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Two more bands have just been confirmed to join the band line-up of BANG YOUR HEAD 2004. First addition are Hardrock veterans U.F.O., who’ll play up in some high-class line-up consisting of Phil Mogg (vocals, guitar), Pete Way (bass), Paul Raymond (keyboards), Vinnie Moore (guitar) and Jason Bonham, son of late LED ZEPPELIN-drummer John Bonham. The second addition is the recently reunited WHITE LION along with singer Mike Tramp. More information at: www.bang-your-head.de
HATE ETERNAL‘s Erik Rutan is set to produce PREMONITION OF WAR’s next album, to be released through Victory Records. The former MORBID ANGEL guitarist will meet up with the band this month at Florida’s Mana Recording Studios.
INFERNAL WAR recently inked a deal with Agonia Records for the release of their debut album.
THE CROWN‘s "Possessed 13" album will be available in Europe from October 20th in a gatefold sleeve LP. This Metal Blade release will feature six bonus tracks.
DRAGONLORD have announced through their website (www.enterthedragonlord.com) that they have been forced to cancel their previously announced California shows with DEATH ANGEL. Originally scheduled to take place on October 24th (Cadillac Ranch, Concord) and October 28th (Cat Club, San Francisco), the shows have been canceled due to drummer Jon Allen’s personal family issues.
DARK FUNERAL (www.darkfuneral.se) have issued this statement through their website, "We’re currently in the studio working on a live album featuring material recorded during our recent South American tour. More info soon to come".
The ABC television show Dragnet will be airing their Daddy’s Little Girl episode this Saturday, October 4th at 10pm. Artwork from OLD MAN’S CHILD latest album, In Defiance Of Existence, and additional memorabilia from DIMMU BORGIR guitarist Galder’s side project has been incorporated into the show.
Israels Grind / Metalcore band HAND MADE GOD will enter CCR studios in Belgium on the 14th of December in order to record their debut album. On the December 12, 2003 the band will play a show in Weerts (NL) with the Belgian acts Leng Tch’e and Maggots. More shows will be confirmed soon. You can check out an mp3 here: www.metalist.co.il/mp3/Hand_made_god_No_Escape.mp3
Next week Australia’s Modern Invasion Records will be re-releasing the classic self-titled HOBBS ANGEL OF DEATH debut on CD for it has become a real hard to find collectors item over the years. The album originally came out on Steamhammer Records / SPV in 1988 and was produced by Harris Johns (KREATOR, SODOM, VOIVOD etc.). It features the following ten tracks: ‘House Of Death’, ‘Satans Crusade’, ‘Lucifer’s Domain’, ‘Marie Antoinette’, ‘Jack The Ripper’, ‘Crucifixion’, ‘Brotherhood’, ‘The Journey’, ‘Bubonic Plague’ and ‘Cold Steel’. The re-issue will have all lyrics and rare new photos. For further details check out: www.moderninvasionmusic.com
The French Death Metal horde BLOODY SIGN has recorded their first CD "Vana Vigala Loïts" in Estonia this summer and just mixed it in France in S. Buriez’ studio LB Lab. The band is currently awaiting the mastering and is looking for a label that can press and promote it. More info you may get at their brandnew website: www.bloodysign.fr.st
Norway’s CHTON and Scotland’s MAN MUST DIE have been signed by Retribute Records (www.retributerecords.com). CHTON’s debut full-length currently under the working title of "Chtonian Lifecode" will be recorded at Godt Selskap studio (home of the latest releases from Necrophagia and Wurdulak) to be released in Spring 2004 and is supposed to be "essential listening for anyone who enjoys the likes of Immolation, Deicide, Mayhem and Morbid Angel…" Further info on the band you will get here: www.chton.com. MAN MUST DIE’s debut is planned for an early 2004 release followed by an appearance at next year’s Maryland Death Fest. The band incorporates influences from Cryptopsy, Suffocation and Kataklysm among others. Check out www.manmustdie.com for more details about them.
Florida’s EQUINOX have a brandnew website running now. You can check out the impressive result at: www.equinoxmetal.com
DEATH BY DAWN will be playing a show in Steinfurt ("Talentschuppen") on October 10, 2003 with a special guest appearance of Martin van Drunen!
