The Thrash-Division of HYPNOSIA has a new, full time bass player!!! Over two and a half years of troubles getting the right bass player has been put to an end. The new bass player is called Lenny Blade and he has rehearsed with the band since November 17, 2000.
DISMEMBER have left Nuclear Blast and found a new home in Hammerheart Records. The next album is supposed to be released later this year.
HIRAX just released a 7" picture disc (limited to 2.000 copies) on Deep Six Records. Here’s a link to show you what it looks like www.hirax.org/Eldiablopicdisc.htm For ordering information contact Katon at: blkdevil@gte.net
In April Belgian Painkiller Records will release a CENTINEX / NUNSLAUGHTER split picture 7"EP entitled "Hail Germania" . This EP will be dedicated to the german metal scene, featuring two cover tracks; CENTINEX – "Enchanted Land" (originally by SODOM) and NUNSLAUGHTER – "Preacher" (originally by RUNNING WILD). It’ll be limited to 1000 copies.
In June Repulse Records will re-release CENTINEX‘s "Malleus Maleficarum" CD. Totally re-edited with new supreme artwork, photos etc. The album will include at least four bonus tracks!
SINISTER will release their new album "Creative Killings" in autumn 2001.
Norway’s new extreme Metal sensation, ZYKLON unleash World Ov Worms in early February. Consisting of Zamoth and Trym of Emperor, Destructhor of Myrkskog, and Daemon of Limbonic Art (who is now an official member, handling the vocals), Zyklon create a vicious mix of high quality death and black metals. As Zamoth explains, "It started with an idea around ’98 to do another band, with a bit more of an aggressive attitude. Me and Trym had been jamming some material. Back then we were not sure if it was going to be a proper band, but in the end we had some rough material. And then we brought in Destructhor from Myrkskog and he joined the band earlier this year. Since he’s joined we have become a stronger unit and decided to go forth with it." "Well in a way it is a continuation," Zamoth replies when asked if this has any relation to do with Zyklon-B. "But I’ve stressed the fact that it’s not the same band. It’s not a reformation of Zyklon B. The name bears a resemblance as does the music and the concept, so it’s not something totally different. But it’s not the same band. I feel that the album we’re doing now, the World Ov Worms, is our debut album; it’s not our second release. But we have had a lot of questions about this: is this Zyklon B?, and I think a lot of people will make fuss about and it’s understandable because of the similarities in the name. But I mean the name Zyklon is a very cool name; it looks good, it sounds good and it’s quite original, and for us it represents a massive destructive force." And then of course there’s the speculation concerning Emperor (with Emperor not touring for the upcoming new masterpiece), but Zamoth assures that there will be no conflicts whatsoever. "There’s a lot of speculating around this and I understand. But the thing with us is that with Emperor we do one thing and Ihsahn is a very creative person and he feels he needs to have outlets for different musical ideas in different things and I am the same with Zyklon. So we just keep Emperor as one thing and we do things on the side, and now we decided for the new Emperor album we won’t be an active touring band. But maybe in the future we will play live again, who knows?"
OPETH are set to release their phenomenal new volume, "Blackwater Park", on March 13th in North America. While treading new waters, rest assured that Blackwater Park is another worthy gem that fits like a glove alongside the rest of the band’s illustrious back catalogue. The tracklisting is as follows: ‘The Leper Affinity’, ‘Bleak’, ‘Harvest’, ‘The Drapery Falls’, ‘Dirge For November’, ‘The Funeral Portrait’, ‘Patterns In The Ivy’ and ‘Blackwater Park’. Blackwater Park also marks the longest Opeth record to date, the first time they have worked with an actual producer (Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree) since Dan Swano, but Mikael Akerfeldt is confident as ever. "It’s not a shock for the listener. It’s still going to be an Opeth record in every sense. We introduce minor differences with each record we do; we just focus on having quality songs. As long you have quality songs it doesn’t matter if you do like ten that are the same if you know what I mean. I don’t feel any urge to change drastically in style because our music is so wide anyway because you can fit everything in one song. We just want to make exciting music. We just record the material that’s written. Then we can think afterwards if it’s a worthy Opeth album. We have some new ideas, especially with the production. We’ve used guitar sounds and vocal sounds that we’ve never used before and it’s kind of disguised and stripped down. For the listener it can seem like it’s really primal. I know what I like in music, but as a listener I don’t listen to it until we get the finished mastered CD. So I’ve been listening to it constantly since we got back home from the studio. I played it to my friends and the reactions have been great and I just feel more confident than ever that this is a worthy Opeth record. Right now it’s my favourite and that’s a good feeling."
