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The release of the new DEICIDE album "The Stench Of Redemption" was postponed to August 22, 2006, but they have released a US, UK and European iTunes EP appropriately named "The Stench Of Redemption (666) EP" featuring 2 tracks from the forthcoming full-length. It can be downloaded from the iTunes music store. DEICIDE is set to bring their ferocity back to the US in full support of "The Stench Of Redemption" in July. There are no European dates scheduled at present, but you can be sure they will be touring in Europe soon following the release of the new album.
Swedish ANATA made their US debut appearance at the Maryland Deathfest over the weekend of May 27 and 28. According to one audience member "Anata had a bigger audience than any other band; bigger than Vital Remains, bigger than Dismember and Necrophagist. The place was packed!" Vocalist and band mastermind Fredrik Schälin enthused: "The reactions from the crowd was great, both on stage and afterwards. Lots of photos of us were shot and albums signed. A lot of fans told us that we were the main reason for them going to the festival. Even some of the other bands (Neuraxis, Alarum) were thrilled to meet us. But this was of course mutual, both great bands… We were blown away!" The band’s new album, "The Conductor’s Departure" is due out via Wicked World on June 19.
HATE ETERNAL headlined The Garage in London on June 4 and recorded a special set that was filmed for a live DVD release, as yet untitled, and due out October this year. The DVD will include the full London set (Sunday 4th June), an in depth interview with the band filmed immediately post-gig, a documentary on the making of "I, Monarch", tour footage and all of the band’s promo videos including ‘Powers That Be’ and ‘I, Monarch’. Hate Eternal continue their tour in Europe until June 10. The band recently completed a US trek in support of Chimaira and Arch Enemy. The band’s current album, "I, Monarch" was the last to feature departed drummer Derek Roddy, who was replaced by Reno Kiilerich for the European tour.
Germany’s Death Metal horde FEARER have thrown in the towel because they weren’t able to find a suitable new drummer to replace Alf Kluge, who had left the band a while ago.
L.A. based Thrashers ANGER AS ART have completed the recording process of their next album for Old School Metal Records. "All we gotta do now is mix!" says main man Steve Gaines. "Chris Trent (producer) has done an amazing job – and we are excited about it". Entitled "Callous And Furor", the band is still aiming for a September 2006 release. The track listing is as follows: ‘Catharsis’, ‘Anger Is Rising’, ‘Bane Of My Existence’, ‘Gnashing Of Teeth’, ‘No Seed Of Mine’, ‘Callous And Furor’, ‘Watch Me Suffer (Watch Me Die)’, ‘Race For The War’, ‘Invaders From Within’, ‘All That Is Mine To Avenge’, ‘Self Destructing Man’, ‘HypoChrist’ and ‘Still I Hate’. Anger As Art will be celebrating the completion of recording by getting back out on the road for a couple of shows in San Francisco – both headlining dates. "It is our first time back to SF since Thrash Against Cancer. We will be playing different sets each night – with songs from each album. We have made a lot of friends in the bay area over the years with different bands, and invite each one of them out for a good time. Without sounding arrogant, the Bay Area will love this stuff!" says Gaines. For all further details check out www.angerasart.com.
This year’s WACKEN OPEN AIR is getting into the final planning stages. The line-up is more or less fixed, and the running order is set as well. While Thursday features the more traditional Metal or Rock bands, already Friday offers a couple of bands more than relevant to our readers, as we will witness the return of CELTIC FROST, whose reunion-album was a passionately debated item, the only German reunion-show of New York Hardcore / Thrash Legend CARNIVORE, as well as NEVERMORE or the Occult successor LEGION OF THE DAMNED. Saturday’s highlight will of course be – besides the performance of MORBID ANGEL with David Vincent – the return of EMPEROR whose Inferno Festival setlist looked very promising for all those who still consider their "In The Nightside Eclipse" / "Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk" era as milestones of music history. Some minor changes have happened to the parking and camping-system at the festival site. For more detailed news, please check our tourdates section and the official festival homepage: www.wacken.com
Two years after "Carved In Stigmata Wounds" – an album that has been celebrated by critics and fans alike – SECRETS OF THE MOON have finished recording "Antithesis" at Klangschmiede Studio E. This record will be released in autumn via Lupus Lounge. Comparing the new work to "Carved In Stigmata Wounds", sGolden explains: "The forthcoming album will indeed offer something totally different. Music-wise, these are the most intense and tight tracks we ever created. Spiritual darkness paired with a very progressive approach. The content of the songs is very direct, sometimes even perversely assaulting and desperate. A profession of loyalty to Death in perfection." Tracklist: ‘Nowhere’, ‘Versus’, ‘Ordinance’, ‘Confessions’, ‘Metamorphoses’, ‘Ghost’, ‘Seraphim Is Dead’, ‘Lucifer Speaks’ and ‘Exit’. The two songs that we already heard here at the VOICES HQ indeed promise a very unique and mature, yet totally dark and raw Black Metal album of superior writing and recording quality. Soundsamples can be found at www.prophecyproductions.de.
