April 20, 2020 — Photo credit: Hannah Verbeuren Old school Norwegian death metal band, CADAVER, have unleashed their new EP, D.G.A.F., via their new label, Nuclear Blast. The band features founding member, Anders Odden (vocals/guitar/bass), and Dirk Verbeuren (drums).
April 3, 2020 — The kings of Polish death metal, VADER, are set to release their 16th album, Solitude in Madness, on May 1, 2020 via Nuclear Blast. Their view for the song, “Into Oblivion,” has just been released and clearly shows that the band are as sharp as they ever were.
February 7, 2020 — The debate over which DEATH album is the best will have various results, depending on who you ask. Some swear by the sheer brutality and simplicity of Scream Bloody Gore, or the ultra-catchy riffs from Leprosy.
August 30, 2019 — The first song to be released from MAYHEM’s Daemon, entitled “Worthless Abominations Destroyed " has been posted online: The song carries the mystique, mystery, and feel of the band’s early work, specifically, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas.
January 14, 2019 — In glorious news the original line-up of Swedish legends, DISMEMBER, have announced their reunion in order to play the Scandinavian Deathfest this October. According to their Facebook post, it sounds like there will be, at least, more shows to follow.
November 6, 2018 — Following the most successful North American tour of their career – with DEAFHEAVEN in 2015, in support of their acclaimed album, Atheist’s Cornea – ENVY returned home a deeply fractured group.
November 6, 2018 — Tokyo gods, MONO, have announced album number 10, Nowhere Now Here. The album sees the band add electronics to their repertoire – perhaps inspired by guitarist/composer Takaakira “Taka” Goto’s recent collaboration with John McEntire, the beguiling BEHIND THE SHADOW DROPS.
February 12, 2018 — In absolutely shocking news, JUDAS PRIEST have just announced that guitarist Glenn Tipton has battling Parkinson’s Disease for the past decade. All seemed normal in the world with the band’s new album, Firepower, set for a March 9, 2018 release date via Epic Records.
January 23, 2018 — While Oslo, Norway’s SATYRICON are not calling it quits, they have announced that they will tour the U.S. for the final time in support of their latest album, Deep calleth upon Deep.
January 22, 2018 — If you’ve been following SLAYER closely in recent years, it may not come as a shock but the band have announced a final world tour. The band made the announcement via Youtube:
September 27, 2017 — LA extreme metallers, ABYSMAL DAWN, have signed up with France-based, Season of Mist. The follow up to the excellent Obsolescence should be another great step forward for the band.
May 20, 2017 — Monolith is one of those records that many have heard “of” but have never actually “heard.” Now thirty years old, it’s a record that still remains largely unmasked.
May 19, 2017 — Relapse Records is proud to announce the official signing of extreme metal act EXPULSION. The newly formed group features members of REPULSION, EXHUMED, PHOBIA, INTRONAUT, GRUESOME and numerous others.
April 21, 2017 — It only took 12 years but Tokyo, Japan’s VOMIT REMNANTS are back. Their aptly titled new album, Hyper Groove Brutality, is available now worldwide via Unique Leader.
March 8, 2017 — Swedish gods, AT THE GATES, have the announced the departure of co-founder/guitarist Anders Björler, effective immediately. Like Martin Henriksson’s departure from DARK TRANQUILLY, Anders has simply lost the passion for the music.
March 6, 2017 — Polish death/black metal tyrants AZARATH premiere a brand new song from their highly anticipated album In Extremis, set to be released on April 7th via Agonia Records.
March 2, 2017 — SÓLSTAFIR have revealed the first song of their forthcoming sixth full-length, Berdreyminn, which means a “dreamer of forthcoming events” and will be out in stores on May 26th via Season of Mist.
February 28, 2017 — Legendary death metal guitarist, Jack Owen, will be rejoining ex-CANNIBAL CORPSE bandmate, Chris Barnes, in SIX FEET UNDER as a second guitarist. Jack was part of the rebirth of DEICIDE as he joined the band in 2004 following his exit from CANNIBAL.
February 24, 2017 — SATYRICON have announced an open search for a second live guitarist while they continue to write their new album. Here are the details: “Satyricon might need you!
February 8, 2017 — The inevitable finally happened on February 4, 2017. BLACK SABBATH played their final show at Genting Arena in their hometown of Birmingham. Here is official footage of the final song, “Paranoid.
December 15, 2016 — The death metal gods from Yonkers, New York, IMMOLATION, will finally release album number 10, Atonement, on February 24th, 2017. The first song, “Destructive Currents,” is now online as a 360 degree video:
December 13, 2016 — WOLFHEART have dropped the new video for “Boneyard.” The single paves the way for Tyhjyys, the band’s third full-length, out March 3, 2015 via Spinefarm Records.
December 6, 2016 — Norwegian black metal icons MAYHEM are celebrating the release of their 1994 landmark De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas full-length with tours across the globe. This coming January, the band will march their way across North America performing the record in its monumental entirety.
November 8, 2016 — The laserpunk duo RAINBOWLICKER, consisting of Johan (ex-BEASTMILK co-founder/songwriter) and Peps (ex-CREEPY CRAWLIE), has for quite some time aroused attention with their live performances, but until now, the twosome hasn’t been successfully persuaded to enter the studio.
October 1, 2016 — The End Records is pleased to announce the signing of TODAY IS THE DAY for their upcoming new album, in addition to the acquisition of their 10-album catalog.
September 27, 2016 — On November 4th, 2016, DARK TRANQUILLITY will release their 11th album Atoma through Century Media Records. The band is proud to present the first single and video for the song “The Pitiless”:
August 26, 2016 — The first song off the upcoming ASPHYX album, “Incoming Death,” has been released. Check out these two-minutes of bliss: Vocalist Martin van Drunen shares some insight into the song:
August 24, 2016 — Birmingham, UK’s finest black metallers ANAAL NATHRAKH will unleash their new album, The Whole of the Law, October 28th via Metal Blade Records. The album sounds like it’ll be another winner judging by the song, “Depravity Favours the Bold”:
August 3, 2016 — For those who enjoyed the direction that OPETH have been going with recent albums, the title track for their new one, Sorceress, is sure to please.
August 1, 2016 — The legendary IN THE WOODS… will release their comeback album, Pure, after returning to the stage last year. Pure is set for a September 16, 2016 release via Debemur Morti Productions.
July 29, 2016 — To celebrate the 20th anniversary of SEPULTURA’s Roots, Max and Iggor Cavalera will be heading out on the Return to Roots Tour where they will be performing the entire album.
July 22, 2016 — BLOODY HAMMERS will follow up to 2014’s Under Satan’s Sun with Lovely Sort of Death on August 5, 2016 via Napalm Records. “This album is certainly the darkest album I’ve ever recorded”, states BLOODY HAMMERS mastermind Anders Manga.
July 12, 2016 — In a surprise move, major label BMG has announced the acquisition of pioneering indie label The End Records. The acquisition includes the entire back catalogue as well as future releases.
July 12, 2016 — Season of Mist are proud to announce the signing of Reykjavik, Iceland’s KONTINUUM. Regarding their signing, KONTINUUM comment: “We are very pleased to announce our signing with Season of Mist.
July 11, 2016 — Mexican outlaws, BRUJERIA, make their long awaited return with fourth full-length album, Pocho Aztlan. It’s set for a September 16, 2016 release via their new label, Nuclear Blast.
April 1, 2016 — The excellent title track from DARK FUNERAL’s upcoming album, Where Shadows Forever Reign, has been posted online: “Where Shadows Forever Reign” sounds like pure classic DARK FUNERAL and new vocalist Heljarmadr sounds very good.
March 31, 2016 — Founding DARK TRANQUILLITY member, Martin Henriksson, has announced his departure from the band. Whether it was through his bass playing in the earlier years to his guitar playing, he helped start a revolutionary new style of metal and put Gothenberg, Sweden on the map for the past 26 years.
March 29, 2016 — It is with a heavy heart that we report the passing of our friend and brother in music, Brandon Stratton (Rawknrollchef13). He passed away this past Friday after a sudden and shocking illness.
March 22, 2016 — After four long years, Scandinavian supergroup THE WRETCHED END, featuring Samoth (EMPEROR, ZYKLON, SCUM), Cosmo (MINDGRINDER, SCUM, SOURCE OF TIDE), and Nils Fjellström (DARK FUNERAL, IN BATTLE), have announced the April 22, 2016 release of In These Woods, From These Mountains.
February 22, 2016 — SATYRICON took the stage for the first time this past weekend at Rockefeller in Olso, Norway to perform the first of several shows to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the masterpiece, Nemesis Divina.
December 29, 2015 — Earlier today, it was announced that the beyond legendary Lemmy Kilmister had passed away from cancer. Five days after celebrating his 70th birthday, Lemmy left us as soon as we were celebrating a milestone in his life.
December 9, 2015 — The good folks at Raven Music have dedicated themselves to releasing sheet music for alternative and black metal and have now released sheet music for EMPEROR’s In the Nightside Eclipse and ULVER’s Shadows of the Sun and Kveldssanger.
December 4, 2015 — CONVERGE will perform two very special sets at next year’s Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands. To celebrate the upcoming 15 year anniversary of their legendary Jane Doe album, CONVERGE will perform the album in its entirety for the first and last time on April 14, 2016.
December 4, 2015 — After the IMMORTAL trademark case was closed by “Patentstyret” (Norway’s Patent Office) in November 2015, Demonaz and Horgh can finally share their side of the story for the first time:
December 3, 2015 — “Using music to change the world” is a slogan that appears often in the history of rock, however, in Taiwan, a man is turning it into reality.
November 12, 2015 — It has been five years since the release of OBSCURA’s universally acclaimed Omnivium album. Now the progressive metal masters return with their strongest and most dynamic release to date.
October 8, 2015 — In great news, UK/Norwegian black metallers, THE DEATHTRIP, have announced that they will release a follow up to their excellent debut album, Deep Drone Master:
October 7, 2015 — SATYRICON’s Satyr recently announced that he has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. The unfortunate news comes during the demo sessions of the follow up to Satyricon.
September 30, 2015 — FIRESPAWN, the new Swedish super group featuring current and former members of ENTOMBED A.D., NECROPHOBIC, UNLEASHED, DARK FUNERAL, have announced that their debut album, Shadow Realms, comes out November 13, 2015.
September 28, 2015 — Loud Park festival is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year. The two-day festival is set to for October 10-11, 2015 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
September 25, 2015 — Montreal’s CRYPTOPSY have posted their official video for the song, “Detritus (the one they kept)”: While diehard fans may have been justifiably concerned that new CRYPTOPSY music would suffer without guitarist/songwriter Jon Levasseur, this song is killer.
September 23, 2015 — Renowned Japanese artists BORIS and MERZBOW have completed recording a new collaborative full-length LP entitled Gensho (Japanese for “phenomenon”) under the name BORIS WITH MERZBOW.
September 23, 2015 — The new INTRONAUT single, “Fast Worms,” is an awesome encapsulation of the band’s history as well as future. The song embodies the awesome dynamic range that the band are known for as well as the brutality of the early era.
September 18, 2015 — Longtime BOLT THROWER drummer Martin “Kiddie” Kearns passed away this past Monday, September 14, 2015. While his passing was sudden, he did not suffer. Here is the band’s official statement:
September 2, 2015 — Progsters INTRONAUT have revealed release details for their upcoming fifth studio album. Mixed by Devin Townsend, The Direction of Last Things will be available November 13, 2015 via Century Media Records.
August 11, 2015 — FEAR FACTORY’s new album, Genexus, is now available for streaming. Check it out below: Genexus was produced by vocalist Burton C. Bell and guitarist Dino Cazares, and co-produced by long-time collaborator Rhys Fulber.
August 3, 2015 — After years of yearning, KING DIAMOND has finally announced that the band will be performing the classic 1987 album Abigail in its entirety! The tour will begin on October 29th and runs through December 5th with Bay Area legends EXODUS as the opening act.
July 15, 2015 — DIR EN GREY have announced their first North American tour in support of their latest album, Arche. The band will hit major U.S. cities as well as one show each in Canada and Mexico.
July 4, 2015 — Premium custom-made guitar and bass company, Dunable Guitars, has announced that all orders this month will receive a 15% discount, your choice of Bare Knuckle Pickups, and a nitro lacquer finish at no additional charge.
June 19, 2015 — This past week, MORBID ANGEL announced the departures of drummer Tim Yeung, guitarist Destructhor, and today, frontman/bassist David Vincent. On June 15th, the band announced former frontman/bassist Steve Tucker’s return even though no official statement on David Vincent’s status was announced.
May 13, 2015 — Three years after their self-titled album, CRYPTOPSY will release a series of EPs entitled The Book of Suffering. This approach will allow the band to put out new music more often while remaining true to their standards of quality.
May 6, 2015 — Former BATHORY drummer turned film and music video director, Jonas Åkerlund, is set to direct the film based on the 1998 book, Lords of Chaos, which covered MAYHEM’s history and the infamous deaths and church burnings in Norway in the early 90’s.
April 19, 2015 — BABYMETAL--the Japan-based all-girl-fronted “Kawaii Metal” band–has signed with RAL/Sony Music Entertainment for the U.S**.** release of their 2014 critically acclaimed self-titled debut album. The album’s re-release will feature two bonus tracks (cover art and tracklisting below) and be available digitally on Tuesday, May 12 and physically on Tuesday, June 16.
April 8, 2015 — Since the world should no longer wait for any form of new MERCYFUL FATE-related music, guitarists Michael Denner and Hank Shermann have announced their new name simply entitled, DENNER / SHERMANN.
April 3, 2015 — While there seems to be subpar bands popping up every second, it only hurts when the really good ones go. Sweden’s IN SOLITUDE announced today that they are calling it a day after 13 years.
April 1, 2015 — The first song from ARCTURUS’ new album entitled “The Arcturian Sign” has been posted online. The song comes off of Arcturian, the band’s first album in 10 years, which comes out this May.
March 30, 2015 — IMMORTAL vocalist/guitarist Abbath has announced that IMMORTAL will once again go on hiatus because the band members could not come to an agreement regarding their dispute over ownership of the band’s name.
March 11, 2015 — Finland’s BEASTMILK have been extremely busy these days. First, they have parted ways with co-founding guitarist Johan “goatspeed” Snell. Thus, the remaining members felt the need to change the band’s name to GRAVE PLEASURES moving forward.
February 26, 2015 — Prophecy Productions feel honoured and are excited to welcome ARCTURUS to its artist roster. The first mutual work will be ARCTURUS’ fifth full-length studio album, Arcturian, which is scheduled for release on May 8th, 2015.
February 19, 2015 — IRON MAIDEN have announced that Bruce Dickinson recently completed cancer treatment. It was thankfully caught in the early stages and Home Care Assistance. Here is the official word from the band:
February 1, 2015 — VOIVOD have recently recorded a new song for a split 7" vinyl release with label-mates AT THE GATES. The collectors item will be available in stores April 7th, 2015.
January 29, 2015 — The 490-page hardcover book_,_ Behemoth: Devil’s Conquistadors, by Lukasz Dunaj is the definitive and official BEHEMOTH biography. It includes quotes and anecdotes from current and former members that provide context and details in addition to the author’s narrative, plus interviews with Tomas Krajewski, Rob Darken, Graal, Havok, and more.
January 20, 2015 — Norwegian black metal pioneers, DØDHEIMSGARD, has completed work on its fifth album, titled A Umbra Omega, which is set for release on March 17 via Peaceville Records.
November 30, 2014 — Two days ago, TODAY IS THE DAY were involved in a major accident where the band’s tour van was struck by a vehicle in Massachusetts.
November 21, 2014 — After four years of silence, avant norse folk metal duo, SOLEFALD, return with Norrønasongen. Kosmopolis Nord, an experimental soundtrack to the fjords and mountains of Norway, and a hymn to the nature of the North.
November 20, 2014 — CLOUDKICKER (AKA Ben Sharp) is now streaming the band’s new live album, Live with Intronaut. Earlier this year, CLOUDKICKER and INTRONAUT toured together with the latter acting as CLOUDKICKER’s backing band.
November 18, 2014 — Big news out of the ARCH ENEMY camp: Guitarist Nick Cordle is out of the band as guitar extraordinaire, Jeff Loomis, will join the band as live guitarist.
November 15, 2014 — NEUROSIS has just confirmed three more shows for 2014, set to take place during the final days of the year in California. While the members of NEUROSIS currently reside in numerous areas of the country, the Bay Area will forever remain the land of the band’s origin, and to commemorate one of their most active years performing abroad in their nearly three decades in existence, they’ll unite for a trio of concerts including two shows back where it all began.
November 11, 2014 — UK legends ANATHEMA have announced two very special shows next April. They will be performing songs from their entire history, as part of a Resonance set (named after compilation albums) with original bassist/songwriter Duncan Patterson and original singer Darren White.
November 11, 2014 — This past Sunday, November 9th, 2014, THE GATHERING celebrated their 25th anniversary with two very special shows (matinee and evening) called “25 Years of Diving Into the Unknown” at Doornroosje, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
October 28, 2014 — Trollhättan, Sweden’s THE CROWN are finally back with new music. The Headhunter 7" is available now via iTunes or colored vinyl. The video for the title track is also up:
October 26, 2014 — DECAPITATED, who are currently on tour with GWAR and AMERICAN SHARKS, were involved a serious van accident this past Friday. Thankfully, no one was killed.
October 22, 2014 — Mexican extreme metallers BRUJERIA have announced their return as well as their new contract with Nuclear Blast Entertainment. New music will be coming out next year.
October 13, 2014 — The epic new video for SÓLSTAFIR’s “Lágnætti” is now online. The breathtaking video was directed by the same directing team of Bowen Staines and Gunnar B.
October 10, 2014 — The progenitors of female lead vocalists in metal, Liv Kristine (LEAVES’ EYES, ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY), Anneke Van Giersbergen (ex-THE GATHERING) and Kari Rueslåtten (ex-3RD AND THE MORTAL), have teamed up for a new project, THE SIRENS.
October 8, 2014 — Norwegian post-black metal band, MANIMALISM, is returning from a long hiatus to release their first full-length album, Manimalism. After releasing two demos in the mid-nineties as TAARENES VAAR, MANIMALISM went quiet; or so it seemed on the outside.
September 30, 2014 — Dublin, Ireland’s PRIMORDIAL will make their return with Where Greater Men Have Fallen. The new album is set for a November 25, 2014 release via Metal Blade Records.
September 30, 2014 — THE WRETCHED END are currently working on their third album, which is set for a 2015 release. They just posted a video of Nils “Dominator” Fjellström laying down some of his drum tracks.
September 25, 2014 — VESANIA, the Polish symphonic black metal act that features current and former members of BEHEMOTH, DIMMU BORGIR, VADER, and DECAPITATED, have been toiling for over a decade.
September 16, 2014 — Swedish all star death metal band, BLOODBATH, have announced PARADISE LOST’s Nick Holmes as successor for the vocalist spot left vacant by Mikael Akerfeldt and Peter Tatgren.
September 16, 2014 — To satisfy the rabid demand for BEASTMILK’s first releases, White Stains on Black Wax and Use Your Deluge, Magic Bullet Records will bring them to the U.
September 4, 2014 — After making their official announcement at the beginning of this year, we are crawling towards the release of AT THE GATES’ comeback album, At War with Reality.
August 27, 2014 — Birmingham-based extreme metallers and recent Metal Blade signees, ANAAL NATHRAKH, are pleased to infect the masses with their anticipated new full-length October 28, 2014. Titled Desideratum, the follow-up to 2012’s critically-lauded Vanitas full-length was again produced by guitarist/bassist/programmer Mick Kenney, with vocals recorded at Necrodeath Studios in Birmingham, while the music was tracked and mixed at The Black Flamingo in Orange County, California.
August 27, 2014 — The new song from LA death metallers, ABYSMAL DAWN, is now online for streaming. Check out “Inanimate”: “I’m very happy to present a new ABYSMAL DAWN track after almost three years of waiting,” commented vocalist/guitarist Charles Elliott.
August 7, 2014 — Los Angeles death metallers, ABYSMAL DAWN, return with full force on their fourth full-length, Obsolescence. Obsolescence will be released October 28th in North America (UK/World October 27th and Germany/Benelux/Finland on October 24th) via Relapse Records.
August 7, 2014 — Tokyo, Japan’s DIR EN GREY have announced that the follow up to Dum Spiro Spero, entitled Arche, will be released in late 2014. The band breaks down the details:
August 6, 2014 — It’s been 14 long years but Norwegian legends, IN THE WOODS…, have announced their return. The line-up includes the Botteri brothers and Anders Kobro along with some as yet unannounced members.
July 29, 2014 — Bazillion Points Books is proud to announce the November 2014 release of NYHC: New York Hardcore 1980–1990, by hardcore punk historian and author Tony Rettman.
July 29, 2014 — On September 14, 2014, Tankcrimes will reissue the debut full-length from Oakland-born punishing sludge power trio, BRAINOIL. BRAINOIL’s sludge style is chock full of up-tempo crust-inspired breaks and monstrously baked breakdowns undoubtedly suited for diehards of IRON MONKEY, DYSTOPIA, BUZZOV*EN and EL DOPA.
July 21, 2014 — Following the demise of CATHEDRAL, guitar god Gaz Jennings has returned with his new band, DEATH PENALTY. After releasing the Sign of Times/Seven Flames 7", the band is set to release their self-titled full-length debut on September 16th via Rise Above Records.
