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MALEVOLENT CREATION have officially been confirmed to perform at Wacken Open Air Festival, July 31 to August 2, 2003. The band has the honor of being in the first handful of confirmed acts, joining the likes of Iced Earth, Stratovarius, Nile, Gamma Ray and a reunion by California’s Dark Angel that so far have been announced. Their Wacken appearance will be part of the extensive touring planned for 2003 in support of "The Will To Kill", MALEVOLENT CREATION’s eighth studio album. A full American tour for February 2003 is in the works right now, after which they will go straight to Europe joining Marduk for a full tour in March and April. Malevolent Creation will then join up with and perform as part of the Easter No Mercy Festivals for thirteen shows, joining Nuclear Assault, Testament, Marduk and others. Many other festival appearances are planned.
SATHANAS‘ "Warlords Of Death" 7"EP will be out on Agonia Records during January 2003. The 7" includes 2 new tracks and the Bathory cover ‘Raise The Dead’. The vinyl will be pressed in limited edition of 500 handnumbered copies. the cover is created by Kris Vervimp. noxfil@poczta.onet.pl
DESTRUKTOR‘s "Nuclear Storm" 12" MLP / MC will be out in January 2003 as a split release with Dutch SoulSelleR Records. The tape version will have 2 exclusive live tracks. The MLP is limited to 500 handnumbered copies as well as the tape.
NUNSLAUGHTER‘s "Radio Damnation" MC is out now. It includes all the stuff from the CD, originally released by Barbarian Wrath, with new layout and an exclusive cover of Venom. Profesionally pressed and limited to 333 handnumbered copies. In the first months of 2003 the "Hell On Graz" LP / MC will furthermore see the light of day (limited to 500 copies). The vinyl version will come with a gatefold cover designed by Don of the Dead. All further details at: noxfil@poczta.onet.pl
Agonia Records will release the debut album of the Finnish brutal old school Death Metal band SLUGATHOR on CD / LP / MC around April / May 2003. The band is currently in the studio recording the stuff.
A split 7"EP of ANTAEUS / THRONEUM, entitled "Sadistik Death" is planned for May 2003. The EP will be pressed in 500 handnumbered copies and the cover and whole lay out will be designed by MkM. Antaeus plan to record their tracks in April and Throneum in January.
Selbstmord Services have sold the rights for the first two SHINING albums to Avantgarde Music.
CRAFT are working on a new album which is planned to be recorded sometime during spring next year. The re-issue of their debut album "Total Soul Rape", which was supposed to be released this summer, will now be released sometime in December. Both the label and the band came to the simple conclusion that it would be best to remaster the album before this event, therefore a few delays have occurred.
KROHM‘s demo "Crown Of The Ancients" is being pressed on CD-format right now, in a limited edition of 1000 copies, to promote the forthcoming full-length album which will be recorded in February.
Here’s a press statement from ABORYM: "As some of you will know by now, our brother and singer Attila Csihar is currently being held in jail in Treviso, northern Italy, where he was arrested. He had 158 ecstacy pills and some grams of hash on him. We don’t know yet about how much he will get, but a trial should be set around December. Cross your fingers upside down! We will make you have news as soon as we get them, so many things you may hear about that case not coming from us, may be as well considered pure bullshit. Now, before you start thinking about that: Aborym won’t stop because of this. We will continue (as Attila himself asked us to do) and our third masterpiece with Attila Csihar on vocals will be released in January 2003 by Code666 in Europe and later by WW3 (Mercenary Musik) in USA, as previously planned. His arrest won’t affect in any way the release of such a masterpiece. This shitty situation is not enough to make us turn back or stop. We will continue to play and perform the most extreme music. ’till believing in the armageddon." The new, third ABORYM album "With No Human Intervention" is planned to be out in January in a modern-clinic-weird digipak format and with a special cd-rom track. Here is the final tracklist: ‘Antichristian Codec (intro)’, ‘With No Human Intervention’, ‘U.V. Impaler’, ‘Humechanics-virus’, ‘Does Not Compute’, ‘Faustian Spirit Of The Earth’, ‘Digital Goat Masque’, ‘The Triumph’, ‘Black Hole Spell’, ‘Me(n)tal Striken Terror Action 2’, ‘Out Of Shell’, ‘Chernobyl Generation’, ‘The Alienation Of A Blackened Heart’ and ‘Automatik Rave’olution Aborym’. The line-up on the album is the same as on the previous "Fire Walk With Us" but features many special guests: Bard G. Eithun "Faust" (ex-Emperor, now drummer in Dissection), Nattefrost (Carpathian Forest), Irrumator (Anaal Nathrackt), Matt Jerman (U.K. Void), OCD (Nocturnal Art Productions) and Sasrof (Diabolicum, who realized the bonus-track ‘The Wolf Song’).
