Relapse Records has announced the signing of Finnish death/doom bringers HOODED MENACE.

Hooded Menace, who takes influence from 80s era CANDLEMASS, CATHEDRAL, PARADISE LOST, ASPHYX, and BLACK SABBATH, has previously release two full length albums as well as split releases with COFFINS, ASPHYX, ILSA, and more. The band recently made their US live debut this spring with performances as part of Maryland Deathfest (Baltimore), Chaos in Tejas (Austin), and Doom in June (Las Vegas).

Hooded Menace guitarist Lasse Pyykko commented on the signing; "We’re very excited about signing with Relapse Records! This seems like a logical next step for the band. Of course we are still going to release 7”s and such with smaller labels too because we love doing that. As for the full length album, now we’re going have all the support, promotion, and distribution we could possibly hope at this stage. It’s pretty amazing to be part of the label with such a long and remarkable history. Relapse has released many albums that we are big fans of. We are stoked about leaving our heavily and deeply stamped mark to that long, significant list of great music."

Hooded Menace has confirmed a handful of Finnish tour dates, including performances as part of the Ilosaarirock Festival (with BUZZCOCKS, MELT BANANA, MADNESS) and Tuska Festival (with KILLING JOKE, AT THE GATES, AMORPHIS) in July. The band will also open for doom legends SAINT VITUS in Helsinki on August 27th.

A listing of confirmed tour dates can be found below with more to be announced soon:

July

16 - Joensuu, Finland - Ilosaarirock Festival
23 - Helsinki, Finland - Tuska Festival

August

27 - Helsinki, Finland - Nosturi