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Jacques Belanger has once again quit EXCITER. Here’s the official statement from the band: "To all Exciter fans and supporters. For the the 3rd time in 10 years, Jacques Belanger has quit Exciter. Due to "differences of opinion" on many issues between Jacques and the rest of the band, he felt he could no longer continue as vocalist for Exciter. We are currently exploring our options but, we have, regretably, had to cancel shows in Europe, the USA and Canada that we had scheduled or been working on for this summer. The writing for the new CD is complete and we have 10 new songs to record, but we’ll have to find the voice to sing on these ripping new tracks first. Exciter would like to thank all the die-hard fans, throughout the globe, who have supported us for many years. The Exciter legacy will continue!"
To celebrate the release of their new album, NECROPHOBIC will hold a release party on Saturday, May 20, in Stockholm, Sweden at Tantogården. Check out their official website at www.necrophobic.net in the coming days for further details.
SECRETS OF THE MOON have finished recording their forthcoming album "Antithesis", scheduled for release in autumn 2006 via Lupus Lounge. At present, producer Markus Stock is busy mixing the album in Studio E.
NYC Thrashers SUN DESCENDS had to cancel their European tour due to allegations that were made toward Impaled Nazarene, stating that the band has Neo Fascist tendencies in their lyrics. Impaled Nazarene had to cancel the portion of their Euro tour that originally saw SUN DESCENDS supporting them along with MASTER. Mem: "This has been a very hard blow for the band psychologically and financially. However, we refuse to give up and we will try to come and play in Europe before this year is over. We deeply regret these circumstances and want to state this situation occurred without us being at fault. We started working on new material for the follow up to "Incinerating The Meek", and are even considering recording the new SUN DESCENDS album in Germany."
This week Kansas City’s only Death / Thrash Metal band ARES KINGDOM releases their new CD "Return To Dust" through NWN! Productions. Gatefold LPs will follow later in May and include a poster. Also, limited edition "Die Hard" picture discs will include a bonus 7" EP featuring the band’s acclaimed 1997 demo, poster and an embroidered patch. The band has also released a special edition gold bullion embroidered logo patch, available through their website. As a follow-up to January’s "Firestorm Redemption" 12", a second single entitled "Failsafe" will appear this summer and feature three non-LP bonus tracks – ‘Vultures In The Sky’ (originally recorded by L.A. Thrashers DÉTENTE in 1985), ‘Solis Lacus’ and ‘Imperium’, and other extras. In other news, vocalist Alex Blume has taken over bass duties and Doug Overbay has switched to rhythm guitars. The band is preparing for live assaults this summer. Guitarist Chuck Keller has written a special tribute to Quorthon for the book that will accompany the BATHORY – In Memory of Quorthon box set, and has been working with Boss and Black Mark on the book itself, set for release June 3rd – exactly two years to the day of Quorthon’s passing. For more info check out www.ares-kingdom.com or www.nwnprod.com
DENIAL FIEND is a new band from Tampa, Florida, featuring Kam Lee (ex – DEATH / MASSACRE) on vocals, Terry Butler (ex – DEATH / MASSACRE / SIX FEET UNDER) on bass, Curtis Beeson (NASTY SAVAGE) on drums and Sam Williams on guitar. Their April 23 rehearsal is available for download at this location.
