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ZARATHUSTRA have finished the recordings of their new MCD at Swedish Necromorbus Studio. The mini-CD (limited to 1000 copies) and the vinyl-version (limited to 500 copies) will be released in May. The titles of the 4 songs are ‘Slave Mortality’, ‘Become Eternal’, ‘Master Morality’ and ‘… Of Serpents And Swords’. The playing time will be around 21minutes. Vinyl bonus will be the cover-version ‘Sphinx’ of the German Black Metal band POISON. The coverartwork (painted by Chris "Thorncross" Moyen) can already be checked out at the band’s website www.zarathustra-online.net
VOMIT THE SOUL has signed with the US label Comatose Music (Lividity, Lust Of Decay, Dyscrasia, Necrotic Disgorgement, etc.), that will release the band’s first full-length album "Portraits Of Inhuman Abomination" at the and of summer 2005, together with t-shirts, longsleeves, hoodies and other merchandise. The album will be recorded at Heart Beat Studio in Zianigo di Mirano (Venice) from April 16th to April 23rd. Joel (Pyaemia) is taking care of the artwork. All further info at www.vomitthesoul.com or www.comatosemusic.com
The website of SOVEREIGNTY PRODUCTIONS (www.sovereignty-productions.de), the new label of Sonic Reign members Sebastian Schneider and Benjamin Borucki is finally online. Besides comprehensive information about Sonic Reign you’ll also get two new, exclusive MP3s from the pre-recording-session of their forthcoming album "Raw, Dark, Pure". Furthermore the last release of the band, the debut-MCD "The Decline Portrait", will soon be available via the Modern Black Metal label for the absolute lowest price of 9,-€ (ppd. in Germany) or 8,-€ + shipping (rest of the world). A studio-diary and video-clips of the recording-session will keep interested people up to date in what’s going on in the studio from end of this month on.
REVENANT have signed a deal for a limited CD release entitled "The Burning Ground" with Spain’s Xtreem Music. The CD will feature all the classic Revenant demos from 1987-1995 on a single CD (14 tracks in total), including many unreleased songs, ancient demo tracks, alternate versions of classic songs and a live version of ‘The Unearthly’ recorded on the "Prophecies" European tour. The original tapes were transferred to digital format and mixed and mastered this winter. The CD will also contain a 14 page booklet of classic artwork, photos, and flyers from the band’s long career. The photos were contributed by various people and they include rare photos of REVENANT with many of their friends from the underground, including Ripping Corpse, Immolation and Deceased. Henry Veggian also wrote a short essay for the booklet. The CD will be released in June, 2005. You can already check out the cover art on the band’s website at www.revenant.ws. The band also found a box of classic longsleeve shirts which they will be selling to anyone who’s interested. The shirts are black and on the front you’ll get a large red and white tribal version of the "R" logo (the same one that appears on the "Overman" CD cover). The back features a large Revenant logo (in block letters) over a photo of the band’s line-up, circa 1993. Beneath it are written the lyrics "Rise-Destroy-Rebuild" from the song "The Faithless." The same song title is printed in large letters down the left sleeve. The majority are size large, but there are about a half dozen XL size shirts as well. The shirts are being sold for twenty USD (plus a few bucks for shipping, depending on where you live). Since the supply is strictly limited, you should contact them soon!
From Beyond Productions will issue a limited vinyl version of the very first ASPHYX album, "Embrace The Death". Originally written in 1988/89 and recorded in 1990, the original label couldn’t manage, and the album ended up as a CD release via Century Media in 1996. For the first time on vinyl, this version will contain original artwork from that era as well as early days pictures and a biography by Bob Bagchus (drummer).
ABIGAIL is finishing up the recordings of their 3rd full-length album, for a release via Nuclear War Now Productions late summer.
CIANIDE will participate in an Antiseen tribute album. A split 7" with Spanish horror Grinders Machetazo is expected late next month.
"Downward Spiral: The Promise Of Worse To Come" is the working title of the fully recorded new album by the Black / Death Metal horde INCRIMINATED. It should be out in late September 2005.
MANEGARM will do a small tour through Holland in the first week of June. The band is currently finalizing their upcoming album "Vredens Tid".
NACHTMYSTIUM and From Beyond Productions agreed on a limited 7" and Pic 7", to be issued late May 2005. Expect harsh Black Metal.
UTUK XUL just issued a split CD with fellow country men MEPHIZTOPHEL via the Colombian label Hell Attacks.
Analripper (ex-Pyorrhoea) is the new vocalist of SPHERE. The band is currently rehearsing new material, which they describe themselves as being "brutal murderous Death Metal". Three new tracks are ready now (‘Deceived’, ‘Greed’ and ‘Hate Legalized Inside’). Those of you who are in Warsaw on the 6th of May can see them play at the Progresja Club with Switzerland’s Necropolis and local band Implicite. The current SPHERE line-up is as follows: Analripper – vocals, Thorn – drums, Lukas – guitar, Cthulhu – guitar and Bur – bass. More info at www.sphere.metal.pl
The following update has been posted at Nocturnal Art Production’s official website (www.nocturnalart.com): "After many years and a successful relationship, Nocturnal Art and RED HARVEST have agreed to part ways. Red Harvest is already hard at work on new material. Nocturnal Art wishes them the best of luck on their quest for a new label and all future efforts."
