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SLAYER have recruited Gary Holt from EXODUS, to fill in temporarily for Jeff Hanneman who is currently recovering from a surgery. Holt will join Tom Araya, Kerry King and Dave Lombardo on their five-date Australian Soundwave Festival tour that begins February 26. Hanneman underwent emergency surgery on his right arm late last month after contracting a serious infection, possibly caused by a spider bite. He is now recuperating at home and is expected to make a full recovery. He will return to the SLAYER line-up as soon as he has fully recovered. While Hanneman’s doctors were not able to definitively identify the infection’s origin, they diagnosed necrotizing fasciitis, an infection caused by bacteria. According to WebMD, necrotizing fasciitis can destroy skin, fat, and the tissue covering the muscles. The disease sometimes is called "flesh-eating" bacteria. "Jeff is our brother, we’ve all been friends and together as a band for almost 30 years", said Araya, "so we just want him to completely recover as soon as possible." "After everything that happened last year", King added, "we all agreed that we just can’t let our fans down again", referring to Araya’s severe back and neck pain that prompted his January 2010 surgery, unfortunately leading to the band’s postponement or cancellation of numerous shows in 2009 and 2010. "Jeff is totally on board with this decision, so we will tour as planned. At this point, we can’t pinpoint exactly what day he’ll be back, but he’ll be back as soon as he possibly can. And we can’t wait for Jeff to get better and get his ass back on the road."
Spain’s AVULSED are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. During the first half of the year a total of 18 songs (taken from all their albums) will be re-recorded for a CD entitled "Fleshcube". Instead of just doing a compilation with the original recordings, the band decided to re-record all these songs with the current line-up, the current guitar sound (way heavier than before), their current drummer (who has empowered the playing of the songs) and in general, the usual modifications that each song suffers after being played for years and years. A special limited edition will be released, most probably a box containing a double CD, exclusive shirt, stickers, photos and other goodies, limited to the first ones to come, but it’s still undecided how it’ll be. AVULSED will also be presenting "Fleshcube" live after its release, planned sometime after the summer. They are furthermore working on new tunes for their 6th full-length album tentatively to be recorded in 2012 with the working title of "Ritual Zombi". In late 2010, AVULSED furthermore recorded a cover of BLACK SABBATH’s ‘Neon Knights’ for an upcoming double CD in tribute to Ronnie James Dio, including some of the most relevant Spanish Metal bands. AVULSED is the only Death Metal band on this compilation. For more details and new merchandise check out www.avulsed.com.
GOD DETHRONED have decided to split-up. Here’s an official statement from Henri: "2011 is GOD DETHRONED’s final year in existance. We could have spent another year in a tourbus because the amount of offers was endless, but I just don’t feel like touring anymore. People told me to take a break for a year or maybe two, but as I’m an "all, or nothing at all" type of person, I decided to call it quits. Not immediately, but in December of this year we will definitely play our last show. That’s gonna be at the Eindhoven Metal Meeting in Holland. I’m very proud of what we achieved with the band, but the time has come for new challenges. I would like to thank all of our fans for their support for all these years."
In June 2010, CORONER eventually decided to reunite and play at the next year’s installments of Hellfest Summer Open Air and Maryland Death Fest. The band was asked if they were planning to write a new album. Guitarist Tommy Vetterli replied, "you know, making a new album is kind of difficult… well, you never know. Maybe after four or five shows we’ll get into it and say, ‘Hey! Let’s do an album!’ Nobody knows what’s going to happen. We don’t have a master plan."
United Guttural Records will release VOLTURYON‘s second full-length album "Coordinated Mutilation" on February 25, 2011. The album was recorded at Black Lounge and Abyss Studio by Jonas Kjellgren (Carnal Forge, Scar Symmetry, Centinex). The artwork comes from Polish artist Lukasz Jaszak who is known for his previous works, which include the Lords of Chaos book cover and album covers from artists like Blood Red Throne and Witchmaster. Here’s the complete tracklist: ‘Bloodsoaked Solution’, ‘Savage Gluttony’, ‘Eight Corner Of Slaughter’, ‘Euphoria Through Execution’, ‘Ravaged’, ‘Coordinated Mutilation’, ‘Abide Under Eminence’, ‘Sadistic Molestation’, ‘Sanguinolency’ and ‘Intense Convulsions’. Samples can be heard at www.myspace.com/volturyon. To celebrate the album release VOLTURYON will be hosting a release party in their hometown of Falun at Club Hellmer. The event will be limited to 80 pre-sold tickets that include entrance to the party, a copy of the new album and food. There will also be a lottery held with several prizes, including a chance to win a ticket to a local festival Rockstad Falun (www.rockstadfalun.se). For tickets and more info regarding pre-sales please visit www.volturyon.net or email the band booking@volturyon.net. Supporting VOLTURYON at the gig will be fellow Swedes IKHON (www.myspace.com/ikhonmusic).
