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Dave "Scarface" Castillo has joined DECEASED full-time as the new drummer. Here’s the official statement regarding this subject from original drummer King Fowley: "After surviving a life-threatening blood clot in my lung this past year, I’ve been left with permanent damage to both my airways and right lung, basically ending my duties behind the kit. So, the band has made the decision to bring in new blood to the ranks. I want to personally say this… Deceased is a family unit and bringing in someone else was not an easy choice. But Dave has always been a great friend of ours and someone we consider our brother. Not only that, but he’s already been a member of my other band October 31 for years. Before that, he played for fellow Virginia Thrashers Hatred. The bottom line is, Dave is the perfect guy for the job. His drumming is solid as hell and his playing is the type of Thrash everyone in the band lives for. We feel he will bring even more power and energy to our attack so I can now run loose on stage like a wild rat on PCP! I hope you all will support us in our decision to make this necessary line-up change. Look for a new 10" split with Nunslaughter on Metal War Productions (the first with Dave) called "Torn Apart By Werewolves". It will feature one new Deceased song and a cover of Agent Steel’s ‘Agents Of Steel’. Then be on the look out, as the long overdue new full-length album "As The Weird Travel On" finally gets written and recorded for Relapse Records later next year. In closing, I would personally like to thank each and every one of you for your kind well wishes on my health situation. We all look forward to seeing you on the road again. Sick Thrash forever!"
GOD DETHRONED have finished the recordings for their upcoming album "Into The Lungs Of Hell" at Berno studios in Malmö, Sweden. The album was produced and mixed by Henrik Larsson (who also did the latest AMON AMARTH album) and features eight songs with a total running time of 38 minutes.The songs this time have a more "realistic" view on the world instead of the "stories" the band came up with on the previous albums. There’s liner notes included with all the lyrics in the booklet to point out what the band is talking about. "Sometimes it was just necessary, because for example the song ‘Slaughtering The Faithful’ is dealing with the bio-industry and the way we treat animals. It was pretty shocking to read my own lyrics again just after I wrote it. We decided to explain some things here and there to avoid misunderstandings because people would think we were singing about concentration camps and shit like that", mainman Henri Sattler comments. The tracklisting reads like this: ‘Into The Lungs Of Hell’, ‘The Warcult’, ‘Enemy Of The State’, ‘Soulsweeper’, ‘Slaughtering The Faithful’, ‘Subliminal’, ‘The Tombstone’ and ‘Gods Of Terror’. The first edition of the new album will be limited with a bonus CD, which will contain some live recordings (from GOD DETHRONED’s show in Los Angeles), the two video clips ‘Villa Vampiria’ and ‘Under The Golden Wings Of Death’ and some previously unreleased stuff like a re-recorded version of the song ‘God Dethroned’, a cover version (‘Satan’s Curse’) by Possessed and more.
The first edition of FALLEN YGGDRASIL‘s "In No Sense Innocence" is sold out by now (1.000 copies), but it will be re-released via Supreme Chaos Records early 2003. For further info check out the band’s homepage www.fallen-yggdrasil.de or Supreme Chaos at: www.s-c-r.de.
Sweden’s MAZE OF TORMENT were signed by Hellspawn Records and have their long awaited fourth album "The Unmarked Graves" out in February 2003 worldwide. The album was recorded at The Abyss studios with producer Tommy Tägtgren in late 2001, but has been put on ice until now due to problems with their former U.S. label. The album features 12 tracks of intense and catchy Death / Thrash Metal with their so far best production to date. Tracklist: ‘The Evil Remains The Same’, ‘Satan Descends’, ‘The Unmarked Graves’, ’13th Disciple’, ‘Fortress Of Doom’, ‘Demon’s Rape’, ‘Void Of Pain’, ‘Enter The Holocaust’, ‘Burn Till Death’, ‘Blinded By Illusions’, ‘Formula XXX’ and ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’ (MISFITS cover). For more information contact Hellspawn Records at hellspawn666@swipnet.se or visit their website: www.hellspawnrecords.com.
