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ABSU are currently working on "Abzu", the follow up to the band’s 2009 self-titled album. The album is being tracked at Nomad Recording Studio in Carrollton, Texas and mixed by J.T. Longoria (King Diamond, Solitude Aeternus). Drummer / vocalist / lyricist Proscriptor confirms: "The entire rhythm section has been successfully tracked and all that remains are mellotron passages and vocal lines. Before attempting the final mix, we plan to transfer the rhythm section onto two-inch tape to thaw out its digital timbre. With this record, we are appending dirtier elements of psychedelia and fusion. Lyrically, it will descend deeper into Enki’s lower world as well the Enochian Magic(k) System. I can tell you this album will definitely not be a ‘natural progression’ from previous releases, but a feat of metaphysical conquest and murkiness." "Abzu" is the second of a three-part series that features ABSU’s signature sound in maniacal fashion. Planned for release later this year, it will tap the expertise of Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak (Watain, Destroyer 666) and Costin Chioreanu (Ava Inferi, Grave, Demonical) to assemble the album’s packaging. "In the past, we have utilized the talents of Belgium artist Kris Verwimp", says Proscriptor, "but now we’re aesthetically detouring into more mystifying, Thelemic realms: musically and lyrically." Here’s the complete track listing: ‘Ontologically, It Became Time & Space’, ‘Circles Of The Oath’, ‘Abraxas Connexus’, ‘Skrying In The Spirit Vision’, ‘Earth Ripper’, ‘A Song For Ea’ including ‘E-A’, ‘A Myriad Of Portals’, ‘3Rd Tablet’, ‘Warren Of Imhullu’, ‘The Waters – The Denizens’ and ‘E-A (Reprise)’. More info at www.myspace.com/absu
VADER entered Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland with Wojtek Wieslawski and are recording their new album "Welcome To The Morbid Reich". Fans attending VADER concerts and summer festivals will have a chance to listen to one or two new tracks from the new album. Additionally, the band is resurrecting the use of their old logo. States Jaroszewicz: "We started our session showing up in the studio on March 14th, at 9 p.m. after a few hours’ drive on our perfect Polish roads with a trailer full of gear – I really recommend it! This day we only managed to do the load-in and hit the sack – as we were dead on our feet. The real session started the next day with setting up the drums, changing the skins, placing microphones and tuning the drums. Then… we were adjusting the sound looking for ‘this is it’ in each element of the set. It lasted for the whole day and a half but it was definitely worth it. The sound of the drums just kicks asses! For the next few days the schedule of work was practically the same – breakfast, setting the recording plan for the day, preparing a pilot for the drums, recording, monitoring plus corrections if needed, recording, supper and going to bed… For 7 days, we recorded 9 new songs, 2 covers and a re-make of veeeeeery old VADER track. The results of our work will be available probably in August. For now, look forward to the studio reports and the pictures from the further recording of "Welcome To The Morbid Reich". Quite recently I’ve also become the official endorser of Paiste’s cymbals. These are definitely the best sounding cymbals on the market and they were my wildest dream since I started to play the drums. I’m proud that now I can join the Paiste family. Of course you will hear them on the newest VADER album."
CARDIAC ARREST guitarist Tom Knizner will join Los Angeles-based Death Metal horde GRAVEHILL for the band’s performance at this year’s San Diego Metal Swap Meet. An official statement from the band reads as follows: "GRAVEHILL has a unique addition to our ranks for the San Diego Metal Swap Meet gig on April 23rd. Due to a scheduling conflict, Hellfiend is unable to attend since he will be gallivanting across Europe with EXHUMED! So without further ado we invited Tommy "Deathstrike" Knizner of CARDIAC ARREST to commit decibel homicide with us… GRAVEHILL is honored to have him aboard for this one of a kind event, we are looking forward to destroying The Ruby Room with Tommy Deathstrike! Hell Metal Holocaust!!!" GRAVEHILL vocalist Mike Abominator further commented: "The only other asshole that was brutal enough to kill with us for a fill in gig was Tom Knizner. We have become great friends with this Chicago Metal maniac over the last few years, and he fits the criteria of a GRAVEHILL member – completely crazy and really doesn’t give a flying fuck about anything else than playing Death noise Heavy Metal at decibels that make posers piss and shit themselves! Plus he is noon beers deep by noon and he can still play better than all of these fancy fucks, so we look forward to Tommy Deathstrike’s rancid riffs of terror for this special show in San Diego!" GRAVEHILL recently finished recording their highly-anticipated new album, entitled "When All Roads Lead To Hell". For more details or updates check out www.myspace.com/gravehill666
According to a post on ex-MANOWAR drummer Scott Columbus’ official Facebook page by his girlfriend Nancy, he passed away on April 4th at the age of 54. The message reads as follows: "For all you to know, this is Scott Columbus’s girlfriend of over 3 1/3 years… and I cannot get the words out, but he died today. Please send your thoughts and prayers. I can’t believe he is gone. He was the absolute love of my life." Former MANOWAR guitarist Ross "The Boss" Friedman has issued the following message on his own Facebook page: "Scott Columbus R.I.P my brother. I’m gonna miss you!" MANOWAR issued a statement on their Facebook page that reads: "With great sorrow we announce the passing of our brother Scott Columbus. A rare talent, equally a rare individual, a father, a friend and a brother of Metal. All of the great moments we spent together are burnished in our hearts and memories forever. We know he is in a good place and at peace. He will never be forgotten. Your family and brothers, Joey, Eric, Karl, Donnie and all at Magic Circle Music." Columbus was with MANOWAR from 1983 until 1990, but left the band when his son fell ill. He returned to the fold for the "Louder Than Hell" album in 1996 and remained with the band until the summer of 2008.
