DEMENTOR have a new website since July 8th 2001. The new address is www.dementor.sk. You can check out a new picture gallery and win one of three cassette versions of "The Art Of Blasphemy" which includes two special bonus tracks taken from the band’s 1994 "The Church Dies" release. You can also sign your name to their mailing list to receive DEMENTOR news regularly.
SODOM‘s upcoming studio album will be called M16 and will be released through SPV / Steamhammer in October 2001. The record is a concept album about the Vietnam War and the band is scheduled to play Bangkok on August 10th.
Michael Håkansson from THE FORESAKEN reported recently that "Lord Rehn of ABYSSOS (who wrote, arranged and recorded the instrumental track ‘Manifest of Hate’) will once again write a small track on the next album AND he will also appear with a guitar solo on one song."
The Summertime Slaughter Tour featuring VADER, SKINLESS, ORIGIN, IMPALED, WITHERED EARTH and ENTER SELF kicks off on June 28th at the Diamond Ballroom in Okalhoma City, OK. The dates wrap up on July 29th at The Pound in San Francisco, CA
LIVIDITY have inked a deal with Morbid Records for two albums. The band are currently working on their follow up to The Age Of Clitoral Decay and plan to enter the studio early next year to record the album for a summer 2002 release. Lividity will tour Europe and the U.S. in support of the release
IMPALED and HAEMORRHAGE will release a split CD in early 2002. Check out the Impaled site at: impaled.net and the Haemorrhage site at: come.to/haemorrhage
ARCH ENEMY will play their first dates with new singer Angela Gossow in Japan between August 29th and 31st.
According to blabbermouth.net, THE SINS OF THY BELOVED keyboardist Anders Thue has left the band. The band have canceled their scheduled festival appearances this summer and will concentrate 100% on writing the material for their next album. The band have found a new vocalist to replace Hege-Marie but won’t reveal who she is until a six month trial period has passed.
RUNEMAGICK are scheduled to work with KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy LaRocque at his Los Angered Recording Studios on the follow-up to their Revelation Of Darkness CD.
GOD FORBID will be supporting CRADLE OF FILTH on their first full U.S. tour. The dates kick off on July 8th in Seattle, WA and wrap up on July 30th in Minneapolis, MN.
FEAR FACTORY needs your video footage for their upcoming DVD release. There are no restrictions or guidelines, just submit your footage of the band. If your clip is selected for the DVD, you’ll get autographed Fear Factory merchandise or the chance to hang out with the band at a meet and greet. Send all video footage to: Mark Botting – Mosaic Media Group – 9220 Sunset Boulevard, Suite # 306, Los Angeles, CA 90069. You must include a return address and contact information to be considered for selection. All entries must be received by July 31st.
DARK FUNERAL‘s new album, Diabolis Interium, will soon see the light of day. The new photo’s are ready and the layout is being worked on now. The band are hoping to release the album in Europe in August, shortly followed by releases in Japan and North America. The Japanese version of the CD will be out through Soundholic, will have a different layout, and as bonus tracks will include the four cover songs featured on Teach Children To Worship Satan EP.
MARDUK are planning a U.S. tour for later this year.
SETH‘s new album, Divine X, is out through Osmose in November.
ANCIENT CEREMONY have inked a deal with Trisol Music Group/Armageddon Shadow. Their next album, The Third Testament, is scheduled for release in Januray 2002. The band will enter Klangschmiede E studio in August to begin recording.
DIMMU BORGIR‘s website, www.dimmu-borgir.com, has been updated with 71 new live pictures from the 2001 European/US tour. There is also a new interview done with Silenoz by Mark Morton at Promethean Crusade Magazine. The bands next festival tour of the U.S. with SIX FEET UNDER, NAPALM DEATH, KREATOR and KRISUIN will begin in late September.
DIABOLIC have scooped up guitarist Jerry Mortellaro. Their new album, Subterraneal Magnitude, is scheduled for release in Europe on July 23rd through Hammerheart Records.
DORNENREICH drummer Gilvan has left the band due to personal and musical differences.
The Hell On Earth Festival 2001 takes place from July 13th – 15th in Wr. Neustadt, Austria. Acts scheduled to perform include: ABLAZE MY SORROW, NIGHT IN GALES, BELPHEGOR, BERSERK, EVEREVE, DARKANE, DARK FUNERAL, HYPNOS, DARK TRANQUILLITY, KREATOR, SOILWORK, THE CROWN, MYSTIC CIRCLE and many more.
