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MASTER‘s 2011 U.S. tour, which was scheduled to begin March 1st in Frederick, MD has not begun as planned. Upon arrival, the drummer and guitarist, both Czech nationals, were turned away at the U.S. border. No official statement from MASTER has been released to the public at this time.
"Trivmvirat", the follow-up MCD to 2009’s full-length "Conquering The Black Horde" by Mexico’s WARFIELD, includes three new non-album tracks, three bonus live cuts and a bonus rehearsal cut. It will be released on March 25, 2011 through Chaos Records. Track listing: ‘The Initiate’, ‘Divinity’, ‘Trinity’, ‘Vomit On The Cross’ (live), ‘Satanic Legislation’ (live), ‘Wolf Chakal’ (live) and ‘Pestilencia’ (rehearsal). More info at www.myspace.com/warfield666
INFESTUS‘ forthcoming third album "E x | I s t" was mastered at Necromorbus Studio and features 7 tracks. The front cover drawing was executed by French artist Eric Lacombe. Tracklisting is as follows: ‘Akoasma’, ‘Down Spiral Depersonification’, ‘Darkness Blazing In The Flame Of Fire’, ‘Torn Observer’, ‘Mirror Mind Reality’, ‘Der Blick Hinaus’ and ‘Descend Direction Void’. The album will be available on CD on May 16 (May 17 in North America) and can already be pre-ordered via the label’s webshop at www.eitrin.com. Customers who avail of the pre-order option will qualify for free postage worldwide. More band info at www.infestus.com. In related news, Eric Lacombe is exhibiting his work in Paris from March 03 until March 19, 2011 at the Galerie Lazarew. Entrance is free.
San Diego’s brutal Death Metallers PATHOLOGY have announced their first European tour opening for OBITUARY and GRAVE this Spring. "The new line-up is getting along great and we’re killing it on stage, so I’m very happy with things currently", explains drummer Dave Astor. "2011 is looking like a great year for Pathology. We’re very thrilled to be touring with Obituary and Grave in Europe. Both bands are a big influence and a cornerstone of Death Metal. We couldn’t have picked a better roster for our first time in Europe. We’re very excited." The tourdates you’ll find here, all further Pathology info at www.myspace.com/pathologydm
SEPTICFLESH will perform a headliner show at the Chaulnes Metal Fest in France on April 23, 2011. This show will be very special as all original members of the band will be on stage. That means that Sotiris Anunnaki V. (guitars / melodic vocals) will play in France for the first time in 12 years. The man’s live appearances are very rare due to obligations in Greece and this will be one of the few exceptions to the rule. Sotiris comments: "At last, after 12 long years of absence from the stages of France, I have the great pleasure to announce that I will soon come back, for a special SEPTICFLESH headlining show on Chaulnes Metal Fest. So join me and the other SEPTICFLESH members, on Saturday, April 23rd for a Mass of Death where we will perform the new psalms, but also some favourite old material that was handpicked by our fans specifically for this occasion!" The band’s new album "The Great Mass" is scheduled for an April 18, 2011 release.