A lawsuit alleging SLAYER‘s music caused a trio of the band’s fans to murder a 15-year-old girl was dismissed by a California court on January 23rd. The girl’s family has 60 days to submit a new complaint. Slayer’s attorney maintains, "There’s not a legal position that could be taken that would make the band responsible." As for their new album, the band began recording on January 22nd with producer Matt Hyde. According to Kerry King, there’s no title yet but 15 songs are ready, and the release date is projected for the end of May. In related news, the band have also recorded a track, ‘War Zone’, for an upcoming WWF compilation.
BENEDICTION have released their new album, "Organized Chaos".
NASUM are set to tour Scandinavia with THE HAUNTED and NILE. The tour kicks off on March 5th in Sandviken, Sweden and wraps up on March 18th in Oslo, Norway. A full list of dates is available at www.nasum.com Nasum will also perform at this years Wacken Open Air this Summer
REBAELLIUN have finished the writing process for their new album, Annihilation. Recording will commence at Stage One Studio in February. The album will have eight new tracks and a re-recording of ‘Bringer Of War’. A limited edition CD and vinyl will also include a bonus track
VADER‘s next studio album won’t be in the works before 2002, but the band will be busy promoting Reign Forever World for the next 12 months. Before the Polish tour kicks off in March, the band will play a series of dates in Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany. This warm-up will begin on March 1st in Ostrava and fold up on March 9th in Halle, Germany. During these dates Vader will be supported by VIU DRAKH, CRUSHER and KRABATHOR. Fans can expect a new stage design and new sets comprising new and old tracks, the latter including some never played live. Each set will be also extended with BLACK SABBATH, SLAYER and CELTIC FROST covers. On the Polish tour support comes from DECAPITATED and TRAUMA. On the Scandinavian leg support comes from VOMITORY. April 12th marks the beginning of another edition of the prestigious No Mercy Festival featuring VADER, MARDUK, MORTICIAN, AMON AMARTH, SINISTER, GOD DETHRONED, SOILWORK, MYSTIC CIRCLE and many others (for further details check out our tourdates section). This time the tour will comprise 13 big festivals, including the Tilburg and Antwerp events where the bands will be joined by NAPALM DEATH, HYPOCRISY, BENEDICTION, GEHENNA, and VOMITORY. The whole tour is organised by Metallysee Agency. VADER will then do a 30 date U.S. club tour with DECAPITATED.
DARK FUNERAL have entered Abyss Studios to record their third full-length album, Diabolis Interium, for No Fashion. Peter Tagtgren will produce the album, planned for a European release in late May. The band are currently in negotiations to decide the label for the U.S. release.
WOLFEN SOCIETY will re-record their forthcoming EP, "Conquer Divine", in early March. This time, Tommy Tagtgren will engineer the project. The band apologize for the delay releasing the project.
IN THE WOODS‘ played their final concert in Kristiansand recently. They performed all the highlights of their albums and surprised the listners with three new songs, the standout track being ‘I Don’t Care’.
DORNENREICH have finished their new album, Her Von Welken N’chten, set to be released in late February.
BLAZING ETERNITY’s Magnus ‘Darkenfald’ Ringling has left the band. Anders I. Kristiansen is the new bass players. The band’s next album may be released this year.
BLOOD RED THRONE have signed to The Plague. The band will begin recording at Dub Studio in Norway in April.
NAERVAER‘s debut album, "Skiftninger" will be released on February 19th through Ember.
BETHLEHEM will begin recording their new album, "Schatten Aus Der Alexander Welt", in March.
IN AETERNUM and ROTTEN SOUND, with support from MALEVOLENT CREATION and HATEPLOW, will tour Europe this Spring. The dates begin on February 6th in Newport, England and wrap up on February 26th in Chile.
