German online magazine METAL MESSAGE will release a new compilation CD, titled "V", at the end of December 2008. Included are 13 bands (Pagan,- Viking- & Folk Metal) and the whole package is strictly limited to 2.000 hand-numbered copies. It comes in a blue DVD-case, with a booklet that offers all bandinfo as well as nature photography by Markus Eck. The coloured cover art was drawn exlusively by the US-cover-artist Ed Repka, who is best known for his work for Megadeth, Toxik, Massacre, Atheist etc. For more info go here: www.metalmessage.de/Sampler/sampler-mainpage.htm

After having already re-released MASTER's self-titled debut as well as "On The Seventh Day God Created Master" Holland's Displeased Records will also re-release the band's third full length album "Collection Of Souls" on March 16, 2009. Apart from a slightly changed coverart, the album will be remastered and also features the three tracks off 1995's "Final Word" demo ('Where Are You Now?', 'Final Word' and 'Prepare For The Fall') plus the tracks from 1996's split 7" EP with EXCISION ('Cast The First Stone', 'Fatso' and 'Antidote') as bonus.

CANNIBAL CORPSE have just released the artwork to their 11th full-length studio release "Evisceration Plague". The artwork was once again handled by longtime CANNIBAL CORPSE cover artist Vince Locke. Alex Webster comments: "For "Evisceration Plague" we enlisted legendary gore / horror artist Vincent Locke, who has done artwork for all of our releases. He did two pieces for us this time, a dark and foreboding cover piece, and a violent and gory piece for the interior of the CD packaging. Vince has shown once again that he is a master of capturing a macabre and eerie vibe with his artwork."

Legendary San Francisco Death / Thrashers INSANITY are back! The band already started jamming again on October 4 and 5 and just played their first show at Thee Parkside in San Francisco on December 14 with local acts PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE, FOG OF WAR and DIMENSIONS OF GORE opening. The new line-up consists of Dave Gorsuch (guitar / vocals), Juan Casarez (drums), Ivan Munguia (guitar) and Nathan Green (bass / vocals). Here's an official statement from the band about their upcoming new album "Visions Of Apocalypse": "The tracks on this album are the last studio recordings of Bud Mills on drums. Originally intended to be pre-production tracks (recorded over the period of a year on three different drum sets and transferred digitally as the studio was closing), long hours have gone into mixing and pre-mastering the album as the band intended on re-recording it in 2007 but Bud became ill and died of cancer on November 14th, 2007. This album is being released to honor his memory and his impact in 1985 as a pioneer in the evolution of extreme drumming." For more info check out www.myspace.com/insanity

BIRCH MOUNTAIN, a re-awakened Swedish Death Metal project featuring ex-members of such names as EXCRETION, STIGMATA, MALFEITOR, EXHUMED, MORPHEUS, MASTICATION, EXCRUCIATE and E.G.Y.P.T., are currently preparing for new songs. Right now they offer 5 songs on www.myspace.com/birchmountain. The songs 'Book With No Pages' and 'Angelic Darkness' were recorded in Sunlight Studios under the moniker E.G.Y.P.T. already back in 1993 while the other 3 songs are new tunes recorded under the new name. BIRCH MOUNTAIN are planing an official release within the next couple of months.

For the first time in nearly 15 years, two new AUTOPSY tracks ('Feast Of The Graveworm' and 'Horrific Obsession') were recorded in September 2008, bringing together Chris Reifert, Danny Coralles and Eric Cutler again. These tracks make up a special, extremely limited (only 1,000) 7" vinyl release, titled "Horrific Obsession", to be available exclusively from www.peaceville.com on January 26, 2009, with pre-orders being taken from December. To celebrate 20 years of "Severed Survival", AUTOPSY’s debut album will furthermore be re-issued by Peaceville Records as a special 2 disc edition on February 23rd 2009 with rare rehearsal & live material on a bonus disc, including demo versions of 'Mauled To Death' and 'Human Genocide', two songs which originally were intended to be included on "Severed Survival". Also featured in the package is a booklet with liner-notes by the band, detailing the history of AUTOPSY’s early years, with rare photos and images.

