YouTube has signed another artist. Well, indirectly of course. The video-sharing website has “inked” the deal between Defiler and Stillborn Records for the re-issuing of “Pangaea”. The metal outfit, which consists of vocalist, Jake Pelzl, guitarist, Ethan Lewis and drummer, Ian Poole, garnered over 1.25 million YouTube views of their first ever music video for “Cryomancer”. The angst of metal is prevalent in this video, but so is the hidden heartbreak that fuels the aggression. Metal heads are just like any person searching for their ultimate lover; they just choose to express their tears in rage.

“Cryomancer” is off of the band’s debut album, “Pangaea”, which was released as a digital album in October 2010. The viral success of tracks video caught the attention of Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, Jasta and Kingdom of Sorrow and Stillborn Records. The rest is metal history. Jasta and Pelzl worked together to re-issue “Pangaea” as a physical CD. Remixed and Remastered by Zeuss of Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, Emmure, Chimaira, “Pangaea” also includes a never before released bonus studio track, “Wild Wasteland” and also features new artwork described by Mike D from Darkicon Design. Stillborn Records is now fast tracking the re-issue of “Pangaea” and making it available for a limited time as a CD/T-shirt bundle.

Yes, YouTube does unveil too many Rebecca Blanks, but underneath those “Friday” artists are bands, such as Defiler, that well deserve their YouTube big break.

by Lonnie Nemiroff