July 18, 2014 — Dubai’s death/thrash assault, NERVECELL, is pleased to announce their union with Unique Leader Records. Spawned in 2000 as one of the first extreme metal bands to emerge from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and having toured alongside legendary metal acts such as METALLICA, MORBID ANGEL, DEICIDE, DECAPITATED and SUFFOCATION, NERVECELL are true torchbearers for a Middle Eastern wave of metal.
July 9, 2014 — The sixth album from Polish gods, DECAPITATED, will be entitled Blood Mantra and is set to be released September 26, 2014 via Nuclear Blast and Mystic Production (Poland)
July 1, 2014 — ** ELECTRIC WIZARD** have announced Time to Die as the title of their forthcoming studio album. Time to Die is the eighth full-length offering from these doom staples.
July 1, 2014 — Crossover beasts IRON REAGAN have announced their sophomore album, The Tyranny of Will, will be released September 16th for North America, (Sept 15 (UK/World), Sept 12th (Germany/Benelux/World) via Relapse Records.
June 26, 2014 — Poland’s extreme metallers HATE are currently in the studio recording their new album tentatively named Crusade:Zero. The successor to 2013’s critically acclaimed Solarflesh will contain eight new tracks and a few bonus tracks as well.
June 21, 2014 — Japanese sensation, BABYMETAL, have recently announced their first shows in the U.S. The band will kick off their tour headlining the Fonda Theatre in LA on July 27, 2014.
June 16, 2014 — One of the Bay Area’s most interesting bands, BOTANIST, is excited to announce its sixth chronological release. Titled VI: Flora, this 11-song full-length album is a progression from the misanthropic masterplans of the destruction of mankind at the hands of plants as detailed on the project’s last two albums: 2012’s III: Doom In Bloom and 2013’s IV: Mandragora.
June 8, 2014 — Black metal kings, EMPEROR, played their first show performing In the Nightside Eclipse as part of the album’s 20th anniversary at the Sweden Rock Festival this past Saturday.
June 5, 2014 — Devin Townsend’s crowdfunded side project, CASUALTIES OF COOL, have posted their first music video for the song, “Mountaintop.” Here is how he describes it: “Here is the official video for Mountaintop from our Casualties of Cool album.
June 5, 2014 — Norway’s SHINING have just posted their new video for “Blackjazz Rebels.” The excellent anthem for the band comes off their latest album, One One One.
June 4, 2014 — OPETH’s new record, Pale Communion, hits stores on August 25, 2014. Judging by the lead single that has been released, “Cusp of Eternity,” the record sounds like it’ll be damn good.
May 29, 2014 — Stockholm, Sweden’s CRUCIFIED BARBARA has launched a music video for the new track, “To Kill a Man,” on YouTube: http://youtu.be/YoUBd6aTJMg “To Kill a Man” is the first single from the band’s upcoming fourth studio album, In the Red, to be released on August 20 via Despotz Records.
May 29, 2014 — The German masters of dark folk metal, EMPYRIUM, have their comeback album, The Turn of the Tides, set for a July 18, 2014 release. Notwithstanding their creative break, The Turn of the Tides is an EMPYRIUM-album par excellence, although it bears strong testimony to the artistic and personal growth Schwadorf and Helm have undergone since 2002.
May 29, 2014 — Icelandic heathens SÓLSTAFIR are back with a new album. The highly anticipated follow-up to 2011’s much praised Svartir Sandar is entitled Ótta and has been scheduled for an August 29th release (September 2nd in North America).
May 20, 2014 — KING DIAMOND has confirmed an appearance at this year’s Fun Fun Fun Fest. This is the band’s first scheduled North American appearance since 2005 and will include their full European festival production stage set up.
May 16, 2014 — Three years subsequent to the formation of elite metal project, NADER SADEK, and the release of the collective’s debut album, In The Flesh, the final video from the album has been released.
May 14, 2014 — Louisville, Kentucky’s COLISEUM have resigned to Deathwish Inc. and will have their self-titled debut reissued August 19, 2014. Coliseum Deluxe Reissue will include their self titled debut album (out of print since 2006) paired with eight essential bonus tracks from their primordial years.
May 14, 2014 — The pride of Topeka, Kansas, ORIGIN, have their new one, Ominipresent, coming out this July via Agonia Records in Europe and Nuclear Blast Records in the U.
May 8, 2014 — Technical death metal legends Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert have spoken publicly for the first about their sexuality via interview with the LA Times. Like JUDAS PRIEST’s Rob Halford and GODSEED’s Gaahl, the founding CYNIC members have publicly revealed that they are gay.
May 5, 2014 — Swedish black metal legends DARK FUNERAL celebrated their 20th anniversary with a very special show this past Saturday in their hometown of Stockholm, Sweden. The band performed with vocalist Emperor Magus Caligula and bassist B-Force along with special appearances by former members, vocalist Themgoroth, guitarist Dominion, guitarist Typhos and drummer Gaahnfaust.
April 30, 2014 — Well, it looks like right when their star was about to take off, THE OATH have called it quits. Here is their statement on Facebook:
April 24, 2014 — The kings of black metal, EMPEROR, have announced that they will be visiting Japan for the first time this July. They will be performing the classic, In the Nightside Eclipse, in its entirety for the two shows in Tokyo and Osaka.
April 21, 2014 — INTRONAUT/BEREFT vocalist/guitarist Sacha Dunable has announced his new guitar company, Dunable Guitars. Dunable Guitars currently has two models, Yarnhawk and Moonflower, which can be completely customized and ordered online at www.
April 21, 2014 — MASTODON has unveiled a brand new song “High Road” from their forthcoming album, Once More ‘Round the Sun, produced by Nick Raskulinecz (RUSH, ALICE IN CHAINS).
April 17, 2014 — A new track, “Where Angels Weep,” from VADER’s upcoming 12th album, Tibi Et Igni (Latin for “You and Fire”). Album comes out late May/early June 2014 depending on where you live.
April 17, 2014 — The End Records/ADA, as part of a unique partnership with Roadrunner Records/Warner Music Group, is thrilled to announce they will be releasing the debut album from British prog-metal band EMPRESS AD.
April 15, 2014 — Reunited extreme metal legends GODFLESH started their U.S. tour last week on the East Coast. It’s been quite some time since the band toured the States so be sure to catch them because you never know if this will be the last time.
April 15, 2014 — Extreme symphonic metal gods, SEPTICFLESH, have released their first single, “Order of Dracul,” off their upcoming album, Titan. The album hits June 2014. The band says, “‘Order of Dracul’ is the first taste of the new album.
April 9, 2014 — Notodden, Norway’s STAROFASH, featuring Heidi S. Tveitan (ex-PECCATUM), has just released their fourth album entitled Ghouleh. The album is available for free streaming and purchase on Bandcamp (http://starofash-official.
April 9, 2014 — TIAMAT mainman Johan Edlund (vocals/guitar) announced last night that he is quitting the band. He cited health issues. Check out his statement: “I have decided to leave Tiamat.
April 8, 2014 — Deathwish Inc. is proud to announce the two-night Deathwish Fest July 22nd and 23rd at The Sinclair in Cambridge MA, featuring Deathwish-affiliated artists. This is the first in a series of Deathwish Events that will happen in the future worldwide.
April 8, 2014 — Visual/performance artist NADER SADEK, who conceptualized the 2011 blackened death masterpiece In the Flesh and its live follow-up Living Flesh, will return to the stage in late May with a string of Canadian and European dates.
April 2, 2014 — Death metal band CANNABIS CORPSE have signed with France’s Season of Mist and have announced From Wisdom to Baked as the title of their forthcoming new album.
April 2, 2014 — The Finnish gods of post apocalyptic death rock, BEASTMILK, have posted videos of their journey from New York to Salem, Massachusetts to record their monumental record, Climax.
April 1, 2014 — Stockholm, Sweden’s MESHUGGAH will hitting the road this summer to celebrate their 25th anniversary. They plan to play a very special 25th anniversary set by performing selections from their entire discography and possibly include some rare songs that haven’t been played live in many years.
April 1, 2014 — Iceland’s best metal export SÓLSTAFIR have announced that they will finally be touring North America for the first time. The only downside is that it’s strictly an East Coast tour.
March 25, 2014 — New prog kings ANIMALS AS LEADERS have a brand new record out now called The Joy of Motion. Their label, Sumerian Records, have posted the album in full.
March 18, 2014 — Reactivated hardcore/punk legends BLACK FLAG have announced a spring/summer tour of North America entitled the Victimology Tour. The tour kicks off on May 15 in Midland, Texas and includes dates in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, New York, Toronto as well as an appearance at the Amnesia Rockfest Music Festival in Montebello, Quebec, Canada on June 20th.
March 18, 2014 — Polish death metallers DECAPITATED entered Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland this week to record their sixth studio album and follow-up to 2011’s critically-acclaimed Carnival is Forever.
March 18, 2014 — Devin Townsend recently launched a campaign on pledgemusic.com to fund a new side project called CASUALTIES OF COOL. The project is country and blues with that distinctly Devin Townsend spaced out atmosphere.
March 17, 2014 — ARCH ENEMY has announced that vocalist Angela Gossow has stepped down and has been replaced by Alissa White-Gluz of THE AGONIST. You didn’t really expect the band to replace her with a male, did you?
March 17, 2014 — KILLER BE KILLED, the new band comprised of Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, ex-SEPULTURA), Greg Puciato (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN), Troy Sanders (MASTODON) and Dave Elitch (ex-THE MARS VOLTA), have posted two new tracks from their self-titled debut.
March 17, 2014 — TRIPTYKON’s sophomore album, Melana Chasmata (rough translation: “black, deep depressions/valleys”), will be released on April 14 (Europe) and April 15 (North America), 2014, through Century Media Records/Prowling Death Records Ltd.
March 11, 2014 — Relapse Records has announced the signing of Richmond, VA hardcore thrash supergroup, IRON REAGAN. Consisting of current and former members of MUNICIPAL WASTE, CANNABIS CORPSE, DARKEST HOUR, MAMMOTH GRINDER, SUPPRESION and more, IRON REAGAN formed in 2012 and consists of Tony Foresta - vocals, Phil Hall (AKA Landphil) - guitar, Mark Bronzino - guitar, Rob Skotis - bass, and Ryan Parrish - drums.
March 10, 2014 — Album number three, Sweven, from Sweden’s MORBUS CHRON is now out. If you haven’t heard them before, these guys dish out their own unique style of death metal.
March 6, 2014 — Underrated Norwegian avant garde black metallers SOLEFALD recently traveled to the nation of Tanzania to record their album, Kosmopolis. The band are no strangers to travelling to different countries to conjure up inspiration as they travelled to Iceland for the recordings of Red for Fire: An Icelandic Odyssey, Part 1 and Black for Death: An Icelandic Odyssey, Part 2.
February 28, 2014 — After more than two decades, Total Fucking Darkness, the infamous third demo from extreme metal pioneers, CRADLE OF FILTH, will be unleashed on gatefold double LP and digipak CD via Mordgrimm May 5, 2014.
February 26, 2014 — Following the band’s recent appearance on the inaugural voyage of the Progressive Nation at Sea cruise, doom metal pioneers turned progsters, ANATHEMA, has announced a U.
February 26, 2014 — Under appreciated death/grind extremists MISERY INDEX have announced The Killing Gods as the title of their forthcoming new full-length. The band’s fifth studio album will hit the stores on May 23rd (May 27th in North America).
February 20, 2014 — Norwegian black metal legends MAYHEM will release their long-awaited new album on May 23rd (May 27th in North America). Entitled Esoteric Warfare, MAYHEM’s fifth full-length will be the follow-up to 2007’s excellent Ordo Ad Chao.
February 19, 2014 — Osaka, Japan’s CROSSFAITH have posted their new video for the song, “The Evolution,” off of their excellent new one, Apocalyze. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk5dfdieOCs The band are currently kicking ass on tour in the UK right now.
February 19, 2014 — Long-running Floridian death metal band and recent Old School Metal Records signees, RESURRECTION have announced the departure of bassist/vocalist Damian Chavez. The announcement comes less than a month before the band’s March of Death European Tour.
February 17, 2014 — It was inevitable. The worlds of metal and people who love cats have finally converged in a new book, Metal Cats. The book features photos of musicians, fans, and promoters of metal with their cats, including members of ISIS, AKIMBO, GHOUL, LUDICRA, EXHUMED, MORBID ANGEL, MUNICIPAL WASTE, NAUSEA, PHOBIA, and NAPALM DEATH.
February 6, 2014 — Colorado’s ALLEGAEON are currently in Flatline Audio studio with producer Dave Otero recording their upcoming album. New music and art will be made available as they are finalized, and fans can keep up with the band’s updates from the studio on Facebook and Twitter.
February 5, 2014 — Chicago doomsters MOUNT SALEM will have their out-of-print debut EP, Endless, re-released via Metal Blade Records next month on March 4, 2014. Check out the track, “Lucid”:
February 5, 2014 — After releasing his latest full length solo album Incomprehensible on The End Records in January 2013, ANDY WINTER (WINDS, AGE OF SILENCE, SCULPTURED) now returns with his first ever music video; an artistic collaboration by various talents in the realm of music, film and fashion.
January 30, 2014 — The maniacs at Oakland’s Tankcrimes Records are pleased to announce details of this year’s Brainsqueeze II Fest. Set to take place April 18th and 19th at the Oakland Metro and April 20th at Eli’s Mile High Club, which will include BBQ and an Andrei Bouzikov art show, the mammoth event features more than a dozen choice bands including MUNICIPAL WASTE, FINAL CONFLICT, and GHOUL as well as new Tankcrimes releases to be revealed soon.
January 27, 2014 — Swedish death metal legends AT THE GATES are officially back. With a reunion tour that hasn’t ended for years, the band have announced that they are working on a comeback studio album.
January 24, 2014 — The track, “Steroidhead,” off of MARTY FRIEDMAN’s upcoming solo album, Inferno, is now up. Check it out below: It sounds unmistakenly like Marty. “Steroidhead” sees FRIEDMAN backed by Keshav Dhar and Anup Sastry (SKYHARBOR).
January 24, 2014 — UK progressive rock band TESSERACT will once again supporting their critically acclaimed Altered State album. Former touring partners, INTRONAUT, who will be coming fresh off a tour of their own with BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME and DEAFHEAVEN, will be direct support.
January 22, 2014 — Swedish’s THE HAUNTED have begun the comeback after losing three-fifths of its band with the launch of their first single, “Eye of the Storm.” Check it out:
January 21, 2014 — South Carolina´s gothic heavy psych band BLOODY HAMMERS has signed to the Napalm Records/Spinning Goblin. More information on their new album will be available soon.
January 18, 2014 — Trondheim, Norway’s MANES just released a compilation (digital, CD, LP) entitled Teeth, Toes and Other Trinkets. In true metal fashion, it is available for 6.
January 17, 2014 — Progsters CYNIC have posted a few new tracks from their forthcoming album, Kindly Bent to Free Us. The album drops February 14th internationally and February 18th in North America.
January 15, 2014 — VALLENFYRE has officially entered the studio to record their second full-length album and follow-up to 2011’s A Fragile King entitled Splinters. Gregor Mackintosh (vocals and lead guitars) comments: “We have now arrived in a very cold Salem, MA and are currently holed up in Godcity Studio with producer Kurt Ballou tracking drums for our second album, ‘Splinters’.
January 15, 2014 — Swedish Grammy-winning rockers GRAVEYARD been confirmed to play this year’s Coachella Music Festival twice this April. Let’s see if the mainstream hipsters and poptards will catch on.
January 14, 2014 — Into the Void Records (a division of Invictus Productions) sets February 10th as the international release date for Death’s Crown is Victory, the long-awaited (13 years to be exact) comeback record from legendary epic/doom metallers SOLSTICE (UK).
January 14, 2014 — Svart Records has set February 28th as the international release date for KUOLEMANLAAKSO’s Tulijoutsen (“The Fire Swan”), the highly acclaimed Finnish death-doomsters’ second album and their most ambitious work to date.
January 13, 2014 — Members of MACHINE HEAD, METALLICA, SLAYER, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, DEATH ANGEL, FORBIDDEN, SPIRALARMS, SUICIDE SILENCE, and RUBBLE will perform classic songs by BLACK SABBATH as part of an all-star tribute band that will headline the Robb Flynn & Friends Benefit Concert on Friday, January 17, 2014 at the Oakland Metro Operahouse in Oakland, California.
January 7, 2014 — Norwegian blackjazz masterminds SHINING have unveiled a second video in their “Live on Location” series, where the band performs and records one-take live footage in weird, unorthodox and often uncontrollable surroundings.
December 26, 2013 — Last month, Season of Mist announced the signing of MENACE, the brainchild of NAPALM DEATH axeman Mitch Harris. MENACE’s debut album is entitled Impact Velocity and will hit the stores on March 14th (March 18th in North America).
December 12, 2013 — Napalm Records is honored to announce the signing of CAVALERA CONSPIRACY. The band, who released albums Inflikted and Blunt Force Trauma, have signed a worldwide record deal with the Austrian based label.
December 12, 2013 — Extreme metal legends CARCASS, in cooperation with METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett‘s Kirk Von Hammett’s Fear FestEviL, have made the music video for “Unfit for Human Consumption” available for viewing here.
December 11, 2013 — Polish legends VADER have entered Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland to record their twelfth studio album, TIBI ET IGNI. The Wies?awski Brothers, Wojtek and Slawek, will share duties at the production helm_.
December 6, 2013 — Century Media Records has signed a worldwide deal to license the entire discography of Sweden’s DAWN. Formed in 1990, DAWN quickly evolved from the pure death metal found on their first demos into a more complex, melodic, epic and atmospheric style that culminated in the masterpiece, Slaughtersun - Crown Of The Triarchy (1998).
December 6, 2013 — Having just begun their march through Europe, the CORRECTIONS HOUSE legion – Mike IX Williams (EYEHATEGOD), Scott Kelly (NEUROSIS), Bruce Lamont (YAKUZA), Sanford Parker (MINSK) and their minister of propaganda, Seward Fairbury – announce a short run of Stateside takeovers to usher in 2014.
December 6, 2013 — LA’s prog metallers INTRONAUT has released their new video for “Harmonomicon” taken from their latest, Habitual Levitations. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx6Hkebx7U8 The guys are currently in Europe and will be back stateside for a tour with BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, DEAFHEAVEN and THE KINDRED.
December 6, 2013 — Bodø, Norway’s ISKALD have the track, “Nidingsdåd,” from their upcoming album, Nedom og Nord, online. The album is available this January via Indie Recordings. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixxRU33-FuU
December 6, 2013 — Maryland’s SIXTY WATT SHAMAN rides again, as the act has risen from the ashes to make their return to the stage and studio in 2014.
December 5, 2013 — Japan’s CROSSFAITH have posted their new video of “Countdown to Hell,” which is a compilation of their recent live performances of the song. You get a good look at the type of energy the band bring to a show.
December 5, 2013 — Poland’s BEHEMOTH have a great new video for the song, “Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel,” from their anticipated album, The Satanist. Great visuals and atmosphere. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEqQaFz99Dc
December 4, 2013 — Tankcrimes Records is pleased to welcome BAT to their roster of audio decadence. An unholy union of MUNICIPAL WASTE guitarist Ryan Waste on bass/vocals, former DRI drummer Felix Griffin and VOLTURE guitarist Nick Poulos, the Virginia/Texas punk metal marauders invoke the spirits of VENOM, HELLHAMMER, MOTORHEAD, and DISCHARGE with their Primitive Age demo EP.
November 19, 2013 — SUNN O))) and ULVER have teamed up for a collaboration entitled, Terrestrials. The result of this union is a three-track recording; “a trio of movements which flow like magma beneath the Earth’s crust, sonically uninhibited, unpredictably cosmic, haunting and stirring, yet simultaneously ceremonious and beautiful.
November 15, 2013 — The reissue of Icelandic rock heathens SÓLSTAFIR’s debut full-length, Í Blóði Og Anda (In Blood and Spirit), is now out everywhere. The whole album and its bonus disc, as well as the band’s magnum opus ‘Svartir Sandar’, are streaming at Bandcamp.
November 14, 2013 — THE OCEAN’s highly anticipated triple-DVD release, Collective Oblivion, will be released one month later than originally planned. Fans will be able to buy their copies in stores and on-line on Decmber 10th.
November 11, 2013 — The new video for SATYRICON’s “Phoenix” off of their new album, Satyricon, is now online. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1CuHLY1z40 The footage was recorded during the band’s recent performance in Oslo, Norway with the Norwegian National Opera Chorus.
November 10, 2013 — It’s been a long time since MINDGRINDER’s last album, Riot Detonator, was released (eight years to be exact). The wait is over as the band’s third album, Prop Agenda, is available now on iTunes and Spotify.
October 31, 2013 — On January 7,2014, the good folks at Tankcrimes will release a GHOUL and CANNABIS CORPSE split fittingly dubbed Splatterhash. Featuring four tracks of rabid, brutalic insanity, the Splatterhash split will be unleashed via 12", CD and digital download.
October 31, 2013 — CATHEDRAL vocalist/Rise Above Records boss, Lee Dorian, recently recorded a video wrap up for Rise Above Records’ releases this year, including CATHEDRAL’s swan song, The Last Spire.
October 29, 2013 — On February 11th, 2012, MASTODON took the stage at London’s O2 Academy in Brixton, capping off the Atlanta-based band’s world tour in support of their critically acclaimed album The Hunter.