Veteran German Thrashers TANKARD are preparing to enter Stage One studio in Bühne, Germany with producer Andy Classen to begin recording their new album, "Beast Of Bourbon". Among the tracks set to appear on the CD are ‘Fistful Of Love’, ‘Under Friendly Fire’, ‘Genetic Overkill’ and ‘Die With A Beer In Your Hand’. The follow-up to last year’s "B-Day" is due in March 2004 through AFM Records.
The latest addition to the BANG YOUR HEAD 2004 FESTIVAL line-up is BALLISTIC, the new traditional Metal outfit of former WARDOG and TENSION musician Tom Gattis, who have just released their highly acclaimed debut. Visitors of 1998’s BANG YOUR HEAD might remember Gattis. To everybody’s surprise, no one else but Bruce Dickinson joined the huge frontman of late WARDOG on stage to give him a bit of vocal support.
The UK’s FOREFATHER have inked a deal with Karmageddon Media (formerly Hammerheart). The band are currently recording their fourth album, "Ours Is The Kingdom", due out through the label in early 2004. Before the new album comes out, Karmageddon will reissue Forefather’s other three albums, "Deep Into Time", "The Fighting Man" and "Engla Tocyme". Each reissue will come with bonus tracks and remastered sound.
Candlelight Records are reissuing OPETH‘s "Orchid", "Morning Rise" and "My Arms, Your Hearse" albums on October 20th in very limited edition logo embossed tins. This edition is limited to a run of 2,000. Advance orders can be placed at: www.plastichead.com
SANATENA will release their debut album, "Exhaustion", through Great White North Records in the first quarter of 2004. The group plays an accomplished form of Melodic Death Metal with few elements of doom and gothic metal thrown in. Be on the look out for some promotional mp3 files available at www.gwnrecords.com shortly.
Primitive Recordings and Mortician Records has signed a deal with Crash Music for worldwide distribution of their releases. The deal will include distribution in the following countries: US, Germany, Austria, UK, Switzerland, France, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Greece and The Netherlands. The first bands to benefit from this will be BLACK MASS, HEAD TRAUMA, SEVERED HEAD and FINAL BLOODBATH.
The band line-up of 2004’s installment of BANG YOUR HEAD FESTIVAL gains shape rapidly. The first twelve of an overall of 22 bands for that event taking place at the Messegelände of Balingen on the 25th and 26th of June are booked. The latest acts to join that line-up are 80s US Metal legend SHOK PARIS and the recently reunited Thrash outfit DEATH ANGEL, that delivered some highly acclaimed shows since their surprising return a few months ago. So the list of artists so far reads like this: GOTTHARD, PRIMAL FEAR, MAGNUM, DEATH ANGEL, LILLIAN AXE, ANGEL, BLAZE, OMEN, CAGE, MAJESTY, SHOK PARIS and RUFFIANS. All further details about the BANG YOUR HEAD!!! may be found at the BYH!!!-homepage at www.bang-your-head.de.
EXCITER are currently re-recording some of their classic tracks for an upcoming best of album. The following tracks will appear on it: ‘Stand Up And Fight’, ‘Heavy Metal Maniac’, ‘Rising Of The Dead’, ‘Blackwitch’ (all from 1983’s "Heavy Metal Maniac" album), ‘Violence And Force’, ‘Pounding Metal’ (from "Violence And Force", 1984), ‘Long Live The Loud’, ‘Victims Of Sacrifice’, ‘I Am The Beast’ (from "Long Live The Loud", 1985), ‘Rain Of Terror’ (from "Kill After Kill", 1992), ‘The Dark Command’, ‘Aggressor’, ‘Ritual Death’ (from "The Dark Command", 1997), ‘Rule With An Iron Fist’ and ‘Brutal Warning’ (from "Blood Of Tyrants", 2000). John Ricci will also play the bass on the album. The release is scheduled for the beginning of 2004.
