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After a short period of silence Necroharmonic Productions have returned with two more very cool compilation CDs of classic demo material: FATAL‘s "Retrospective From Hell" (which is already out) and ROTTREVORE‘s "Disembodied" (should be available shortly). New releases are furthermore in the works from BLOOD STORM ("Sirian Storm") as well as from the reformed GOREAPHOBIA. The band recently recorded two tracks originally from 1990 (that never made it to their demo or 7" EP back then) as well as two brand new tracks. This will be combined with the "Morbidious Pathology" demo and some more items. Also signed to Necroharmonic now is ANATOMIA from Japan (featuring ex-members of Transgressor, with a release planned for the fall) and Germany’s GUT (their brand new full-length "The Cumback" will be out in the summer). More upcoming releases will include material by CORPSE MOLESTATION, MUCUPURULENT, THE RAUNCHOUS BROTHERS, DRIPPING and more. www.necroharmonic.com
Approximately four years after its first re-release via Mercenary Musik / WWIII, HEADHUNTER D.C.‘s "… And The Sky Turns To Black…" album is going to be re-issued through Brazil’s Dying Music Records (www.dyingmusic.com) once again. The material was remastered in the States for this and the re-issue will feature no less than 5 bonus tracks (covers of Possessed, Sodom, Kreator, Morbid Angel and Dorsal Atlântica), an extra slipcase cover and unpublished photos. It is scheduled for a June 2005 release. No confirmed news about the long overdue CD re-release of the band’s "Punishment At Dawn" album yet, but chances are that this is also going to happen after all through the band’s original label Cogumelu Records in mid 2005. Apart from that, HEADHUNTER D.C. are going to enter the studio within the next days to record ‘Slaughtered Remains’ for the Necrovore tribute LP on From Beyond Productions. There’s also plans to record a brandnew track as well as the Sanctifier track ‘Cycle Of The Entity’ for a planned split 7" on Legion of Death. For all further info check out their website at www.headhunterdeathcult.hpg.com.br
Magick Records (a division of the L.A. based Cleopatra Label Group) has licensed the still current BURDEN OF GRIEF album "Fields Of Salvation" for North America. This also features a live version of ‘Reborn’ as a bonus track.
SURRENDER OF DIVINITY from Bangkok will release their new full-length on From Beyond Productions in the fall of 2005.
AGATHOCLES have signed with Displeased Records. The upcoming album is almost completely written and rehearsed and will soon be recorded in a decent studio in Belgium.
Right after leaving Osmose ABOMINATOR signed with Displeased Records. Expect the band’s new album later this year.
FUNERAL PROCESSION‘s cassette EP version of "Legion Cymru" has finally been released last Saturday by Intolerant Records / Canada (www.geocities.com/intolerant_records). It is limited to 333 handnumbered copies and comes with a pro-cover / tape and includes five bonustracks, among them two exclusive ones never to be available anywhere else. www.funeralprocession.net
SNAKEPIT MAGAZINE # 14 is out! Next to a bunch of very critical reviews, the new issue (as usual) features interviews with a whole bunch of classic Metal acts. This time you’ll get very in-depth features on ANVIL CHORUS (coverstory, the longest interview EVER in the entire history of SNAKEPIT!), BRATS, CRYSTAL KNIGHT, DEAF DEALER, DESTRUCTION, FATE, GUTRIX, FARSCAPE, MERCYFUL FATE, MORDRED, ONSLAUGHT, PARIAH, POSSESSED, SATAN, SLAUTER XSTROYES, SOLDIER, STRATTSON, TROUBLE, TYGERS OF PAN TANG, ZOSER MEZ and a label special on MEGAFORCE RECORDS. 92 A4-sized pages in total, photocopied, but still with a full coloured cover. European Metalheads can order a single copy for 5,-Euro / five copies for 20,-Euro (well hidden cash, no coins!) from Laurent Ramadier, La Cailloterie, 72210 Voivres Les Le Mans, France, email: snakepit2@free.fr, website: www.truemetal.org/snakepit/. US and South American readers can order a professionally printed copy (with glossy cover!) for $6 from Yosuke Konishi, P.O. Box 7055, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA. PayPal: yosukekonishi@yahoo.com, email: nuclearwarnow_prod@yahoo.com. SNAKEPIT # 15 is supposed to be out in October this year.
