February 29, 2008
Brazil’s REVIOLENCE have released a new EP entitled "Violent Phoenix". It features 4 tracks and is free for download at their website www.reviolencemetal.com.
Brazil’s REVIOLENCE have released a new EP entitled "Violent Phoenix". It features 4 tracks and is free for download at their website www.reviolencemetal.com.
SULPHUR have almost finished the material for their next album. They are currently preparing a pre-production of all new songs and plan to hit the studio in late summer / early autumn. The recording session will be done at Conclave Media studios with Bjørnar Nilsen as the producer, who already worked with the band on the "Cursed Madness" album. For more info check out www.sulphur.no
Italy’s FIGHTCAST have signed a deal with Kolony Records. The band is supposed to be "the perfect combination of Soilwork, In Flames and The Haunted". Their new album "Breeding A Divinity" (recorded, mixed and mastered by Riccardo Pasini at Studio 73) will be released on April 7th, 2008. Two samples taken from the album and a video for the song ‘The White Pitch’ are online at the following address www.myspace.com/kolonyrecords. For all further information, please visit www.kolonyrecords.com or www.myspace.com/fightcast
The new issue from the free English written magazine ANCIENT CEREMONIES is out on the streets and online. Issue 14 features 100 pages and a sampler CD with 19 bands (up to 80 minutes of pure Metal music). The new edition offers extensive chats with Obituary, Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir, Marduk, Dodheimsgard, Immolation, Desaster, Loits, Facebreaker, Emptiness, Devilish Impressions, After Forever just to name a few. For the ones who cannot grab a printed copy can download the magazine and sampler CD in pdf and mp3 format at the following locations: Magazine + CD (100 MB), Magazine (18 MB).
According to Pro-Rock magazine, Dutch guitarist / vocalist Patrick Mameli has set "Resurrection Macabre" as the title of the new album from the resurrected late ’80s / early ’90s Death Metal outfit PESTILENCE, tentatively due in early 2009 via Holland’s Mascot Records. Joining Mameli in the group’s new lineup are Tony Choy (ATHEIST, CYNIC) on bass and Peter Wildoer (DARKANE, NON-HUMAN LEVEL) on drums. Patrick is currently working on new material which he has described as a modern fusion of "Testimony Of The Ancients" (1991) and "Spheres" (1993), but even more technical and brutal. The group’s new album will tentatively be recorded this fall by Danish producer Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, INVOCATOR) and produced by Patrick himself. Speaking to Blabbermouth.net regarding his decision to bring PESTILENCE back from the dead, Mameli stated last month, "It’s not a reunion, because I will not be playing with any of the old lineup guys, except Tony Choy (who played on "Testimony…"), of course so… I always stated there will never be a reunion, and there won’t be, since I never look back at the past and I refuse now to play with people that are not on the same musical level as I am. I sang on "Testimony…" and "Spheres", so no need for (original PESTILENCE frontman) Martin (Van Drunen). This because of the above statement I just made. Furthermore, Martin is doing other things. Good for him. So now you have two members that were in PESTILENCE before and one new guy. The reason why I bring PESTILENCE back to life is that people / fans keep asking me for this. The time is right now and Mascot is giving me the opportunity to do so."
Germany’s Ván Records have signed THE DEVIL’S BLOOD. The first release of this co-operation will be the 7" EP "The Graveyard Shuffle" (limited to 1000 copies, red vinyl) which will include a re-recorded version of the titletrack as well as the brandnew song ‘A Waxing Moon Over Babylon’. The release is scheduled for April 17, 2008 at the Roadburn Festival where the band will play its first gig.
The fourth album of OBTEST "Gyvybes Medis" will be released early April in three different formats – the digipak compact disk and picture vinyl record will be handled by Osmose Productions, while the collectors’ A5 sized CD book will be released by Ledo Takas Records.