In case you’re looking for some real basic Heavy Metal every once in a while (not the type of "happy" Metal that bands like HAMMERFALL etc. established, but something closer to NWOBHM meets early 80s Metal), make sure to check out the debut full-length by Estonia’s HERALD "Heavy Metal Wakes The Beast", which will be released via Area Death Productions on April 10, 2005. The band definitely knows where this music originally comes from and delivers ten tracks of classic Metal, with very traditional riffing and great powerful vocals. Not really suitable for our review section, but still worthy to be checked out. All further info you may find at http://adp.areadeath.net.
Here’s an official statement from BESTIAL MOCKERY concerning their new album "Gospel Of The Insane": "The work on the new album has truly been a curse and a strange descent into the depths of insanity and madness. Although we’ve done more gigs and tours since February 2004 and up to date then ever before during our 10 years of existence and hence also stepped up a level in the live ritual violence and sickness, I have been more or less locked up since march 2004 in different mental institutions, soul asylums, hospital departments etc. Therefore have the title which was set since long before these events unfolded as a self-fulfilling prophecy and double curse and blessing and its inner meaning been revealed to me during my time in imprisonment and isolation in a truly disgusting and horrifying way. If "Evoke The Desecrator" carried the spirits of damnation and death within it, it is nothing compared to madness catalyst which this album gonna be. I have also worked on the vocals and even recorded some of them inside the walls of these institutions. And when I was granted to leave after months, 9 out of 10 cases have been just to go to rehearsals, get drunk, stoned, ripped and twisted with the good people and then go straight back in again. Which also have been a very bizarre, confusing but inspiring experience. After endless nights of pain, agony, despair and eternal desolation all the sudden making new songs, go mad, preparing gigs and new mini-tours with the others of this warmongering horde have been sick. Anyhow to cut the crap now you know the background. Now we are currently preparing to record tracks like ‘The Punishment Of Pure Hellpain’, ‘Black Metal Slaughter’, ‘Out From The Cold Straight To Hell’, ‘Self-Destructive Salvation’, ‘Tyrant Of Hells Land’, ‘Morbid Chainsaw Execution’, ‘Slut-Fuck-Cult’ and ‘Father In Heaven’ for the "Gospel Of The Insane" LP / CD. – Master fucking Motorsåg on Crucifixtion Day 2005."
Brazil based label Marquee Rrecords signed a deal with Candadian cult Thrashers SACRIFICE. The result of their co-operation will be the official re-release of the first three studio albums of the band "Torment In Fire", "Forward To Termination" and "Soldiers Of Misfortune". Also planned is a complete live album with a complete show from 1989. All CDs will be double CDs and released as special edition including a lot of live and bonus tracks. The live album will probably see the light of day as a CD / DVD set. According to Marquee Records "Torment In Fire" will be unleased upon all headbangers in the world by next month. The CD set will include 36-38 tracks (!) including a lot of live material. The booklet will have all the lyrics and features tons of old pics, flyers, show posters, live and studio shots and liner notes by SACRIFICE’s masterminds Rob Urbinati and Joe Rico. A complete biography will be also included written by no other than our honoured Voices member Laurent Ramadier. The other albums will follow later on. Distributors and interested people get in touch at www.marquee.com.br.
KEEP OF KALESSIN have just been added to the list of bands for the "Tribute To IMMORTAL" CD / LP that will be out in autumn.
HEADHUNTER D.C. have just issued the following official press statement regarding their exclusion on the POSSESSED tribute "Seven Gates Of Horror": "HEADHUNTER D.C. from Brazil would like to express here all their indignation against the Dutch label Karmageddon Media (ex-infamous Hammerheart Records) for the non-inclusion of the band on the POSSESSED tribute entitled "Seven Gates of Horror". The label, in the person of Mr. Guido Heijnens, alleges that the recording of ‘Twisted Minds’ made by HEADHUNTER D.C. exclusively to be featured on the tribute album "wasn’t sactisfatory for its inclusion on the tribute", but came up to include on the compilation some not so good recordings just for being made by "renowned bands in the scene", or better said, (of course) American or European bands that don’t come to the point to be mentioned here. Curiously the label also interposed the participation of another Brazilian band on the tribute, MYSTIFIER – being them and HEADHUNTER D.C. the only two bands from South America who would appear on the compilation -, showing their total prejudice against Brazilian and South American bands. HEADHUNTER D.C. has confirmed its appearance on the POSSESSED tribute in late ’99, the year in which the homage was idealized by Arthur Wroblewsky, owner of the Polish label Immortal Records (later No Mercy Music), who in that occasion was in charge of the tribute release – thence you can have an idea of the long time the band have waited for it. After too much delay and Mr. Arthur’s disappearance without any explanation, all the bands involved in the project were contacted again and asked to send all the material once more, but this time the label responsible for the tribute release was