SHINING have just published the following press release: "We have just returned from the "Razors Across Europe" tour we made throughout Europe. The ten ceremonies, and three emergency hospital visits, were more or less successful and we will soon return better and even more determined of your demise soon. We did face some real severe problems in Budapest though due to our drummer and had to cancell the show because of this however, we will be back shortly in order to fuck you up in a more sincere and professional way! We would like to thank foremost URGEHAL for coming along and prooving that there still are some genuine Black Metal bands out there not bowing for anyone or anything, and a massive thanks to my long time partner in crime Attila Cshair for helping us out in Budapest (without you, Ludwig would have probably been dead by now)… Some days ago we entered the caverns of Radio Halland in order to record our fifth studio album and if we manage to keep the time scheduele we have set this pernicious piece of malignancy should be finished and ready for release within 4 weeks. "V / Halmstad", will contain six tracks of the darkest, yet most controversial, material we have written to date! Tracklisting is as follows: ‘Yttligare Ett Steg Närmare Total Jävla Utfrysning’ (yet another step towards complete fucking desolation), ‘Längtar Bort Från Mitt Hjärta’ (longing away from my heart), ‘Låt Oss Ta Allt Från Varandra’ (let us take all from the one and the other), ‘Besvikelsens Dystra Monotoni’ (the dismal monotony of dissapointments), ‘Åttiosextusenfyrahundra’ (eightthousandfourhundered) and ‘Neka Morgondagen’ (deny the day of towmorrow). Apart from this we have also recorded a few additional tracks which will be used for an upcoming EP release, titled "Ett Steg I Helt Fel Riktning", which should be released sometime at the end of the year most likely featuring the video we’re currently making as bonus… For those still unaware, Casado left the band and have been replaced by Gråby (ex-ONDSKAPT) and John Doe, the king of SG and psychotic behaviour, by Huss. We wish him all the success with his future projects and performances. Kvarforth, on behalf of Halmstad Death Squadrons." www.shiningangst.se
HATE ETERNAL have posted the following message on their official website: "We wanted to let you all know we have finally secured European dates that will not get cancelled. We want to apologize to all our European fans for the delay and cancellations due to problems within the band. We are ecstatic about touring Europe and proud to announce Reno Kiilerich (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, DEW-SCENTED, VILE, PANZERCHRIST) as our drummer for this European tour. Reno has done tremendous things in the genre and we are very excited to welcome him to the fold. He will do an amazing job and we are very eager to tour together. Our USA tour with CHIMAIRA and ARCH ENEMY has been incredible, close to 1,000 people a night and has been one of the best tours we have ever done. Stand-in drummer Kevin Talley (ex-CHIMAIRA, MISERY INDEX) is doing an incredible job and tearing it up every night. We really feel rejuvenated and this tour has been truly amazing. Look forward to seeing you all out there soon!"
GEIST and MORTUUS INFRADAEMONI, two Black Metal acts from Germany, have been signed by Cold Dimensions. GEIST have just entered the studio to record their second album "Kainsmal" (the successor to their Solistitium debut "Patina"), which will be out in August 2006. MORTUUS INFRADAEMONI is a new, still unknown band which only released an unofficial rehearsal demo up to date. Their debut album is planned to be released in early summer 2006.
LUNAR AURORA are currently working on new material for their 8th album which will be recorded at the end of 2006 / beginning of 2007.
GRAUPEL will record material for an upcoming split – LP with ENDSTILLE soon. This LP will be released by the bands themselves. GRAUPEL is also already working on songs for their second album which will be released on Cold Dimensions again.
REGURGITATE have entered the studio to record an as-yet-untitled new full-length album, their fourth for Relapse Records. The quartet (Rikard Jansson – vocals, Urban Skytt (ex-NASUM) – guitars, Jocke Pettersson – drums, Glen Sykes – bass) have been writing and rehearsing over the past couple of months for their follow-up to 2003’s "Deviant". REGURGITATE vocalist Rikard Jansson promises the new album will sound "A bit rougher and not too polished. It is Grindcore after all." The band is looking to be done recording by April for an as-yet-unscheduled fall release.
According to Tartarean Desire, Ztephan Dark, band leader and founder of the Swedish Black Metal act SATANIC SLAUGHTER, has sadly passed away due to a serious heart condition.
