» News Archive September 2004
SUN DESCENDS drummer Javier Medina has left the band because of life changes, but remains a close friend of the band. SUN DESCENDS is currently auditioning drummers and will announce Javier’s replacement soon. www.sundescends.com
The new GOREZONE CD will be out on October 04, 2004. Available from the band, CF Records (www.cf-records.de) or Twilight Distribution (www.twilight-vertrieb.com). The release party together with LAY DOWN ROTTEN, MORTAL AGONY, INFECDEAD and DISRUPTED will take place on October 29, 2004 at the Alhambra in Oldenburg, Germany. More info at www.gore-zone.de
Original EXCITER members Dan Beehler (drums) and Allan Johnson (bass) have announced they have come to an agreement with Megaforce Records to re-release the first six Exciter albums. ANNIHILATOR guitarist / founder Jeff Waters has already remastered the albums. They include: "Heavy Metal Maniac" (1983), "Violence And Force" (1984), "Long Live The Loud" (1985), "Better Live Than Dead" (1990), "Unveiling The Wicked" (1986) and "O.T.T." (1988). These re-releases will include bonus material such as video footage, rare interviews and pictures from that era. In addition, the "Feel The Knife" EP (1985) and ‘World War III’ (US Metal Volume 2 / Shrapnel Records compilation track from 1982) will be re-issued, also with bonus material. "Violence And Force" will be re-released internationally on November 9th. The rest of the catalogue will appear on the shelves in early 2005.
The following update has been issued via the official WATCHTOWER website (www.marathoncd.com/watchtower): Monster Underground (formerly Monster Records) will be releasing the first (and very hard to find) CD, "Energetic Disassembly", and it will be available on October 5, 2004. It will contain a 10 page booklet, featuring lyrics, photos, liner notes from Doug and Jason and a collage of 80s magazine quotes / articles. The song order is as on the original vinyl release.
KRISIUN has posted the following update on their official website, www.krisiun.com.br: Krisiun have been a trademark for musical violence and a steady nominee for the title of the globe’s fastest Death Metal act throughout their 12 years of existence. Still, it is high time to reconsider your preconceived notions about the band! "Bloodshed" (recorded 100% analog) may not be a full new studio-album, but it’s no less than 8 brand-new tracks (incl. 3 intros / outros) that show a different side of the band. It also includes four re-mastered tracks of their rare, "Unmerciful Order" MCD, which was originally released in 1993 and today is being hailed as a cult underground release. "Bloodshed" grinds — but not solely in the sense of sonic assaults crafted out of insane speed. Without losing any of their intensity, Krisiun went for some mid-paced songs that will surely surprise anybody who thought the band wouldn’t be capable of combining raw brutality with an ultimate technical edge and pounding groove riffs. Those who are worried about one of the last advocates of the extreme selling-out can be relieved: Unholy compositions like ‘Slain Fate’, ‘Ominous’ and ‘Visions Beyond’ are underlined by the raw fury of the early tracks from "Unmerciful Order". Tracks eight through eleven bear witness that Krisiun have been and will always be a guarantee for ultra-violence. The 7-minute outro ‘MMIV’ shows another side of the band with its spooky, almost ’80s horror-film feel. Just make sure not to hit the repeat-button too early on this track. Despite a total playing-time of 40 minutes, "Bloodshed" will be available for the fan-friendly price of a mid-priced CD. About the time "Bloodshed" is released, Krisiun will go out for another round of the relentless live shows for which they are so famous. They will embark on the European Clash Of Demigods tour with co-headliners BEHEMOTH and with support from INCANTATION and RAGNAROK.
KREATOR have named their new album "Enemy Of God", and will release the effort through SPV Records on January 10th, 2005 in Europe / South America and on January 11th in North America. The limited edition version of the release will come with a bonus DVD which contains a "making of" segment and video clips. The album’s release will be followed by an extensive world tour, including massive sound and lights plus a killer stage design in the style of the new cover artwork, which will be made by Austrian artist Jochim Luetke (www.luetke.com). Before the album is released, Kreator will issue a specially priced 4 track EP, including previously unreleased live material and non album tracks. Tracks to appear on "Enemy Of God" include: ‘Enemy Of God’, ‘Impossible Brutality’, ‘Suicide Terrorist’, ‘Murder Fantasies’, ‘Dying Race Apocalypse’, ‘One Evil Comes – A Million Follow’, ‘Dystopia’, ‘World Anarchy’, ‘Voices’, ‘Under A Blackened Sky’, ‘When Death Takes It’s Dominion’ and ‘The Ancient Plague’. Kreator’s Mille Petrozza recently commented on the new material, stating, "The style of the songs is pure brutal Thrash! Tons of fast shit, sick solos, aggro riffing. I am really psyched about the new shit, can’t wait to hear what you think about it. Looking foreward to get back on the road again, to play for you all!" In related news, Kreator’s home page, www.kreator-terrorzone.de, will soon be updated with a brand new design.
