» News
Here’s an official statement from Sweden’s ARMAGEDDA concerning the band’s future: "We do not perform Black Metal anymore, we do not want to be associated with the Black Metal scene of today nor yesterday. How people see our tunes from the outside doesn’t matter, we are what we are and not what you think. We are not a Black Metal band anymore and we will never be again. Black Metal has been infected with unserious people who abuse its (un)holy essence and that is not what we stand for. Therefor we will get as far away from this shit as possible. All is said, enough! Consider this to be 100 % official – A. & Graav anno serpenti 2004."
Danish Death Metallers EXMORTEM will enter Antfarm Studio in Aarhus, Denmark on May 17 with producer Tue Madsen to record their fifth album, due later in the year. A total of nine songs will be recorded and mixed during the four-week session, including ‘Parasite Paradise’, ‘Symbols Of Inhumanity’, ‘Flesh Havoc’, ‘The Human Rape Symphony’ and ‘Fix Of Negativity’.
RAZOR has confirmed that they will be performing a show in Toronto with ANVIL and EXCITER on July 24th at the FunHause in Toronto. A possible SACRIFICE reunion may also occur. Date and venue information will be revealed soon.
According to SMN, German Death Metallers NECROPHAGIST has officially signed a wordwide deal with Relapse Records. The band’s new album, "Epitaph", will hit stores August 3rd in North America, and everywhere else early September. The band is currently working on a re-mix of their record "Onset Of Putrefaction" which will be reissued through Willowtip Records this August.
A representative of Century Media Records has confirmed that the label has indeed signed NAPALM DEATH. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. The band have yet to announce this, but it is expected that the first release under the new deal will be an all-covers album, "Leaders Not Followers Volume 2". A street date remains to be scheduled.
ARCH ENEMY have officially apologized for dropping off the Weapons Of Mass Destruction tour that features MACHINE HEAD and GOD FORBID. Here’s the posting at the band’s website: "As previously reported Arch Enemy have dropped off the current Machine Head US tour. To the fans that were expecting to see Arch Enemy perform at these shows, the band offers their deepest apologies. To all the people involved in putting the tour together, the band regrets that they couldn’t make it work out. To Machine Head and the other performing bands, Arch Enemy would like to apologise and wish them a successful tour"
The following IMMOLATION update has been issued via the group’s official website (www.everlastingfire.com): "N.Y. masters of hateful Death are not getting let down by the delay of the release for their upcoming DVD and are currently writing a collection of the band’s most intense songs ever for their upcoming album to be issued in October 2004. Immolation will record in July with producer Paul Oforino in New York. A brand new official website will be launched within the next months".
Former IMMOLATION / GOREAPHOBIA drummer Craig Smilowski was rehearsing with John Litchko ("Shaitan") of PERVERSERAPH this past weekend. As of yet it is still uncertain what this new band will be called.
PSYKRA will be participating in the "Local Heroes Contest" on May 08, 2004 in Ilsenburg at the Klima club.
Texas Death Metal freaks might have already stumbled over the name EXULCERATE since it is the malignant spawn rising from the ashes of Brutal Death Metal outfit PUTRILAGE (album "Devouring The Gutted", 1999). Although those guys have signed to United Guttural Records lately their two song Demo "Samples Of Sickness" is still available a s free download including booklet at www.exulcerate.net. A great idea fans of sick Death Metal should support at instant!
The recording of the second KAAMOS full-length album has been completed and will be entitled "Lucifer Rising" A total of 10 tracks were recorded and are expected to be out after the summer through Candlelight / PHD.
According to the official CANNIBAL CORPSE website (www.cannibalcorpse.net) longtime guitarist Jack Owen decided to leave the band. Here’s his official statement: "After 15 years with Cannibal Corpse, I’ve decided to leave the group. My heart just wasn’t in it anymore, and it was reflected in my appearance on stage. Times change, and I just don’t enjoy the music as much as I used to, and the only thing keeping me in the band was steady work, and the pay. These things makes it unfair to myself, my band members, and especially the fans. I’d like to thank all the members of Cannibal Corpse, past and present, for sharing in the conquest of an entire genre of music. I wish the band continued success… I would especially like to thank the fans for being there for 15 years. Without you, I wouldn’t have made it this far. Your dedication to Death Metal is unbelievable. I am going to continue in music, of course, with Adrift. I’d like to thank them for their patience and understanding, and support of my decision. We will meet again, I’m sure… Cheers, Jack Owen." CANNIBAL CORPSE are currently working with a replacement. All scheduled concerts will still take place.