VOIVOD have set July 25, 2006 as the North American release date (via The End Records) for their much-anticipated new album, "Katorz". The band has recorded and mixed the album with producer Glen Robinson (ANNIHILATOR, TEA PARTY, GWAR) at Multisons Studio in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and mastered the CD in New York. The follow-up to 2003’s "Voivod", "Katorz" is the first album in the band’s 20-plus-year career that did not feature founding guitarist Denis "Piggy" D’Amour working alongside his bandmembers in the studio. D’Amour died August 26, 2005 in a Montreal hospital from complications of advanced colon cancer. In order to record "Katorz", singer Denis "Snake" Belanger, drummer Michael "Away" Langevin, and bassist Jason "Jasonic" Newsted utilized all of the guitar parts that Piggy had recorded for the record on his laptop with ProTools before his death. In a recent interview with Greg Prato of Billboard.com, Langevin had the following to say about the upcoming CD: "It came about in unfortunate circumstances, but the result is mind-blowing. Right before his departure, Denis explained to me that he had recorded all the tracks that we had been working on with Jason and Snake for the past two years. He had recorded that on his laptop with ProTools, and even though he would have preferred to re-do the whole thing in a real studio, there was a chance that we could use the tracks. We built the album based on the guitar tracks, which was difficult, because normally, we go the other way around – we start with the drums, and then add stuff on top. But it sounds amazing." ""Katorz" means 14 – it’s the 14th effort of the band," Belanger added. "The first time Piggy put it together and gave us the demo was on CD (and he had written) "Katorz", which is not the right way to write it. Of course (there is) an emotional side to it, so we took the demo, and the design of it will be his handwriting." Check out the track ‘The X-Stream’, taken from the upcoming CD, in streaming audio format at MP3.com.
WITCHES, an old French Thrash / Death Metal band from the 80s / 90s is back! The band (composed of Sybille, sister of Alex from AGRESSOR, on guitar and vocals) is searching for musicians to complete the line- up. Email: witches@freesurf.fr
San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal band VIO-LENCE have completed work on their two-disc DVD, "Blood And Dirt", tentatively due later in the year via Megaforce. Produced and directed by Jerry Allen of Metallian Productions, "Blood And Dirt" is over three and a half hours long and contains "a ton of live footage spanning the band’s entire existence as well as a full-length documentary on the history of the band. Included on the documentary will be commentary by all the members of VIO-LENCE (going back to the DEATH PENALTY days) as well as comments by fellow Bay Area Thrashers EXODUS, DEATH ANGEL, FORBIDDEN and many others. You’ll also hear from Bay Area historians Ron Quintana and Walter Morgan, as well as legendary band manager Debbie Abono and many others including comments from VIO-LENCE fans themselves. Expect lots of rare, unreleased footage. This is a DVD for the fans, made by the fans." "Blood And Dirt" will include the following: Disc 1 – "Blood And Dirt": a 90-minute documentary on the history of VIO-LENCE. It includes all kinds of rare VIO-LENCE clips, photos as well as interviews with everyone who was in the band, friends, managers, other bands, fans etc. Disc 2 – "Thrash of the Titans" benefit concert in San Francisco, August 2001 (whole set): ‘Kill On Command’, ‘Eternal Nightmare’, ‘Serial Killer’, ‘Mentally Afflicted’, ‘Officer Nice’, ‘Phobophobia’, ‘World In A World’, ‘T.D.S.’ and ‘I Profit’. Slim’s in San Francisco – December 14, 2001 (half set): ‘Liquid Courage’, ‘Ageless Eyes’, ‘Calling In The Coroner’, ‘Subterfuge’, ‘Bodies On Bodies’ and ‘Paraplegic’. 420 Musik Conspiracy concert in San Francisco – April 19, 2003 (one song): ‘Gutterslut’. The Stone 1993 (one song): ‘Color Of Life’. Former VIO-LENCE and current MACHINE HEAD guitarist Phil Demmel recently announced that the upcoming DVD will serve as VIO-LENCE’s "final release and function as a band. There will be no more re-releases, reunions or re-anything. We had a blast writing and performing for you and once again, wholeheartedly, thank you all for it." Megaforce Records reissued VIO-LENCE’s classic debut album, "Eternal Nightmare", with a live bonus CD in June 2005. The bonus disc was recorded on December 14, 2001 at Slim’s in San Francisco and was mixed by Chris Hanson (TECHNOCRACY, THE SERVANTS, M.I.R.V., RIVERRED) of Redcar Lane Productions. VIO-LENCE’s lineup on "Eternal Nightmare" included vocalist Sean Killian, bassist Deen Dell, drummer Perry Strickland, and guitarists Phil Demmel and Robb Flynn (both now in MACHINE HEAD).