OMISION from Tijuana B.C. Mexico will finally release their debut full-length "In The Shadow Of The Cross" on March 25, 2011. The band has been around since 1993, founded by Heriberto Perez (rhythm guitar / vocals), and was already going through several line-up changes. Since 2000 they have released 3 CDR demos ("Pile-Up In The Morgue" – 2006, "Utopia Of Chaos" – 2007 and "Pray" – 2009) and shared the stages with bands like Incantation, Demilich, Usurper, Rigor Mortis, Coffin Texts, Hacavitz, Avenger of Blood, Estuary and others. During 2010 OMISION reached a record release agreement with Sydney, Australia based Asphyxiate Recordings, to produce and release their first full-length album and in July 2010 they entered M&L Studio in Tijuana Baja California, México to finally begin tracking it. But a sudden turn in events lead Asphyxiate to close its doors. Now OMISION have found their home with México based Chaos Records. Here’s the complete tracklisting: ‘In The Shadow Of The Cross’, ‘Your God’, ‘Won’t Be Saved’, ‘Assault In The Vatican’, ‘Beyond The Burning Gates’, ‘Pray’, ‘No Idols’, ‘Fallen Angels’, ‘Seeking The Holy Throne’, ‘The Downfall’ and ‘For Those Far Away’. The cover artwork was created by Arthur Axegrinder (ZOMBIEFICATION). All further info you may find at www.myspace.com/omisionmx
Relapse Records have signed Japan’s COFFINS. The band is currently writing for their fourth full-length and Relapse debut with plans to record later this year. COFFINS will embark on their first-ever European tour this April alongside SOURVEIN and AGUIRRE as part of the "Doom Over Europe" tour. This tour will conclude with a performance as part of the sold-out Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands. You’ll find the dates here. More info at www.coffins.jp
VOMITORY have revealed the tracklisting for their long-anticipated eighth studio album "Opus Mortis VIII". It was produced, engineered and mixed by Rikard Löfgren in his own Leon music studios. Comments VOMITORY drummer Tobias Gustafsson: "Opus Mortis VIII" is our eighth album (no shit!) – our eighth Opus of Death. And I dare to say that this is one of the strongest albums we’ve done, and it most certainly has the most powerful production we’ve ever had on any album, hands down. For the third time, we worked with Rikard Löfgren in his Leon Music Studios. We raised the bar quite a few notches in the studio – both production-wise and performance-wise, and we couldn’t be happier with the result. We are not breaking new Death Metal ground with this album – that was never VOMITORY’s mission – but "Opus Mortis VIII" offers diversity and dynamics that you haven’t quite heard from VOMITORY before. Still, this is a very intense and aggressive album in the true VOMITORY tradition – all the essential signature details are there. Once you hear the opening track, ‘Regorge In The Morgue’, you will need no further proof of that!" "Opus Mortis VIII" will be released on April 23/26, 2011 via Metal Blade Records in Europe. The limited first edition will be a digipak featuring four exclusive bonus tracks. Those tracks are re-recorded versions of songs taken off the first two VOMITORY albums. The complete tracklisting: ‘Regorge In The Morgue’, ‘Bloodstained’, ‘They Will Burn’, ‘The Dead Awaken’, ‘Hate In A Time Of War’, ‘Torturous Ingenious’, ‘Forever Damned’, ‘Shrouded In Darkness’, ‘Combat Psychosis’ and ‘Requiem For The Fallen’. Bonus tracks: ‘Nervegasclouds 2011’, ‘Raped In Their Own Blood 2011’, ‘Redemption 2011’ and ‘The Voyage 2011’. In other news VOMITORY will play a short tour through Finland in March. For the dates click here.
SIX FEET UNDER have issued the following update regarding the band’s line-up: "We would like to announce and welcome the addition of guitarist Rob Arnold (Chimaira) to the SIX FEET UNDER family! Just wanted to give you a SIX FEET UNDER band update and let you all know that we would like to announce our good friend Rob Arnold will be joining SFU as 2nd rhythm guitarist for upcoming touring duties, as well as collaborating on the new CD." Chris Barnes comments: "I couldn’t be happier about the new songs and line-up! Rob and myself have been collaborating on new songs along with the bands new drummer, Kevin Talley for the past few months. We are all feeling really excited about the bands future, and the raw intensity of the songs that we have created together so far. This is the heaviest most exciting material that I’ve worked on since "The Bleeding", and im stoked that Rob will be helping out creating this cd with us! We’ve all known each other for a while and we’re really looking forward to continue writing the new CD and future tours. We are committed to taking SIX FEET UNDER to the next level of brutality!!!" Rob Arnold comments: "It’s been an amazing honor and opportunity to have been called upon by one of my biggest idols, Chris Barnes!! SIX FEET UNDER and the Barnes era Cannibal stuff had enormous effects on me as a young musician, and still do to this day. In 1996, I was a kid in the front row screaming my head off to ‘Lycanthropy’ and ‘Torn To The Bone’…and now here I am, being asked to play the songs on stage with the band! Dreams do come true!!! And the stuff we’ve been writing absolutely rips! Watch out!!"
