Just like the trees they're protecting, Savage Lands have roots that run deep. Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren and guitarist-turned-activist Sylvain Demercastel first joined forces in France during the late '90s before reuniting two decades later to form the world's first metal non-profit for biodiversity. Since 2022, their organization has protected more than 100 acres of endangered forest with help from environmentalists and metalheads.

As they prepare once again to bring the metal forest to Hellfest, today, Savage Lands is proud to announce its partnership with ESP Guitars. The two will work together to raise awareness about biodiversity and help fund the preservation projects that Savage Lands is directing in Costa Rica, Europe and Africa.

"Savage Lands is so happy to partner with a great guitar company in ESP. We are looking forward to preparing some nice events and artist collaborations together", Sylvain says. "I was endorsed by ESP when Dirk and I were playing in a band together back in the '90s. I always loved their guitars, so it feels natural for Savage Lands to connect with my instrumental roots!"

To ring in their new partnership, Savage Lands are giving away their very own custom ESP EC Series Guitar. Painted forest green and carved with the Army of the Trees logo, this guitar is the only one of its kind.

For a chance to win this exclusive merch item, purchase a ticket for HellRaffle 2025. Savage Lands will use 100% of the money collected from this raffle to finance another land acquisition like the one they recently purchased in Touraine, France.

Enter HellRaffle 2025
https://pages.gotombola.co/g/GTSQ249?locale=en_US

Other raffle prizes include a NOTOX surfboard and skateboard, drumsticks signed by Dirk Verbeuren and 2 full 4 day passes to Hellfest 2026.

Hellfest is donating one million Euro to Savage Lands after Sylvain and company performed on the main stage at last year's festival.

Savage Lands debut album is out now on Season of Mist. Army of the Trees features members of Arch Enemy, Obituary, Sepultura, Lord of the Lost, Heilung + more!

Order & Stream
https://orcd.co/savagelandsarmyofthetrees

Just listening to Army of the Trees helps support Savage Lands. 100% of the song’s royalties fund the organization's preservation efforts.

The CD Digisleeve for Army of the Trees is made from eco paper, while the LP is pressed on BioVinyl.

Learn more about Savage Lands
https://savagelands.org/

Donate
https://savagelands.org/donation/

A combination of thrash, death, industrial, hardcore, doom, and more from legends to emerging artists worth discovering!

Inaugural festival taking place September 16-17, 2023 in Orange County, CA

In celebration of the forthcoming Metal Injection Festival, Metal Injection is now sharing a specially curated playlist to pump up fans ahead of this spectacular event! Featuring music from each band on the lineup, the playlists can now be heard via Apple Music and Spotify.

The inaugural Metal Injection Festival will take over Orange County, CA from September 16-17 across two iconic venues - The Observatory and House of Blues Anaheim. The stacked and diverse lineup is a melting pot of genres, inclusive to both legendary bands as well as emerging and underground artists worth discovering. The full lineup is as follows:

Saturday, September 16 @ The Observatory

$35 Ticket [On Sale Now]

Max & Iggor Cavalera (Performing a special Morbid Visions and Bestial Devastation set)

Exhumed

Incite

Fueled By Fire

Dead Heat

Sunday, September 17 @ House of Blues Anaheim

$50 Ticket [On Sale Now]

Testament

Machine Head

Fear Factory - (Performing a special Demanufacture & Obsolete set)

Xibalba

Spirit Adrift

Exmortus

Kyng

Contracult Collective

Upon Stone

Thrown Into Exile

Tickets for day one are now on sale HERE while day two tickets are available HERE.

"I've always dreamed of having my own festival as a kid, I mean what metal head hasn't!?" Explains Metal Injection founder and company director Frank Godla. "I even wrote it down on a future goal plan for Metal Injection in the early days. When my Slay At Home virtual fest really took off during the pandemic, and reached communities in over 60 countries, it suddenly seemed possible, even overdue.

"Today, I bring you the first ever Metal Injection Festival. Two days days of killer bands ranging from thrash, death, industrial, hardcore, and more from legendary names to the ones worth discovering. We'll also have some really sweet giveaways, a learning area for amazing causes I believe in, and special setlists including the legendary Max & Iggor Cavalera performing Morbid Visions and Bestial Devastation records in entirety, and Fear Factory celebrating their game changing Demanufacture and 25th anniversary of Obsolete with us!

"Every new endeavor has to start somewhere, and I couldn't be more stoked to have this group of amazing bands be part of MI history!"

To further commemorate this exceptional event, Metal Injection is now sharing a special video announcement, which can be found below.

Sponsored by Metal Blade Records, Nuclear Blast, Century Media, Thunderflix and ESP Guitars, the face-melting program will also have a learning booth in support of two very important causes, MusiCares and Suicide Prevention. This initiative will help educate attendees on mental health awareness and related resources for fans and musicians in need.

That's not all! Courtesy of ESP Guitars, Metal Injection will be raffling off a pair of ESP axes signed by each headliner. Night one's guitar will be signed by Max Cavalera while night two's prize will be signed by Alex Skolnick.

Keep those horns high and mighty and stay tuned for more info!

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