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Swedish technical Death Metal outfit SPAWN OF POSSESSION have signed a multiple album deal with Neurotic Records. The band will utilize Pama Studios in Kristianopel Sweden once again together with highly acclaimed producer Magnus Sedenberg for an intense period somewhere between January and February 2006. The band is expected to tour right after the expected late winter / early spring release of the as of yet untitled new record. SPAWN OF POSSESSION will not only re-visit familiar territories, but will also expand to newer, untouched ones in support for this album. This follow-up to 2003’s "Cabinet" album will be even more technical, but at the same time it consists of more grooving and recognizable parts, while also being more epical approached all over. The writing process is in full progress, and so far about half a full-length’s worth of material has been completed. The lyrical approach, music and artwork will all benefit the reflection of a concept based on a, what at this point is best described as, "surreal ghost story". For more info go to www.neurotic-records.com
Norway’s EMPEROR will make a one off return to the stage at next year’s Wacken Open Air Festival. Here’s an official statement from the band regarding this event: "Emperor’s return! Greetings, Metalheads of the world! We are proud to announce that Emperor will headline Wacken Open Air 2006. Join us, as we re-enter the nightside to chant anthems of equilibrium, fire and demise! Emperial regards, Ihsahn, Samoth and Trym"
PENTACLE is currently negotiating with another label to release the "Archaic Undead Fury" EP as Metal War Productions has dropped this project. Mike’s injury is getting better but progress is slow and for this year he will not play any live gigs.
ATOMKRAFT, featuring former VENOM vocalist / MANTAS bassist Tony Dolan, will be releasing a new EP entitled "Are You Looking At Me?" in November. It will contain the tracks ‘Dead Again!’, ‘Kristalnacht’, ‘Cold Sweat’ (THIN LIZZY cover) and ‘Gripped’. ATOMKRAFT’s new full-length album, entitled "I Couldn’t Give A Fuck!", is due to be released some time next year.
Napalm Records has posted an audio sample for the new version of FALKENBACH‘s ‘Heralder’ track, which will be included on the band’s new album, "Heralding The Fireblade", out through the label on November 25th. Check out the track at this location. "Heralding The Fireblade" includes the following tracklisting: ‘Heathen Foray’, ‘Of Forests Unknown’, ‘Havamal’, ‘Roman Land’, ‘Heralder’, ‘Laeknishendr’, ‘Walkiesjar’, ‘Skirnir’ and ‘Gjallar’.
According to the official DEATH website Nuclear Blast Records will release the DVD, "Death: Live In Cottbus" these days. It will include all the press pictures from the "The Sound Of Perseverance" – era (1998) as well. Also, a new deluxe edition of "The Sound of Perseverance" will contain "Live In Cottbus" as a bonus DVD. The "Live In Cottbus" tracklist will be the same as 2001’s "Live In LA (Death & Raw)", which is as follows: ‘Intro / The Philosopher’, ‘Spirit Crusher’, ‘Trapped In A Corner’, ‘Scavenger Of Human Sorrow’, ‘Crystal Mountain’, ‘Flesh And The Power It Holds’, ‘Zero Tolerance’, ‘Zombie Ritual’, ‘Suicide Machine’, ‘Together As One’, ‘Empty Words’, ‘Symbolic’ and ‘Pull The Plug’.
INCANTATION frontman John McEntee has posted the following message on the band’s official website: "We have just returned from Europe and the Harvest Festivals with NILE, UNLEASHED, PUNGENT STENCH, BEHEMOTH and BELPHEGOR. The festival tour was a great success, the shows were some of the best we have ever done in Europe. All the bands and crew did a fantastic job every night, it was a great experience for us. We want to thank Metallysee, World Management, Listenable and everyone else involved that made the tour a great experience. Also many hails go out to all the Metalheads that came out and showed their support every night!!! We have officially been picked up by Century Media Records for North America after the closing of Olympic Recordings do to some issues with the United States Olympic Committee. The writing process is in full swing for the eighth INCANTATION studio album, still untitled. We are looking to record early spring next year for a fall 2006 release."
Displeased Records just informed us that INFINITED HATE has NOT split-up! It’s just that Rachel is no longer part of the band and Aad took over the vocals completely. They already have 3 songs for their third album finished and Dirk is once again confirmed to play the drums on it.
Drummer Alf Kluge unfortunately left Germany’s Death squadron FEARER this past weekend. The band is currently looking for a replacement. Skilled skin bashers who are interested to fill in Alf’s shoes can contact the band via their website www.fearer.de
After only two albums released it seems that INFINITED HATE is already history again (not officially confirmed though). Rachel recently informed us that she’s no longer part of the band (and currently in the process of forming her own band), while Aad has reformed SINISTER. Originally the new band was supposed to be called NO FACE SLAVE, but as they weren’t able to secure a record deal with that moniker, they decided to go back to SINISTER again. The line-up features old SINISTER members and Aad is handling the vocals. More info on this soon.
