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Influential Heavy Metal journalist BOB MULDOWNEY died Monday, November 5 after a long battle with cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease). He was 44 years old. Muldowney was best known for his fanzine / magazine Kick Ass Monthly which helped expose, support and feature such bands as RAVEN, MOTÖRHEAD, VENOM, THE RODS, TANK, EXCITER and RIOT as well as burgeoning underground Thrash scene, giving, in some instances, the first coverage to SLAYER, MEGADETH, MEDIEVAL, OVERKILL and ANTHRAX. Muldowney was also one of the first journalists to expose the Death Metal scene in its infancy, giving early press to SODOM, HELLHAMMER / CELTIC FROST, DESTRUCTION and BATHORY. It was Bob’s love of true, honest Metal, which drove him to deliver a demo tape of a then-unknown California band called METALLICA into the hands of then – Rock’n’Roll Heaven store owner (and future Megaforce Records head honcho) Jonny Z – who was advertising with Kick Ass Monthly at the time. Bob’s brutally honest approach in his coverage helped Kick Ass Monthly develop a deep, loyal following who viewed his writings as "the Metal bible". However, financial and distribution difficulties overtook the magazine and the final issue of Kick Ass Monthly appeared in the fall of 1986. Prior to his passing, Muldowney and fellow Kick Ass Monthly writer Mike Hannon had begun work on a DVD history of Kick Ass Monthly magazine in collaboration with former OVERKILL drummer-turned-director Rat Skates. Muldowney and Hannon have also re-exposed the Kick Ass Monthly history on the official MySpace site www.myspace.com/officialkickassmag.
Nuclear Blast Records have started a big fundraising campaign for the family of DECAPITATED drummer Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka, who passed away on November 02, 2007. You will find all details at www.myspace.com/decapitated
The following news was posted on Blabbermouth today: Drummer Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka of the Polish extreme Metal band DECAPITATED passed away in a Russian hospital from injuries sustained in a recent road collision. He was 23 years old. Vitek and DECAPITATED singer Covan (real name: Adrian Kowanek) were hurt in an accident earlier in the week involving DECAPITATED’s tour bus and a truck carrying wood in Gomel, on the Russia/Belarus border. Both musicians reportedly sustained serious head injuries in the collision, which is believed to have been the fault of the band’s driver (although this has not yet been officially confirmed). According to the Polish Internet portal Onet.pl, Vitek underwent trepanation, a form of surgery in which a hole is drilled or scraped into the skull, and was due to be transported to a hospital in Krakow, Poland for further treatment. Covan’s family released a statement yesterday (Thursday, November 1) that the vocalist’s condition had improved. At the time, the vocalist was still said to be at a hospital in Novozybkov, Russia, where he and Vitek were taken following the accident.
Canada’s Metal legend ANVIL has a new album out, entitled "This Is Thirteen". The album was engineered by no other than Chris Tsangarides (who already worked with ANVIL on their two alltime classics "Metal On Metal" and "Forged In Fire" back in the 80s) and is currently only available through the band directly (http://my.tbaytel.net/tgallo/anvil/) in a limited edition of 1.000 handnumbered copies. When we contacted frontman Lips about the album he explained the situation like this: "There has been a Hollywood movie made about ANVIL and we are waiting to see the results before looking for a label. We don’t want to sell ourselves away before we know what kind of response the movie gets. You will love what Lars has to say about Anvil and particularly about Robb. Tom Araya of Slayer, Lemmy, Slash and Scott Ian have also wonderful comments about Anvil including out right admitions we were doing Speed Metal before they did… In the meantime we have self manufactured a short run of CDs that is only available from the band. They are limited edition and marked as such, meaning they will be worth more money later as there is only 1000 and most are sold."
DEW-SCENTED will embark on their next European tour in February of next year with SEVERE TORTURE from Holland and DESTINITY from France. The "European Devastation" Tour 2008 hits cities in France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Italy as well as Slovenia (see tourdates for the exact dates). Vocalist Leif has contributed some guest vocal features on the new releases by German Black Metallers HYEMS and Northern German Metallers DARK AGE.
German Death Metallers PURGATORY have just finished the studio work for their fifth album "Cultus Luciferi – The Splendour Of Chaos". The successor of "Luciferianism" was recorded in September 2007 in Halle / Saale and features guest appearances of Onielar (Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult), Martin van Drunen (ASPHYX / HAIL OF BULLETS) and Wannes Gubbels (Asphyx / Pentacle). Furthermore there will be a MORGOTH cover featuring original MORGOTH vocalist Marc Grewe. The release date is planned for December 2007.
