» News Archive June 2006
Pete Flesh (DECEIVER, ex-MAZE OF TORMENT) is currently recording his sophomore solo album (under the FLESH banner), "Temple Of Whores", tentatively due in September 2006 via the Gothenburg-based label Iron Fist Productions. The follow-up to the 2005 debut album, "Dödsångest", is being recorded, mixed and produced at the Abyss Studio by Tommy Tägtgren and Pete Flesh and include nine tracks. Session drums on the CD were once again played by Flingan. Plans are underway to do some shows next summer. Pete Flesh is currently looking into finding suitable members. In the meantime, two tracks from "Temple Of Whores" are currently available at www.myspace.com/peteflesh.
Prophecy Productions will be celebrating their 10th anniversary with a big event at the Kelterhaus Schorlemer in Zeltingen-Rachtig (GER) on October 21. In the afternoon DORNENREICH will be playing an all acoustic show, followed by performances of THE VISION BLEAK, SECRETS OF THE MOON, DARK SUNS and KLIMT 1918 later in the evening. For more details go to www.prophecyproductions.de.
Scottish Heavy Metal band AGANKAST (the new band of ex-ATOMKRAFT guitarist Rob Matthew) have released their second CD "Welcome To Insanitarium" via the band’s own website. Agankast are currently rehearsing with new drummer James Savage before returning to "Live" duty in August. The band has also been confirmed for Britain’s Bloodstock Festival in September. For more info check out www.Agankast.com.
KAAMOS‘ appearance at this year’s Party San Open Air will be their last ever as the Swedish band has announced that they will split up directly after that show. For further info check: www.kaamos.nu or www.party-san.de
MANES have signed to Candlelight Records. Two albums are currently in pre-production and the recording of the first of these, "Invention…", will start this summer with an estimated release in early 2007. The band comments via their Myspace blog: "We’ll be collaborating with some external people again on this, both musical, lyrical and visual artists, so that’s keeping the unpredictability-meter dangerously close to the red zone for us as well, which we find very satisfying. Some of the songs has already been given names like ‘Deeprooted’, ‘Every Passenger A Pilot’, ‘Controlled Escalation’ and ‘Dira Necessitas’. We find the new stuff very dark and atmospheric in a close-to-suicidal way, and some of you will probably hate us forever and wish we’d just die after this one. Which we also find very satisfying." Read more at www.myspace.com/manes. The first sign of life from the MANES camp will however come in the form of the demo / pre-prod track ‘Indiscretion First Draft’ featured on the upcoming Candlelight Records compilation "Phoenix Risen" (out 03/07/06). This is a comprehensive double CD compilation featuring the latest tracks from the label’s entire current roster. For more detailed info head to www.manes.info.
P. Emerson Williams, known from his Industrial Black Metal act CHORONZON as well as his Gothic projects VEIL OF THORNS and BEYOND FLESH, has hooked up with the most successful alternate reality game ever: "Chasing The Wish" is a comic book, illustrated by P. Emerson Williams, but its story is literally crossing over into the lives of thousands. As one of the most successful independent alternate reality games ever, "Chasing The Wish" set new standards for realism, creativity, interactivity, and immersion in the just developing genre of online entertainment. The game lasted six months and incorporated three dozen fictional websites, as well as dozens of real world items, interactions and events. Throughout the campaign, over 10,000 people were attracted to and played the game, and "Chasing The Wish" received international press coverage in magazines, newspapers, and television reports. The "Chasing The Wish" comic book will be supported by and fully integrated with the most extensive and interactive online presence ever created for a comic book project, the alternate reality game sequel to "Chasing The Wish", featuring multiple fictional websites, completely interactive and responsive characters, real world events, and items created especially for the game. For more info check out www.chasingthewish.net.