AMORPHIS will release their new album "The Beginning Of Times" on May 25, 2011. In April, the band will offer a first glimpse of the new material by releasing the single "You I Need". The album comprises 12 songs with a total length of 54 minutes. In addition, the first edition digipak will include the bonus track ‘Heart’s Song’. "The Beginning Of Times" was produced by the band; vocals were recorded under the guidance of Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT) in his home studio in Kuopio. Like its predecessors, the album was mixed by Mikko Karmila. The cover artwork shows Travis Smith’s interpretation of the mythological birth of the world from a goldeneye’s egg. The central character of the new songs is the iconic hero of Finnish mythology, Väinämöinen, whose tale has been masterfully retold by lyricist Pekka Kainulainen. In June, AMORPHIS will embark on the extensive "The Beginning Of Times" tour, which is scheduled to continue through 2012. Here’s the complete tracklist: ‘Battle For Light’, ‘Mermaid’, ‘My Enemy’, ‘You I Need’, ‘Song Of The Sage’, ‘Three Words’, ‘Reformation’, ‘Soothsayer’, ‘On A Stranded Shore’, ‘Escape’, ‘Crack In A Stone’, ‘Beginning Of Time’ and ‘Heart’s Song’ (digipak bonus).
Chaos Records recently released two vinyl editions of ZOMBIEFICATION‘s debut album "Midnight Stench", incl. the exclusive bonus track ‘Blood & Disgorge’. It is available in limited edition (200 copies) 350 gram vinyl with gatefold jacket and 180 gram silver vinyl. The regular LP edition is available in 350 gram black vinyl with gatefold jacket. All further details at www.chaos-records.com. Band info at www.myspace.com/zombiefication666
The following statement was issued by EPITOMITE PRODUCTIONS founder, Von Young (LIVIDITY): "Hi all, after a lot of thought I have decided to shut down Epitomite. I am gonna start selling everything off. If you are interested let me know. As far as releases go they will be sold at $1 without cases and $2 with cases. The list of what is available is here, with a the amount of what is roughly left in stock. Shipping will need to be added after the amount to purchase is chosen. I will be also selling off the distro and it is available online at the site. All distro CDs will be only $3 and will be shipped with cases in the states and without outside of US / CAN unless requested otherwise. It will take a while to move all of this so I do not expect to be done soon. I will still do trades without a problem so whatever you may need let me know. Everything is first come / first served and I will not be able to hold things at this time – sorry paypal payments can be made at epitomite@yahoo.com. Thanx for the support and keep it sick. It has been a pleasure working with you all."
The vinyl re-edition of PANDEMONIUM‘s "Devilri" has officially been postponed to March 12, 2011. This will also have a more positive effect on the final version since all material that was sent in by the fans will be used and thus enrich the release. www.myspace.com/pandemonium_pl
THEVETAT is a new old school Death Metal band from New York. The line-up right now consists of Thomas Pioli (ex-CEREMONIUM, guitars), Craig Smilowski (ex-IMMOLATION / ex-GOREAPHOBIA, drums) and Mitch Coken (ex-ENGORGE, ex-DIABOLICUS, bass). A second guitarist and vocalist are still required. Any interested parties may contact Thomas for details at ceremonium@aol.com. In related news, the CEREMONIUM "Dreams We Have Written" discography album is now mastered, the layout has just been completed and will be released by Weird Truth Productions very soon. The band have created a myspace page to support its release www.myspace.com/ceremonium
MDD Records will release the new ABRASIVE CD "The Birth – Born In Sodom" on April 15, 2011. Here’s the complete tracklist: ‘On My Face’, ‘Hate Us’, ‘Hungry’, ‘Porn Addicted’, ‘Unleash’, ‘The Other Side’, ‘Tales Of Lust’, ‘Wysiwyg’, ‘Still Standing (Pussyfied Pt. II)’, ‘Stimulate’ plus intro and outro. The cover will feature a painting by Bolek Budzyn (LOUDBLAST). More info at www.myspace.com/abrasiveger