HIRAX have just been signed by Mausoleum Records. The label will be releasing their brandnew CD, "The New Age of Terror" on May 15th 2004.
According to a recent press release, HOUWITSER have canceled all upcoming gigs and are currently looking for a new drummer due to to Aad Kloosterwaard’s (ex-SINISTER) recent announcement that his main focus will be INFINITED HATE which also features fellow Sinister members Rachel Kloosterwaard (vocals) and Ron van de Polder (guitars). Aad will stay with Houwitser as second vocalist. Interested drummers can email Houwitser bassist Theo Van Eekelen at houwitser@hotmail.com or theo@houwitser.com.
Galy Records has signed ANHKREHG. The band will release a new album in August entitled "Against You All", which was produced by KATAKLYSM guitarist / producer Jean-Fancois Dagenais. Anhkrehg will embark on a Canadian tour starting August 2nd.
According to a posting on their website, the North American release of DESTRUCTION‘s "Live Discharge – 20 Years Of Total Destruction" DVD has been postponed to May 18th through Nuclear Blast. The DVD features four and a half hours of live, backstage and historical footage and the Japan only CD release "Alive Devastation". The collectors digipak will be limited to 666 copies.
BLOODBATH have announced via their official website that their forthcoming second full-length album, the follow up to 2002’s "Resurrection Through Carnage", will be titled "Nightmares Made Flesh". The album will feature the following 12 tracks: ‘Outnumbering The Day’, ‘Year Of The Cadaver Race’, ‘Draped In Disease’, ‘Cancer Of The Soul’, ‘The Ascension’, ‘Eaten’, ‘Brave New Hell’, ‘Stillborn Saviour’, ‘Feeding The Undead’, ‘Bastard Son Of God’, ‘Soul Evisceration’ and ‘Blood Vortex’. "Nightmares Made Flesh" will be released this fall via Century Media.
MORTUARY I.O.D. will be performing at the Waldrock Festival in Burgum, the Netherlands, on June 19th this year. The complete billing reads like this: Exodus, Testament, Finntroll, Within Temptation, Transport League, Cannibal Corpse, Monster Magnet, Slapshot, Hate Breed, Fear Factory, My Dying Bride, Death Angel, Twisted Sister and Cradle Of Filth. www.waldrock.nl. In related news Mortuary I.O.D.’s long-awaited MCD "Damnation" is about to be mixed and mastered and ready to be released. The track ‘The Bonehunt’ features former PESTILENCE / ASPHYX vocalist Martin van Drunen on guest vocals. The band is still searching for a label to release it. In May Mortuary I.O.D. will be playing a mini-tour with Death Metallers Belphegor from Austria. For all further info check out: www.mortuary-iod.nl
Northern Quebec’s NECRONOMICON are planning some North American touring for later this year, in support of their newest release, "The Sacred Medicines", the long awaited follow-up to "Pharaoh Of Gods" and debut for Skyscraper Records. In related news, Necronomicon are still searching for a full time female vocalist. Interested parties may get in touch at: necronomicon@angelfire.com
DISBELIEF has signed a new contract with Nuclear Blast. The band will record their new album, due out through the label in spring, 2005, this fall with producer Tue Madsen (DIE HAPPY, MNEMIC, THE HAUNTED).
According to Nuclear Blast’s official website, SOILWORK have extended their contract with the label. It’s expected the band will write a new album in the vein of "Natural Born Chaos" or "Figure Number Five", but before that the band is going to shoot a video clip for the track ‘Departure Plan’ and play at some summer open air festivals across Europe.
The first edition of MY DARKEST HATE‘s new album, "At War", will include a bonus-DVD featuring the video clip ‘Catch The Bullet’, live clips from the PartySan OpenAir, a "Making Of" studio-report, and a history of the band.
According to TSJUDER‘s official website (www.tsjuder.com), the band have inked a new deal with Season Of Mist. The band will enter the studio in July to record their third album, "Desert Northern Hell". In related news, the Drakkar label will repress Tsjuder’s "Kill For Satan" and "Demonic Possession" albums (limited to 3,000 copies).
According to a post on Scream Magazine’s Forums by the band’s webmaster, GORGOROTH have finished co-operation with their label, Nuclear Blast. The band’s drummer, Kvitrafn, has apparently also quit the band, with the infamous Frost (SATYRICON, 1349, KEEP OF KALLESIN) agreeing to join. This information has been confirmed by the website administration. An official news update will be posted on the band’s website shortly.
MAYHEM‘s brand new release, "Chimera", entered the Norwegian charts in the 28th position during ist first week.