CELTIC FROST mainman Tom Gabriel Fischer has posted the following message at his official Blog (dated Friday, April 29th): "We recorded vocals for one of the songs for the final production demos for our new album yesterday, and we’ll continue with two more on Saturday. Martin and I have worked on a variety of lyrics for months now… and some of the lyrics even go back much further than that. I had spent weeks preparing the vocal lines at my place and then took them to our rehearsal studio to practice them in absolute solitude, but with the energy of a live performance. As has always been true for CELTIC FROST, numerous rewrites became necessary to make everything work as it must for us to be satisfied. Martin (Ain – bass) often coached me where certain lines did not yet create the feel we had both imagined. Martin has always been a most resourceful vocal producer, but never before have we collaborated so closely. There had been some in and outside of the band who had already become slightly uneasy as we are nearing the completion of the album and there had not yet been any recorded lead vocals other than those I did last year for the Ground demo and a few that Martin recorded for some of his songs. It often bemused and sometimes annoyed me. I have always worked like that, and I have no intention whatsoever of changing my approach. This is the way I write best. Although I usually pen draft lyrics almost from the minute we begin rehearsing a song, it will take still so much work until I feel in my mind that lyrics and music truly merge. Most often, my vocals are the very last item to be recorded, and not everybody is happy about that. On the other hand, never have I prepared and practiced lead vocals for a CELTIC FROST album more extensively and professionally than I do right now. Martin’s lyrics for ‘Ain Elohim’, one of our most passionate new songs, are a significant body of work. The lyrics are extensive and deep, and the song combines some four different vocal styles. I approached it with a great deal of respect and finally sang it for the first time this week. And the song and me became one almost from the first try. I was stunned and relieved. So we decided to begin the already scheduled vocal recording sessions last night with ‘Ain Elohim’. Erol (Unala – guitars) engineered, Martin produced, and I sang. I have rarely felt more comfortable during a vocal recording session, and a lot of the credit for this must go to Erol, who was so quick, efficient and precise, and who, by now, knows by heart the sound requirements to bring out my strongest performances. We finished the session late at night, Martin and I performing backing vocals. I am now looking forward very much to Saturday’s session. We’ll begin with the lead vocals for ‘No Thing Born’ and hope to complete maybe two more songs before the day is over. Maybe our enthusiastic mood was boosted by our amusement over Sparrow-Hawk’s ludicrous ten million word e-mail which we received mid-week and by my mocking of the hapless assertions contained therein. There’s nothing better than somebody else proving to your friends what you have been telling them all along. Happiness is an album without dishonesty."
TAAKE will do an exclusive concert at the upcoming Hole In The Sky festival in Bergen this summer. The line-up will be: Hoest (vocals, guitar), Lava (bass), Mord (drums) & Ivar Bjoernson (ENSLAVED, guitar).
Germany’s ASSASSIN have made their first album since their 1988 release "Interstellar Experience" (SPV) available. The new album, entitled "The Club", can currently be ordered online. Tracks on the album include: ‘Bushwackers’, ‘Go Insane’, ‘The Club’, ‘I Swear’, ‘Not With Us’, ‘The Price Of Power’, ‘Real Friends’, ‘Psycho Terror’, ‘A Whole Life In One Moment’, ‘JinTian Shen Huo (Live For Today)’, ‘Raging Mob’, ‘No Fear’ and ‘Thunder and Lightning’ (THIN LIZZY cover). For more on the band visit their website at www.assassin-online.de
The following update has been posted at the AETERNUS website (www.aeternus-darkermonument.tk) by leader Ares: "Greetz. Some news… We have gotten ourselves a new guitarist, session guitarist. He will work with us and basically be there for us when we will do gigs in the future. His name is Dreggen! "Hexaeon" is still under production, this has been a slow process and it’s sad to say it is still going slow… I will keep you updated as things progress, they ARE, but not so very fast as we all want it to. Sorry for this, I know U all wanna hear "Hexaeon", we too want it out and we wanna start making new songs too… after all… this album was recorded last summer… Ok, laters all… Thx for the patience, give us a bit more… pleez! Ares." Tracks that are set to appear on "Hexaeon", due for release through Nocturnal Art Productions, include: ‘The Darkest Of Minds’, ‘GodHead Charlatan’, ‘The 9th Revolution’, ‘In The 3rd Dwells Oblivion’, ‘Hexaeon’, ‘Punished’, ‘Ageless Void’, ‘Christbait’ and ‘What I Crave’. More details on the release as they become available.
