Megadeth’s Dirk Verbeuren has shared live drum cam video of “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” from the band’s September 20th, 2024 show at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana.
Just like the trees they’re protecting, Savage Lands have roots that run deep. Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren and guitarist-turned-activist Sylvain Demercastel first joined forces in France during the late ’90s before reuniting two decades later to form the world’s first metal non-profit for biodiversity. Since 2022, their organization has protected more than 100 acres of endangered forest with help from environmentalists and metalheads.
As they prepare once again to bring the metal forest to Hellfest, today, Savage Lands is proud to announce its partnership with ESP Guitars. The two will work together to raise awareness about biodiversity and help fund the preservation projects that Savage Lands is directing in Costa Rica, Europe and Africa.
“Savage Lands is so happy to partner with a great guitar company in ESP. We are looking forward to preparing some nice events and artist collaborations together”, Sylvain says. “I was endorsed by ESP when Dirk and I were playing in a band together back in the ’90s. I always loved their guitars, so it feels natural for Savage Lands to connect with my instrumental roots!”
To ring in their new partnership, Savage Lands are giving away their very own custom ESP EC Series Guitar. Painted forest green and carved with the Army of the Trees logo, this guitar is the only one of its kind.
For a chance to win this exclusive merch item, purchase a ticket for HellRaffle 2025. Savage Lands will use 100% of the money collected from this raffle to finance another land acquisition like the one they recently purchased in Touraine, France.
Enter HellRaffle 2025 here.
Other raffle prizes include a NOTOX surfboard and skateboard, drumsticks signed by Dirk Verbeuren and 2 full 4 day passes to Hellfest 2026.
Hellfest is donating one million Euro to Savage Lands after Sylvain and company performed on the main stage at last year’s festival.
Having seen first-hand how deforestation threatens Costa Rica’s rain forest, two angry metalheads are banging their heads together to protect the world’s ecosystem.
“After hearing the chainsaws on a daily basis, we knew it was time to act”, says musician-turned-activist Sylvain Demercastel, “because the buzzing is only getting louder”.
Sylvain founded Savage Lands with his long-time friend and Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren in 2022. Thanks to their music, the 501 (c) (3) non-profit has preserved 100,000 square feet of forest in high-risk areas along the Costa Rican coastline. 100% of the royalties from their first album, Army of the Trees, support their ongoing preservation projects in Costa Rica and other countries.
The roots behind Savage Lands run deep. Dirk and Sylvain first met in France during the late ‘90s, when they both played in the socially conscious thrash metal band Artsonic. But just like a tree, the organization is supported by different types of branches.
“As a non-profit, we depend on the support of other organizations, fellow artists and our listeners”, Dirk says.
In Costa Rica, Savage Lands partners with scientists, forest engineers, ecological parks, private businesses and other non-profits. Their Green Alliance (Alianza Verde) has led to more than 11,000 trees being planted in deforested areas throughout Costa Rica, which were planted with the help of 1,200 volunteers.
“What Savage Lands is doing is fantastic,” says Dr. Jane Goodall, whose global institute is partnering with the metal non-profit’s European branch on preservation projects in France and Africa. “Nature is music. Trees have music, but when we lose species after species, our ecosystem collapses. Savage Lands are using their music to support projects that promote biodiversity, which will help make the world better for future generations”.
Collaboration also fuels the creative fires of Savage Lands. The core band includes Poun and Etienne Treton from the veteran French metalcore band Black Bomb A, along with Loco Muerte’s Florian Pons. When they planted their ecological flag on Hellfest’s main stage in 2024, movers and shakers from across the metal sphere showed up to support. Not only did the festival leader pledge to donate 1 million Euro to the organizations over the next five years. Daniel de Jongh (Textures), Silje Wergeland (The Gathering), Jesper Liveröd (Nasum), Alejandro Montoya (Cultura tres), Vincent Price (Body Count), Billy Graziadei (Biohazard), Shane Embury (Napalm Death) and Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) all joined for an appropriately bloody and scream-worthy rendition of “Roots”.
“I’m happy to be a part of such a truly important cause”, Embury said after the performance. “We are connected with every living thing on this planet and Savage Lands is helping to preserve nature’s treasures”.
Army of the Trees features even more metallic fire power. Out of the sludgy distortion that spews from “The Last Howl” crawls Obituary’s John Tardy, who pays a fitting tribute to the endangered Howler monkey by unleashing his inner primate with spit-flinging growls. “Black Rock Heart” carves out a wickedly blackened groove, though the song’s aggressive chug is fueled by more spiritual concerns. “We wanted the music to reflect our mounting frustration with the way the real estate heat wave is destroying Costa Rica’s ecosystem”, Sylvain says. “For so long, nature has been trying to warn us that we’re putting our future at risk”. Who else could represent the magical spirit of the forest but visionary artist Chloé Trujillo and Heilung’s chief of ceremonies Kai Uwe Faust.