The debut EP "Severance (Dead To This World)" of French oldschool Death Metallers AFFLICTION GATE is out now on MCD format through Forgotten Wisdom Productions. It includes 3 tracks (with intros and one outro) inspired by the early works of UNLEASHED, BOLT THROWER, ASPHYX, BENEDICTION, MASSACRE etc. For more info check out www.myspace.com/afflictiongate

German Death Metallers OBSCURA have posted another brand new track, 'Incarnated', on their MySpace page www.myspace.com/realmofobscura. The song comes off the group's second full-length album, "Cosmogenesis", which will be released in the U.S. on February 17, 2009 via Relapse Records (March 2 internationally).

15 years after the release of "Circle Of The Seven Infernal Pacts", Germany's UNGOD decided to do a re-release as a digi CD via KBTMT Records. The original layout will be retained; additional bonus-tracks will be two absolutely new tracks which were recorded in October / November. One of these songs will include guest vocals of Martin Missy (PROTECTOR), Traumatic (ex - WITCHBURNER / NEMA) and eeerk (!) Hurricane of ZARATHUSTRA. For all those who already own their debut album and do not want to buy the CD again due to its bonus-tracks: as soon as the layout will be finished, there will also be a four track EP (vinyl only), including those two tracks and two additional ones. The band is back again and will also release their second album through KBTMT Records. No time schedule yet, but as soon as songs are ready for a whole album, they will record and release them. For more info check out www.myspace.com/ungodstomb

Spanish Death Metallers UNCONSECRATED have a limited number (60 units) of a new t-shirt design available. It sells for 12 €. You can also get it for 19,- € incl. a copy of their "Unconsecrated Cemetery / Dark Awakening" CD (both demos on one CD). Prices don't include shipping yet. You will find all further details at www.myspace.com/unconsecrated. In related news the band was recently signed by Relapse Records for a Death Metal EP series (5 EPs from 10 bands all over the world). UNCONSECRATED's track 'Buried In The Crypt' will be part of a split EP with Norway's ABOMINAT. No release date is confirmed yet.

French dark Death Metallers BLOODY SIGN will begin the pre-production for their third album during this week at le Bonhome studio (www.myspace.com/lebonhomestudio). The album will contain 9 tracks, 3 instrumental interludes, a Mortem (Peru) cover to appear on a tribute album, and should be entitled "Chaos Echoes". Recording the album will occur in spring 2009. www.myspace.com/bloodysign

Sweden's oldschool Death Metallers MIASMAL will record two new songs in December for an upcoming 7", to be released via Detest Records next spring. www.myspace.com/miasmalband

On December 17 DEMONICAL will enter Necromorbus Studios to start the recordings for their second full-length album “Hellsworn”. The album will be mastered at Black Lounge Studios in late January and released in April 2009 (exact release-date tba). Among others the album will include tracks like 'Baptized In Fire', 'Gods Of The North', 'World Serpent', 'Death Metal Darkness', 'Children Of Sins', 'Bloodridden' and 'Bow To The Monolith'. The “Northern Death Blow tour 2009” - an 18-date crusade through Europe alongside Finnish Torture Killer and Swedish Facebreaker - will kick off in Stockholm on May 15. Dates to be unleashed soon. www.myspace.com/thedemonicalhorde, www.demonical.net

Spain's oldschool Deathers GRAVEYARD have finished writing the material for their first album for Blackseed Productions and will start recording in Bastard's Moontower studios in a couple weeks. No title has been decided on yet, but "One With The Dead" is currently an option... In related news, the vinyl version of "Into The Mausoleum" through Antichristian Front should be ready in a few weeks and split 7"es with Terrorist (through Iron Bonehead) and Deathevokation (through Nuclear War Now!) are also in the making. They should both be available real soon. Another one with Spanish Thrashers Redimoni is also almost ready. For more info check out www.myspace.com/graveyardofdoom

Following the “Fons Immortalis” 10”, VULPECULA's Chuck Keller and Chris Overton began working on a full-length project that was never realized. What was written and recorded was shelved until Invictus Productions released the CD version of “In Dusk Apparition” in 2006. Now, California's Bird of Ill Omen Recordings is presenting this recording on clear and black vinyl. For all further info cheack out www.birdofillomen.com