The 4th Anniversary of The Open Hell Festival takes place on July 27th and 28th in Volyne. Acts on the bill include: CHRIST AGONY, ROOT, DEBUSTROL, DESASTER, DARKSIDE, V.A.R. UNPURE, LOCOMOTIVE, ORK, SILENT STREAM OF GODLESS ELEGY, FATA MORGANA, AVENGER, TRIMONIUM, UNCLEAN, TORTHARRY, ENDLESS, FLESHLESS, MARTYRIUM CHRISTI, AGE OF STORM, DARK STORM, AGMEN, MORTIFILIA, MNICH, F.O.B., PENTAGON, INTERITUS, BIZARRE EMBALMING, ANIMAL HATE, DIZORDERZ and more.
The CENTINEX website is down at the moment, due to reasons beyond the band’s control. But they are working on it and everything should be up and running within the not so distant future. The address is still the same www.centinex.com The band will start working on their Candlelight Records debut, "Diabolical Desolation", on July 16th. A small one week delay there from the original schedule, but this gives Black Lounge Studios the oppurtunity to install all their new equipment and put the finishing touches on the new rebuilt and highly improved studio. The South- and North American versions of "Hellbrigade" are out now. These licensed versions do include the three "Apocalyptic Armageddon" 7"EP tracks as bonus. The albums are released by Picoroco Records (South America) and WW III Records (North America). Still to come are the Russian tape and CD versions through Irond Records. The CENTINEX / NUNSLAUGHTER "Hail Germania" split pic 7"EP, on Painkiller Records, and the "Malleus Maleficarum" CD (re-release w/ bonus tracks), on Repulse Records, have been postponed to autumn. Unfortunately CENTINEX will not take part in this years Party San Festival. They got another gig-offer from the legendary Milwaukee Metalfest which they simply couldn’t turn down.
KREATOR‘s Violent Revolution album has the following tracklisting: ‘Reconquering The Throne’, ‘The Patriot’ (instrumental), ‘Violent Revolution’, ‘All Of The Same Blood (Unity)’, ‘Servant In Heaven, King In Hell’, ‘Second Awakening’, ‘Ghetto War’, ‘Replicas Of Life’, ‘Slave Machinery’, ‘Bittersweet Revenge’, ‘Mind On Fire’ and ‘System Decay’
A picture disc LP version of TERROR 2000‘s Slaughterhouse album will be available on July 16th through Scarlet. It will feature one bonus track and will be limited to 500 copies. The band will release a new album in December.
IMPALED‘s Choice Cuts U.S. tour kicks off on June 28th at the Diamond Ballroom in Okalhoma City, OK and wraps up on July 29th at The Pound in San Francisco, CA. Other acts on the bill include: VADER, SKINLESS, ORIGIN, IMPALED,WITHERED EARTH and ENTER SELF
ARCH ENEMY‘s Wages Of Sin album will be released soon in Europe, South America and the U.S. with extra material. The Japanese edition of the album can be ordered now at www.cduniverse.com
DISGORGE‘ new album, Chronic Corporea Infest, will be available in LP format with a platinum sticker and three bonus tracks at the end of June. The album is hand numbered, limited to 300 copies
Conquest Music Inc. has announced a new US distribution deal with Big Daddy Distribution The first release through this new partnership is MONTROSITY’s double CD, Enslaving The Masses. The label will continue to be distributed in Canada by PHD, in Europe by Hammerheart and in Japan by Avalon. In other Conquest news, DIABOLIC’s Subterraineal Magnitude is scheduled for release in the fall. The band have also announced the addition of second guitarist Jerry Mortillero who replaces Brian Hipp
CRADLE OF FILTH have posted a sample MP3 of ‘Born In A Burial Gown’, a track from their new album, Bitter Suites To Succubi. Go to www.theorderofthedragon.com/docs/media.htm. The full tracklisting for the new album follows: ‘Sin Deep My Wicked Angel’, ‘All Hope In Eclipse’, ‘Born In A Burial Gown’, ‘Summer Dying Fast’, ‘No Time To Cry (SISTERS OF MERCY cover), ‘The Principle Of Evil Made Flesh’, ‘Suicide And Other Comforts’, ‘Dinner At Deviant’s Palace’, ‘The Black Goddess Rises II’ and ‘Scorched Earth Erotica’.
