80'S Metal / Rock such as Sanctuary, Nevermore , Anthem, Fight , Judas Priest, etc.
Record Label
Management: June & Co. Lable: Dope Ent.
Type of Label
Major
About DOWNHELL
BUY OUR NEW ALBUM ' KARMA ' : JAPANESE Edition(2009)
Downhell - Hwa Du (Official Bootleg)
Live at Olympic Hall (Open for Megadeth)
Seoul, Korea
2007.10.28
Official Promotion Video of "Karma" (English version)
'Downhell', a turning point of Korean metal.
Classic heavy metal influenced by Judas Priest, Halford, and Fight.
Recording/mixing: Cho Sang-hyun @ Mol Studios
Mastering: Alan Douches @ WWSM Studios
Artwork: Yushi (Tatooist)
Lyrics: Lee Kyung
Obviously there was a Renaissance in Korean heavy metal once before. Through the '80s--which was the golden era of heavy metal--up to the mid-'90, so many new bands were introduced to the Korean metal scene. However, now it seems really difficult to find bands that survived that period and still remain in the scene.
Although we've recently gotten a breeze of the NWOAM (New Wave of American Heavy Metal) and reinterpreted metalcore, it still wasn't enough to gather a storm over this badland that has never been this dry and empty before.
Witnessing the rain brought to the hardcore/punk scene having inspired rock fans to support their local indie bands, and now Korean metalheads realized it's time to raise their voices and cry out for a Messiah to end the longest dry season of the Korean metal scene.
If you are fed up with all those current metal/hardcore bands going no further than just following the footsteps of foreign bands in trend and failing to embrace the roots of metal, and if you have noticed a metallic sound in current hardcore, and moreover, if you label yourself a metalhead, now it's time for you to pay attention to Downhell, the 21th century's resurrection of classic heavy metal.
Downhell started as 'Thrill Kill' in 2000. Thrill Kill was formed by Mark Choi, at the time known as the outlaw of the rock/metal scene. Soon they brought in Derrick, the best technical drummer in Korea, and released a 4-track demo. Yet still, their personal situation kept them from being seen often in the scene until 2002. The same year Mark renamed the band Downhell, and got a new line-up with Kim Do-soo from Oathean and Cho Sang-hyun from God of Emptiness/Mol Studios. In 2003 they made a strong impression on metal fans by playing as an opening band for the Korean tour of Skyfire, a Swedish melodic death metal band.
Playing as an opening band for the Korean tour of Dark Tranquillity in 2004, Downhell raised the curiosity of many Korean metalheads. The same year their debut album 'At the End of Death' was finally released. The whole album was recorded and mixed by Cho Sang-hyun at Mol Studios, known as the ultimate Mecca of the Korean hardcore/punk/metal scene. The final 10 tracks were mastered by Alan Douches critically known as the world's best metal/hardcore engineer for his work with Shadows Fall, God Forbid, Mastodon, who also mastered an album of 13 steps, a Korean old school hardcore band.
Every song in the album has been armed with a strong and simple hook gushing masculine energy as a classic metal band. Solos by Alex and Beshas in tracks like 'Doppleganger' and '不苦不樂 (no pain no joy)' will remind you of Judas Priest, Fight, and Testament. No surprise that these guys pick Judas Priest, Fight, Testament, along with Iced Earth, as their musical influences. They're burning in fire and hunger for heavy metal. And they've got skills to back up that passion. They have been ready to grow a tree out of the roots of Korean heavy metal. Last year Downhell has proven themselves to many fans not only in Korea but also outside the country. They played at the nation's biggest rock events like Busan Rock Festival, Korea Live Music Festival and Pentaport Festival. And once again, they opened for melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity. Meanwhile, their first album 'At The End of Death' was introduced to Japanese metal fans by the metal magazine Burrn, where critics scored it 79.
Early this year Downhell crossed over another boundary and impressed many people even outside the metal world by contributing their original song 'Like A Bullet' to the OST of the movie "SSonda (shoot)" with producer Shin Hae-chul (aka Mawang), one of the best-known rock musicians in Korea, and closing for the premiere of the movie.
Then in August Downhell finally started recording their new album with Ahn Heung-chan from Crash and Cho Sang-hyun from M.O.L Studio as co-producers.
Early this year Downhell crossed over another boundary and impressed many people even outside the metal world by contributing their original song 'Like A Bullet' to the OST of the movie "SSonda (shoot)" with producer Shin Hae-chul (aka Mawang), one of the best-known rock musicians in Korea, and closing for the premiere of the movie. Then in August Downhell finally started recording their new album with Ahn Heung-chan from Crash and Cho Sang-hyun from M.O.L Studio as co-producers.
And world-known graphic artist Travis Smith is doing the artwork for the cover of the album.
Although it is still in the making, it's been already getting quite a few offers from several labels all around the world.
Downhell now knocks on the Korean metal scene with another line-up this year. Mark the vocalist once worked with the Kim Kyung-ho Band on their album and live shows, supporting them to rewrite Korean pop history with their 7-million-selling record. He also founded Dope Music later changed to Dope Entertainment. Alex, the guitarist is a well-known songwriter and one of the most wanted session guitarists in Korea, and played the guitar for pop stars like Sinhwa, Ha Ri-soo, Jang Yoon-jeong, and Baek Ji-young and TV/radio commercials for companies such as KT, Samsung Anycall and many others. He has also been an associate professor at the Department of Applied Music in Joongbu University. The second guitarist Christian, who's also the little brother of Alex, is a member of the popular modern rock band, Breeze and has written songs for popular artists like JK Kim Dong-wook and Maya. The bassist Z-woo, who is the first female bassist in the Korean metal scene, is also currently modeling and teaching modern dance. Last but not the least, the original drummer of the band, Noh Jeong-wook, who is also drummer of 'I Love JH', a rising star in modern rock scene, has returned.