October 24, 2013 — Tankcrimes is very pleased to announce the release of a split 12" between the Bay Area’s favorite gore-sworn death metal deviants EXHUMED and Virginia hardcore thrashbangers, IRON REAGAN, who feature within their crossover ranks Tony Foresta (MUNICIPAL WASTE) and LandPhil Hall (MUNICIPAL WASTE/CANNABIS CORPSE).
October 22, 2013 — NEUROSIS confirms two new upcoming live performances in support of their tenth LP, Honor Found in Decay. These newly locked performances, set to take place on January 18th and 19th at the Metropolis in Montreal, Canada, will see NEUROSIS co-headlining the stage with GODSPEED YOU!
October 10, 2013 — Greek extreme metal gods, SEPTICFLESH, have entered Devasoundz Studios in Athens to record the 10 songs that will appear on their new, as-yet-untitled full-length album, the follow-up to their amazing 2011 release, The Great Mass.
October 9, 2013 — Alex Webster, Paul Mazurkiewicz and Rob Barrett returned to their hometown of Buffalo, NY on October 3rd to attend the 31st annual Buffalo Music Hall of Fame (BMHOF) induction gala.
October 7, 2013 — Long-defunct Swedish death metallers CENTINEX have unearthed their debut Subconscious Lobotomy thanks toPulverised Records. To commemorate the album’s twenty-year anniversary, Pulverised Records will give it an entire facelift in both visual and audio aspects.
October 2, 2013 — The title track for the new DEICIDE album, In the Minds of Evil, is now online and sounds pretty cool. Listen for the quote from movie, The Dark Knight, at the beginning.
October 1, 2013 — Crossover beasts, IRON REAGAN, have just posted their new music video for “Cycle of Violence.” The song comes off their debut full-length, Worse Than Dead, on A389 and Magic Bullet Records released earlier this year.
September 25, 2013 — New York death metal vets, PYREXIA, are back with Feast of Iniquity via Unique Leader Records on October 29, 2013. The biggest news about the record is the fact that it features both Doug Bohn (SUFFOCATION - Pierced From Within) and Dave Culross (SUFFOCATION, MALEVOLENT CREATION) on drums.
September 20, 2013 — A new DOOMRIDERS song, “Dead Friends,” from their upcoming album, Grand Blood, is now online. Check it out below. http://youtu.be/iUtyUA7l3Uc Grand Blood is set for an October 15, 2013 release via Deathwish Inc.
September 19, 2013 — Despite the fact that “Zoo Human Syndrome” is taken off THE WRETCHED END’s 2010 record, Ominous, the band have posted the official video for it. Check it out below.
September 19, 2013 — ** **Norway’s ULVER has launched a teaser trailer for its upcoming album Messe I.X - IV.X. http://youtu.be/2J0Y0h1_0PU Messe I.X - IV.X is due out on October 8 via Kscope.
September 18, 2013 — So today is the U.S. release date of CARCASS’ invincible comeback, Surgical Steel, and vocalist/bassist Jeff Walker issued this statement via Facebook to further prove why CARCASS rule:
September 13, 2013 — MORBID ANGEL will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of their classic album, Covenant, with the Covenant–United States Tour 1993-2013. The tour starts in November.
September 12, 2013 — The new PESTILENCE album, Obsideo, is set for November 11th U.S. release via Candelight Records. “We have gone beyond our human limits to achieve the highest form of brutal music,” states mainman Patrick Mameli.
September 8, 2013 — Iceland’s finest, SÒLSTAFIR, will have their debut album, Í Blóði Og Anda (meaning “In Blood and Spirit”), will be reissued with a bonus disc full of previously unreleased material.
September 4, 2013 — Swedish gods ENTOMBED have announced their return via worldwide signing to Century Media Records. Their first album in 7 years, Back to the Front, will be released on October 28th in Europe and October 29th in North America.
September 4, 2013 — Dutch Death metal band HAIL OF BULLETS have launched the first video teaser for their upcoming new album, III The Rommel Chronicles. Yes, another World War II-themed album.
August 27, 2013 — Candlelight Records today confirms October 22 as the North American release date for Das Seelenbrechen, the fifth solo album from IHSAHN. Das Seelenbrechen will be available on compact disc, a limited edition digibook (with expanded graphics and liner notes), and double 180-gram clear vinyl.
August 23, 2013 — It’s been announced that DARK FUNERAL’s first six albums, originally released on various labels, will be reissued via Century Media Records. Created with the band’s close cooperation, the first batch of reissues include the self-titled MCD (plus bonus material), The Secrets of the Black Arts (including the re-mixed/re-mastered 8-track Unisound mix as a bonus), and Vobiscum Satanas (including live tracks).
August 20, 2013 — A389 Records will be celebrating the label’s 10th Anniversary with their annual Winter Bash on the weekend of January 17th through the 19th, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland.
August 16, 2013 — With the October 1st release BROKEN HOPE’s reunion album, Omen of Disease, on the horizon, “Ghastly” has been made available for download. Get it here.
August 16, 2013 — Norway’s SAHG will unleash some more stoned, doomed goodness October 24, 2013 with Delusions of Grandeur via Indie Recordings. Check out the first single, “Firechild”:
August 12, 2013 — A song from SATYRICON’s upcoming self-titled album, “Our World, It Rumbles Tonight,” has been posted online. Check it out below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDPXZwPtfFg As you can hear, the album is a bit different from their past material.
August 7, 2013 — As reported earlier, EMPEROR have announced that they will reunite to perform In the Nightside Eclipse at Wacken Open Air festival 2014 with drummer Faust. However, what was not clear was whether the band would be reuniting for good or simply for more reunion shows.
August 6, 2013 — Despite battling health issues, MOTORHEAD frontman Lemmy decided to go forward with the band’s performance at Wacken Open Air festival in Germany this past Sunday, August 4, 2013.
August 4, 2013 — British extreme metal legends, CARCASS, will embark on a select amount of intimate headlining North American shows this September in support of their upcoming sixth full-length release, Surgical Steel.
August 4, 2013 — 2013 marks the 25th Anniversary of DANZIG’s seminal 1st release – Danzig I. To celebrate, DANZIG will play a series of very special U.S. shows this year.
August 4, 2013 — This past Friday, August 2, 2013, EMPEROR announced that they will reunite once again to perform at Wacken 2014. To add to that, former drummer Faust will be joining the band to perform In the Nightside Eclipse in its entirety.
July 19, 2013 — TWILIGHT OF THE GODS, the super group featuring Alan Averill (PRIMORDIAL), Nick Barker (ex-CRADLE OF FILTH, ex-DIMMU BORGIR), Rune Eriksen (AURA NOIR, NADER SADEK, ex-MAYHEM), Patrik Lindgren (THYRFING), and Frode Glesnes (EINHERJER) have named their debut album Fire on the Mountain.
July 9, 2013 — A trailer for the upcoming CARCASS comeback album, Surgical Steel, has been posted online. By the sound of this song, the band have returned to the Heartwork-era.
July 3, 2013 — Doom/progressive rock legends ANATHEMA have announced their debut North America tour with ALCEST and MAMIFFER in support of their best selling album in the U.
June 26, 2013 — After a long hiatus, SATYRICON have announced their self titled new album set for a September 9th release. Speaking about the band’s new album and return to the live fray in Europe, mainman Satyr comments: “We are back!
June 26, 2013 — Sweden’s THE HAUNTED are finally back in the spotlight after almost a year without public activity and re-structuring behind closed doors, following a major switch of line up’s around autumn of 2012.
June 25, 2013 — Chase Manhattan and Matt Price of Los Angeles-based stoner/doom outfit BEHOLD! THE MONOLITH have issued the following statement on the tragic loss of singer/bassist Kevin McDade:
June 19, 2013 — While the new DARKANE album, The Sinister Supremacy, doesn’t comes out until July 2, 2013 in North America, two songs have been made available online. Check them out.
June 19, 2013 — Dave Lombardo, former drummer for SLAYER, will be featured on SEPULTURA’s upcoming album. Lombardo was having some quality-time with his kids and dog at the beach near the studio where SEPULTURA is recording, when producer Ross Robinson asked him if he wanted to guest on the recording.
June 19, 2013 — Richmond, VA’s hardcore/thrash hybrid IRON REAGAN have announced a slew of new tour dates starting June 27th on both the East and West Coast. Tourmates include DROP DEAD, WHIPLASH, WITCHHAVEN, GWAR, HATEBREED and MEAN JEANS among others.
May 30, 2013 — SLAYER’s Tom Araya and Kerry King have announced that Paul Bostaph has rejoined the band on a full-time basis. “Paul’s a great drummer and a good friend, and we’re very happy that he’s decided to rejoin the band,” said Tom Araya.
May 26, 2013 — The trailer for CHURCH OF MISERY’s new album, Thy Kingdom Scum, can be viewed below. http://youtu.be/A8_Vn0ydFwM Thy Kingdom Scum was released today in Europe via Rise Above Records, and is set for a June 11th release via Metal Blade Records in North America.
May 24, 2013 — After years of courting, CARCASS have signed to Nuclear Blast Records for the world excluding Japan. Surgical Steel, the band’s first studio release since their 1996 LP _Swansong,_was produced by Colin Richardson and mixed/mastered by Andy Sneap.
May 24, 2013 — Norway’s SHINING is currently streaming their brand new album, One One One. The stream includes commentary for each track with frontman Jørgen Munkeby. The APESHIT goons recommend you check it out.
May 22, 2013 — AMON AMARTH’s forthcoming mini documentary, Forging Mjo__lnir, will appear as a three-part series with each official segment slated to premiere via the band’s microsite at http://deceiver.
May 16, 2013 — The Jeff Hanneman Memorial Celebration will take place on Thursday, May 23 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles from 3:30 - 7:30PM. Hanneman passed away on May 2 at the age of 49.
May 16, 2013 — TÝR, hailing all the way from the Faroe Islands, are currently recording their new album in Denmark. For drum tracking on this album, TÝR has enlisted the services of drum god George Kollias (NILE).
May 15, 2013 — Guitarist Oddvar A:M of legendary Norwegian avant garde metal band, IN THE WOODS…, has passed away. No details of his death have been released. While he may not have been as well known as Jeff Hanneman, Oddvar certainly made his mark in underground metal with his work in IN THE WOODS… Let’s remember the man’s work by enjoying some of his music.
May 10, 2013 — The good folks at Aftermath Music have posted another track from DJEVEL’s upcoming album, Besatt av Maane og Natt. The band featuring vocalist Erlend Hjelvik (KVELERTAK) and drummer Dirge Rep (NETTLECARRIER, ex-ENSLAVED).
May 10, 2013 — The surviving members of SLAYER have issued a statement regarding plans for Jeff Hanneman’s memorial as well as shared some memories of the late legend:
May 8, 2013 — Today, Taiwanese black metallers CHTHONIC reveals the first of a series of video singles from their forthcoming new full-length. “Defenders of Bú-Tik Palace” comes by way of the band’s seventh studio recording, Bú-Tik.
May 7, 2013 — Swedish death/thrash gods, DARKANE, are set to release album number six, The Sinister Supremacy, this summer. Massacre Records will release it on June 28th in Europe with Prosthetic Records releasing it on July 2nd in North America.
May 2, 2013 — We are saddened to learn that SLAYER guitarist and founding member, Jeff Hanneman, has passed away. He was 49. Here is a statement from the band:
April 26, 2013 — Following the overwhelming response to the initial announcement of just four tour dates, BLACK SABBATH have now confirmed a full 20-city North American trek. Launching July 25 in Houston, TX, the tour will include shows in Philadelphia, Boston, Tinley Park (Chicago), San Francisco and other major markets, along with the previously announced stops in Holmdel, NJ (NY-area), Los Angeles, Seattle and Toronto, ON.
April 18, 2013 — Century Media Records has announced that they have signed Swedish metal legend, Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, INFESTDEAD, NIGHTINGALE, BLOODBATH). Dan Swanö comments about the signing:
April 8, 2013 — SHINING (Norway) have released a video for “I Won’t Forget”, the first single off their forthcoming album, One One One. Their avant-jazz roots continue to shed in favor of a more industrial-tinged rock sound, though with progressive tendencies and saxophone-enhanced instrumentation still intact.
April 4, 2013 — A389 Recordings have posted their free Digital Mixtape MMXIII, which includes 40 tracks of new and unreleased music. The list of artists include EYEHATEGOD, IRON REAGAN, RINGWORM plus new music from INTEGRITY, FULL OF HATE, and NOISEM.
March 28, 2013 — The underground metal scene lost one of its own when guitarist David “Blackmoon” Parland passed away on March 19, 2013. Blackmoon was a key member in renowned Swedish extreme metal bands such as NECROPHOBIC, DARK FUNERAL, WAR, and INFERNAL.
March 28, 2013 — Gothenburg, Sweden’s DARK TRANQUILLITY are set to release their new album, Construct, on May 27, 2013. Check out the trailer. There are some snippets of the new album.
March 14, 2013 — As the countdown for the June 11 arrival of BLACK SABBATH’s 13 gets closer, the second Jack Osbourne-directed clip of the legends at work on the album can now be seen below:
March 14, 2013 — CATHEDRAL’s final album, The Last Spire, will be released in North America on April 30th, 2013. Recorded at Orgone Studios in London, produced by Lee Dorrian and Garry Jennings with assistance, mixing by Jamie Gomez Arellano, and art by Dave Patchett and Arik Roper.
March 14, 2013 — Former IRON MAIDEN drummer Clive Burr has passed away today after a long struggle with Multiple Sclerosis. The band issued the following statement: “We are deeply saddened to report that Clive Burr passed away last night.
March 12, 2013 — Deathwish Inc. are proud to present the punk/hardcore/metal soundtrack to your spring aptly titled Spring 2013. The sampler includes 26 songs Deathwish artists, as well as Deathwish distributed labels, Black Market Activities, React!
March 12, 2013 — EARLY MAN is asking for pledges to help fund their new album through IndieGogo. The band are currently without a record label and are hoping with fan support that they can release a new album.
March 8, 2013 — ARMORED SAINT’s John Bush made his debut into the video game world by laying vocals for several songs for the soundtrack to Platinum Games’ new video game, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.
March 8, 2013 — With their album Dark Metal, BEHTLEHEM (founded in 1991) established the musical subgenre of the same name, and with their records Dictius Te Necare and S.
March 8, 2013 — ALCEST recently entered Sundlaugin Studio in Iceland to start recording the successor of Les Voyages De L’Âme with producer Birgir Jón Birgisson. Last year, Neige had this to say about the new ALCEST material:
March 7, 2013 — In the year of 13, the second phase of GHOST B.C. begins with the release of the second psalm Infestissumam on April 8, 2013 on Loma Vista Recordings.
March 4, 2013 — Swedish death metal legends HYPOCRISY, will return to North America once again this May for a headlining tour in support of their upcoming album, End of Disclosure.
March 4, 2013 — Norwegian avant garde band STAROFASH have been working on the follow up to 2011’s excellent, Lakhesis. Here is what mastermind Heidi S. Tveitan had to say about the new record:
March 2, 2013 — New music from AMORPHIS is finally here. Check out their first single, “Hopeless Days” off of their upcoming record, Circle. Sing along; it’s one of those lyric videos:
March 1, 2013 — TOOL will release a handcrafted, bonus-laden, limited edition package of their original debut EP, Opiate, on March 26, 2013 to mark the 21st anniversary of the six-song release.
February 26, 2013 — New York death metal legends, IMMOLATION, have announced Kingdom of Conspiracy as the title of their upcoming ninth full-length album. The follow up to their 2010 release, Majesty and Decay, will be released on May 14th in North America via Nuclear Blast Records.
February 21, 2013 — Pat Egan, longtime Director of Retail Sales at Relapse Records, tragically passed away on Monday, February 18th after a battle with pneumonia and related complications.
February 21, 2013 — Swedish death metal veterans VOMITORY have decided to call it quits. Comments the band: “After 24 years, eight albums and hundreds of live shows across 30 countries, we have finally come to the end of the road.
February 19, 2013 — The reunited BLACK SABBATH have posted a video, which highlights a look into the recording sessions with producer Rick Rubin. As previously posted, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE/AUDIOSLAVE drummer Brad Wilk will play drums on the record in place of Bill Ward, who is no longer part of the reunion.
February 19, 2013 — Finally, after only a handful of North American dates in the past few years, limited to Maryland Deathfest, BOLT THROWER has announced the Return to Chaos tour.
February 19, 2013 — Renowned metal journalist and industry veteran, Jeff Wagner, is currently working on a biography on TYPE OF NEGATIVE/CARNIVORE frontman Peter Steele. The book, Soul On Fire – The Life and Music of Peter Steele, will be, in Wagner’s words, “a thorough telling of Peter’s life, from his ‘diaper days’ to his death.
February 17, 2013 — Korean black/death metal band OATHEAN have announced that they will play a special 15th anniversary show for their debut, The Eyes of Tremendous Sorrow. The show is scheduled for March 3, 2013 at V-Hall in Seoul, Korea.
February 10, 2013 — JELLO BIAFRA AND THE GUANTANAMO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE are gearing up for the release of their new album, White People and the Damage Done, which is set for an April 3, 2013 release.
February 8, 2013 — Famed artist and visual effects director and driving force behind the all-star death metal project that bears his name, NADER SADEK is being featured as part of a group exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia.
February 6, 2013 — Keyboardist/composer Andy Winter of WINDS and AGE OF SILENCE fame has a new solo album, Incomprehensible, which is available now via The End records. The album features an impressive roster of guest vocalists from MADDER MORTEM, AGALLOCH, GREEN CARNATION, EDGE OF SANITY, PECCATUM, BORKNAGAR, NOVEMBERS DOOM, and WINDS.
February 6, 2013 — LA’s psychedelic, doom, progsters INTRONAUT are set to release their fourth album, Habitual Levitations, on March 19, 2013. The new video for “Milk Leg” can be viewed below.
February 5, 2013 — Swedish epic doom metallers MEMORY GARDEN has finished the recordings for their upcoming fifth album Doomain. MEMORY GARDEN elaborates on the project: “The recording of Doomain must be the most relaxed album session we’ve ever done.
February 5, 2013 — Swedish melodic doom band OCTOBER TIDE have announced their upcoming full-length effort entitled Tunnel of No Light. Comprising of eight sorrowful, doom-laden tracks, Tunnel of No Light sees the band going towards a somewhat more straightforward yet heavier direction but still very much keeping the traditional OCTOBER TIDE sound.
February 1, 2013 — ABSU has announced details on their upcoming tour, titled North American Connexus Conjuration. The 26-city tour will see the band perform two full sets with music spanning their 20-year recording career.
January 31, 2013 — Legendary Japanese trio BORIS announce a series of US headlining residency shows in several major markets following their performance at Austin Psych Fest in late April.
January 29, 2013 — The production team McFarland and Pecci have created a short form documentary, Rungs in the Ladder, about CONVERGE frontman/Deathwish Inc. co-owner, Jacob Bannon. In the film, Bannon reflects on formative events in his life and his continuing commitment to creation rather than destruction.
January 24, 2013 — Living Flesh, the first ever live performance from NADER SADEK’s critically acclaimed In the Flesh project will be self-released on February 27th. The November 20, 2011 show featured the original line-up of musicians from the In the Flesh record, as well as two new performers.
January 20, 2013 — Norwegian legends DARKTHRONE have their new album, The Underground Resistance, set for a February 25, 2013 release date via Peaceville Records. The album contains only six tracks and was written & recorded spring 2010 to summer 2012 at Necrohell 2 Studios by the band.
January 16, 2013 — After 35 years and 14 studio albums, D.O.A. have announced that they are disbanding this year and a set of farewell shows. Guitarist/vocalist Joey “Shithead” Keithley embarks on a political career seeking the New Democratic Party (NDP) nomination in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.
January 16, 2013 — New York death metal legends, SUFFOCATION, have made the brand new track “Cycles of Suffering” available for streaming. Check it out below. The song comes from their upcoming album Pinnacle of Bedlam, which will be released on February 15th in Europe and on February 19th in North America.
January 13, 2013 — BLACK SABBATH have announced the title of their new album, 13, which will be released this June (exact date TBA). The original BLACK SABBATH (sans Bill Ward) have recorded the album primarily in Los Angeles and were joined at the sessions by drummer Brad Wilk (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE)****.
January 11, 2013 — Gothenburg gods, DARK TRANQUILLITY, released their first album, Skydancer, 20 years ago and are set to release 10th album, Construct, on May 2013. The band comments: “Greetings, Darklings!
January 8, 2013 — In an interesting story in the world of metal, Morten Gade Sørensen (of PYRAMAZE and WUTHERING HEIGHTS) has replaced Morten Sørensen in ANUBIS GATE. After careful consideration and 5 albums behind the drums, Morten Sørensen felt it was time to get off the bandwagon to pursue other musical interests.
December 24, 2012 — Prophecy Productions proudly announce their collaboration with AMBER ASYLUM in order to re-release the band’s entire back catalogue as well as three further albums. The follow-up to 2009’s Bitter River is currently being recorded and will most probably be released in 2013 alongside the new editions of the earlier albums.
December 24, 2012 — A brand new song from SUFFOCATION’s upcoming album, Pinnacle of Bedlam, has been posted online. Check out “As Grace Descends”: http://youtu.be/fH_N5mdjsYU How can an album with Dave Culross on drums go wrong?
