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Norwegian Death Metal-tornado BLOOD RED THRONE will enter Dub Studios (Norway) in April to record their upcoming debut-album for Hammerheart Records. Blood Red Throne is featuring a.o. Tchort (ex-Emperor, ex-Satyricon). The album will be titled "Monument of Death". Some of the songtitles are Ravenous War Machine, Dream Controlled Murder, Mary Whispers of Death, Monument of Death and Portrait of a Killer.
Adli and Eddie of SEASONAL ABYSS have quit from the scene and the band. Therefore any correspondence should be addressed to Ajoi at No 167, Taman Bukit Chedang 70300 Seremban Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
SHADOWBREED‘s new album "Only Shadows Remain" is going to be released at the end of March through Painkiller Records. For pre-orders, wholesale rates, trades and other info you can always contact painkiller through painkiller@infonie.be If you would like to hear some ne w material already you can visit the official Shadowbreed website and go to the releases section, there you will be able to download 3 new songs in mp3 format (only 1 of them is a fullsong though the other two are 1.30 min. clips), you can also visit our brand new re-styled and re-designed website for any other news concerning the band. Just go to www.shadowbreed.nl
Sweden’s DIABOLICAL MASQUERADE have completed their fourth album, Death’s Design. Diabolical Masquerade is the sole project of KATATONIA guitarist Anders Nystrom, who, for his alter-ego, goes under the name Blackheim. The album was recorded with producer Dan Swano at Sanctuary Studio. "… into a soundpicture bigger, more complex and orchestral than ever," said Blackheim of his newest venture. "Mixed in between there are the classic Masquerade epic riffs with atmospheric leads on top, some tranquil acoustic passages, some clean vocals and a lot of FX. Everything is of highest quality and does not feature one single weak moment. Instead of the standard 8-9 song index, the album’s track index will be divided into fragments and small parts, so be prepared to jump out of the chair when the CD player displays 50-60 tracks!" Expect the album to be released sometime in 2001 on Italy’s Avantgarde Records.
INFERNO FESTIVAL is a two day Metal festival happening in Oslo, Norway on April 13th and 14th. Bands scheduled to appear at the event include: AUDIOPAIN, BLOODTHORN, BORKNAGAR, BURNING RUBBER, CADAVER INC., CREST OF DARKNESS, CYBELE, ENSLAVED, FAROUT FISHING, HADES ALMIGHTY, HYPOCRISY, M-ETERNAL, PECCATUM, RAM-ZET, RED HARVEST, SUSPERIA, TIDFALL, TRAIL OF TEARS, WITCHERY and ZEENON.
At the recent Alarm Awards SATYRICON won for Best Live Band Of 2000 while Moonfog took the award for Best Website Of 2000. Congratulations to both band and label.
ALAS have finished recording their Hammerheart debut, Vol. 1 Absolute Purity. The band features Erik Rutan (MORBID ANGEL, HATE ETERNAL) on guitars and Martina Astner (ex-THERION) on vocals. Songs on the album include: ‘The Enchanted’, ‘Silencing The Sorrow’, ‘Quest Of Serenity’, ‘Loss Of A Life’ and ‘Absolute Purity’. The album will be released on May 7th.
According to www.digitalmetal.com, AVERNUS are preparing to record an album’s worth of material for a self-financed full-length. The band say the new material will be the, "darkest, heaviest stuff we’ve to offer since Sadness." The band is experiencing a rebirth of sorts, forgetting their debut album, Of The Fallen and reclaiming the old spirit of doom death. The quintet is aiming to include a mimimal amount of ‘clean’ vocals on the upcoming full-length to provide depth. Some new song titles include: ‘The Isolationist’, ‘A First In The Aura’, ‘Dead Man’s Eyes’ and ‘Nobody Lives Forever’.
THESYRE will soon complete the mastering of its debut album to be released soon via Radicart Entertainment. The band has been described as a hybrid of MINISTRY and BURZUM.
