January 30, 2003
The first bands for this year’s FUCK THE COMMERCE festival are confirmed. Check out our tourdates section for further details.
The first bands for this year’s FUCK THE COMMERCE festival are confirmed. Check out our tourdates section for further details.
The long awaited INGURGITATING OBLIVION / SENESCENCE concept split CD "Harvest" is finally released. It contains the INGURGITATING MCD "Cadence And Perspective In Desolation" which already received rave reviews as well as previously unreleased material by the sick Death Doomsters SENESCENCE (R.I.P.). Contact: thought-cathedral@gmx.de and www.ingurgitating-oblivion.de
VADER will only play 4 shows on the band’s forthcoming tour through France. The other (earlier announced) shows have been postponed until VADER’s next tour through Europe with ARKHON INFAUSTUS and ARISE in April and May. The promoter of the tour apologizes for these changes and invites all French maniacs to Calais, Grenoble, Avignon & Bordeaux.
The new Swedish music award show "Manifest" have revealed the nominees for 2002. In the Hardrock / Punk category, VOMITORY are nominated with their "Blood Rapture" album. Other nominees in this category are In Flames – "Reroute To Remain", Thåström – "Mannen Som Blev En Gris", Spiritual Beggars – "On Fire" and Totalt Jävla Mörker – "Det Ofrivilliga Lidandets Maskineri". The award show, which will be hosted by Miss Universe, will take place at Kulturhuset in Stockholm, Sweden on the 31st of January. On April 19th, VOMITORY will play at the Motala Metal Festival in Motala / Sweden. The other bands are Vader, Tankard, Stormwarrior, Finntroll, Evergrey, Paragon and Autopsy Torment. Website: www.tpl.se/misc/metalfest.htm, www.vomitory.net
The new IN AETERNUM album is entitled "Nuclear Armageddon" and will be out this spring on Regain Records. The band is going on a two week tour in Europe between the 9th and 25th of May together with GOSPEL OF THE HORNS and RAZOR OF OCCAM. IN AETERNUM also have a new web address at the end of this week, so update your links: www.inaeternum.net
"Caught On Tape", the first DVD from THE HAUNTED, is out now. It contains two complete live shows from the "Made Me Do It" World Tour, including incendiary shows from Tokyo where they performed in front of 2000 fans, and the more intense setting of the 200 capacity Malmo. Bonus features include a 25 minute documentary of the behind the scenes action during the recording session for the new album, "One Kill Wonder", with exclusive interviews with the band members and producer. Two advance audio tracks from the upcoming album are also featured. A PAL version is available now for $20 post paid from the Earache webstore.
Florida’s HATE ETERNAL, will embark on their historic, first-ever headlining tour, kicking off in New Orleans on Valentine’s Day. This coast-to-coast tour features support acts DYING FETUS, KATAKLYSM and INTO ETERNITY.
Cleveland, Ohio’s DESTRUCTOR will be making their European debut at this year’s Bang Your Head 2003 festival. The band will be performing twice at the festival – the ‘Warm-up Show’ on Thursday, June 26th and opening up the main stage on Friday, June 27th. Destructor’s newest addition to the band is bass player Jamie Walters from Cleveland band Boulder. Jamie joins the original three members – Dave Overkill (guitar / vocals), Pat Rabid (guitar) and Matt Flammable (drums). Since bass player Dave Iannicca’s murder in 1988, Destructor have struggled through a revolving door of bass players. The band had been working on their second album "Decibel Casualties" at the time of Dave’s death, which was to help launch a joint major label venture between Auburn and Island Records. Unfortunately, the album never saw the light of day and the incident forced the band into hiatus in the early 90s. With Jamie, who had been a long time fan of the band since his younger years, the band now feels they have the right chemistry in place to properly move forward once again. Destructor will be entering Breaker guitarist Don Depew’s 609 Recording Studios in Cleveland to record brand new material in March. An EP, "Sonic Bullet", will be released by Auburn in May. It will include new studio tracks along with ‘live’ tracks Auburn recorded this past August when Destructor opened for Slayer in Cleveland. A full-length will follow in the summer. Auburn also plans to reissue "Maximum Destruction" later this year with the original vinyl mix, cover art and previously unreleased bonus tracks (a reissue was released in 1999 on the Listenable label out of France). Plans are in the works to put out some unreleased recordings from a 1999 session as well. In addition, Destructor will contribute a track to the forthcoming Auburn compilation "Heavy Artillery-Volume 2". www.auburnrecords.com
DISMEMBER is currently working in the Stockholm-based Sami studio on their new album. The album will be titled "Where Ironcrosses Grow" and the release is scheduled for September through Dutch recordlabel Hammerheart Records. The recordings will be produced by drummer Fred Estby, assisted by studio-engineer Olle Sandqvist. Some of the songtitles on the new album are ‘Tragedy Of The Faithful’, ‘Sword Of Light’ and the title-track ‘Where Ironcrosses Grow’. According to Fred Estby the new material will be darker, a little less melodic and more aggressive than ever. Lyrically vocalist Matti Karkki headed even more in the direction of describing war at its ugliest, stories about sick minds creating sick situations and loads of religious criticism.
