The Danish Hard Rock / Metal combo Pretty Maids was founded in early 1982 by guitarist Ken Hammer and singer Ronnie Atkins who, with their flair for powerful guitar riffs and strong melodies, soon established themselves as a band to be taken seriously.

In 1983 they signed their first record deal and had the chance to open concerts for Black Sabbath and Rainbow before the release of their self titled album in November, which brought the band to the possibility to extensively tour England. The following year, CBS snapped up the band and Pretty Maids released “Red Hot and Heavy”: an album who gave the band their breakthrough on the European continent, thanks also to a tour with Saxon.

In April 1987, “Future World”, the band’s second album - recorded in the USA - was released to great acclaim and is still today regarded as a “classic metal album”. Produced by Kevin Elson (Journey, Mr. Big, Europe) it soon became the absolutely major breakthrough for Pretty Maids not just in Europe, but was also successful in America and in the Far East. Within the same year the band toured Europe with Deep Purple, appearing at the “Monsters of Rock” Festival as well as headlining a tour of their own.

After the release of the follow-up “Jump The Gun” (produced by Deep Purple’s bassist Roger Glover), Pretty Maids in 1991 were on the verge of a break up. However founding members Ken Hammer and Ronnie Atkins found a new rhythm section and in 1992 released “Sin–Decade” a record that would reveal that Pretty Maids was still a force to be reckoned with, despite the fact that the metal scene now was overrun by the grunge movement. “Sin–Decade” became a huge success in Japan and gave the band a big radio hit with the single “Please don’t leave me” and laid the foundation for the band that would last for the next decade.

During the following years Pretty Maids continued to release albums usually followed by European and Japanese tours. The band kept a very high standard when it comes to song writing and releasing albums. Albums such as “Scream” (1995), “Spooked” (1997), “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing“ (1999) “Carpe Diem” (2000) or “Planet Panic” (2002) say it all.

The release of “Wake up to the Real World” in 2006 started the band’s relationship with Frontiers Records and it was followed by several Festival appearances in the years to come and a European tour in November 2008.

In 2010 Pretty Maids were back with their first long player in 4 years entitled “Pandemonium”. It truly showed the band in it’s finest moment.

“Pandemonium” with it’s melodic approach is a return to the “Future World / Red Hot and Heavy” era of the eighties but with an updated sound and freshness that consolidates that Pretty Maids are as strong as ever. Needless to say the first single/video “Little Drops Of Heaven” is the band’s biggest hit since a very long time – an instant classic so to speak. This album also introduces keyboard player Morten Sandager as a permanent member of the band and his impact is evident on the tracks of the CD. Written in the fall 2009 and recorded in the winter 2010, “Pandemonium” was produced by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat etc.) and has been supported by several festival appearances during the summer of 2010 and a full scale European tour in Oct/Nov 2010.

After even more tours and festivals in 2011 the band will be releasing it’s first Live-DVD "It Comes Alive - Maid In Switzerland" at the end of march 2012 (sound once again mixed by Jacob Hansen) and has already started the creative process for the follow-up to “Pandemonium”.

MSpoil Engine is een Vlaamse metalband met Nederlandse zanger en drummer. Hun muziekstijl wordt beschreven als melodieuze thrash metal, ook wel modern metal genoemd. Voornaamste inspiratiebron voor de band zijn 90's metalbands zoals Pantera, Machine Head, Slipknot als ook 'New Wave of American Heavy Metal' bands zoals Trivium, Killswitch Engage en Lamb of God. Spoil Engine behoort met zijn vernieuwende stijl en modern geluid tot de 'New Wave of Belgian Heavy Metal', de nieuwe lichting metal bands met professionele visie in België. De band gaf een eerste publiek optreden in 2005; mei 2009 werden ze getekend door Roadrunner Records.