PURGATORY‘s bassplayer Torsten has left the band for personal reasons. Therefore the band is urgently looking for a replacement, preferable someone from the Dresden / Chemnitz / Leipzig era. Interested persons can get in touch through these addresses: purgatory666@web.de, www.purgatory666.de
PESSIMIST is currently in the writing stages for the next release and the band is expected to return to the studio this winter to record a 4-song EP, tentatively titled "For Stronger Than Death Is Hate". No shows will be scheduled during this time. Guitarist Kell McLauchlin has just finished recording leads for the new BLACK MASS CD, "Voices Of Fate". The album was recorded and produced by Roger Beaujard, drummer / guitarist for MORTICIAN and MALIGNANCY. Expected release date is February 01, 2003 on Primitive Recordings. For more info check out the BLACK MASS website at www.USBlackMass.com
Holland’s PENTACLE have become a fourpiece again. Their newest member is Alex Verhoeven, the younger brother of Mike. After some intense months of rehearsing he had to endure his baptism of fire on a Swiss stage (it was his first gig ever…), did a great job and from now on is a full-time member of the band.
Earache Records (www.earache.com) have posted an advance MP3 for THE HAUNTED‘s ‘Shithead’ track. It comes from the band’s forthcoming "One Kill Wonder" album, due out February 17th, 2003.
GORGOROTH‘s Ghaal has finally been released from Norwegian prison. Vocals for the band’s new album, "Twilight Of The Idols (In Conspiracy With Satan)", will be recorded before the end of 2002. A mid 2003 release is expected through Nuclear Blast.
HYPOCRISY are writing new material for their next album, with recording to begin in August for the early 2004 release.
Portugal’s Sound Riot Records have released DEMON CHILD‘s new album, "Shadow Cult". Clips from the disc’s tracks can be heard at www.demonchild666.cjb.net. The tracklisting: ‘Intro’, ‘In Darkened World’, ‘Supreme Cruelty’, ‘The Fallen One Has Arrived’, ‘The Order Of The Black Flame (The Fallen One Has Arrived, Pt.2)’, ‘Shadow Cult’, ‘Coldblessed’, ‘Path Of Fire & Blood’ and ‘Torch Of War’.
USURPER have completed the recording of "Twilight Dominion", their debut album for Earache, at Chicago’s Engine Music Studio with producer Neil Kernon. Says Usurper axeman Rick Scythe: "This album will kill all posers. This album is total Earache quality. TOTAL METAL LUST!!!" The album is set for release in March, 2003.
Sweden’s lengendary Death / Thrashers MERCILESS are back! After the re-release of the first MERCILESS album "The Awakening" on Osmose Productions back in 1999, the band not only played a couple of successful gigs, but also decided to start working on a new album again. So, in May 2002 they finally entered studio Dog Pound in Stockholm and recorded ten new songs for the fourth, self-titled MERCILESS album that will shortly be released on Black Lodge Records.
"Sectanik Neocide", the first album of French Black Metallers FORNICATION is now available. For further details, check out the following websites: http://fornication.bm.free.fr, www.battleskrs.wouaib.com
On December 13, 2002 SOULSGATE and SANGUINEUSare playing at the "A tribute to Chuck Schuldiner" benefit at "Headbanger’s Ballroom" in Hamburg, Germany. The earned money goes out to the Schuldiner Fond. The release date of Soulsgate’s forthcoming debut album "Delusion" is set for January 01, 2003. To order the CD, follow this link: www.soulsgate.de/order.htm. A release party will take place at the "Logo" in Hamburg, Germany on January 04, 2003. Supporting guests are Suffer Age and Apostasy. All further info at: www.soulsgate.de
The new album of SPAWN OF POSSESSION will hit the shops all across Europe in the beginning of 2003. You can already check out an advance mp3 at: www.uniqueleader-europe.com The band will embark on a European tour in February 2003 together with Disavowed, Mangled / Inhume and Vile. For the tourdates go here.
DECREPIT BIRTH, featuring Tim Yeung (ex-Hate Eternal / ex-Agiel) have recently finished off their recording sessions for their upcoming debut. The coverart of this album is done by Dan Seagrave, famous for his work with Morbid Angel, Suffocation a.o. To download an advance demo track from Decrepit Birth (featuring Kevin Tally ex-Dying Fetus / ex-Misery Index on drums) go to the mp3 section at www.uniqueleader-europe.com. The release is scheduled to be in stores across Europe somewhere in spring 2003.
Ryan Ragas Custom Guitars will now officially endorse all Unique Leader Records and Unique Leader Europe recording artists. First work finished is the custom "Deeds of Flesh – Mark Of The Legion" guitar for Erik Lindmark. Watch Erik use his brandnew custom guitar on their current U.S. tour with Cannibal Corpse, Malevolent Creation and Macabre.
VICTIM will release their fourth CD through Eclipse Records, Japan (www.eclipserec.brutaldeath.net) next year. The band will enter the studio in spring, with a release scheduled for summer 2003. You can check out some mp3 on www.victim.de