NOCTEM‘s new album is entitled "Oblivion". The second part from the trilogy that started with "Divinity" is supposed to be "the hardest, fastest and darkest opus from the band until the date". The album has been produced by Daniel Cardoso (Angelus Apatrida, Ava Inferi, Anneke Van Giersbergen) and recorded in the Ultrasound Studios 2 in Portugal. The cover has been created by Marcelo Vasco, a Brazilian designer who already worked with NOCTEM on the "Divinity" cover and who has also worked with bands like Dimmu Borgir, Dark Funeral, Satyricon, Belphegor, Gorgoroth and many more. Here’s the complete tracklist of the album: ‘Popol Vuh’, ‘The Arrival Of The False Gods’, ‘Universal Disorder’, ‘Abnegation And Brutality’, ‘Invictus’, ‘Sons Of Hun-Vucub’, ‘Seeking The Ruin Of Souls’, ‘Unredemption’, ‘Q’uma’rka’aa’, ‘A Borning Winged Snake’ and ‘Oblivion’. "Oblivion" is going to be released worldwide through Rising Records on April 25, 2011 (Spain, signed limited tour edition) and June 13, 2011 (rest of the world). The band will start promoting the album on their Spanish tour at the end of April. For more info: www.noctemofficial.com and www.myspace.com/noctemofficial.
KING DIAMOND‘s wife Livia has recently published a note about KING’s health after his triple-bypass surgery: "King has just finished his Cardiac Rehabilitation program Friday, March 11th, and graduated with flying colors. Thanks to the wonderful people at the rehab center, his exercise regimen helpe him gain a lot of muscle, and start on the road of building up good endurance. We will start regular exercises now to get the endurance up to nice levels. The examinations by his heart surgeon and cardiologist revealed that his health is steadily improving, and they all expect him to feel better than ever, 15 years younger than he really is." She also said, that she’s "immensely proud of what he has achieved in these short 3 months" and that "he is looking forward to finishing the DVDs eventually, and he is most certainly not stopping music", even though she can’t "say anything certain about when he will be back working on King Diamond related things". Livia also wanted the fans to know the following: "He would also like to extend his huge gratitude to all of you, for your absolutely amazing support. It has really meant a lot to him.
ROTTEN SOUND kick-off their ‘Cursed To Tour’ headlining European tour today, April 1st, in Germany. This month-long tour, in support of their brand new album "Cursed", will also include TRAP THEM, GAZA, THE KANDIDATE and HAUST. Following this tour, ROTTEN SOUND will head to Japan for the Kabuto Metal Fest alongside MORBID ANGEL and THE HAUNTED. ROTTEN SOUND has debuted the video for the "Cursed" track ‘Hollow’ online at the Decibel Magazine blog. It was directed by Casper Haugegaard for Jawbreaker Productions. To go along with the video, the band recently took part in a veggie-burger eating contest at Tattooed Mom’s in Philadelphia, PA. Decibel Magazine was on hand to capture the event, which can be viewed now here.
