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Midnight Records has released a vinyl compilation 7" EP, entitled "Don’t Burn The Witch" that features over 13 minutes of previously unreleased material by EVIL ANGEL, MINOTAUR, GOAT MESSIAH and TOXIC HOLOCAUST. The EP comes with a full coloured cover, "tribute" insert and is limited to 1000 copies (the first 100 will be on coloured vinyl and include a free MINOTAUR patch). It sells for $5 (world ppd.). For further details contact Wes at Midnight Records at this email address: chemikill@hotmail.com
NOMINON has been confirmed as the support act to the VITAL REMAINS European tour between September 10th and October 1st, 2005.
According to MTV.com, Bay Area Thrash Metal veterans EXODUS have titled their upcoming album "Shovel Headed Kill Machine". Produced by Andy Sneap (MACHINE HEAD, ARCH ENEMY), the disc is scheduled for an October 5 release through Nuclear Blast and is the band’s first to feature ex – SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph and new singer Rob Dukes.
Holland’s THANATOS have issued the following update via their website (www.thanatos.info): "We’ve got some good news, some bad news and some interesting news for you. First the good news: THANATOS just got back from the Excess Studios where we recorded two tracks that will be used as bonus tracks for the next full-length album. We’re talking about a re-recording of 1992’s ‘And Jesus Wept’ and a blistering cover version of DARK Fuckin’ ANGEL’s ‘The Burning Of Sodom’. Audio samples of the (rough mix) versions of both songs will be available on the site in a couple of weeks and the final mixes will be done during the recording sessions of the next album. OK, now the bad news; guitarist / vocalist Stephan Gebédi is facing a serious affection of the nerves in his wrist and his neck, which means he won’t be able to play guitar and continue the writing process for the new THANATOS songs for the time being. We had initially planned to record the next album in October / November 2005, but now it seems more likely that the recordings won’t take place until February / March 2006. Finally, we had a visit from the BBC recently. THANATOS will be featured in a documentary series on the European Union. One of the episodes deals with Holland’s loss of identity and values because of certain religious movements (i.e. the Islam) gaining more and more power in Dutch society etc… the band was interviewed and asked to perform the song ‘Lambs To The Slaughter’ live in our rehearsal place. Hopefully we won’t be depicted as some sort of paranoid racist / narrow minded morons cause we’re not. The series will probably be aired in December 2005."
Roadrunner Records (www.roadrunnerrecords.com) have confirmed August 30th as the release date for OPETH‘s new album, "Ghost Reveries". The 65 minute album was mastered in Stockholm, Sweden on June 16th. The complete tracklisting is as follows: ‘Ghost Of Perdition’, ‘The Baying Of The Hounds’, ‘Beneath The Mire’, ‘Atonement’, ‘Reverie / Harlequin Forest’, ‘Hours Of Wealth’, ‘The Grand Conjuration’ and ‘Isolation Years’.
Swedish Black Metallers MARDUK have posted the following message at their website (www.marduk.nu): "Due to delays from the printing company the reissued version of the "Dark Endless" album still hasn’t arrived. Everybody who have preordered it from our store will recive their copies very soon. We hope to receive it from the printer in a few days. We have also added an interview from the latest edition of Metal Maniacs. Check the interview section. The South American tour will take place during November. We are just waiting for confirmation for the final dates then they will be posted. The first rehearsals since drummer Emil (Dragutinovic) broke his arm has been done. Can assure you all that MARDUK sounds more intense and brutal than ever before. More news to follow soon."
Sweden’s DISMEMBER (www.dismember.se) has issued the following update: "The band will enter Sami Studio in Stockholm (Sweden) on August 15th to take on the recording of their 7th album. The recordings end in September, and the album is planned for a mid-January release. Drummer Fred Estby will once again produce the band and some of the new titles are ‘The God That Never Was’, ‘Feel The Darkness’ and ‘Through The Unbroken Black’."
CONCRETE SLEEP (ex – THERION and SERPENT members) from Stockholm will release their lost debut album on Vic Records. Recorded in 1993 at the famous Montezuma Studios (Therion, Bathory, Hexenhaus, Candlemass), their label back then ripped of the studio and never paid them. The studio refused to unleash the recordings as no-one paid for them and at the end even the studio went down. The rough mixed version was found after more than a decade now. After the summer the sound quality will be upgrated in a Stockholm based studio run by (again) two ex – Therion guitar players Peter and Magnus. As a bonus the 3 track debut demo "As I Fly" will be added to the upcoming album, recorded in 1992 at the Sunlight Studios and produced by no one else than Tomas Skogsberg. Some new songs are already written and a new album can be expected early next year, released by Vic Records as well.
"Torment In Fire", the first release from the legendary Canadian Thrash Metal band SACRIFICE, is finally available again! It comes as a double CD in a limited slipcase edition, hand numbered and contains a massive booklet with liner notes by Laurent Ramadier, live pictures and personal comments by Joe Rico and Rob Urbinati. 42 songs total, including one from SACRIFICE’s first gig in 1984. All remastered from the originals in 24 Bits by Sidney Sohn (Nasty Savage, Iron Angel). Additional info at www.marquee.com.br
Swedish Black Metallers BLOT MINE, featuring current and former members of SETHERIAL, SORHIN and MIDVINTER, will release their sophomore album, "Ashcloud", on July 18 via Metal Fortress (www.metalfortress.com). The follow-up to 1998’s "Porphyrogenesis" (Near Dark Productions) was recorded at Abyss Studio in Sweden. Two songs from the upcoming CD are currently available for download via the band’s official web site http://hem1.passagen.se/blot/mine/index.htm.
