Brocas Helm
Encyclopedia
Brocas Helm is a heavy metal
band from San Francisco, California, founded in 1982. They split up at XIV Keep It True Festival
on April 30, 2011.
, and in the same year they released their first album, Into Battle
. After several disagreements (for example, about the cover used for Into Battle, which was used without consent of the band), they mutually agreed to end the relationship with the labels, even though Brocas Helm still had an obligation for another album.
After a lot of searching for a new label that could fulfill their needs, the band decided to create and release a new LP themselves. For 5 years, the band worked hard in their "Caverns of Thunder" basement-studio, and the result was the album Black Death
(with Tom Benhey on guitars).
Brocas Helm recorded the Helm's Deep demo primarily to get a label deal with the goal of a high-quality CD release. Brocas Helm did not find any label which could suit their needs, so the band self-released the Ghost Story EP in 1994, the Time of the Dark
and the Blood Machine/Skullfucker
singles (respectively in 1997 and 2000). In 2003 the band signed with Eat Metal records, which released the Live Album Black Death in Athens
and re-released their two full-length albums with some bonus tracks and a new artwork. In 2004 the band recorded a highly anticipated new full-length album, Defender of the Crown
, once again self-releasing the record.
Their songs "Cry of the Banshee" and "Drink the Blood of the Priest" were included on the soundtrack for the videogame Brütal Legend
.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from San Francisco, California, founded in 1982. They split up at XIV Keep It True Festival
Keep It True
Keep It True is a heavy metal festival held annually in Germany since 2003.-I:"The Traditional Heavy Metal Festival": July 19, 2003 Lauda-Königshofen, Tauberfrankenhalle*Omen*Brocas Helm*Majesty*Doomsword*Solitaire*Killers*Killer*Malediction*Gunfire...
on April 30, 2011.
History
The band was founded in 1982 by Bobbie Wright (guitars, vocals), James Schumacher (bass), Jack Hays (drums) and John Grey (guitars). With this line-up, Brocas Helm released their first demo in 1983. In 1984 the band signed with First Strike for the USA and Steamhammer for EuropeEurope
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...
, and in the same year they released their first album, Into Battle
Into Battle (album)
Into Battle was the first full-length released by the Heavy metal band Brocas Helm. The album was released in 1984 and re-released in 2005 by Eat Metal Records with different artwork, 1983's "Demo I" as bonus, and also a multimedia track of a live performance of the song "Ravenwreck".-Track...
. After several disagreements (for example, about the cover used for Into Battle, which was used without consent of the band), they mutually agreed to end the relationship with the labels, even though Brocas Helm still had an obligation for another album.
After a lot of searching for a new label that could fulfill their needs, the band decided to create and release a new LP themselves. For 5 years, the band worked hard in their "Caverns of Thunder" basement-studio, and the result was the album Black Death
Black Death (album)
Black Death is the second full-length released by the heavy metal band Brocas Helm. It was released in 1988, even though the recording sessions began in 1985. This album was re-released in 2005 by Eat Metal Records with different artwork, 1989's "Helm's Deep" demo as bonus, and also a multimedia...
(with Tom Benhey on guitars).
Brocas Helm recorded the Helm's Deep demo primarily to get a label deal with the goal of a high-quality CD release. Brocas Helm did not find any label which could suit their needs, so the band self-released the Ghost Story EP in 1994, the Time of the Dark
Time of the Dark
"Time of the Dark" is a single released in 1997 by the heavy metal band Brocas Helm. It was released on 7" vinyl only.-Personnel:*Bobbie Wright - Guitars, Vocals*Jim Schumacher - Bass*Jack Hays - Drums...
and the Blood Machine/Skullfucker
Blood Machine/Skullfucker
"Blood Machine"/"Skullfucker" is a single released in 2000 by the heavy metal band Brocas Helm. It was released on 7" red vinyl only. It appeared on the 2004 album Defender of the Crown.-Personnel:*Bobbie Wright - Guitars, Vocals...
singles (respectively in 1997 and 2000). In 2003 the band signed with Eat Metal records, which released the Live Album Black Death in Athens
Black Death in Athens
Black Death in Athens is a live album released in 2004 by the heavy metal band Brocas Helm. It was printed only on vinyl, and the first 100 copies came in red vinyl.-Track listing:*"Into Battle"*"Metallic Fury"*"Here To Rock"*"Warriors of the Dark"...
and re-released their two full-length albums with some bonus tracks and a new artwork. In 2004 the band recorded a highly anticipated new full-length album, Defender of the Crown
Defender of the Crown (album)
Defender of the Crown is a full-length album released by the heavy Metal band Brocas Helm and is, as of today, the last release of the band. It was released on digipak and vinyl formats, and some versions came with the bonus track "Drink the Blood of the Priest".-Track listing:1. "Cry of the...
, once again self-releasing the record.
Their songs "Cry of the Banshee" and "Drink the Blood of the Priest" were included on the soundtrack for the videogame Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend is an action-adventure/real-time strategy game created by Double Fine Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was released during October 2009 in North America and Europe...
.
Moniker
The name Brocas Helm comes from a piece of armor placed in the Tower of London. The band chose it because "It was fitting for us to use as a symbol, as we fought against the common trends of music. We surged into battle with our songs as our weapons, our fans as our blood, the force of right in our veins. And we continue to do so."Current members
- Bobbie Wright - guitars, vocals
- James Schumacher - bass
- Jack Hays - drums
Albums
- Into BattleInto Battle (album)Into Battle was the first full-length released by the Heavy metal band Brocas Helm. The album was released in 1984 and re-released in 2005 by Eat Metal Records with different artwork, 1983's "Demo I" as bonus, and also a multimedia track of a live performance of the song "Ravenwreck".-Track...
(1984) - Black DeathBlack Death (album)Black Death is the second full-length released by the heavy metal band Brocas Helm. It was released in 1988, even though the recording sessions began in 1985. This album was re-released in 2005 by Eat Metal Records with different artwork, 1989's "Helm's Deep" demo as bonus, and also a multimedia...
(1988) - Defender of the CrownDefender of the Crown (album)Defender of the Crown is a full-length album released by the heavy Metal band Brocas Helm and is, as of today, the last release of the band. It was released on digipak and vinyl formats, and some versions came with the bonus track "Drink the Blood of the Priest".-Track listing:1. "Cry of the...
(2004)