LEGION OF THE DAMNED, SKYFORGER, KAMPFAR and INSISION are the first bands that have been confirmed for the 14th PARTY.SAN OPEN AIR. The festival will take place in Bad Berka, Germany on August 07 – 09, 2008. www.party-san.de
The new KATHAARSYS album "Verses In Vain" will be released in November. It was mastered by Peter Neuber (Callenish Circle, Dying Fetus, Haemorrhage) and features the following tracks: ‘Doomed In The Black Abyss’, ‘And All My Existence In Vain…’, ‘The Revenge Of The Old Spirit Will Never Arrive’, ‘The Dawn Leaves Pieces Of Rottenes’ and ‘In The Everlasting Misery’. The artwork was supplied by Kris Verwimp (Immortal, Marduk, Suidakra). For more info check out www.kathaarsys.com or www.myspace.com/kathaarsys
Dave Chedrick (ex HIRAX, DREAMS OF DAMNATION, GRAPHIC VIOLENCE) has joined ANGER AS ART taking over for Mars, who recently departed. Says founding member Steve Gaines: "Dave brings a wealth of experience and power to us we are stoked to have him as a member. We have known him and/or have performed with him for years and those of you who know of him know what an impact he will have on us, and this music." Chedrick’s first appearance with Anger As Art will be at the Northwest Death Fest in Seattle Washington on November 17. Anger As Art will honor a few more dates into January 2008, then enter pre-production for their 3rd album for Old School Metal Records due later in the year.
VENOM will play at the Atarfe Vega Rock Festival in Spain. The event will be hold at the "Coliseo Ciudad Atarfe", a modern covered Bullring. It’ll be a special show with fireworks. So far the following other acts have been confirmed as well (more to be announced soon): EXCITER, LIZZY BORDEN, BELLADONNA, GRAVE DIGGER, KATATONIA, MAYHEM, LACRIMOSA and MY DYING BRIDE. All bands will play on December 1st, 2007, in the city of Atarfe (11 km from Granada, Andalusia – Spain). Tickets are 45 Euros + issue expenses. For more info visit www.brmusic.net.
ETERNAL PAIN are currently working on their second full-length album. For regular updates check out www.myspace.com/eternalpain666
Displeased Records will reissue the first two DEATHROW albums "Satan’s Gift" (aka "Riders Of Doom") and "Raging Steel" from 1986 and ’87 respectively. Expect the usual Displeased treatment with bonus tracks and enhanced layout.
STRIBORG has just finished the making of "the one and only real Black Metal DVD. No flashy stage shows, no funny behind the scenes, no interviews. Only what Black Metal is all about; harsh raw music, eerie atmosphere and dark moody images." Sin Nanna made this video in the dark desolate forests of Tasmania.
Romania’s NEGURA BUNGET have been signed by Lupus Lounge. Among other things, Lupus Lounge will re-release "From Transylvanian Forests" as well as the albums "Zirnindu-Sa", "Maiastru Sfetnic" and "Sala Molksa" with extensive bonus material. The band is also planning a new recording of the album "Maiastru Sfetnic" featuring a traditional Transylvanian orchestra. Negura Bunget are going to fulfil their contract with the label Code666, but have voiced their trust in Lupus Lounge in that a contract on future releases after the cessation of the cooperation with Code666 has already been signed.
SADISTIK EXEKUTION‘s "Kaos" will be available for the very first time on 12" picture disc vinyl via Master’s Throne. The logo will be embossed golden foiled, the picture vinyl will come within a noble looking cover-jacket (inside out paper) and all copies will include a huge A1 poster. The die hard version will furthermore include a white shirt (S-XXL), a button (1 1/2 inch) and a patch of about 9×9 cm. Pictures and further information are to be found here: http://forum.mastersthrone.de/viewtopic.php?t=13
Master’s Throne have also announced a 12" gatefold vinyl LP of ACHERON‘s "Satanic Victory". The LP cover will come with special matt de luxe paper and lacquered printing of the logo and album-title. All copies will come with a huge A1 poster, while the die hard version will be in coloured vinyl and include a white shirt (S-XXL), a button (1 1/2 inch) and a patch of about 9×9 cm. Pictures and further information for this release are to be found here: http://forum.mastersthrone.de/viewtopic.php?t=28