ONDSKAPT are having their debut album pressed right now. This long awaited disc will most likely be available at the end of the year.
The FORGOTTEN TOMB debut album "Songs To Leave" has been released as a vinyl version including poster, limited to 300 copies. Currently Morbid is working on his second album "Springtime Depression" together with his newly joined drummer Wedebrand (ex – shining) which is meant to be recorded in January.
Old school Death Metallers MORBID UPHEAVAL have just released a new two song rehersal tape (‘Solar Impetus’, ‘Forsaken Hordes’). The tape comes in a red color xeroxed package and is available either for a blank tape plus postage, or 4 $ / 4Euro from the addresses below. Future releases are: MORBID UPHEAVAL / ARGHOSLENT split 7" EP (on Warhammer Records) and MORBID UPHEAVAL / CAPRA HIRCUS split 10" MLP (Warhammer Records / Hellflame Productions). Contact: Morbid Upheaval, c/o Federico Zambelli, Via Vignolese 184 /s.B, 41100 Modena / Italy or Morbid Upheaval, c/o Christian Colelli, Via 13 Martiri 44, 26040 Gussola (CR) / Italy
SATHANAS have signed a deal with Drakkar Productions. The new CD "Hex Nefarious" will be out in 2003, followed by a possible tour with Murder Rape. For further info contact: drakkar2@wanadoo.fr
Norway’s SHADOW SEASON have signed a deal with Sound Riot Records. The band consists of B. Winter – vocals and sub strings, Void – all razor strings and Trym – battery (EMPEROR / ZYKLON). The band’s debut four song MCD / 10" "The Frozen" will also feature guest appearances by Sanrabb – vocals (GEHENNA), Dolgar – vocals (FORLORN) and Patricia – viola. SHADOW SEASON are already writing material for the full-length which will be released in 2003. A special guest on vocals for this album will be Steve Tucker (ex-MORBID ANGEL). For further details contact the band at this address: SHADOW SEASON, c/o Void, Mellomstraen 11, 4005 Stavanger, Norway, e-mail: shadowvoid@hotmail.com. Label contact: soundriot@mail.telepac.pt, www.soundriot.net
INIQUITY will be releasing a compilation / best-of album in March 2003 with both brand new songs, old previously unreleased promo / demo / live material going back to the beginning of the band, as well as a wide selections of the best Iniquity songs done so far from their official releases "Serenadium", "The Hidden Lore", "Five Across The Eyes" and "Grime". The record is entitled "Iniquity Bloody Iniquity" and it will furthermore include a thick booklet with lots of photos, flyers and so on. www.iniquity.dk
NEPHASTH are about to enter the studio to record their highly anticipated follow-up to last year’s classic "Immortal Unholy Triumph". The title of the next album is "Conceived By Inhuman Blood". The artwork will once again be done by Jacek Wisniewski (Vader, Decapitated, Withering Surface etc.), management is handled by Massive Mangement (Vader etc.) and Empire Records have secured a license deal for Poland. "Conceived By Inhuman Blood" is set for release on May the 25th 2003 – and afterwards Nephasth will be touring Europe. Currently Nephasth is touring with Vader in Brazil. www.nephasth.cjb.net
ANASARCA is busy writing material for their third album entitled "Terrorized". 7 songs are ready so far and the plan is to record the album at The Art Temple Studio early Spring 2003 for a release in September 2003. Lyrically it will be a conceptual one again, dealing with faults of mankind – just await to be mirrored again with human sickness. www.anasarca.de
Swedish Death / Thrashers TAETRE who released their third album "Divine Misanthropic Madness" in October is looking to tour Europe in early 2003. Anyone interested in setting up gigs with Taetre, please get in touch with Mighty Music. www.mightymusic.dk Band contact: www.taetre.cjb.net
SACRIFICIAL will be playing some shows in Denmark with country mates Mercenary and are looking to play gigs outside of Denmark as well. Please get in touch if you are interested in booking Sacrificial. www.sacrificial.dk
Doom / Deathers THALARION will release their new, third CD "Tunes Of Despondency" in December. http://thalarion.cjb.net/
ENTER MY SILENCE, the Finnish answer to In Flames are back in business. After a short period with missing inspiration, the band has completed a handful of new songs and is ready to enter the studio in early 2003 to record their long awaited follow-up to last year’s debut "Remotecontrolled Scythe".