GOSPEL OF THE HORNS will enter Toyland Studios in Melbourne at the end of July to record their long awaited follow up to "A Call to Arms".
The new VULPECULA album "In Dusk Apparition" is finally out on Invictus Productions now. This is the final chapter in the VULPECULA saga and carries on the dark, occult, eerie feeling of the previous releases, "Phoenix Of The Creation" (7") and "Fons Immortalis" (EP).
The next release on Invictus Productions (www.invictusproductions.net) will be SPEARHEAD (UK) "Deathless Steel Command" on CD. For more info on the band head to www.spearhead.cjb.net.
USUD‘s sophomore release "Creator’s Sorcery" is available for download at this location www.usud.org.
RUFFIANS have signed a deal with Metal Heaven Records. The band split up in ’88 and then reunited in 2004 when invited to play Germany’s legendary Bang Your Head Festival. They have since released two re-releases and toured Europe last Fall. The band is currently recording their much anticipated album at Imperial Studios in Northern California. Look for a release date of October 2006. Current Line-up: Rich Wilde – vocals, Craig Behrhorst – guitar, Chris Atchison – guitar, Luke Bowman – drums and Tommy Sisco – bass. www.ruffians.org, www.myspace.com/ruffiansmetal
RESURRECTED have finally found a new drummer. His name is Hazim Fouad, he has played with the German Thrash Metal Band Skullbreaker for 4 years and will continue to do so. His statement to this matter: "I want to thank the guys of Resurrected for this great opportunity and I’m gladly looking forward to our further cooperation. I hope I can follow my predecessor’s footsteps and won’t disappoint any fan of the band!" Besides the work on "Endless Sea Of Loss" rapidly takes its course. The release date is planned for September / October through Morbid Records.
The release date of MELECHESH‘s "Emissaries" album had to be postponed. Here’s the official press statement from the band: "By now many are speculating as to why the new Melechesh album is not out yet. The release date was supposed to be sometime in May, but this date is postponed and Osmose Productions now aim to release the album sometime in early fall 2006, most probably September. The reason is attributed to an inadequate mixing of the album which led to an undesirable and a non presentable album sound. We all strongly feel and believe the mix Attie Bauw did was not good at all, hence we and Osmose Productions saw no way other than to delay the release and remix the album. We feel so passionate about this album and we are determined to deliver another landmark Mesopotamian Metal album defining new boundaries for Sumerian thrashing Black Metal. This album recording process was so demanding mentally and psychologically my doctor advised me to visit a psychiatric evaluation centre because I have become very unpredictable to say the least. Nevertheless, such issues occur and we are not the first band to go through this. The good news is the recording itself went good. The mixing duties are now handed to Dennis Koehne, the engineer that was involved in recording this album. As a matter of fact we are re-mixing the album as we speak. So we would like to thank all the hordes of supporters that are fervently awaiting this album… "Emissaries" won’t disappoint you!" – Ashmedi
Finnish Death Metallers NERLICH have inked deal with OSM Records. CEO Patrick Ramseier comments: "With much excitement we welcome Nerlich to the OSM family. Nerlich was formed in the Fall of 2003 and hails from Finland. The band plays old school skull-crushing Death Metal. Nerlich have just finished recording the album which will be titled "Defabricated Process". The record is scheduled to come out in December of 2006." The previous release of NERLICH, a split with DECOHERENCE (France) and GOROD / ex-GORGASM (France) is still available through Nihilistic Holocaust: http://site.voila.fr/nihilistic
Contributors needed! VOICES FROM THE DARKSIDE is still in need of reliable people who are interested to help us out with reviews on a regular base. It would be really helpful if you would be located in Germany (so that we can easily forward promos to you) and if you already have run a zine on your own or contributed to one (not necessary though). You should furthermore be able to write the reviews in english and of course not lack the necessary knowledge in the extreme underground. Interested? Then contact us!
Here’s a little studio update from the recordings of the new ANGER AS ART album: "Tracking for "Callous And Furor" is coming along really well. Most of the tracking is complete, and we hope to wrap on tracking in the next 2 weeks, and move on to mixing. CD Artwork and a track listing will be posted very soon. We are still on target for a September release. We are working on some special stuff to include that will make this a must have CD. Go to www.osmrecords.net for more CD information", says Steve Gaines.