After witnessing the threat of deforestation first-hand in Costa Rica, Sylvain Demercastel and Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren started Savage Lands, the world’s first environmental non-profit powered by the metal community. The 501 (c) (3) organization has led biodiversity initiatives around the globe while partnering with members of Metallica, Gojira, Alissa White-Gluz and Heilung, as well as other organizations like Hellfest and the Jane Goodall Institute.
Today, Savage Lands are thrilled to announce a three-year strategic partnership with Brutal Assault, one of Europe’s premiere music festivals for heavy music. With this partnership, both organizations are sending a call to the cultural community by inviting all festivals and artists to join their ecological movement.
Together, Savage Lands and Brutal Assault will promote biodiversity through eco-friendly merchandise, festival-wide awareness campaigns conservation projects and the expansion of Brutal Forest, Brutal Assault’s long-term reforestation initiative, which has planted more than 12,000 trees across the Czech Republic.
Savage Lands are also launching a Biodiversity tour. Starting in 2027, the tour will travel to various European festivals, including Brutal Assault. The organization will lead environmental projects in each country that the tour visits.
“Savage Lands is thrilled to join forces with Brutal Assault in the fight for biodiversity. Through this partnership, our organization is crossing a threshold by expanding our international operations”, Savage Lands co-founder Sylvain Demercastel says. “The biodiversity crisis is bigger than any one organization. It demands new ideas, new alliances and new forms of leadership. On behalf of Savage Lands, I invite every festival, every artist, every cultural organization to support this movement and join The Army of the Trees”.
“This partnership reflects a shared conviction between Brutal Assault and Savage Lands”, Brutal Assault founders Martin “Shindy” Brzobohaty Vladan and Tomáš Fiala say. “For decades, festivals have shaped music, inspired generations and created unforgettable memories. Today, we have an opportunity to create something even greater: a lasting legacy through the ecosystems they help protect. Today, Brutal Assault is proud to answer the call”.
Read more about the partnership between Savage Lands and Brutal Assault on Brutal Assault’s website.
https://brutalassault.cz/en/brutal-assault-x-savage-lands
Get tickets to Brutal Assault 2026
Savage Lands' debut album introduces several new species of metalhead to their ecosystem. Eurovision’s darlings Lord Of The Lost spill their blood and glitter over the spiky riffs that puncture “Out of Breath”. Holding court over lead single “Ruling Queen” with her serpentine cleans and lioness roar is none other than Alissa White-Gluz. “Now is the time to take a stand”, the band roar in a fierce rallying cry during the album’s climactic title track, backed by Julien Truchan from Benighted and other pillars from the French metal community.
“Our goals are attainable,” Sylvain and Dirk say. “By converting the land that we purchase into nature sanctuaries, Savage Lands will help set a precedent for environmental activism. But we must work together and quickly. Ecosystems are still under attack. If we don’t, then there won’t be any wildlife left to save”.
Raise your horns and join the Army of the Trees in support of the metal non-profit.
Learn more about Savage Lands
https://savagelands.org/
Donate
https://savagelands.org/donation/
Core Lineup:
Poun - Vocals
Sylvain Demercastel - Guitars
Etienne Treton - Bass
Florian Pons - Drums
Special Member:
Dirk Verbeuren (Drums on "Black Rock Heart", "The Last Howl" and "Out of Breath)
Collaborators:
Stephane Buriez
Ardag Basmadjian
HK Nico + James at Vamacara
Guest Features:
Kai Uwe Faust - Vocals (Black Rock Heart)
Chloe Trujillo - Vocals (Black Rock Heart, Out of Breath)
Alissa White-Gluz - Vocals (Ruling Queen)
Kenneth Andrews - Guitar (Ruling Queen)
Andreas Kisser - Guitar (The Last Howl)
John Tardy - Vocals (The Last Howl)
Maria Franz - Vocals (No Remedy)
Lord Of The Lost - Vocals, Guitars (Out of Breath)
*Army of Trees features Steeven Corsini (Loco Muerte), Auré Jäger (Akiavel), David & Viber (Sidilarsen), Niko Jones (Tagada Jones), Julien Truchan (Benighted), Stéphane Buriez (Loudblast, Sinsaenum), Nils Courbaron (Bloodorn, Sirenia, DDC) and Aurelien Ouzoulias (The Beat Factory, Mörglbl).
Production:
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Adair Daufembach at Daufembach Studio in Los Angeles.
Cover Artist:
Brewster Agency
Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/savagelandsarmyofthetrees
Follow Savage Lands:
Official Website: https://savagelands.org/
Bandcamp: https://savagelands.bandcamp.com/album/army-of-the-trees
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/savage-lands/1712738479
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5fft5SyNYhNar3PdYtKQSF
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/p/Savage-Lands-100081754354224/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savagelands_project/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@savagelands9644