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Former CRIMSON GLORY frontman Midnight (real name: John Patrick Jr. McDonald) passed away earlier today (Wednesday, July 8) from "total kidney and liver failure." He was 47 years old. According to JON OLIVA’S PAIN guitarist Matt LaPorte, who played on some of Midnight’s recent solo recordings, the singer spent his final hours surrounded by his mother, brother, daughter as well as members of CRIMSON GLORY, SAVATAGE, and JON OLIVA’S PAIN. His death occurred at 3:45 a.m EST at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Rest in peace John!
The album artwork and final tracklisting for "Unborn Again", the latest and much anticipated album by reunited New Jersey Thrashers WHIPLASH are now revealed. The tracklisting reads as follows: ‘Swallow The Slaughter’, ‘Snuff’, ‘Firewater’, ‘Float Face Down’, Fight Or Flight’, ‘Pitbulls In The Playground’, ‘Parade Of Two Legs’, ‘Hook In Mouth’, ‘I’ve Got The Fire’ and ‘Feeding Frenzy’. With the album cover created by the legendary master of Thrash Metal artist Ed Repka (Death, Atheist, Megadeth, Nuclear Assault, Possessed, etc), "Unborn Again" will be released exclusively in digipak format. A later release date will be set for the digipak CD + DVD format, which documents the visuals of behind-the-scenes and the making-of of "Unborn Again". For more info check out www.myspace.com/whiplashusa
Arkansas’ underground legends VORE have announced the reissue of their first two releases, "Lord Of Storms" (2001) and "Dead King’s Eyes" (1997) together on one CD. The out-of-print discs have been re-mastered by Colin Davis and come packaged in a six-panel digipak featuring the original artwork as well as an additional lyrics insert. The first fifty fans to order the disc will also receive a numbered copy of the band’s comic book, To Be A God, signed by artist Terry Thielen. Visit www.vore.org or www.myspace.com/vorefare to place your order. The tracks are also available on i-Tunes.
Swedish cult Black Metallers THE BLACK (featuring members from TYRANT, ETERNAL DARKNESS and VINTERLAND) are back from the dead with a brandnew album entitled "Alongside Death". It was recorded, mixed and mastered at Studio Beast in Sweden by Peter Bjärgö (Tyrant, Arcana, Crypt Of Kerberos), while the cover artwork and layout was done by their very own D.F Bragman. The CD will be released in an exclusive glossy black jewel case format and it comes with a gold-coloured sticker and obi-strip with track-listing included. You can order it directly from Pulverised Records: www.pulverised.net/shop.asp
"Feast Of Flesh" is the title of the debut full-length by Gore / Horror Death Metal butchers BONE GNAWER. The band features Kam Lee (Massacre / ex-Denial Fiend / ex-Mantas / Death), Rogga Johansson (Paganizer / Demiurg / Ribspreader, etc), Morgan Lie from Swedish Black Metal act Naglfar and Ronnie Bjornstrom (Ribspreader, Hate Ammo, etc), as well as Killjoy of Necrophagia and Dopi from Machetazo contributing guest vocals. The album cover artwork was done by Headsplit Design (Unearthed, Circle Of Dead Children, Whitechapel, etc) and the digipak layout by Mark Riddick (Arsis, Hypocrisy, Kataklysm, etc). "Feast Of Flesh" was mixed and mastered by Ronnie Bjornstrom at Enhanced Audio Productions, Sweden.
Three years after the debut full-length and a mini-album in between, Sweden’s MY OWN GRAVE return with their second effort "Necrology". The production duties were handled by Dan Swanö at Unisound, Sweden and the album artwork was supplied by illustrator / tattooist Jon Zig (Suffocation, Deeds Of Flesh, Sinister, etc). "When I hear albums like this, it makes me proud to be a part of the Swedeath phenomenon. Great songs with well-crafted hooks and a musicianship to die for. The perfect blend between old school and modern Death Fucking Metal!!" – Dan Swanö / Unisound
Swedish SANCTIFICATION‘s "Black Reign" album features Hypocrisy’s Peter Tägtgren and Dark Funeral frontman Emperor Magus Caligula on guest vocals. It was recorded at the Abyss Studio by Tommy Tägtgren, while the mixing and mastering was done by Hypocrisy / Pain frontman Peter Tägtgren.
