» News
ARKHON INFAUSTUS have finished the pre-recording of the fourth album, recorded and mixed by Mathrien at Andromeda Studio, containing nine songs. The band will enter the studio again in May to complete the record. It will be released on Osmose Productions before the end of the year. A limited gatefold double EP should be released in the meantime including a song of the coming album and some extra material exclusive to the EP. ARKHON INFAUSTUS is now endorsed by Randall Amplifiers and Samson gears.
"The Inhuman Aberration", the new album from URKRAFT is set for a release on Earache on the 29th of May 2006. Recorded at Antfarm Studios with Tue Madsen (The Haunted, Sick of it All, HIMSA, Hatesphere etc.) the album features 10 tracks in the vein of Soilwork, Darkane and The Haunted. Tracklisting: ‘Too Strong For The Strongest Lord’, ‘This Great Summer’, ‘Only The Gods’, ‘The Inhuman Aberration’, ‘Open The Gate’, ‘Come No Tomorrow’, ‘Watch Your Own Eyes’, ‘Liberation’, ‘Forsaken’ and ‘The Pressure Of Our Jaws’.
ANATA will release "The Conductor’s Departure" on Wicked World / Earache on June 12th 2006. Recorded at Studio Mega with Valle Adzic (The Crown, Impious, Lake of Tears, Beseech etc.) it features 10 brand new tracks continuing the path that have seen the band likened to Meshuggah, Dillinger Escape Plan, Gojira and Necrophagist. Tracklisting: ‘Downward Spiral Into Madness’, ‘Complete Demise’, ‘Better Grieved Than Fooled’, ‘The Great Juggler’, ‘Cold Heart Forged In Hell’, ‘I Would Dream Of Blood’, ‘Disobedience Pays’, ‘Children’s Laughter’, ‘Renunciation’ and ‘The Conductor’s Departure’.
FUNEBRARUM is currently recording new tracks for their upcoming split CD / LP with Swedish Death Metal legends, Interment. This release will be unleashed on Conqueror of Thorns Records. Limited quanity comes with vinyl stickers of both bands. For pre-orders and more information about this release please visit: www.conquerorofthorns.com
EQUIMANTHORN (with ABSU and SOIL BLEEDS BLACK members) is currently recording a new full-length album for From Beyond Productions. To be released later in 2006.
In a couple of weeks Japanese label Obliteration will reissue CSSO‘s collection CD (singles & previously unreleased material) done two years ago by From Beyond Productions.
AGATHOCLES had their CD pre-release party at the Bogaard in Geel / Belgium with Vuur, Rotkop, Ekzeema and From the Ashes, which was very succesful.
BLOODTHORN is confirmed for this years Inferno Festival where they will headline the 2nd stage John Dee Friday April 14th. After that they will fill the slot held by Keep of Kalessin on the European tour with Carpathian Forest and Hate, as Keep of Kalessin must fly home to Norway for a few gigs there. They all meet up again in London, playing at the Underworld, and from there Keep of Kalessin will continue their trek. After Wacken Open Air in August, a Scandinavian tour is scheduled for November with Vader and Nightrage, but the cities and venues is still to be confirmed.
ZARATHUSTRA have been signed by Agonia Records for two albums.
Florida’s DEICIDE checked in from Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida where they are nearing completion on their latest album "The Stench Of Redemption", set for a 6.6.06 release. It is the first album recorded without the Hoffman Brothers. The band was incredibly excited to bring their latest vision to life which may explain their relentless speed in the studio. They have been putting in long hard hours to get everything down on tape and are in the final stages of tracking now. As of Thursday, vocal tracks have been completed in addition to the previously completed rhythm and lead guitar tracks and drums. Vocalist Glen Benton is currently milling over the recorded vocals to see if there are any portions of the recording that he’d like to thicken up or re-track to improve them. Along with that, bass tracks should be finished as well by the time you are reading this. DEICIDE will add the finished touches to the album and then move on to the next stage of mixing as early as this weekend.
Sweden’s CENTINEX have split-up. Here’s the official statement from the band: "We hereby announce that after 16 years in the business the Swedish Death Metal act Centinex call it quits. This might come as a surprise to many of you, especially after releasing such a strong and critcally acclaimed album as "World Declension". However, things came to such a point where the only solution was to call it a day. Without going too deep into all the details I can tell you that there are many reasons (personal, musical etc) for this decision and believe me, everything is well thought out. Hereby we stop all band activities and our farewell show will be the already booked appearance in Eskilstuna, Sweden, on May 13th. We wanna thank and salute each and everyone out there who have supported us in some way during all these years. Of course all the members will go on with Metal, jointly and individually, in various bands and projects. So you will sure hear from us in the near future. Thanx for your attention in Centinex and remember to keep the flame burning!! – Martin Schulman & Centinex, Avesta, Sweden, April 2nd 2006."
