Our BEST OF 2018 readers poll is over. If you’re curious who made this year’s top ten, check out the surprising results! Thanks to everyone who sent us their list again this year. The winners of TOUGH RIFF MAGAZINE # 6 have already been informed via email. Congratulations!
Swedish old school Black Metallers WAN have just released a new five track mini album entitled "Gammal Är Äldst" via Carnal Records. It is the follow up to the band’s third full length "Wan Way to Hell" which was released last year. A full EP stream is available at this location. To celebrate their 10th anniversary as a band, WAN will be embarking on a European tour in May 2019 together with NEKROKRAFT and THE GENERATIONS ARMY. More about WAN at www.facebook.com/theunholywan
Belgian Death Metallers CARNATION will kick off their European tour as support to SCHIRENC PLAYS PUNGENT STENCH in Salzburg (Austria) tomorrow. The tour will end on January 05, 2019 in Graz, Austria. Other acts on the bill are Austrian Black / Death Metallers THEOTOXIN and Austrian Black Metallers IRDORATH. A full stream of CARNATION’s debut full length "Chapel Of Abhorrence" is available right here. More band information you will find at www.facebook.com/carnationbe
Rochester, New York based progressive Death Metallers CONTRARIAN have just premiered a song from their forthcoming album "Their Worm Never Dies". You can stream ‘Exorcism’ at this location. The album was recorded at Watchmen Studios, Lockport, New York and Burnt Orange Studios in Brandenton, Florida. It was produced, mixed and mastered by George Bokos at Grindhouse Studios Athens, Greece. Willowtip Records will release "Their Worm Never Dies" on March 15, 2019. More CONTRARIAN info at www.facebook.com/contrarianmetal
NOCTURNAL GRAVES will be touring in Australia and New Zealand as support of WATAIN in February 2019. The tour kicks off in Melbourne, Australia on February 22, 2019 and ends in Auckland, New Zealand on February 27, 2019. The band issued the following comments about the tour: "It has been some time since we desecrated the stages of Australia, so we are proud to make our return alongside our Brothers in WATAIN and to finally present "Titan" to the audiences of Australia…. furthermore, we will finally make our way to New Zealand for the first time, something we have anticipated for many years. Join us to make these shows rage with Blood! Fire! Death! We are ready to crush!" All additional NOCTURNAL GRAVES information at www.facebook.com/nocturnalgraves
French Death / Thrashers MORTAL SCEPTER have released a lyric video for the title track of their upcoming sophomore full length "Where Light Suffocates" right here. The full tracklist of the album reads like this: ‘A Ray Of Despair’, ‘Where Light Suffocates…’, ‘Murder The Dawn’, ‘Lust Spells’, ‘Perish With The Flesh’, ‘The Carpathian Castle’, ‘Spear And Fang’, ‘Swallow Your Tongue’ and ‘…The Scepter Reigns’. It will be released on January 22, 2019 via Xtreem Music. More about MORTAL SCEPTER at www.facebook.com/mortalscepter
Brazilian Black Metallers MYSTIFIER have just released a first track of their new full length "Protogoni Mavri Magiki Dynasteia". You can check out ‘Weighing Heart Ceremony’ at this location. The band commented on the track as follows: "After 17 years of hiatus, MYSTIFIER return with a new album demonstrating all devotion to the underground Black Metal that runs in our distorted veins, over a 30 year career. It’s our way of thanking all of our followers for all these years of extreme music support. There are no words to describe the role of everyone who was part of our story. There is much to come in the near future… Let’s open wide the gates for the Black Magick Dynasty." The full tracklist of the album reads like this: ‘Protogoni Mavri Magiki Dynasteia’, ‘Weighing Heart Ceremony’, ‘Witching Lycanthropic Moon’, ‘Akhenaton (Son Mighty Sun)’, ‘Six Towers Of Belial’s Path’, ‘Demoler Las Torres Del Cielo (En Nombre Del Diablo)’, ‘Soultrap Sorcery Of Vengeance’, ‘(Introcucione D’la Melodia Mortuoria) Thanatopraxy’, ‘Al Nakba (666 Days Of War)’ and ‘Chiesa Dei Bambini Molestati’. "Protogoni Mavri Magiki Dynasteia" will be released on March 08, 2019 via Season Of Mist. More about MYSTIFIER at www.facebook.com/mystifier666