In the next few weeks several tracks from ANCIENT CEREMONY‘s "Synagoga Diabolica" album will appear on compilations in the US, Australia, Asia and East Europe. In late May the band will embark on short underground tour, making stops in Berlin and the Czech Republic. They are also working on material for their next album, The Third Testament, to be released in the Fall. Also, the band will cover the track ‘Hunger Of The Undead’ for a forthcoming DARK ANGEL tribute.
Germany’s MYSTIC CIRCLE will release their new album, "The Great Beast", on March 26th. Check out the band’s website at www.mystic-circle.de
PESSIMIST have inked a deal with Lost Disciple Records to release their third CD, tentatively titled "The Greater Of Two Evils".
SATHANAS are set to release a new MCD, "Cruentus Diabolos", through Pulverized Records.
DECAPITATED are still working on a U.S. tour. The tentative date has been set for July 2001. Digger International and Earache America confirm that the band will open for VADER and two other bands, so everything depends now on the Immigration Office and the American Embassy in Poland.
Brazil’s NEPHASTH have signed for two albums with Mighty Music. The debut album, Immortal Unholy Triumph, is scheduled for a May release.
SOULGRIND will release their new CD, Elixir Mystica, on February 19th through Holy Records.
DARKSIDE have inked a deal with Season of Mist. Their fourth album, Cognitive Dissonance, is set to be released this Fall.
DESTRÖYER 666 will be on tour in Europe with IMMOLATION, DERANGED and DECAPITATED (for the exact dates check out our tourdates section). The jaunt begins at The Underworld in London on May 1st and wraps up on May 20th at the Remise in Will, CH.
ATROX vocalist Monika, and guitarist Eivind were forced to return to Norway during the recording of their new album in Finland. Both suffered throat infections that needed to be treated in the hospital. The albums release will now be delayed by two or three months.
YATTERING will record their next album in March at Red Studio in Poland. It will be produced by VADER’s Piotr Lukaszewski and is set to be released through Season Of Mist in Europe, and Relapse in the U.S. in September.
…AND OCEANS are preparing for a tour with MARDUK, MYSTIC CIRCLE and others.
SEVERE TORTURE just finished their European tour successfully. There is a limited 7"EP available, called "Lambs Of A God". This EP contains two unreleased tracks recorded during their "Feasting On Blood" recording session. It is strictly limited to 500 copies. An American tour is planned for April. www.severetorture.com
MANGLED‘s second long-player will be out 26-03-2001 titled, "Most Painful Ways".Very heavy Death Metal from the Netherlands. MANGLED will do a couple of shows in March with Vomitory. Check out our tourdates section for details. There are also a few gigs planned with Rebaelliun & Severe Torture. Dates will follow soon. listen.to/mangled
THRONEAEON recorded their debut album, "Neither Of Gods" in Studio Underground, Sweden. Eleven tracks of catchy head-banging Death Metal the Scandinavian way. Their Mini CD "With Sardonic Wrath" is available again (see reviews). listen.to/throneaeon
BLOOD RED THRONE is on THE PLAGUE now. This is the Death Metal band from Tchort (ex-Emperor, Satyricon). The recording will start in April in DUB Studio, Norway. Mixing and mastering will probably happen at Morrisound Recordings, Florida. www.bloodredthrone.com
"Subterraneal Magnitude", the new album from DIABOLIC is planned for April. Cover artwork by Joe Petagno. Produced by Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez (Morbid Angel’s sound man). www.diabolicblastmasters.com
"Raped In Their Own Blood" & "Redemption", the first two albums from VOMITORY will be available on limited gatefold LP in March. www.vomitory.net
LOWBROW will tour Europe in May, together with Ancient Rites and another band. The dates will follow soon! These 3 bands will most likely play Dynamo Open Air as last show on this tour!
