February 05, 2002
It’s official. MOTÖRHEAD‘s new album will be called "Hammered" and will be released in Europe on April 8th and in North America on April 9th.
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER have signed a multi-abum deal with Nuclear Blast. They’ve already booked the Stage One Studios for June to record the new album, which has the working title "Everything Is True – Have A Nice Trip", due out in November.
The Gothenburg Death Fest will occur on June 1st and will feature CENTURIAN, SOLIS OF FATE, IMMERSED IN BLOOD, INIQUITY, IMPURE, KAAMOS and INSISION among others.
DIMMU BORGIR, EMPEROR and BORKNAGAR are nominated for the Spellemannsprisen Award in the Hard Rock category. The awards ceremony will be aired on primetime Norwegian television in March.
According to SOLEFALD bassist / vocalist Cornelius Jakhelln, "We are finishing writing music for our fourth album. It will be a concept album based on the common European heritage of philosophy, science, art and literature. We will start recording in the end of March, in Oslo. The music will be a continuation of that on "Pills Against The Ageless Ills", slightly baroque and more based on acoustic instruments".
DHG DODHEIMSGARD are still working on their new album which has been slightly delayed as their drummer has been occupied touring with another band. The band is confirmed on the upcoming Inferno Metal Festival in Oslo.
MARDUK have decided not to return to the US before the planned dates in support of their next album due to the latest indications given from the US embassy regarding the band’s Visa’s.
GARDENS OF GEHENNA have acquired guitarist Bastian Rosner (ETERNAL SILENCE).
The Inferno 2002 Festival takes place in Oslo, Norway on March 29th/30th. Acts scheduled to perform include: 1349, AURA NOIR, BEHEMOTH, BLACK COMEDY, BLOOD RED THRONE, CARPATHIAN FOREST, DHG, DIMMU BORGIR, ETERNAL SILENCE, LOCK UP, LOST IN TIME, LOWDOWN, MANATARK, MINAS TIRITH, NOCTURNAL BREED, SCARIOT, SOURCE OF TIDE, VINTERSORG, WINDIR, WITCHERY and ZECTION 8.
The End Records will release ARCTURUS‘ new album, "The Sham Mirrors", in North America. The US release date will coincide with the release of WINDS’ new album, "Reflections Of The I", both due out on April 9th.
ECLIPSE have released their new album, "The Act Of Degradation", in Europe through Blackend.
According to Metal Update, GORGOROTH are currently on hold as vocalist Gaahl is in jail. According to a Nuclear Blast press release "his fist was in the wrong face at the wrong time". The length of his sentence has not been determined by the court.
OCULTAN has just released its second album, "Remembrances Of Evil – The Crucifixion", available through Evil Horde Records. Check out the MP3 for the track ‘The Seven Caldrons Of Hell’ at www.evilhorderec.com. The band also have a website at www.geocities.com/ocultanblackhorde.
GREAT VAST FOREST will release their Evil Horde debut, "Battletales And Songs Of Steel", in late February. An MP3 for the track ‘Wolvesclan’ is available at www.evilhorderec.com. Check out the band’s website at www.greatvastforest.com.
AZAGHAL will release their new album, "Of Beasts And Vultures", in April through Evil Horde. The band have posted an MP3 for the track ‘Peto – 666’ at www.evilhorderec.com.
Brazilian labels Evil Horde and Zenor have joined forces to form the sub-label Black Metal Attack. Their goal is to release licensed albums for the Brazilian and South American market. They have already signed a licensing deal with Moonfog and their first release will be DARKTHRONE’s "Plaguewielder" album in February.
Blabbermouth reports that AETERNUS will headline the Visions Of War tour, beginning in March. Other acts on the bill include AGATHODAIMON, HECATE ENTHRONED, MORK GRYNING and INFERNA POETRY. For more info go to: www.worldprogressbookings.com.
Due to venues dropping shows the AMON AMARTH / DIABOLIC tour has been canceled. The last show was January 31st in Corpus Christi, Texas.
On February 4th, Shellshock Distribution will release ABBADON INCARNATE‘s "Nadir" in the UK.
THE FORSAKEN‘s forthcoming album, "Arts Of Desolation", was recorded with Tommy Tagtgren at Abyss Studios in Sweden. The band have also recorded covers of METALLICA’s ‘Creeping Death’ and SLAYER’s ‘Spirit In Black’ to be used as as bonus cuts or B-sides.
CANNIBAL CORPSE‘s forthcoming "Gore Obsessed" album will have the following tracklisting: ‘Savage Butchery’, ‘Hatchet To The Head’, ‘Pit Of Zombies’, ‘Dormant Bodies Bursting’, ‘Compelled To Lacerate’, ‘Drowning In Viscera’, ‘Hung And Bled’, ‘Sanded Faceless’, ‘Mutation Of The Cadaver’, ‘When Death Replaces Life’ and ‘Grotesque’. The Japanese bonus track for the record is a cover of METALLICA’s ‘No Remorse’.
The release of DEATH‘s demo album, "Zero Tolerance", on February 11th has been canceled.
In support of their new album, "Crowned In Terror", THE CROWN will be touring North America with support from DARKEST HOUR and another currently unnamed band. Tour dates will be posted at www.metalblade.com and The Crown’s website at www.thecrownonline.com