ROTTING CHRIST have just released another track of their upcoming new album "The Heretics". The song ‘Heaven And Hell And Fire’ is now streaming as a lyric video right here. The band’s frontman Sakis Tolis commented on the track as follows: "Dear friends, we are in the pleasant position to present you another creation from our upcoming album "The Heretics". The song ‘Heaven And Hell And Fire’ is influenced by John Milton’s saying: "The mind is universe and can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven" and it is another part of the heretic creation we’ve made with our last album. Enjoy!" The album will be released on February 15, 2019 via Season of Mist. More about ROTTING CHRIST at www.facebook.com/rotting-christ-290468585669
Italian Thrashers VIOLENTOR have been signed by Inferno Records for the release of their fourth full-length album, which is scheduled to be released in early 2019 on LP, CD and cassette. For all additional VIOLENTOR information visit www.facebook.com/violentor666
Bay Area based old school Death / Thrashers LACERATION will release a compilation entitled "Remnants" via Unspeakable Axe Records on February 08, 2019. It compiles the "Realms Of The Unconscious" demo from 2010, the tracks from the 2013 split with TINNITUS and the "Consuming Reality" EP from 2009. You can check out the track ‘Exhausted In Form’ (from the split release) at this location. More LACERATION info at www.facebook.com/laceration-bay-area-106524719409624
Russian Funeral Doom trio COMATOSE VIGIL A.K. has just released their first album in seven years via Non Serviam Records. It is entitled "Evangelium Nihil" and was recorded in Winter / Spring of 2018 and the cover artwork was created by W. Smerdulak. A full album stream is available right here. For all additional COMATOSE VIGIL A.K. information visit www.facebook.com/comatosevigilak
At the end of December 2018 a special 25th anniversary edition of HEADHUNTER D.C.‘s 1993 album "Punishment At Dawn" will be released on CD / DVD via Cogumelo / Mutilation Records (Brazil) and Greyhaze Records (USA). The album will come as a deluxe 3 panel digipak and will feature 4 bonus tracks including the SEPULTURA cover ‘Morbid Visions’ and 3 live tracks. The booklet features rare photos as well as liner notes. The DVD includes a show from 1994, an interview in the Brazilian open TV from the same year and a photo gallery with lots of band’s memorabilia from the 92-95 era. Greyhaze Records is also planning to put out the band’s first two albums on vinyl in 2019. Other HEADHUNTER D.C. releases for the next year include black vinyl and cassette versions of their third studio album "…And the Sky Turns To Black… (The Dark Age Has Come)" via Crypts of Eternity Productions and Trauma / Triumvirate Of Evil Records respectively as well as a tribute to BATHORY split 7" with POSTHUMOUS and TRIPALIUM entitled "Anthems Of Blood, Fire And Death – A Brazilian Tribute To Bathory" on Misanthropic Records. The band is also working hard on new material for their next album to be recorded and released in the first half of 2019. For more HEADHUNTER D.C. info check out www.facebook.com/headhunterdc
Chilean old school Thrashers CRITICAL DEFIANCE will release their debut full-length "Misconception" on February 08, 2019 via Unspeakable Axe Records. You can already stream the album track ‘What About You’ at this location. More about CRITICAL DEFIANCE at www.facebook.com/criticaldefiance
MISERY INDEX have just released a first track from their upcoming album "Rituals Of Power". You can check out ‘New Salem’ right here. The album will be released on March 08, 2019 via Season of Mist. The band issued the following comments on the track: "’New Salem’ sums up perfectly the lyrical vitriol and musical dynamics featured across "Rituals Of Power". We wanted to introduce the album, not just with a straight-ahead ripping tune, but with a smack to the face; it’s a wake up call for any concerned citizen and a code red for civilization. Ugly times call for stark and uncomfortable statements, and ‘New Salem’ castigates the faults and ineptitude’s of our broken media system and the Crucible-esque, witch-hunt culture it fuels." In March / April 2019 MISERY INDEX will be touring Europe in support of the new album together with WORMROT and TRUTH CORRODED. For all additional information and updates visit www.facebook.com/miseryindex