The new BARBATOS album "Fury And Fear, Flesh And Bone" with five tracks featuring vocals and leads courtesy of ex-ORDER FROM CHAOS / ARES KINGDOM’s Chuck Keller will be released by Agonia in the coming weeks. In related new, ARES KINGDOM are currently working in the studio on their album.
The recently reformed US Death Metal legend GOREAPHOBIA will be entering the studio in about two weeks to start recording 2 new songs, entitled ‘Wraith Reaper And Creator Chaos’ and ‘Cremate In Hate And A Chronic Blood Larvae’. We’ll keep you posted!
Germany’s BEHIND THE SCENERY have been signed by Supreme Chaos Records. The new album "Rétroviseur" will be released on December 13, 2004. Here’s the complete tracklist already: ‘Rétroviseur’, ‘Me And The Sun’, ‘Journey’, ‘Silence Within’, ‘No Second Silence’, ‘De-revelation’, ‘Human 2.0’, ‘Response To Solitude’, ‘Elevation’, ‘Fassadenspiel’, ‘The Architect’ and ‘Late Night’. For more info check out www.behindthescenery.com
The debut full length of the German Black Metal horde SONIC REIGN, "The Decline Portrait", will be released next monday, September 26, 2004. It will be available for 9,90 Euro only directly from Supreme Chaos Records at: www.s-c-r.de
FALLEN YGGDRASIL will be supporting one gig on the BENEDICTION Tour (October) and the German part of the DISMEMBER Tour (November). www.fallen-yggdrasil.de
NOCTE OBDUCTA‘s keyboard player and Death Metal vocalist Stefan:Emanon has left the band in order to be able to concentrate completely on MISANTHROPIC where he is doing the vocals. He got replaced by Flange who might be known to some of those who followed NOCTE OBDUCTA for a long time. He’s not playing on "Nektar Teil 2" yet, because both parts were recorded at the same time in March 2004 already. The release date of "Nektar Teil 2" is set for January 10, 2005 and there’s also plans for a small European tour together with AEBA and SANGUIS in February 2005. www.nocte-obducta.de
SANGUIS will be supporting DISSECTION on some of their upcoming shows. www.sanguis.at
The release of the MORRIGAN / NOCTERNITY split 7" is delayed even further, but should finally be available within the next two weeks.
New on the 10th BANG YOUR HEAD FESTIVAL billing is SAXON. Once again, the open air is going to take place on June 24 & 25, 2005 in Balingen, Germany. Find out more under: www.bang-your-head.de
AMON AMARTH‘s new album, "Fate Of Norns", has stormed the Media Control Charts in Germany (#31) and Austria (#56).
On December 3rd, ILLDISPOSED will embark on a 14 day European tour with DEATH ANGEL and SCARVE. Dates for the trek have not yet been confirmed but will be announced as they become available.
Reunited San Francisco Bay Area Thrashers HEATHEN have made their entire "Breaking The Silence" (1987) and "Victims Of Deception" (1989) albums available for free download in the media section via their new official web site www.heathenmetal.com
Dutch melodic Death / Thrash Metal band DETONATION is currently working on the pre-production of their 2nd full length album. The follow up to last years’ "An Epic Defiance" is due to be recorded in December this year at studio Excess, Rotterdam. 11 new songs have been created, to which singer / guitarplayer Koen Romeijn made the following statement: "Expect nothing less than pure melodic Death / Thrash, in the vein of our debut album… but this time the songs are more intense, more technical and better structured than before! There’s also more variation to be found among the songs, it’s going to be a killer!" No official album title has been revealed yet, but the following songs will appear on the new album: ‘Beyond The Margin’, ‘Chaos Banished’, ‘Structural Deceit’, ‘End Of Sight – End Of Fears’, ‘Clinically Dead’, ‘The Source To Delve’, ‘Solitude Reflected’, ‘Lost Euphoria Part III’, ‘The Loss Of Motion Control’, ‘Into Sulfur I Descend’ and ‘The Discharge Of Isolation’.