NEGURA BUNGET have finished the recordings of their third album in Magic Sound Studio (Bucharest) entitled "N’Crangul Brabului". The CD is scheduled for a Janaury 27, 2003 release in a very special, never-seen-before hand-made CD-box, with a state-of-the-art multimedia track. www.negurabunget.com
In late November 2002 code666 will release a double CD compilation entitled "Better Undead Than Alive" with a lot of unreleased songs which have been recorded exclusively for this release, plus some rare, older unreleased exclusive tracks of Diabolicum, Aborym, Rakoth, Bloodshed, Aghora, Ephel Duath, Atrox, Negura Bunget, Enid, Manes, Abortus, Void Of Silence, Thee Maldoror Kollective, Unmoored… All the songs will be linked together in one long track for each CD. A massive multi media track is to appear on disc 2, with tons of information regarding the label and their bands, exclusive photos, special mp3s, like a complete live performance by Aghora at the Culture Room Club in Florida with the new line-up, an unreleased remix by Ephel Duath or an upcoming ambient tune from Nordvargr, plus special surprises, including the unreleased and never-seen-before Negura Bunget "Vazduh" video, filmed in the carpathian mountains last year, etc. www.code666.net
ABORYM have finally mixed their new album "With No Human Intervention", after 5 months of hard work in Temple Of Noise Studio. An advance track from the album will appear on the upcoming code666 compilation, with Nattefrost from Carpathian Forest performing vocals. Meanwhile Attila Csihar and Sethlans were invited to Birmingham as special-guests for the upcoming Anaal Nathrakh EP, and Attila Csihar will also be special-guest on the new Carpathian Forest album. www.code666.net/aborym
VOID OF SILENCE‘s new singer is Alan Nemtheanga, wellknown from irish PRIMORDIAL. The great and immediate feeling between the band and the singer and his great will to join VOID OF SILENCE, one of his favourites bands, not to mention the incredible artistic qualities and the experience Alan got after so many years in Primordial, drove the band to choose Alan as the new official member. VOID OF SILENCE is now ready to start the creative process for the new album, out on Code666 in 2003. www.dauphins.com/void
MANES just finished the recordings of their brand new album titled "Vilosophe" at Skansen Lydstudio in Trondheim. You’ll already be able to hear a "work in progress demo track" titled ‘Redeemer’ on the upcoming code666 compilation "Better Undead Than Alive".
UNMOORED have just returned back home from Abyss Studios where they recorded drums and guitars with producer Tommy Tägtgren for their new album. Now it’s time for vocals, keys and mixing. Unfortunately singer Chris suffered from a throat infection so he needs some weeks off to recover properly, but in late October everything will be probably finished. The album will go under the name of "Indefinite Soul-Extension" and its full, now completed, track listing reads as follows (in no particular order): ‘Cinders Veil’, ‘Phase Of Revulsion’, ‘Commit To The Fire’, ‘Leave-Taking’, ‘Final State Part III (Posthumous Writings)’, ‘Spit Forth From Failure’, ‘Morndraper’ and ‘Unspeakable Grief’. Expect a spring 2003 release. www.unmoored.com
AGHORA‘s mainman Santiago Dobles is still recording the new album titled "Formless" with the new line-up including new drummer Richard Komatz and new bass player Andy DeLuca (ex-Symphony X) (replacing Sean Reinert and Sean Malone), plus sister-vocalist Danishta Rivero of course. The new songs are more "live" and organic and the new album is expected this fall on code666. In the meantime the band played several gigs in the USA this summer, getting an overwhelming response, while supporting bands like Blind Guardian and Soilwork. www.aghora.org
ATROX are still working in the reharsal room to compose their new album, with plans to enter a studio this winter. You can hear an unreleased Atrox song, plus a track from their last album on Season Of Mist on the upcoming code666 compilation.