December 21, 2012 — Dutch death metal band CENTURIAN have debuted a new track from their forthcoming third album, Contra Rationem. The song, entitled “Judas Among Twelve,” has been posted as a promo video below:
December 16, 2012 — GODFLESH’s swan song, Hymns, will be re-released as a Special Edition 2-CD Deluxe Remaster with bonus tracks, liner notes, lyrics and never before seen photos and images.
December 16, 2012 — KILLING JOKE will celebrate their 35th anniversary in style next year with the release of The Singles Collection 1979-2012 and a world tour set to commence in Europe this coming March.
December 15, 2012 — Get excited… yesterday, Sweden’s GHOST teased a new website containing parts of a new song. Today, they have posted the full track, “Secular Haze”. Check it out:
December 13, 2012 — Brazilian gods KRISIUN have posted their brand new video for “The Will to Potency” online. The song comes off the band’s latest album, The Great Executioner, which is available now.
December 9, 2012 — On Thursday, December 20th, The Power of the Riff presents a massive all-ages event at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. The lineup for this end-time gala will feature sets by HIGH ON FIRE, SUNN O))), CORROSION OF CONFORMITY (playing a set that will include classics from Animosity, Eye for an Eye and more), BLACK BREATH, DEAD IN THE DIRT, LOINCLOTH (featuring members of CONFESSOR) and VOID OV VOICES (featuring Atilla Csihar).
December 8, 2012 — Norway’s ULVER have delivered one of the most thoughtful and biting statements about the dire state of the music industry. Life has not been easy for musicians and ULVER pulls no punches in their statement:
December 6, 2012 — After spending a very eventful and busy year promoting their latest album release, Bilateral, acclaimed Norwegian progsters LEPROUS have now started their recording sessions for their upcoming, currently untitled studio album, set to be released before summer 2013 worldwide via InsideOut Music.
December 6, 2012 — On January 21st in Europe and January 22nd in North America, Canadian progressive metal pioneers VOIVOD will release their 13th studio album, Target Earth. In anticipation of this release, the band has now posted the official Target Earth electronic press kit, featuring behind-the-scenes footage, plus an exclusive interview with Away (Michel Langevin) and Chewy (Daniel Mongrain) about the making of the album.
December 4, 2012 — As news breaks of LAMB OF GOD vocalist Randy Blythe’s indictment on manslaughter charges in the Czech Republic in connection with the death of a concert goer, manager Larry Mazer responds with the following statement:
December 4, 2012 — This Sunday marks the return of Peep & Destroy at Cheetahs in Hollywood. The event’s take on “strippers, metal, and corpsepaint” has been on hiatus since April but will return to its original venue.
November 23, 2012 — To promote the release of ANTIMATTER’s new record, Fear of a Unique Identity, the band’s label, Prophecy Productions, has posted the record online for streaming.
November 23, 2012 — The brand new video for TURBONEGRO’s “I Got a Knife” is now online. http://youtu.be/WteGefeMiMc The song comes off the new record, Sexual Harassment. Check out our review.
November 19, 2012 — LA thrashers ANGER AS ART have announced that new album, Hubris Inc., will be released on February 5, 2013 via Old School Metal Records. ANGER OF ART founder Steve Gaines (ABATTOIR, BLOODLUST, TACTICS, BITCH, DREAMS OF DAMNATION, PAGAN WAR MACHINE) states that the band’s fourth album, which follows the well-received Disfigure, offers the kind of vicious, memorably penned thrash/speed metal that fans have come to expect without simply retracing the steps taken on previous albums.
November 17, 2012 — On November 3rd, SANCTUS reunited for a one-off private rehearsal session. [Ed: I am a member of SANCTUS.] This was the band’s first activity in ten years.
November 15, 2012 — Delicious Vinyl is proud to announce the reissue of two seminal albums from MASTERS OF REALITY together in one deluxe package on December 11th, 2012. Originally released in 1989 on Rick Rubin’s Def American label, the self-titled album is being re-released together with the 1997 live album How High The Moon: Live At The Viper Room in 2CD Digipak and Double LP formats.
November 12, 2012 — Holland’s death metal legends SINISTER are set to release their eleventh studio full-length, The Carnage Ending, via Massacre Records this November 27th in North America.
November 11, 2012 — BORIS have contributed their cover of “Sometimes” for the upcoming MY BLOODY VALENTINE tribute album, entitled Yellow Loveless. The line-up features all bands from Japan paying tribute to the shoegaze legends.
November 11, 2012 — Norwegian black metal conjurers NIDINGR have posted the second single, “Vim Patior,” from their new full-length, Greatest of Deceivers. http://youtu.be/RqURdlAAd8M Notes guitarist Teloch of the new tune: “‘Vim Patior’ contains all the elements you all love about NIDINGR: blastbeats, shredding guitars, sweet ass bass lines, guttural vocals, catchy riffing without turning your ears to cheese… But at the same time we introduce some of the new elements we are doing all over the new album: riffs that will make you puke blood and cry.
November 5, 2012 — The title track from INCANTATION’s upcoming album, Vanquish in Vengeance, is now online. Check it out below. http://youtu.be/WdHbT5wSckM INCANTATION’s long-awaited follow up to 2006’s Primordial Domination features over 50 minutes of the band’s trademark dark and unholy death metal.
October 28, 2012 — Sweden’s GRAVEYARD have a brand new video for “Endless Night” online now. The song comes off their new album, Lights Out, which is available now in Europe and comes out on November 6, 2012 in North America.
October 27, 2012 — Guitarist Anders Björler has announced the launch of his first solo album shortly after his exit from THE HAUNTED. The non-metal, instrumental album will be in a soundtrack-style of music inspired by “Italian Film Music (60/70s), Post Rock, Ambient,Progressive, Jazz, Swedish Folk Music.
October 22, 2012 — Check out the trailer for the documentary featured on the special edition of MY DYING BRIDE’s forthcoming album, A Map of All Our Failures, which contains a CD & DVD in a mediabook with 20 page booklet.
October 20, 2012 — Swedish melodic death metal legends DARK TRANQUILLITY will digitally release their Zero Distance EP on October 22nd in North America. Taken from the European tour edition of We are the Void (2010).
October 17, 2012 — Sweden’s THE HAUNTED have announced yet another exit of band members following vocalist Peter Dolving’s recent departure. Guitarist Anders Björler and drummer Per Möller Jensen have also left the band.
October 14, 2012 — The title track for TIAMAT’s new album, The Scarred People, is now online. The album is set for a late October/early November 2012 release via Napalm Records.
October 14, 2012 — IN****TRONAUT, the post-metal prog act hailing from Los Angeles, has entered the studio to begin working on their fourth full length album. Drums will be recorded by producer John Haddad at Trench Studios, while Derek Donley (BEREFT) will be handling recording duties for all other elements.
October 14, 2012 — New York death metal veterans DEHUMANIZED recently inked a multi-album contract with U.S. record label Comatose Music. The history of DEHUMANIZED dates back to the mid-90s, an era that saw the rise of several legendary New York death metal acts, not the least of which included SUFFOCATION, INTERNAL BLEEDING, and PYREXIA.
October 9, 2012 — New York death metal legends SUFFOCATION are currently in the finishing stages of their upcoming new album entitled Pinnacle of Bedlam. The record was produced by the band and tracked at Full Force Studios in New York by longtime collaborator Joe Cincotta.
September 25, 2012 — Rock ’n roll heroes, GRAVEYARD, have their new video from “Goliath” posted online. The song comes off their upcoming album, Lights Out, coming October 26th (EU) and November 6, 2012 (NA) via Nuclear Blast Records.
September 19, 2012 — God of Death & Disease, a compilation disc featuring the earliest recordings from death/doom metal band MORGION, is now available via Dark Descent Records. Check out the webstore at www.
September 19, 2012 — Norwegian hard rock septet DUNDERBEIST have just released the music video for the single “More Me” off of their album Black Arts and Crooked Tails. The video was directed by Mats Michael Olsen from Orkan Films.
September 17, 2012 — CEREMONIAL OATH, featuring members that would later go on to IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL, and TIAMAT, have recently announced their return. They are currently working on a new studio release.
September 15, 2012 — Norwegian black metal band, NIDINGR, will unleash their new full-length, Greatest of Deceivers, in North America on November 20th. The follow up to Wolf Father features present and past members of bands such as MAYHEM, GORGOROTH, DHG (DØDHEIMSGARD), 1349 and GOD SEED, among others.
September 14, 2012 — 6131 Records and STRIFE give you an inside look into the making of the band’s upcoming album Witness A Rebirth. This first video from the three part documentary series, “The Sao Paulo Sessions,” takes you down to Mix Nova Studios in Brazil and shows the recording process with drummer Iggor Cavalera (ex-SEPULTURA, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, MIXHELL).
September 13, 2012 — Mammoth Lakes, California’s VALDUR recently completed composing their upcoming, as-yet, untitled new full-length. Official recording sessions will commence on November 12th at Earhammer Studios.
September 9, 2012 — The tenth studio full-length from Dutch atmospheric pioneers THE GATHERING, entitled Disclosure, is nearing release, with a confirmed North American street date of September 25th via Psychonaut Records.
September 6, 2012 — NEUROSIS today proudly reveals a brand new visual trailer created for their anticipated tenth studio full-length, Honor Found in Decay. Created by video architect Kenneth Thomas, also responsible for producing the mini-documentary for NEUROSIS’ 2007-released Given to the Rising, the intense look into the new opus features intimate details of the album’s layout hand-crafted by the band’s visual specialist by Josh Graham, personal commentary from guitarists/vocalists Scott Kelly and Steve Von Till on the creation of Honor Found in Decay, as well as the first brief moments of audio to be publicly unleashed.
September 5, 2012 — Acclaimed Norwegian black/death punkers KVELERTAK have released the first video from their recording session at Godcity Studios in Salem, Massachusetts with CONVERGE’s Kurt Ballou. The band recently commented on what’s in store for the next album with the following: “All I can say is, this album is going to fuck the first album in the ass.
September 5, 2012 — Sweden’s SHINING have posted their new video for “Tillsammans Är Vi Allt” from their seventh album, VII / Född Förlorare. The band explains the concept behind their second music video thus far here.
August 22, 2012 — Hardcore heroes CONVERGE will be going out on tour this Fall in support of their upcoming album, All We Love We Leave Behind. Coming along for the ride are TORCHE, KVELERTAK, and NAILS and WHIPS/CHAINS for select dates.
August 18, 2012 — New York death metal legends, IMMOLATION, recently entered Sound Studios in Millbrook, NY with longtime producer Paul Orofino to record their ninth full-length album. The follow up to their 2010 release Majesty and Decay, will once again be mixed and mastered by Zack Ohren (DECREPIT BIRTH, SUFFOCATION).
August 7, 2012 — BEHEMOTH frontman Nergal has announced that he will be endorsing Demon Energy Drink. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the DKMS foundation. The DKMS foundation raises awareness and funds to benefit those diagnoses with various forms of blood cancer.
August 7, 2012 — ** LAMB OF GOD** vocalist Randy Blythe has issued an official statement following his release from Czech jail. He was arrested and criminally charged in connection with the death of a concert goer at a LAMB OF GOD show about two years ago.
August 7, 2012 — Devin Townsend has posted a preview of the DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND’s upcoming album, Epicloud. The preview shows that there is a re-recording of a song from his Physicist album.
August 3, 2012 — A documentary on LA hardcore heroes, the CIRCLE JERKS, entitled CIRCLE JERKS - My Life as a Jerk is set to be released on September 25, 2012 via MVD Entertainment Group.
August 3, 2012 — INTRONAUT have posted a short video of a new song they are working on for the follow up to Valley of Smoke. It sounds pretty nice.
July 31, 2012 — Swedish gods of bluesy, psychedelic rock GRAVEYARD have set Lights Out as the title for their third studio album, due out in Europe on October 26th and in North America on November 6th.
July 30, 2012 — DOWN will release Down IV Part I - The Purple EP, their first body of new material in five years, on September 18, 2012 via Down Records/Independent Label Group.
July 30, 2012 — MY DYING BRIDE has announced the title of its forthcoming release, A Map of All Our Failures, due out in Europe on October 15, 2012 and in North America on October 16, 2012 via Peaceville Records.
July 23, 2012 — MUNICIPAL WASTE have a brand new video for “Repossession” in which the band take on the role of repo men. The song comes off the band’s latest record, The Fatal Feast.
July 22, 2012 — JELLO BIAFRA AND THE GUANTANAMO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE are releasing two versions of their new song “SHOCK-U-PY!” as a pay-what-you-want digital download. The two versions are an acoustic sing-a-long mix and a heavier rock-a-long mix.
July 22, 2012 — ENSLAVED’s new record, RIITIIR, is due out in Europe on September 28th and in North America on October 9th. “It has been only two years since we last released an album [2010’s award-winning Axioma Ethica Odini], and we’ve been touring Europe and North America several times since then,” reflects ENSLAVED guitarist, songwriter, and founding member Ivar Bjørnson.
July 22, 2012 — Landskrona, Sweden-based THE FORSAKEN are preparing to drop their fourth full-length assault Beyond Redemption in North America. Beyond Redemption surges with forty minutes of the band’s modern black/thrash-infused death metal culminating here into some of the most devastating sequences from THE FORSAKEN to date.
July 19, 2012 — Twelve years after breaking up, underground death metal favorites, BROKEN HOPE, recently announced their return. The band are set to make their return to stage on the Carnival of Death Tour with headliners OBITUARY and support bands DECREPIT BIRTH, JUNGLE ROT and ENCRUST.
July 11, 2012 — CRYPTOPSY has announced that pre-sales for their new album entitled Cryptopsy will begin on Friday July 13th; and will only be available via their new website www.
July 4, 2012 — Due to reasons well beyond the band’s control, FEAR FACTORY will not be taking part in this Summer’s Shockwave Festival Tour, slated to commence July 6, 2012 in Seattle.
June 25, 2012 — EXHUMED frontman Matt Harvey has been added as a special guest lead vocalist to the all-star studded Death to All Tour 2012. Matt Harvey will be joining drummers Gene Hoglan (Individual Thought Patterns/Symbolic) and Sean Reinert (Human), bassists Steve DiGiorgio (Human/Individual Thought Patterns) and Scott Clendenin (The Sound of Perseverance), guitarists Paul Masvidal (Human), Shannon Hamm (The Sound of Perseverance) and Bobby Koelble (Symbolic), and vocalist/label-mate Charles Elliott of ABYSMAL DAWN/BEREFT.
June 14, 2012 — Portland, Oregon dark metal band, AGALLOCH, are pleased to announce a month-long bout of live performances this Summer. Slated to commence with a hometown show July 11, the tour will include a nightly rotating set list featuring both new and early material with stage times anticipated to be between 90 – 120 minutes.
June 14, 2012 — After the success of last year’s reissue of DESTRÖYER 666’ classic Cold Steel… for an Iron Age, many fans asked for the 2000 masterpiece Phoenix Rising to get the same treatment.
June 14, 2012 — Season of Mist will release French experimental black metallers DEATHSPELL OMEGA’s new EP entitled Drought in North America on July 3, 2012. You can now listen to the song “Abrasive Swirling Murk” on Season of Mist’s Facebook page.
June 6, 2012 — TURBONEGRO’s men of denim are back. The Norwegian five-piece are bringing their ninth studio album, Sexual Harassment, released digitally through Volcom Entertainment on June 13.
June 5, 2012 — The “Epic Kings & Idols Tour,” set for a September 2012 North American run, will feature co-headliners, THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT and KATATONIA, direct support from PARADISE LOST, and opening duties from STOLEN BABIES.
June 5, 2012 — Southern Lord Recordings is pleased to announce the reissue of The Art of Self Defense, the classic first recording from Oakland power trio HIGH ON FIRE.
June 5, 2012 — MARDUK, 1349, WITHERED, and WEAPON are currently on a North American tour throughout the month. Tour dates can be found at MARDUK’s official website.
June 5, 2012 — The legendary MORBID ANGEL have announced a month long North American tour. Support will come from Sweden’s DARK FUNERAL and GRAVE. The tour starts on September 21st in Atlanta, GA and runs through October 19th in San Antonio, TX.
June 5, 2012 — Let’s try to get through this work week with SABBATH’s classic song, “Killing Yourself to Live” off of the band’s 1973 masterpiece, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. This performance of the song comes from the band’s famous appearance at the legendary California Jam in 1974.
June 3, 2012 — Deathwish Inc. have released a free digital sampler of their roster of artists entitled Summer 2012. Bands included (in order of appearance): NARROWS, OATHBREAKER, HEIRESS, WHIPS/CHAINS, RISE AND FALL, GIVE UP THE GHOST (AN), LOMA PRIETA, VICTIMS, BIRDS IN ROW, CODE ORANGE KIDS, TOUCHE AMORE, SINGLE MOTHERS, LIVING EYES, PUNCH, SELF DEFENSE FAMILY, CURSED, NEW LOWS, STARKWEATHER, and DEAFHEAVEN.
June 2, 2012 — Norway’s DJERV have posted the new video for “Headstone” online. The song is off the band’s latest album, Djerv. Drummer Erlend Gjerde commented: “The ‘Headstone’ video is a project we’ve been thinking about for a long time.
May 25, 2012 — Freshly mastered at the Finnox Studio in Finland, Irish folk metal band WAYLANDER are releasing their brand new and fourth full length album Kindred Spirits on July 16th (EU) and August 14th (North America).
May 24, 2012 — New video from the title track of GOJIRA’s new album, L’Enfant Sauvage, has been released online. The album drops June 26, 2012 via Roadrunner Records.
May 20, 2012 — Some buzz has spread around the web about Bill Ward being cropped out of BLACK SABBATH photos on the band’s website. Here is the band’s statement regarding the situation:
May 18, 2012 — BLACK SABBATH, currently comprised of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler, have released a statement in response to drummer Bill Ward’s online statement regarding his absence from the upcoming SABBATH shows and reunion as a whole:
May 15, 2012 — Greyhaze Records is proud to announce the formation and signing of brand new death metal act WARFATHER, a new unit conceived by ex-MORBID ANGEL frontman Steve Tucker.
May 10, 2012 — YAKUZA are currently at Engine Studios in Chicago to craft their sixth studio effort, which will be released later this year via Profound Lore Records.
May 2, 2012 — Legendary bands CONVERGE and NAPALM DEATH have come together for a split release on Deathwish Inc. Recorded as part of their new album sessions, CONVERGE offer up the blazing new song “No Light Escapes.
May 2, 2012 — Norway’s ULVER will release a cover album, Childhood’s End, of various classic psychedelic songs on May 28th, 2012 via Kscope. The band’s cover of BEAU BRUMMEL’s “Magic Hollow” can be streamed below:
April 30, 2012 — The new video for Poland’s DECAPITATED’s “Homo Sum” has been posted online. Check it out below: http://youtu.be/-KFObx3n2K0 The band kicks off their U.S. tour tonight in Houston, TX with headliners MESHUGGAH.
April 30, 2012 — The world’s first extreme metal cruise, Barge to Hell, featuring 40 bands of extreme metal’s best bands is set to depart from Miami, Florida on December 3, 2012 for Nassau, Bahamas and back on December 7, 2012.
April 25, 2012 — German record label, Prophecy Productions, have posted the majority of their back catalogue on youtube for fans to enjoy. Famous for their niche of eclectic folk, progressive, and dark metal, the label has released many classic albums, including releases by IN THE WOODS…, EMPYRIUM, GREEN CARNATION, TENHI, DRAWN, and BLAZING ETERNITY.
April 25, 2012 — The Heritage Hunter Tour featuring OPETH, MASTODON, and GHOST will be hitting Los Angeles tomorrow night on April 26, 2012 at the Gibson Ampitheatre. Perhaps, the biggest buzz around the tour is the inclusion of Sweden’s GHOST as the opening band.
April 24, 2012 — Norway’s DJERV have posted several tour videos documenting their time on the road in March 2012 through Norway with labelmates DUNDERBEIST. Check them out: http://youtu.be/jZ_UsFHYTV8
April 7, 2012 — Our good friends, label manager Gerardo Martinez and publicist Loana dp Valencia, were recently interviewed over at the Nuclear Blast USA offices in Hawthorne, CA by Scion A/V.
April 5, 2012 — France’s GOJIRA have revealed L’Enfant Sauvage as the title of their Roadrunner Records debut. The title translates to “The Wild Child.” The album, which features 11 tracks, thunderous metal, is scheduled to land at retail on June 26.
April 5, 2012 — Candlelight Records has announced that Ihsahn’s new album, Eremita, will be released in North America on June 19, 2012. Alongside Ihsahn, the album features performances from drummer Tobias Ornes Andersen (LEPROUS), saxophonist Jorgen Munkeby (SHINING (Norway)), guitarist Jeff Loomis (ex-NEVERMORE), and vocalists Devin Townsend, Einar Solberg (LEPROUS), and Heidi S.
April 4, 2012 — **** GOD SEED have revealed plans for a new album and also unveiled a new line-up. Founding members Gaahl (ex-GORGOROTH) and King ov Hell (ex-GORGOROTH) will now be joined by:
March 28, 2012 — Japanese doomsters CHURCH OF MISERY will be making a stop in LA on June 5th, 2012 at The Satellite (formerly known as Spaceland) during their upcoming U.
March 28, 2012 — After the tremendous response from fans to the news that IRON MAIDEN will bring their highly-anticipated Maiden England World Tour to the Southland this summer, the band has announced a second Los Angeles-area show.