Belgium based Lovecraftian Industrial Death Metallers SQUIDHEAD have just released their debut full length album "Cult[ist]". It is the follow-up to their “Prohibition” EP from 2014. The following tracks appear on the album: ‘Abyssal Worshippers’, ‘Mantra Of Insanity’, ‘Awakening’, ‘Lucid Nightmares’, ‘Mad Painter’, ‘Whispers Of Deep’, ‘Torn Skies’ and ‘Verbis Diablo’. A video for the song ‘Mantra Of Insanity’ can be watched over here. More SQUIDHEAD info at www.facebook.com/squidheadproject
Swedish Black / Thrashers SINIESTRO have just released an EP entitled "Arctic Blood" via Black Lion Records. A music video of the title track can be watched right here and a full EP stream is available at this location. "Arctic Blood" was recorded at Radionika Studios, Sweden in 2018. It was mixed by Dino Medanhodzic and mastered by Jens Bogren. The artwork was supplied by Johnny Karlsson. More SINIESTRO information you will find at www.facebook.com/siniestrosweden
On December 31, 2018 Horror Pain Gore Death Productions will release a limited edition 7" EP from Philadelphia’s Thrash Grinders CRACK HOUSE. It is entitled "Smoke Crack In Hell" and will be available in three colors, limited to 100 copies each: "crack rock clear", "piss yellow" and "violently assault violent". The EP was recorded and engineered by Dan Kishbaugh at Panther Pro Audio and features artwork by Tony Champ. You can already check out the track ‘Smoke Crack In Hell’ over here. The full tracklist reads like this: ‘The House That Crack Built’, ‘Slut Maker’, ‘The Crack Is Back’ and ‘Smoke Crack In Hell’. For all additional CRACK HOUSE info visit www.facebook.com/crackhouserock
Sweden’s progressive Death Metallers MOURNING SIGN are streaming the song ‘Dualism’ at this location now. The track is taken from their forthcoming third album "Contra Mundum", which will be released on December 20, 2018 via Orchestrated Misery Recordings. Another song (‘Nest Of Vipers’) is still streaming over here. The full "Contra Mundum"tracklist reads like this: ‘Dualism’, ‘Homage To A Dying World’, ‘Nest Of Vipers’, ‘Sights Of Woe’, ‘The Defiant Pupil’, ‘These Scars’, ‘Who Will Crown The King’, ‘Sleep’, ‘White Light’ and ‘The Devils We Adore’. The album will be limited to 500 copies. For more MOURNING SIGN info check out www.facebook.com/mourningsign
U.S. progressive Death Metallers CONTRARIAN will release their third full-length "Their Worm Never Dies" on March 15, 2019 via Willowtip Records. The band features Jim Tasikas and Brian Mason on guitars, George Kollias (NILE) on drums / vocals and Ed Paulsen on bass. The album was recorded at Watchmen Studios, Lockport, New York and Burnt Orange Studios in Brandenton, Florida. It was produced, mixed and mastered by George Bokos at Grindhouse Studios in Athens, Greece and the full tracklist reads like this: ‘Vaskania (The Evil Eye)’, ‘Exorcism’, ‘My Curse’, ‘The Petition’, ‘Among The Misled’, ‘Their Worm Never Dies’ and ‘Whomsoever Worships The Whiteworm’. More about CONTRARIAN at www.facebook.com/contrarianmetal
Finnish Death Metallers FESTERDAY have just released a music video for the song ‘Kill Your Truth’ at this location. The track is taken from their debut full length "Iihtallan", which will be released on January 04, 2019 via Season Of Mist Underground Activists. For all additional band information visit www.facebook.com/festerday
In January 2019 GS Productions will release a 3 CD digipak compilation from Finnish Black Metallers KALMANKANTAJA. It will be entitled "Kuoleman Kehtolaulut 2014 – 2017" and compiles all split releases the band released between 2014 and 2017. More about KALMANKANTAJA at www.facebook.com/kalmankantaja-211871848850139
German Death Metallers ICHOR are streaming their fourth full-length "Hadal Ascending" in its entirety at this location now. The album is out now via Unholy Conspiracy Deathwork (CD, digital) and Wooaaargh Records (vinyl). More about ICHOR at www.facebook.com/ichorofficial
