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Lopus Lounge have signed Germany’s Pagan / Black Metal act HELRUNAR. Their self-published debut "Gratr" was already greeted with a lot of enthusiasm. The three musicians don’t deny their dark roots, but enrich their influences from the likes of DarkThrone, Kampfar and Ulver with a unique drama that grips everyone irregardless of language and makes every listener join in the strong vocals of Skald Draugir – not matter whether he airs his malice in German or Norwegian. For more info check out www.helrunar.com.
The PROPHECY KONZERTNACHT FESTIVAL (originally scheduled for Bochum) will now take place in Munich instead. Reason for this is the rather close "Nebelmond Festival", where two of the three bands planned for the Prophecy Konzertnaechte are going to play as well.
THE CHASM have finally completed work on their new album, the band’s first for Wicked World, going under the title of "The Spell Of Retribution". Comprising 10 tracks with a running time of over 66 minutes, "The Spell Of Retribution" represents The Chasm’s most adventurous and ambitious project to date. Recorded at Soto Sound Studios in Illinois and then mixed by Corchado at Lux Inframundis, the album’s recording was not without its problems, including at one point a studio fire that set the schedule back and led to the album taking longer than anticipated to complete. Nevertheless the process resulted in the following tracklisting: 1. From The Curse, A Scourge…, 2. The Omnipotent Codex, 3. Conqueror & Warlord, 4. Manifest My Intervention, 5. Fortress, 6. Retribution Of The Lost Years, (I, The Pastfinder III), 7. Conjuring The New Apocalypse, 8. The Eclipse: Monument To The Empire – I) Sentence and Burden – II) The Voyage – III) The Restitution, 9. Remains Of The Covenant and 10. Eternal Cycle Of Delusion. Commenting on the completion of his band’s latest opus, Corchado says: "We are definitely very proud to announce the completion of this new chapter, the 7th, in The Chasm’s odyssey, after almost 3 months of hard work in the studio and a schedule full of delays and problems, "The Spell Of Retribution" has reached the end of its creative / constructive journey. Armed with a thick, darkened / heavy production, interwoven with what surely is our most complex and destructive material, "The Spell…" is for sure a lengthy and memorable piece of darkened Heavy Metal that praises Death and certainly is not a one dimensional album, like so many infecting the scene nowadays. We can assure the true believers of this Cult of Death, and to any fan and follower of this movement, who still feels the darkened flame of this music, that when you hear "The Spell…" you’ll encounter a devastating experience, one full of unexpected turns and musical atmospheres presenting controlled chaos and the intense feeling of revenge and inner victory…" "The Spell Of Retribution" is scheduled for a November release date. All further info at www.enterthedeathcult.com or www.earache.com
"Sexual Perversity By Autopsy", the new album by Germany’s GOMORRHA, is out on Nice To Eat You Records & Mutilated Records. The band plays brutal Death Metal in vein of Severe Torture, Dying Fetus and the likes, with guttural vocals and sick lyrics. For more info go to www.gomorrha666.de.vu or www.listen.to/nicetoeatyou. MP3 samples can be found here: www.mp3.de/home/gomorrha
DARKTHRONE, as a compact ensemble, has not graced a stage since 1996. With their brand new album, "Sardonic Wrath" ready for next month’s release, Darkthrone’s Nocturno Culto will make a special appearance at Wacken this Saturday, joining Satyricon for an unprecedented half hour showcase of Darkthrone classics. "Four years in a row, Wacken has asked us to headline", comments Nocturno Culto. "And four years in a row, we have turned their request down. It would have been too much for me and Fenriz to get a whole band together for one gig. The joined show with Satyricon is a more accessible format so we finally accepted. Plus, Wacken is a good festival and well organized. This would be a great opportunity to perform to a large audience and spread hatred for the human kind, especially the religious ones." An alliance of titanic proportions for the genre, the Satyricon / Darkthrone joint show at Wacken will be a historical event and the last of its kind. "Anyone who knows their Black Metal is aware of Darkthrone’s policy of not playing live", comments Satyricon’s driving force, Satyr. "They’ve decided to do this special event and asked us to be a part of it and that is, of course, a great honour. We’re also glad that this historical event has the approval of Fenriz and Zephyrous. Bonds between Satyricon and Darkthrone have always been extremly tight and this is a great way of showing it." As to whether a show of such proportions could produce pressure, Nocturno Culto replied – "It’s a mixed bag. The ideal thing for me would be to fly by helicopter just before I am due to go on stage and then press an eject button to get myself back on the same helicopter right after the gig." This, however, will not be the last live appearance by the guitarist / vocalist. "Even if Darkthrone are not actively playing live", conclude Nocturno Culto. "I will join another band or something in the future. We just have to see what happens." Satyricon will kick off Saturday’s headline show on Saturday, 7th August at midnight. Darkthrone’s new album, "Sardonic Wrath" is out on September 6th.