March 27, 2012 — BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has issued an update regarding the progress of his cancer treatment: “Hiya, “A little update on how it’s all going:
March 26, 2012 — ABYSMAL DAWN/BEREFT’s Charles Elliott and OBSCURA’s Steffen Kummerer have been announced as vocalists of DEATH tribute, Death to All Tour. The tour’s band will consist of ex-DEATH members including Gene Hoglan, Steve DiGiorgio, Bobby Koelble, Sean Reinert and Paul Masvidal.
March 26, 2012 — Duncan Patterson’s latest project, ALTERNATIVE 4 has announced its signing with Prophecy Productions. With the band name derived from the ANATHEMA album from 1998, the musical and atmospheric direction of this band is given: a solid rock foundation enriched with painful piano and string arrangements, sometimes on the verge of ambient music, sometimes offering the big influence of the rather dark and abysmal side of PINK FLOYD.
March 26, 2012 — THE WRETCHED END’s new video for “Death By Nature” has been posted online. The song comes off the band’s new album, Inroads, which is scheduled for an April 23, 2012 release via Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records.
March 16, 2012 — This summer, former members of DEATH, will assemble a series of DEATH tribute shows in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Orlando to not only pay tribute to Chuck Shuldiner but to benefit Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.
March 16, 2012 — Finland’s BARREN EARTH, featuring members of SWALLOW THE SUN, MOONSORROW, KREATOR, and ex-AMORPHIS, have posted the latest video, “The Rain Begins,” online. http://youtu.be/lmEpoaSXmvM The song comes off the band’s latest album, The Devil’s Resolve, which was released this past week via Peaceville Records.
March 6, 2012 — ARCH ENEMY have parted ways with guitarist Christopher Amott in an amicable split. Christopher Amott was a member of ARCH ENEMY between 1996-2005 and again between 2007-2011.
March 6, 2012 — Goomba Music has announced that they will release SINISTER’s latest album, Legacy of Ashes, in North America. The album will be released as a limited edition digipak with four exclusive bonus tracks ("The Grey Massacre," “Afterburner,” “Altruistic Suicide,” and “Men Down”) and will be available on April 24, 2012.
February 27, 2012 — Ghent, Belgium’s RISE AND FALL have announced that their very first music video is now online. Directed by Mathieu Vandekerckhove, the band filmed the video last October with almost 30 of their friends.
February 23, 2012 — Norwegian extreme metallers THE WRETCHED END have posted a video of Dominator’s drummer audition for the band. Check out the blast master playing “Of Men and Wolves”:
February 23, 2012 — DARK TRANQUILLITY is proud to present their new music video, “In My Absence”! Taken from their latest release, We Are The Void (2010), the video is the band’s fifth promo clip for the album, and was filmed by the band themselves on the road, with guitarist Niklas Sundin taking care of the editing/post production duties.
February 15, 2012 — In support of their upcoming album The Fatal Feast, crossover kings MUNICIPAL WASTE have teamed up with L.A.’s Grill ‘Em All Truck for an exclusive burger eating contest and autograph session.
February 14, 2012 — SEPULTURA, DEATH ANGEL, KRISIUN, and HAVOK will be heading out on a North American tour this April. “We are so excited to go back to North America,” commented SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser.
February 10, 2012 — NAPALM DEATH have posted track by track video previews of their upcoming album, Utilitarin. http://youtu.be/b7vgcswd-JU http://youtu.be/YuvYtuzwcRM
February 7, 2012 — ANATHEMA will return in April with Weather Systems, their brand new studio album. Weather Systems is the follow-up to 2010’s We’re Here Because We’re Here, which has been featured prominently in numerous end-of-year polls and the producer, Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE), has described it as ‘‘definitely among the best albums I’ve ever had the pleasure to work on.
February 1, 2012 — Doom super group BEREFT, featuring members of INTRONAUT, ABYSMAL DAWN, NATIONAL SUNDAY LAW and ex-THE FACELESS has signed to The End Records. The debut album Leichenhaus, a conceptual album thematically revolving around a waiting mortuary, is due April 24, 2012.
January 26, 2012 — After recently wrapping up a U.S. headlining tour, DIR EN GREY are set to return to the U.S. supporting ASKING ALEXANDRIA and TRIVIUM on the Still Reckless Tour.
January 25, 2012 — KING DIAMOND will make their long awaited return to the stage with their appearance at this summer’s Sweden Rock and Hellfest. Check out King Diamond’s message below:
January 24, 2012 — In celebration of MOTÖRHEAD 35 years on the road, on January 24th Motörhead Music/UDR is proud to present: The Wörld Is Ours-Vol 1 - Everywhere Further Than Everyplace Else, a blistering DVD containing some of the finest moments from the band’s last tour, including the entire performance from Chile’s Teatro Caupolican, shot and filmed in classic black and white by Banger Films and Sam Dunn.
January 24, 2012 — Iceland’s SOLSTAFIR have their new video for “Fjara” posted online. The song comes off the band’s excellent album, _Svartir Sanda_r. Check it out: [vimeo 35067591]
January 17, 2012 — CANNIBAL CORPSE will unleash their twelfth studio offering March 12, 2012 via Metal Blade Records. Aptly titled Torture, the follow-up to 2009’s Evisceration Plague offers up 12 tracks.
January 17, 2012 — ** MESHUGGAH** have chosen Koloss as the title to their eighth studio album, set for North American release on March 27th and European release on March 23rd.
January 11, 2012 — TRASH TALK have posted their new video for “Slander” online. The song comes off their latest EP, Awake.
January 11, 2012 — DEATH WOLF (formerly THE DEVIL’S WHOREHOUSE), featuring MARDUK guitarist Morgan Hakansson, has posted the video for “Ironwood” online. The band originally started out as Morgan’s tribute to the MISFITS and SAMHAIN.
January 10, 2012 — Legendary BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma. Here is the band’s official statement: “With the news that BLACK SABBATH’s Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, his bandmates would like everyone to send positive vibes to the guitarist at this time.
January 5, 2012 — KILLSWITCH ENGAGE has announced the departure of longtime vocalist Howard Jones. Here is the band’s official statement: “To our family, friends and fans: We have decided to continue on without Howard Jones as the singer of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE.
January 2, 2012 — Los Angeles’ INTRONAUT have been chosen to open for TOOL on their January 2012 tour. INTRONAUT will appear on two week’s worth of shows starting on January 14th in Reno, NV.
December 21, 2011 — Norway’s LEPROUS recently posted a video of their recent tour of Japan on the Double Titans Tour with IHSAHN and THE HAUNTED. Check it out:
December 20, 2011 — International hardcore group NARROWS’ new song, “Absolute Betrayer,” from their upcoming album, Painted, is now available online. NARROWS Absolute Betrayer by deathwishinc Painted is set for a February 28, 2012 release via Deathwish Inc.
December 10, 2011 — NUNFUCKRITUAL, the new band featuring Teloch (NIDINGR, MAYHEM), Espen T. Hangård (ALTAAR), Dan Lilker (NUCLEAR ASSAULT) and Andreas Jonsson (TYRANT), recently released their debut album, In Bondage to the Serpent, via Debemur Morti Productions.
December 10, 2011 — John Gallagher, guitarist and vocalist of DYING FETUS, has announced that the group has entered the studio to record their new full length album. The band will once again be working with longtime producer Steve Wright at Wrightway Studios in Baltimore, MD.
December 9, 2011 — The new video for the first single, “Autre Temps,” off of ALCEST’s upcoming album, Les Voyages De L’Âme. The single is out now as limited etched vinyl 7".
December 7, 2011 — U.S. grindcore legends TERRORIZER recently completed their new album entitled Hordes of Zombies, and has been scheduled for a February 24th (Feb. 28th in North America), 2012 release.
December 7, 2011 — 2012 will see the release of Enslaved, a brand new SOULFLY album, which will be their eighth overall. 2012 also marks the band’s 15th anniversary of the band.
December 5, 2011 — The second leg of the ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL U.S. tour has been announced. “The first leg of the tour with TESTAMENT and DEATH ANGEL was an amazing way to end a great year for ANTHRAX,” said ANTHRAX’s Scott Ian, “and it went above and beyond my expectations!
December 5, 2011 — Five years have passed since the release of NAGLFAR’s last album, Harvest, but now the band is back in the studio again, finishing-up their sixth album, Téras.
December 1, 2011 — A demo version of the SIGH track, “Somniphobia,” which appears on the split Swine of Hades EP, has been posted online. The song signals a return to the band’s Imaginary Sonicscape-era style.
November 30, 2011 — Dutch doom-death metal legends ASPHYX have now finished work on their 8th studio album, Deathhammer. Set to be released on February 27th, 2012 in Europe and February 28th, 2012 in North America via Century Media Records, Deathhammer features artwork by the band’s long-time partner in designs, Axel Hermann.
November 29, 2011 — After taking a trip back in time with the Draconian Times MMXI DVD/live album (the London legacy show of their classic album from 1995) and also guitarist Gregor Mackintosh’s return to his doom/death metal roots with VALLENFYRE, PARADISE LOST is recording their 13th studio album.
November 26, 2011 — THE WRETCHED END, featuring guitarist Samoth (ZYKLON, EMPEROR), have posted a video of the guitar recording sessions for their upcoming album, Inroads. Check it out:
November 18, 2011 — LOCK UP, the grindcore supergroup featuring genre veterans, Tomas Lindberg, Shane Embury, Nicolas Barker and Anton Reisenegger, has announced its first ever North American tour, a headlining run with GOATWHORE and STRONG INTENTION.
November 18, 2011 — The new video for “Siniset Runot” off of TENHI’s new album, Saivo, has been posted online. Saivo will be released December 2, 2011.
November 13, 2011 — MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain has posted a video message for his fans from the “Evening with Nicko” Tour. Check out the message with Nicko’s patented sense of humor:
November 11, 2011 — After much speculation, the original four members of BLACK SABBATH--Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Bill Ward (drums)–have reunited to record their first new studio album in 33 years with producer Rick Rubin (seven-time Grammy winner, two of those as Producer of the Year) and to embark on a massive world tour in 2012.
November 8, 2011 — Roadrunner Records announced today the addition of French metal behemoths GOJIRA to the label. “We are so stoked to walk with the legendary Roadrunner,” vocalist/guitarist Joe Duplantier said about the new partnership.
November 7, 2011 — Sweden’s GHOST have announced a set of U.S. shows following their unfortunate drop-off from the recent ENSLAVED tour. Dubbed “13 Dates of Doom”, the tour marks the first shows since their appearance at Maryland Death Fest and The Studio at Webster Hall in NYC earlier this year.
November 4, 2011 — ** GRAVEYARD** have announced U.S. tour dates starting in January 2012. Drummer Axel Sjöberg checks in about the band’s eminent return: “At last the circumstances of life and the music industry has allowed us to return to the land of infinite highways and corrupt bankers.
November 1, 2011 — Season of Mist just inked a deal with all-star band TWILIGHT OF THE GODS. Initially joining forces as a tribute band to BATHORY, singer Alan Averill (PRIMORDIAL), guitarists Rune Eriksen (AVA INFERI, AURA NOIR) and Patrik Lindgren (THYRFING), bassist Frode Glesnes (EINHERJER) and drummer Nick Barker (LOCK UP) recently started to write their own material, which should end up on a full-length album some time next year.
November 1, 2011 — Progressive/Avantgarde Metallers LEPROUS have recently shot an official video for the song “Restless” off their acclaimed third album and InsideOut Music debut Bilateral. The video was directed by David Solbjørg and Kjetil Kolbjørnsrud of Twitchy Films and can now be seen here:
October 25, 2011 — Napalm Records is very proud to announce that the Swedish doom metal legend CANDLEMASS has joined their ranks. The band is currently working on material for their farewell album, which is tentatively scheduled for a spring 2012 release.
October 24, 2011 — NADER SADEK, the supergroup featuring Steve Tucker (ex-MORBID ANGEL), Rune Eriksen (AVA INFERI, AURA NOIR, ex-MAYHEM), and Flo Mounier (CRYPTOPSY) have announced their first live appearance.
October 17, 2011 — Swedish death metal legends, DISMEMBER, have announced their retirement. Bassist Tobias Cristiansson sent this statement to Blabbermouth.net: “After 23 years, DISMEMBER have now decided to quit.
October 14, 2011 — The latest edition of Jello Biafra’s “What Would Jello Do?” video series has been posted online. Topics include the Republican party primaries, recent U.S. trade agreements, and more.
October 11, 2011 — IMMOLATION’s new EP, Providence, is now available for free download exclusively via Scion A/V. Download it here. Also, check out the new video for “Illumination” from the EP below:
October 11, 2011 — The new video for BEHEMOTH’s “Lucifer” off of Evangelion has been posted online. Check it out:
October 10, 2011 — Come to Peep & Destroy on Sunday, October 30th to celebrate Halloween and experience the heavy sounds of DREAMING DEAD, PANTERADACTYL, and DARWEN’S THEORY. This edition’s lineup is no less destructive than edition’s past.
October 6, 2011 — The classic Forward Into Battle line up of the ENGLISH DOGS will headline a 2012 North American with support by THE CASUALTIES, TOXIC HOLOCAUST, and HAVOK.
October 6, 2011 — MACHINE HEAD guitarist/vocalist Robb Flynn joins Gary Holt of EXODUS, Alex Skolnick of TESTAMENT, and other Bay Area thrash metal luminaries contributing written material to the deluxe upcoming photo book Murder in the Front Row: Shots From the Bay Area Thrash Metal Epicenter, by Harald Oimoen and Brian Lew.
October 5, 2011 — DIR EN GREY has been candid about their feelings on the current state of their native country, wanting to know about the high radiation levels have been detected after this year’s nuclear disaster that followed the massive earthquake and tsunami.
October 5, 2011 — Season of Mist is thrilled to welcome Swedish death metal veterans, NECROPHOBIC, to the roster. “We are very proud to sign with Season of Mist”, bassist Alex Friberg comments.
October 4, 2011 — A brand new song, “The Will to Potency,” off of KRISIUN’s upcoming album, The Great Execution, can be heard here: The Great Execution drops October 31st in Europe and November 1st in North America.
October 3, 2011 — ** OBSCURA** has announced their first ever North American headline tour in support of their latest album Omnivium. The tour will start Nov. 4 in Wilmington, Delaware and run through Dec.
September 23, 2011 — The video for DARK TRANQUILLITY’s “Zero Distance” has been posted online. The song was written during We are the Void sessions and will appear on the Tour Edition of the album along with additional live tracks, and videos.
September 20, 2011 — All 50-plus minutes of MASTODON’s forthcoming The Hunter album are now available for listening via the Hunter Visualizer on YouTube. The album drops September 27th via Warner Bros/Reprise.
September 18, 2011 — OBSCURA have officially announced their new bass player, Linus Klausenitzer. Linus has played with OBSCURA on their European tour with HATE ETERNAL as well as their recent North American tour alongside CHILDREN OF BODOM and THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT.
September 17, 2011 — The final list of bands confirmed to play next year’s Maryland Death Fest X has been announced. Headliner acts include GODFLESH, MORBID ANGEL, ELECTRIC WIZARD, NAPALM DEATH, AUTOPSY, and SAINT VITUS.
September 16, 2011 — To promote ICED EARTH’s upcoming album, Dystopia, the band has put together a making of video. Part 1 features Jon Schaffer providing a tour and history of the legendary Morrisound Studio where the band has recorded all of their albums.
September 15, 2011 — This month’s Peep & Destroy features live performances from recently signed-to Century Media Records artist, THE DEVASTATED, L.A. grinders, RAPEWHISTLE, and debut show by glam thrashers, GIMME UM (featuring Sacha Dunable of INTRONAUT/BEREFT).
September 14, 2011 — Legendary New York death metal pioneers, SUFFOCATION, have been added to the 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise festival happening January 23 – 27. 2012. For more info and tickets visit www.
September 13, 2011 — Liverpool’s ANATHEMA have announced that keyboardist Les Smith (ex-CRADLE OF FILTH) has left the band. Here is their official statement: “It is with regret and sadness that Anathema announce they have parted company with keyboardist Les Smith due to creative and musical differences.
September 13, 2011 — MASTODON, DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, and RED FANG are teaming up for a U.S. tour that kicks off on November 1st, 2011 and runs til December 1st, 2011.
September 12, 2011 — This October, THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT will be touring the U.S. with Germany’s THE OCEAN as support. Tour dates: Oct. 8-Station 4-Minneapolis, MN **Devin solo date** Oct.
September 9, 2011 — Sweden’s GHOST have just announced that they are dropping out of the U.S. tour with ENSLAVED and ALCEST, which is scheduled to start later this month (see our previous post).
September 9, 2011 — KRISIUN’s upcoming album, The Great Execution, has been set for a November 1, 2011 release date. It is the band’s eighth studio album and musically expands KRISIUN’s trademark high speed death metal violence with a heavily increased amount of diversity, ranging from extreme tempo variations over distinct rhythm patterns to clean guitars and even flamenco parts.
September 9, 2011 — THE CROWN has announced the return of original vocalist Johan Lindstrand and the departure of vocalist Jonas Stålhammar. Here is part of the official statement from the band:
September 7, 2011 — BEREFT, a Los Angeles based doom band featuring Sacha Dunable of INTRONAUT/GRAVITON (guitars, backing vocals), Derek Donley of NATIONAL SUNDAY LAW/GRAVITON (drums, backing vocals), Charles Elliot of ABYSMAL DAWN (vocals, guitars), and Derek Rydquist formerly of THE FACELESS (bass, backing vocals), have posted a new song, “Withered Efflorescence”, on their Facebook page.
September 6, 2011 — ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, and DEATH ANGEL will be teaming up for a U.S. tour this fall. “We’ve been tight with the guys in TESTAMENT for a long, long time,” said ANTHRAX’s Charlie Benante.
September 6, 2011 — THE WRETCHED END are currently in the studio recording their sophomore record, which is set for a 2012 release (read more details here). The band has posted the following video showing drummer Nils Fjellström laying down the drum tracks:
September 2, 2011 — DIR EN GREY recently wrapped up a successful 12-date run in Europe. Now the band is gearing up for South America before finishing off the year here in North America.
August 30, 2011 — Fan can now make monetary donations to aid the high medical expenses suffered by MORBID ANGEL/TERRORIZER drum legend Pete Sandoval. A paypal account has been set up in his name along with a personal message from Pete.
August 24, 2011 — BEHEMOTH and production company Grupa 13 recently collaborated for the video for the song, “Lucifer,” off of the band’s latest, Evangelion. The video was shot in Wroclaw, Poland and stars the song’s guest vocalist, Maciej Malenczuk.
August 22, 2011 — This Sunday, August 28th, is the next installment of APESHIT’s monthly Peep & Destroy metal party! Performing will be Peep & Destroy alumni BLACKLEG, newcomers BEHOLD!
August 15, 2011 — ** THE WRETCHED END**, formed in 2008 as a creative collaboration between Samoth (EMPEROR/ZYKLON) and Cosmo (MINDGRINDER), are currently heading into Strand Studio, Oslo, to record the drum tracks for the follow up to last years debut album Ominous.
August 12, 2011 — GRIDLINK, featuring members of DISCORDANCE AXIS, HAYAINO DAISUKI, KILL THE CLIENT, and BURNT BY THE SUN, will be playing two free shows this weekend with PHOBIA and MARUTA.
August 11, 2011 — Check out the new single from OPETH’s new album, Heritage, called “The Devil’s Orchard” below. The new album comes out September 20, 2011. It features all clean vocals.
August 11, 2011 — SEPULTURA’s entire performance at Wacken Open Air 2011 has been posted online. Cheers to Ardyvanderhulst for posting this video. This is a great performance. Here’s the setlist:
August 10, 2011 — Liverpool, England’s ANATHEMA have posted a preview of their upcoming orchestral album, Falling Deeper, online. The release will be available September 5th in Europe. No North American release date has been announced yet.
August 10, 2011 — Fresh off the July 12th release of their excellent new album, Carnival is Forever (read our review here), Poland’s DECAPITATED are headed to North America for a headlining tour alongside DECREPIT BIRTH, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, RINGS OF SATURN, and THE HAARP MACHINE.
August 10, 2011 — New York death metal legends, IMMOLATION, are proud to announce their second headlining run in support of their critically acclaimed release Majesty and Decay. Support will come from long running Wisconsin based death metallers JUNGLE ROT and experimental death grinders GIGAN.
August 10, 2011 — Swedish death metal band, HYPOCRISY, will release a new DVD entitled Hell Over Sofia - 20 Years of Chaos and Confusion on October 14th (Europe) and October 18th (North America).
August 9, 2011 — Super group DOWN will be heading out this September for an almost month long run of dates with Sweden’s IN SOLITUDE (read our review of their latest album here) as well as PONYKILLER, which are signed to singer Phil Anselmo’s Housecore Records.
August 9, 2011 — Two new songs from VADER’s new album, Welcome to the Morbid Reich, have been posted online here. If these two songs, “Decapitated Saints” and “Come and See My Sacrifice,” don’t excite you about the album, then maybe this isn’t for you.
August 9, 2011 — VREID and KAMPFAR will be co-headlining The Black Path of America Tour 2011 with openers, NECRONOMICON. The tour starts near the end of this month and continues for about two and a half weeks through the U.