Detroit based Metalheads HALLOWEEN (US) will play next year’s KEEP IT TRUE festival on April 10 in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany. The organizers will arrange a similar show for the band as they have it in the States. This is the first time for HALLOWEEN to play in Europe. Further festival details you will find here: www.keep-it-true.de
As most of you have probably found out in the meantime already, the SHINING / BLOODLINE / URGEHAL tour unfortunately had to be cancelled. To let you know more about the reasons, we figured it would be a good idea to publish SHINING’s complete press statement, which should clear up all possible rumors and false statements: "At the 10th of September Kvarforth, Phil A. Cirone, John and Acerbus went to Oslo, Norway in order to rehearse for the upcoming six gigs (when we initially were promised ten), that were to take place during the "Razors Across Europe" tour. The curse proved itself to be more dominant than ever when we began our trip to Oslo by train from Sweden and we almost suddenly crashed with a car, unluckily both passengers survived but we had to wait for a buss and arrived five hours later than expected. Even though it really started go wrong the night before when I lost my apartment due to some violence inflicted in the building were I live caused by one of the precious Shining members… However, rehearsals began and we all were a bit surprised by the fact that one of our guitarists didn’t have the capacity he prior to this labelled himself to have, but we all thought that he could be trained enough before we were to start touring. At the 12th we didn’t have any money left because Norwegian living isn’t exactly the cheapest to put it nicely. However, we trusted all to work out by the money our label, Avantgarde Music were to send us and arrive via Western Union that same day. However it didn’t, and we were struck with yet another big problem. That particular weekend was probably the worst period of our lives ever, as we simply started fighting eachother in rage and fury, problem after problem occurred and at monday we finally did receive the money from Avantgarde. However, Norway is as said a very expensive country and there was no way to pay for a place to sleep, food and the rest at the same time paying the tickets to go to Germany, with the amount of money we under prior agreement did receive from Avantgarde, but we had some hope of solving this situation by asking for more money until the latter problems did occur… Rehearsing and rehearsing until Wednesday when we found out that not just Phil A. Cirone couldn’t come with us because of a smaller but uncomfortable injury our drum-technician all of a sudden got the bad news that he wasn’t able to join, thus, we were without bassist and drummer… We did however at this time give Avantgarde a call telling about the situation, whereas we all understood that there wasn’t any other option but to cancel the already poor tour we were to attend… Filip of Agonia Promotion / Records tried to solve this situation by replacing other members in Shining but let’s face reality, no one can learn nine tracks in one and a half days and secondly, we would never allow any outsiders to reside in our realms. In conclusion, we didn’t have any bass player, no drummer and no money. We had to go home, without food, without a place to sleep and most importantly without a home (at least in Kvarforths case), the tour was cancelled but we tried to get Bloodline on this tour anyhow, which they had been rehearsing for two weeks prior to this while Agonia said last minute here as well that this wouldn’t work out, then the other day did a few gigs alone with Urgehal instead… Selbstmord Services did its best to get both Shining and Bloodline on this tour but we were fucked and everyone involved with this poor, badly organized project is to blame. Yes, us too some but the things that happened in Norway were completely out of our control. Selbstmord Services have lost thousands of Euros, Avantgarde have lost thousands of Euros and Agonia have lost thousand of Euros, but there is nothing that could be done, even though Agonia tried by recording our conversations over phone in order to fully blame Avantgarde. Look, Avantgarde have something to do with this, but Agonia is just as responsible and now, we have a dead-end… there is absolutely nothing that possibly could have been done… nothing… Finally there is one more thing that has to be explained. Perverted Taste were supposed to provide us with merchandise for the tour, and we were to provide them material for releasing the second Shining album on vinyl, some Craft stuff etc. Apparently nothing has been arrived by them and they blame us for this, or mostly Kvarforth. Ok, but this is yet as thing out of our control as Kvarforth has had the blindness to trust others who say they are to do things for him, being abit too naive, this was never a iloyal move of Kvarforth, not at all, just a another proof for Kvarforth that homo sapiens cannot be trusted. Shining are and have forever been a cursed band, in consideration of Perverted Taste – Livets Ändhållplats – in particular… To sum it up, as many seem to misinterpret our words, this is not to opposse neither Avantgarde or Agonia. We do admit that Shining is very much responsible for what happened in Oslo…"