Heilung are also working with Savage Lands outside of the recording studio. The world-famous Nordic collective donated $1 for every ticket sold during their most-recent U.S. tour to support their Season of Mist labelmates. “Supporting Savage Lands was an easy decision for us”, says Maria Franz, whose soothing high notes grace the melancholic power ballad “No Remedy”.
“That’s another beautiful thing about Savage Lands”, Sylvain says. “As a band, we’re not limited to just one genre. We can adapt to boost the strengths of whomever is joining us”.
Savage Lands’ debut album introduces several new species of metalhead to their ecosystem. Eurovision’s darlings Lord Of The Lost spill their blood and glitter over the spiky riffs that puncture “Out of Breath”. Holding court over lead single “Ruling Queen” with her serpentine cleans and lioness roar is none other than Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz. “Now is the time to take a stand”, the band roar in a fierce rallying cry during the album’s climactic title track, backed by Julien Truchan from Benighted and other pillars from the French metal community.
“Our goals are attainable,” Sylvain and Dirk say. “By converting the land that we purchase into nature sanctuaries, Savage Lands will help set a precedent for environmental activism. But we must work together and quickly. Ecosystems are still under attack. If we don’t, then there won’t be any wildlife left to save”.
Raise your horns and join the Army of the Trees in support of the metal non-profit.
Learn more about Savage Lands here. Donate here.
Savage Lands debut album is out now on Season of Mist. Army Of The Trees features members of Arch Enemy, Obituary, Sepultura, Lord Of the Lost, Heilung and more!
Order/save the album here.
Tracklisting:
“Black Rock Heart” (feat Kai Uwe Faust, Chloe Trujillo)
“Ruling Queen” (featuring Alissa White-Gluz, Kenny Andrews)
“The Last Howl” (featuring John Tardy, Andreas Kisser)
“No Remedy” (featuring Maria Franz)
“Out Of Breath” (featuring Lord Of The Lost, Chloe Trujillo)
“Better Man”
“Never Be Up”
“Army Of The Trees”
“Visions Of Life”
“Addicted”
“Ruling Queen” video:
“Army Of The Trees” video:
“No Remedy” video:
“Black Rock Heart” video:
“The Last Howl” video:
Do you have a rock, hard rock, heavy metal website, blog, podcast, radio show, YouTube channel, Spotify playlist? BraveWords Records wants to send you music!
Submit your info: https://forms.gle/j8wygtJjnv429GzJ6
The post MEGADETH’s DIRK VERBEUREN Shares “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” Live Drum Cam Video From September 2024 Indiana Show appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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Just like the trees they’re protecting, Savage Lands have roots that run deep. Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren and guitarist-turned-activist Sylvain Demercastel first joined forces in France during the late ’90s before reuniting two decades later to form the world’s first metal non-profit for biodiversity. Since 2022, their organization has protected more than 100 acres of endangered forest with help from environmentalists and metalheads.
As they prepare once again to bring the metal forest to Hellfest, today, Savage Lands is proud to announce its partnership with ESP Guitars. The two will work together to raise awareness about biodiversity and help fund the preservation projects that Savage Lands is directing in Costa Rica, Europe and Africa.
“Savage Lands is so happy to partner with a great guitar company in ESP. We are looking forward to preparing some nice events and artist collaborations together”, Sylvain says. “I was endorsed by ESP when Dirk and I were playing in a band together back in the ’90s. I always loved their guitars, so it feels natural for Savage Lands to connect with my instrumental roots!”
To ring in their new partnership, Savage Lands are giving away their very own custom ESP EC Series Guitar. Painted forest green and carved with the Army of the Trees logo, this guitar is the only one of its kind.
For a chance to win this exclusive merch item, purchase a ticket for HellRaffle 2025. Savage Lands will use 100% of the money collected from this raffle to finance another land acquisition like the one they recently purchased in Touraine, France.
Enter HellRaffle 2025 here.
Other raffle prizes include a NOTOX surfboard and skateboard, drumsticks signed by Dirk Verbeuren and 2 full 4 day passes to Hellfest 2026.
Hellfest is donating one million Euro to Savage Lands after Sylvain and company performed on the main stage at last year’s festival.
Having seen first-hand how deforestation threatens Costa Rica’s rain forest, two angry metalheads are banging their heads together to protect the world’s ecosystem.
“After hearing the chainsaws on a daily basis, we knew it was time to act”, says musician-turned-activist Sylvain Demercastel, “because the buzzing is only getting louder”.
Sylvain founded Savage Lands with his long-time friend and Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren in 2022. Thanks to their music, the 501 (c) (3) non-profit has preserved 100,000 square feet of forest in high-risk areas along the Costa Rican coastline. 100% of the royalties from their first album, Army of the Trees, support their ongoing preservation projects in Costa Rica and other countries.
The roots behind Savage Lands run deep. Dirk and Sylvain first met in France during the late ‘90s, when they both played in the socially conscious thrash metal band Artsonic. But just like a tree, the organization is supported by different types of branches.