August 7, 2011 — Sweden’s DARKANE have announced that vocalist Jens Broman has left the band and that original vocalist Lawrence Mackrory has rejoined the band. Here is Jens Broman’s statement to fans:
August 3, 2011 — Gothenburg, Sweden’s DARK TRANQUILLITY have posted a teaser trailer for their new “Zero Distance” project featuring guitarist Niklas Sundlin’s excellent artwork. More details to be announced soon.
July 29, 2011 — DIR EN GREY have announced that they will give fans an exclusive preview of their new album, Dum Spiro Spero. The album, out on The End Records on August 2, 2011, will stream in its entirety on the band’s Myspace page (www.
July 26, 2011 — Candlelight Records has announced October 4th as the North American release date for ABSU’s new album titled Abzu. As previously announced, the album is part two of a planned trilogy of recordings from the Dallas-based mythological occult metal band.
July 21, 2011 — Heineken was forced to remove an advert which features a cover of the DEAD KENNEDYS’ “Too Drunk to Fuck” because of complaints it would encourage binge drinking.
July 20, 2011 — Gothenburg kings, DARK TRANQUILLITY, have posted their video for “Iridium” off of their latest album, We are the Void, online. Check out the impressive video below:
July 19, 2011 — Sunday marks the return of Peep & Destroy… APESHIT’s monthly party with live metal bands and hot babes! This edition will feature Peep & Destroy vets, CROWNED BY FIRE, who will be celebrating the release of their new album, Prone to Destroy.
July 18, 2011 — ICS Vortex, former DIMMU BORGIR and current BORKNAGAR and ARCTURUS member, has announced that his debut solo album, Storm Seeker, will be released on August 22nd, 2011 in Europe and August 23rd, 2011 in North America via Century Media Records.
July 18, 2011 — The new video for IMMOLATION’s “A Glorious Epoch,” from the band’s latest album, Majesty and Decay, has been posted online. Check it out below:
July 12, 2011 — MORBID ANGEL announced today that they will be selling Pete “Commando” Sandoval t-shirts on upcoming tours in order to raise money for Sandoval’s medical bills relating to his back surgery and ongoing recovery.
July 8, 2011 — Norwegian progressive/psychedelic black metal band ENSLAVED will be returning to North America this Fall for a headlining tour marking the band’s 20th anniversary. Support will come from Swedish sensation, GHOST, as well as France’s ALCEST.
July 7, 2011 — DIR EN GREY have posted their new hentai/horror-inspired video of “Different Sense” off of their latest record, Dum Spiro Spero here. Also, don’t forget to check out our review of the new album.
July 6, 2011 — Swedish black metallers, DARK FUNERAL, have officially announced a replacement for longtime vocalist, Emperor Magus Caligula. In an official statement from guitarist Lord Ahriman: “It surely was not an easy task to find a worthy replacement for Emperor Magus Caligula, who has been doing an amazing job for DARK FUNERAL during the past 15 years.
June 27, 2011 — ** MASTODON** have revealed the title of their new album plus six new song titles that will appear on their next full-length studio album to be released on Reprise Records later this year.
June 27, 2011 — The long-awaited new single from X JAPAN will be released in North America, Europe and Latin America tomorrow, June 28, in all digital formats. “Jade” is the first track from the band’s English debut album, currently in the final stages of recording.
June 24, 2011 — It has been announced that EYEHATEGOD will be co-headline the upcoming Power of the Riff festival in Los Angeles. In addition, BLACK COBRA, SKIN LIKE IRON, BAPTISTS, SEVEN SISTERS OF SLEEP, EARLY GRAVES, and SLAVE have all been added to the bill that already includes PENTAGRAM, WINTER, PELICAN, TRAP THEM, MASAKARI, ALPINST, ACEPHALIX, and ALL PIGS MUST DIE.
June 23, 2011 — DARK FUNERAL have announced that Nils Fjellström aka Dominator (THE WRETCHED END) has returned to the band after he left last year. Here is what Dominator had to say about his return:
June 18, 2011 — OBSCURA has posted “Concerto,” which was included as the Japanese bonus track and on the iTunes digital deluxe album of their brand new album Omnivium, online now via the band’s Facebook page.
June 17, 2011 — Poland’s resurrected DECAPITATED are set to release their latest masterpiece, Carnival Forever, on July 12th in North America and on July 15th in Europe. APESHIT’s big johnson says it’s one of the best albums of 2011!
June 16, 2011 — Richmond, Virginia’s crossover kings, MUNICIPAL WASTE, are proud to announce their new worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast Records. On their way to devastate the Mainstage 02 at Hellfest Open Air in France this Saturday, June 18th, WASTE members check in about their big announcement:
June 15, 2011 — Grindcore legends TERRORIZER have announced that they will be releasing a new album via Season of Mist Records. The band’s line-up features MORBID ANGEL’s David Vincent on bass, who played on the landmark debut, World Downfall, as well as Pete Sandoval on drums.
June 14, 2011 — Peep & Destroy is back this Sunday, June 19th! The party goes down at Cheetah’s in Hollywood with live metal from EAT THE LIVING, THROWN INTO EXILE, and DECEPTION.
June 9, 2011 — Good friends, OPETH and KATATONIA, will team up for the U.S. Heritage Tour starting this September. Guitarist Anders Nyström issued the following statement in anticipation of the tour:
June 2, 2011 — The new video for “Dreaming Light” off of ANATHEMA’s latest album, We’re Here Because We’re Here, has been posted online. Check it out below:
June 2, 2011 — PENTAGRAM, WINTER, PELICAN, TRAP THEM, MASAKARI, ALPINIST, ACEPHALIX, and ALL PIGS MUST DIE are the first confirmed bands for this year’s Power of the Riff fest in Los Angeles.
May 26, 2011 — DIR EN GREY will release their 8th studio album Dum Spiro Spero on August 2 on The End Records. Dum Spiro Spero is the follow up to Uroboros (check our review).
May 25, 2011 — In great news for CRYPTOPSY fans, the band has announced that longtime ex-guitarist Jon Levasseur has rejoined the band. Also, longtime bassist Eric Langois has decided to take a break.
May 25, 2011 — Sweden’s SHINING have released their first music video via “Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel” off of their upcoming album, VII / Född Förlorare.
May 20, 2011 — Norwegian extreme metal super group, THE WRETCHED END, have just posted a video of the 2009 recording sessions for the band’s debut album, Ominous [read our review here].
May 13, 2011 — Peep & Destroy is almost upon us! The third installment of our metal party is going down Sunday, May 22nd at Cheetahs in Hollywood featuring live metal from CROWNED BY FIRE, PANTIES, and BLACKLEG!
May 12, 2011 — The song, “Existo Vulgore,” from MORBID ANGEL’s new album, Illud Divinum Insanus, has been posted online. Check it out below. Also, be sure to check out our review of Illud Divinum Insanus here.
April 30, 2011 — After last week’s successful "The Big 4" concert in Indio, California, the heavy metal foursome of METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH, and ANTHRAX have announced an East Coast edition of the show at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York on September 14th, 2011.
April 22, 2011 — BORKNAGAR has announced that former vocalist ICS Vortex has returned to the band as bassist/vocalist. He will be sharing vocal duties with vocalist Vintersorg. The band plan to headline this year’s Inferno Festival in Norway, which was founded by BORKNAGAR guitarist, Jens Ryland.
April 22, 2011 — This weekend is The Big 4 festival out in Indio, California with METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH, and ANTHRAX. Check out some interviews in LA Weekly with SLAYER’s Tom Araya and ANTHRAX’s Scott Ian.
April 22, 2011 — ARCH ENEMY’s new video for “Yesterday is Dead and Gone” off of their upcoming album, Khaos Legions, is now online. You gotta love Angela Gossow’s baseball player eye black.
April 21, 2011 — Attention headbangers and party animals: APESHIT, ShredSavage, and totallylikeduh are bringing the Peep & Destroy metal party back to melt your faces, break your necks, and tickle your pants!
April 21, 2011 — In shocking news, legendary JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing has retired from the band. Here is the band’s official statement: “It is with regret that JUDAS PRIEST announce that K.
April 21, 2011 — NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis and drummer Van Williams have announced their departure from the group. The two have released a joint statement: “In a mutual decision Jeff Loomis and Van Williams have decided to leave NEVERMORE.
April 18, 2011 — AMORPHIS guitarist Esa Holopainen gives an overview of the band’s upcoming album, The Beginning of Times in the preview below. Judging by the clips, it seems like it’s going to be another stellar album.
April 7, 2011 — Legendary doom/prog band ANATHEMA are set to release the highly anticipated We’re Here Because We’re Here on June 7th on The End Records. The album’s release coincides with the band’s first ever North American tour.
April 1, 2011 — This tour has a great mix for fans of different genres, as the top billed bands are from Europe, but they all bring a different flavor to the table.
March 30, 2011 — CANNIBAL CORPSE guitarist Pat O’Brien will fill in for EXODUS’ Gary Holt when Holt leaves the SLAYER European tour to play with EXODUS at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile on April 4.
March 27, 2011 — Mesopotamian thrashing black metal pioneers MELECHESH have released the video clip for the song “Grand Gathas of Baal Sin” from their latest record, The Epigenesis.
March 25, 2011 — Fifteen years after the release of their debut album, A Wintersunset …, EMPYRIUM will perform the very first concert in the band’s history on Whitsuntide 2011 (June 10 until 13) at the Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig, Germany.
March 20, 2011 — The track “All Blackened Sky” from the first solo album by Demonaz – founding member & lyricist of Norway’s IMMORTAL – is now available online. Check it out below:
March 19, 2011 — APESHIT is teaming up with our metal-loving, party pals Shred Savage (@livviesmalls) and TotallyLikeDuh (@totallylikeduh) to throw a sexy metal party we are calling Peep & Destroy.
March 8, 2011 — TRAP THEM’s new album Darker Handcraft, which was recorded with Kurt Ballou (CONVERGE, DISFEAR, BLACK BREATH) at Godcity Studio, drops on March 15th in CD and digital formats (preorder).
March 6, 2011 — Check out the new trailer for THE HAUNTED’s upcoming album, Unseen. The album is set for release during the second and third week of March 2011.
February 26, 2011 — Alternative Tentacle’s Jello Biafra has released a new edition of “What Would Jello Do?,” where he shares his thoughts on current events in the Middle East and how it relates to the U.
February 24, 2011 — Japan’s BORIS have released the first single, “Hope,” from Attention Please, one of two all-new full length BORIS albums to be released on April 26th via Sargent House.
February 17, 2011 — Dutch death metal band, GOD DETHRONED, have announced they calling it quits by the end of this year. Read the statement of GOD DETHRONED mainman Henri Sattler:
February 17, 2011 — Israeli prog/metal band ORPHANED LAND has just posted the following statement regarding the current events in the Arabian world: “For years I was educated to hate Arabs and learned how much they hate me and my nation, I was sure both Israelis and Arabs, Jews and Muslims will never live in peace.
February 17, 2011 — Irish pagan metal masters PRIMORDIAL have just released the reissue of their classic Storm Before Calm album in Europe. The album is available in a remastered version as a double digipak with new artwork.
February 17, 2011 — From the RISE AND FALL camp: “We’re in the process of writing a new record and contrary to past writing experiences where, unfortunately, the comparison with “some kind of monster” came to mind more than once, this time around the experience is actually an inspiring and really creative one.
February 16, 2011 — Devin Townsend has released a free five song acoustic EP under the DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT banner featuring tracks “Supercrush,” “Kingdom,” “Truth,” “Om,” and “By Your Command.
February 14, 2011 — AMON AMARTH are proud to announce their 2011 U.S. headlining tour. Simply dubbed “An Evening With AMON AMARTH,” this very special trek will find the band touring without support and instead performing two separate sets each night!
February 14, 2011 — ANNIHILATION TIME’s notorious debut, the long out-of-print II, will be re-released on April 12 on deluxe gatefold vinyl on Tankcrimes Records. Now in its third pressing, this package will include the extra track “Power of One,” and the first 500 copies will come with a copy of the Cosmic Unconciousness 7" all on colored vinyl.
February 14, 2011 — SLAUGHTER OF THE BLUEGRASS, a group of musicians from Sweden known for their bluegrass renditions of AT THE GATES, DARK TRANQUILLITY, and AMON AMARTH songs, have released three new IN FLAMES covers: “Jotun,” “Moonshield,” and “Stand Ablaze.
February 10, 2011 — SEPULTURA recently posted a studio update regarding the progress of the recording of their upcoming album on Nuclear Blast Records. The update provides details regarding producer Roy Z (HALFORD, BRUCE DICKINSON) and Andreas Kisser’s guitar set up.
February 6, 2011 — The end is near for legendary British doom metal band, CATHEDRAL, who have announced plans to disband after their next studio album, which they plan to release in 2012.
January 31, 2011 — Finland’s AMORPHIS are currently hard at work recording their as-of-yet-untitled follow up to 2009`s Skyforger release. Expect a May 27th release in Europe. Guitarist Esa Holopainen offered the following update:
January 25, 2011 — The collective of heavy metal titans known as “The Big 4” of METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH, and ANTHRAX have been confirmed to share the stage together via Goldenvoice’s “The Big 4” for North American fans.
January 24, 2011 — Musician/political activist/spoken word artist Jello Biafra has recently posted a video in which he discusses some of the latest hot topics in the U.S., including U.
January 23, 2011 — Continuing the ramp up to the release of their new single, DIR EN GREY have uploaded a brief teaser of what will be the full length video for “Lotus.
January 21, 2011 — AMEBIX’s new album, Sonic Mass, will be released on September 20, 2011 digitally and on CD by Alternative Tentacles, with a deluxe 12" vinyl edition from Profane Existence.
January 21, 2011 — We are happy and relieved to inform you, that BEHEMOTH vocalist/guitarist Nergal left the hematology division of Uniwersyteckie Centrum Kliniczne (UCK) in Gdansk on Monday, January 17th, four weeks after he underwent a bone marrow transplant procedure.
January 21, 2011 — MetalSucks has released a free (as in beer) compilation called NYC Sucks, Volume 1 featuring 14 New York area extreme metal bands. Here’s the tracklist:
January 21, 2011 — KATATONIA have announced a string of special 20th anniversary shows in Europe. Performances are scheduled for Luxembourg, Germany, Holland, France and England, and the band will perform two sets at each show.
January 13, 2011 — The full line up for this year’s Scion Rock Fest, which was just revealed to take place on March 5th in Pomona, CA, was announced today.
January 12, 2011 — LA Weekly has revealed that this year’s edition of the free Scion Rock Fest will take place in Southern California on March 5th in the city of Pomona.
January 6, 2011 — TRAP THEM have posted a new song, “The Facts,” (courtesy of BrooklynVegan) from their upcoming full-length Darker Handcraft. The album drops March 1st on vinyl and March 15 on CD and digital formats in North America via Prosthetic Records.
January 4, 2011 — Dutch melodic death metallers, DETONATION, have recently announced major line-up changes. Here is word straight from guitarist Mike Ferguson: “We have some good and some sad news!
December 30, 2010 — FEAR FACTORY, who recently announced a short stretch of U.S. shows from December 29 - January 8, were forced to postpone those dates until April due to a family emergency.
December 28, 2010 — FEAR FACTORY will return to the stage in a few days as part of their ongoing Fear Campaign Tour. The short string of U.S. dates will kick off in Tempe, Arizona on December 29 and conclude nine days later in San Diego, California on January 8.
December 28, 2010 — YAKUZA frontman Bruce Lamont will release his debut solo album, Feral Songs for the Epic Decline, on January 25, 2011 via At A Loss Recordings. The art and layout for the album were crafted by Seldon Hunt and can be viewed here.
December 23, 2010 — DIMMU BORGIR’s new video for “Dimmu Borgir” off of their new album, Abrahadabra, can be viewed below.
December 21, 2010 — Swedish melodic death metal titan, ARCH ENEMY, has begun recording a new studio album, the long awaited successor to 2007’s acclaimed Rise of the Tyrant album.
December 21, 2010 — WORMROT will be heading into Singapore’s TNT Music Productions this January to record a brand new album entitled Dirge. Frontman Arif Rot is highly excited about the band’s new material and wants the world to know about it:
December 20, 2010 — Prophecy Productions proudly announces the signing of HORNS EMERGING. Although an otherwise-unknown entity, HORNS EMERGING is a new sphere of activity of multi-instrumentalist Kim Carlsson, one of the masterminds behind the infamous LIFELOVER, and began as a project with AMESOEURS vocalist Audrey Sylvain.
December 17, 2010 — The following statement has been issued by Niklas Kvarforth and SHINING regarding the delayed release of the band’s seventh album, VII: Född Förlorare: “As everyone is more than aware, Shining VII has been delayed an unacceptably long time.
December 12, 2010 — Legendary vocalist King Diamond (KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE) recently underwent open heart triple bypass surgery. However, he is at home and recuperating well. Here is the official update from his wife and KING DIAMOND backing vocalist Livia:
December 9, 2010 — After storming the world for nearly 40 years and taking their very special brand of heavy metal to all four corners of the planet, JUDAS PRIEST -one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, have announced this will be their final world tour!
December 9, 2010 — After reforming three years ago for live appearances, AT THE GATES have announced more shows in 2011. They will be doing a run of shows next year, with appearances at Metaltown Festival in Sweden and Tuska Open Air in Finland already confirmed.
December 4, 2010 — Brazil’s SEPULTURA have announced a North American headlining tour in support of their forthcoming Nuclear Blast debut. The tour will take place throughout April and May and feature a rotating array of support from BELPHEGOR (4/18/11-5/22/11), KEEP OF KALESSIN, HATE, NEURAXIS, BONDED BY BLOOD, NEVERMORE (5/23/11-5/31/11), and D.
December 3, 2010 — Previously unreleased footage of REFUSED, playing in a tiny Gulliford College lounge in Greensboro, NC two days before their untimely demise, has surfaced courtesy of WashedUpEmo.
December 3, 2010 — DARK TRANQUILLITY have posted the projection video for “The Fatalist” that was played during their 2010 shows. According to the band, the images were painted by guitarist/artist Niklas Sundin using Alchemy 0.
December 2, 2010 — British doom metal band ELECTRIC WIZARD will release its long-awaited new album Black Masses in North America on January 18, 2011 via Lee Dorian’s Rise Above Records.
November 27, 2010 — Canadian heavy metal legends ANVIL have signed a new recording contract with The End Records. As recently announced, the band is currently recording their upcoming album entitled Juggernaut of Justice at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 in Northridge, California with famed producer Bob Marlette.
November 22, 2010 — Texas-based, mythological occult metal band, ABSU will join IMMORTAL on their return to the US for six shows early next year. Drummer/vocalist Proscriptor notes, “We feel extremely privileged to have been invited to participate on IMMORTAL’s All Shall Fall US tour in February 2011.
November 18, 2010 — Once again, anticipation is high as ex-SEPULTURA brothers, Max and Iggor Cavalera, are set to release CAVALERA CONSPIRACY’s second album, Blunt Force Trauma, in March of 2011.
November 13, 2010 — HATE ETERNAL is working on their fifth studio album (second for Metal Blade Records) and follow up to Fury & Flames once again at Erik Rutan’s own Mana Recording Studios.
November 12, 2010 — BEHEMOTH frontman, Nergal, reports in from the hospital to give us an update on his Leukemia treatments thus far. “Hello, everyone! I’m still in the hospital but in quite a good shape so I write to let you know about my health and the further stages of treatment.
November 9, 2010 — Thrash fiends EARLY MAN have announced a “Worst Music Video” contest in anticipation of their Fall tour with EVILE and BONDED BY BLOOD. The band are accepting submissions for “the worst, most cringe inducing music video” to accompany their song “Fight,” off their last album Death Potion.
November 9, 2010 — The black metal documentary Until the Light Takes Us has been posted for streaming in its entirety including many hours of extra footage. The film spent most of last year playing at various theaters around the world and was recently released on DVD and Blu-Ray.
November 3, 2010 — American dark metal pioneers NOVEMBERS DOOM have commenced recording of their 8th full length studio album, entitled Aphotic. The album is set to be released on The End Records in Spring 2011.
October 23, 2010 — Seven years after their last collaboration, Season of Mist and DEFILED are joining forces again. The label is pleased to welcome back the Japanese death metallers in the fold.
October 20, 2010 — TRIPTYKON have unveiled their first-ever music video for the song “Shatter” from the EP of the same name. The video’s concept was created by Tom G.
October 15, 2010 — VALIENT THORR’s new music video for “Double Crossed” has been posted for viewing. The song is off their recently released album Stranger on Volcom Entertainment. Peep the vid:
October 13, 2010 — SOILWORK has posted part 1 of their tour documentary filmed during their July/August 2010 North American tour. Check it out:
October 11, 2010 — Our pals INTRONAUT are set to release their new album Valley of Smoke tomorrow. Metal Sucks is premiering the album today only. Surf on over there to check it out: http://www.
October 11, 2010 — Miami’s TORCHE have premiered their first video “U.F.O.” off their ripping new album on Hydra Head, Songs for Singles. Video creator Andrew Cox explains the video:
October 9, 2010 — Samoth (THE WRETCHED END, ZYKLON, EMPEROR) will guest DJ The Bunker at Hard Luck Bar in Toronto, Canada on October 9th. On his playlist for the night will be THE WRETCHED END’s upcoming debut album, Ominous.