OBEISANCE has finished recording and mixing their new album "Unholy, Unwholesome And Evil" at Marching Plague Studios with CJ Holguin at the production helm. The band is currently looking for a label to release it as they’ve parted ways with their former company due to musical differences. They also own the rights to "Lucifer Master" as the CD was never released outside the US, so the band wishes to license that (as well as the unreleased full-lengths "Hellbent On Slaughter" and "Infierno Eterno") to as many countries as possible. A CD-R single ("Slaughter In The Holy Cities") is currently available for $3 US / $5 world from Sick Records, 321 Buenavista, El Paso, TX 79905, USA. Musically OBEISANCE describe themselves as a mixture of classic BATHORY, SODOM and HELLHAMMER with additional influences from POSSESSED, REPULSION and INSANITY (S.F.). For further info contact them at obeisance666@hotmail.com
After a longer period of silence, Germany’s CHAOS MAGAZINE is back with a new issue. Vol. 13 features interviews with the likes of CARCASS, DISMEMBER, GRAVE, UNLEASHED, OBITUARY, EVOCATION, DARK TRANQUILLITY, UNEARTH, AMON AMARTH, DECEIVER / MAZE OF TORMENT, INCAPACITY, ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET (ex – THE CROWN), PAGANIZER / RIBSPREADER, SANCTIFICATION / IN BATTLE, TORCHBEARER and VOMITORY. Additionally there’s some specials like the infamous MOOSE TEST, the GÖTEBORG DEATH MIX (featuring members of ARCH ENEMY, THE HAUNTED, DARK TRANQUILLITY and NIGHTRAGE) as well as 666 reviews and two free CDs (a Century Media Records ARCH ENEMY / NEVERMORE split-CD and a 19-track MDD underground compilation). 80 pro-printed (on high quality paper) A4 pages in total. Available for 5,- Euro (Germany) or USD 7,- (rest of the world) at: CHAOS MAGAZINE, Wormser Str. 40, 72760 Reutlingen, Germany, frank.schenk@schwaben.de
According to NolaUnderground.com ex – SOILENT GREEN singer Glenn Rambo and his mother were found dead in their home in Violet, Louisiana last Saturday. Ex – girlfriend Stacy discovered the bodies after she hadn’t heard anything back from Glenn ever since hurricane ‘Katrina’. Glenn (who obviously had broken a leg) and his familiy were living in rather poor circumstances and didn’t have a car to get away from the hurricane in time. Rest In Peace, Glenn!
NYC’s SUN DESCENDS parted ways with their drummer, Ojayy. The band was experiencing problems with Ojayy during the recording sessions of their full-length CD, "Incinerating The Meek", scheduled to be released 02/06, via www.twilight-distribution.com. SUN DESCENDS finally decided to let Ojayy go due to his lack of commitment to the band. Mem: "You can only be in this band if you give it 150%, otherwise SUN DESCENDS is not the place where people can coast. Ojayy is a good guy and we wish him the best for the future but it’s all about the work ethic." Ojayy’s replacement is Chris Torre from Staten Island, New York! Pics & bio soon on SUN DESCENDS site. The band is currently auditioning a 2nd guitarist for their up coming Euro tour in 06. SUN DESCENDS has also just finished shooting their first video clip for the song ‘Intercepting Daggers’, which will be featured as bonus on the new CD release! More info at www.sundescends.com, www.myspace.com/sundescends.
HELLPIKE # 15 finally got released. The newest issue features interviews with IMPALED NAZARENE, INQUISITION, ISVIND, UNCREATION’S DAWN, LUROR, TRIMONIUM, OLD, ANAL VOMIT, WOD, WAFFENWEIHE, BLASPHEMIC LUST, WOLFTHORN, VICTIMIZER, SIN IS THERE ‘zine, RAZOR OF OCCAM and TEPHERET as well as more than 175 long and detailed reviews (96 pages in total). It sells for 5 Euro / 6$ (postage paid already), and the first 100 copies include a poster. Available at this address: HELLPIKE zine, Grabenstr. 17, 56575 Weissenthurm, Germany, email: HELLPIKE@gmx.de or from the following mailorder companies: BLASPHEMOUS UNDERGROUND (France), UNDERCOVER RECORDS and IRON PEGASUS (Germany). HELLPIKE # 11 – 14 are still available for 10 Euro (all together), or 4 Euro each. HELLPIKE # 16 will be out on December 5, 2005.
CELTIC FROST frontman Tom Gabriel Fischer has issued the following update via www.apollyonsun.blogspot.com: "Martin called me last night to brief me that the album has now been mastered. We thus decided to shelve a new song we had both been developing for – an admittedly inane – last minute inclusion, and we resolved to refrain from adding a HELLHAMMERish bassline to the already finished ‘Incantation Against You’. The mastering now having been completed, the album is ready to pass into the hands of those who run this wonderful music industry. I had been there at Oakland Recording on both days of the mastering, but I left a few hours early on the second day as my presence no longer yielded any constructive input. I have presently reached a state where I am too burned out to be truly willing to discern any aural details anymore. I have lived with these songs, this album for so long – too long, as all of us and all our fans will confirm – that I now need a limited pause from the music in order to be able to approach it freshly again by the time we begin rehearsals proper for our concerts next year. We are all tending to various band issues right now, but we all enjoy the break from actually making music. And still I listened to the damn thing last night. Martin’s enthusiasm had been very contagious."