At the end of 2006 DISPLEASED RECORDS will re-release a whole bunch of classic Thrash / Death Metal albums. Each one of them will be remastered and include bonus material, lyrics and a biography. The releases will be printed in limited first editions of 5000 copies, represses will follow sometime later. Here’s the list of goodies that we can look forward to: ATROPHY – "Socialized Hate" and "Violent By Nature" (end of 2006), TOXIK – "World Circus" and "Think This" (Fall 2006), DISINCARNATE – "Dreams Of The Carrion Kind" (Fall 2006), SADUS – "Illusions / Chemical Exposure", "Swallowed In Black" and "Vision Of Misery" (Spring 2007) and GORGUTS – "Considered Dead" and "Erosion Of Sanity" (Spring 2007). We’ll keep you posted!
HOBBS ANGEL OF DEATH had to withdraw their Headbangers Open Air confirmation. Peter will try to do the show in 2007. Instead, SHEAVY, Stoner Rock Doomer from Canada are confirmed. www.headbangers-open-air.de
Germany’s ANCIENT TERROR ZINE just sent in the following info: "As we are too stupid to design a proper website, we decided to do what everybody does these days and go online at myspace to be able to offer a small info base for people reading our zine, buying our tapes, visting our concerts or having nothing better to do than hanging around in the net. Not very old school, but helpful so do not complain, please! At www.myspace.com/ancientspiritterror you will find a basic introduction to what AST Zine is about, some photos and of course a blog functioning as our news section. Please use this account as a chance to get in touch with us regarding anything related to AST Zine, become our friends (as we haven’t many yet, hehe), whatever… Horns Up!"
As Messiah Marcolin quit CANDLEMASS, the band won’t be able to play at the cult festival HEADBANGERS OPEN AIR in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany. So there has to be a replacement: METAL CHURCH! On July, 14th & 15th 2006, you’ll get to see ULYSSES SIREN, PRAYING MANTIS, ORDER OF NINE, MILES BEYOND, HOLY MOSES, HOBBS ANGEL OF DEATH, GOAT HORN (CAN), GIRLSCHOOL and BLITZKRIEG. For the complete line-up check out our tourdates section! The Warm Up show on 13th July features BRIAN ROSS performing the legendary SATAN, MASTER, OVERDRIVE, VIRON and DECEIVER. www.headbangers-open-air.de
As we have received this info from two different sources by now, there seems to be truth in it (even though it’s still not officially confirmed yet): former NIHILIST guitarist Leif Cuzner committed suicide in Montreal on June 3 or June 4, 2006 (the Montreal police found his body the morning of June 4). His sudden death has shocked and saddened family and friends. Rest in peace Leif!
Legendary Bay Area Thrashers LÄÄZ ROCKIT have inked a deal with OSM Records to release the long awaited DVD "Live Untold". The Release date has been set for August 15th, 2006.
The release of the new DEICIDE album "The Stench Of Redemption" was postponed to August 22, 2006, but they have released a US, UK and European iTunes EP appropriately named "The Stench Of Redemption (666) EP" featuring 2 tracks from the forthcoming full-length. It can be downloaded from the iTunes music store. DEICIDE is set to bring their ferocity back to the US in full support of "The Stench Of Redemption" in July. There are no European dates scheduled at present, but you can be sure they will be touring in Europe soon following the release of the new album.
Swedish ANATA made their US debut appearance at the Maryland Deathfest over the weekend of May 27 and 28. According to one audience member "Anata had a bigger audience than any other band; bigger than Vital Remains, bigger than Dismember and Necrophagist. The place was packed!" Vocalist and band mastermind Fredrik Schälin enthused: "The reactions from the crowd was great, both on stage and afterwards. Lots of photos of us were shot and albums signed. A lot of fans told us that we were the main reason for them going to the festival. Even some of the other bands (Neuraxis, Alarum) were thrilled to meet us. But this was of course mutual, both great bands… We were blown away!" The band’s new album, "The Conductor’s Departure" is due out via Wicked World on June 19.