The Grindcore legend REPULSION will play a show in Europe after all. The band is about to headline the "Tattoo Your Mind" festival in France on October 30, 2004. For more info and the festival’s line-up, check out our tourdates section.
According to the official DARK FUNERAL website (www.darkfuneral.se) the band are confirmed to perform at the Nordic Rage Festival 2004, taking place November 6th in Boden, Sweden at Folkets Hus. Other acts also on the bill include: PERSUADER, LAUDAMUS, DEADLOCK, SLOWGATE, WAR EMPIRE and C.C.
Belgian Black Metallers ENTHRONED have announced that they have added a new member to their lineup. Guitarist Nguaroth has become a permanent member of the band. ENTHRONED are currently on tour in South America. Their new album, "XES Haereticum", is due for release on November 1st.
According to the group’s official website (www.disiplin.net) DISIPLIN guitarist General K has formed a new band, HELVETE (Swedish for "hell") with Hellcommander Nattefrost (CARPATHIAN FOREST) and drummer Faust (ex-DISSECTION). Joining in on bass will be Invictus, and doing the vocals, none other than Nocturno Culto (DARKTHRONE). More details on the band will be available soon.
Long standing New Jersey Death Metallers MORTAL DECAY (their releases date back to the ill fated JL America label) are still punishing the East coast of the US and are even performing newly written material, including ‘Reanimate’. More information will soon be available, at the forthcoming (soon to be online) website: www.mortaldecay.net
EXTOL have returned to Norway’s Toproom Studios (BORKNAGAR, TRISTANIA) with Borge Finstad (THE HAUNTED, HEAVEN SHALL BURN) to put the finishing touches on their forthcoming new album, the follow-up to 2003’s "Synergy" release. The new album artwork is being designed by Astrik Studios (ZAO, POISON THE WELL) fans can expect the album to surface in early 2005. There are also plans underway to bring Extol to the US in support of the release.
NIGHTRAGE, featuring ex-AT THE GATES / THE GREAT DECEIVER / DISFEAR singer Tomas Lindberg and DREAM EVIL / FIREWIND guitarist Gus G., have reportedly completed the recording of their as-yet-untitled second album. The band laid down 14 songs, Patrik J. Sten produced, engineered and mixed the album. Mastering will be completed soon, at which point the track list and release date will be confirmed.
Norway’s CADAVER have posted the following message at their official website (www.cadaverinc.com): "Cadaver have decided to split up after 15 years of underground service, and 4 studio albums. We would like to thank our fans for all these years and all the people who supported us. Thank you all!!!! Anders Odden, Carl-Michael Eide, Lasse Johansen and Ole Jørgen Moe"
Relapse Records (www.relapse.com) have announced that NILE vocalist / guitarist KARL SANDERS will issue his debut solo album, "Saurian Meditation" through the label on October 26th.
DISPLEASED RECORDS have announced a whole bunch of new releases within the next three months, so here’s their exact release schedule. On October 28, 2004: Houwitser – "Death But Not Buried" (reissue with new layout and bonus tracks), Internal Suffering – "Choronzonic Force Domination" (recorded & mastered by Erik Rutan), Resuscitator – "A Warrior’s Death" (occult Death Metal in the vein of early Morbid Angel and Incantation). On November 28, 2004: Abigail – "Fucking Louder Than Hell" LP (vinyl only, new recordings, ltd. to 999 copies), Anal Vomit – "Demoniac Flagellations" CD / LP (bestial alcoholic Peruvian old school Black Death), Manegarm – "Vargaresa – The Beginning" CD / LP (early demos, pure Viking Metal), Nocturnal – "Arrival Of The Carnivore" CD (old school German Thrash). On December 13, 2004: Krieg – "Savage Nihilism For The Masses" LP ("Kill Someone…" and "Patrick Bateman", ltd. to 999 copies), Maniac Butcher – "Live In Open Hell" LP (first time on vinyl, raw war Black Metal). For more info check out www.displeasedrecords.com
DEVOURMENT‘s debut "1.3.8" debut has just been re-released with demo tracks and an additional studio track as a bonus. The original layout was also renewed by the band members. Here’s the complete tracklist: ‘Babykiller’, ‘Shroud Of Encryption’, ‘Festering Vomitous’, ‘Choking On Bile’, ‘Festering Vomitous’, ‘Postmortal Coprophagia’, ‘Choking On Bile’, ‘Molesting The Decapitated’, ‘Self Disembowelment’, ‘Fucked To Death’, ‘Devour The Damned’ and ‘Shroud Of Encryption’. Website: www.devourment.us
Here’s the complete tracklist of MENTAL HORROR‘s new album "Abyss Of Hypocrisy": ‘Purification By Hallowed Flames’, ‘Destructor Of Temple’, ‘Scourge Of Beast’, ‘Angel Of Vengeance’, ‘Abyss Of Hypocrisy’, ‘Messenger’, ‘Vae solis (Armageddon song)’, ‘Shurpu Baragal’, ‘Reborn For Blasphemy’, ‘Gigim Xul’ and ‘Crucify The Liar’ (bonus track). For further band information fo to: www.mentalhorror.cjb.net
MORBOSIDAD recently recorded their track for the NECROVORE tribute LP.