Old School Metal Records have signed India’s Thrash Metallers KRYPTOS. "The plan for KRYPTOS is to enter the studio in September to record the follow up to their acclaimed debut record "Spiral Ascent" for a 2007 release", comments Patrick Ramseier of OSM Records. "Meanwhile you can still order "Spiral Ascent" through OSM or via The End Records." KRYPTOS was formed in the winter of 1998 by founding members Ganesh K (bass / vocals) and Nolan Lewis (guitars) with the sole purpose of paying homage to the glorious 80s Metal / Thrash scene. The line-up got completed by Akshay Patel (now departed) on guitars and Ryan Colaco (drums). For more information visit www.kryptos.net, www.osmrecords.net or join the label’s mailing list at: old school-subscribe@osmrecords.net
The new MORRIGAN CD "Welcome To Samhain" will be out mid / end of March via Undercover Records.
MASS PSYCHOSIS‘ Doug Grandon just sent us the following little note and considering its value we figured we should share it with you: "I had some weird shit happen to Tom and I in January. We were signed to MTV, VH1 and Viacom to do music for their TV shows world wide! A friend liked our new material we were writing and asked for a CD of it without vocals so I gave it to him and didn’t think anything of it. Six months later I get a call from MTV saying they want to use our music! So we hooked up with them and they are somewhat demanding with wanting songs, so I’ve been keeping them happy and working on the MASS PSYCHOSIS stuff too!! I am also producing our new materal in my studio and I am always making things better for us."
KEEP OF KALESSIN‘s new album "Armada" will be released on April 3rd (Norway) / April 24th (Europe) / May 13th (America). The tracklist reads as follows: ‘Surface’, ‘Crown Of The Kings’, ‘The Black Uncharted’, ‘Vengeance Rising’, ‘Many Are We’, ‘Winged Watcher’, ‘Into The Fire’, ‘Deluge’, ‘The Wealth Of Darkness’ and ‘Armada’. The band will be touring heavily this year. They kick things off by opening the "Inferno Festival" at Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo on Thursday April 13th at 6 PM. The band is also announced for the "Hole In The Sky Festival" in Bergen in August. Other confirmed acts include Celtic Frost, Atheist, Burst, Grimfist, 1349 and others. In addition to this the band sets off on a European tour with Carpathian Forest and Hate. However, because of their busy schedule they are heading back to Norway to support Satyricon in their home-country in May. Exactly one month after Inferno, Keep Of Kalessin will once again enter the stage at Norway’s largest club venue, Rockefeller. This gives the band an opportunity to showcase more songs from "Armada" for the Oslo audience since the time given is limited and strict on festivals and support gigs.
Trondheim Death Metallers BLOODTHORN will be taking Keep Of Kalessin’s place on the Carpathian Forest tour from the 1st of May until the 13th of May, and they all meet again in London on the 14th to share the stage at the Underworld for the "Day Into Night Festival" alongside bands like Zyklon, Akercocke and 1349 among others.
VORE‘s new album "Maleficus" was the number six most added album at Metal radio on March 21st.
UK based fans of Sweden’s CULT OF LUNA are being offered a special treat when they rush out to purchase the band’s fourth sonic outing "Somewhere Along The Highway" on Monday 24th April. At participating Indie stores across the UK any one who snaps up "Somewhere Along The Highway" on any format will take home a free exclusive 7 inch by CULT OF LUNA, limited to 1000 copies and containing the two unreleased tracks ‘Bodies’ (SMASHING PUMPKINS cover) and ‘Recluse’ (UNBROKEN cover) which are unavailable anywhere else.
The new IMPALED NAZARENE album "Pro Patria Finlandia" entered the Finnish charts at number 38.