The latest additions to the billing of the PARTY.SAN OPEN AIR FESTIVAL 2011 include DEW-SCENTED, ABSU, PUTERAEON, ABORTED, WITCHBURNER, SKELETONWITCH, DECAPITATED, DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT and URGEHAL. www.party-san.de
"777 – Sect(s)", BLUT AUS NORD‘s follow-up of "Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue With The Stars" album from 2009 will be released via Debemur Morti Productions on April 18, 2011. www.blutausnord.com
Australia’s Black / Thrashers ASSAULTER have just completed their second full-length "Boundless", the follow-up to 2008’s "Salvation Like Destruction". Here’s the complete tracklist: ‘Entrance’, ‘Outshine’, ‘Into Submission’, ‘Slave To King’, ‘The Perpetual War’, ‘Exalt The Master’, ‘Dying Day’ and ‘The Great Subterfuge’. The album will be released as a digipak CD on Alan Nemtheanga’s Poison Tongue Records through Metal Blade Records on March 11, 2011 in Europe. More info at www.myspace.com/burningfront, www.foadrecords.it
MASTER will be on a U.S. headlining tour next month, starting on March 01 in Fredrick, Maryland and coming to a close on April 03 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band will be joined by Los Angeles Black Metallers Lightning Swords Of Death and Ohio Thrashers Mobile Deathcamp. Paul Speckmann commented the tour like this: "Looking forward to bringing MASTER Metal back to the USA and sharing a few new tracks from "The Human Machine" as well as playing the classics once again for you! MASTER guitarist Alex Nejezchleba and Peter Bajci from the Czech Republic will be joining me on the American trek. MASTER your own Destiny." MASTER released their tenth studio album, "The Human Machine", last May via Singapore’s Pulverised Records.
Around 1984 / 1985 an Italian Black / Thrash band called GHOSTRIDER released some demos and split-up shortly after. Out of their ashes NECRODEATH was born… Now, beginning of 2011, GHOSTRIDER have returned to the scene. 11 new studio songs, including revisited versions of their 1984 classics ‘The Exorcist’, ‘Curse Of Valle Christi’, ‘Doomed To Serve The Devil’, ‘Victims Of Necromancy’, as well as some brand new tracks and a cover of ONSLAUGHT’s classic ‘Power From Hell’ were recorded for their debut full-length album "The Return Of The Ghost" which was just released through F.O.A.D. Records. Musically GHOSTRIDER is supposed to be for fans of VENOM, HELLHAMMER, early BATHORY, early SODOM, early KREATOR or early NECRODEATH. A promotional video can be watched here. For all further information go to February 06, 2011MASTER will be on a U.S. headlining tour next month, starting on March 01 in Fredrick, Maryland and coming to a close on April 03 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band will be joined by Los Angeles Black Metallers Lightning Swords Of Death and Ohio Thrashers Mobile Deathcamp. Paul Speckmann commented the tour like this: "Looking forward to bringing MASTER Metal back to the USA and sharing a few new tracks from "The Human Machine" as well as playing the classics once again for you! MASTER guitarist Alex Nejezchleba and Peter Bajci from the Czech Republic will be joining me on the American trek. MASTER your own Destiny." MASTER released their tenth studio album, "The Human Machine", last May via Singapore’s Pulverised Records.
Peaceville Records will re-release some classic albums in early 2011, including GEHENNA‘s "WW" (+ 3 bonus tracks) on February 28, DARKTHRONE‘s "Total Death" (plus bonus track and extra commentary disc) on March 14, DODHEIMSGARD (DHG)‘s "666 International" and the split album THORNS V EMPEROR (+ bonus tracks) on March 21 as well as BEHEMOTH‘s "Demigod" album as a CD / DVD with deluxe packaging on March 28.
On April 29 & 30, 2011 the NEUROTIC DEATHFEST will once again take place at Tilburg’s 013 club. Earlier on the organisation already confirmed heavyweights such as AT THE GATES, AUTOPSY, ATHEIST, EXHUMED, HATE ETERNAL, MISERY INDEX and DECAPITATED. This time another seven names are confirmed, including OBITUARY, MASTER and AEON. Other newly confirmed bands are AEON, BENEATH, CEREBRAL BORE, SOUTHWICKED and VISCERA TRAIL. There will be a total of 42 bands set to appear, meaning there are still 9 bands to be announced, which will happen very soon. Keep checking www.neuroticdeathfest.com and www.013.nl for program updates as well as other updates.