Polish PANDEMONIUM have been signed by Pagan Records. The band is currently working on material for their new album called "Misanthropy". The recording session will begin in late April, with a release scheduled for autumn 2011. ‘Black Forest’, a new song that will appear on the album in a new version, is available at www.myspace.com/pandemonium_pl and www.paganrecords.com.pl. On March 12, 2011 Godz Ov War Productions / Hellshop published a vinyl re-edition of the band’s cult demo "Devilri". On May 02, 2011 PANDEMONIUM will play a show in at Warsaw’s Progresja club in Poland, together with INCANTATION and CHRIST AGONY and on June 04, 2011 they will appear at the Silesian Massacre Fest Vol. 3 at the Mega Club in Katowice, Poland with ENTOMBED, KRISIUN, KATAKLYSM, DODHEIMSGARD, URGEHAL, KAMPFAR, BELPHEGOR, VREID and many others. For all further information check out www.pandemonium.metal.pl
A new, limited edition 3-CD set from British Grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH is out now in Europe for the price of just one regular CD. This new set features NAPALM DEATH’s final three and formerly out of print Earache releases "Inside The Torn Apart", "Words From The Exit Wound" and "Breed To Breathe". The CDs come in individual jewel cases with the original, full booklets, and are all housed together in a slipcase sleeve. The 3-disc set features 30 tracks and a total running time of almost 2 hours. Also available now is another recently released 3-CD value set featuring "Diatribes", "Greed Killing" and "Bootlegged In Japan". NAPALM DEATH’s "Live At Rock City" is available now on iTunes as part of Earache’s INTO THE PIT live series, featuring 27 tracks from a classic NAPALM DEATH show in Nottingham, UK in 1989. Get the live album now exclusively on iTunes. For more NAPALM DEATH news and info go to www.myspace.com/napalmdeath.
BORKNAGAR have signed a 3 album deal with Century Media Records. The band is currently working on material for a new album, at this point roughly scheduled to be released in early 2012. Øystein G. Brun comments: "Well, sometimes life takes slightly unexpected yet great turns! Due to internal business affairs the deal with Indie Recordings was mutually terminated by both parties in January 2011. Since then we have been negotiating a possible re-signing with Century Media Records. While you are reading this, Jens F. Ryland and I are at the headquarters of CMR in Dortmund to ink a new deal with our old partners in crime. If feels very good to be back in the fold of the mighty Century family – there is simply no team – no label alike. Thanks to Jens Preuter (head A&R) we have worked out and landed a deal that we are 110% sure will serve the future endeavors of BORKNAGAR in the best possible and most potent way. We share so much history with CMR and we are now preparing to create more musical history for the future to come – together with our friends at the Century family!"
ABORTED will begin recording their seventh full-length album from June onwards at Hansen Studios with producer Jacob Hansen (INVOCATOR, HATESPHERE, VOLBEAT). The album will be entitled "Global Flatline" and contain 12 tracks with additional bonus material featured on limited editions. The artwork will once again be handled by Justin Osbourne who has already worked with the band on their 2010 EP "Coronary Reconstruction". Since 2011 marks the ten year anniversary of ABORTED’s "Engineering The Dead" record, the band decided to re-record two tracks of the album as part of the bonus material for "Global Flatline". You can vote for your favorite "Engineering The Dead" songs on the band’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/abortedofficial. Vocalist Sven de Caluwé comments: "We are thrilled to be finally recording "Global Flatline" and have the material out there. It is exciting in many ways, one being that this might be one of the most important records in ABORTED’s career. We really took our time in composing the most heavy and uncompromising material the band has written to date. Some of the material is faster than ever, some of the material is slower than ever, some old school and some new school, inspired by all eras of ABORTED, yet still sounding unique on its own. Writing this record definitely took us back to the roots of why we started playing this kind of music in the first place, the passion and adrenaline you get from playing extreme Metal. Obviously it just isn’t a carbon copy of "Goremageddon" or "Engineering The Dead" or anything: there are plenty of new elements as well since we never believe in writing the same record. Those who checked out "Coronary Reconstruction" have had a small taste of what’s to come and we can guarantee you won’t be disappointed with "Global Flatline"! We are also very excited to be working again with Jacob Hansen, the man who produced "Goremageddon" and "The Haematobic" EP and it was always a pleasure to work with him then, so this should be a blast." More ABORTED at www.goremageddon.be