Japan’s DEFILED will release their new album "Divination" on Season Of Mist on May 12 (May 20 in the US).
Italy’s EPHEL DUATH have finally recorded, mixed and mastered their second album "The Painter’s Palette". Davide Tiso has assembled a whole new line-up, with each new member bringing their own individual style and influence into the melting pot.
Finland’s Death Metal prodigies FARMAKON are set for the studio on February 1st to record their debut album. You can follow the band’s progress with the online diary here: http://farmakon.suddenlaunch.com/index.cgi?board=studio
Norway’s progressive Death / Black Metal act LUNARIS have stated that the work on their forthcoming album is now to take priority over the band’s possible live work in the immediate future. This means the planned UK tour and the appearance at the Inferno Festival will now no longer take place. A few big-named producers are in the frame for the band’s next recording session, likely to be around May / June. There’s no title yet, but keyboard player Ray is very satisfied with the rehearsals, proclaiming the new material to be far more aggressive than before, without losing that technical edge.
The new KRIEG album is recorded and will again be issued by Red Stream in early 2003.
Blood, Fire, Death Records will release the following albums within the next months: LUGRUBRUM ("De Totem"), PEST ("Hail The Black Metal Wolves Of Belial") and DEBAUCHERY ("Dead Silent Scream").
BETHLEHEM will issue their "Suicide Radio" interactive CD-rom shortly which includes video clips, remixed songs, photo gallery, flash animation, discography and more. The band is also writing an entirely new album that will be released on Red Stream. It is said to be a combination of all known Bethlehem styles.
DARK FORTRESS will have a release party for their next album "Profane Genocidal Creations" with Sear Bliss and Cirith Gorgor on February 15th, in Landshut, Germany.
Baphomet Records are about to release CDs by ETERNAL SILENCE, SVARTPEST (feat. two NECROPHAGIA members) and SOUL FORSAKEN‘s "Tales of the Macabre".
Red Stream will release the debut CD of MIRRORTHRONE from Switzerland.
MORBID ANGEL are currently writing tracks for their next album. The band hope to release the new set in September through Earache and follow it up with a World tour. The band are expected to announce the names of their new bassist / vocalist and second guitarist shortly.
VITAL REMAINS forthcoming record, "Dechristianize", is out in the spring and features the vocals of DEICIDE’s Glenn Benton.
MASTIC SCUM will tour Europe with MASTER in March. The Scars Over Europe tour runs from March 7th to 23rd. For full info go to: www.bruchstein-tours.de
VADER have posted MP3’s for rare demo tracks ‘Decapitated Saints’ and ‘Vicious Circle’ at their website, www.vader.pl
Although nearly a year off, organizers of the X-MASS FEST 2003 European Tour have announced that NILE, MISERY INDEX, HYPOCRISY, VADER, DISBELIEF and DEW-SCENTED are all confirmed to take part in the tour. The dates will run from December 7th – 21st, 2003. Info on dates and venues will be made available as they are announced.
CHILDREN OF BODOM‘s new album, "Hate Crew Deathroll", has entered Finland’s album chart at #1. The album is out in Japan through Universal on February 5th, in Sweden through Universal’s Stockholm Records on March 10th and in Germany through Universal’s Motor Music on March 17th.
VEHEMENCE are replacing ORIGIN on all the NUCLEAR ASSAULT / ALL THAT REMAINS dates in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Vehemence are nearing the completion of a new demo for 2003, featuring songs that were recorded at the Conservatory in Tempe, AZ. The demo tracks include: ‘Kill For God’, ‘Kill For God’ (acoustic version), ‘You Don’t Have To Be Afraid Anymore’, ‘We Are All Dying’ and ‘Darkness Is Comfort’.
CALLENISH CIRCLE are officially off the No Mercy Easter Festivals. They were dropped off the tour from Metallysee Agency because "there are too many bands on the bill and the distances between the venues are too far." The release date of their new album, "My Passion // Your Pain", is May 5th through Metal Blade.
IN FLAMES are nominated in two categories (best album and best group) for Rockbjörnen (Sweden’s biggest newspaper Aftonbladets’ people choice awards. No Metal band has been nominated for the award since Europe in 1986.
SOILWORK and CHILDREN OF BODOM are scheduled to hit the road in Europe on April 18th. Dates begin on April 18 in Stockholm, Sweden and run until May 19th in Osnabrück, Germany.
Columbia’s SAPROFFAGO has signed with Brutalized Records. The band’s debut full-length CD, "Beasty Horrible Thoughts", will be out this Spring.