Dutch nihilistic Black Doom Metal act BUNKUR has been signed by Displeased Records. The renewed line-up features Martin van Drunen (PESTILENCE, ASPHYX) on vocals and also Wannes Gubbels (ASPHYX, PENTACLE) will make a guest appearance on the album. Expect the new full length "Nullify" in the summer of 2008. For more info check out www.bunkur.net
Germany’s Death / Grinders DEPRESSION have two new split releases available: first of all the DEPRESSION / PAGANIZER split-CD, which features ten new studio tracks from DEPRESSION (including the BENEDICTION cover ‘Artefacted Irreligion’) and ten PAGANIZER tracks. Furthermore there’s a videoclip from both bands enhanced. The other release is a split 7" EP with INHUMATE, featuring three new DEPRESSION tracks (including a cover of NAPALM DEATH’s ‘Mentally Murdered’) as well as two INHUMATE tracks. A limited edition in coloured vinyl is also available. For ordering information contact depressive@depression-grind.de or check out www.depression-grind.de.
MANES is no longer on Candlelight Records. According to an official statement the band will use this "window of opportunity" to do various stuff, so expect a frenzy of ‘free’, ‘open’ and ‘experimental’ activity (not just music) for a while before they start hunting for a "new home". Their website manes.no is currently still "under construction", but things will change, improve, evolve… You are invited to check in from time to time for lots of exclusive stuff and "insider information" as soon as things have stabilized. When it comes to MANES releases, there’s a lot of stuff going on at the moment: "Reinvention" has been made available at the band’s website. It features 6 remixes of songs from "How The World Came To An End" by a bunch of groups and individuals, such as Rune Sørgård, Zweiss, Shadow Orchestra, Rachmiel and DJ Don Tomaso. "Solve Et Coagula" will be the title of a re-recording of two songs from 1994-95, with a few collaborators (Niklas Kvarforth from SHINING, Malefic from XASTHUR and Geir Nilsen of THE 3RD AND THE MORTAL). If everything goes according to plan, there will also be remixes / remakes by people from BLUT AUS NORD and ISIS. And last but not least around 35 minues of their "Be All End All" album is already "on tape" as well.
Ibex Moon Records have signed HOD from San Antonio, TX. The band features vocalist Beer Reebs (ex-Pillcrusher, Rancid Vat), Bjorn Haga (ex-Necrovore, ex-Thornspawn) on guitars, Carl "Lord Necron" Snyder (ex-Thornspawn) also on guitars, Dirty Derick Rivers (past GG Allin) on bass and Dennis Sanders (ex-Exculcerate) on drums. John McEntee, owner of Ibex Moon Records: "HOD is a real blasphemous power house. I have known Carl and Bjorn for a long time now and jumped at the opportunity to work with them. They play aggressive and twisted Black / Death Metal and bring in the best of the original Black / Death Metal fundamentals without being outdated. They will forge a new standard on the future of extreme Metal. I look forward to a monstrous debut album. HOD will for sure be a metal force to be reckoned with!" Carl "Lord Necron" Snyder HOD guitarist comments: "We are pleased to announce our signing to Ibex Moon Records. Ibex Moon is the label that is right for HOD. Working with a label that is run by people that are actually fans of extreme Metal was a major consideration for us. So this makes a perfect union. Prepare for annihilation… You have been warned!" Check out their myspace page www.myspace.com/hodtheband
Invictus Productions will release the upcoming MCD (and possibly a full length album sometime later in 2008) from Canada’s TYRANT’S BLOOD. The band features members from BLASPHEMY, WITCHES HAMMER and INFERNAL MAJESTY. The TYRANT’S BLOOD sound can best be described as a mix of classic 80s Death / Thrash along the lines of old SADUS with hints of MORBID ANGEL, POSSESSED, DESTRUCTION for good measure. The 5 song EP "Prophecy" has already been recorded and is due for release soon. www.myspace.com/tyrantsblood
The line-up of the reformed BRUTALITY consists of Jeff Acres (bass / vocals), Scott Reigel (vocals), Jay Fernandez (guitar) and Deiman Heftel (guitar). The band is currently looking for a new drummer.