October 5, 2010 — OFF!, the new hardcore band featuring Keith Morris (CIRCLE JERKS, BLACK FLAG), Dimitri Coats (BURNING BRIDGES), Steven McDonald (RED KROSS), and Mario Rubalcaba (EARTHLESS), have scheduled a few tour dates starting with the Riot Fest on October 9, 2010 with the CRO-MAGS.
October 4, 2010 — Finnish progressive metallers AMORPHIS recently entered the studio to record the follow-up to 2009’s Skyforger. The release of the bands as of yet untitled tenth album is planned for an early to midyear 2011 release.
October 4, 2010 — Funk metal godfathers INFECTIOUS GROOVES are pleased to announce their first show in over 10 years on November 23, 2010. The show is set to take place at the House Of Blues in Hollywood, California and will be the band’s only U.
October 1, 2010 — NARROWS, the new band featuring vocalist Dave Verellen of BOTCH/ROY fame, will be hitting the West Coast for three shows. The band is excited: “Wamp wamp!
September 29, 2010 — Pulverised Records is proud to announce the addition of MEMORAIN to their growing roster of brutality. The thrash metal supergroup, founded by guitarist Ilias Papadakis, formed in 1999 and currently features: Gene Hoglan (FEAR FACTORY), Steve Digiorgio (SADUS), Ralph Santolla (OBITUARY) and Chris Valagao (ZIMMERS HOLE).
September 24, 2010 — NEVERMORE’s headlining North American fall trek is set to kick off in the band’s hometown of Seattle tonight. This is the band’s first headlining Stateside tour in almost three years and features WARBRINGER, HATESPHERE and BLACKGUARD in the support slots.
September 21, 2010 — Adult Swim, the home of DETHKLOK and Metalocalypse, and Scion A/V, who have been responsible for a wave of metal fests and free shows, have come together to bring you Metal Swim, a collection of 16 rare or unreleased metal.
September 20, 2010 — Prophecy Productions are incredibly happy to announce that EMPYRIUM, the most renowned Prophecy act ever, has decided to reunite and to record new music. Here’s the official statement of Schwadorf on the reunion: “Since the rumours start to spread we think it’s about time to make this official: EMPYRIUM is alive again!
September 15, 2010 — Metal God Records and Rob Halford are pleased to confirm HALFORD North American concert dates November and December with Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy Osbourne & Rob Halford 2010 North America Fall Tour: Nov.
September 15, 2010 — Los Angeles’ INTRONAUT are set to release their new album, Valley of Smoke, on October 12th via Century Media Records. A video of the band jamming in the studio performing the dynamic new track, “Elegy,” can now be viewed below:
September 14, 2010 — DIMMU BORGIR’s music video for “Gateways”, the first single from their forthcoming new album, Abrahadabra, has just been posted for viewing. Peep the video below:
September 4, 2010 — Norwegian heavyweights, DIMMU BORGIR, ENSLAVED, and BLOOD RED THRONE are teaming up to destroy North America on their just announced Darkness Reborn Tour. Support will come from Los Angeles’ DAWN OF ASHES.
September 3, 2010 — THE WRETCHED END, the new Scandinavian group comprised of Samoth (ZYKLON, EMPEROR, SCUM), Cosmo (MINDGRINDER, SCUM, SOURCE OF TIDE), and Nils Fjellström (IN BATTLE, AEON), have posted an e-card promoting their debut album, Ominous.
September 1, 2010 — The song “Gateways” from DIMMU BORGIR’s forthcoming new album, Abrahadabra, has been posted for listening! This is the first glimpse at DIMMU BORGIR’s new material. Stream it here:
August 31, 2010 — Following the recent announcement of DARK FUNERAL losing vocalist Emperor Magus Caligula, bassist B-Force has announced his departure from the band: “After six awesome and crazy years with DARK FUNERAL, I have decided to leave the band.
August 31, 2010 — Southern California’s INTRONAUT have posted a video teaser for their forthcoming new album, Valley of Smoke (peep the cover art), the first of many videos documenting the making of the album.
August 26, 2010 — Everyone’s favorite over-the-top, dramatic, symphonic, black metallers, CRADLE OF FILTH, are back with their ninth studio album, Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa. Set for a November 9th release on Nuclear Blast Records, the album is said to be “the fastest and most brutal album we’ve created to date,” according to frontman Dani Filth.
August 25, 2010 — Poland’s BEHEMOTH have confirmed that recently announced tour cancellations have been due to bandleader, Nergal, having been diagnosed with leukemia. Nergal is in need of a marrow transplant to combat the sickness.
August 23, 2010 — TESTAMENT vocalist and Native American activist Chuck Billy is pleased to announce his inclusion in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian’s new exhibition, “Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians in Popular Culture.
August 23, 2010 — Bazillion Points Books is proud to announce the late 2010 release of MEAN DEVIATION: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal, by Jeff Wagner - a former editor of Metal Maniacs magazine and veteran supporter of metal’s most risk-taking bands.
August 18, 2010 — SLAYER, MEGADETH, and ANTHRAX, who are currently on tour, will be making an additional run of U.S. tour dates via the 2010 Jagermeister Tour. Tour dates: September 24 Superpages.
August 16, 2010 — They’ve sold 30-million records and DVDs, filled the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome a record-breaking 18 times, they pioneered “Visual-Kei,” the Japanese music movement that helped spark the current world-wide anime craze, and their leader has been referred to as “the Bono of Japan.
August 15, 2010 — Finland’s THE MAN-EATING TREE, featuring Vesa Ranta (SENTENCED), have posted a new video for “Out of the Wind.” The song comes from the band’s debut album, Vine, is set for a September 27th release date.
August 12, 2010 — Four years after the critically acclaimed Generator, Italian electro/post black metallers ABORYM are back with their fifth album. Set for a November 8th release, the new full-length is entitled Psychogrotesque and is made of one story, a single song written four-handedly by the band’s mastermind Malfeitor Fabban and talented new guitarist Hell:IO:Kabbalus.
August 12, 2010 — Legendary stoner metallers SLEEP, who recently announced their long-anticipated reunion tour, have added several new stops to the impending trek including additional shows in Brooklyn and San Francisco.
August 7, 2010 — The set times for this Sunday’s The Power of the Riff Festival at The Echo and Echoplex in Los Angeles have been announced… Echo Stage: SPIDER FEVER: 1:00pm-1:30pm RATS EYES: 1:45pm-2:15pm SEMEN SUNDAE: 2:30pm-3:00pm THE FUCKING WRATH: 3:15pm-3:45pm LECHEROUS GAZE: 4:00pm-4:45pm NAILS: 5:00pm-5:45pm EAGLE TWIN: 6:00pm-6:45pm NIGHT HORSE: 7:00pm-7:45pm
August 5, 2010 — Phil Anselmo’s ARSON ANTHEM will be releasing Insecurity Notoriety, their first full-length album, on October 12th through Housecore Records. Anselmo commented on the release…
August 5, 2010 — Dutch death metal masters HAIL OF BULLETS have finished the recordings for their long-anticipated second full-length to be released this October. Comments drummer Ed Warby (GOREFEST): “I don’t think I’ve ever worked this hard on anything in my entire life, but it sure has paid off!
August 3, 2010 — Neurot Recording artists U.S. CHRISTMAS are set to release their fifth album, Run Thick in the Night on September 20th. The album was recorded by Sanford Parker at Fahrenheit Studio in Johnson City, Tennessee, mixed by Parker and U.
August 1, 2010 — Norway’s VIRUS, led by Carl-Michael Eide (a.k.a. Czral of VED BUENS ENDE and Aggressor of AURA NOIR, DØDHEIMSGARD) and Einar “Esso” Sjursø (BEYOND DAWN), have posted an update regarding their new album and label situation.
July 28, 2010 — In an official statement from Emperor Magus Caligula, longtime vocalist of Swedish black metal battalion DARK FUNERAL: “I would like to inform all of our fans that on Saturday, August 21, at the Summer Breeze festival in Germany, I will be doing my last show with the band.
July 27, 2010 — As an ongoing celebration of OPETH’s 20th anniversary, the band will be releasing live video footage and audio from their recent performance at London’s famed Royal Albert Hall.
July 19, 2010 — SOULFLY has confirmed the departure of bassist Bobby Burns, which he revealed on Twitter yesterday. In the band’s confirmation, it was stated that the split was completely amicable.
July 16, 2010 — Devin Townsend has posted a video of the DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND’s experience playing the Tuska Open Air Metal Festival earlier this month in Finland. Check it out:
July 14, 2010 — Japan’s DIR EN GREY and Finland’s APOCALYPTICA will be teaming up for a co-headlining tour that kicks off August 23rd in Toronto. Pre-order tickets and VIP packages go on sale this Friday, July 16th (via DIR EN GREY’s Internet Fan Community), and the public on-sale begins a week later on Friday, July 23rd.
July 13, 2010 — CATTLE DECAPITATION are set to trek across North America with DEVOURMENT, KNIGHTS OF THE ABYSS, BURNING THE MASSES, and SONS OF AURELIUS on what has been dubbed the California Blood Tour.
July 10, 2010 — CONVERGE will be releasing a self-released, limited edition 7" EP of the song “On My Shield”. The band recorded the song at Godcity studios between their 2010 “Axe to Fall” U.
July 9, 2010 — CORROSION OF CONFORMITY III, which is the Animosity lineup of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY (Reed Mullin, Mike Dean, Woodroe Weatherman), have recorded a new song “Your Tomorrow” (Parts 1 & 2) for a forthcoming 7".
July 9, 2010 — This year, the acclaimed NEUROSIS celebrate their 25th anniversary. Marking the occasion will be the release of Live at Roadburn, a live recording that clocks in at 78 minutes and showcases the band kickin’ out jams from their last few albums.
July 9, 2010 — On Sunday, August 8th, a host of loud, riff-heavy bands will descend upon Los Angeles for The Power of the Riff Festival. Curated by Greg Anderson (Southern Lord) and Sam James Velde (NIGHT HORSE), The Power of the Riff Festival was assembled with the intent to blur the lines between Metal, Hardcore, Punk and Rock music.
July 8, 2010 — Atlanta’s ZOROASTER are set to release their second album, Matador, next week (July 13) through E1 Music. Listen to the entire album right now (via ThinkIndie)…
July 7, 2010 — Distinguished extreme metal band, CRADLE OF FILTH, are set to release their follow-up to 2008’s Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder on November 9th in North America.
July 7, 2010 — It was announced today that Brazil’s SEPULTURA have signed with Nuclear Blast Records. The band, who this year mark their 25th anniversary, will be releasing their follow-up to last year’s A-Lex sometime next year.
July 2, 2010 — Hydra Head Records has launched their new online music store featuring music from the label’s roster, which includes OXBOW, CAVE IN, HARVEY MILK, PELICAN, TORCHE, and many more: http://www.
June 30, 2010 — Candlelight Records today confirms September 28 as the North American release date for A Thin Shell, the new album from Sweden’s OCTOBER TIDE. Currently featuring guitarist/founder Fredrik Norrman (KATATONIA), vocalist Tobias Netzell, drummer Robin Bergh, and session bassist Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, CARNAL FORGE, CENTINEX), the album is the band’s first in ten years and follows the 2009 reissue of their debut, Rain Without End (Candlelight).
June 30, 2010 — Revered Swedish death metal band THE CROWN have signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records. Marko Tervonen (guitars) states: “We are happy as hell to turn a new page in THE CROWN’s history book and to pick up the journey with Century Media Records supporting us feels great.
June 24, 2010 — Death metal veterans MORBID ANGEL entered the studio to begin recording their ninth full-length album and first with original bassist/vocalist, David Vincent, since 1995’s Domination.
June 23, 2010 — The much ballyhooed reunion performance by GODFLESH at this year’s Hellfest Open Air in France over the weekend was unfortunately affected by issues out of the band’s control.
June 22, 2010 — Legendary stoner rockers SLEEP have announced a fall U.S. tour. The recently reunited band will feature original members Al Cisneros (OM, SHRINEBUILDER) and Mike Pike (HIGH ON FIRE).
June 18, 2010 — Ozzy Osbourne’s Digg Dialogg interview, which took place this week, has been posted. As recently posted, Ozzy fielded a series of questions as submitted and voted on by the Digg community.
June 17, 2010 — Southern Lord Recordings has announced a small tour featuring the recently reunited CORROSION OF CONFORMITY (circa-1986’s Animosity album lineup) consisting of Woody Weatherman (guitar), Mike Dean (bass, vocals), and Reed Mullin (drums).
June 15, 2010 — The recently reunited AMEBIX have confirmed the release of Redux, a 3-song EP featuring live and re-recorded versions of several of the band’s classics, “Winter,” “Chain Reaction,” and “Arise.
June 15, 2010 — In the coming weeks, The Viper Room on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, CA is (once again) set to host some metal courtesy of BLACK TUSK, ZOROASTER, SAINT VITUS, STONE AXE, and more.
June 10, 2010 — In advance of Ozzy Osbourne’s forthcoming new album, Scream, the legendary singer will be the next guest on Digg Dialog, the Q&A series by social news site Digg.
June 9, 2010 — Tampa, FL death metallers HATE ETERNAL are teaming up with CANNABIS CORPSE and ORDER OF ENNEAD for a quick string of dates on the east coast before the band heads back home to begin writing the follow up to 2008’s Fury and Flames.
June 9, 2010 — NAPALM DEATH’s new video for the song, “On the Brink of Extinction,” from their latest album, Time Waits for No Slave, can be viewed below:
June 8, 2010 — EARLY MAN’s long-awaited sophomore full-length release, Death Potion, will be released July 20, 2010 on The End Records. The Los Angeles and Brooklyn–based band recorded the 12-track album in Seattle, WA at Soundhouse Recording with producer Jack Endino .
June 8, 2010 — The release date for IRON MAIDEN’s new studio album The Final Frontier is now confirmed for Monday 16th August. The new album features artwork illustrated by Melvyn Grant and, to mark the occasion, the band have made special arrangements for one new album track “El Dorado” to be made available worldwide as a free digital download MP3 with immediate effect.
June 7, 2010 — CYNIC’s Re-Traced / Re-Focused Live tour will see progressive metal icons CYNIC perform Focus in its entirety, along with tracks from the group’s lauded second album, Traced in Air, and more.
June 3, 2010 — Seattle’s NEVERMORE have announced a North American fall headlining tour in support of their new full-length, The Obsidian Conspiracy. The tour kicks off September 23rd and runs through November 5th.
June 3, 2010 — A previously cryptic press release has been revealed to be a unique collaboration between BORIS and Ian Astbury of THE CULT and THE DOORS. The team has recorded a four-song EP, entitled BXI, which consists of three original songs and a cover of THE CULT’s “Rain,” with BORIS guitarist, Wata, on vocals.
May 29, 2010 — SLIPKNOT have posted a memorial video for bassist Paul Gray who passed away last week. Watch it below:
May 28, 2010 — Pulverised Records is pleased to welcome Japanese death metal fiends GxSxD to their expanding roster of extreme! An abbreviation for “God Send Death,” GxSxD formed in 2002 and, barely a decade into the band’s career, found themselves touring massively throughout their homeland, gaining widespread popularity as one of the most powerful death metal acts to emerge from Japan.
May 27, 2010 — ZWEIZZ, the experimental project of FLEURETY/ex-DØDHEIMSGARD member Svein Egil Hatlevik (aka Hologram, Magic/Logic), has confirmed the release of his collaboration with the late Joey Hopkins simply titled, Zweizz & Joey Hopkins.
May 27, 2010 — Neurot Recordings is proud to announce the reissue of one of the most groundbreaking releases in the ever-expanding lineage of icons NEUROSIS, Enemy of the Sun.
May 26, 2010 — The full lineup for the 11th annual installment of ProgPower USA has been finalized, and will feature the recently reformed ACCEPT as the headliner.
May 26, 2010 — THE WRETCHED END, the new band featuring Samoth (ZYKLON, EMPEROR, SCUM), Cosmo (MINDGRINDER, SCUM), and Nils Fjellström (IN BATTLE, DARK FUNERAL, AEON), have announced their signing to Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records.
May 25, 2010 — Los Angeles death metallers, ABYSMAL DAWN, are currently recording the follow-up to their Relapse debut at Trench Studio with John Haddad (PHOBIA, INTRONAUT, HIRAX). The as-yet-untitled album will be mixed by Erik Rutan (CANNIBAL CORPSE, GOATWHORE, HATE ETERNAL) at his Mana Recording Studios in St.
May 25, 2010 — MASTODON have been forced to cancel the their summer tour, which was scheduled to take place between June 5th and July 3rd. Guitarist, Bill Kelliher, was diagnosed with pancreatitis and was advised by doctors to pursue further medication.
May 24, 2010 — The Des Moines Register has reported that SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray was found dead this morning at a hotel in Des Moines. Police state that there is no evidence of foul play.
May 21, 2010 — Audrey Ewell and Aaron Aits’ documentary about black metal, Until the Light Takes Us, which has been screening around the world, has been confirmed to receive a DVD release in North America.
May 21, 2010 — Ozzy Osbourne is back with a new album, Scream, which is set to drop June 22nd through Epic Records. Scream is Ozzy’s first album in three years and 10th studio album overall.
May 21, 2010 — The “Big Four,” METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX, are bringing their historic European tour to the global stage by beaming the event via satellite to movie theaters around the world in a special HD cinematic event.
May 21, 2010 — BARREN EARTH, the Finnish supergroup featuring members of KREATOR, MOONSORROW, SWALLOW THE SUN, and AMORPHIS, have posted their new video for “The Leer” online. Check it out below:
May 20, 2010 — Metal God Records and Rob Halford are pleased to announce an intimate HALFORD concert performance Saturday, July 17th at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, California.
May 20, 2010 — Japan’s architects of drone and balls-heavy psychedelic, post-doom rock, BORIS, have announced their return to North America by way of a summer tour that will last from the end of July through the month of August.
May 18, 2010 — TORCHE, who are currently on tour with COHEED AND CAMBRIA, had their van broken into on May 14th. Various items such as instruments, gear, passports, and laptops were stolen.
May 17, 2010 — Richard Christy’s CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED is hitting the road. Tickets are now available on http://www.richardchristy.com and http://www.timripperowens.com. Richard Christy talked about the tour: “I am Soooooooooooooo pumped to get out on the road and blast some heavy metal with CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED this summer!
May 17, 2010 — IMMOLATION will be heading out on a headlining tour with support from VADER, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, LECHEROUS NOCTURNE, and PATHOLOGY. Tour dates: 9/29 Baltimore, MD - Sonar 9/30 Farmingdale , NY - Crazy Donkey 10/1 Providence, RI - Club Hell 10/2 Manchester , NH - Rocko’s 10/3 Montreal, ON – Foufounes Electriques 10/4 Toronto, ON - MOD Club 10/5 Cleveland, OH - Peabody’s 10/6 Detroit, MI - Blondie’s 10/7 Milwaukee, WI - The Rave 10/8 St Paul , MN - Station4 10/10 Seattle, WA - El Corazon 10/11 Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theater 10/12 Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater 10/13 San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge 10/14 West Hollywood, CA – The Whiskey 10/15 Santa Ana ,CA - The Galaxy 10/16 Ramona , CA - Ramona Mainstage 10/17 Mesa, AZ - U.
May 17, 2010 — Metal legend Ronnie James Dio (ELF, RAINBOW, DIO, BLACK SABBATH/HEAVEN AND HELL) passed away early this morning after a battle with stomach cancer. His wife and manager, Wendy Dio, posted this message on www.
May 13, 2010 — New Orleans, Louisiana’s GOATWHORE are confirmed to play the second stage of the Ozzfest summer tour alongside BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, DROWNING POOL, KINGDOM OF SORROW, SKELETONWITCH, SAVIOURS, and KATAKLYSM.
May 9, 2010 — As reported earlier, DARK TRANQUILLITY will begin their tour of the Americas in two days. Vocalist Mikael Stanne dropped in with a video message for all the fans:
May 7, 2010 — Switzerland’s KNUT have their new album, Wonder, set for a June 29th release via Hydra Head Records. A song from the album, “Damned Extroverts,” and more album info can be found here: http://www.
May 7, 2010 — MISERY INDEX is streaming their brand new album Heirs to Thievery online now at heirstothievery.info. The album was recorded at Wright Way Studios just outside Baltimore, MD and will see a May 11th North American release date.
April 29, 2010 — WITCHERY’s new album, Witchkrieg, will feature a slew of legendary guests including SLAYER’s Kerry King, MERCYFUL FATE’s Hank Sherman, KING DIAMOND’s Andy La Rocque, and more.
April 28, 2010 — D.O.A., Canada’s punk legends, are set to release their 13th studio album Talk - Action = 0 on June 8th via Sudden Death Records. On this album, the band goes back to its early roots and takes a few notes from their first two classic albums: Something Better Change and Hardcore 81.
April 28, 2010 — MEGADETH and SLAYER have confirmed that they will each perform, start to finish, their 1990 releases - SLAYER’s world-wide, million-selling Seasons In The Abyss and MEGADETH’s Platinum Rust In Peace - on the upcoming Canadian and American Carnage Tours.
April 24, 2010 — The new all-star BATHORY tribute band, TWILIGHT OF THE GODS, have announced that they will be performing at festivals in Europe this summer. The band consists of Alan Nemtheanga (PRIMORDIAL), Blasphemer (AVA INFERI, AURA NOIR, ex-MAYHEM), Frode Glesnes (EINHERJER), Nick Barker (BENEDICTION, ex-DIMMU BORGIR and more), Patrik Lindgren (THYRFING).