DIABOLICUM are now busy with their side-project The Bloodline (with Mysteriis from Setherial, Sethlans from Aborym and Nattefrost from Carpathian Forest), but they will enter Greencastle Studio in June 2003 to record the new Diabolicum opus entitled "Vengeance". www.diabolicum.cjb.net
BLOODSHED will soon start touring to promote "Inhabitants Of Dis". www.bloodshed.info
Germany’s ENID are currently creating their new, still untitled album to be recorded next year. They’ve already recorded a brand new track for the code666 compilation titled ‘Exemption’. www.enid.ht.st
ABORTUS just re-recorded a couple of songs from their debut album, to be used as bonus tracks for the US-version of "Process Of Elimination", out soon on Brazen Music. In the meantime they are still touring Australia, headlining the "Violent Elimination Tour". Afterwards they will focus on the new album. www.abortus.cjb.net
L.V.X.ifer (guitar) and Sein (bass) have left THEE MALDOROR KOLLECTIVE, soon to be replaced by H:Kashchej (guitars / noises) and Nordvargr (mastermind of MZ.412). The band is currently working on the next album (working title "Fractures In The Iron Youth"), an electro-noise delirium with power electronics, dub and drum ‘n’ bass beats. The long delayed official site will be ready soon. www.maldororkollective.net Don’t miss the new side project Bacteria Death Module, pure Kollective harsh industrial, out this fall.
Sweden’s Selbstmord Services announces the release of LEVIATHAN‘s "Far Beyond The Light" album. The band is being described as "obscure, melancholic Black Metal in the early Norwegian tradition… disturbingly dark and eerie, somewhat perverted, highly over the standard…" A limited vinyl edition will be released by Germany’s Undercover Records. www.selbstmord.nu
Furias Records / Orion Music Entertainment from Argentina have the following CD releases available: DUNKELSTORM – "Schicksal" (in the vein of Samael, Alastis and Lacrimosa), MITTERNACHT – "The Desolation Of Blendenstein" (symphonic Dark Black Ambient like Summoning, Limbonic Art, Penitent and Evol), DIVE IN MINDS – "Innocent Victims" (progressive Death Metal, like Death, Atheist, In Flames, Children Of Bodom), EJECUCION – "Observation" (medieval Doom Neo Classical Metal), MASTIFAL – "Holocausto Mental (Thrash Metal), WAR – "We Are… Total War (Black / Death Metal with members of Hypocrisy, Vondur, Ophtalamia, Algaion, Pain – licensed from Necropolis Records), IN AETERNUM – "Past And Present Sins" (Death Metal – licensed from Necropolis Records), DIABOLIQUE – "The Green Goddess" (Gothic Dark Wave – licensed from Necropolis Records). For all further info contact: www.orionmusic-furias.com.ar
STORMLORD are currently writing songs for their new album. This is the band’s first release with new second guitarist Gianpaolo Caprino. A November 2003 release is expected through Scarlet.
NILE will head out on the Guitar World sponsored The Art of Noise Tour 2003 on January 17th in Houston, TX. Support will come from NAPALM DEATH, DARK TRANQUILITY, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and The BERZERKER. In related news, Nile have been invited to play Beast Feast 2002 in Tokyo, Japan. They will play December 15th alongside SLAYER and DOWN. For more info go to www.BeastFeast.net
CANNIBAL CORPSE‘s "Worm Infested" album is available on limited edition (1.000 copies only) picture disc vinyl LP in Europe.