American Thrash / Speed Metal legends AT WAR have been added to the line-up of the THRASH ASSAULT II FESTIVAL in Würzburg, Germany. The festival will take place February 23, 2008, at Soundbarp Ost. Also on the bill are SABBAT (U.K.), ONSLAUGHT, PROTECTOR and other acts.
OBEISANCE has released a new 7" EP entitled "F.U.C.K. – Forever Unholy Christian Karnage" on France’s GasMask Productions. It features 4 new tracks (‘A Cold Dish Served With Hot Lead’, ‘Behold Satan’s Warriors’, ‘Onward To Battle For Lucifer’ and ‘Nuclear Fist’). For more info check out www.gasmask-productions.com, www.youtube.com/evilonit666, www.myspace.com/obeisance
HELHEIM and VULTURE INDUSTRIES will be touring Europe in March together with German Black Metallers DARK FORTRESS. Helheim is in the closing stages of the recording of their sixth album, "Kaoskult", at Conclave Studios in Bergen with producer Bjørnar E. Nilsen. The band says we can expect a darker and heavier album this time. "Kaoskult" will be released on March 17 in Norway and April 21 in the rest of the world. Fans of the band should check out Nuclear Blast’s new Viking Metal compliation, "Pagan Fire". The DVD on this compilation includes HELHEIM’s video for the song ‘Jernskogen’ from the "Blod & Ild" album. Dark Essence Records will re-release both "Blod & Ild" and "Yersinia Pestis" during 2008. VULTURE INDUSTRIES’ "The Dystopia Journals" has been nominated in the "Best Avantgarde Metal" category for the Metal Storm Awards.
DIMENSION F3H will be joining Black Metal legends MAYHEM for a leg of their upcoming European tour.
THE BATALLION has signed to Dark Essence Records. The band consists of Stud Bronson (ex-OLD FUNERAL, BOMBERS), Lust Kilman (GRIMFIST), Colt Cane (ex-BORKNAGAR, ST. SATAN) and Morden (ex-TAAKE, ex-DEATHCON) and "they give you bad ass 80s Death Thrash Metal". The debut album "Stronghold Of Men" will be out in Norway on March 17 and on April 21 in the rest of the world. For more info check out www.myspace.com/thebatallion666
Iscariah of DEAD TO THIS WORLD has announced the following line-up for their gig at the Inferno Festival: Iscariah (guitars / vocals), Arvid (guitars), Thurzur (bass) and Kvitrafn (drums). www.myspace.com/deadtothisworld
Florida’s BRUTALITY is back! We just got the following info first hand from Jeff Acres: "The band has reformed and is working on a new album. I wanted to set things straight about the crap that went down in 2003. We never wanted to let those tapes get out. It was shit and one of the members who is no longer in the band sent them out without the rest of us knowing. The stuff we are doing now is so much better than that bullshit, more on the lines of "Screams Of Anguish". I want everbody to know the truth. Thanks."
The NOCTURNAL "Arrival Of The Carnivore" 12" Picture Disc will be released within less than 14 days. Originally released by From Beyond Productions on CD and Deathstrike Records on vinyl, you now will have the change to get a very noble looking 12" Picture Disc within a cover-jacket. There will be a regular and die hard version (including shirt, bottle-opener in shape of a button, featuring the cover-artwork and a shaped logo patch). All copies will come with an A1 poster, also featuring the cover-artwork.
The GOSPEL OF THE HORNS "Sinners / Monuments Of Impurity" CD will be released within less than 5 days. The second pressing of that CD will be released as a digi-pack.The first 100 copies will come with a button and a shaped logo patch. Furthermore, "The Satanist’s Dream" will be re-released on CD/LP with peviously unreleased bonus-tracks from 1996.
METAL INQUISITOR‘s "Garage Nights (Bootleg)" LP will be released on the 1st of March at their 10th anniversary gig in Koblenz, Germany. The songs got re-mastered at Toxomusic which is known from bands such as DESASTER, OLD and NOCTURNAL. Besides their own songs you also will get some unreleased cover-versions of WITCHFYNDE (‘Stab In The Back’), JUDAS PRIEST (‘Invader’) and more. The playing time will be around 49 Minutes and 12 songs will be pressed on that vinyl only release. The first 100 copies will come with a shaped logo patch and the vinyl colour will be white.