Jeff Elrod, better known as Tchort, formerly of MASOCHIST and WIND OF THE BLACK MOUNTAINS, has passed away on March 23, 2006. Rest in peace buddy!
Neurotic Records have signed New Zealand based technical Death Metallers ULCERATE. The band’s debut album, tentatively titled "Of Fracture And Failure", which has been recorded and is currently in mixing stages, will be released around Summer 2006. A definite release date will be decided on soon and one or two MP3 songs from the album will become available shortly after. www.neurotic-records.com
IMPERIOUS MALEVOLENCE will release their new full-length album "Where Demons Dwell" in May via Evil Horde Records. The album will feature twelve tracks of "most insane and perverse Death fuckin’ Metal the way it should be done…" For distribution and promotion go to: www.evilhorderec.com. For further info and concert contact: hellhorde@hotmail.com, www.imperious-malevolence.net
U.K.-based label Grindethic Records has announced the signing of Lebanese extreme Metallers OATH TO VANQUISH. The bands debut album, "Applied Schizophrenic Science",, was engineered by the band, with the assistance of and mastered by Colin Davis (VILE) at Imperial Mastering. It is tentatively set for a June release. Track listing: ‘Pear Of Anguish’, ‘Dearly Beheaded’, ‘Funeral In F Sharp’, ‘Executive Onslaught’, ‘Toxic Bowel Manoeuvre’, ‘Sulphuric Semen’, ‘Symptoms Of Accrued Transgression’, ‘Sorrow In Adornment’ and ‘Coat-hanger Massacre’. Rough cuts off their upcoming album and more info can be found at: www.oath-to-vanquish.com
Sweden’s NECROPHOBIC have made two samples off their upcoming new album "Hrimthursum" available in the media section on their official website www.necrophobic.net. The songs are ‘I Strike With Wrath’ and ‘The Crossing’. The release date for the album is set for May 22 and it will be available as a slipcase CD and gatefold vinyl. A mini tour in Spain in the middle of June is already in the finishing stage, more tourdates are about to follow soon.
DEMONICAL, the new Swedish Death Metal band featuring three former CENTINEX members, have opened their website at www.demonical.net. Check out the site in order to see the bandlogo. The MySpace address is www.myspace.com/thedemonicalhorde. Here is a statement from the band: "Demonical will return to the roots of Death Metal and give you a sheer dose of darkness and brutality. We are now preparing our first audio assault which will be unleashed upon mankind during the summer. Our website is under construction but might open sooner than you think… Until then, hail the Death Metal victory!!" Demonical can be described as "brutal and dark Death Metal, like the old Swedish bands from the late 80s / early 90s mixed with the Florida and Brazilian scene and on top of that, spiced up with some nordic Black Metal. In other words brutal riffs, heavy downtuned guitars, fast relentless drums and blasphemous vocals. Demonical are currently looking for a vocalist. Serious offers can be sent to Dreamtide Music, the bands management. Email: dreamtidemusic@hotmail.com. The line-up: bass – Martin Schulman (ex-Centinex), guitars – Johan Jansson (ex-Centinex / ex-Dellamorte), drums – Ronnie Bergerståhl (ex-Centinex / ex-Amaran / ex-Julie Laughs Nomore), vocals – tba. Contact: the-demonical-horde@hotmail.com