March 11, 2004
The long awaited third album from HEATHEN is scheduled for release on March 31, 2004 and entitled "Recovered". The band began this project in 1992, but tracks remained archived and unfinished until 2003 when, with the help of engineer and co-producer Rob Beaton, the salvaged early recordings were completed for the new 9 song disc. Covers of ‘Death On Two Legs’ by Queen, ‘Holy War’ by Thin Lizzy, ‘Hellbound’ by Tygers of Pan Tang, ‘Eye Of The Storm’ by Sweet Savage are clear indicators why this band was one of – if not the – best bands to come out of the 80s Thrash Metal days. The newest original track, ‘In memory of…’, written and dedicated to former band member Randy Laird and his girlfriend, as well as lead vocal David White’s brother Jeffrey whose untimely losses occurred in 1991 has deep personal meaning to the band members. The remaining songs that make up this full-length album are tracks from Heathen’s "Opiate Of The Masses" demo, the pre-production to their 1991 release "Victims Of Deception". These include ‘Hypnotized’, ‘Opiate Of The Masses’, ‘Timeless Cell Of Prophecy’ and ‘Mercy Is No Virtue’. The band wanted to include these tracks to preserve and to share with the hardcore fans around the world. "Recovered" is just a taste of what is to come, the band is currently writing what will soon be a collection of all new and all original songs for its up coming release in the near future. Limited Edition signed digipaks of the album are available on Heathen’s website www.heatheninc.com. "This is the chance to get a glimpse of Heathen of yesterday, today and tomorrow", said lead singer Dave White about Heathen "Uncovered", an extended play DVD to closely follow the CD release. It features a new music video, behind the scenes rehearsal footage, in-depth interviews, photo gallery and lots of Heathen uncovered. Pre-orders are available from www.heatheninc.com mid-March.
The band line-up of this year’s installment of BANG YOUR HEAD FESTIVAL is complete: ICED EARTH are confirmed as the second headlining act of the event taking place in Germany at the Messegelände of Balingen on the 25th and 26th of June. The billing looks as follows: ICED EARTH, ALICE COOPER, WHITE LION, QUEENSRYCHE, MAGNUM, CHILDREN OF BODOM, TESTAMENT, U.F.O., GOTTHARD, ANTHRAX, PRIMAL FEAR, LILLIAN AXE, DEATH ANGEL, BLAZE, OMEN, KINGDOM COME, ANGEL, SHOK PARIS, BALLISTIC, RUFFIANS, CAGE and MAJESTY. For more info click: www.bang-your-head.de
The third VOID OF SILENCE album, featuring new vocalist Alan Nemtheanga from Primordial is completed and will be released in digipak before the summer of 2004 on code666. www.voidofsilence.com
After 3 long years since "The Dark Blood Rising", Swedish Industrial Black Metallers DIABOLICUM are in the studio to record not one but 2 albums! "Infant Sacrifices" and "Vengeance" are the working titles and a release date through code666 is expected for this Autumn / Winter.
UK noise Black Metallers THE AXIS OF PERDITION signed a contract with code666 to release the next album scheduled for early 2005. After their debut "Corridors" on Rage Of Achilles Records, the Post-Apocalyptic Duo is working on the second album. The band takes their inspiration from the ugliness decay of their urban environment, integrated into a darker and more nightmarish dimension of twisted post-apocalyptic mayhem. They reflect this in their sound which a combination of harsh, violent passages, and discordant, ugly guitar work reminiscent of the classic early 90s Black Metal sound injected with an extra dose of misanthropic disgust, with their penchant for sinister dark ambient / industrial soundscaping, topped off with some of the most bilious, unconventional vocal outpourings that the scene has been subjected to.