This year’s "Drakkar Hellfest 2002: The Desecration" takes place on December 14th at the Pazzop Club in Bladel, Holland. For tickets and info go to drakkar2@wanadoo.fr. Only 300 tickets will be sold in advance. Acts on the bill include: GRAND BELIAL’S KEY, UNPURE, CELESTIA, WATAIN, CORPUS CHRISTII, LUGUBRE, NUIT NOIRE and PERDITOR.
Tumba Records will release the debut album "Faces Of Exploration" from COLLAPSE NR, which is a new extreme Brazilian band in the vein of BRUTAL TRUTH, BURNT BY THE SUN and NAPALM DEATH. All further info at: www.tumbarecords.com.br or www.tumbarecords.net
Brazil’s TORTURE SQUAD are currently in studio, recording their 4th album, that should be out early 2003. The band just finished a successful Brazilian tour and is planning to head off for Europe in 2003. All interested promoters, clubs, bands and agencies should contact: producao@tumbarecords.com.br to set up some shows.
Guitarist Heter isn’t a member of Poland’s DISSENTER anymore. Here’s some comments from drummer Mlody regarding the split-up: "We had some problems with him during the Thrash’em All Festival. Firstly he told us that he isn’t going to play on the tour and joined the band only from the fourth day. After that, we have been forced to cancel our tour through Holland, because of the same reason. Heter informed us at the last moment and there was little time to find a replacement. Due to that we’ve decided to kick him out. It’s a pity after all these years of our cooperation…" DISSENTER is currently working on new material with a new member. New recordings are planned for February 2003 at Hertz Studio once again, while the first shows won’t take place before next summer. www.dissenter.prv.pl
ARGHOSLENT‘s "Gallopping Through The Battle Ruins" album, which previously was only available on CD, will now also be out on vinyl format and available from Hellflame Productions in December or January. It is supposed to be limited to 500 or 666 copies. www.hellflameprod.cjb.net
Sweden’s THRONEAEON have signed a new deal with the Slovakian label Forensick Music. There’s been alot of negotiations with various labels since the band decided to leave Hammerheart Records and so far the new partnership looks very promising. Studio Underground is already booked during December this year for the recording of their next full-length.
EXCITER have parted ways with bassist Marc Charron.
Blabbermouth reports that guitarist Mitch Harris (NAPALM DEATH, ex-RIGHTEOUS PIGS), has reformed his DEFECATION project, the band he co-founded with former Napalm Death drummer Mick Harris. Although Mick doesn’t appear in Defecation’s current line-up, the band are working on a new album, "Intention Surpassed", due out through Nuclear Blast in early 2003.
The long-awaited MORBID ANGEL tribute titled "Tyrants From The Abyss" has finally been released on Necropolis Records in the U.S. and Hellspawn Records of Sweden. Here is an excerpt from the Necropolis release announcement: "Tyrants Of The Abyss: A Tribute To Morbid Angel" release overview: Universally hailed as the greatest Death Metal band of all time, MORBID ANGEL stands as the ultimate confirmation of the Death Metal genre’s longevity and integrity. Since the band’s inception in 1985, MORBID ANGEL has been an integral part of the entire musical movement. Emerging from the Death Metal explosion of the early 1990s as the undisputed champions, MORBID ANGEL has set the standard for the style ever since, artistically and commercially, touring with artists like PANTERA, SLAYER, BLACK SABBATH, and MOTORHEAD as well as headlining countless tours of their own. This release is a tribute to that band’s vision and integrity, made by some of the Black / Death Metal scene’s most important bands, all of which, not surprisingly, are MORBID ANGEL fans. Including the modernized Blackened Death Metal approach of ZYKLON (featuring Zamoth and Trym of the now-defunct EMPEROR), Brazil’s KRISIUN, long-standing Polish Death Metal act VADER, whose over decade-long track record in the scene more than speaks for itself, as well as many other leading acts in the Death Metal genre. All the bands featured are at the forefront of the current Death / Black Metal generation, and all owe at least some debt of influence to MORBID ANGEL. Now is their opportunity to hail the most significant Death Metal band in history. This tribute has been made by fans of MORBID ANGEL- for fans of MORBID ANGEL. Tracklisting: ZYKLON – Dominate, VADER – Immortal Rites, SOULREAPER – Fall From Grace, ANGELCORPSE – Demon Seed, CENTURIAN – Blasphemy Of The Holy Ghost, LUCIFERION – Brainstorm, INFERNAL – Bleed For The Devil, DIVINE RAPTURE – World Of Shit (The Promised Land), DIABOLIC – Visions From The Darkside, IN AETERNUM – Maze Of Torment, EXCOMMUNION – God Of Emptiness, BEHEMOTH – Day Of Suffering and KRISIUN – Unholy Blasphemies.