On November 13, 2004 Germany’s BURDEN OF GRIEF are celebrating their 10th anniversary with an indoor festival at the Stadthalle Scherfede (between Kassel and Paderborn / Germany). Other bands on the bill are TANKARD, END OF GREEN, FINAL BREATH, TWILIGHT PROPHECIES… Besides these bands and a special anniversary-show by BURDEN OF GRIEF there will also be a Metal market. All further info at www.artofdarkness.de.vu
UP FROM THE GROUND festival announce the addition of Australian Thrash legend HOBBS ANGEL OF DEATH to their billing. They will play on friday August 27th. More info on www.upfromtheground.de
Former PESTILENCE bassist Jeroen Paul Thesseling is currently available for progressive and technical bands or (studio) projects, according to a posting on his official website www.jeroenthesseling.com.
The following message has been posted at OPETH‘s official website (www.opeth.com): "Music For Nations have now officially closed their doors. OPETH have luckily been dropped from BMG / Zomba and is looking through new offers at the moment. Mikael Åkerfeldt has started writing for what is supposed to be the next OPETH album. Hopefully to be recorded sometime in the early Spring of 2005".
Arctic Music Group will release a new compilation album, VOICES FROM THE ARCTIC CIRCLE, on July 27th. The album, featuring "the most brutal and relentless Death and Black Metal bands that Scandinavia has to offer", will include the following tracklisting: DENATA – Art Of The Insane, LORD BELIAL – Purify Sweden, VISCERAL BLEEDING – Fury Unleashed, IN BATTLE- Pioneers Of A Dead Future, EXMORTEM – Killstorms, DIABOLICAL – Under My Skin, IMPERIAL FOETICIDE – A Light Whirl, My Guide, DESPISED – Millenium Fuck, LATEX – Hammerfuck, MORTUARY IOD – Lyric Sickness, NOMINON – White Death, PORTAL – In Step Of Forgotten Gods, REPUDIATE – Lifelong Damnation, SHADOWBUILDER – Silver & Black, SOIL OF THE UNDEAD – Violent Desecration, THRONEAEON – Oblivion and LATEX – Sodomaniacs.
Northern Blaze Records (www.NorthernBlaze.com) have released the debut album, "When Darkness Falls", from SUFFER, the band featuring members of GOATWHORE and DISINCARNATE. SUFFER was forged from the deep swamps of Louisiana, unleashing the intense musical ideas and ambitions brought forth by drummer Tomas Viator (DISINCARNATE, ACID BATH, SHRUM, ASTAROTH), bassist Kelly Pitre (SHRUM, VUAL) and vocalist / guitarist Tim Holsinger (GOATWHORE, PSYCHO SCENARIO).
German Death Metallers SPAWN have signed a deal with Morbid Records. Their upcoming album, "Human Toxin", has been recorded at Dailyhero Recordings Studios and mastered at Mega Wimp Sound (DISINTER, DYING FETUS, HAEMORRHAGE). Morbid will release the album in December.
