February 26, 2011

Here’s an official statement of guitarist Juan Garcia about AGENT STEEL‘s cancellation at this year’s Keep It True festival: "We’d like to clarify false rumors in the press that state that Rick Mythiasin is the new singer of AGENT STEEL; that is not the case whatsoever; Rick filled in for John Cyriis for the inaugural 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise and did a tremendous job. When we reunited with original vocalist John Cyriis for Thrash Domination 2010 in Japan, our intention was that as long as things were moving in a positive working direction that we would forge ahead and perform reunion shows in 2011. As of now, we have reached the inevitable fork in the road; having worked unimaginably hard into making this recent reunion a solid reality, a difficult situation has turned much more complicated which has forced the cancellation of AGENT STEEL at the Keep It True Festival in Germany this upcoming April. As a symbol of dedication to the fans, the music, and the A S legacy alike, we are excited to announce that the organizer of this festival has invited the band members to still perform, but under a different moniker, and singer Rick Mythiasin has been officially invited as the vocalist to join us onstage, once again, devastate all that witness."

HEADHUNTER D.C. will enter the studio to record their new album "…In Unholy Mourning…" on February 28, 2011. The follow up to "God’s Spreading Cancer…" will be recorded at Studio 60 in Salvador, Bahia, where the band had already recorded the MORTEM cover song ‘Summoned To Hell’ for the tribute album on Heavier Records. "…In Unholy Mourning…" will feature 9 songs and one intro – the full tracklisting will soon be revealed. The band has not signed a deal for the release of the upcoming album yet (which they hope to see out later in the first half of 2011), although there are already some offers. Labels interested can get in touch through the band’s email puredeathcult@hotmail.com. The album will mark the debut appearance of new guitarist George Lessa. More info you may find on the band’s MySpace page www.myspace.com/headhunterdc

Bazillion Points Books has revealed the final cover artwork for METALION: The Slayer Mag Diaries, a 744-page hardcover journey into Black Metal, Death Metal and beyond by Norway’s Jon Kristiansen. "The greatest Heavy Metal story ever told" will be available on June 06, 2011 and is available for preorder now with two bonus limited patches at this location. Part anthology, part memoir and years in the making, METALION includes over 600 reproduction pages from every issue of Slayer Mag, spanning from the early 1980s through 2010. In addition, author Jon Kristiansen recounts his life’s story, from alienated outsider to central figure in Norwegian Black Metal to world-weary Metal survivor. The book also features over 100 rare photographs, including two color sections and a portrait gallery of photographs taken by Kristiansen himself. The combination of archival material includes scores of interviews with the most revered figures in extreme Metal, including MAYHEM, EMPEROR, SLAYER, KREATOR, NIHILIST, CELTIC FROST, BATHORY, CATHEDRAL, ENTOMBED, MORBID, NAPALM DEATH, METALLICA, OPETH, CRADLE OF FILTH, SADISTIK EXECUTION, USURPER, NIFELHEIM, DARKTHRONE, SODOM, DESTRUCTION, MORBID ANGEL, DEICIDE, EXODUS, DISSECTION, CANDLEMASS, CARCASS, SEPULTURA, GORGOROTH, DEATH, WATAIN, SADUS, SATYRICON, ENSLAVED, PENTAGRAM, JARBOE, IMMORTAL, POSSESSED, OVERKILL, ULVER, DARK ANGEL and countless others. "From the start, I made Slayer Mag as honestly and as well as I could," says Kristiansen. "I never knew any other way. I hope that I have produced something that will stand the test of time."

England’s very own HELLBASTARD are set to embark on their first tour of the UK / Eire since the very early 1990s. Support comes from the PANZERBASTARD and SUICIDE WATCH. You can check out the tourdates here. HELLBASTARD have released their newest album "The Need To Kill" and mini-album "Eco-War" on Selfmadegod Records back in 2009.

NILE’s Karl Sanders will be a part of the new NERVECELL album "Psychogenocide", contributing guest vocals to the song ‘Shunq (To The Despaired?King Of Darkness)’. This particular song is special to the band as it will mark the first extreme Metal track ever to include both Arabic lyrics mixed in with English lyrics. The word "Shunq" in Arabic has two meanings: to choke or to be hung by the neck. The song consists mainly of ideas and knowledge gathered from sources that speak about Lucifer and the demons that serve him. ‘Shunq (To The Despaired?King Of Darkness)’ speaks about the battle of humans and these demons in reality, in the end Satan himself brought forth to justice. The complete tracklist of the album is: ‘Anemic Assurgency’, ‘Upon An Epidemic Scheme’, ‘All Eyes On Them’, ‘Amok Doctrine’, ‘Psychogenocide’, ‘Imprint’, ‘????? ˆ Shunq (To The Despaired?King Of Darkness)’, ‘The Taste Of Betrayal’, ‘Driven By Nescience’ and ‘Nation’s Plague’. "Psychogenocide" is scheduled for release on Spellbind Records on March 31, 2011 in the Middle East and Lifeforce Records on April 29, 2011 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and on May 02, 2011 in the rest of Europe and the UK. The CD cover artwork was designed by Björn Goosses of Killustrations (ABORTED, SEVERE TORTURE, ZYKLON) and is a concept, which NERVECELL has been working on for quite a while. The band is said to be "extremely proud of how it has turned out" as it "perfectly matches the aggression and musical direction of the new album." The follow-up to NERVECELL’s 2008’s "Preaching Venom", "Psychogenocide" is scheduled to be mixed and mastered at Hertz Studios (BEHEMOTH, DECAPITATED, VADER) in Bialystok, Poland by the Wieslawscy Bros. For all further info check out www.myspace.com/nervecell

HAVOK will be releasing their new full-length album "Time Is Up" on March 29, 2011 via Candlelight Records. The follow-up to their "Burn" album was mastered by James Murphy and features ten tracks. www.myspace.com/havok

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