Denmarks EXMORTEM have a couple of new releases coming up shortly. In detailed that is the "Pest Campaign" CD EP, which will feature 6 – 7 tracks (for the price of a MCD). This release will come in very exclusive packaging on Pestifer Records. Osmose Productions will put out a 10" version of "Pest Campaign", with three professionally recorded live tracks (recorded in Valencia-Spain during the band’s European tour in April 2003) and a re-recorded version of ‘Intoxicated By Death’ from the "Labyrinths Of Horror" album (1995). And last but not least there’s gonna be the "Killstorms" 7" on Ancient Darkness Productions. Tracks to appear on that are: ‘Killstorms’ (an unreleased track from 1998 that has been re-arranged with new lyrics etc.) and ‘Critical Madness’ (Autopsy cover). No exact releases dates have been confirmed for any of these releases yet. EXMORTEM are furthermore working on their first video and new material for their next full-length album, which might be recorded sometime around Feb. / March 2004. Apart from all this Sigtyr has started up the Pestifier label (and recently released his first two releases) and mail-order, plus the Superion Distribution (carrying stuff for Osmose, Code666, Unique Leader and others). For further info check out: www.exmortem.com, www.osmoseproductions.com, www.superion.dk or www.pestifer.com.
Israels brutal Death Metallers ARMILOS are the latest act to be confirmed for the METALIST FESTIVAL, the first ever Metal festival of Israel which will take place at "Hangar 11" in the see port of Tel-Aviv on the 16th of October 2003. ARMILOS are just about to finish the mixing for their debut album which is scheduled for an early 2004 release through Metalist Productions. The band has just released the song ‘Race Of Lies’ for download here. Source: www.prod.metalist.co.il
From now on you can already order tickets for the KEEP IT TRUE 2004 FESTIVAL. Tickets are 13,- Euro plus 1,- Euro for shipping. Just send an email to bestellung@keep-it-true.de or have a look at the festival’s website: www.keep-it-true.de. The second edition of this event will take place on April 10, 2004 in Lauda-Königshofen (GER), at the Tauberfrankenhalle. Confirmed acts so far: MANILLA ROAD, ELIXIR, PARADOX and MAJESTY.
BLOOD RED THRONE‘s scheduled Italian mini-tour with GORGOROTH has been canceled at the last minute. The reason is due to problems with the venues and promoters. The tour will be rescheduled for early 2004. Blood Red Throne are also planning a Scandinavian tour for early next year. In related news, the band have begun working on their next album, working title "Altered Genesis". There is a possibility that Nergal (BEHEMOTH) will engineer / co-produce the album.
The GATES OF HELL 2003 FESTIVAL takes place on September 28th at The Reverb in Toronto. Tickets, $15.00 advance, $20 at the door, can also be ordered online The Catacombs at www.catacombscds.com. Scheduled to perform at the festival are: RAZOR, NITEMARE, PIT BULL GRIN, ROTTING, FERAL HORDE, ECLIPSE ETERNAL, CORPORATE RIOT and GOAT HORN. The Catacombs will have a vendors booth selling metal t-shirts, CDs, vinyl, etc.
IMPIOUS are busy writing new material for their upcoming fourth album. About seven songs are written so far and in October the preproduction will kick off in Digizone Studio, owned by guitarist Valle Adzic. As for recording the real album Studio Mega is booked for February / March 2004. Some titles on the new album are ‘Suicide Park’, ‘Beneath The Underworld’, ‘Death_Wish_Scar’ and ‘Bloodspill Revelation’.
REPULSION have announced through their website (www.repulsion.net) that they have confirmed a live appearance at the Machine Shop nightclub in Flint, Michigan on December 20th. Support acts for the gig will be announced soon. The band also posted the following message regarding an upcoming DVD release: "We are compiling video footage and pictures of the band from the the early days up to the Milwaukee Metalfest for a DVD release. We ask anyone who has video or pictures and would like to contribute, please contact Aaron (aaron@repulsion.net) or Matt (matt@repulsion.net)".
