Blades Of Hades
Encyclopedia
Blades formerly known as Blades of Hades, are an Australian hip hop
group from Newcastle
. Since forming in the late 1990s they have released three albums, Blades Of Hades, This Installment, and Shadow Art in 2008. The group took its name from Greek mythology
, where Hades
was the Gatekeeper of the Underworld
. Their hardcore style lyrics and dark production are reminiscent of many British Hip Hop
'Britcore' acts, such II Tone Committee
, Hijack
and Killa Instinct. The group have developed a strong following overseas, having performed at many festivals in Europe
, including Germany
's Mass Hysteria in Hamburg
. In 2008, they were the first independent Australian hip hop act to perform at the Glastonbury Festival
in the United Kingdom
.
By 2005, Jane Tyrrell had joined the Sydney
hip hop
group The Herd full time. The group counter-acted the line-up change and shortened their name to just 'Blades' in 2006. The same year, they released their second album This Installment, which was distributed by Obese Records
. The album featured Newcastle DJ Mark N on cuts and production for the track 'Blast Opposition', which they also released a video clip for. Blades appeared on Oriel Guthre's documentary Skip Hop: Volume One in 2006. They were interviewed and also contributed to the project's soundtrack. Shadow Art was released in 2008, followed by their free to download mix tape Two Thousand And Nine the following year.
In June, Blades signed to Difrnt Music which acts include Cog
and Regular John
. Blades are the record label's first hip hop group. David Edwards (former manager for INXS
, Michael Hutchence
and the Executive Producer of Rock Star: INXS
) will be marketing the group's future endeavors.
Another free to download mix tape was released in 2010 followed by their first commercial single release under the Difrnt Music label in October 2010, "Where The Fire's At".
Australian hip hop
Australian hip hop music began in the early 1980s; originally it was primarily influenced by hip hop music and culture imported via radio and television from the United States of America. However, since the 1990s, a distinctive local style has developed. Australian hip hop is an underground music...
group from Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
. Since forming in the late 1990s they have released three albums, Blades Of Hades, This Installment, and Shadow Art in 2008. The group took its name from Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, where Hades
Hades
Hades , Hadēs, originally , Haidēs or , Aidēs , meaning "the unseen") was the ancient Greek god of the underworld. The genitive , Haidou, was an elision to denote locality: "[the house/dominion] of Hades". Eventually, the nominative came to designate the abode of the dead.In Greek mythology, Hades...
was the Gatekeeper of the Underworld
Underworld
The Underworld is a region which is thought to be under the surface of the earth in some religions and in mythologies. It could be a place where the souls of the recently departed go, and in some traditions it is identified with Hell or the realm of death...
. Their hardcore style lyrics and dark production are reminiscent of many British Hip Hop
British hip hop
British hip hop is a genre of music, and a culture that covers a variety of styles of hip hop music made in the United Kingdom. It is generally classified as one of a number of styles of urban music...
'Britcore' acts, such II Tone Committee
II Tone Committee
II Tone Committee a.k.a Tones of Twice, composed of Mista Bohze, Defy, Sace and DJ Krashslaughta and emerged from the Glasgow Hip Hop scene of the late 80’s-History:...
, Hijack
Hijack (band)
Hijack were a hip hop group from Brixton in London, featuring Kamanchi Sly, DJ Supreme, DJ Undercover, Ulysses, Agent Fritz and Agent Clueso. Their first single, "Style Wars" caught the attention of the British hip hop community...
and Killa Instinct. The group have developed a strong following overseas, having performed at many festivals in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, including Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's Mass Hysteria in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. In 2008, they were the first independent Australian hip hop act to perform at the Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
History
Newcastle brothers Kid Lyrical and Wizardry met Likewyze onstage, when the duo began rhyming over a performance of a funk band Likewyze was playing guitar in. At the time Likewyze was studying audio at music school and offered to record the duo, along with Scotty B and DJ Skoob, the three time NSW DMC champion. This resulted in their debut album, the self titled, independently released Blades Of Hades.By 2005, Jane Tyrrell had joined the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
group The Herd full time. The group counter-acted the line-up change and shortened their name to just 'Blades' in 2006. The same year, they released their second album This Installment, which was distributed by Obese Records
Obese Records
Obese Records is an Australian hip hop record label. It is the largest Australian independent Hip-Hop label, a retail store and a touring and record distribution company.-History:...