MANEGARM will enter Studio Underground on October 4, 2004 to record their new full length "Vredens Tid (The Age Of War)".
INTERNAL SUFFERING successfully finished the "Brutal Domination" US tour, with acts like INCINERATE, EMETH and STABWOUND.
INFINITED HATE recently found a drummer for live performances and the recording of the second full length, "Heaven Termination".
INCRIMINATED will enter the studio next week to record new material, to appear on the limited split 7" with Polish THRONEUM early next year.
EQUIMANTHORN‘s Ekimmu Abstractum just released a collection of solo works as YAMATU. In related news, www.equimanthorn.com is up and running.
BARBATOS will perform their first ever live gig in Japan, on September 25, 2004 in Nagoya.
AMMIT‘s main man CCY finished writing and rehearsing new material, and recently recruited other musicians to shortly record the new full length for From Beyond Productions, tentatively called "Hammer Of Darkness".
Fans of THE CHASM should make sure to check out www.enterthedeathcult.com because the band has just added two mp3s from their forthcoming brandnew full length "The Spell Of Retribution" to the site.
As previously reported, SATYRICON co-headlined this year’s Wacken festival with Nocturno Culto, guitarist and vocalist from DARKTHRONE who joined SATYRICON on stage to perform some of DARKTHRONE’s most celebrated classics. The highlights of the performance, held in front of over 40,000 people, will be broadcasted by ‘Lydverket’, Norway’s top music show on Norwegian national TV channel, NRK1, Wednesday 8th September at 23:10. These will be included in the 20-minute SATYRICON / DARKTHRONE ‘Special’ as producer, Kjetil Solhøi followed the two bands behind the scenes of the event that would be later described as a historical moment and a turning point for Black Metal. Not to be missed. DARKTHRONE’s latest opus, "Sardonic Wrath" is available through Moonfog from 6th September.
Ibex Moon Records will be releasing "Baptized In Unholy Gore", the debut CD by Brazilian Death Metallers INCRUST later this month. The album was mastered by Roger Beaujard (Mortician) at Mortician’s Studio in the US. INCRUST plays old school Death Metal in the vein of SADISTIC INTENT, IMMOLATION, INCANTATION and early DEATH. More info: www.ibexmoonrecords.com or http://incrust666.vila.bol.com.br.
East Germany’s Pagan Black Metal act MINAS MORGUL has just been signed by Black Attakk. The band is about to record their next album with Harris Johns in the not too distant future. Their debut album "Schwertzeit" will also be re-released soon. www.minasmorgul.org
The recordings of DEBAUCHERY‘s new album "Rage Of The Bloodbeast" are finished. It’ll be released at the end of October. The band will also support OBITUARY for two Gigs in Germany on October 17 and 22. Check out www.debauchery.de for further details.
Melodic Black Metallers SYCRONOMICA debut album "Paths" will be released at the end of October. Music samples and additional info at www.sycronomica.de
INSIGNIUM have recorded their debut "In die Abgründe". It’ll be released at the end of November. You can download tracks of their demo "Insignia Risen…" (1999) and also a video of one of the brand new tracks called ‘Moorleiche’ at www.insignium.de
EQUILIBRIUM‘s album "Turis Fratyr" will be released as a limited edition digi-pack with one bonus song. Expect a release at the beginning of November. www.equilibrium-metal.de
GRABNEBELFÜRSTEN will enter a studio soon to record their third album "Schwarz gegen Weiß" ("Black Against White").