HERETIC from the Netherlands will return with their first live gig in 8 years on April 12. That day will also see "Black Metal Holocaust" being re-released on vinyl and CD. The vinyl will come with the usual stuff like coloured vinyl, shirt (black, three coloured print), shaped logo patch and a button. The CD version will come with a different button and shaped logo patch as well. At the same evening DENIAL OF GOD’s "The Dawn Of Aemizaez: Demos 1992-1993" LP and SHACKLES "Coup De Grace" CD will be available, too.
LIVING DEATH 12" Picture LP’s ("Vengeance Of Hell" and "Metal Revolution") will be released before the summer.
ACHERON‘s "Rites Of The Black Mass" will be re-released as a 12" double LP. New cover artwork will be supplied by Kris Verwimp.
SATANIC FUNERAL‘s "Night Of The Goat LP (limited to 132 copies) will be released in late summer.
KRATORNAS from the Philippines will soon release their 2nd full-length album on CD and LP. Kris Verwimp will also be responsible for the artwork here. If everything goes right, the songs will be mastered at Swedish Necromorbus Studio (Watain, Funeral Mist, Nominon, Zarathustra and more).
ZARATHUSTRA from Germany will soon start to compose and record some new songs for their next MCD / MLP.
The first four albums of SADISTIK EXEKUTION will be re-released as Picture Discs. Expect "The Magus" in autumn / winter of 2008. Other albums will be "We Are Death…Fukk You!", "Fukk I" and "Fukk II", as well as ROK’s debut album "This Is Satanik" on black/coloured vinyl.
THORNIUM‘s 1995 album "Dominions Of The Eclipse" will be released on double vinyl in June, the first 100 copies on clear transparent vinyl and those will also come with a black shirt, an A1 poster, patch and button – 400 copies on black vinyl. Bonus-tracks on both editions will be their 3 song demo-tape "North Storms Of The Bestial Goatsign" from 1994. The band is also active again and negotiations to record and release a second album will be forged soon.
PHAZM have entered Sainte-Marthe Studio with producer Francis Caste (HANGMAN’S CHAIR, ARKHON INFAUSTUS, EIBON, ZULL FX) on February 04, 2008 for the recordings of their next album.
ASPHYX recorded 2 songs at the end of January 2008 at Harrow studio: CELTIC FROST’s ‘Os Abysmi Vel Daath’ from their "Monotheist" album and one new ASPHYX song, called ‘Death… The Brutal Way’. It is supposed to be in the vein of ‘Serenade In Lead’ (from the album "Last One On Earth"). Expect uptempo and furious Death Metal. This track may also be posted on the band’s website when the mixing and mastering is done next week.
Pagan Metallers OBTEST from Vilnius, Lithuania has just inked a deal with Osmose Productions for the release of their new album "Gyvybes Medis". Ledo Takas, the old label of the band, has secured exclusive rights to release and distribute the new album in the Baltic States. "Gyvybes Medis" will be released in three different formats: digipak CD, picture vinyl and collectors’ A5 sized CD book. The release date is set for April 04, 2008. New OBTEST merchandise will be presented at the same time.
Ichtys Niger, drummer of the Brazilian Black Metal horde EVIL WAR, commited suicide after his birthday’s commemoration and was found dead at his house’s backyard. He died on January 07, 2008. Rest in peace buddy! For more info check out the band’s official website at www.evilwar.com.br or the Mutilation Records website at www.mutilationrecords.com.br.
German technical Death Metal band CENTAURUS-A has finished the work on their upcoming debut album "Side Effects Expected". It was recorded, mixed and mastered at Hansen Studios, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen. The band is currently looking for a label to release it. A brand new song ‘Drop Off’ as well as some sound samples from the album are available on the band’s websites www.myspace.com/centaurusa and www.centaurus-a.de