Brazil’s Death Metal merchants ABHORRENCE are still alive and are currently working on an upcoming split-CD. The Abhorrence part will feature two new tracks as well as three live versions of classic ABHORRENCE material.
INFINITED HATE have completed the recordings of their second full-length album "Heaven Termination". The artwork is also completed. You can already check out a sample here.
Shortly, Japanese label Obliteration Records will issue a licensed version of From Beyond’s C.S.S.O. "Collection" CD. Copies will be available through both labels.
Not later than early fall AGATHOCLES will enter the studio to record their new full-length album for Displeased Records.
The new MORRIGAN CD "Headcult" will be released by Undercover Records on the 9th of July. For all further info and ordering details contact alex@undercover-records.de
Brazil’s HEADHUNTER D.C. have just just finalized the recordings of the Necrovore track, ‘Slaughtered Remains’ for the upcoming tribute on From Beyond Productions.
IMPALED NAZARENE has re-signed with Osmose Productions for two more albums. Here’s an official statement of the band: "We are more than happy to continue working with Osmose. We will enter totally new (and fantastic, must be said) Sonic Pump studio on 21st of November 2005 to record our next studio album! The album will be recoded and mixed by Tapio Pennanen. We are at the moment writing and rehearsing the album and gotta say it will be fast, brutal as fuck, in-your-face Impaled Nazarene once again. Double 10" version of our "Death Comes In 26 Selected Pieces" live album will come out in September 2005, limited to 500 copies. This delay was down to my own laziness, nothing else. Speaking of the live album, The End Records has licensed it for North American market and this version shall be out on July 12th. "Absense Of War Does Not Mean Peace" is out now as digipak version, including ‘Hardboiled And Still Hellbound’ video as a bonus. New t-shirt designs are on the way, we will keep you posted about them. New version of the girlie shirts are out now, please check www.osmoseproductions.com. "Latex Cult" and "Rapture" will come out as digipaks with totally new artwork and layout. Both CDs will be remastered at Finnvox Studio and will have videos as extra bonus. I am working for the lay-out for "Latex Cult" and this will be some sick shit, I can tell you. More info later. We have some festivals coming in the fall, Pellavarock (in August), Roctober Fest in Kajaani (as headliner) on 29th of October and on 12th of November we will headline a festival in Mühlacker-Mühlhausen, in Germany. More info in our gigs section. 15 years and still kicking arse like no tomorrow!!!! – Sluti666"
Sweden’s CENTINEX have just issued the following press statement regarding the cancellation of their European tour with IMPIETY: "The co-headlining European tour with IMPIETY scheduled for September-October 2005 has been cancelled due to reasons completely beyond our nor Shadow Smile Bookings control. CENTINEX feels both pissed and sad about this cancellation but we do everything in our power to still get out on the road in late 2005 or very early 2006. As I have said… Life sucks enormously, the "World Declension" is upon us." – Martin [Centinex]
Contributors wanted! VOICES FROM THE DARKSIDE is once again looking for reliable people (preferable from Germany) who can help us out with reviews, as we constantly get so much stuff that it’s getting more and more difficult to keep track in this department. So, if you have the necessary time, dedication and knowledge, get in touch with us for all further details here. If you’re running a magazine / zine on your own (or already contribute to one) outside of Germany, you’re more than welcome as well.
On Sunday, August 7th 2005, MELECHESH will be playing live in Belgium for the first time. They will be part of the Mid Summer Fest along side Obituary, Tristania, Pungent Stench, Enthroned, Turisas, God Dethroned, Krisiun (TBC), Division 666 and Reality at the Sporthal Landegem (near Gent). For more info, go to www.metallysee.com
Relapse Records will reissue the entire recorded works of seminal technical Metal pioneers ATHEIST (1989’s "Piece Of Time", 1992’s "Unquestionable Presence" and 1993’s "Elements"). "I am overwhelmed with joy to see the re-release of the entire ATHEIST catalog after so many years", commented guitarist / vocalist and founding member Kelly Shaefer. Shaefer continues, "I’ve toured extensively since making these records, and everywhere I go I run into people who were not just into ATHEIST, but who praised the band’s uniqueness and how much it forced them to progress as musicians and push the boundaries as players… I have been hunting for a label that would treat the catalog with the respect it deserves and whose goal is the same as ours: to turn the new generation of extreme Metal and Prog Metal heads onto ATHEIST. Relapse is that label as it has a true understanding of where ATHEIST helped to rewrite the timeline of Metal." Relapse will start by issuing a limited edition, foil-stamped box set containing LP versions of each of the ATHEIST full-lengths, as well as the R.A.V.A.G.E. (pre-ATHEIST) "On They Slay" 7" EP exclusive to this edition. The LP box will be strictly limited to 1,000 copies and surface in July. The CD re-issues will follow in the late Summer / early Fall, starting with "Elements" on August 30 (US) and September 5 (Europe).
ARCTURUS have announced via their website (www.arcturus.no) that their forthcoming new album will be titled "Sideshow Symphonies". The release is due out in September or October through Season Of Mist. Also, ARCTURUS plan to record their September 24th date at Rockefeller in Oslo, Norway for an upcoming DVD release. More details as they become available.
DIVINE RAPTURE guitarist J.J. Hrubovcak is featured on the upcoming new album from VILE. J.J. performs two guitar solos on the album, entitled "The New Age Of Chaos". Listenable Records will issue the new album later this year. For more information head to www.liquidenergy.net