CORPORATION 187 are hard at work on material for their third album, with the early writing going well according to vocalist Filip Carlsson. One new song is tentatively titled ‘I Liked You Better Without Teeth’, about a guy who subjects his girlfriend to some bizarre dentistry in order to fulfill his perverse sexual desires. The band have also lined up the following show: September 27 – Uppsala, Sweden at Fellini.
Although the band played their last show this summer, LIVING SACRIFICE‘s (www.livingsacrifice.com) legacy will live on in a forthcoming DVD. The disc will feature footage from the studio during the recording of the group’s album "The Hammering Process", tour footage of life on the road, live interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, plus video clips of the following songs: ‘Bloodwork’, ‘Conditional’, ‘Burn The End’, ‘Local Vengeance Killing’, ‘Reject’, ‘Reborn’, ‘Flatline’, ‘Hand Of The Dead’ and ‘Not My Own’.
SOILENT GREEN have added two new members to the band. They are guitarist Tony White and bassist Scott Crochet.
Earache has set a release date of January 19th for DEATHWITCH‘s forthcoming album, "Violence Blasphemy Sodomy". The full tracklisting for the album is: ‘Introt’, ‘Flamethrower Carnival’, ‘Total Morbid’, ‘Blood Sucking Fuck’, ‘Abhorrent Sadistic Tormentor’, ‘Lord Of Ymodos’, ‘Witch Of Death’, ‘Necrosodomizer’, ‘Bitch Finder’, ‘Violence Blasphemy’, ‘Coffin Fornicator’, ‘Worthless Scum’, ‘Fuck Off And Die’ and ‘Death Maniac’.
KHOLD, currently in the studio to record the follow-up to "Phantom", will be replacing DHG (DØDHEIMSGARD) at the Moonfog Jubileum party. Khold will showcase three songs from their forthcoming album, "Mørke Gravers Kammer (The Gravedigger’s Dark Chamber)". To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Moonfog – Satyricon will headline the party at Rockefeller in Oslo, Norway on October 2nd. New signing, DISIPLIN, will open the celebrations. DARKTHRONE’s Nocturno Culto will join the headliners and perform a couple of DARKTHRONE classics last heard on a live stage in 1996 and Fenriz will be DJing.
Earache Records (www.earache.com) have posted an advance track for download from AKERCOCKE‘s forthcoming album, "Choronzon", due out through the label on October 24th. The track, ‘Leviathan’, is available as an mp3 download at the following link: www.earacherecords.org/bands/akercocke/mp3/Leviathan.mp3
Full Moon Productions have received the masters for FLUISTERWOUD‘s debut CD, "Langs Galg En Rad", due out through the label in September. Fluisterwoud’s music has been described as disharmonic necro Black Metal in the vein of MAYHEM, LUGUBRUM, ARCKANUM and DARKTHRONE.
On September 24th Earmark Records will reissue the following classic Metal tiles on picture disc vinyl, limited to 750 copies each and presented in PVC dust sleeves. The titles available are: VENOM‘s "Black Metal" and "Welcome To Hell", MOTÖRHEAD‘s "Ace Of Spades" and "No Sleep Til Hammersmith" and BLACK SABBATH‘s "Black Sabbath".
Razorback Records will be doing a brand new full-length CD with Japans kings of insane grind, GORE BEYOND NECROPSY in 2004. For more info check out www.razorbackrecords.com/gbn.htm, www.gorebeyondnecropsy.com or www.razorbackrecords.com
Germany’s DISINFECT asked us to publish the following request: "Hi everyone!! We’re looking for a fast highspeed drummer with an openminded professionel attitude and a lot of technical skills!! Second, if anyone sounds like a dirty bastard between good old Chrissie Barnes and DISGORGE and though never was able to join a choir but wants complete DISINFECT with his voice, feel free to get in contact with us!!!!! Gigs, Tours and of course a record deal we have, but can’t be done without a complete line-up just like the new material waiting to be blasted on CD, expected to be released in January ’04. Intersted??? Get in contact with: Christian Kilian, Ulrichstr.17, 71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany, Phone: (Germany) + (0) 7141 / 925 286, Mobil: 0172 / 929 16 11, ICQ 170557944, disinfect@gmx.de. Please spread this message!!!! THANX."