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HALBERD top February’s Band of the Month vote

Written by Tony Wilson on March 1, 2023

Halberd – Winners of the combined public and TotalRock vote for February!

South East London-based metal band Halberd have emerged from a hiatus to take the world by storm with their infectious and genre-blending mix of thrash, death, and groove metal. The band, comprised of five miscreants who love nothing more than playing heavy music and partying harder, are known for their seriously heavy riffs, head-banging grooves, and epic tunes that are guaranteed to get fans moving.

Lyrically, Halberd draws inspiration from medieval times, weaving a variety of fantastical tales of war, politics, and religion, all set in a harsh, foreboding land ruled by tyrants and savage warlords. Their lyrics speak to the voice of peasant uprisings, the forgotten, unwashed masses, and those who are unafraid to fight for themselves and their people.

Formed in 2012, Halberd quickly rose up the ranks in their local scene, building a name for themselves with their explosive live shows. They received a myriad of acclaim, culminating in them reaching the final of the London Metal 2 The Masses competition, a series of events that included nearly 50 other bands. In 2017, the band went on an indefinite hiatus due to a series of life commitments, but they never lost sight of their goal to reform.

In 2020, Halberd returned to the rehearsal studios after three years, instantly starting a process of writing, rehearsing, and recording. They released two singles, “Force Fed Lies” and “Return of the Axe,” both of which garnered great reviews and feedback, demonstrating their revamped and matured playing style. They quickly followed this up with their first official video, “Parasitic Humanity,” released to great acclaim.

Capitalizing on this wave of success, Halberd released their much-anticipated debut album, “Parasitic Humanity,” in April 2022, which was recorded and produced by the band themselves. The album features eight stunning tracks of powerful, groove-based, old-school death-tinged thrash with a thoroughly modern twist that proves the band has almost unlimited future potential.

Over the summer of 2022, Halberd orchestrated the incredible “Legion in Arms” single, bringing together musicians from over seventeen local bands, with all profits going to charity. They then signed a deal with Devils Clause Records and recorded a new EP, “Thrashbestos,” which was released in December. And with talk of a second album round the corner, it’s clear that Halberd is an unstoppable force in the metal world.