Sweden’s NECROPHOBIC have posted the following update at their website www.necrophobic.net: "As mentioned earlier here on the website, NECROPHOBIC will have a small piece of soundtrack in a new criminal series, "Medicinmannen" (The Medicine Man), on national Swedish television (TV4) which starts today at 21:00, Swedish time (CET+1). The series is featuring great actors like Mikael Persbrandt, Reine Brynolfsson, Nina Gunke and Philip Zandén and is broadcasted in 8 episodes. The information we have got regarding this, is that about 8-10 minutes into episode 4, our music will be played in the background in a cafe scene. The date for that episode will be October 16th."
DIMMU BORGIR guitarist Silenoz has announced which song from the forthcoming "Stormblast" reissue, due out November 7th, the band will film a video for. "I can hereby reveal we’re gonna make a video for ‘Sorgens Kammer – Del II’ (part II). We all know why the original ‘Sorgens Kammer’ wasn’t used. (Part II) is a totally different and proper track." In related news, according to The Gauntlet: INSIDIOUS DISEASE is the new Death Metal band featuring guitarists Silenoz and Jardar (OLD MAN’S CHILD), along with drummer Tony Laureano (DIMMU BORGIR, NILE, ANGELCORPSE) and bassist Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH). They currently have 12 to 13 songs ready and are working on a demo with the hopes of landing a record deal.
Candlelight Records (www.candlelightrecords.co.uk) has posted the new 1349 video, for the track ‘Sculptor Of Flesh’. Candlelight has confirmed October 4th as the North American release date for 1349’s third album, "Hellfire". The album was recorded at Studio Studio in Nyhagen, Norway and features the following tracks: ‘I Am Abomination’, ‘Nathicana’, ‘Sculptor Of Flesh’, ‘Celestial Deconstruction’, ‘To Rottendom’, ‘From The Deeps’, ‘Slaves To Slaughter’ and ‘Hellfire’.
According to Napalm Records the new FALKENBACH album, "Heralding The Fireblade", is in post production and is due to be released on November 25th. It will be issued both as a limited edition digi-pack featuring one bonus track and a regular jewel case version.
According to a posting at their official website, Chicago-based Death Metallers THE CHASM has been confirmed to attack at the Heathen Crusade Festival to take place in Minnesota on January 21, 2006. According to an update, "There will be no more shows for the rest of the year, time to take a break and get immersed in the new death hymns. Hails to all the deathmongers who supported and attended the shows with SABBAT in Chicago, NY and Cambridge."
German Thrashers DESTRUCTION are confirmed for the Porto Alegre, Brazil stop (at Gigantinho) of the Live ‘N’ Louder Fest on October 15th. The traveling festival also features SCORPIONS, NIGHTWISH, TESTAMENT, SHAAMAN, RAGE, THE 69 EYES, DR. SIN and TUATHA DE DANANN.
NASUM guitarist Anders Jakobson has posted the following update regarding the rumoured split recording with NAPALM DEATH at the official Nasum website: "Someone asked about the Nasum / Napalm Death split in the Q & A section the other day – will it come out or not? Well, I haven’t got any real news about this. As far as I know it will come out one day, but when and how I do not know. No one does, it’s another planed release that’s all. Last time I spoke about it with Shane he said that he had gotten an OK from Earache to use their ‘Earache songs’ on the split and I guess they have to get a few more OK’s before they can get working on a possible tracklist. I’ve spent some time today working with our part of the split. I did some adjustments to the edit I did a few months ago and also some EQ tweaking to improve the sound. It sounds pretty good right now and the edit has a good flow so overall it’s possible finalized. I might tweak it some more when it’s time to really finish it. The editing I’ve done is to exclude some songs that didn’t sound so good due to either sloppy playing or problems with the sound. I’ve also moved around some of the songs which was quite interesting. We used to combine our songs in ‘blocks’ and there are some completely new blocks in this edit, which at least entertains me. The track list is as follows: ‘Corrosion’, ‘Doombringer’, ‘Just Another Hog’, ‘Inhale / Exhale’, ‘Scoop’, ‘Bullshit’, ‘Relics’, ‘Löpandebandsprincipen’, ‘I Hate People’, ‘Masshypnosis’, ‘A Welcome Breeze Of Stinking Air’, ‘Fatal Search’, ‘This is…’, ‘The Masked Face’, ‘The Idiot Parade’ and ‘Den Svarta Fanan’. I think it’s about 21 – 22 minutes of music in total. Now just hope that you will hear this soon…"