DESTRUCTION‘s website (www.destruction.de) has been updated with the following: "Check out new Studio clip in our media section!! Watch DESTRUCTION record their new album with Peter Tägtgren and V.O. and Franky from GURD. Listen exclusively to a unmastered rough mix of one of the new songs, ‘Soulcollector’ (working title). Enjoy!" DESTRUCTION’s forthcoming new album, "Inventor Of Evil", will be released in Europe on August 15th through AFM Records. The new release will be available on CD and limited edition digi-pak CD. The band have been recording the new album with Peter Tätgtren (HYPOCRISY / PAIN), V.O. Pulver and their live engineer Franky Winkelmann. The production process is taking place at three different studios in Germany, Switzerland and Sweden, and Tägtgren will mix the effort at Abyss Studios in Sweden.
CENTINEX have finished recording, mixing and mastering their new album, "World Declension", due for release in late June (exact date TBC) in North America by Candlelight America and in Europe via Cold / Regain Records. The album contains the following tracklisting: Chapter I – Visions Of Armageddon: I. ‘Victorious Dawn Rising’, II. ‘Purgatorial Overdrive’, III. ‘The Destroyer’, IV. ‘As Legions Come’, V. ‘Sworn’. Chapter II – Earth Inferno: I. ‘Synthetic Sin Zero’, II. ‘Flesh Is Fragile’, III. ‘Wretched Cut’, IV. ‘Deconstruction Macabre’. Says the band, "This is the most well-written CENTINEX album by far with everything from share brutality and speed to calmer melodic parts. Also the production turned out better than anyone could have ever imagined. So you have been warned… We have been booked for two Swedish festivals, one to take place now in May and the other in the fall."
VILE are in the final stages of recording and mixing for the upcoming release "The New Age Of Chaos". According to a band update, "We are recording the final two vocal and bass tracks right now. Mixing of the other songs is now in progress. Also artist Graal is in the process of creating the album art which should be very cool. This new CD is a sort of concept album that deals with the realities and horrors of a modern war with fundamentalist Islam. The final crusade, so to speak. Song names include titles like ‘Suicide Warfare’, ‘Burning Shrines Of Worship’, and ‘To Die In Battle’. Produced by founding member Colin Davis, you can expect the clearest and most precise recording VILE has yet obtained, but with a huge presence that helps deliver the heaviness and relentless groove that is the patented VILE sound." The tracklisting for "The New Age Of Chaos" is as follows: ‘Devour’, ‘Suicide Warfare’, ‘Ritual Decapitation’, ‘Burning Shrines Of Worship’, ‘The New Age Of Chaos’, ‘To Die In Battle’, ‘Deafening Silence’, ‘Sentenced To Live’ and ‘Ascension’. A full North American tour with DEEDS OF FLESH is being planned for October as well as a subsequent European tour in November with Danish Death Metallers, EXMORTEM.
