy
07. White Hot Fever
08. I’ll Be Your Rokk ‘N’ Roll
09. Bad Billy
10. I Luv The Night
11. Sycophantic Suicide

Wrathchild’s  1989 album ‘Delerium’ can be purchased through Heavy Metal Records