Olympic Records has secured a licensing deal with Avantgarde for the US release of the latest album from DIABOLICAL MASQUERADE, entitled Death’s Design and due out on August 21st.
According to the Black Mark web site, BATHORY‘s long-awaited Destroyer Of Worlds album is tentatively scheduled to be released on September 24th.
The release date for the new EMPEROR album has been set for October 8th in Europe, Asia and Canada. It will be out in the U.S. on October 4th.
Digitalmetal.com and Relapse are giving away five copies of EXHUMED‘s sawblade shaped Slaughtercult re-issue. This version includes the bonus track, ‘Goreified’. To enter simply send your name and e-mail address to www.digitalmetal.com/contest.asp. The five lucky winners will be announced on July 11th
THE PROJECT HATE featuring Entombed bassplayer / ex-Grave vocalist Jörgen Sandström, Mia Ståhl on vocals and Kenth Philipson on all other instruments will release their follow-up "When We Are Done Your Flesh Will Be Ours" to last years highly acclaimed "Cybersonic Superchrist" on August 6th (might be a little earlier) in Europe through Massacre Records and Pavement in America shortly after. The album was recorded at Soundlab Studios, Örebro, Sweden, with Mieszko Talarzcyk of Nasum-fame and mastered at the Cutting Room, Stockholm, Sweden, by Peter in De Betou. The artwork was done by graphics artist Leif Eeerriichzzon. For more information: www.theprojecthate.com or projecthate@hotmail.com
Germany’s finest Crust / Deathgrinders VIU DRAKH have a limited edition (500 copies) picture vinyl version of their awesome album "Take No Prisoners, Grind Them All And Leave This Hell" available. So, all vinyl junkies shouldn’t hesitate for a second, but immediately get in touch with Xetal Records (xetalrecords@web.de) or their management (lizmail@t-online.de) for detailed ordering information.
Sweden’s EBONY TEARS are back with a new album entitled "Evil As Hell", which will be released on June 29. Their label Black Sun Records describes it as follows: "Imagine a cross between early Slayer, Meshuggah, Haunted, Strapping Young Lad and Testament and you get a pretty good idea of how this new album sounds like. Very complex and technical, with the incredibly fast, aggressive and tight drum and guitar playing that has become the trade mark of Ebony Tears, this album really rocks…" Pre-listening at www.blacksun.se
REBAELLIUN and DIABOLIC will tour Europe in September in support of BEHEMOTH. Plans for Rebaelliun to tour the US this fall are underway as well.
Russia’s ROSSOMAHAAR have inked a 3 album deal with Last Episode. The bands second album, "Quarite Lux In Tenebris (Exploring The External Worlds)", will be released in August.
AEBA will release their third album, "Rebellion – Eden’s Asche", in August. The band is still looking for a drummer and recorded the new album with a drum-computer. Interested drummers can contact their label, Last Episode at markus@last-episode.de
FUNEBRIS have finished work on their debut album, "The Triumph Of The Everlasting Fire".
AD INFERNA are set to enter the studio to record their debut album, L’Empire des Sens. SETH frontman Arkames wrote all of the lyrics for the album.
AMORTIS‘ new album, "Gift Of Tongues", contains 7 songs and runs 51 minutes. Tracks on the album include: ‘The Human Puzzle’, ‘Messiah’, ’19th Century Love Poetry’ and ‘The Obscure Dance Of Distress’.
Canada’s Black Metal pride and joy, BLASPHEMY, are working on new material. They have four songs nearly complete and according to Ryan Forster, there is tons of label interest. Expect something by the end of the year. In the meantime, Blasphemy will be playing two local shows this year, on Friday July 13th and one at the end of August with U.S. Black Metallers BLACK WITCHERY.
CARNAL FORGE have started recording their third full-length album at Studio Underground and have so far completed laying down all the drums and rhythm guitars. Following the completion of the bass tracks, frontman Jonas Kjellgren will record the vocals at his Black Lounge Studio before the band returns to Studio Underground in mid-July to put down all the leads and mix the album, which is tentatively scheduled for a late 2001 release through Century Media.