According to Nuclear Blast Germany, Dutch Death Metallers SINISTER have been raised from the dead! "Fact is that after numerous letters and e-mails of fans around the world we reconsidered to revive the band again", states the band, "but drastic measures were needed in order to keep true to ourselves and to our fans that supported the band from the beginning." Which means that SINISTER decided to alter the line-up in an unorthodox way: Aad Kloosterwaard, drummer and founder of the band, will be the new vocalist. "This role is not new to him, since he is already handling the mic some time with his other bands BLASTCORPS and INFINITED HATE." Additionally bass player Alex Paul will switch to guitar while newcomer Paul Beltman (ex-JUDGEMENT DAY) shall be the new SINISTER drummer. A (session) bass player will be added when the band hits the road again. Plans for a new album are already at hand as well, as Alex, Aad and Paul explain: "Our vengeance to those we hate start at the end of this year when we will record our new album in the Stage One studio in Germany. The new album will be released again through Nuclear Blast Records, our brothers in crime, to whom we have the deepest respect for believing in SINISTER for all these years. As for our fans who supported us throughout the years and hopefully will again in the future!"
DEW-SCENTED, who just returned home from some shows with GRAVE, have just spent two days in Leipzig, shooting their first ever video clip for the song ‘Turn To Ash’ from their upcoming new album "Issue VI". Nuclear Blast Records will release the new album on June 20th in Europe and the first pressing will include a bonus DVD. Apart from the video clip, the DVD will feature 17 live-tracks, recorded at various shows from the last years in Paris, Strasbourg, Ludwigsburg, Summer Breeze Festival and the Wacken Festival as well as parts of a brand new show in Ludwigshafen at the "Metal Meeting XVII" festival in front of some 700 people. In June DEW-SCENTED will return to Japan to do another tour over there with High On Fire and Misery Signals. At the same time Soundholic Records is releasing "Issue VI" in Japan (with the exclusive bonus track ‘Full-Blown Revenge’). Guitarist Flo is no longer with the band and was replaced by Marvin Vriesde (Blo.Torch and Severe Torture), who already toured with the band in 1996 and also filled-in for their European tour in 2002. Next weekend DEW-SCENTED will head out to the US to play at the Minneapolis Mayhem Festival with Sodom, Sadus, Usurper and many other bands. A full North American tour is planned for November. For more info check out www.dew-scented.net
SOVEREIGNTY PRODUCTIONS is currently looking for talented underground Black Metal acts. The label is specialized in Black Metal, with a focus on innovative and modern sounds and styles. Conact and further info via www.sovereignty-productions.de
Here’s an official press statement from the organizers of the FUCK THE COMMERCE FESTIVAL: "Hello friends of the FTC, unfortunately, we must make a regrettable announcement for you. Unfortunately, ABSCESS won’t play FTC this year. To correct it at once; this isn’t in any case a fould of the band!!! There have been some communication problems which we are responsible for and that’s finaly the reason why ABSCESS cannot come. Among the organization of a festival regrettable faults happen now from time to time and it’s twice regrettable that this happened the second time for ABSCESS but we cannot change it at this time. We hope that you won’t critisize the band for our foult and that nevertheless you’ll have a lot of fun on FTC VIII. We will do our best to book additional a good underground – band for the Thursday. Many thanks for your understanding. All other bands are confirmed!!!" www.fuck-the-commerce.com
One of the most extreme festivals of the year, the OBSCENE EXTREME 2005 festival, will take place on July 07 – 09 in Trutnov, Czech. Republic. So far, the following bands are confirmed: BLOOD DUSTER, PUNGENT STENCH, DISFEAR, Haemorrhage, REGURGITATE, AVULSED, YACÖPSE, PURGATORY, DEAD, BOMBSTRIKE, ISCAARUM, LENG TCH’E, INFERIA, KRONOS, INGROWING, DISKONOT, CAEDERE, DEVILYN, STOMA, SCREAMIN DAEMON, MINDSNARE, MALIGNANT TUMOR, DISFIGURED CORPSE, HOLOCAUSTO CANNIBAL, DEATH REALITY and more. Tickets will be EUR 20 / 600 CZK (including a festival CD) and you’ll get an amazing campsite and festival area. For more info visit: www.obscene.cz
"Tide & Law", the re-release of the two SUN DESCENDS EPs has been delayed due to problems at the Brazilian print plant. Marquee Records stated that they are currently talking to the print plant in order to expedite the process, hoping for a quick resolve. More info at www.sundescends.com
TESTAMENT have made another bootleg DVD available at their official website, this time featuring the original lineup of Chuck Billy (vocals), Eric Peterson (guitar), Alex Skolnick (guitar), Greg Christian (bass) and Louie Clemente (drums). Entitled "TESTAMENT – Live At The Country Club – Los Angeles, CA", it was filmed on October 6, 1989 by Walter Morgan / Deadly Embrace. The tracklist is as follows: ‘Practice What You Preach’, ‘Sins Of Omission’, ‘The Haunting’, ‘The New Order’, ‘The Time Is Coming’, ‘The Preacher’, ‘The Greenhouse Effect’, guitar solo, ‘Perilous Nations’, ‘Into The Pit’, ‘The Ballad’, ‘A Day Of Reckoning’, ‘Trial By Fire’, ‘Blessed In Contempt’, ‘Burnt Offerings’, ‘Apocalyptic City’, ‘Do Or Die’, ‘C.O.T.L.O.D.’ and ‘Disciples Of The Watch’. For more information go to www.testamentlegions.com/merch2.htm.