RESURRECTED have started writing new material for the follow up to their "Blood Spilled" album. Three songs are already finished and according to the band "are definitely the most uncompromising, most technical but groovy material" they ever did. As they’ve parted ways with Perverted Taste RESURRECTED is now looking for some competent label for a possible future collaboration. They are already negotiating with some companies, but nothing’s fixed yet, so interested labels should contact them at blood@resurrected.net
Sweden’s ANGST will be releasing their new album "In Hoc Signo Vinces" via Black Attakk on October 25, 2004. All further info you may find at http://angstband.cjb.net
EISMALSOTT will start recording their "Patina" album end of August. www.eismalsott.de
DIES ATER have just finished the recordings of their new MCD "Out Of The Dark" at Stage One Studio. The disc will feature two brandnew tunes, a re-worked old song and a coverversion of Falco’s ‘Out Of The Dark’. www.diesater.de
EQUILIBRIUM are currently in the studio to record their new album "Turis Fratyr", which will be released on September 27, 2004. www.equilibrium-metal.de
The new SANCTIMONIOUS ORDER album is entitled "Thy Kingdom" and will be released on September 27. www.sanctimonious-order.com
Black Attakk have just signed FJOERGYN. Their music’s supposed to be like "Wagner on Black Metal…" The release is scheduled for November this year.
Germany’s STORMWITCH will play a very special old school show at this year’s Keep It True Festival, concentrating mainly on the early albums. Additionally they will also have a similar stageshow like they had in the eighties with many actors on stage. The band will also release their new CD "Witchcraft", which is supposed to be more in the old direction of the band, on Monday after the festival. Here’s the complete Keep It True III billing: HELSTAR, HALLOWS EVE, STORMWITCH, TYRANT’S REIGN, JAGUAR, SACRED STEEL, WITCHFYNDE, ROTTWEILLER, METAL INQUISITOR and REPENT. All further info at: www.keep-it-true.de
GENERAL SURGERY have inked a three album deal with Listenable Records and plan to enter Soundlab Studios in late 2004 to record their debut full-length album, due out in spring 2005. In the band tradition of releasing numerous splits and EPs, General Surgery recently released a new split 7" with FILTH on Bones Brigade Records in gut coloured vinyl (www.bonesbrigaderecords.com) and a double 7" on Buio Omega Records (www.buio-omega.it).
Having recently inked a deal with Listenable Records, Sweden’s JIGSORE TERROR will release their new album, "World End Carnage", through the label on October 11th. As previously reported, the album was recorded at Sweden’s Soundlab Studios with engineer Mieszko Talarczyk (NASUM) and features the following track titles: ‘Reeking Death’, ‘Death Rattle Cacophony’, ‘Skeletal Decomposition’ , ‘Gorging On Exposed Arteries’, ‘Feast Of Dismembered Limbs’ and ‘Slaughtered Existence’ (with Dan Swano on guest vocals). The release will feature a total of 15 new tracks including the FURBOWL cover ‘The Needle’.
According to a recent posting at the official DEFLESHED website (www.defleshed.de), the band are currently in Sweden’s Dug-Out Studios recording their fifth full-length studio album, "May The Flesh Be With You". Recordings should be complete by mid-August. The album will include 11 original songs plus a cover of MÖTLEY CRÜE’s ‘Red Hot’, and will be released through Regain Records in Europe in January or February, 2005.
MORTICIAN will release their new live album, "Zombie Massacre Live", on July 27th via Crash Music. The album is over 60 minutes in length and includes 37 tracks of pure sonic terror.
Listenable Records have announced that they will release ANOREXIA NERVOSA‘s new album, "Redemption Process", on October 11th. The band are currently finishing up the mastering on the album at the Cutting Room in Sweden. A limited edition digipak of the album will be available with a bonus track, a cover of INDOCHINE’s ‘Tzars’. As previously reported, "Redemption Process" will feature the following tracklisting: ‘Antinferno’, ‘The Worship Manifesto’, ‘Sister September’, ‘Codex-Veritas’, ‘Mass Absolution’, ‘The Shining’ and ‘An Amen’.
