The first European-wide releases to come from the Earache/Willowtip union have been announced. Planned for a May 2 release, there will actually be 4 releases in the first batch showcasing the full diversity and strength of the Willowtip roster. This will be the first time that these releases have experienced a full European release and its hoped that their improved availability will help spread the word for these truly outstanding acts. Listen to free full length samplers here...

First up is Swedish OTT extreme assault CROWPATH. 'Red on Chrome' is one of the most consistently aggressive records to have emerged in some time, and despite comparisons to the likes of Mastodon, Converge and Coalesce the reality is a way more chaotic mix of the three plus some unholy death metal pounding. This and the band's other significant release, the 'Old Cuts and Blunt Knives' collection on Robotic Empire have garnered nothing but acclaim from underground sources - find out why when you pick this disc up. The band are also working on their new album at present for release later in 2005. More info www.crowpath.com.

Next is the technical Death Metal mastery of Capharnaum. 'Fractured' is full of flowing riff abuse and melodic traditional heavy metal-isms underscored with a vicious edge, complex without being unlistenable and intricate without being overwhelmingly self-indulgent. As an interesting aside, the band features Matt Heafy, now plying his wares in the hotly tipped Roadrunner new hope Trivium. It's easy to see a link between the bands but Capharnaum is way more heavy and varied, breathing life into a style that some felt had ended with the likes of 'Individual Thought Patterns'. Also on the record is Monstrosity's Mike Poggione on bass and Martyr's Daniel Mongrain on guitar. More info www.capharnaum.org.

Also being made available is the awesome Misery Index/Commit Suicide split. Misery Index as most will know feature ex members of Dying Fetus and have since gone on to record a killer record for Nuclear Blast. Hammertight rhythms and a belligerent approach have made the band stand out from the crowd, find out how it all began here. Sharing the disc is the no-less frenetic Commit Suicide, offering up a hypertight line in lethal extreme metal that more than matches the harshness of their name. More info here www.unkindesign.com/miseryindex and www.willowtip.com/commitsuicide.

And completing the foursome is the cult nastiness of Watchmaker. Followed with utter devotion by their growing legions, Watchmaker seem intent on pissing off everything and everyone around, with scant regard for the consequences. Thick slabs of impassioned extremity escape on every second of 'Kill.Fucking.Everyone.', which as the title suggests, is about as welcoming as a claw hammer to the back of the head. Sick but indispensible all the same, from one of Terrorizer's Best Bands of 2002. More info www.watchmaker666.com.

Source:earache.com