» News Archive November 2007
Brazil’s Marquee Records will release an impressive SLAUGHTER boxset entitled "Tortured Souls" in early December. It contains over 4 hours of music on 4 CDs: all demos, rehearsals and live tracks, the STRAPPADO "Final Judgement" album from 1992 and more. Two massive booklets will feature interviews, liner notes, lyrics and pictures. Also included are 3 exclusive stickers and a poster, all packed in a hand numbered box (0001 to 1100). For the complete tracklist go here.
Cyclone Empire will release a CD+DVD-set featuring all known recordings of Chile’s PENTAGRAM on CD, along with some infamous cool live-performances on DVD. It will be entitled "Under The Spell Of The Pentagram" and should be out in February 2008. www.myspace.com/pentagramtribute
French Death/Black/Thrash Metallers SIDEBLAST have inked a deal with Germany’s Cyclone Empire Records. Their debut-album "Flight Of A Moth" was mastered at the Jailhouse Studios by Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN, HATESPHERE) and will be released in February 2008. www.myspace.com/sideblast
Sweden’s old school Death Metal horde EVOCATION is currently busy recording their new, still untitled new album in their own studio. The album should be out in summer/fall 2008. For all fans EVOCATION put a special film of their appearance at Germany’s Up From The Ground Summer Open Air 2007 on You Tube. You check it out at www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfUD6OS4s_k
Germany’s MIGHTIEST have also been signed by Cyclone Empire. The "Bloodyssey 1994-2003" double-CD (that will contain all music they ever did, remastered and partly remixed at famous Iguana Studios) is scheduled for a February 2008 release. www.mightiest.eu
Helsinki Thrashers THE SCOURGER are about to release their second full length studio album "Dark Invitation To Armageddon" in February 2008. www.myspace.com/thescourger
ANGER AS ART have confirmed their scheduled appearance at Dokk’Em Open Air on August 9, 2008 near Leeuwarden, Netherlands. Also appearing will be the Diamond Head. For more information, go to www.dokk-em.com. Here’s the official statement from the band: "We are fortunate to have a large fan base in Holland, so the chance to go and perform for them (finally!) is a thrill. We had to decline an appearance this year at Mario’s Metal Meeting with Raven, so we are happy to have a chance to make it up to the fans. We are looking forward to bringing our brand of old school Speed / Thrash to Dokk’Em. Other European dates are being scheduled to coincide with this booking information will be forthcoming."
Corvus Discos (www.corvusdiscos.cl) have re-released the demos from TOTTEN KORPS (Chile) on a limited edition CD (500 copies). The CD includes the "For The Infernal Insurrection" demo from 1991 and "The King Of Hell Reclaims His Throne" demo ‘from 1990, both remastered, plus rare stuff taken from old rehearsal / live tapes from ’89 to ’93. TOTTEN KORPS include members of ATOMIC AGGRESSOR, EXECRATOR and UNDERCROFT.
Texas Thrash Metal pioneers RIGOR MORTIS will team up with ARSON ANTHEM – the new band featuring Philip Anselmo (DOWN, ex-PANTERA) on guitar, Mike Williams (EYEHATEGOD) on vocals, Hank Williams III (SUPERJOINT RITUAL) on drums and Collin Yeo on bass – for three shows in December. RIGOR MORTIS will perform with its original line-up consisting of Bruce Corbitt (TEXAS METAL ALLIANCE), Mike Scaccia (MINISTRY, REVOLTING COCKS), Casey Orr (MITRA, GWAR, X-COPS, THE HELLIONS, THE BURDEN BROTHERS) and Harden Harrison (MITRA, PERVIS, SPEEDEALER). These three dates mark ARSON ANTHEM’s first official performances ever, and due to the hectic touring schedules of the members involved, might turn out to be the group’s only appearances for awhile. For further details check out www.exitin.com.
Displeased Records will reissue the first two MASTER albums; both will be remastered and will include a DVD with a full gig.
Mario Gutierrez of BRAINSTORM (US) / ENGRAVE was murdered on November 22. According to an email we received from his daughter he was shot in the head 4 times at 10pm. Rest in peace Mario.
DERANGED have posted 4 different 2 minutes samples from the band’s upcoming new full length CD "The Redlight Murder Case" on their MySpace page www.myspace.com/stabandhack. The album will be released in early 2008.
TOXIK are currently working on brand new material. Plans are set for a recording session in Syracuse, NY in early December. 2 tracks are already recorded (basic tracks) and the guys will be getting back to work shortly. The band is looking for a bassplayer to fill in the shoes of Brian Bonini, who does not take part in the reunion. Any interested bassists can contact them at Toxik@toxikmusic.com. Displeased Records will furthermore release a DVD entitled "Dynamo Open Air 1988" in December. The set will include the group’s performance at the Dynamo Open Air festival in Eindhoven, Holland on May 23, 1988 as well as the band’s concert at the Dynamo club in Eindhoven that took place two days earlier. A DVD+CD combo will also be made available in a limited run of 2.000 copies.