DECAYED REMAINS will complete a few more shows and will then immediately begin work on a new album, tentatively titled Romansick. The band recently teamed with Pierre Langlois in order to fill the drum position. Francis Perron moved to the bass position in the meantime. Expect a new album around the end of 2001.
AUTOPSY‘s Torn From The Grave rarities album is out on February 19th. The set features unreleased live tracks, demos and a collection of their best tracks. The tracklisting: ‘Charred Remains’, ‘Disembowel’, ‘Gasping For Air’, ‘Severed Survival’, ‘Riddeen With Disease’ (demo), ‘Service For A Vacant Coffin’ (live), ‘Retribution For The Dead’ (live), ‘Fiend For Blood’, ‘Squeel Like A Pig’, ‘Funereality’, ‘An Act Of The Unspeakable’, ‘Frozen With Fear’, ‘Spinal Extractions’, ‘Death Twitch’, ‘Walls Of The Coffin’, ‘Shit Eater’ (live), ‘Humiliate Your Corpse’, ‘Brain Damage’, ‘Blood Orgy’, ‘Bowel Ripper’, ‘Robbing The Grave’, ‘Twisted Mass Of Burnt Decay’, ‘Fleshcrawl’, ‘Torn From The Womb’, ‘Slaugterday’, ‘Dark Crusade’ and ‘Mental Funeral’.
LUCYFIRE is a new side project from TIAMAT frontman Johan Edlund. The oddly titled debut, This Dollar Saved My Life At Whitehorse, is said to be more rock-oriented. "Music is supposed to reflect the soul, and I feel extremely well at the moment, after all I’m in a very fortunate position," he offers. "The last Tiamat albums sold amazingly well, our festival appearances were highly successful, and I am very grateful to find myself in the situation that I’m in. That’s why I felt like recording an album that’s more representative of the fun side of rock music. No deep messages, no special meaning, no sharp-witted analyses, only straightforward rock songs that entertain and serve all the usual rock clichés." The album was recorded by the following studio musicians: drummer Bertram Engel, bassist John Kazder, guitarist Dirk Draeger, who also produced the record, as well as keyboarder Mark Engelmann. Edlund was supported by vocalist Silly Lemke. The material was cut in Germany at the Woodhouse Studios in Hagen and at the Hafenklang in Hamburg, as well as at the P.U.K. studios in Denmark, where the record was mixed. Tracks include ‘Baby Come On’, ‘Thousand Millions Dollar In The Fire’, ‘Mistress Of The Night’, ‘And Over And Out’, ‘As Pure As A Sin’, ‘Automatic’, ‘The Perfect Crime’, ‘You Can Have All My Love Tonight’, ‘Sharp Dressed Man’ (ZZ TOP cover), ‘Annabel Lee’ and ‘The Pain Song’
KATATONIA will precede their Last Fair Deal Gone Down album, due March 19th, with a CDS for the track ‘Teargas’, to be released on March 5th. The single will also feature two exclusive tracks: ‘Sulfer’ and ‘March 4th’. Last Fair Deal has the following tracklisting: ‘Dispossession’, ‘Chrome’, ‘We Must Bury You’, ‘Teargas’, ‘I Transpire’, ‘Tonight’s Music’, ‘Clean Today’, ‘The Future Of Speech’, ‘Passing Bird’, ‘Sweet Nurse’ and ‘Don’t Tell A Soul’.
MY DYING BRIDE‘s lead singer, Aaron Stainthorpe has opened a website featuring an exhibition of his artwork. The site, dubbed Edenbeast, can be found at www.edenbeast.com. It contains a short biography, a large art gallery and the option of commenting on the artwork.
HIRAX has hired lead guitarist Justin Lent from the Colorado based punk thrash band CLUSTERFUX.