“As a non-profit, we depend on the support of other organizations, fellow artists and our listeners”, Dirk says.
In Costa Rica, Savage Lands partners with scientists, forest engineers, ecological parks, private businesses and other non-profits. Their Green Alliance (Alianza Verde) has led to more than 11,000 trees being planted in deforested areas throughout Costa Rica, which were planted with the help of 1,200 volunteers.
“What Savage Lands is doing is fantastic,” says Dr. Jane Goodall, whose global institute is partnering with the metal non-profit’s European branch on preservation projects in France and Africa. “Nature is music. Trees have music, but when we lose species after species, our ecosystem collapses. Savage Lands are using their music to support projects that promote biodiversity, which will help make the world better for future generations”.
Collaboration also fuels the creative fires of Savage Lands. The core band includes Poun and Etienne Treton from the veteran French metalcore band Black Bomb A, along with Loco Muerte’s Florian Pons. When they planted their ecological flag on Hellfest’s main stage in 2024, movers and shakers from across the metal sphere showed up to support. Not only did the festival leader pledge to donate 1 million Euro to the organizations over the next five years. Daniel de Jongh (Textures), Silje Wergeland (The Gathering), Jesper Liveröd (Nasum), Alejandro Montoya (Cultura tres), Vincent Price (Body Count), Billy Graziadei (Biohazard), Shane Embury (Napalm Death) and Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) all joined for an appropriately bloody and scream-worthy rendition of “Roots”.
“I’m happy to be a part of such a truly important cause”, Embury said after the performance. “We are connected with every living thing on this planet and Savage Lands is helping to preserve nature’s treasures”.
Army of the Trees features even more metallic fire power. Out of the sludgy distortion that spews from “The Last Howl” crawls Obituary’s John Tardy, who pays a fitting tribute to the endangered Howler monkey by unleashing his inner primate with spit-flinging growls. “Black Rock Heart” carves out a wickedly blackened groove, though the song’s aggressive chug is fueled by more spiritual concerns. “We wanted the music to reflect our mounting frustration with the way the real estate heat wave is destroying Costa Rica’s ecosystem”, Sylvain says. “For so long, nature has been trying to warn us that we’re putting our future at risk”. Who else could represent the magical spirit of the forest but visionary artist Chloé Trujillo and Heilung’s chief of ceremonies Kai Uwe Faust.
Heilung are also working with Savage Lands outside of the recording studio. The world-famous Nordic collective donated $1 for every ticket sold during their most-recent U.S. tour to support their Season of Mist labelmates. “Supporting Savage Lands was an easy decision for us”, says Maria Franz, whose soothing high notes grace the melancholic power ballad “No Remedy”.
“That’s another beautiful thing about Savage Lands”, Sylvain says. “As a band, we’re not limited to just one genre. We can adapt to boost the strengths of whomever is joining us”.
Savage Lands’ debut album introduces several new species of metalhead to their ecosystem. Eurovision’s darlings Lord Of The Lost spill their blood and glitter over the spiky riffs that puncture “Out of Breath”. Holding court over lead single “Ruling Queen” with her serpentine cleans and lioness roar is none other than Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz. “Now is the time to take a stand”, the band roar in a fierce rallying cry during the album’s climactic title track, backed by Julien Truchan from Benighted and other pillars from the French metal community.
“Our goals are attainable,” Sylvain and Dirk say. “By converting the land that we purchase into nature sanctuaries, Savage Lands will help set a precedent for environmental activism. But we must work together and quickly. Ecosystems are still under attack. If we don’t, then there won’t be any wildlife left to save”.
Raise your horns and join the Army of the Trees in support of the metal non-profit.
Learn more about Savage Lands here. Donate here.
Savage Lands debut album is out now on Season of Mist. Army Of The Trees features members of Arch Enemy, Obituary, Sepultura, Lord Of the Lost, Heilung and more!
Order/save the album here.
Tracklisting:
“Black Rock Heart” (feat Kai Uwe Faust, Chloe Trujillo)
“Ruling Queen” (featuring Alissa White-Gluz, Kenny Andrews)
“The Last Howl” (featuring John Tardy, Andreas Kisser)
“No Remedy” (featuring Maria Franz)
“Out Of Breath” (featuring Lord Of The Lost, Chloe Trujillo)
“Better Man”
“Never Be Up”
“Army Of The Trees”
“Visions Of Life”
“Addicted”
“Ruling Queen” video:
“Army Of The Trees” video:
“No Remedy” video:
“Black Rock Heart” video:
“The Last Howl” video:
Do you have a rock, hard rock, heavy metal website, blog, podcast, radio show, YouTube channel, Spotify playlist? BraveWords Records wants to send you music!
Submit your info: https://forms.gle/j8wygtJjnv429GzJ6
The post MEGADETH’s DIRK VERBEUREN Shares “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” Live Drum Cam Video From September 2024 Indiana Show appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