NECROPHOBIC have just updated their website "The Darksite of Necrophobic". Now you can check out a bigger voting section, a forum etc. Go to: www.necrophobic.net
DIABOLICUM are currently putting the finishing touches on their second album, The Dark Blood Rising (The Hatecrowned Retaliation), due out in March on code666. The album will include a CDROM track including the video for the song ‘Bloodspawn’. Special guests in the studio during the recording of the album included: Jon Nodtveidt (DISSECTION), Dirge Rep (ENSLAVED), Martin (PUNGENT) and Wrath (SETHERIAL). The tracklisting: ‘The March Of The Misanthrope’, ‘Heavens Die’, ‘Transmissions To The Planet Of Death’, ‘Bloodspawn’, ‘The War Tide (All Out Genocide), ‘The Hatecrowned Retaliation’, ‘The Dark Blood Rising’, ‘The Pitch Black’, ‘The Song Of Suffering’, ‘Into The Dementia’ and ‘The Nemesis Speaks’. The album was recorded in the Abyss Studios with Peter Tägtgren.
DYING FETUS wish to announce the permanent departure of bassist and second vocalist Jason Netherton. Jason left the band following the last date in Europe on the recent MORBID ANGEL tour. The departure came as a result of numerous personal reasons, and was on good terms as Jason wishes the band all the best. Dying Fetus will continue on, at this time as a 5-piece with replacements who have been lined up for the current tour with ALL OUT WAR and DIECAST. Currently on bass is Derek Boyer (DEPRECATED) and vocals are being tackled by Vince Matthews (MUCOUS MEMBRANE, AUTUMN DAWN).
Russia’s RAKOTH have completed their second album, Jabberworks, soon to be released on digipak CD through code666. A real orchestra touch was added to the recording courtesy of the Russian Grotesque Live Orchestra from Moscow. Rakoth also recoded the track ‘L’ Honglath/Facing The Calm’, to be included on the forthcoming code 666 compilation, Better Undead Than Alive.
MORTICIAN release their new album, Domain Of Death, on April 17th. The band will soon record a live album, The Final Bloodbath Session, to be released on Primitive Recordings. This will be the first Mortician release to feature a live drummer. The band will tour in Europe with MARDUK, VADER and others as part of the No Mercy Festival. Dates will be announced soon.
BLOODSHED have inked a deal with code666. The band’s Skullcrusher EP will be released in April.
AGHORA are working on their next album, scheduled to be recorded later this year.
Osmose Productions has signed MELECHESH. The band recently enlisted drummer Proscriptor McGovern (ABSU). Their forthcoming album, Djinn, will be released soon.
This following newsletter currently gets spreaded around by EQUINOX member Darkness regarding their split up with KAM LEE in the KAULDRON project… As we found it pretty amusing we wanted to share it with you: "I really didn’t want to start a war between Kam Lee and EQUINOX, but the bastard can’t keep his big fucking mouth shut (nothing new about that). It seems that our LORD & MASTER KAM LEE, chooses to take credit for everything that went on with the KAULDRON project, which is just NOT TRUE!!! This guy’s "effort" is laughable at best!!! During the last MONTHS of rehearsals, 3 times a week, the Savior of metal KAM LEE only made it to ONE PRACTICE… Oh yeah… he doesn’t even OWN a CAR… I guess that I should have driven an extra half-hour out of my way to pick up his HIGHNESS KAM LEE, when I already drive 45 minutes ONE direction… You would think that KAM would have AT LEAST help pay the rent on our practice facility at least ONCE?! Not KAM!!! The latest Playstation game was way more important than the band!!! Contrary to KAM LEE’s beliefs, EQUINOX DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH KAM… It seems that the ONLY way KAM would be happy is if the following would transpire… Title of the band: KAM LEE – Title of the record: KAM LEE – All songs written and performed by: KAM LEE, All recording & mixing: KAM LEE… Okay, I’m sure you get the point… EQUINOX made every effort to ensure that KAULDRON would become a success, but KAM’s precious ego would be bruised every time we opened our mouth and voiced our opinions. EQUINOX are NOT Kam’s little followers and decided not to work with him once his ego began to take over the band since it was EQUINOX putting forth ALL THE EFFORT in KAULDRON. A message to KAM: If you have anything to fucking say about EQUINOX, then why don’t you step the fuck up and SAY IT TO MY FACE YOU PUSSY!!? You weren’t man enough to do it when we were working together, and I know that you don’t have the balls to do it now! Good luck in your projects, however I seriously doubt that any self-respecting musician would be stupid enough to hang around and let you ruin another great idea. THANKS FOR NOTHING ASSHOLE!!! THY WILL BE DONE…" Darkness Contact: EquinoxMetal@cs.com www.geocities.com/darkness_of_equinox
