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GRAVEHAMMER from Sweden have just signed with Detest Records from Belgium. The band is currently recording new songs which will appear on a 7" to be released in 2010. More news and samples are to be found on www.detestrecords.com and www.myspace.com/gravehammerswe
2009 saw the band’s 20th birthday and it also turned out to be a difficult year for DESASTER. After the cancelation of the Ostrava Festival and the show in Finland and the chaos prior to the 20 years – party gig (date, boat etc.), the band now had to cancel their appearance at this year’s edition of Metal Forces Festival in Lörrach / Germany. On their trip to Rome last weekend Sataniac had an accident and injured his knee. A cruciate rupture has meanwhile been diagnosed. At the moment he can’t move at all and so it’s impossible for him to enter the stage. The band feels really sorry for being unable to play in Lörrach and hopes to catch up on the show next year. For the show in Bamberg DESASTER have recruited their good friend Samme, the singer from the Swedish band Orcvius. The new DESASTER website will be re-launched soon. New merchandise, like zipped sweat jackets, longsleeves, zipped girly hoodies, sweaters as well as the 20 years box is still available. Check out www.total-desaster.com
"Human Decay", the second demo by Swedish old school Death Metallers ENTRAILS, is finished and ready to be shipped on December 04, 2009. It will be released in a strictly limited edition of only 50 original CD-R copies that are numbered 1-50. Those 50 copies can only be bought directly from the band. The price is: 80 Sek Sweden / 10 Euro Europe / 12 Euro Rest of the world (ppd. everywhere). You can already pre-order a copy now by sending an email to entrailsreborn@hotmail.com. A reply mail from ENTRAILS will let you know how to complete the purchase. The tracklist of "Human Decay" reads like this: ‘Dust To Dust’ (Intro), ‘Blood Red’, ‘Euthanasia’, ‘Evil Terror’, ‘Total Death’, ‘Human Decay’ and ‘Casket Garden’ (DISMEMBER cover). For more info on the band go to: www.myspace.com/entrailsreborn
Norwegian Black Metallers DEN SAAKALDTE have been signed by Pulverised Records. The band was founded by main songwriter / guitarist Sykelig (ex – Gorgoroth session guitar player) and also features Mikael Sykelig (ex – GORGOROTH) on guitars, Niklas "Kvarforth" Olsson (SHINING, SKITLIV) on vocals, Tor Risdal "Seidemann" Stavenes (1349, PANTHEON I) on bass and Jormungand (DØDHEIMSGARD) on synth and effects. The band recently announced a line-up change in the ranks, with drummer Jarle "Uruz" Byberg (ex-Shining, ex-Urgehal) leaving the band. Further details on the replacement of the new drummer will be made soon. DEN SAAKALDTE previously released their debut "Øl, Mørke Og Depresjon" (which translates to "Beer, Darkness And Depression") and also in early 2009 the depressive full-length effort "All Hail Pessimism", that eventually instituted the band a lot of positive rave reviews and exceptional attention worldwide. DEN SAAKALDTE’s forthcoming album and first with Pulverised Records, will be entitled as "Kapittel II: Faen I Helvete", scheduled for release Fall of 2010. In other DEN SAAKALDTE-related news, the band will be part of the "Skandinavisk Pessimisme Omringer Europa Tour" touring alongside Troll and Sargeist from March 2010 onwards. DEN SAAKALDTE will also make their appearance in the next year’s edition of the "Kings Of Black Metal Festival 2010" happening on 10th of April 2010 and "Barther Metal Open Air 2010" on 20th of August 2010. Last but not least, the re-release of "Øl, Mørke Og Depresjon" on digipak CD and gatefold LP and also the "All Hail Pessimism" on limited gatefold double LP are soon to be released. For more info go to www.myspace.com/densaakaldte
DÉTENTE have announce the addition of Tiina Teal as the band’s new vocalist. Here’s the offcial statement from the band: "Originally starting out behind the kit as a drummer, Tiina has been singing and screaming for the last 10 years. Having influences ranging from Jarboe to Nina Simone as well as Strapping Young Lad’s Devin Townsend, she’s collaborated with various musicians and bands in Los Angeles and won ‘Best Anti-War Band’ with her metal group, Burn The Empire. We have already put down 4 of the 9 new tracks with her and can tell you that both old and new supporters of the band will be blown away by her and the new tracks. Check back at www.detenterna.com and www.myspace.com/detenterna in the next few weeks for a sneak preview. "Decline" is coming along very well, taking longer than expected but it will be worth it; we should have an official street date announcement mid December. We want to thank Ann Boleyn for her help with the DÉTENTE reunion shows; it was great working with her and we wish her the best in everything she does."