Downhell was picked as an opening band representing Korea for the Korean tour of the world's best metal band, Megadeth. And the female bassist Z-woo who recently joined Downhell is now getting her face noticed by starring in the 2nd season of 'Bad Girl Diary,' a reality show on Olive TV, in which all the members of Downhell guest-starred as well. Moreover, they became the first metal band who ever played in 'Show Countdown' along with a lot of Korean pop stars, which was an effort to bring heavy metal close to the public.
Mike Terrana who did the great job in tracking the drums, finally became a regular member. With a renewed line-up, Downhell shared the main stage with Edguy, Andrew WK and 13 Steps at Busan Rock Festival '2006 and made successful appearance at Korea Live Music Festival along with Korea’s best acts such as Black Hole, Crash, Crying Nut, No Brain...etc. Their appearances on national Radio shows and various live performances led them to on the top level of Korean rock/metal scene even if it is only 5 months after the release of their debut album! Opening for Megadeth. Dark Tranquillity was also highlights of their career.
As of now, they are currently in the mixing mode for their upcoming album. It will consist of 8 new songs, 2 live songs and a cover. It is will be mastered in November and is scheduled to be released in December. Expect another Korean metal masterpiece from them.
Downhell History
2002 Strapping Young Lad Korea Tour Support
2003 Skyfire Korea Tour Support
2004 Dark Tranquillity First Time Korea Support,
Oathean 3rd Album Release Gig Support
2005 M.O.L Present Show
2006 Pentaport Rock Festival,
Busan Rock Festival,
Korea Live Music Festival,
Guest band for 'Straight Road Vol. 2',
guest band for 'W.A.S.P Metal Fest',
Dark Tranquillity Live In Korea AGAIN Support,
Gueststar for 'Ghost Nation' on MBC Radio
2007 Closing for the premiere of the movie "Ssonda (shoot)",
Trendkill Festival,
guest band for Hollow Jan,
K-Rock 101 : rebel for 10 days,
Masterplan Korea Tour Support,
Hot Music Hot Musician 'Black Syndrome' Support,
Guest band for the Nation's University Rockband Competition,
L.A Guns Korea Seoul Support,
Megadeth Korea Seoul Support,
Band & Music First Party
2008 Season 2 of 'Bad Girl Diary' on Olive TV,
Guest band for Mahatma First , Final Tour,
Wellcome To Mania Vol. 2 Rolling Hall,
All Sound Day First Club Skunk Hell,
Metal Hell Party Club Skyhigh,
Sapiens 7 Festival
Awright so here's the deal everyone, we'll be back at the studio
October 26th to complete the few things left, its actually 2 vocal
tracks and 4 solo tracks!
We're very excited that in approximately a month, we'll
finally have some songs ready to be heard from our first REAL album,
finally the real deal will begin. They are so many of you out there who
keeps showing support to the project and we are dedicating this first
album to all of you, thx for the help!
We are confident you'll be here the day of our release, which
will be annouced in a few weeks, and be sure to know that it mean a lot
to us, it's been long, for those following us since the beginning, and
especially for us. It's been 3 years since we started, today october
21st exactly actually marks the first day that me (Mat) and my brother
(fred) started jamming with the idea of making a band.
And so we are now, with a kick ass lead guitarist and a groovy bassist, ready to kick some ass!
So yeah, not much to say, just hope youll be there helping us
promoting that first CD and we cant wait to blast the whole world with
it!
Thx to Pierre for his incredible patience with us, he's the bouss!
Thanks for the add and I'm sorry for my delaying. It's really my pleasure to be a friend with DOWNHELL through here!!! I'm not sure you've already noticed or not,I'm always getting every your products for store selling and it's selling is really well!!! Lates one is really killer!!!
Apologies if you've already registered. Hard to keep track these days! Please check out and register FREE at Metal Tome: Gateway to Shred - Heavy Metal Community and help support the Metal movement!
thanx for the add!! we hope you enjoy our stuff! leave us a comment what you think of it!check our CD VERMAECHTNIS and our video here at myspace!! the new cd "FORBIDDEN ANGER" will be out in october. for more infos and merch check www.damnmetal.de
Hails! This very limited edition guitar distortion pedal's sound is a tribute to The First Wave Of Black Metal of The 1980's. It is 100% raw, classic, OLD SCHOOL METAL TONE! Limited to 666 pedals worldwide. Please read more about the Black Metal Pedal at www.BlackMetalPedal.com
Hails! This very limited edition guitar distortion pedal's sound is a tribute to The First Wave Of Black Metal of The 1980's. It is 100% raw, classic, OLD SCHOOL METAL TONE! Limited to 666 pedals worldwide. Please read more about the Black Metal Pedal at www.BlackMetalPedal.com
new album "wax idols" is comming out soon and for all of those who want a slight taste of what is to come we have just released a song on our myspace "Shades of Serenity"! check us out!!
Online Now!
..![GNOMES WITH COMBS [NEW SONG]](http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/13/s_56b100d55e9e46879edbb3524b91d2cd.jpg)