MARDUK just finished the recordings of 3 songs for an upcoming EP entitled "Iron Dawn", set to be released on the same day as the bands appearance at the Maryland Deathfest on May 27, 2011 (rest of the world May 30, 2011). Here’s the tracklist: ‘Warschau 2: Headhunter Halfmoon’, ‘Wacht Am Rhein: Drumbeats Of Death’ and ‘Prochorovka: Blood And Sunflowers’. This EP will only be available for a certain time period as a digipak CD and 12" vinyl, limited to 500 copies worldwide. More details at www.marduk.nu
Swedish Death Squad EVOCATION has finished a video for the song ‘Psychosis Warfare’, taken from their third album "Apocalyptic". The video was directed and produced by Iwona Kusion and Michal "Xaay" Loranc from 3KINGmedia. You can check it out here. More EVOCATION info at www.evocation.se or www.myspace.com/evocationswe
Homer, Alaska based THOUSAND YEAR WAR have been signed by Abyss Records. With a self-titled four song EP already available (which can by downloaded for free at www.thousandyearwar.com), the band is currently preparing the release of their debut full-length "Tyrants And Men". The first pressing of it will be available as a digipak, all album art and the band’s websites were designed by Luciferium War Graphics. Here’s the complete "Tyrants And Men" tracklist: ‘Defiance’, ‘The Sea’, ‘No Gods, No Masters’, ‘Thousand Year War’, ‘Open Casket’, ‘The Storm I Ride’, ‘Warriors Of Deceit’, ‘One Final Breath’, ‘Spartacus’ and ‘Tyrants And Men’. Presently, Thousand Year War is already working on material for a second full-length album and finding session members and a booking agency for a possible tour this summer. For more info check out www.myspace.com/thousandyearwar
INCANTATION / ACHERON drummer Kyle Severn’s gore-filled horror film AFTERPARTY MASSACRE had its premiere yesterday at Horrorhound Weekend in Indianapolis, IN. AFTERPARTY MASSACRE was written and filmed by Kyle and Horrormerch.com’s Kristoff. The film features music and performances from INCANTATION and comes with a soundtrack showcasing many Death Metal acts, including CARDIAC ARREST, GRAVEHILL, FATALIST and many more. More details at www.horrorhoundweekend.com.
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions have announced the first ever vinyl pressing of the ABSCESS debut album "Seminal Vampires And Maggot Men". It will be a deluxe edition, limited to 500 copies, pressed on urine colored vinyl with shit specks and packaged in a glorious full color gatefold sleeve. It will furthermore include a magnet, featuring the album art, a classic ABSCESS embroidered yellow logo patch as well as an 11×17 inch poster of unreleased artwork from the "Seminal…" sessions. You can reserve your copy for $25 including shipping at this location. The poster artwork can be checked out here. All further details at www.hpgd.comoj.com
On April 01, 2011 Cyclone Empire will re-releases the first 3 albums by New Jersey’s techno Thrashers HADES with partly previously unreleased bonustracks and revised and modified booklets incl. extensive liner notes and tons of never before seen pictures. The following bonus tracks will be featured: "Resisting Success": ‘Gloomy Sunday’, ‘The Leaders?’ (remix), ‘Nightstalker’ (rough mix), ‘Easy Way Out’ and ‘Sledgehammer Press’ (LePage version). "If At First You Don’t Succeed": ‘Decline & Fall Of The American Empire’, ‘Biocaust’, ‘Force Quit’, ‘Hoax’, ‘Responsible’ and ‘The Me That Might Have Been’. "Live On Location": ‘Diplomatic Immunity’, ‘M.E.S. (Technical Difficulties)’, ‘Deter My Nation’, ‘Not A Part Of Your Life’, ‘Gamblin’ With Your Life’ and ‘Beté Noir’ (all live in the studio). More info at www.cyclone-empire.com or www.myspace.com/hadesusa
In mid April 2011 Abyss Records will re-release FESTER‘s 1994 "Silence" on digi-CD. It will be completely remixed, remastered and repackaged and will feature all nine original tracks and a live version of the song ‘Persecution’ recorded in 1991. For all further info check out www.officialabyssrecords.com or www.myspace.com/festernorway.
Dark Descent Records has made the debut full-length from Swedish old school Death Metallers MIASMAL available for pre-order. The first 100 orders made through the Dark Descent Records webstore will receive a free woven MIASMAL logo patch. The official release date has been set for April 15, 2011. Here’s the complete tracklist: ‘Mesmerized’, ‘Equinox 432’, ‘Blissful Cannonades’, ‘We Will Live Forever’, ‘Mists’, ‘Toxic Breed’, ‘Death Mask’ and ‘Chronicles’. CD bonus tracks: ‘Creation Of Fire’, ‘Bionic Godhead Release’, ‘Abduction Of The Soul’, ‘Kallocain’, ‘Apocalypse Legion’ and ‘Anima Sola’.