Any artists interested in creating the cover artwork for the next HATE ETERNAL album should contact the band directly via the group’s official web site at www.hateterrnal.com. The band is asking all applicants to please NOT send large image files with your e-mail, but to instead, if at all possible, post your work/portfolio online and send them the web address where the work can be viewed. All submissions must be sent to both rutan@hateeternal.com and also webmaster@hateeternal.com
Spikefarm Records has signed Finnish Death Detal act DEMIGOD. The band’s second album is currently being recorded for a late 2001release.
INTERNAL BLEEDING will be issuing "Alien Breed 1991-2001", a CD containing the group’s "Invocation Of Evil" and "Perpetual Degradation" demos, a few songs from the band’s 1991 "One Dollar" demo plus a brand new song, ‘Alien Breed’, through Olympic Records on August 12th.
As a few people may have heard, Damon Bloodstorm is leaving ABOMINATOR, citing a permanent break from the hectic schedule of band life. ABOMINATOR, who have just been signed by Osmose Productions, is down to a two piece again and is currently looking for a bass player and possibly a second guitarist to continue their live assault. They have just completed their second full-length, "Subversives For Lucifer" and are looking forward to introducing the material to their local crowd in a couple of months. The band is currently rehearsing and writing new songs for an upcoming third album! The title at the moment is ‘Cascading Carnage’. Stay tuned for further details!
After one and a half years, HOUWITSER singer Arjaan "Djortzzz" has announced to leave the band. The main reason for his depature is that he couldn’t find the time and devotion to continue. A replacement is already found in the person of Stan Blonck, a young guy from Rotterdam. With him the band will enter the Excess Studio on July the 28th to record their new CD "Rage Inside The Womb". Official website: www.houwitser.net
IMPIETY have been signed for a 3 albums deal by Osmose Productions. Right now they are checking out studios for their next album "Infernal Sonic Warfare". IMPIETY Official website: listen.to/impiety
NILE will embark on a three week U.S. tour with Cradle Of Filth. The tour will begin July 8th in Seattle, Washington and run for three weeks before concluding on July 30th in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NILE’s bass and co-vocal duties on the upcoming tour will be handled by Jon Vesano who is known from his previous work in the South Carolina based band Dark Moon. Additionally, NILE announces that Tony Laureno will continue in his role as the bands permanent drummer. Laureno has participated in all NILE touring since inheriting the position from original NILE drummer Pete Hammoura in July 2000. In Europe NILE will be part of this year’s X-mas 2001 Festival. They will also head to England for a series of dates in early December. Additional information will be made available via the Relapse Records website: www.Relapse.com.The already confirmed tourdates you will find in our tourdates section.
SHADOWBREED have a new contact address as their bass player Kasper has just left the band. In a press release he explained his reasons as follows: "I have made this decision after a lot of thinking but unfortunatly things aren’t working out for me as a person anymore within the band. Call it musical differences or call it lack of time and interest, I simply decided to quit. No massive reason needed. The main reason propably is that I want to concentrate myself more on arranging gigs and tours or managing bands. Maybe in the future I will start or join a new band but at the moment there are no plans in that direction. I will do two more shows before I finally leave, this to give SHADOWBREED some more time on finding a replacement. I had a great time over the last few years and will keep those memories with my forever…" The band’s new contact address is: Remigius Zwerus, Volderstraat 89, 6231 LB, Meerssen, The Netherlands, e-mail remigius.shadow@12move.nl
Chuck Schuldiner is very ill once again. His cancer came back and even worse, Chuck is in great financial stress. Together with Hollands no.1 magazine Aardschok, the "013" venue, the Dutch scene and Chuck’s current label Hammerheart the Metal Mania agency decided to organize a big benefit festival in order to raise more money to pay for Chucks open standing debts and his upcoming operations. All further details you will find in our tourdates section. So please show up at the festival to show your support towards Chuck and of course towards the bands that are all playing for free. This deserves nothing but respect and we all hope that you will spread this news and are able to come down to Tilburg. If you are unable to come down and still want to do something then check out www.hammerheartamerica.com/makeadifference.html for more info on how to make a donation. Metal Mania is also still looking for sponsors for this event, so if you are interested then don’t hesitate to contact them. They will reward you with lots of promotion.