According to a recent press release, Texas’ PROPHECY will not be playing shows / tours until further notice. However, founding member James Parks II (guitarist / vocalist / songwriter / drummer), is writing new material for the next full-length, due out in late 2003.
The reformed DARK ANGEL (guitarists Jim Durkin and Eric Meyer, vocalist Ron Rinehart, and drummer Gene Hoglan) have announced that "shows in December are being rescheduled for March 2003, due to numerous personal scheduling conflicts within the band."
CATTLE DECAPITATION have been forced to cancel the remaining dates on their tour with CANNIBAL CORPSE "due to a medical emergency at home." They will however be playing in Hollywood in December (4th at The Palace) for Metal Blade’s 20th Anniversary show.
Upcoming shows for CRYPTOPSY are as follows: November 14 in Oshawa, ON at The Dungeon, 15th in Toronto, ON at The Kathedral, 16th in Windsor, ON at Diesel Lounge, 29th in Rimouski, PQ at La Coudée and 30th in Quebec City, PQ at Kashmir. On a side note, Cryptopsy are not performing at the Xtreme Benefest in Michigan as previously announced.
VADER are heading to South America on December 13th for a seven-date tour in support of their new record, Revelati.
DARKTHRONE are currently in rehearsal for their new album, "Hate Them", which they’ll begin recording in early December. A February release through Moonfog is expected.
DIVINE RAPTURE has recently entered Ron Vento’s Nightsky studios in Clinton, MD to record "The Burning Passion". They have been scrutinizing minuscule details to bring about an album of tight crushing brutality. Sessions ran smoothly and tracking is complete. The album is currently in mix-down. Be sure to check out the latest release from Ron’s band, Aurora Borealis (www.auroraborealis.org) featuring Tim Yeung on drums.
EXMORTEM‘s new album "Pestilence Empire" will be released on November 25 through Osmose Productions. The tracklist reads like this: ‘Ghastly Grotesque’, ‘Funerary Sculpture’, ‘Pestifer’, ‘Malus Invictus’, ‘Death Deceiver’, ‘Grand Dome Of Destruction’, ‘Icecold Ugliness (Part 2)’, ‘Gruesome Icons’ and ‘A Tyrants Hunger’. For further information check out the band’s website at: www.exmortem.com
MORBID UPHEAVAL is a new Death Metal act from Italy, formed by members and ex-members of Martial Might, Goatreich 666 and Goatfire. The band was created in spring 2002, inspired by legendary acts such as Treblinka, Grave, Order From Chaos, Sarcofago, Nuclear Death and Autopsy. The concepts expressed through the lyrics find their roots in the writings of Mishima, Redbeard, Devi and the likes. The first release is gonna be a limited edition (666 copies) split 7" EP with Arghoslent (www.arghoslent.cjb.net), out very soon through Warhammer Records. Morbid Upheaval are gonna record two trax for it (‘Solar Impetus’ and ‘Forsaken Hordes’). Their next release, a split 10" MLP with Capra Hircus (www.caprahircus.cjb.net) is planned for spring 2003 and will be a co-production between Hellflame and Warhammer Records. Plans are to record two own songs and a cover version of each band. All further info you may get from one of the bandmembers directly. Contact: hereticwisdom@libero.it (Savazzi) or sunandiron@hotmail.com (Nicola).
Italy’s My Kingdom Music have just released new albums by DEINONYCHUS ("Mournument"), CROWHEAD ("Frozen") and ROOM WITH A VIEW ("First Year Departure"). Label contact and download samples at: www.mykingdommusic.net