And here’s KAM LEE‘s latest (edited) statement, for those who care… "The scene fucking sucks! I have no band, and to tell you the truth I am just fucking fed up with the whole fucked up thing! I’ve given this some thought… and really I just can’t do this shit anymore… I am in my 30’s now, and just too fucking sick and tired of the bullshit that this scene has become! I’ve been spear heading my comeback for the past two years now, and it feels like a losing battle! Everyone wants to forget what it was really like in the beginning, when a person’s integredy counted… when those of us who made this scene what it is today really got respect, but now – "no one cares!" The scene has changed, and to tell you the truth I fucking hate it… it blows! There are still some ‘great people’ out there in the shit giving it their all… and I hold "high" respect for them. I can only hope that in time the scene will return to those who have really bled and sheded for it! yet now it is corrupted… like a corpse gone to rot! Decayed and infested with "maggots"… and those so called maggots are the faggot corperate asswipes and the poser dick sucking "oh – so spooky" corpse painted idiots that have turned this once "proud" underground scene into a joke! And you know what…"no one cares!" Yeah… this is what was said to me that made me realize I am wasting my time with this… "No one cares!" Now, I still have plans and an obligation to record a record for Necropolis Records, and I do plan on going thru with that! I will still do the ‘Kauldron’ record with Jim Durkin, and still plan on doing ‘Cadaverizer’ with Matt, Wes and Cole… I will still correspound with the "real friends" and "cool" people that I have met over the net, and will do my best to answer any questions you may have. I also have plans on releasing a 2nd cd demo from "Phlegethon" for those of you that give a shit… but that will much later!" Kam Lee Contact: panzer58@hotmail.com
TESTAMENT will be re-recording some of its earlier and heaviest material from their debut records, The Legacy and The New Order. This is currently taking place at their own Driftwood recording studio. Mixing will be done with Andy Sneap. Tracks include: ‘First Strike Is Deadly’, ‘Into The Pit’, ‘C.O.T.L.O.D.’, ‘The Haunting’ and ‘Over The Wall’. Guitarist Eric Peterson says the sessions are "gonna sound CRUSHING." That project is scheduled to be released in limited edition before the new studio album. Alex Skolnick will be part of this recording as well, but only for the older recordings. Says singer Chuck Billy, "We thought we would ask Alex if he would like to do this for the fans, and he was totally into it! Plus I think the true fans would dig Alex playing his original parts, since his leads are so awesome on that stuff." Testament are also currently working on their ninth studio album, with plans for a release this Summer.
In related news, DRAGONLORD will also start recording this Winter and will mix in Sweden with Daniel Bergstrand. Daniel is known for mixing and producing such bands as: MESHUGGAH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, STUCK MOJO, DARKANE and more. Some titles for the album will include: ‘Spirits In The Mist’, ‘Rapture’, ‘Wolfhunt’, ‘Egraine’ and ‘Tradition And Fire’. Dragonlord’s line-up includes: Eric Peterson (riffs/vocals), Jon Allen (SADUS – drums), Lyle Livingston (PSYPHERIA – keyboards), Steve Smyth (TESTAMENT – guitars) and Steve DiGiorgio (DEATH – bass). Peterson says that "The music is totally different from Testament. It’s way more gothic, classically influenced melodic music, with strings, a choir, harpsichords and lots of screaming and hair pulling. The sound is kinda DIMMU BORGIR crossed with EMPEROR. The disc is produced by Peter Tägtren.
