Album Notes

"....One of the finest indy records I've heard all year. Really good stuff!! Killer vocals!" ...Maximum Metal.com Power Metal, Prog, Melodic Metal, Hard Rock, - descriptions touching on multiple genres of heavy music today, none seem to do justice to the music that is Azrael's Bane. It's members have embraced and expanded upon the music of legendary predecessors such as Iron Maiden, Savatage, Lillian Axe and Queensryche to create music that is as timeless as it is unique. Based in Houston, Texas, Azrael's Bane was formed in the summer of 2002. The band's goal was to combine their individual experience and influences into creating music that was new, powerful, and different from the norm. The band began playing local shows in June of 2002, to rave reviews from local music fans, and press alike, quickly gaining headline status. They have since developed a large local following, expanded upon through regional touring, becoming one of the top drawing bands in the area. Azrael's Bane have also opened for national acts such as George Lynch (Dokken), Metal Church, Quiet Riot, LA Guns, and Lillian Axe among others. The band began recording sessions at Houston's Spyder Studios in October of 2003 with producer and engineer Greg Gill (Distant Thunder, ZlotZ, Seven Witches) to record what would ultimately become their debut CD, "Wings of Innocence", released in May of 2004. With soaring vocals, shred oriented musicianship, five part vocal harmonies, and an emphasis on memorable, hook-laden songwriting, Azrael's Bane are poised to make their mark on modern metal music. Reviews: ".....The more I listen to the debut CD the more I enjoy it! I am going to put it in my top20 list of 2004. And it'll be in the top 10 for sure!!!!" ... Hellspawn Magazine.com "...Expertly crafted American metal!!" .... Metal Hammer Magazine "...The musicianship on this CD is exemplary, especially the vocals of Trey Gadler and guitar work of Jeff Clifton and Chuck McFadden. If you are into traditional metal and like to hear some serious guitar shredding and melodic vocals - this CD is a must..." ...Houston Bands.net Maximum Metal December Indy Spotlight - Azrael's Bane 12-2-04 Sometimes you come across those metal bands that don't quite fit the usual mold. The bands that really have an original sound that doesn't focus on trends or mass marketing campaigns, instead allowing their music to create their own paths. Today we have so many bands crossing over genres, but at the same time they seem to be playing follow the leader. MTV and Headbanger's Ball have been shoving nu and extreme metal down our throats, but never take the time to allow a good melodic band a decent spin. Azrael's Bane are that good melodic band that needs to be heard today, this very minute, by the vast majority of trend seekers and so called headbangers. You see it is difficult to go against the grain, to develop a style and system that is different than everyone else, then to get that style across to the suits and ties who manage what this country listens to, and what this country considers hip and radio friendly. If Azrael's Bane could be heard and played, then they have a very good shot at being accepted, helping to break down the walls of a very close knit circle. For some reason MTV doesn't like good, clean metal fun, instead they want us to use equations and calculators while we wrestle with extreme math metal like Mastodon, Dying Fetus, and Dillinger Escape Plan. Whatever happened to hearing a soaring riff on the radio, then getting your friends together and playing air guitar along with it? I miss the days of Boston, Styx, and Thin Lizzy, when good metal was good music. Nowadays the radio is just stale and uneventful, with most of today's good music coming from the underground, from places like Houston, the home of Azrael's Bane, one of the finest indy bands of our time, a fine group of professional musicians who aren't afraid to play riffs for melody