Japanese extremists BARBATOS have signed a deal with Agonia Records for the release of their new full lenght album, "Fury And Fear, Flesh And Bone". The recording line-up features Yasuyuki of ABIGAIL, Joel of TOXIC HOLOCAUST and Chuck Keller of ORDER FROM CHAOS, ARES KINGDOM and VULPECULA. The album will be released in the early August.
IMPIETY‘s new album, "Paramount Evil", is currently being recorded in Mexico City in Mexico. The album should see the at the beginning of August through Agonia Records and will be promoted with a South American tour in August and a European tour with ATOMIZER and WITCHMASTER in September. North American dates are tentative for early 2005.
Swedish Black Metallers UNPURE have inked a deal with Agonia Records. The band’s fourth album, "World Collapse", is finally set to be released at the end of July 2004. The album has been delayed due to financial problems at former record label Drakkar Productions. Unpure are currently on a break as frontman Kolgrim has left Sweden for an undecided period of time, because of other personal problems. Therefore no gigs are planned in the near future.
The newest confirmed act for the 10th BANG YOUR HEAD FESTIVAL in Balingen, Germany on June, 24th and 25th is DIO. For more information check out: www.bang-your-head.de
BLOOD OF CHRIST are currently in preproduction for their fourth album and the band say the "writing process is moving along like a tank on the war path." In other news, Blood of Christ are currently searching for a second rhythym guitarist for concert performances. Please contact Jeff if you are interested – tlfoa@hotmail.com
Olympic Recordings (www.olympicrecordings.com) have announced that INTERNAL BLEEDING‘s new studio album, "Onward To Mecca", will be released September 7th. Their first studio record in five years was recorded at Full Force Studios and engineered by Terrance Hobbs (SUFFOCATION). A posting at the label website reads: "It is sure to please older fans as well as appeal to newer audiences. Support these legends and buy the fucking record!"
TANK‘s forthcoming new album, "Sturmpanzer", is set to feature the following tracklisting: ‘Sturmpanzer’, ‘Baghdad City’, ‘Before The Eyes Of The World’, ‘Lianne’s Crying’, ‘We Are The Dead’, ‘Four "O" Below Zero’, ‘Which Part Of Fuck Off Don’t You Understand’, ‘Remember’, ‘The War Machine Don’t Stop’, ‘Unleash The Filth Hounds’, ‘Healing The Wounds…’, ‘The Hunger’ and ’45 Summers’. More information regarding the release will be announced soon.
Roadrunner Records have confirmed that CRADLE OF FILTH‘s forthcoming album, "Nymphetamine", will be released on September 28th. As previously reported the band will shoot a video in either Los Angeles or the UK, at some point in early August for a song to be determined.
Swedish Black Metallers MÖRK GRYNING have posted the following update at their official website: "We are currently working with new material that hopefully will turn out in an album someday. We are also searching for a new record label. As some of you have noticed we also have a new bass-player who played with us in Norrköping and Södertälje, and we finally feel that we have a stable line-up".
NINNUAM has set a release date for their debut album, entitled "Process Of Life Separation". The album will be released on July 27th through Crash Music. "Process Of Life Separation" features the following tracklisting: ‘Process Of Life Separation’, ‘Godhead’, ‘My Sphere’, ‘Sect’, ‘Dark Visions’, ‘Scar Salvation’, ‘Optional Existence’, ‘Soulwounded’, ‘Morbid Appealing’ and ‘Age Of Unknown’. For more info about NINNUAM , visit their website at www.ninnuam.com.
Skyscraper Music has announced the re-release editions of Canada’s very own Hyperblasters, KATAKLYSM. Indeed, Fall 2004 will see the re-release of the absolute classic EP "The Mystical Gate Of Reincarnation", as well as 1998’s out of print titles, "Victims Of This Fallen World" and "Northern Hyperblast Live". Further details and actual release dates will be made available shortly.