The long wait will finally find its end: after exact 15 years from its original release Headhunter D.C.'s second opus, “Punishment At Dawn” (1993) will finally be (re)released on CD format. The release, via Cogumelo Records, will be part of the label’s “Remaster Series” (known for the re-issues of such Brazilian masterpieces as Chakal's "Abominable Anno Domini", Mutilator's "Immortal Force", Holocausto's "Campo de Extermínio", Warfare Noise Compilation Vol. 1 and others) and is expected for the first half of 2009, according to information coming from Cogumelo themselves. A brutalizing version for Sepultura’s classic 'Morbid Visions', recorded in 98 during the recording sessions of “...And The Sky Turns To Black... (The Dark Age Has Come)” – and that was part of its American issue, released back in 2001 – and two live tracks will be part of the re-release as special bonus tracks. Besides the CD also count on a new graphic concept. Moreover, Cogumelo will also re-issue the band’s debut album “Born...Suffer…Die” (1991) on CD, this time with a new remastering. Both remasterings were made by the band's former drummer Thiago Nogueira (www.thiagonogueira.com.br) at Nogueira Sound Studio, Salvador , Bahia . More information soon. HEADHUNTER D.C. will enter the studio on December 15 for the recording of the Mortem cover, 'Summoned To Hell', for the upcoming tribute via Heavier Records from Peru . The band promises to give their very best to make this a version worthy of the magnificence of this darkest South American Death Metal anthem. Watch out for it.

German cult Thrashers EXUMER will headline a Thrash Metal festival in Los Angeles/California May 29, 2009. Other bands on the bill include, L.A.'s Merciless Death and Fueled by Fire among many more. This is the EXUMER's first US appearance in the band's 23 year history. Mem V. Stein: "We are extremely excited to come and finally play in North America. The last time the band played outside of Europe was in 1988, in Brazil. It will also be amazing to play alongside of some very talented young Thrash Metal bands who have quoted us as one of their musical influences. It feels very similar to when we played in Brazil where Sepultura was on the bill and that turned out to be one our most memorable shows." The band is currently intensely working on new material for their third album, the first record to be released in over 22 years and is negotiating with labels worldwide for a tentative release date in late 2009. Check: www.myspace.com/exumerwakingthefire  for additional information.

After years of total unavailability, Displeased Records will reissue SACRED REICH's 1990 classic "The American Way" on February 16, 2009. The re-release will feature upgraded layout, to-the-point remastering plus unreleased pre-production demo bonus tracks and a video clip for the titletrack. The first 2500 copies also include a free logo patch. The demo bonus tracks are: 'The American Way', 'Love… Hate', 'Crimes Against Humanity', 'State Of Emergency' and 'I Don’t Know'.

LOUDNESS drummer Munetaka Higuchi passed away on Sunday, November 30 around 10:00 a.m. (Japan Standard Time) at a hospital in Osaka, Japan. He was 49 years old. Higuchi was diagnosed with liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma) in April 2008. He had reportedly undergone two rounds of chemotherapy treatment and an operation to remove part of his liver. Rest in peace Munetaka.

The release of the vinyl compilation "Resurrected In Festering Slime" is scheduled for end of 2008, latest early January 2009 through Soulseller Records. As already mentioned earlier on these pages it offers 14 songs of underground Death Metal bands such as BOMBS OF HADES, DARKCREED, RAPE PILLAGE & BURN, CRUCIFYRE, MR. DEATH, MORBUS CHRON (among others). Check out www.myspace.com/darkcreeddeathmetal for further information about the progress of this recording.

BLOOD MORTIZED, a Swedish Death Metal band with musicians formerly playing in bands as MALFEITOR, STIGMATA, AMON AMARTH (member until the first 2 albums) or CRYPT OF KERBEROS, is about to release their self titled debut album through Singapore based Vrykoblast Productions in the beginning of 2009. For all further info check out www.myspace.com/bloodmortized or have a look on www.bloodmortized.com to fully understand what BLOOD MORTIZED is all about.

DEW-SCENTED 's line-up underwent some major changes earlier this year. The band parted ways with guitar players Florian Müller and Hendrik Bache, but were lucky to quickly find a highly motivated and extremely talented new guitar-duo in Michael Borchers and Martin Walczak. They also tracked down a new steady drummer in Marc-Andrée Dieken after all. Marc has already helped them out live back in 2004 and also played together with bassplayer Alex for Death Metallers Obscenity. For more details on the band check out www.myspace.com/dewscented. As far as DEW-SCENTED's ex-members Flo and Hendrix are concerned, they have a new band going called Nemesis Love Cult with Ercüment (Tephra) and Antek (ex Such A Surge / Revolver). You can check out some of their songs at: www.myspace.com/nemesislovecult