INCANTATION have signed a new deal with Necropolis Records. The band has released the following statement regarding this worldwide agreement: "INCANTATION is prepared to begin work with Necropolis Records. We are anxious about working with a label that has its foundation built on blasphemous music. Death Metal with antichristian beliefs isn’t understood by most record company types, it takes real fans of the music to do the right job. We anticipate our debut album with our new brothers of METAL!!" "We’re very glad to welcome INCANTATION to the Necropolis horde," adds Necropolis Records founder/CEO Paul Thind. "We feel the band is not only one of the most important US Death Metal bands who has helped shape the scene as we know it, but will be one of the bands to continue to lead the genre in the 21st century." "We are honored to work with (band founder) John McEntee, a person who has had a profound impact on the US Death Metal scene in the last 10 years through a string of classic albums and an endless number of devastating live performances," continues Thind. "His dedication and persistence is admired by many, especially the staff at Necropolis, and he is definitely a seminal part of what’s going on in Death Metal today." "The band will also have an opportunity to feel comfortable amongst our roster, which is home to several bands that are in the vein of darker and more traditional death metal; artists like Sadistic Intent, Usurper, and others who share the same kinds of ideologies. Prepare for the ultimate assault of blasphemous Death Metal later this year…" INCANTATION will release their Necropolis Records debut in late summer/early fall 2001 Incantation is also preparing to embark on the World of Darkness North American tour with their metal brothers in Immolation and Goatwhore. Visit the Incantation website at www.incantation.com for all tour updates. Incantation is also working on a European tour along with some Brazilian dates as well. So Look out for that.
CRUACHAN has entered the studio to record songs for a MCD (called "Ride on") and their full-length album (called "Folk-Lore"). Shawn McGowan (of The Pogues) will take part on the album.
SATARIEL signed a deal with Hammerheart. Musically the band is supposed to sound as follows: "…it’s still Metal, even with Death Metal influences, but with clean vocals and with some very progressive elements…"
REBAELLIUN has finished their writing-process and the new album "Annihilation" will be recorded at Stage One Studio by Andy Classen in February 2001.
EM SINFONIA is a band by Brian Griffin (Broken Hope’s songwriter and studio-owner) that did an EP in 1999 already on Martyr Music Group. The album will be released in Europe on Hammerheart Records and it is titled "Intimate Portrait", very progressive atmospheric Death/Doom with different vocal-styles and keyboards.
SKYFIRE has finally finished their debut album at Abyss Studio called "Timeless Departure". According to label infos it is like Dark Tranquility meets Rhapsody meets Children of Bodom.
From May 16th up until Dynamo Open Air DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER will tour once more across Europe with assistance of LOWBROW and ANCIENT RITES. The dates will be published soon.
SUNSETH SPHERE is another new addition to the Hammerheart roster, musically to be put in the category of The Gathering and Within Temptation, but once again different.
AETERNUS will mix their new album "Ascention of Terror" in February. Meanwhile long-time member Morrigan left the band and the bass is now handled by Orjan of Helheim.
AURA NOIR seems to continue in a new line-up, featuring Apollyon on bass/vocals, Aggressor and Blasphemer on guitars and Dirge Rep (of Enslaved) on drums.
ENSLAVED press release concerning Norwegian Grammy Awards Nomination: "We know, we know. Bands like us are supposed to be all unaffected by these things… However, the Norwegian Grammy Awards has been a pioneer in treating extreme metal seriously over the last few years. The whole thing started out with the Dimmu thing a few years back (they did a song live with some half-naked chicks and blew fire half way through the awards). The last three years there has been nothing but Death / Black / Extreme metal nominated in the Hard Rock category. So I guess it is only a natural thing; that the extreme metal bands have their "own" Grammy’s in the homeland of extreme / black metal. To be honest, at this point we have not heard any of the other two nominees (Ram-Zet and Sensa Anima), but you do not have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that we ought to win. Hehe! You never know about these things, however. Covenant won two years in a row, which tells us that there might be very disturbed people in the jury. Joke. To conclude in a more or less serious manner. We’re happy to have received this nomination, and if there are no vital dysfunctions amongst the jurors, we will win. And we’ll give the actual bronze harp statue to Garage Rock Pub, so that they can use it as a door handle. And they will give us cheap bear eternally. So there can come something good out of such a nomination, you see. It can be very metal, if you just look at it the right way! As with everything else in life! We thank chaos, miss Fortuna, quantum physics, Vulcan logic and a drop of our own talent for this nomination -Ivar Bjørnson on behalf of the ENSLAVED collective