Polish Black / Death Metallers DEVILISH IMPRESSIONS have just released their second full-length album "Diabolicanos – Act III: Armageddon". It was recorded at Polish Studio X (Vesania) and mastered by Andy Classen at Stage One Studio in Germany. The album features guest appearances of Cezar (CHRIST AGONY) and Szymon (NYIA). For one of the songs, ‘Har-Magedon’, a video-clip has also been finished. After numerous live shows with SUFFOCATION, VADER, BENEDICTION, THUS DEFILED and IMMOLATION as well as successful European tours with MARDUK and AETERNUS, the band will soon play their first headlining tour across Ukraine and Moldavia. For more info check out www.devilish-impressions.com
The new REVENGE album "Infiltration.Downfall.Death" is complete and will contain the following attacks: ‘Death Heritage (Built Upon Sorrow)’, ‘Blood Noose (Hog-tied Like Swine)’, ‘Sterilization (Procreation Denied)’, ‘By Force (The Only Option)’, ‘Barbed Anti (No Remorse)’, ‘Survival (The Absolute Truth)’, ‘Final Doctrine (Push Forward)’ and ‘Cleansing Siege (Take Them Down)’. It will be released through Osmose Productions in early 2008.
RESURRECTION will begin pre-production in January and will enter the studio in February to record their as-of-yet untitled full-length album scheduled for an end of April 2008 world-wide release via Massacre Records in Europe and through a not yet named label for the rest of the world. Other plans for 2008 include a European and North American tour and festival appearances world-wide. After auditioning numerous drummers over the last couple of months, the band has announced Gus Rios as a permanent full-time member of the band. His drumming and writing credits include Malevolent Creation, Upon Infliction and Kult Ov Azazel as well as co-writing and producing Malevolent Creation’s newest release "Doomsday X".
Blood Harvest (www.bloodharvest.se) just got two new EPs out: IN AETERNUM‘s "Curse Of Devastation" and CAUTERIZER‘s "And Then The Snow Fell". Both are now available from the label’s store and soon by the label’s official distributors in Italy, Greece and Japan. Additionally two upcoming releases are prepared: LETHAL‘s "Annihilation Agenda" LP and MAGNUS‘s "Scarlet Slaughterer" LP. It also seems that NECROVATION‘s "Breed Deadness Blood" CD / LP is pretty much ready as well. EVISCERATED‘s "Rituals Of Reanimation" demo has been out for a while and the limited edition is almost sold out. Next is the KATALYSATOR "Mass Genocide Ritual" demo. Last, add DENIAL‘s "Immense Carnage Vortex" EP to the label’s latest releases.
Greek underground label Kyrck Productions (http://kyrck.lunar-aurora.de) will release VED BUENS ENDE‘s "Those Who Caress The Pale" on LP format. The LP features the 1994 demo plus 2 bonus tracks from the ’94 rehearsal and ’95 line in UK. The vinyl edition comes in two versions: the black version with carved black foil cover and black LP (250 copies) and the white version with carved black foil cover and white / red haze color LP (250 numbered copies with poster). Additional label releases include STRID "s/t" CD that features the 1994 EP, the 1993 demo, the 1992 MALFEITOR "Pandemonium" demo and as bonus from the LP version the first MALFEITOR demo from 1991 (for those who don’t know MALFEITOR is the pre-STRID band) and THORNS "Stigma Diabolicum" CD, that features the "Trondertun" tape, the "Grymyrk" demo, STIGMA DIABOLICUM "Lacus De Luna" and rehearsal with additional from the LP material. All orders from the label come with extra poster. 1000 copies print.
Blabbermouth has issued the following tragic news yesterday: Guitarist / vocalist Dave Gorsuch of the long-running San Francisco Bay Area Death Metallers INSANITY has issued the following update: "It is with the heaviest of hearts I post this update. Our dear friend and bandmate Bud Mills (drums) is finally at peace after a hellish battle with esophagial cancer. A few of his close friends and I were there with his wife Megan when he passed sometime after 1am last night (November 14). Although this was the worst night of my life, I feel privileged to have been there with him, his wife and our other friends. I am still in awe of the tidal wave of support and love he received from his very special circle of friends and family. He was not only an amazing talent but an amazing person with a huge heart, wit and sense of humor. His loss is completely devastating and will leave a huge void in all of our lives. He really appreciated all of the comments and support he received from his friends, fans and the metal community. We need to keep that support going for Megan and all of us grieving his loss. Local friends and fans are welcome to his service which although not yet 100% confirmed will likely be Saturday at 3pm at First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame – www.burlpres.org 1500 Easton Dr, Burlingame – (650) 342-0875 which is where he and Megan were wed. Once again thanks for all of your support during this hellish time." In the summer of 2007 as the band was preparing to record and preparing for shows in Northern and Southern California, Bud was diagnosed with bloodclots. After more tests cancer was discovered and it turned out to be esophageal cancer stage 4. The pre-production tracks Bud recorded prior to his death are being mixed and will be released in the near future on the "Visions Of Apocalypse" album. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/insanity
Century Media in co-operation with Prowling Death Records will release the first official HELLHAMMER demo collection, entitled "Demon Entrails" in February 2008. Here’s the official press statement: "There exist countless Hellhammer demo bootlegs, but they all utterly fail to capture the true aura, to represent the band as it actually was. They have been compiled from dismal multi-generation copies of the original tapes, and they are invariably riddled with factual and historical errors or outright lies. Former Hellhammer members Tom Gabriel Fischer, Martin Eric Ain and Steve Warrior have decided to rectify this situation once and for all. "Demon Entrails" is the first official release of the legendary Hellhammer demos "Death Fiend" / "Triumph of Death" and "Satanic Rites" since the original limited cassette editions in 1983. This release has been specially re-mastered from copies of the original master tapes under the supervision of Tom Gabriel Fischer and the demos now represent Hellhammer exactly as the band sounded when recording these songs in June and December of 1983. Drawing from a wealth of previously unknown historical material and artwork as well as hundreds of unreleased Hellhammer photos from 1982 to 1984, "Demon Entrails" will also feature all lyrics and essays detailing the individual demo recording sessions. "Demon Entrails" will be released as an opulent oversized double CD and as a gatefold triple vinyl album. Both versions will feature a lavish booklet and a poster. There will also be a third, bare-bones low-price CD version, designed to cater to markets which will not carry the standard CD due to its irregular size."