Oulu, Finland based Death Metallers E-XPLOSIVES have just recorded their first two tracks of "relentless, punishing, hammering old school Death Metal assault," hoping to find a singer for the group. The band plans to record more music later in the year, this time in a professional studio. According to a press release, E-XPLOSIVES was formed during the summer of 2010 when "an unholy union of seasoned Death Metal warriors" was assembled by guitarists Risto "Crazy" Ruuth (ex-ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW) and Jukka "Banjo" Valppu (ex-MYTHOS). Drummer Teemu "Blastbeat Menace" Hautaniemi (also ex-MYTHOS) was asked to join and brought bassist Sami "Coma" Kettunen (WARCEREMONY) along to the rehearsals. For more information visit www.e-xplosives.fi
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
OBSCURA has posted a second preview track, ‘Vortex Omnivium’, from their forthcoming album "Omnivium" online now at Metalinjection.net. The band had previously already posted the album opener ‘Septuagint’ via the band’s official myspace and facebook pages. "Omnivium", the follow-up to the band’s "Cosmogenesis" album, will see its international release on April 04, 2011 on CD, double LP and digitally. Two versions of the CD are available for pre-order now including the standard and limited deluxe version that comes in a digipak with extra bonus track, embroidered OBSCURA patch, guitar pick, and an album cover sticker. More information on the deluxe version can be found here. A deluxe digital edition is also available now via iTunes that includes a bonus track and digital booklet. The "Omnivium" artwork was designed and laid out by Orion Landau (DYING FETUS, HIGH ON FIRE, ORIGIN) and can be seen in detail at this location. Additionally, OBSCURA has announced their first tour in support of "Omnivium" will be a four-week European tour alongside HATE ETERNAL, BENEATH THE MASSACRE and more. This tour kicks-off in late April and includes a performance on the annual Neurotic Deathfest in Tilburg, Netherlands on April 30, 2011 and follows OBSCURA’s first hometown show in four years on March 06, 2011 in Landshut, Germany.
In May 2011 KRISIUN, will return to Stage-One Studios in Bühne, Germany, to begin the recording of their 8th full-length release. The album will be produced once again by their long time friend and producer Andy Classen, who previously worked with the band on the albums "Conquerors Of Armageddon" (1999), "AssasiNation" (2005) and "Southern Storm" (2008). The album is tentatively due in the fall 2011. Shortly after the recordings, KRISIUN will kick off their European Summer tour in Austria at the Metalfest on May 27, 2011. During the summer months, the band will be playing a number of open air festivals and club gigs all over Europe and will be appearing at some of the most renowned European Metal festivals like Hellfest (France), Deathfeast (Germany), GDL (Portugal), Metalfest (Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary), Gahlen Moscht Festival (Germany) and more dates in Italy, Holla, Pola, Belgium. On the first part of their massive touring schedule the band will join forces with KATAKLYSM, and for the second part they will team up with. The band will be playing some of the new stuff off the new album, to give fans a taste of what’s about to come. More dates and news will soon be announced.
TRIPTYKON‘s Tom Gabriel Warrior has recently been announced to present an exhibition of his selected art as part of the Inferno Metal Festival in Lausanne, Switzerland starting on February 25, 2011. The exhibition for his "Death Mask Project" is entitled "Antecedent Death – The Aesthetics of Mortality", will take place at Lausanne’s "Uniquement Votre" (www.uniquementvotre.ch) and promises to be a very special way to enhance the festival’s atmosphere, while bands like ENSLAVED, ROTTING CHRIST, WATAIN, SHINING or NEGURA BUNGET will be performing live shows at "Les Docks" during the first Swiss edition of the Inferno Metal Festival. More information about the festival can be found here. TRIPTYKON’s video clip for the title track of their latest EP release, ‘Shatter’, is based on a concept devised by Tom Gabriel Warrior and directed and filmed by Philipp Hirsch of Film-M (www.film-m.de) and can be seen here.
