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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’.
Chris Reifert (AUTOPSY, ABSCESS, DEATH, THE RAVENOUS) has contributed a foreword to the upcoming 744-page hardcover book METALION: THE SLAYER MAG DIARIES, by Jon Kristiansen. Reifert’s connection to the Norwegian Slayer Mag dates to the late 1980s, when he and Kristiansen regularly exchanged demo cassettes and handwritten letters through the mail between California and Norway. "Ask anyone who was around and into underground Metal way back when", begins Reifert, "and they will certainly mention Slayer Mag when discussing classic deathly literature… as you read it, I think you’ll enjoy being transported back in time to the early years of Death Metal." 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 book will be available June 06, 2011, wherever books are sold, and is available for preorder now with two bonus limited patches from www.bazillionpoints.com. More info at www.metalionbook.com
‘Iron Doctrine Of The Antichrist’, a new track taken from the upcoming "Path Of The Inverted Trinity" 7" EP (to be released by Hells Headbangers), has just been uploaded to the IMPIOUS BAPTISM website. J. is currently working on the layout and will send all production parts to the label in the coming weeks. To download the track click here. The 2nd pressing of the "Seventh Seal of Abominable Extermination" Demo MMX is currently sold out, but a third pressing is in the works and will be available shortly. In the meantime you may check out the band’s current distributors for availability. A few shirts with the demo design are still available through the IMPIOUS BAPTISM website. Check the news page for ordering information. Additional info at www.myspace.com/impiousbaptism.
In April the first full-length album of MIASMAL from Sweden will be released on LP through Detest Records and Me Saco Un Ojo Records, while the CD version (including demo and 7" tracks) will be released through Dark Descent Records. A repress of the band’s 7" will also be released soon. In May / June this year, MIASMAL will tour the US. A track from the band’s first album is already available here. BONE SICKNESS from the US will open for them on some dates. BONE SICKNESS’ first 7" will be released through Detest Records within the next weeks.
STENCH OF DECAY and KRYPTS new 7" EPs will be available from Detest Records and Me Saco Un Ojo Records within the next hours. Both bands will also play live in Brussels on Friday 20 May.
The first demo tape of BEYOND will be released soon by Detest Records. The band hails from Germany and plays a raw mix of MORBID SAINT and DEATHSTRIKE.
In April, new 12" MLPs of NECROWRETCH and ATARAXY will be released by Detest Records and Me Saco Un Ojo Records.
Later this year, Detest Records and Me Saco Un Ojo Records will also release the debut full-length albums by SWALLOWED, KRYPTS and STENCH OF DECAY as well as a 12" featuring DISMA‘s 2010 critically acclaimed demo plus two new tracks. For all further info check out www.detestrecords.com
Spanish Death Metallers GRAVEYARD will be releasing a brand new mini CD entitled "The Altar Of Sculpted Skulls" through Pulverised Records, which will include 4 new tracks and 2 re-recorded old songs. GRAVEYARD was formed in 2007 and had since released the "Into The Mausoleum" EP and the debut full-length album "One With The Dead". "The Altar Of Scultped Skulls" was produced by GRAVEYARD guitarist J. Bastard and recorded, mixed and mastered at Moontower Studios. The cover artwork was supplied by Horror / Gore illustrator Matt Carr of Putrid Gore Art, who had previously worked with bands such as Autopsy, Impetigo, Hooded Menace, etc. The complete tracklisting reads like this: ‘The Altar Of Sculpted Skulls’, ‘An Epitaph Written In Blood’, ‘Deathcrowned’, ‘Cult Of The Shadows’, ‘Howl Of The Black Death’ (originally featured on split 7") and ‘Ritual’ (originally featured on the debut EP "Into The Mausoleum"). An official release date will be announced soon. For all further info check out www.myspace.com/graveyardofdoom
MORGOTH have been confirmed to appear at several Open Air Festivals in Germany, at Hellfest in France and two warm-up club shows in May 2011. You’ll find the dates here. The band’s setlist will mainly consist of songs from the "Cursed" album as well as some cuts from the classic 1989 / 1990 EPs "Resurrection Absurd" and "The Eternal Fall". The 2011 line-up is as follows: Marc Grewe – vocals, Harry Busse – guitar, Sebastian Swart – guitar, Thilo Mellies – bass and Marc Reign – drums.