HIRAX have just released a 7" picture disc (limited edition 2000 pressed) entitled "El Diablo Negro". Two records will furthermore be re-issued soon: the "Blasted in Bangkok" EP and the never before released PHANTASM -"Wreckage" LP which features HIRAX’ Katon W. DePena on vocals, the original bass player from METALLICA – Ron McGoveny, and on drums-Gene Hoglan formerly of DARK ANGEL, DEATH and TESTAMENT. Also upcoming is a brand new HIRAX EP entitled "Borage Of Noise" out this summer 2001. For more information contact www.Hirax.org
The Polish quartet DECAPITATED have announced details of a new European tour in support of their Wicked World / Earache debut album "Winds Of Creation". Decapitated will be joining Immolation, Deranged, Destroyer 666 and Soul Demise for a tour of pure metal mayhem. The exact dates you will find in our tour dates section.
Dutch leading Death Metal Machine SINISTER welcome their new vocalist Rachel (Occult). Rachel will make her debut on the new album titled "Creative Killings". Sinister will enter the Excess Studio in May, expect the ultimate Death Metal Explosion of 2001. Some of the song titles on the new album are "Moralistic Suffering", "Altering The Beast", "Early Gothic Horror", the title track "Creative Killings" and "Reviving The Dead."
As VENOM focuses on constructing the tour for their new Resurrection album, with the first showcase gig to be Germany’s Wacken Festival, the band has already looked ahead to a book on the band as well as an accompanying video. The book will be a collaboration with Damien from Terrorizer magazine, who had the initiative to propose the idea to the band over an interview and a few drinks at a local pub. Guitarist Mantas explains. "It’s going to be a book on the entire history of the band and there’s going to be a video history that goes with it. We’re actually going to take people to the very first place that Venom ever played, and where we used to rehearse. Our first ever Venom gig was in a church, in 1979. There’s going to be all these crazy stories in the book as well. But it won’t tell the whole story. There’s a lot of things that went on in the band that we won’t talk about. We’ve been keeping diaries the whole time. We plan to include everything, early drawings that we had for stage designs, the ‘Witching Hour’/’Bloodlust’ video. I’ve still got the original lighting design that I drew out on an A4 piece of paper, all the early posters we used to do for the band. We used to sneak out in Newcastle in the middle of the night and stick posters up all over the place, photographs that have never been seen before. I’ve still got films that haven’t even been developed from the mid ’80s. We have a lot of stuff in storage and we’re going to dig it all out. I think it will be after the Wacken Festival, But I told Damien, ‘if anybody ever writes the book on Venom, it will never tell the full story. And he had met Cronos in 1991, and Cronos had said exactly the same thing. But he said ‘I would love the opportunity to do it.’ So myself and Cronos talked about it and I gave him a ring and said ‘yes, OK, let’s go for it.’ So we’re busy putting together titles for the book, all the draft ideas. That’s our project for this year."
CANNIBAL CORPSE has announced their Spring Neck Break Tour 2001, featuring Norway’s black metal gurus DIMMU BORGIR, Sweden’s thrash kings, THE HAUNTED and new grind metal act LAMB OF GOD. The tour begins on April 13th in Worcester, MA and runs through May 6th (Montreal, PQ). Cannibal Corpse are currently in the writing process for their eight full-length. Upon completion of The Spring Neck Break tour, they will head to Village Studios in El Paso with producer Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, FEAR FACTORY). Expect an October 2001 release date. Dimmu Borgir release their new CD, Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia, in March. The Haunted are touring in support of their sophomore effort, The Haunted Made Me Do It and Lamb Of God are pounding senses with their Prosthetic / Metal Blade debut New American Gospel.
SIX FEET UNDER are scheduled to hit Criteria Studios in Miami to begin recording their forthcoming album. Inside sources say that ICE T will make an appearance.
While still months away, the line-up for the annual WACKEN FESTIVAL (Aug 3/4) continues to grow. Bands confirmed to play include: ANNIHILATOR, BEHEMOTH, BLACKSHINE, CAGE, CARNAL FORGE, CRYPTOPSY, CULPRIT, DARK TRANQUILLITY, DECEASED, DESASTER, DIMMU BORGIR, EXHUMED, EXUMER, GRAVE DIGGER, HOLY MOSES, IN FLAMES, KRISUIN, LACUNA COIL, METALIUM, MORTICIAN, NAPALM DEATH, NASUM, NEVERMORE, NIGHTWISH, NOSTRADAMEUS, OPETH,PAUL DiANNO & KILLERS, PRIMAL FEAR, SINS OF THY BELOVED, SODOM, SOILWORK, SONATA ARCTICA, SUBWAY TO SALLY, TAD MOROSE, TANKARD, THE HAUNTED, THERION with orchester, VINTERSORG, VOIVOD and WARHAMMER.