Cyclone Empire has set April 15, 2011 as the release-date for "Death Infernal", the third full-length by Sweden’s DEMONICAL. The album will be released as a limited digipak CD, regular CD and limited LP. Once again the band recorded at Necromorbus Studios with vocalist Mr. Sverker Widgren behind the knobs. The album will feature eleven tracks, including a cover by Emperor. The full tracklisting reads like this: ‘The Arrival Of Armageddon’, ‘Return In Flesh’, ‘Black Inferno’, ‘Ravenous’, ‘March For Victory’, ‘Through Hellfire’, ‘All Will Perish (The Final Liberation)’, ‘Slain Warriors’, ‘Darkness Awaits’, ‘From Northern Shores’ and ‘Night Of The Graveless Souls’ (the latter two are bonus tracks on the digipak and vinyl versions). The track ‘March For Victory’ can be streamed as a "pre-video" and MP3 here. More DEMONICAL info at www.myspace.com/thedemonicalhorde
DECAPITATED are currently at Radio Gdansk Studio in Poland recording their Nuclear Blast debut and follow-up to 2006’s "Organic Hallucinosis". The band’s fifth studio album is being produced by Wacek Kieltyka and sound engineered by Malta Arkadiusz Malczewski. Drums have been recorded with Daniel Bergstrand (BEHEMOTH, MESHUGGAH, DIMMU BORGIR, KEEP OF KALESSIN, DEFLESHED), who is also handling mixing duties.
Legendary British Occult Metal Act HELL will release the first single from their forthcoming album "Human Remains" (out on Nuclear Blast, May 13, 2011). Entitled "Save Us From Those Who Would Save Us", the track is the new album recording of the bands original single released in 1983. The single will contain the tracks ‘Save Us From Those Who Would Save Us’ and on the B-Side ‘On Earth As It Is In Hell’, for which the band recently shot a video with director Kristian Havard of Visual Concepts UK. The single will be released digitally and on picture vinyl, limited to 666 copies, on March 04, 2011. The band also launched a new website at www.hell-metal.com
The next acts for the NEUROTIC DEATHFEST line-up are BENIGHTED, BIRDFLESH, BLOOD RED THRONE and INCANTATION. Unfortunately General Surgery had to cancel their appearance, as they stepped off the planned tour with Macabre. BIRDFLESH is their replacement. This leaves us with one more very special act to be announced soon. www.neuroticdeathfest.com
Sweden’s Death Metallers FERAL will release their debut full-length "Dragged To The Altar" through Ibex Moon Records on April 26, 2011. It is the follow up to their 2009 EP, "Welcome To The Graveyard". Footage of FERAL in the studio can be found at this location and the video for ‘Welcome To The Graveyard’ here. The tracklist of the album reads like this: ‘Once Inside The Tomb’, ‘Altar Of Necromancy’, ‘Judas’, ‘Welcome To The Graveyard’, ‘Howling’, ‘The Deathbog’, ‘Graverobber’, ‘The Curse Of The Casket’, ‘Behead The Crucifix’, ‘Malevolent Summoning’ and ‘Outro’. In support of the album FERAL will join DEMONICAL, ARROGANZ and GLORIA MORTI (on selected dates) for the "Death Infernal Tour" across the European countryside this May. Vocalist Hook had this to say about it: "We are thrilled to hit the road with one of our favorite bands from Sweden right now, there is no doubt that we will have a complete blast with DEMONICAL and the rest of the line-up. We are also looking forward to finally get a chance to promote our album "Dragged To The Altar" that will be released before the tour. Europe should best prepare itself, because in early May we will open the gates and let the Death Metal flow!" You’ll find the dates here. All further info at www.myspace.com/feralswe
The recording session of the fifth, as of yet untitled, AZARATH album took place in January and February at Hertz Studio (VADER, BEHEMOTH, LOST SOUL). The music was composed and arranged by Inferno and Bart, while Necrosodom wrote all the lyrics. Some song titles are ‘Behold The Satan’s Sword’, ‘Under The Will Of The Lord’, ‘Deathstorms Raid The Earth’ and ‘Lucifer’s Rising’. The album will be released on June 06, 2011 by Witching Hour Productions. Recently AZARATH underwent some personal changes: Necrosodom (guitar and vocals) was replaced Bruno and the bass duties are now handled by P. Before the release of the full-length album Witching Hour will release an EP entitled "Holy Possession", which consists of the title track and a cover of DAMNATION’s ‘Rebel Souls’. It will be available as CD and 7" EP on April 10, 2011. The CD edition will be limited to 666 copies and the 7" EP to 333 copies (white vinyl with a metal sleeve, also containing a poster and badge). www.myspace.com/azarath666