De band werd eind 2004 opgericht met leden van Deformity (Steven 'Gaze' Sanders) en Regression (Kristof Taveirne). In de eerste bezetting zong Manu Van Poeck maar hij werd, na audities, vervangen door de Nederlander Niek Tournois. Kort daarna werd een eerste 4-track demo uitgebracht. Deze 4-track, alsook een finaleplaats in de Aardschok Metal Bash, leverde de band een plaats op in het voorprogramma van Arch Enemy. De band werd hierbij door pers en labels opgemerkt wat uiteindelijk resulteerde op een plaats op Graspop 2007. Achteraf meldde de VRT: 'Belgische band Spoil Engine revelatie van het Graspop weekend'.

In 2007 tekende Spoil Engine bij Apache Productions en kwam het eerste full length album tot stand: 'Skinnerbox v.07'. Dit album werd opnieuw in de eigen Sweet&Sour studio opgenomen. Mix en master werden verzorgd door Jochem Jacobs. 'Skinnerbox v.07' werd de best verkochte metalplaat in België in de zomer van 2007. Het leverde de band vele shows op als support voor onder andere Sepultura, Volbeat, Prong en in het Benelux clubcircuit. Een live set werd integraal uitgezonden op Studio Brussel.

Tijdens 2008 kwamen de eerste nieuwe nummers tot stand. Songwriter en leadgitarist Sanders legde de muzikale basis voor de nummers, samen met zanger Tournois en drummer Demey. De nadruk werd op de sound van de band en songwriting gelegd wat resulteerde in harde metalsongs die toegankelijker waren voor een breder publiek. Zowel de preproductie als finale opnames gebeurden in de 'Sweet&Sour' studio. Begin 2009 werd de nieuwe plaat gemixt door producer Ace Zec, de drummer van Customs. De finale mastering gebeurde bij Sterling Sound te New York, onder leiding van UE Nastasi, bekend om zijn werk bij Biohazard, Killswitch Engage en Darkest Hour.

Toen enkele opnames van de nieuwe plaat door platenlabel Apache Records aan Roadrunner Records werden doorgespeeld, was er interesse om de band te tekenen. Na een paar maand onderhandelen tekende Spoil Engine, als eerste Belgische band in meer dan 20 jaar, een contract met Roadrunner Records.

De nieuwe plaat 'Antimatter' verscheen eind augustus 2009; de eerste single 'Breathe' stond 5 weken in de Afrekening op Studio Brussel. Op Pukkelpop 2009 stelde de band de nieuwe plaat voor.

Begin november 2009 werd Spoil Engine uitgenodigd om in de uitverkochte arena van Vorst Nationaal het voorprogramma van Motörhead te verzorgen. Voorjaar 2010 werd de videoclip voor 'wake up call' verkocht aan de fans; de opbrengst ging integraal naar Haïti. Juni 2010 speelde Spoil Engine ook voor de 2de maal op Graspop.

Begin oktober 2010 verlieten gitarist Nick en drummer Steven, wegens gebrek aan tijd en motivatie, in vriendschap de band. Hun vervangers werden geselecteerd via audities. De nieuwe line-up werd begin mei 2011 bekendgemaakt: de 19-jarige Nederlander Matthijs Quaars werd ingelijfd als drummer; de 28-jarige Vlaming Bart Vandeportaele als gitarist.

Momenteel werkt de band aan nieuwe nummers in hun studio.

Formed in 2005 by TrollAklass (Guitar) and Trollour (Keyboard/Singer), the band naturally stands out thanks to its unique, strong and funny gigs across Belgium.

They play an efficient, folk "troll” metal, with hints of Black Metal.

After months of preparation and composition, the band finally gets a stable line-up in 2006, with Trollayd (Bass) and Trollent (Drums). Following the release of their first demo (2007) and the EP "We are the Trolls" (2008), they get back to work on new material.

In 2010, their first album "Gang of Trolls" (14 titles) is unleashed. It has been recorded at the BlackOut Studio in Brussels and mixed and masterized by Jeremy Bézier (Enthroned).

In the fall of 2011, Trollent left the band and now Forstroll sits behind the drums.

After a successful tour in Czech Republic at the sides of Nothgard, the band lives one of the highlights of its carreer by playing at the Paganfest in Gieβen (Germany). The band is now back to work on a brand new EP.

