Dawn of Azazel (New Music Up)

BLUNT N BELITTING MALEVOLENCE, MATHY YET MOLTEN IN NATURE, PREPARE TO MEET YOUR NEW MASTERS: NEW ZEALANDS DAWN OF AZAZEL - TERRORIZER MAGAZINE
DAWN OF AZAZEL IS BOTH BUSY AND BELITTLING, CRUEL AND CALCULATING, RAW AND REFINED; ONE OF THE MOST SHOCKLINGLY BOLD SPINS IN THE BLACK/DEATH UNDERGROUND - METAL MANIACS

Undoubtably theleaders in taking New Zealand metal to the world, New Zealands foremost extreme metal band are set Dawn of Azazel are set to raise the barboth here and abroad with their brutal, violent and invovative second album "Sedition"
Dawn ofAzazel was formed in 1999 in Auckland, New Zealand, and several years were spent with various members coming and going before the firstserious line came together in the end of 1999.The first half of the year 2000 was spent practising and tightening the new line up. The bandreleased their demo "Vita est Militia Super Terram" in August, Which received an excellent response, and earned the band a cult following inthe underground, both local and overseas. The band was soon headlining of local gigs around New Zealand and by the end of 2001 Dawn of Azazelbecame the NZ metal act to cross the Tasman and conquer the shores of Australia.

The first half of 2002 was spent in intense rehearsals forthe recording of their first release on an international label. The "Bloodforged Abdication" 7" vinyl EP was released in October 2002 by cultItalian vinyl-only label Hellflame Records. The release brought to light the success of years of letter and email writing to fans andunderground magazines around the world, selling out of the limited 500 pressing on presales alone.The release attracted a myriad of offersfrom Underground labels world wide, and secured them the support slot for New Zealand tours with Pungent Stench, Atomizer, Misery andIncantation.

In November of 2003 Dawn of Azazel released their Debut album "The Law of the Strong" though Agonia records in Poland.Featuring 8 metal classics mixing blistering speed, raw brutality and total darkness, that had been refined to perfection over the 6 years oftheir existence.

The band worked long and hard to promote this locally and with the help of the contacts they had made over the past yearstheir efforts were rewarded. Despite being a raw, uncompromising extreme metal release the album went on to receive high praise in localmainstream music press, being given 5/5 in New Zealand's premier music magazine, Rip it up. A video produced for Immortal Dominance receivedairplay and garnered interviews for the band on all New Zealand Music Channels and on national news show nightline. This was accompanied byacclaim by the worldwide metal underground as well as features and interviews in leading worldwide metal publications such as Terrorizer andMetal Maniacs.

Dawn of Azazel then hit the road to promote the new album. An 8 date New Zealand tour was followed by their first majorinternational tour throught europe. This tour enabled them to play their first shows in Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Holland andBelgium. The band then continued their inexorable advance by again touring Australia. Upon returning from this tour a mutual decision wasreached that Tony and Phill should leave the band as they were unable to commit sufficient time to the bands schedule. The decision was madeto continue as a 3 piece and drummer Martin Cavanagh was quickly recruited to replace Phill in the first days of 2005.

This line up immediatelybegan intense rehersals, and them embarked on a 13 date New Zealand tour. Immediately upon returning the band entered Kog studios to recordtheir second album, "Sedition" This album bore the fruits of a years hard work and marked a massive step up in the musicanship andprofesionalism of Dawn of Azazel After spending the next few weeks completing the album the band was invited to play one of the headliningslots at Australia's Premiere extreme metal festival, Bloodlust. The band signed with John Mcentee's Ibex Moon records shortly after for therelease of Sedition.

The album was released in March 2006 and was followed that same month by a 13 date tour through New Zealand, Australia,Thailand and Indonesia with Disgorge. The bands next step was playing to 6000 opening for Korn on their only New Zealand show in May . Laterthat month the band undertook their first US tour With Vital Remains and Incantation, encompasing 24 shows across the USA. After a shortbreak to compose new material the band again hit the road in December as headline support for Deicide throughout their sold out tour of NewZealand and Australia.In 2007 The band continued their inexorable advance through 2007 with an appearance at Australia's Overcrankedfestival, followed by the longest tour ever undertaken by a New Zealand based band, 32 shows through Germany, France, The Netherlands,England, Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Portugal. Denmark, Switzerland and the Czech Republic in Support of Immolation, Krisiunand Grave.