'Face the Evil' is the name of forthcoming album from Belgium-based 5 piece thrash metal band BLIKSEM (Dutch word for Lightning). The album will be released through Alone Records and out in stores nextFebruary 22nd in Germany and February 25th in rest of Europe.
Think a contemporary version of Testament, Death Angel and Megadeth to have a clue on how BLIKSEM sounds like. Now add amazing vocals courtesy of Peggy Meeussen, catchy melodies and heavy riffs, resulting in a fantastic combination of thrash and heavy metal made in XXI Century.
In late 2008, their quest to find a singer on par with Chuck Billy or Dave Mustaine takes an unexpected and brilliant turn with the arrival of Peggy Meeussen. Her commanding razor-edged vocals are reminiscent of the late Dawn Crosby (Détente/Fear of God) and Nicole Lee (Znöwhite), slicing through the existing legions of goth or guttural female-fronted bands. BLIKSEM quickly establishes a strong live reputation playing dozens of youth centers and local metal and rock festivals around Belgium and soon moves up to bigger stages.
In 2010 the band recorded their first EP, which gets rave reviews in numerous magazines/e-zines such as RockHard Germany, Aardschok NL, Lords of Metal, RockHard France and RockTribune Belgium as well as alternative-oriented press. Critics praise the quality thrash and some go as far to declare BLIKSEM the best thing to happen to the genre in years.
In 2011 BLIKSEM expands their horizon, playing shows in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland, along with a fiercely convincing performance at Slovenia's Metalcamp festival. The band goes on to play Holland's Paaspop, which features fellow heavy acts like Hell, Enslaved and Accept as well as Dutch chart toppers, and the renowned Eindhoven Metal Meeting (with Exodus, Heathen, Immortal and other metal greats). The momentum continues, and BLIKSEM is asked to support Channel Zero, Angel Witch, Vanderbuyst and Prong and requested for after shows for Mastodon and Megadeth.
Meanwhile, BLIKSEM creates a buzz in the leading alternative media in the Benelux including 3voor12/VPRO and Kindamuzik.nl, which calls them one of the bands to watch in 2012-2013. The band was even asked for a television commercial of ING bank after seeing many young kids wearing BLIKSEM t-shirts.
Recent festival appareances include Waterpop in the Netherlands, a perennially popular and varied event that draws some 20,000 visitors, and Torhout's heavy-duty Masters@Rock Festival alongside Soulfly, Clawfinger and Channel Zero.
By June 2012, the band enters the studio to record "Face the Evil", the long-awaited debut album. Combining blistering tandem guitars, thrashing drums, pounding bass and furious vocals, the resulting eight songs not only explore themes including revenge, oppression and madness but also celebrate the timeless glory of metal.
Mastering has been done by Herbrand Larsen (Enslaved) in the Earshot Studio in Bergen, Norway.
Click below to stream their first single which gives name to the album:
"Face the Evil"
This title will be distributed in Europe by:
Cargo Records (DE), Suburban (NL), Alone Records (ES)
