Today, HELLS HEADBANGERS announces the signing of Richmond, Virginia speed metal maniacs BAT. The trio features the considerable talents of Municipal Waste's Ryan Waste, ex-D.R.I. drummer Felix Griffin, and Volture's Nick Poulos. HELLS HEADBANGERS will be doing BAT's imminent debut album on both CD and LP formats, with a 7" titled Cruel Discipline to land before that. The label will also be pressing the band's Primitive Age demo on 12" vinyl, which can be heard in the meantimeHERE. A statement from Ryan Waste reads: "We could not of found a better home for BAT than HELLS HEADBANGERS. Not only does the label have a great roster and distribution, they still have their ear to the underground. It's important for us to put out everything we do on vinyl, and there will be no shortage of BAT wax to come. We're gonna hit the road hard and start laying down tracks in the studio for our first full-length this fall. Expect another nasty onslaught of pain from Nick, Felix, and myself to follow up our Primitive Age demo. Beware of the BAT because we are not slowing down."

Indeed, BAT are not slowing down, and already have a North American tour with Chainbreaker lined up for later this month and into September. Confirmed dates and venues, as well as a web-ready poster for the tour, are as follows:

August 22 - Brooklyn, NY@ The Acheron
August 23 - Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar
August 24 - Cleveland, OH @ Now That's Class
August 25 - Detroit, MI @ Corktown Tavern
August 26 - Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge
August 28 - Toronto, ON @ Bovine Sex Club
August 30 - Montreal, QC @ Wings of Metal
September 1 - Worcester, MA @ Ralph's Rock Diner
September 2 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
September 5 - Richmond VA @ Strange Matter