“What Savage Lands is doing is fantastic” – Dr. Jane Goodall

“I hold deep gratitude for Savage Lands and their relentless work in safeguarding the fragile beauty of Costa Rica’s ecosystem” – Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy)

“Savage Lands is helping preserve nature’s treasures” – Shane Embury (Napalm Death)

My eyes have been opened…wide!” – Kenneth Andrews (Obituary)

After hearing firsthand how land developers are tearing down Costa Rica’s rain forest, two angry metal heads decided they weren’t going to sit around and rust in peace. Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren and his old guitarist Sylvain Demercastel started Savage Lands, the music industry’s first artist-run environmental non-profit.

100% of the royalties from Savage Lands’ debut album support their ongoing preservation projects in Costa Rica and other countries. Army of the Trees comes out this Friday, February 14, but you can hear all 10 star-studded songs today by listening to the full album stream on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.

“Metalheads have always been powerful and passionate people in my eyes”, says Arch Enemy front woman Alissa White-Gluz, who stars as the queen of the jungle on the latest single from Army of the Trees. “I hold deep gratitude for Savage Lands and their relentless work in safeguarding the fragile beauty of Costa Rica’s ecosystem”.

Listen to Army of the Trees: https://youtu.be/IH2g8V6i6c0

Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/savagelandsarmyofthetreesSavage Lands’ roots 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 like the limbs of a tree, the organization is supported across many different fields. They partner with local scientists, forest engineers, ecological parks and other non-profits on the ground in Costa Rica, as well as international organizations like Hellfest, who are donating 1 million Euro to Savage Lands over the next five years.

“Nature is music. Trees have music”, says Dr. Jane Goodall, whose global institute is partnering with the metal non-profit’s European branch on preservation projects in France and Africa. “Savage Lands are using their music to support projects that promote biodiversity, which will help make the world better for future generations”.

Whether they’re out planting trees or hunkered down in the studio, Savage Lands foster the spirit of collaboration. Any metal supporter will recognize Dirk’s swiveling left foot behind the drum kit. But alongside Sylvain’s shredding solos and melodic riffs, the core band is backed by Loco Muerte’s Florian Pons and Poun and Etienne Treton from veteran French metalcore band Black Bomb A.

“When Sylvain and Dirk introduced us to Savage Lands at Hellfest in 2023, we instantly saw the passion and necessity behind this endeavor and were absolutely thrilled by the opportunity”, says Chris Harms and Pi Stoffers of Lord of the Lost, who pour their blood and glitter into the chest-pounding “Out of Breath”. “Music can not only offer a refuge to every single person on this earth, but it can be used as a sanctuary for the existential nature around us”.

Army of the Trees is loaded with more metallic force. “The Last Howl” pays a fitting tribute to the endangered howler monkey. Sepultura guitarist Andreas Kisser swings through not one, but two acrobatic solos, and Obituary swamp king John Tardy unleashes his inner primate with some ferocious, spit-flinging growls. While a wicked downpicked stroke of black ‘n’ roll, “Black Rock Heart” aims at more spiritual concerns. Channeling protective powers from the Obsidian stone, visionary artist Chloé Trujillo and Heilung’s chief of ceremonies Kai Uwe Faust warn of a doomsday scenario that’s unfolding right before our eyes.

“Supporting what Savage Lands is doing was an easy decision”, says fellow Heilung warrior Maria Franz, whose soothing high notes grace the melancholic power ballad “No Remedy”. The Nordic collective  donated $1 for every ticket sold during their most-recent U.S. tour to their Season of Mist labelmates.
Army of the Trees hammers its message home with Francophone force. Eight pillars from the French metal scene join Savage Lands on the album’s roaring title track in the fight to protect the world’s ecosystems. “Now is the time to take a stand” they shout, bonded together in a fierce rallying cry.

“Our goals are attainable”, say Dirk and Sylvain. “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.

Just listening to Army of the Trees helps support Savage Lands. 100% of the song’s royalties fund the musician-run non-profit’s preservation efforts.

The CD Digisleeve for Army of the Trees is made from eco paper, while the LP is pressed on BioVinyl.

Learn more about Savage Lands: https://savagelands.org/

Donate: https://savagelands.org/donation/

Praise for Army of the Trees:

“This album sounds phenomenal” – A&P Reacts

“a musical tour de force…my first “must have” album of 2025″ – MMH Radio

“It’s a project we all should, and I think will, feel strongly about” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life

“…a rare beast: a metal album that not only crushes sonically but also serves a greater purpose” – Antihero

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 thanks to 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.