The Third Annual METAL MELTDOWN, the East Coast edition of the Metal Mania Series, is moving to the warmer weekend of April 6 and 7 and back to its original Convention Hall location in Asbury Park, N.J. The Meltdown has a new sponsor in Snake Net Metal Radio (www.snakenetmetalradio.com). Confirmed for the two-day event are: EINHERJER, VINTERSORG, RAVEN, HOLOCAUST, EXCITER, NILE, MALEVOLENT CREATION, DECEASED, MONSTROSITY, WITCHFYNDE, MURDER 1, THE STEP KINGS, NATRON, CATASTROPHIC, DEEDS OF FLESH, SHADOWS FALL, PYREXIA, BURNT BT THE SUN, LUDDITE CLONE, DIE CAST, ALL OUT WAR, ORIGIN, MASTODON, GOD FORBID, PIG DESTROYER, NATRON, YATTERING, CENTINEX, VICIOUS RUMOURS, WITHERED EARTH, CHAOS THEORY, RAIN FELL WITHIN, DISINTER and MIMIC. More bands will be announced. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. EST. The cost is $55 for a two-day pass and $35 for a one-day ticket (plus service charges where applicable). Tickets are available through TicketMaster (201/507-8900, www.ticketmaster.com), Relapse Records (800/303-0606, www.relapse.com). Tickets my also be obtained by sending a check or money order to payable to "Jack Koshick Presents" and a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Metalfest XIV, 1626 N. Prospect Ave., Suite 1801, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
According to a posting at www.archenemy.net, members of ARCH ENEMY have spent the last two weeks in the UK mixing their new album. They describe the album as being "more heavy and aggressive than Burning Bridges… with a bigger sound". The band hope to ‘officially’ announce the name of the new singer shortly. Meanwhile, the band continue to add sound files to their web site, now including tracks from their live album, Burning Japan Live, as well as ‘Screams Of Anger’, the Japanese bonus track from Stigmata – www.archenemy.net/music.html
MURDER SQUAD, the project that features members of ENTOMBED and DISMEMBER, release their album, Unsane, Insand And Mentally Deranged, on April 9th through Pavement
KILLJOY‘s label, Baphomet Records, will now be known as Baphomet/Housecore. The reason for this expansion is that the company is now owned by Killjoy and PANTERA’s Philip Anselmo. They are in the process of getting things finaliazed and more details about distribution will be forthcoming.
In other NECROPHAGIA news, the band have recently recorded a new song and video for the Cannibal Holocaust DVD. Also the new VIKING CROWN release has just been mixed as well as three new EIBON songs. Through all of this, Killjoy and Anselmo will continue to write the new material for the upcoming new Necrophagia full-length, Harvest Ritual, as well as writing the new material for AMICUSS, the band featuring Caset Chaos of AMEN, Killjoy and Philip Anselmo. Ross Robinson will be producing their debut.
THE EMBRACED will release their second album, The Birth, through Aftermath Music on February 10th.
NOCTURNAL WINDS release their new album, Of Art And Suffering, on March 1st through Aftermath.
SINISTER will be on the road this Spring as part of the No Mercy Festivals. The dates begin in Germany on April 12th and wrap up on April 24th back in Germany. Other bands on the tour include: MARDUK, VADER, MORTICIAN, AMON AMARTH, GOD DETHRONED, MYSTIC CIRCLE, … AND OCEANS and BAL-SAGOTH. In related news, Sinister have replaced vocalist Joost (ex-INHUME) with Rachel (ex-OCCULT). Some song titles on the upcoming album include ‘Moralistic Suffering’, ‘Altering The Beast’, ‘Early Gothic Horror’, the title track ‘Creative Killings’ and ‘Reviving The Dead.’ The release date is spring. The band left Nuclear Blast recently citing the label’s inability to promote brutal music as the reason for their departure.