On January 25, 2019 War Anthem Records will release a split MCD from Colombian Death Metallers SOL DE SANGRE and Spanish Death / Thrashers PANICO AL MIEDO. It will be entitled "La Senda De La Muerte" and features two cover songs of each band. SOL DE SANGRE present ENTOMBED’s ‘Revel In Flesh’ and UNLEASHED’s ‘Before The Creation Of Time’ (mixed by Tomas Skogsberg, mastered by Dan Swanö), while PANICO AL MIEDO are paying tribute to DEATH’s ‘Pull The Plug’ and PESTILENCE’s ‘Twisted Truth’ (mixed by Marc Boria, mastered by Tony Lindgren). Both bands decided to reinterpret the lyrics in their native language, giving the cover versions a completely new vibe and atmosphere. So, the actual tracklist reads like this: ‘Festin De La Carne’, ‘Antes De La Creación’ (SOL DE SANGRE) and ‘Desconéctame’, ‘Verdad Vil’ (PANICO AL MIEDO). The cover artwork was created by Juanjo Castellano Rosado. More band information at www.facebook.com/soldesangre or www.facebook.com/panicoalmiedo
Bangalore, India based old school blackened Death / Thrashers AEMPYREAN will release their debut EP "Fireborn" via Cyclopean Eye Productions on December 05, 2018. A full EP stream is available at this location. All further AEMPYREAN info at www.facebook.com/aempyreanin
Canadian extreme Metallers REVENGE will release a new EP entitled "Deceiver.Diseased.Miasmic" on December 07, 2018 via Season Of Mist. It will feature the 2 tracks ‘Diseased Intrusion’ and ‘Deceiver Futile’. The song ‘Deceiver Futile’ can already be streamed right here. In April / May 2019 REVENGE will be touring Europe together with MGŁA. Support comes from DEUS MORTEM (April 28 – May 06) and DOOMBRINGER (May 08 – May 17). More info and updates at www.facebook.com/revengeofficialsompage
Destruktion Records have just released a limited cassette edition (200 copies) of the MATTERHORN debut full length "Crass Cleansing". It comes as a pro-printed tape with full colored cover. For ordering details go to www.destruktionshop.de
Dutch Thrash Metallers DISQUIET have just released a video for the song ‘Designed To Violate’ at this location. The track will be featured on the band’s third full-length which will be released via Soulseller Records sometime in 2019. From December 06 to December 15, 2018 DISQUIET will be supporting SIX FEET UNDER on their European tour. Other bands on the bill are INCITE, TORNADO and MECALIMB. More DISQUIET info at www.facebook.com/disquietofficial
German Black Metallers DER ROTE MILAN will release their second full-length "Moritat" on February 01, 2019 via Unholy Conspiracy Deathwork. It was recorded, mixed and mastered by Markus Stock at Studio E Klangschmiede and tells local stories based on real events during the 30 years lasting war in the 17th century. The full tracklist reads like this: ‘Die Habsucht’, ‘Drohende Schatten’, ‘Gnosis Der Vergänglichkeit’, ‘Der Letzte Galgen’, ‘Der Findling’ und ‘Moritat’. You can already listen to the opening track ‘Die Habsucht’ right here. "Moritat" will also be released in limited editions as a noble A5 digipak CD and on red vinyl. For all additional band information visit www.facebook.com/derrotemilan
Selfmadegod Records have released a compilation CD from Polish technical Death Metallers REDEMPTOR . It is entitled "The Becoming (2005 – 2011)" and features the band’s "None Pointless Balance" debut album (2005), the "Nanosynthesis" demo (2009) and the "4th Density" EP (2011). The artwork was created by REDEMPTOR singer Xaay (BEHEMOTH, NECROPHAGIST, NILE, ABYSMAL TORTMENT). More information at www.facebook.com/redemptorpl
Selfmadegod Records recently also released two limited split EPs. The first one features VIOLATION WOUND and SURGIKILL. It is available on green (100 copies) and black vinyl (400 copies). Both bands contribute one exclusive song. VIOLATION WOUND is violent Punk band fronted by Chris Reifert (AUTOPSY, ABSCESS, DEATH), while Ohio, Kentucky based old school Death Metallers SURGIKILL features Stevo from IMPETIGO and current members of CRUCIFIED MORTALS, VAULTWRAITH, FAITHXTRACTOR, SHED THE SKIN, WOODEN STAKE. The second split EP comes from MASTER and PAGANIZER. It is available on gold (90 copies) and black vinyl (400 copies) and each band performs one unreleased song which was recorded especially for this release. The cover art for was supplied by Roberto Toderico (SODOM, PESTILENCE, SADISTIC INTENT). For more info and ordering details visit www.selfmadegod.com