Northern Storm Records have posted online the cover artwork (pictured on the left, click to enlarge), song samples and a limited edition pre-order for Metal Manifesto, the first album in 22 years from Canadian heavy metal cult band THE EXALTED PILEDRIVER, being released on October 31st, 2008.

To view a larger version of the artwork from artist Craig Ferguson, and to hear audio samples click here.

The band's earlier recordings - Metal Inquisition (1985) and Stay Ugly (1986) - are considered cult heavy metal albums, and have together have globally sold nearly 500,000 copies to date.

Northern Storm Records has also set up a two different pre-orders for Metal Manifesto: The first pre-order is the standard CD/DVD combo (the DVD chronicles the band's tour of Europe in April of 2007) and the second pre-order (limited to 250 copies) comes with two The Exalted Piledriver guitar picks, an autographed 8" x 10" poster and a handwritten letter from The Exalted One himself.

To pre-order the album, go here.

In other news, many major label offices around the globe still question, 'How did a tiny independant Canadian record label like Northern Storm Records snag world-wide underground metal cult legend The Exalted Piledriver?' Lead vokillist Pile Driver answers, "It's simple, really, the man knows his donuts, oh, and he's not a musician-rapist like most labels."

Evidently, after appearing on Rob Cranny's then college-radio show, the storied metal front-man had grown fond of the record-man's integrity, and extensive knowledge of fried comfort foods and of the fact that he owned a record label with ties to world-wide distribution.

When asked about the signing, Cranny replies "I was shocked. It means a lot to me that a band of their status chose to sign with one of the little guys. We're proud to be the label to bring the bluster and bombast that is Piledriver back to the fans. Jaws will drop with this powerful, pheonix-like return from the ashes that is the Exalted Piledriver Metal Manifesto album."

Juts in The Exalted One, "We're both looking forward to a long and productive working relationship in bringing the malignant majesty that is The Exalted Piledriver, the Metal Manifesto, and future Pile-projects to the metal-fan masses. The Pile-driven partnership also promises upcoming podcasts, special download subscriptions, videos, interviews and "sick secrets to be revealed" in the months to come."

The Exalted Piledriver is playing a rare live show on October 13th, 2008 at The Opera House in Toronto in support of thrash veterans OVERKILL. More info on the show, tickets, etc please go here.

Band lineup: Pile Driver - vokills, Lobo El Fsnort - bass, background vox, Kinky Pork Cream - guitars, background vox, Glace Frothfritter - drums.