Italy’s MORTUARY DRAPE have released a new double LP entitled "Secret Sudaria". It is strictly limited to 100 copies in white vinyl and comes with a special leather cover. Enclosed with the vinyl will be a very special metal pendant charm carrying The Drape insignia. You can check out more pics here. For ordering information contact info@mortuary13drape.com
ACHERON will be unveiling their new music video for the song ‘I Am Heathen’ (featured on their new album "The Final Conflict: Last Days Of God") on www.youtube.com this Saturday, November 21, 2009. It will also be posted on their official mypage page at www.myspace.com/acheron. This is the first professionally filmed music video the band has done in their 20 plus years of existence. Band frontman Vincent Crowley explains the concept behind the video: "The video is about embracing the life of being a Heathen. Many people struggle with what is wrong or right, good or evil. When they go against the norm, the guilt eats away at them. Heathens don’t have negative feeling about embracing their true nature. Temptation doesn’t weaken us because in the end we control it! Lots of the symbolism in the video shows just that." ACHERON filmed this video with Werner Videos Services and was directed by Aaron Werner. The video features the band line-up of Vincent Crowley, Kyle Severn, Max Otworth, Ash Thomas and special appearances by actress Madison Riley. This video will be featured on a free promotional DVD put out by the band. The DVD is over 90 minutes long and will contain the ‘I Am Heathen’ music video, an in depth band video documentary on "Making Final Conflict" (rare footage), video footage from their 2008 "December Damnation" mini-tour in Brazil and the complete "Satanic Supremacy" 3 song demo. This DVD is being given out for free to people who are buying the new "The Final Conflict: Last Days Of God" CD from the band or Ibex Moon Records. ACHERON will also be doing a dvd / video release show in Columbus, Ohio, on December 4, 2009. The show will be at The Summit, 2210 Summit St, Columbus, OH, with the bands DEAD SEA, INFERNAL DEATH and CARDIAC ARREST.
In 2010, Vic Records will release "Certain Corpses Never Decay", a compilation of the two EXPULSION demos "Cerebral Cessation" and "Veiled In The Mists Of Mystery", together with an unreleased 7" and a compilation-only track. EXPULSION is, however, not reunited. www.myspace.com/expulsionswe
Ukrainian Black Metallers BALFOR were recently invited to appear at the "Global East Festival" promotional party, which was held at the Bingo Club in Kiev, Ukraine on November 06, 2009. Manowar bass-player Joey Demaio was one of the special guests at the party, together with BALFOR and Ukrainian Power Metallers Conquest. The Global East Festival 2010 will be held on September 03 and 04, 2010 with Manowar being the headlining act. Other bands confirmed so far are Rotting Christ, Cemetary Of Scream and Preternatural. www.myspace.com/balforhorde
Dutch blackened Death / Thrash Metallers ONHEIL are celebrating their 10-year anniversary this month. Its members have been musically active longer but it was November 1999 when ONHEIL as a band name was chosen. The only original member Amok briefly comments: "Especially the first 7 years have been one chaotic hellride. Where bands usually grow and get more professional, we cared more about the alcohol, the women and the metalparties. Good times, but a bit too self-destructive hehe. But fuck, the band survived it all, got back on track in 2007 and now we are more focused than ever!" To celebrate the "10 years of ONHEIL" the band has launched a contest in which a price will be given away for each year of their existence. The first 9 winners will receive a signed copy of their latest work, "Razor" which has been released last May by German Record label Cyclone Empire. Besides the album, the tenth winner will receive a "Razor" T-Shirt or Girlie and a cool full discography package which includes: the "The Threat" mini CD from 2003, the "We Hebben De Hel Gezien" full-length demo CD from 2002 and a newly created copy of their "Sterf" demo CD from 1999 (all of these releases have been officially sold out for many years and are well sought-after items by metal collectors). Competing is easy: Email your answer to this question to contest@onheil.com: "To which album were you listening 10 years ago?" From the answers that are sent in, ONHEIL’s band members will choose their personal favorites and, from those, 10 winners will randomly be picked. The band already likes to add that SLIPKNOT, WILL SMITH and BRITNEY SPEARS will NOT be among the winning answers. Metalheads can send in their emails until the 31st of January 2010. ONHEIL’s video for ‘As Hope Dies’ shows a lot of footage that was filmed during the last 10 years. You can watch it here.