Throughout it's existence, Aktarum had the opportunity of playing with bands such as Ensiferum, Skyforger, Manegarm, Primordial, Equilibrium, Eluveitie, Heidevolk, Arkona, Moonsorrow, Turias, Korpiklaani,…

ALWAYS FALLEN is a industrious young Belgian Thrash Metal band that was founded in the summer of 2005. In an era of fast playing, technical bands, ALWAYS FALLEN elects to play a melodic repertoire of memorable, traditionally structured songs. Their sub-genre can be described as straightforward no-frills thrash with some elements of contemporary metal mixed into the equation to make it more interesting and distinctive.

After writing and rehearsing for almost a year ALWAYS FALLEN started performing live, in February 2006. After a minor line-up change consisting of lead singer Kenny Devos joining the band, the band unleashed their first demo entitled "No Mercy for Sinners" upon an unsuspecting public in February 2007. Nearly exactly one year later they released the mini-CD-album “See my Blood”, which they’d recorded at Sweet Sour Studios with Niek Tournois (Vocalist with the ROADRUNNER recording artists SPOIL ENGINE).

"See My Blood" benefited from both critical and popular acclaim and opened a lot of doors for the band, allowing them to tour intensively for the remainder of 2008 and well into 2009, with bands such as: Sodom (DE), Ensiferum (SE), Axxis (DE), Stormlord (IT), Bonded By Blood (USA), Fueled By Fire (USA) and Maroon (DE). ALWAYS FALLEN was also selected to play at Metalcamp in Slovenia, billed the same day/ stage as Nightwish (FI), Kataklysm (CAN) and Death Angel (USA).

Having achieved all of the above in such a short time – and survived – ALWAYS FALLEN next recruited XAVIER CARION (guitarist with CHANNEL ZERO and SONS OF JONATHAS) to produce their first long-playing compact disc album: "Reflection". They entrusted ATTIE BAUW (JUDAS PRIEST and the SCORPIONS, to name but two out of a list of hundreds…) with the mastering; loud, very loud… but with nuance!

"Reflection" was released on MAUSOLEUM RECORDS in November 2009 ( Europe ), and January 2010 (USA).

Semper Fi is een driekoppige rockband uit de West-Vlaamse polders die sinds 2004, met ferme DIY attitude, aan de spreekwoordelijke muzikale weg timmert. In 2006 wonnen ze de Demopoll van Studio Brussel en de publieksprijs van Verse Vis Leffingeleuren. Naar eigen zeggen zijn ze de vaandeldragers van de polder rock, een mix van epische riffs, beukende drums en snijdende vocalen; wij vinden power rock als label ook niet bepaald misplaatst. Na heel wat optredens versierd te hebben brachten ze eind 2010 hun debuutplaat Toxic Thought Syndrome uit. Zelf omschrijven ze het als een clash tussen Black Sabbath, Nirvana en Kyuss. Voer voor liefhebbers van het stevigere gitaarwerk.

Powerstone was formed out of the former rock cover band Healer by Lote on vocals and Kenny on lead guitar around 2009. Togheter they started to write some Old School metal songs. After looking around for some new artists for the band they found Stef on bass which is as well an alround home-studio recording 'specialist' and songwriter in different other projects!

Now the 3 of them were able to start recording real songs in a decent quality at Stef's place. With that result the band was able to go look for the missing rythm guitarist and a drummer. First they had Benny Beirlaen on rythm and John Berry (gae bolga) on drums but after a short while -around 2010 they ended up with 2 new and better fitting artists, Joshua Priem on rythm and Steven Demey (ex-spoil engine) on drums.

Now anno 2011 the band has grown to full band and is into rehearsing their first full setlist, getting ready for the stages and the recording of a first full album! Making some noice, playing in a band and show off on stage are not the main goals of Powerstone, for each actual member of the band creating music is a passion and a way of life and therefor the bands concept is all about distress in life, brotherhood and a way to bring out our strong personality to the masses in a symphonic way! Horns Up for true Metal!