ZYKLON have secured the support slot on MORBID ANGEL’s upcoming European tour. Dates begin in Bradford, England on April 12th and end at London’s LA2. Also, the band has confirmed that vocalist Daemon from LIMBONIC ARTS has now been confirmed as a full-time member of the band. For the upcoming tour, SOURCE OF TIDE bassist Cosmocrator will join the band.
Pavement will release KULT OV AZAZEL‘s debut album, Triumph Of Fire, on March 5th. The album was produced by Jeremy Staska (MALEVOLENT CREATION, HATE PLOW).
REBAELLIUN have finished writing their forthcoming album, Annihilation, set to be recorded at Stage One Studio by Andy Classen in February. 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.
SKYFIRE have completed their debut album, Timeless Departure. It was recorded at Abyss Studios. The expected release date is April 17th.
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER, LOWBROW and ANCIENT RITES will head out on tour from May 16th. The last show on the tour will likely be the Dynamo Open Air festival.
AETERNUS will mix their new album, Ascention Of Terror, in February. Long time member Morrigan has left the band. Bass duties will now be handled by Orjan (HELHEIM). The upcoming Aeternus compilation CD, Burning The Shroud, will be available on February 20th. The album’s track listing includes ‘Midnatt Storm’ (previously unreleased)’, ‘Raven And Blood’ (previously unreleased), four live tracks recorded by Pytten (IMMORTAL, EMPEROR, ENSLAVED) are titled ‘To Enter The Realm of Legend’, ‘When The Crow’s Shadow Falls’, ‘The Summoning Of Shadows’ and ‘Cuchulain’.
… AND OCEANS have finished recording their new album, Allotropic/Metamorphic – Genesis Of Dimorphism. The final tracklisting: ‘Intelligence Is Sexy’, ‘White Synthetic Noise’, ‘Tears Have No Name’, ‘Esprit De Corps’, ‘Odious & Devious’, ‘Of Devillish Tongues’, ‘Postfuturistika’, ‘TBA In A Silver Box’ and ‘New Model World’. The album is out in the U.S. on February 20th.
Hammerheart Records has decided to stop with all sub labels including The Plague, Well Of Urd and Unveiling The Wicked. The label, will continue only as Hammerheart Records.
GODGORY will go into the studio on March 19th to record their fourth album, Way Beyond.
BROKEN HOPE are already at work on the follow-up to Grotesque Blessings.
AURA NOIR‘s new line-up features Apollyon on bass/vocals, Aggressor and Blasphemer on guitars and Dirge Rep (of Enslaved)on drums.
DETERIOROT has been signed by Repulse Records – the forthcoming album In Ancient Beliefs is scheduled for an April release.
DEVILEECH has been signed by Maquiavel Music Entertainment.
Florida’s gods of death metal MORBID ANGEL are gearing up to annihilate Europe with news of a forthcoming tour. Morbid Angel are currently touring stateside on a stadium tour with heavyweight combos Pantera, Soulfly and Nothingface. The legendary quartet have shown, yet again, just why they are a force to be reckoned with, by being the first death metal band to play stadium size venues in America. The band are touring in support of their latest Earache Records release Gateways To Annihilation. Gateways To Annihilation demonstrates how Morbid Angel can boast of a fulfilling 10 year career, whilst so many other death metal bands have fallen by the wayside, they continue to push back the boundaries of death metal back even further with the luminous virtuosity of guitarist, founder and song writer Trey Azagthoth, the astonishing battery of legendary percussionist Pete Sandoval and bassist, vocalist and song writer Steve Tucker, along with the classically inspired workmanship of guitarist Erik Rutan, combining to weave sinuous, striking, and dark grooves. Gateways To Annihilation has become another indispensable landmark on the heavy metal landscape. The standards have been raised and exceeded, but that is what Morbid Angel have done since their inception. Joining Morbid Angel will be new Norwegian death metal terrorists Zyklon, featuring the legendary Samoth from Emperor. Check out our tour dates section for the exact dates.