Influential Heavy Metal journalist BOB MULDOWNEY died Monday, November 5 after a long battle with cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease). He was 44 years old. Muldowney was best known for his fanzine / magazine Kick Ass Monthly which helped expose, support and feature such bands as RAVEN, MOTÖRHEAD, VENOM, THE RODS, TANK, EXCITER and RIOT as well as burgeoning underground Thrash scene, giving, in some instances, the first coverage to SLAYER, MEGADETH, MEDIEVAL, OVERKILL and ANTHRAX. Muldowney was also one of the first journalists to expose the Death Metal scene in its infancy, giving early press to SODOM, HELLHAMMER / CELTIC FROST, DESTRUCTION and BATHORY. It was Bob’s love of true, honest Metal, which drove him to deliver a demo tape of a then-unknown California band called METALLICA into the hands of then – Rock’n’Roll Heaven store owner (and future Megaforce Records head honcho) Jonny Z – who was advertising with Kick Ass Monthly at the time. Bob’s brutally honest approach in his coverage helped Kick Ass Monthly develop a deep, loyal following who viewed his writings as "the Metal bible". However, financial and distribution difficulties overtook the magazine and the final issue of Kick Ass Monthly appeared in the fall of 1986. Prior to his passing, Muldowney and fellow Kick Ass Monthly writer Mike Hannon had begun work on a DVD history of Kick Ass Monthly magazine in collaboration with former OVERKILL drummer-turned-director Rat Skates. Muldowney and Hannon have also re-exposed the Kick Ass Monthly history on the official MySpace site www.myspace.com/officialkickassmag.
Nuclear Blast Records have started a big fundraising campaign for the family of DECAPITATED drummer Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka, who passed away on November 02, 2007. You will find all details at www.myspace.com/decapitated
The following news was posted on Blabbermouth today: Drummer Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka of the Polish extreme Metal band DECAPITATED passed away in a Russian hospital from injuries sustained in a recent road collision. He was 23 years old. Vitek and DECAPITATED singer Covan (real name: Adrian Kowanek) were hurt in an accident earlier in the week involving DECAPITATED’s tour bus and a truck carrying wood in Gomel, on the Russia/Belarus border. Both musicians reportedly sustained serious head injuries in the collision, which is believed to have been the fault of the band’s driver (although this has not yet been officially confirmed). According to the Polish Internet portal Onet.pl, Vitek underwent trepanation, a form of surgery in which a hole is drilled or scraped into the skull, and was due to be transported to a hospital in Krakow, Poland for further treatment. Covan’s family released a statement yesterday (Thursday, November 1) that the vocalist’s condition had improved. At the time, the vocalist was still said to be at a hospital in Novozybkov, Russia, where he and Vitek were taken following the accident.
Canada’s Metal legend ANVIL has a new album out, entitled "This Is Thirteen". The album was engineered by no other than Chris Tsangarides (who already worked with ANVIL on their two alltime classics "Metal On Metal" and "Forged In Fire" back in the 80s) and is currently only available through the band directly (http://my.tbaytel.net/tgallo/anvil/) in a limited edition of 1.000 handnumbered copies. When we contacted frontman Lips about the album he explained the situation like this: "There has been a Hollywood movie made about ANVIL and we are waiting to see the results before looking for a label. We don’t want to sell ourselves away before we know what kind of response the movie gets. You will love what Lars has to say about Anvil and particularly about Robb. Tom Araya of Slayer, Lemmy, Slash and Scott Ian have also wonderful comments about Anvil including out right admitions we were doing Speed Metal before they did… In the meantime we have self manufactured a short run of CDs that is only available from the band. They are limited edition and marked as such, meaning they will be worth more money later as there is only 1000 and most are sold."