HATE ETERNAL‘s new track ‘Behold Judas’ can currently be downloaded here. ‘Behold Judas’ is lifted from Hate Eternal’s new album, "I, Monarch". The album’s tracklisting is as follows: ‘Two Demons’, ‘Behold Judas’, ‘The Victorious Reign’, ‘To Know Our Enemies’, ‘I, Monarch’, ‘Path To The Eternal Gods’, ‘The Plague Of Humanity’, ‘It Is Our Will’, ‘Sons Of Darkness’ and ‘Faceless One’. "I, Monarch" will see a June 28th release in the US and June 27th in the UK and Europe.
Candlelight USA with Regain Records has confirmed May 31st as the stateside release of "De Profundis Clamavi Ad Te Domine", the long-awaited live album from Sweden’s DARK FUNERAL. Recorded during the band’s 2003 tour of South American (including stops in Brazil, Chile and Colombia), "De Profundis Clamavi Ad Te Domine" features a selection of material that spans the band’s decade-long career. Released in Europe for some time, the delayed release is sure to please the band’s extensive US fanbase. "We are very excited to finally see the official release date of "De Profundis Clamavi Ad Te Domine" in the US", says guitarist Lord Ahriman. "Due to label problems it has been a long time since we’ve been active for the US market, however things are finally changing for the better. We want our fans to know that we are gearing up for a killer year that will not only include this release but a new record, video, DVD and worldwide touring." The tracklisting for "De Profundis Clamavi Ad Te Domine" is confirmed as: ‘Intro’, ‘The Arrival Of Satan’s Empire’, ‘An Apprentice Of Satan’, ‘The Dawn Of No More Rises’, ‘Thy Legions Come’, ‘Hail Murder’, ‘Goddess Of Sodomy’, ‘The Secrets Of The Black Arts’, ‘Vobiscum Satanas’, ‘Shadows Over Transylvania’, ‘Open The Gates’, ‘Ineffable Kings Of Darkness’, ‘Thus I Have Spoken’, ‘My Dark Desires’ and ‘Armageddon Finally Comes’.
According to Roadrunner’s UK website, OBITUARY‘s forthcoming self-titled reunion album will be issued on July 11. It is expected that North America will follow on July 12th. The album is now recorded, mixed and mastered. As previously reported, OBITUARY recorded the album with legendary producer Scott Burns and Mark Prator at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, FA. The record was mastered by Tom Morris.