Drummer Derek Roddy has parted ways with HATE ETERNAL. Unfortunately this departure was at a crucial time for Hate Eternal as the band are scheduled for a well-advertised tour with Chiamaira and Arch Enemy in only a matter of days. In an effort to persevere like he has done so many times, Erik Rutan sought out a replacement to sit behind the kit for the tour. Erik has found that replacement in Kevin Talley. Kevin has played in a number of bands, namely Chimaira and Dying Fetus. Erik Rutan released the following statement regarding this matter: "First off, I want to say that Hate Eternal will not be cancelling any upcoming tour dates, period! We are very much looking forward to seeing everyone next week on the Chimaira / Arch Enemy tour as well as seeing you loyal sick maniacs in Europe who have been so patiently waiting to see us for over a year. At this point we would like to announce that Kevin Talley will be stepping up to the plate and filling in on drums for the upcoming US Chimaira / Arch Enemy tour. Kevin is an amazing talent that we very much look forward to touring with and we want to thank him sincerely for his help in fulfilling our commitment. Regarding Derek Roddy, he has left Hate Eternal with very little warning and I want to set the story straight. We wish to take the high road here so there will be no mud slinging and whining, just facts. Randy and I spoke to Derek this past weekend and he informed us that a situation in his life had arisen which might stop him from doing these tours and force him to leave the band. But if everything turned out ok, he would fulfil his obligation to the band and fulfil our touring commitments. We did not hear from Derek since that conversation and the next thing we know, 48 hours later, I get a phone call from a friend stating about Derek’s press release with him quitting the band in which we had no prior knowledge of, contradicting our conversation 2 days prior. I found out like everyone else did online! Regarding the content of his press release, we Hate Eternal have never stopped or restrained Derek from playing, recording or touring with any other projects (he has recorded multiple albums during the 6 years of Hate Eternal with Council of the Fallen, Aurora Borealis, Nile, plus doing drum clinics, his instructional videos and his new project with Alex Webster). So we found his statement quite a contradiction and shocking to say the least. I still have not spoken to Derek since this and have no idea where his head is at. No one has supported Derek more than Randy and I for the last 6 years and we have made many sacrifices for Derek to be a part of this band. Anyone and everyone in this business knows if you think you are going to make tons of cash playing Metal, than you are in it for the wrong reasons, that is why we have been supportive in Derek making money with his other projects, clinics, dvds, etc. We as a band have had financial setbacks with a van accident and being stranded in Canada forcing us to cancel many shows but every other tour we have done has made financial gain, not a ton of cash, but in the green. What band has not had financial woes? Hate Eternal has helped Derek become a very well known drummer, sell DVD instructional videos, endorsements etc and make tons of fans of Derek’s drumming. After 6 years of playing together we would have hoped that he would leave on better terms than he did, but life goes on. We wish Derek luck in his future endeavours. Nothing will stop Hate Eternal!! Sincerely, Erik Rutan, Hate Eternal."
Michael Scholz has left RESURRECTED for personal reasons. The band’s upcoming album "Endless Sea Of Loss" will feature Adriano Ricci (Grind Inc., Night In Gales etc.) as session musician on drums.
DECAPITATED were busy last week shooting the first video clip from their "Organic Hallucinosis" album. You can check out stills from the production of day 69 here. DECAPITATED are confirmed for the following festivals: May 26 – Fuck The Commerce Festival, MZA (Mehrzweckhalle) Luckau, Germany, July 22 – Metal Camp Festival, Tolmin, Slovenia. Expect more dates to be announced soon.
DEICIDE are still in the midst of recording at Morris Sound in Tampa, Florida this week. The band are working dilligently to complete work on their latest release, "The Stench Of Redemption", scheduled for a 6.6.06 release. In a phone conversation drummer Steve Asheim revealed the following update: "We’re tracking a few more leads and Glen has just started on his vocal tracks", said Asheim, "But things are coming out really great." One particular moment stood out for the band when guitarist Ralph Santolla finished up recording a lead. "Ralph came out and he said ‘I think that’s got to be the best lead I’ve ever played’, at which point Jim (Morris) said ‘you know, I think that’s the best lead I’ve ever recorded", Steve said. Coming from someone like Jim Morris who’s worked with so many of the Metal greats that is a seriously powerful statement. Additionally, Glen Benton has entered the studio and has been tracking his vocals over the last few days. Things are going very well and as Steve Asheim put it they sound "Sinister as Fuck." Benton’s vocals have helped to really carve out a better image of what the final results of this session will be. Lyrics for "The Stench Of Redemption" remain on the darker side of things, nothing out of the ordinary for Satan’s favorite band. Benton stated that one track, titled ‘Desecration’, deals with grave desecration and is an immediate response to the recent controversy in France. Glen has already shared his feelings on the subject but this is sure to add fuel to the fire. The band is now logging between 10-16 hour days on this project and seriously busting their asses to get this record in the can and ready for fans to go apeshit for.