World Management have revealed on their website that KREATOR will return to North America this year for some live dates. Producer Andy Sneap has mixed the band’s forthcoming live album, "Live Kreation (Revisioned Glory)", due out soon through SPV. The release will come with a 36 page booklet including pictures from Kreator’s last tour, as well as artwork from Andreas Marshall.
Germany’s WITH FULL FORCE FESTIVAL takes place July 4th – 6th at the Roitzschjora Airport in Lobnitz. Confirmed acts performing at the festival include NAPALM DEATH, DESTRUCTION, SIX FEET UNDER, RYKER’S and MESSIAH.
CRYPTOPSY have begun the writing process for their next studio record, tentatively due late 2003. To tide fans over, they will release a live record, appropriately titled "None So Live", this spring. Recorded at the Medley in Montreal last June, "None So Live", is the first official release to feature new vocalist Martin Lecroix.
EXODUS are looking for a replacement for the recently ousted frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza. Those interested can send their demos to the following address: EXODUS, 10026 San Pablo, El Cerrito, CA 94530, USA.
CORPORATION 187 will support ARCH ENEMY on their upcoming Scandinavian tour that begins on January 26th in Stockholm and runs to Helsingborg.
KHOLD will join SATYRICON on the road as opening act on the upcoming Black Lava Down Europe 2003. In other news, the readers of Panorama voted ‘Fuel For Hatred’ Video Of The Year and the same song as runnerup Song Of The Year.
The first annual BARBARIAN WRATH / WITCHES BREW FESTIVAL is on Saturday, January 25 at Hagalaz Club in Annaberg (near Buchholz, Germany). Acts on the bill feature: ANAEL, HATEFUL AGONY, MORRIGAN and THARGOS.
SAMAEL have inked a deal World Management (home of MORBID ANGEL, NILE, UNLEASHED).
FINNTROLL will begin recording an acoustic EP on February 11th. Details are yet to be announced but rumors are flying that the EP will feature the band’s original vocalist Katla.
WITHERING SURFACE will be playing live at "The Underground" in Istanbul, Turkey, supporting IN FLAMES on Saturday the 29th of March. For more details about the show, please contact: axmeth@mynet.com In connection with this concert, WITHERING SURFACE will be doing an instore signing session in the most popular Heavy Metal store of Istanbul, Hammer Muzik, either on Friday the 28th of March or Saturday the 29th of March. In related news keyboardist Morten Lybecker has left the band due to family priorities. Lybecker and WITHERING SURFACE depart in a spirit of friendship and understanding towards each others wishes. There’s no plans of a replacement, and in the future the other guys will take care of keyboard-parts themselves. The band is currently busy writing new material for the sequel to last year’s "Walking On Phantom Ice" album. 8 – 9 new songs have already been written. Some new titles include ‘This View’, ‘Exit Sculpture’, ‘State Of Emergency’ and ‘Inhale The Hyper Pulse’. A cover of Pretty Maids’ ‘Future World’ is also planned to be recorded. The band promises that it will be absolutely killer-material and will enter the Berno Studio in Malmö, Sweden in July and August to record the album with an expected release on Copro Records in Oct. / Nov. 2003. www.witheringsurface.dk.
Even though the band currently only consists of drummer Herb and guitarist / vocalist Mike, Germany’s ANASARCA are still around and will be entering the studio in April / May to record their third full-length album, which once again will be released by Danish Mighty Music.
Here’s the (99%) final tracklist of the new album "Maximize The Misery" from DIVINE DECAY: ‘Weave A Web Of Vanity’, ‘Silence Of Decades’, ‘Killing Innocence’, ‘The Discomfort Of Articial Euphoria’, ‘Maximize The Misery’, ‘Without A Soul’, ‘The Dead In Me’, ‘Scars’, ‘Less Than Nothing’, ‘Filth’ and ‘Remorse’.
DRILLER KILLER will record a video for the song ‘Breaking Traditions’ for the upcoming Swedish TV – monsters series Mutant in February 2003. This video will be a "teaser" for the series and not a proper DRILLER KILLER video. So there will be some stuff connected to the Mutant story. Expect some blood… The very same month DRILLER KILLER are going to Spain / Portugal to play some shows.
SIX FEET UNDER is confirmed to play this year’s Graspop (Belgium) and With Full Force (Germany) festivals. "More European dates surrounding the festival dates will be added soon," Chris Barnes says. "We will also be filming the With Full Force show for an upcoming live DVD due to the killer response we’ve had with ‘Double Dead’! More on that later." SFU is currently beginning to write their next CD. "We’ve got some great ideas for this next release and are really gonna concentrate on making this the best CD we’ve put out – for real! Other than that, I don’t wanna give too much away – you’ll have to wait for the final product!" Recording is slated for March 2003. The band will be heading into Morrisound Studio in Tampa, Florida to begin tracking the drums and guitar. Vocals will be tracked in Miami as well as the mix. "Right now, we’re going over our options as far as producers. Metal Blade is looking at a summer release date for the CD. We’ll let you know more as we get things movin’."