As already reported, THE CROWN singer Johan Lindstrand has left the band. Here is his official statement: "Hello dear CROWN fans! I’m very sorry to announce that I’m leaving the band. The reason is mainly because of all touring. I don’t really have the time to be on the road that much, which of course has a very high priority in THE CROWN. The band can become violently big for sure. I really hope so. They are all great guys. My best friends, but I can’t combine the bands development with my private life, and that feels a bit tragic after ten years of total fun and hard work. With or without me they are a great force that will keep on marching forward and I think the new vocalist will do just fine. Maybe better! During my time I’ve heard some extreme compliments that has meant a lot to me and the band so I just want to thank everybody that has pushed us further and that has put us in todays position. CHEERS! I also want to say that my mission of death is not over yet just because I’m quitting the band. I will continue to spread death metal mayhem in the future in one way or another. Perhaps not in that big league but I WILL LIVE AGAIN!!! Finally I want to say thanks to my brothers of death: Janne, Marcus, Marko and Magnus. YOU’RE THE GREATEST. GOOD FUCKIN’ LUCK IN THE FUTURE!"
Belgium’s Death Metal pride ABORTED are in the studio right now to finish their new album "Engineering The Dead", which will be released through Listenable Records in early May this year. The tracklist reads like this: The Holocaust Incarnate, Nailed Through Her Cunt, Engineering The Dead, To Roast & Grind…, Eructations Of Carnal Artistry, Served Up On A Plate, Exhuming The Infested (Necro-Eroticism Pt II) plus another title yet to be announced. According to the band, the new stuff is gonna be "… faster, sicker and more pounding than previous slabs of gore, and the sound quite promising so far…" Their split with CHRIST DENIED will be released (with alterated artwork) in the US on Ablated Records (contact: analripper@hotmail.com) Ablated will also print up limited copies of the band’s "Purity Of Perversion" shirts, which should be available at the Ohio Deathfest. To contact the band write to: ABORTED, Beveren-dries 82, 8791 Beveren-Leie, Belgium, fax: ++32 56 72 64 97, phone: ++32 477 81 55 85, e-mail: aborted@pandora.be, www.goremageddon.com
Norwegian label EdgeRunner Records will release CALLENISH CIRCLE‘s 2nd full-length album "Graceful… yet Forbidding" exclusively in Europe. The album is completely re-mastered at Franky’s Recording Kitchen by producer Bertus Westerhuis (a.o. God Dethroned, Severe Torture, Altar) resulting in an even heavier and more powerful sound than on the original DSFA-release (which was for Benelux only). The European release features 4 bonus-tracks (the complete Escape mcd) and it has a playing-time of almost 70 minutes now. Besides the artwork is restyled by Gavin. EdgeRunner Records is planning a complete new promotion-campaign with promo-cd’s, advertisements and interviews in all important European magazines. For more information, promotion and distribution contact: EdgeRunner Records, P.O. Box 1215, 0367 Oslo, Norway, E-Mail: mail@edgerunner-rec.com, Website: www.edgerunner-rec.com The band’s 3rd full-length album will be recorded at Stage-One Studio in Germany at the end of April with well-known producer Andy Classen (a.o. Rotting Christ, Krisiun & Die Apokalyptischen Reiter). The new material is supposed to be more straightforward and aggressive but still featuring the typical Callenish Circle-trademarks, known from the previous releases. 2 very special cover-tracks are planned as well (one even from a non-metal act…). After the release of the new album (late 2001) a European support-tour is planned. CALLENISH CIRCLE is furthermore looking for serious record-labels to license "Graceful… yet Forbidding" in South East Asia / Japan and North / South America exclusively (plenty of bonus-tracks are available for that). For more information contact: psavelko@nl.packardbell.org
Johan Lindstrand has decided to leave the position as the singer of THE CROWN. Read the details at: www.thecrownonline.com
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.