Dark Realm Records, from the States, under approval of Jeff Becerra himself, bassist / vocalist of the almighty POSSESSED. The whole material was sent again and with that more and more money has been spent (as well as all the money invested on the recordings, which the band has never got back), however the delay continued. After 5 years of wait it was known that the tribute had been finally released, this time through the new Dutch label Karmageddon Media and WITHOUT the participation of HEADHUNTER D.C. with the classic ‘Twisted Minds’, for the total deception and consequent indignation of the band members and its fans & admirers. E-mails have been sent to Dark Realm Recs. asking about the non-inclusion of the band on the tribute, however without any sign of reply – they, who were our long time contact, friends and Unholy Death Metal partners (and hopefully they still are), besides seemingly being Latin Americans – or at least Latin descendants. It’s really a pity that there are still attitudes like that in the Metal underground scene, proving that, even yet very disguised, the prejudice still exists. We have appeared on several tribute albums in these last years (i.e. MORBID ANGEL and KREATOR tributes on Dwell Records, SODOM tribute also on Dwell, but not released yet, and DORSAL ATLANTICA tribute on Brazilian Rock Shop Records) and NEVER had any kind of problem, not mentioning that all our cover versions have always been hailed by the press – and all the songs were recorded in the same studio. Finally, let us send a mighty "die in heaven with your god!!!" to the (ir)responsible ones for this release, and say to the fans, Death Cult followers, to check the HEADHUNTER D.C.’s version for ‘Twisted Minds’ – which was very eulogized by Jeff Becerra – on the American issue of "… And The Sky Turns To Black…(The Dark Age Has Come)" CD via Mercenary Musik / World War III, or even still on its Brazilian re-issue on Dying Music Records which will be unleashed soon. Listen to it and draw your own conclusions. By the way, POSSESSED lives eternally, and you, posers, scream out in fright! KILL THEM PIGS!!!"
Due to reasons beyond their control, NEGURA BUNGET was forced to cancel most parts of their upcoming tour. Here’s the band’s comments on that: "There’s nothing we can say to express our dissapointment for this situation. On Thursday evening we left for the gigs, but we were returned from the border twice because of new tighter regulation to enter EU countries. We are confident we’ll make it though to the gigs in Bologna (IT) and Maribor (SLO)."
According to the official MAYHEM website (www.thetruemayhem.com) the band is scheduled to play a Norwegian date prior to their appearance at the Inferno Festival on March 24th in Oslo. MAYHEM, with support from KOLDBRANN, will play at Union Scene in Drammen, Norway on March 23rd.
AKERCOCKE are booked to perform at Hamburg, Germany’s Headbanger’s Ballroom (www.headbangers-ballroom.de) on March 17th. Also on the bill is SUFFERAGE. This show will be AKERCOCKE’s first since the departure of guitarist Paul Scanlan.
PHAZM is currently working with a session drummer for the next gigs, as Dyrhk will be on an U.S tour with SOILWORK in April as well as during the OZZ FEST. Cedhryck from SOLEKAHN is now behind the barrels. http://phazm.free.fr
After several years of silence RITUAL CARNAGE have finally finished a new album. The record is called "Do Not Resuscitate" and lyrically deals with terrorism and the politics surrounding it. The band recorded all instruments in Hachioji, Japan at Moopies, while the vocals were put down to tape in Jacksonville, Florida at Vision Sound. Here’s the complete tracklist: ‘Imprisoned Secret’, ‘The Perfect Strain’, ‘I, Infidel’, ‘Thrist For Blood’, ‘These Chains’, ‘Do Not Resuscitate’, ‘Axiom’, ‘Straight To The Nether Regions’, ‘Room 101’, ‘All Too Human’, ‘Terror Ends Here’ and ‘I Am War’. "Do Not Resuscitate" will once again be released through Osmose Productions later this year.
Last week Agonia Records got a letter from Quinn Emanuel Trial Lawyers who represent Mel Gibson. Apparently the picture used for the cover artwork for the IN AETERNUM‘s "No Salvation" MCD belonged to the motion picture "The passion of the christ". Therefore Agonia Records and IN AETERNUM are forced to withdraw the "No Salvation" MCD from all stores to avoid being subject of a possible lawsuit. This is the official statement from IN AETERNUM concerning this matter: "IN AETERNUM apologizes for any problems we may have caused by using the picture from the motion picture "The passion of the christ". We did not intend to interfere with any copyright laws and was not aware of the fact that it belonged to that particular motion picture. Appologies to Mel Gibson and Icon Productions."
After having published the news on WAR AMP (the new home of ex-SACRIFICE / INTERZONE guitarist / vocalist Rob Urbinati) last Saturday we asked Rob to reveal a couple more details about this band. Here’s his exclusive answer: "Our singers name is Matt… our style is like the first SABBATH album, Blues based, but really heavy. The songs are very simple, but our writing style is pretty much to let the songs write themselves, just let it flow. We will be doing a rough demo in March. The vocals are heavy, but he can sing as well… and lots of leads!!!! I worship Iommi, so this is fun… we may be doing a cover of MAIDEN’s ‘Prowler’, not sure yet…"
Kurt Struebing, guitarist from NME was killed last week when his car drove off a bridge. You can check out more details about the crash here. Rest in peace!