This March, Dark Descent Records will release an LP featuring newly recorded ADVERSARIAL material along with the original "Thralls" demo material (released by Blood Harvest in 2008). This LP / CD will be titled "Prophetic Plain Of Abyssal Revelation" and will contain the three "Thralls" demo tracks in their original recorded state, two unreleased tracks and two cover songs. The two cover tracks are INCANTATION’s ‘A Once Holy Throne’ and ARCHGOAT’s ‘The Light Devouring Darkness’, which can be heard by visiting this location. The full tracklisting reads like this: ‘Scourge Of A World Ablaze’, ‘A Hatred Tempered And Trialed’, ‘Thralls’, ‘Prophetic Plain Of Abyssal Revelation’, ‘Impending Eternal Blackness’, The Light Devouring Darkness’ (ARCHGOAT cover) and ‘A Once Holy Throne’ (INCANTATION cover). More info at www.myspace.com/adversarialmusic
Holland’s PENTACLE and LA, California’s SADISTIC INTENT will both record brand new material for an upcoming split release on Iron Pegasus Records, to be released sometime in 2011.
Finnish old school Thrashers BLOODRIDE are going to release their debut album titled "Crowned In Hell" through Violent Journey Records on March 23, 2011. The album was recorded and mixed at D-Studios by Tonmi Lillman and the cover art was done by Jan "Örkki" Yrlund from Darkgrove Design. Tapio Wilska (SURVIVORS ZERO, ex – FINTROLL) lended his voice to couple of tracks. More info and sound samples at www.myspace.com/bloodride666
The fourth full-length album, "The Van Murders", by Sweden’s old school Death Metal machine RIBSPREADER will be released on April 25, 2011 through Vic Records. Band leader Rogga expressed it as: "Dirty simple old school Death Metal, no frills and lots of chills." RIBSPREADER is one of Rogga Johansson longest lasting bands and "The Van Murders" is a concept album about two killers named The Cleaner and Mr Filth. The cover art was done by Turkka Rantanen (THE GROTESQUERY, DEMILECH, DEMIURG) and the album was mixed / mastered by Patrick Bruss (IMPETIGO, DETERIOROT) at the Filth Chamber in Denver, Colorado, USA, who also performed lead guitars on this album. One of the new songs, ‘Cadaver Disposal’, can already be checked out at RIBSPREADER’s official MySpace page www.myspace.com/ribspreaderofficial.
"Death Meditations", the third full-length album by Swedish Black / Death Metallers TORCHBEARER will also be released by Vic Records on April 25, 2011. The bad was formed by Christian Älvestam (ex – Scar Symmetry) in 2003 and released two albums so far (on Metal Blade and Regain Records). "Death Meditations" was produced by Plec Johansson (WATAIN, SCAR SYMMETRY, SOLUTION .45, MISERATION), the album’s artwork was done by Pär Olofsson (IMMORTAL, IMMOLATION, MALEVOLENT CREATION). Here’s a statement from Christian Älvestam: "For me "Death Meditations" represents everything that is TORCHBEARER – Speed! Power! Melody! Aggression! All wrapped up in a striking production and marked by the philosophy of Hagakure! To me "Death Meditations" is the ultimate TORCHBEARER experience – so far!" "Death Meditations" is a concept album based on the philosophy of Hagakure – the way of the samurai. It’s not about samurai warriors though. It’s about the thoughts and ideas portrayed in the book Hagakure. A true philosophy of life. ‘Coffin-Shaped Heart’ – a brand new song, from the album can be heard exclusively at the band’s Facebook page.
Serbian blackened Death Metallers BANE have announced that they will be joining SVART CROWN for the ‘Black The Balkans’ European tour this March in support of their full-length debut "Chaos, Darkness, Emptiness". The tour includes two dates with Bulgarian Black Metal outfit DIMHOLT. The band will be announcing a new line-up in the near future. You find the dates here. "Chaos, Darkness, Emptiness" will be released on digi-CD this month via Abyss Records. Guest appearances include Jb of Svart Crown, Deimoz of The Revenge Project and Nocturnal of Shadowdream. The Abyss Records version will also feature a cover of DARK FUNERAL’s ‘The Dawn No More Rises’. www.myspace.com/baneband
US Black Metallers SHROUD OF DESPONDENCY have made the 11+ minute song ‘To Glisten In All The Colors Of Distress’ available for streaming at this location. It is taken from their upcoming new album "Dark Meditations In Monastic Seclusion", to be released on February 12, 2011. The band’s musical influences include King Crimson, Death In June, Emperor, Darkthrone, Kate Bush, Immolation, Agalloch, Dawn, Neurosis, Morbid Angel and many others. More info at www.myspace.com/shroudofdespondency