Australian Black Metallers PESTILENTIAL SHADOWS recently inked a worldwide deal with Pulverised Records for their latest opus "In Memoriam, Ill Omen". The already-completed and released third full-length effort features some of Aussie’s most prominent musicans from Nazxul, Rift, Illium, etc. Recorded and mixed by Balam and mastered by D.Backovic with old school artwork and layout by Balam.
Reunited New Jersey Thrashers WHIPLASH recently played a headlining show at Italy’s Hellbrigade Festival 2009, along with other acts such as Artillery, Brain Dead, Adimiron, Methedras, etc. Two WHIPLASH live footages were captured at the festival, playing the old classics "The Burning Of Atlanta" and "Spiral Of Violence".
In September Detest Records will re-release STENCH OF DECAY‘s "Where Death And Decay Reign" demo tape on 12" (in collaboration with a soon to be created new label). It will feature brand new artwork and can already be pre-ordered through www.detestrecords.com
MIASMAL‘s Demo 2008 12" re-release should be available in early August. This limited 12" will only be available from both labels (Detest Records and Nuclear War Now! Prodoctions).
After years of unavailability MONUMENTUM‘s classic album "In Absentia Christi" is being reissued via Displeased Records. It will be completely remastered and includes a bonus track plus redone artwork and layout by Roberto Mammarella. The release date is still to be confirmed.
Norwegian Epic Viking Black Metallers MISTUR have been joined by ex-WINDIR guitarist Strom. In September 2008 the band recorded their debut album "Attende" in Norway’s Akkerhaugen Studios. The album was produced by Thorbjorn Akkerhaugen, who has already assisted EMPEROR and WINDIR in creating their epic walls of sound. The album cover was designed by Belgian Kris Verwimp, who went a step further by painting the artwork in oil. "Attende" will be released in close cooperation with Einheit Produktionen and the release date will be 29 August 2009. More info: www.mistur.no
VILE have just finished recording the vocals for their new album. The band still has to figure out the label situation, but they are hoping to have the album released at least in a limited way in fall with a full world-wide release soon afterwards. A European tour is planned for the spring of 2010 with a U.S. tour to follow. More info and updates at www.myspace.com/vile
Here’s an official press release from the organizers of Germany’s SUFFERING LIFE FESTIVAL: "From June 25th to 28th Germany’s Metalheads are heading to Wachenroth / Bavaria to join the Suffering Life Festival. This is Bavaria’s cosyest Festival from fans for fans. For just 27 Euro you’ll get a lot of great bands from allover the world. Delicious beer, good food and a Metal market complete the party. So don’t hesitate and be part of this nice spectacle. CU there, Andy." The complete billing reads as follows: VADER, DESTRUCTION, ENDSTILLE, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, PETER PAN SPEEDROCK, VOMITORY, HATESPHERE, ROMPEPROP, LENG TCH’E, THE NEW BLACK, AOK, BULLET MONKS, HACKNEYED, CRIPPER, HERETIC SOUL, DEFLORATION, RUNAMOK, PATHOLOGY STENCH, SILENT DECAY, ABSORB, PLANET BITCH and ONE BULLET LEFT. For more information check out www.sufferinglifefestival.com
HELLWITCH have posted the following news at their official myspace site www.myspace.com/hellwitch: "It is with great dismay that we announce the departure of long time drummer Joe "Witch" Schnessel from HELLWITCH. Joe Witch will be missed by the band and by thousands of maniacal fans across the globe. We wish him the best of luck on his journey. To any who would like to contact Joe Witch he has a personal myspace as well."
"Grey Rigorism", the new album by MERRIMACK, will be released in Europe on September 15, 2009 through Osmose Productions (in co-operation with Moribund Records) as a regular CD and a limited gatefold double LP. The track listing reads like this: ‘The Golden Door’, ‘Omniabsence’, ‘Kirjath-Ra’, ‘La Sainteté Du Mal’, ‘Cold Earth Mourning’, ‘Grey Rigorism’, ‘When The Stars Align’, ‘Désaveu’, ‘In The Halls Of White Death’ and ‘By Thy Grace’. For more info check out http://merrimack.satanslegions.com
MASTER will play Philadelphia’s Hostile City Death Fest to be held on July 4-5, 2009 at The Arena. MASTER will perform on July 5, 2009 with the likes of Absu, Total Fucking Destruction, Kult ov Azazel and GOREAPHOBIA. Ibex Moon label mates DREAMING DEAD will perform on July 4 with, among others, Deicide, Monstrosity, Vital Remains and Jungle Rot. Line-ups and festival information can be found at www.myspace.com/hostilecitydeathfest.