MIGHTIEST have just started working on new songs for a brand new album likely to be released sometime in the first half of 2010. The band is also booked for their first gig in 7 years. On October 16, 2010 they will be playing in Stuttgart at the Club Zentral together with the likes of DESASTER, NOCTURNAL and HELLISH CROSSFIRE.
GLORIA MORTI is entering the studio to record their third full-length album. The recordings of the album will be carried out in the same fashion as the last album "Eryx" by Juho Räihä in SoundSpiral studios. The recordings will start on November 21, 2009. There will be a studio diary online which will keep you up to date about the recording process. The working title of the album is "Anthems Of Annihilation" and it will contain ten tracks of the most diverse and crushing Gloria Morti material to date. "Anthems Of Annihilation" is a concept album about mankind making an irreversible mistake in trying to overcome all of its biggest problems. The storyline borders from a war between men and machines to the slavery and exploitation of a whole generation. The lyrical theme takes a stance on current problems and is a reminder of the stupidity of man. Some working titles of the tracks: ‘The Solution Called War’, ‘Awakening Of A Discordant Machine’, ‘Infiltration’, ‘Swallowed By Defeat’ and ‘Obey’. Besides that the band revealed that Jenni Kemppainen is no longer a part of Gloria Morti. The keyboard arrangements on "Anthems Of Annihilation" will be written and performed by their long time friend Lars Eikind (Producer on "Lifestream Corrosion", additional keyboard arrangements on "Eryx").
Bestial Invasion Records is a new label based in the Scottish Highlands and focused on releasing traditional Thrash / Death / Black / Speed / Heavy Metal. The first releases on the label will be DUNGEÖNHAMMER (FRA) / RUST (SWE) split 7"EP, SKULL FIST (CAN) CD, RIOTOR (CAN) LP. More info at www.myspace.com/bestialinvasionrecords
THE GROTESQUERY is the name of the second cooperation between Kam Lee and Rogga Johansson after BONE GNAWER. Kam and Rogga had several talks about creating a new band that would base its lyrical on stories by H.P. Lovecraft, Ambrose Bierce and Edgar Allan Poe and music highly influenced by the brutal style of early 90s Death Metal bands, with a touch of the avantgarde and an unorthodox and experimental feel. The band’s line-up is completed by bass player Johan Berglund (THIS HAVEN) and drummer Brynjar Helgeton (LIKLUKT). Their debut album will be called "Tales Of The Coffin Born" and is scheduled to be released on January 22, 2010 via Cyclone Empire. For more information check out www.myspace.com/thegrotesquery
"The Ones I Condemn", the new album by Canadian Thrashers SACRIFICE, will be released in Europe on January 22, 2010 through Cyclone Empire Records. The digipak edition also has one exclusive bonustrack. Here’s the complete tracklist: ‘We Will Prevail’, ‘The Ones I Condemn’, ‘Give Me Justice’, ‘The Great Wall’, ‘Tetragrammaton’, ‘Atrocity’, ‘Hiroshima’, ‘The Devil’s Martyr’ feat. Jed Simon (ZIMMERS HOLE, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and Dave Hewson (SLAUGHTER, STRAPPADO), ‘Ultimate Power Corrupts’ and ‘Desolation Alive’. Bonus tracks will be: ‘The Devil’s Martyr’ (Rob’s vocals), ‘Burned At The Stake’ (re-recording 2009), ‘The Entity’ (re-recording 2009), ‘Forever Enslaved’ (Live 2007), ‘Necronomicon’ (Live 2007) and ‘Soldiers Of Misfortune’ (Live 2007, exclusive European bonus track). For more info go to www.myspace.com/sacrificecanada
After just having re-released the classic NIRVANA 2002 recordings on CD Relapse Records will also re-release "World Without God", the debut full-length by Finnish Death Metal masters CONVULSE on CD. It will be out on January 19, 2010 and also feature the band’s demo and possible live tracks.