HATE ETERNAL headlined The Garage in London on June 4 and recorded a special set that was filmed for a live DVD release, as yet untitled, and due out October this year. The DVD will include the full London set (Sunday 4th June), an in depth interview with the band filmed immediately post-gig, a documentary on the making of "I, Monarch", tour footage and all of the band’s promo videos including ‘Powers That Be’ and ‘I, Monarch’. Hate Eternal continue their tour in Europe until June 10. The band recently completed a US trek in support of Chimaira and Arch Enemy. The band’s current album, "I, Monarch" was the last to feature departed drummer Derek Roddy, who was replaced by Reno Kiilerich for the European tour.
Germany’s Death Metal horde FEARER have thrown in the towel because they weren’t able to find a suitable new drummer to replace Alf Kluge, who had left the band a while ago.
L.A. based Thrashers ANGER AS ART have completed the recording process of their next album for Old School Metal Records. "All we gotta do now is mix!" says main man Steve Gaines. "Chris Trent (producer) has done an amazing job – and we are excited about it". Entitled "Callous And Furor", the band is still aiming for a September 2006 release. The track listing is as follows: ‘Catharsis’, ‘Anger Is Rising’, ‘Bane Of My Existence’, ‘Gnashing Of Teeth’, ‘No Seed Of Mine’, ‘Callous And Furor’, ‘Watch Me Suffer (Watch Me Die)’, ‘Race For The War’, ‘Invaders From Within’, ‘All That Is Mine To Avenge’, ‘Self Destructing Man’, ‘HypoChrist’ and ‘Still I Hate’. Anger As Art will be celebrating the completion of recording by getting back out on the road for a couple of shows in San Francisco – both headlining dates. "It is our first time back to SF since Thrash Against Cancer. We will be playing different sets each night – with songs from each album. We have made a lot of friends in the bay area over the years with different bands, and invite each one of them out for a good time. Without sounding arrogant, the Bay Area will love this stuff!" says Gaines. For all further details check out www.angerasart.com.
This year’s WACKEN OPEN AIR is getting into the final planning stages. The line-up is more or less fixed, and the running order is set as well. While Thursday features the more traditional Metal or Rock bands, already Friday offers a couple of bands more than relevant to our readers, as we will witness the return of CELTIC FROST, whose reunion-album was a passionately debated item, the only German reunion-show of New York Hardcore / Thrash Legend CARNIVORE, as well as NEVERMORE or the Occult successor LEGION OF THE DAMNED. Saturday’s highlight will of course be – besides the performance of MORBID ANGEL with David Vincent – the return of EMPEROR whose Inferno Festival setlist looked very promising for all those who still consider their "In The Nightside Eclipse" / "Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk" era as milestones of music history. Some minor changes have happened to the parking and camping-system at the festival site. For more detailed news, please check our tourdates section and the official festival homepage: www.wacken.com
Two years after "Carved In Stigmata Wounds" – an album that has been celebrated by critics and fans alike – SECRETS OF THE MOON have finished recording "Antithesis" at Klangschmiede Studio E. This record will be released in autumn via Lupus Lounge. Comparing the new work to "Carved In Stigmata Wounds", sGolden explains: "The forthcoming album will indeed offer something totally different. Music-wise, these are the most intense and tight tracks we ever created. Spiritual darkness paired with a very progressive approach. The content of the songs is very direct, sometimes even perversely assaulting and desperate. A profession of loyalty to Death in perfection." Tracklist: ‘Nowhere’, ‘Versus’, ‘Ordinance’, ‘Confessions’, ‘Metamorphoses’, ‘Ghost’, ‘Seraphim Is Dead’, ‘Lucifer Speaks’ and ‘Exit’. The two songs that we already heard here at the VOICES HQ indeed promise a very unique and mature, yet totally dark and raw Black Metal album of superior writing and recording quality. Soundsamples can be found at www.prophecyproductions.de.