DISGORGE have posted the following update at their official website (www.disgorge.us): "DISGORGE are set to play Tokyo’s first Deathfest, April 30th, were they will play the "Parallels Of Infinite Torture" album live in its entirety. Check out the track ‘Abhorrent Desecration Of Thee Iniquity’ off of DISGORGE’s Crash Music debut album, "Parallels Of Infinite Torture", which hits stores everywhere May 17th." "Parallels Of Infinite Torture", contains "over forty minutes of sheer brutality." The tracklist is as follows: ‘Revealed In Obscurity’, ‘Enthroned Abominations’ (mp3), ‘Atonement’, ‘Abhorrent Desecration Of Thee Iniquity’ (mp3), ‘Forgotten Scriptures’, ‘Descending Upon Convulsive Devourments’, ‘Condemned To Sufferance’, ‘Parallels Of Infinite Torture’, ‘Asphyxiation Of Thee Oppressed’ and ‘Ominous Sigils Of Ungodly Ruins’.
Holland’s old school Thrashers OCCULT have posted the video for the track ‘The Bleeding’ at their website here. The track is from the band’s new album, "Malevolent Rapture", out now through Karmageddon Media. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered at Stage One Studio in Germany, under the supervision of producer Andy Classen (DEW-SCENTED, CALLENISH CIRCLE, TANKARD).
Earache Records have posted the new video for EXMORTEM‘s ‘Bitter Disciplin’ track. The song is taken from the band’s latest album, "Nihilistic Contentment". You can check it out here.
AURA NOIR bassist / vocalist Apollyon has posted the following message at the band’s official website (www.auranoir.com) in regards to guitarist Aggressor, who fell from the fourth floor of a building in Oslo, Norway on March 26th: "Carl Michael’s (aka Aggressor) condition is constantly improving. He’s waking up these days but it’s a long and delicate process that most probably is beyond painful for him both physically and mentally. Like ourselves he doesn’t have any idea of what really happened. Doctors are of course very modest when asked about his future. Then again they’re honest, so personally I consider it good news when they haven’t said anything for a long time. I think they would have told us by now if they knew of anything specific that is impossible to train back to decent shape. His family appreciates all of the support. Hades Rise! Come on Aggressor!!! – Apollyon."
In a recent interview with www.BraveWords.com, NECROPHAGIA / ex – IMMORTAL bassist Iscariah revealed that former Immortal frontman Abbath is currently hammering out new music. "I spoke to Abbath a few months ago and he’s keeping himself busy doing a demo with the guitar player from ENSLAVED. It’s taken quite some time because just before I moved to the UK (over a year ago) he came to my house and played some of the music to me. It’s got an "At The Heart Of Winter" kind of feel to it. It’s really heavy, really stong material. You can definitely hear who wrote it, and that’s a compliment. It’s brilliant stuff. I can’t wait for him to get back out there. Abbath is an amazing artist and an amazing stage presence. He needs to be out there."
According to a posting at Cold Records official website, IN BATTLE and the label have gone separate ways. Cold remarked says: "They did have four albums left on the contract, but we released them for free. No bad blood between us. Good luck guys to becoming rockstars." The Swedish Death Metallers are working on some new material for their next album, which they hope to release in late 2005.
FUNERAL PROCESSION‘s vinyl-version of the "Legion Cymru" 7"EP is finally out now. It comes in a foldover sleeve with coloured cover, black vinyl, a b/w-sticker and is limited to 333 handnumbered copies. The CassEP-version (pro-cover / pro-tape, 5 bonustracks) will most likely be available within the next weeks. The limited MCD boxset as well as the "Wolfish Storms…" shirt are sold out. Millennial Visions are considering to reprint the MCD as an ordinary jewelcase-version, but this is very unlikely to happen during the next months. The Bathory Tribute to which Alboîn (Geist) and Count Gothmog have contributed a song under the name of The Lonesome Procession has been cancelled by Total Holocaust Records as Black Mark (who hold the rights to all Bathory songs) were not willing to cooperate with Total Holocaust. The song however is available on the FUNERAL PROCESSION website www.funeralprocession.net, in the "Download" section. The band’s next live appearances will be on May 14th in Gouda (The Netherlands) with Ordo Draconis and on July 8th or 9th at this year’s Under The Black Sun festival near Berlin. With one or two forthcoming exceptions, these are most probably the only performances of Funeral Procession in the next 15 months mainly because the band wishes to concentrate on forthcoming recordings and releases.