The tape version of the new ASCENDED EP "Temple Of Dark Offerings" will be out on November 25 through Detest Records. The label will also release a 12" version of the first KRYPTS demo "Open The Crypt" in co-operation with Me Saco Un Ojo Records (UK) within one and half months. MIASMAL’s first 7" EP is to be released through both companies in early 2010 as well. At the end of 2009 / early 2010 Detest Records will release PUTRID’s second demo tape. Furthermore a bunch of STENCH OF DECAY shirts will be available within one month. Some copies of STENCH OF DECAY’s 12" version of their second demo are still available from Detest Records and Me Saco Un Ojo Records. More info about the future of Detest Records is to be found on www.detestrecords.com
"The Depths Of Inhumanity", the debut full-length of Ventura, California’s FATALIST will be released on November 23, 2009 via Ibex Moon Records. It is the band’s follow up to 2007’s (and now sold out) "Loss" demo. Guitarist / vocalist Neil Burkdoll had this to say about the recording: "Well, three years in the making; it has been a long ass time. Our album "The Depths Of Inhumanity" is finally going to see the light of day on Nov 23, 2009. It is 11 songs of old school Death Metal that we hope you guys enjoy. We really tried to make each song stand alone from the others and have their own identity. We are happy as hell that the album is coming out on Ibex Moon as well. We really felt that we would fit nicely on the Ibex Moon roster and it was a great day when John agreed to talk to us about an album deal. Things went really smooth with the label and we hope to work with them again in the future."
HOD bassist Derrick Rivers will leave the band to focus his efforts on battling cancer. Vocalist Beer Reebs shares the following information about Rivers, as well as other HOD happenings: "Our original bassist Dirty Derrick has been battling cancer and thus far has been successful. However, he was recently informed that it had come back in his liver and possibly his lungs and will begin treatment for it again within a few weeks. He’s decided in the interest of his health, that he will be hanging up the bass to focus on taking care of himself. Although the band hates to see him go we all completely understand and support his decision to do so. His last performance with HOD will be this Saturday, November 14th, at The Goregrowler’s Ball 3 in San Antonio, TX at The Rock Bottom Tattoo Bar. Taking Dirty Derek’s place on the bludgeoning four strings will be Trans Am from the Austin, TX based Grindcore band, Pleasant Valley. His first live performance with HOD will be Saturday December 5th at Downtown Music in Littlerock, AR with Deadbird and Vore. In other HOD news, I’m pleased to announce that the band is four songs into the second full-length album and follow up to "Serpent". It is scheduled for recording in early 2010 and set to be recorded at Raging Steel Fury Studios in Austin, TX by Ignitor / Agony Column guitarist Stuart "Batlord" Lawrence. It is set to be mixed and mastered at Sweden’s Necromorbus Studios and released by Ibex Moon Records. Finally, 2010 also has some heavy show activity coming up. We have shows lined up with bands like Gravehill, Godless Rising, Blaspherian and legendary crossover band D.R.I., to name a few."
This just came in from ACHERON vocalist / bassist Vincent Crowley: "ACHERON has just returned from a long weekend with three shows in the Midwest. This was the first time ACHERON has ever played Chicago, Madison and Milwaukee (with the exception of Milwaukee Metal Fest).These three days of pure aggressive, satanic Death Metal were to support our upcoming November 23rd U.S. release of "The Final Conflict: Last Days Of God" on Ibex Moon Records. We would like to send out unholy praises to The Firewalk Group in Milwaukee, Viva La Muerte Productions in Chicago, and The NYDM for saving the show in Madison (no thanks to local douche bag Tom for almost fucking up the show). A big hails to Cardiac Arrest for supporting us this weekend, as well as all the bands that played and all the true Metal supporters."
Konqueror Records is looking for a label willing to re-release the self-titled CD by Italy’s old school Death Metallers ERODED on a one time limited pressing vinyl edition. Interested companies can contact Konqueror Records for further details through www.myspace.com/konquerorrecords