. The album featured Newcastle DJ Mark N on cuts and production for the track 'Blast Opposition', which they also released a video clip for. Blades appeared on Oriel Guthre's documentary Skip Hop: Volume One in 2006. They were interviewed and also contributed to the project's soundtrack. Shadow Art was released in 2008, followed by their free to download mix tape Two Thousand And Nine the following year.
In June, Blades signed to Difrnt Music which acts include Cog
Cog (band)
Cog are an Australian progressive rock band that formed in 1998. Their debut album The New Normal was nominated for Triple J's 2005 J Award. The band's music draws influences from Tool, Isis, Nina Simone, Bob Marley, Leftfield, Deftones and Helmet...
and Regular John
Regular John
Regular John are a four piece rock band based in Sydney, Australia. Guitarist Ryan Adamson and bassist Caleb Goman met as children in the town of Manilla, NSW, going to school together before Adamson met with drummer Ryan Mcdonald and original guitarist Brock Tengstrom in Griffith, NSW...
. Blades are the record label's first hip hop group. David Edwards (former manager for INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
, Michael Hutchence
Michael Hutchence
Michael Kelland John Hutchence was an Australian musician and actor. He was the founding lead singer-songwriter of rock band :INXS from 1977 to his death in 1997, a period of twenty years. Hutchence was a member of short-lived pop rock group Max Q and recorded solo material which was released...
and the Executive Producer of Rock Star: INXS
Rock Star: INXS
Rock Star: INXS is the first season of the reality television show Rock Star where 15 contestants competed to become the lead vocalist for the Australian rock band INXS....
) will be marketing the group's future endeavors.
Another free to download mix tape was released in 2010 followed by their first commercial single release under the Difrnt Music label in October 2010, "Where The Fire's At".
Albums
- Blades Of Hades - Independent (2003)
- This Installment - Obese RecordsObese RecordsObese Records is an Australian hip hop record label. It is the largest Australian independent Hip-Hop label, a retail store and a touring and record distribution company.-History:...
(2006) - Shadow Art - Steal City Records (2008)
Singles
- Where The Fire's At - Difrnt Music, Universal Music Australia (October 2010)
- One - Difrnt Music, Universal Music Australia (November 2010)
- City Called Home - Difrnt Music, Universal Music Australia (December 2010)
Mix Tapes
- Two Thousand And Nine - Free MP3 Download (2009)
- 2010 Mixtape - Free FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
MP3 Download (2010)
Video Clips
- Find Ya Higher (2004) from Blades Of Hades
- Blast Opposition (2007) from This Installment
- Cannibalistic Act (2009) from Shadow Art
- Where The Fire's At (2010)
Other Appearances
- Underground United Vol. 1 (2009, Naked Ape Recordings, Underground United) - Contributed the track Kaos Orda from Blades Of Hades.
- Skip Hip: Volume One (2009, Rubber Records, EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
) - Contributed multiple tracks: Intro (DJ Scoob, Scotty B), Choirific (Scotty B), Mr. Mister (Tyrrell), Austyles (Blades Of Hades) and Hardcore (Blades Of Hades). - King HIts by BouncerBouncerBouncer or The Bouncer may refer to:* Bouncer , a person who provides security at a public venue* Bouncer or BNC, a piece of software used to relay traffic and connections in computer networksIn sport:...
(2009) - "Can't Get Past Us" (Feat. Blades Of Hades)