Metal Swamp in co-operation with Tryzna Production will be releasing an EMPEROR tribute entitled "In Honour Of Icon E" later this year. The following bands will appear on it: TAAKE, HELHEIM, TROLL, HORNA, SETHERIAL, DEMONICAL, SALTUS, MESMERIZED, NECRODEATH, MIDNIGHT ODYSSEY, SILVA NIGRA, INFER, ANCESTRAL VOLKHVES and KARPATHIA. For more info or updates check out www.myspace.com/tryznaproduction or www.myspace.com/metalswamplabel
New Jersey based Death Metallers DISMA are currently in the studio recording their as of yet untitled debut full-length album for a late spring release through Canada’s Profound Lore Records. The album will feature a total of 8 tracks (old and new songs), while the artwork will once again be handled by artist and Swedish old school Death Metaller Ola Larsson. Furthermore two DISMA 7" EPs will be coming out soon as well: "The Manifestation" on Necroharmonic Recordss (featuring a track that will not be on the album) and a split 7" with Finnish Death Metallers WINTERWOLF. Again, the artwork for both 7"es will be done by Ola Larsson. For more info head to www.myspace.com/dismadeathmetal
Tarot Productions will be releasing "Merauderz Of The Monolith – The Omega Chapter", the debut album by Dutch Black Thrashers TYRANTZ EMPIRE. The CD was mixed and mastered at Andy La Rocque’s Sonic Train studio in Varberg, Sweden. The band just issued the following statement: "Our objective is to combine the classic warrior-like sound of Black Metal (era 1992) riffing with merciless Thrash assaults based around 21st century technology. Our lyrics and themes are bound by our surrender to dark energies of anti-cosmic, LSD driven rituals combined with patterns of chaos. This Black / Thrash conjuration will burn your skin, rape your soul and should take you deep into the sinister evolved regions of the human psyche." For more information visit www.myspace.com/tyrantzempire
IMPIETY have just released a three-song mini CD entitled "Advent Of…" through Pulverised Records. It was recorded, mixed and mastered at Music City Studios in Montebelluna, Italy on January 2011, while the cover artwork was designed and done by Thai artist Lord Sickness and the album layout by Polish artist Lord Perversor. The tracklist reads like this: ‘Advent Of The Nuclear Baphomet’, ‘Ave Satanas’ and ‘Blood Ritual Defamation’. More IMPIETY info at www.myspace.com/impietyofficial
DEMONICAL will head out on the "Death Infernal" headlining tour across Europe during May. Support will come from Swedish Death Metallers FERAL and German Black / Death Metallers ARROGANZ. GLORIA MORTI (Death Metal from Finland) will join as special guests on the first nine shows. The exact dates you’ll find here.
ROTTEN SOUND has debuted the video for ‘Hollow’, taken from their forthcoming album "Cursed", online now at the Decibel Magazine blog. It was directed by Casper Haugegaard for Jawbreaker Productions. ROTTEN SOUND has previously posted the live video for ‘Self’, also taken from "Cursed", online at this location. The ‘Self’ video was filmed by Rami Kallio at ROTTEN SOUND’s show at Vastavirta in Tampere, Finland. The video uses the album version of ‘Self’ that features guest vocals from VICTIMS’ Johan Eriksoon. "Cursed" will see its worldwide (excluding Finland) release on March 15th via Relapse Records on CD, LP and digitally. The CD is available for pre-order now at this location and a deluxe digital version that includes two bonus tracks and digital booklet is available for pre-order at iTunes. "Cursed", the follow-up to 2008’s "Cycles", was recorded at Nordic Audio Labs. Lyrically, the 16-track album is themed around the six curses of mankind. Additionally ROTTEN SOUND announced a headlining European tour in support of "Cursed" in April. This month-long tour will include TRAP THEM, GAZA, THE KANDIDATE and HAUST.