April 24, 2010 — Sweden’s long running death metallers HYPOCRISY, have uploaded their latest video clip for the song “Weed Out The Weak” off of their new album, A Taste of Extreme Divinity.
April 23, 2010 — Demonoir, the fifth full length from Norwegian black metal titans, 1349, is now streaming in its entirety here. The album will be released in North America on April 27th via Prosthetic Records and was recorded at Studio Nyhagen, deep in the woods in Norway with Tom G.
April 23, 2010 — Switzerland’s finest recent export, SYBREED return to industrial metal majesty with The Pulse Of Awakening, which was produced by FEAR FACTORY producer Rhys Fulber and engineered by guitarist Drop.
April 19, 2010 — CONVERGE will be heading out on their headlining in support with Axe to Fall. Support will come from various bands including HARVEY MILK, THURSDAY, LEWD ACTS, COALESCE, and more.
April 19, 2010 — Swedish melodic metal pioneers, DARK TRANQUILLITY, will make their much anticipated return to North America on May 11th as they prepare for a massive North American headlining tour with THREAT SIGNAL and MUTINY WITHIN supporting.
April 19, 2010 — Bay Area thrash veterans EXODUS will be playing two album release shows with HEATHEN in Los Angeles and San Francisco this June: Friday, June 11th - Los Angeles @ Key Club with HEATHEN, BONDED BY BLOOD, plus two local openers
April 16, 2010 — After TYPE O NEGATIVE vocalist/bassist Peter Steele’s passing last night, the band has issued the following statement: “It is with great sadness that we inform you that TYPE O NEGATIVE front man, bassist, and our band mate, Peter Steele passed away last night of what appears to be heart failure.
April 14, 2010 — NEVERMORE have returned with the much anticipated full-length release, The Obsidian Conspiracy. A new video featuring audio clips spanning the entire new album can be viewed here:
April 12, 2010 — New Orleans, Louisiana sludge metal icons EYEHATEGOD are proud to announce their long-anticipated US tour beginning in June, following an appearances at this year’s edition of the Maryland Deathfest.
April 10, 2010 — Finnish progressive metallers, AMORPHIS, have revealed the cover artwork and tracklisting of their forthcoming DVD package entitled Forging the Land of Thousand Lakes. The DVD will be released on June 25 (Europe) and June 23 (Finland) and not on June 4th, as announced earlier.
April 8, 2010 — The legendary X JAPAN is scheduled to play Lollapalooza’s main stage. The three day festival will take place on August 6-8, 2010 at Grant Park in Chicago.
April 4, 2010 — MISERY INDEX will join label-mates DYING FETUS for a month-long US tour starting in early May. This tour will also include ARSIS, ANNOTATIONS OF AN AUTOPSY and CONDUCTING FROM THE GRAVE and will be making a stop at the California Metalfest on May 15th in Pomona, CA.
April 1, 2010 — The charismatic and complex singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig is set to unleash his first new DANZIG studio album in six years. Deth Red Sabaoth, produced by Glenn and recorded in Los Angeles over the course of 2009, will be released on June 22, 2010 (Evilive/The End Records).
March 30, 2010 — Stockholm’s blackened death metal warriors NECROPHOBIC have just launched a brand new video for the song “Revelation 666,” taken from their latest record Death To All.
March 24, 2010 — Candlelight Records today confirms the worldwide signing of OCTOBER TIDE. The band featuring guitarist Fredrik Norrman (ex-KATATONIA), vocalist Tobias Netzell, drummer Robin Bergh, and session bassist Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, CARNAL FORGE, CENTINEX) is currently finishing work on their still untitled new album.
March 24, 2010 — Lawless Darkness has been announced as the title of the fourth WATAIN album to be released on June 7th. “The title symbolizes the unbound chaotic potential of that which is void of light,” frontman E.
March 22, 2010 — Psychedelic UK based doom metal legends CATHEDRAL, have posted a video trailer offering audio samples from their upcoming record The Guessing Game here: The Guessing Game will be released on March 26 in Europe and on the unofficial stoner friendly holiday of April 20 in N.
March 22, 2010 — On April 10 Mesopotamian Metal pioneers MELECHESH will enter the studio to record their fifth and as of yet untitled album for a period of 4-5 weeks.
March 17, 2010 — Santa Cruz, CA technical death metallers BRAIN DRILL have just released the track listing for their upcoming sophomore release, Quantum Catastrophe, which hits streets on May 11th and will undoubtedly be met by great praise by fans and media alike.
March 17, 2010 — PAIN, the band featuring HYPOCRISY mainman Peter Tägtgren, will finally make their latest release Cynic Paradise available to North America on June 8th. This version will also feature an alternate cover and a bonus live CD recorded on March 23-24, 2009 at the Zenith in Paris, France during the band’s European tour with NIGHTWISH.
March 15, 2010 — Norway’s legendary black metal duo, DARKTHRONE, has launched a mini-site at for their forthcoming album, Circle the Wagons, containing exclusive audio samples, album info, and more.
March 15, 2010 — Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED have uploaded the title track for their upcoming release, As Yggdrasil Trembles, on their Myspace page: www.myspace.com/unleashed. The new album continues on the same path that was forged by their previous two releases Midvinterblot and Hammer Battalion.
March 15, 2010 — Technical death metal legends PESTILENCE are pleased to announce their first US tour in over 16 years! The 17-date journey will kick off in Baltimore as part of the Maryland Deathfest at Sonar on May 30th and close at the Gramercy Theater in New York City on June 17.
March 6, 2010 — Prog rock/metal icons DREAM THEATER will spend their summer supporting IRON MAIDEN on the band’s month-long U.S./Canada tour. The tour launches on June 9 and runs through July 20, and includes a stop at the storied Madison Square Garden in NYC, marking the first time in a lengthy and respected career that DREAM THEATER will have played the world’s most famous arena.
March 6, 2010 — The fourth album from Swedish black metal titans WATAIN is now recorded. Says vocalist E in an official missive: “I am now holding in my hand the final mastertape of what might be the most dynamic and charged WATAIN release ever recorded.
March 2, 2010 — Norway’s MADDER MORTEM are set to release a new EP, Where Dream and Day Collide, containing three new tracks and album and single versions of the title track, taken from their 2009 release, Eight Ways.
February 24, 2010 — Norway’s 1349 will be releasing their new album, Demonoir, on April 27th. The band’s fifth full-length album will also be their first for Prosthetic Records, who will be releasing the effort in North America (Indie Recordings will be issuing the album in Europe).
February 22, 2010 — In continuing support of the band’s 2008 release Twilight of the Thunder God, AMON AMARTH has announced a spring, 2010 North American headlining tour, which marks the band’s first tour in the states since their April/May 2009 run.
February 19, 2010 — FEAR FACTORY and BLEEDING THROUGH will headline this year’s California Metalfest IV. The fest has been expanded to two days; the fest will take place May 15 and 16 at The Fox Theatre and The Glass House, both in Pomona, California.
February 19, 2010 — Swedish black-death heathens TRIDENT will release their debut album, World Destruction, on March 22, 2010 via Regain Records. Three blistering new tracks from the album - “Slaves To Anguish,” “World Destruction” and “Jaws of Satan” - are currently streaming on the band’s official MySpace page.
February 16, 2010 — Swedish melodic death metallers, SCAR SYMMETRY, have been added to the “A Taste of Extreme Divinity” Tour as direct support to headliners HYPOCRISY. Guitarist Per Nilsson commented:
February 16, 2010 — Kicking off this April and following their highly anticipated split release with BORIS, Miami’s TORCHE have just announced a month-long US tour supporting COHEED AND CAMBRIA and CIRCA SURVIVE.
February 16, 2010 — DARK TRANQUILLITY’s new video for “Shadow in Our Blood” has been posted online. The song is the opening track to the band’s new album, We are the Void, which is set for a March 9th release date.
February 12, 2010 — IN FLAMES guitarist, Jesper Strömblad, has announced that he is quitting the band. Here’s his statement: “I have decided it is best for me to leave IN FLAMES and to quit the band permanently.
February 9, 2010 — Canada’s CANCER BATS have posted a new song, “Scared to Death,” on their MySpace page. The song is from their forthcoming new album, Bears, Mayors, Scraps, and Bones, which drops April 13th.
February 9, 2010 — MEGADETH founder and frontman Dave Mustaine has announced the return of original bassist David Ellefson (1983-2002) to the iconic multi-platinum group. This reunion is appropriately timed to MEGADETH’s upcoming historic month-long Rust in Peace 20th anniversary tour which launches March 1 in Spokane, WA.
February 9, 2010 — Atlanta’s MASTODON have announced another North American tour, but this time through cities they didn’t previously play. The tour, presented by Volcom, will feature support from BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, BARONESS, and VALIENT THORR.
February 6, 2010 — CONVERGE have announced their first slew of dates for their Axe to Fall 2010 U.S. Tour. Joining them on various dates will be COALESCE, HARVEY MILK, GAZA, LEWD ACTS, and BLACK BREATH.
February 5, 2010 — Steve Von Till (NEUROSIS, HARVESTMAN) will be performing a rare set in his home region in Moscow, Idaho this February. This set will feature the lone artist performing both HARVESTMAN and SVT solo material.
February 4, 2010 — THE OCEAN have announced details about their two upcoming albums entitled Heliocentric and Anthropocentric. They are due for April and October 2010 releases, respectively. The concept at the base of both albums is a critique of Christianity from different philosophical and personal angles.
February 3, 2010 — FEAR FACTORY have premiered the music video for “Fear Campaign” off their forthcoming new album, Mechanize. The video was directed by Ian McFarland and Mike Pecci for Boston-based, Emmy nominated Killswitch Productions.
February 2, 2010 — CREATURE WITH THE ATOMIC BRAIN is thrilled to announce that Transylvania will be released tomorrow, February 2nd via The End Records. Marking the band’s North American debut, CREATURE WITH THE ATOMIC BRAIN landed a thirteen-date slot opening for ALICE IN CHAINS, which also kicks off tomorrow at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver.
February 1, 2010 — SLAYER and MEGADETH are thrilled to announce the new, confirmed routing for the American Carnage North American Tour, which will commence with the rescheduled Canadian Carnage East dates in Quebec City on Friday, July 23.
February 1, 2010 — North Carolina’s WEEDEATER--in light of the recent loss of frontman Dave “Dixie” Collins’ toe due to a self-inflicted gun-cleaning wound--have announced the routing for their upcoming US tour, now officially dubbed the “Nine Toe” Tour.
January 23, 2010 — Richard Christy’s CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED have posted the first music video, “Ghost Town,” from their self-titled debut. The former ICED EARTH drummer commented on the video:
January 23, 2010 — ENSLAVED guitarist Ivar Bjørnson has sent in the following studio update about the band’s new album: “This is a short blog from the studio where we – ENSLAVED – have started to record our new album.
January 22, 2010 — Swedish extreme metal veterans HYPOCRISY will finally make their long-awaited return to North America in May. Support on the trek will come from HATE, BLACKGUARD and SWASHBUCKLE.
January 22, 2010 — Sweden’s SOILWORK have completed writing songs for their next album, which has been given the title, The Panic Broadcast. The band will begin recording this weekend.
January 21, 2010 — Richmond, VA’s CANNABIS CORPSE have premiered the music video for “Skull Full of Bong Hits” off of their 2009 EP, The Weeding, on Metal Injection. Directed by Luna Duran and Landphil, the video combines footage from 2009’s “CANNABIS CORPSE & RAMMING SPEED Do America” tour.
January 21, 2010 — DARK TRANQUILLITY have posted new tracks, “At the Point of Ignition” and “Dream Oblivion,” from their forthcoming album, We Are the Void, on their MySpace page.
January 18, 2010 — It’s #musicmonday in the Twitterverse and in celebration of that, Los Angeles’s LADY SINATRA are giving away free downloads of their album, Hisses and Kisses, in exchange for a tweet.
January 17, 2010 — SKELETONWITCH and DOOMRIDERS will be sharing the stage for the next Scion Metal shows. The all ages shows are free with RSVP, though entry is not guaranteed so get there early.
January 16, 2010 — New Finnish prog/death metal band, BARREN EARTH, featuring former members of AMORPHIS, and current members of SWALLOW THE SUN, MOONSORROW, and KREATOR, will be releasing their debut album, Curse of the Red River, on April 6th in the U.
January 16, 2010 — Oakland’s DECREPIT BIRTH have entered Sharkbite Studios with producer Zack Ohren to begin recording their Nuclear Blast debut, Polarity. Here’s an update from guitarist Matt Soleto:
January 14, 2010 — HIM have revealed U.S. tour dates in support of their forthcoming new album, Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, which drops February 9th in the U.
January 14, 2010 — WEEDEATER have been forced to postpone their recently announced recording session as vocalist/bassist, Dixie Dave, has literally shot himself in the foot. Here’s a message direct from the band:
January 13, 2010 — SHRINEBUILDER, the doom metal super group that features Scott “Wino” Weinrich (ST. VITUS, THE HIDDEN HAND), Scott Kelly (NEUROSIS), Al Cisneros (OM, SLEEP), and Dale Crover (MELVINS), have scheduled a handful of west coast tour dates.
January 9, 2010 — Helsinki, Finland’s THROES OF DAWN have announced that their fifth album, The Great Fleet of Echoes, will be released on February 19th. This is what the band had to say about the album:
January 9, 2010 — WEEDEATER have announced a rash of Midwestern and Southeastern US dates for late January into early February. Most of these dates will bear the typical WEEDEATER trio and two of the dates will feature the band’s stripped-down, acoustic, two-piece bass and banjo persona, known as BARSTUL, supporting Nick Oliveri (MONDO GENERATOR, ex-QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE).
January 8, 2010 — Finland’s HIM have released their new music video for “Heartkiller,” the first single off their forthcoming new album Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice. Watch the clip below:
January 7, 2010 — DYING FETUS have posted the music video for “Your Treachery Will Die With You” off their latest album, Decend into Depravity. Check it out below…
January 7, 2010 — The American and Canadian Carnage Tour, featuring SLAYER, MEGADETH, and TESTAMENT, have been cancelled due to SLAYER’s Tom Araya needing to undergo back surgery. Araya began experiencing back problems while on the band’s Australian/New Zealand/Japanese tour last October.
January 7, 2010 — Devin Townsend will be hitting the road in 2010 in support of THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT’s Addicted album, which was met with worldwide critical praise and scored very impressive first week numbers debuting at #168 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and #2 on the Billboard Heatseakers chart.
January 7, 2010 — Norway’s ZYKLON, lead by EMPEROR guitarist Samoth, have formally announced their disbandment. Here is the statement from the band: “After taking an official break over two years ago, it has now become the reality that ZYKLON is no longer a functional band, and thus the decision is made to formally split up the band, instead of just letting it decent into nothingness.
January 6, 2010 — Los Angeles’ DREAMING DEAD have issued an update recapping 2009 and providing a glimpse into 2010, which includes new music and a tour with NILE…
December 30, 2009 — Baltimore, Maryland’s MISERY INDEX will be entering the studio this Saturday to start recording their next album. Here’s an update direct from the band: “We will commence recording this Saturday…super excited, we start this weekend, when basically all day Saturday will be set aside for tweaking drums sounds, and then we start tracking drums on Sunday.
December 29, 2009 — The Orange County Register has reported that AVENGED SEVENFOLD drummer, Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, has died. He was found unresponsive Monday at his Huntington Beach home.
December 26, 2009 — Longtime guitarist Fredrik Norrman and bassist Mattias Norrman have recently announced their departure from KATATONIA. No permanent replacements have been announced. Here is word directly from the band:
December 23, 2009 — Iraqi metal band ACRASSICAUDA’s new music video for the track, “Garden of Stones,” has hit the internet today via the Scion A/V Video Channel. The band, who have been documented in the film Heavy Metal in Baghdad, are releasing the EP, Only the Dead See the End of the War, on March 9th.
December 23, 2009 — Sweden’s MESHUGGAH will be releasing their first DVD, Alive, on February 9th, 2010. Alive will be a 2 disc set consisting of a DVD and an audio CD.
December 20, 2009 — Danish Metal Award nominees HATESPHERE will hit North American shores early next year in support of newest album To the Nines with THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, OBSCURA and AUGURY.
December 20, 2009 — KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, whose self-titled album Killswitch Engage debuted at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 chart earlier this summer, are headed out on the road once again.
December 19, 2009 — Norway’s IMMORTAL have revealed plans to return to North America in 2010 for a few select performances. The band pulled off two successful reunion shows in New York and Los Angeles in 2007 and will visit those cities again in addition to two stops in Canada.
December 18, 2009 — Japan’s HAYAINO DAISUKI will be releasing The Invincible Gate Mind of The Internal Fire Hell, or Did You Mean Hawaii Daisuki? on February 23rd through Hydra Head.
December 17, 2009 — Tennessee’s WHITECHAPEL are set to enter Audiohammer Studios in Orlando, Florida to begin recording the follow-up to 2008’s This is Exile album. The band will be teaming up with producer Jason Suecof, who has done production for TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER, and many more.
December 16, 2009 — JELLO BIAFRA AND THE GUANTANAMO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE’s New Album, The Audacity of Hype, is being offered as a free download from Amazon.com for one week and from eMusic today only!
December 15, 2009 — The world wide web has been abound with speculation on a possible “Big Four” tour for several months. Now, the UK/European Sonisphere can exclusively reveal that METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX will play together for the first time in history, in a move that will have metalheads across the globe frenzied with excitement.
December 10, 2009 — LAETHORA, the Swedish death/grind band featuring DARK TRANQUILLITY guitarist Niklas Sundin and members of progressive metal band THE PROVENANCE will release their second album The Light in Which We All Burn worldwide through The End Records on April 27th, 2010.
December 8, 2009 — New York death-metal legends IMMOLATION have chosen Majesty and Decay as the title of their eighth full length album. Majesty and Decay will be released on March 9th in North America via Nuclear Blast Records.
December 4, 2009 — HIM have unveiled a new song, “Heartkiller,” from their forthcoming new album, Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, on MySpace. Listen here: http://www.myspace.com/heartagram Screamworks is scheduled for a February 9, 2010 release in North America (February 8th in U.
December 2, 2009 — Sweden’s THE CROWN, who disbanded in 2004, have reformed with new vocalist, Jonas Stålhammar (GOD MACABRE, MACABRE END, ABHOTH), at the helm. Following their originally split, guitarists Marko Tervonen, Marcus Sunesson, bassist Magnus Olsfelt, and drummer Janne Saarenpää went on to form DOBERMANN with Andreas “Whiplasher Bernadotte” Bergh (DEATHSTARS).
November 30, 2009 — CANNABIS CORPSE have released the “Pro Stoner Die Hard” limited edition bundle of The Weeding EP. Strictly limited to 420 copies, the set is exclusively available through Tankcrimes mail order.
November 28, 2009 — Norwegian quintet SHINING are about to unleash their fourth full length album entitled Blackjazz on February 2, 2010. Their determination to create new sounds and cross boundaries has only been further stepped up with their latest ear-crushing achievement.
November 26, 2009 — Sweden’s AT THE GATES will be releasing a 3-disc DVD set celebrating their illustrious career that culminated with a successful reunion tour last year. The set, entitled The Flames of the End, will be housed in a six-panel DVD digipak with a 40-page color booklet and hit stores February 22, 2010.
November 25, 2009 — EMPEROR/ZYKLON guitarist, Samoth, has assembled a new extreme metal project, dubbed THE WRETCHED END, with Cosmo of MINDGRINDER. Two have previously worked together in SCUM and Cosmo has toured with ZYKLON as their bass player.
November 24, 2009 — Poland’s DECAPITATED have announced their new lineup. Joining founding guitarist/songwriter/vocalist Waclaw “Vogg” Kieltyka, are Rafal Piotrowski (vocals), Filip “Henrich” Halucha (bass), and Kerim “Krimh” Lechner (drums).
November 24, 2009 — As we tweeted a couple weeks ago, the Los Angeles area U.S. Plague Tour with MARDUK, NACHTMYSTIUM, BLACK ANVIL, MANTIC RITUAL, and MERRIMACK has been moved from the Key Club in West Hollywood to Salon Royal (Royal Hall) in downtown.
November 23, 2009 — Finland’s HIM have confirmed February 9, 2010 as the U.S. release date of their forthcoming new album, Screamworks: Love In Theory And Practice (album cover on the right).
November 21, 2009 — SUFFOCATION have announced they will be direct support to DEVILDRIVER on an upcoming five-week North American tour kicking off January 2010. The first ten shows are as follows; more support acts and dates to be announced soon.
November 19, 2009 — Southern California’s RISE have posted the music video for the title track of their latest album, Pentagramnation. The high definition video was directed by Robyn Von Swank, produced by Nick Plotquin, and co-produced and edited by Jonathan Sims.
November 18, 2009 — Brooklyn, NY doom/post rock experimentalists A STORM OF LIGHT – who recently returned from an extensive European tour in support of their newly released Forgive Us Our Trespasses full-length (Neurot Recordings) – will hold their official record release show tomorrow, November 18, 2009, at the Ace Of Clubs in New York City.
November 18, 2009 — BEHEMOTH has announced the Evangelia Amerika Tour. The band will once again be returning to North American soil in 2010. This is their first tour in the region since their massively successful summer with the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Fest.
November 18, 2009 — MEGADETH and SLAYER have announced that they will co-headline the “American Carnage” tour. TESTAMENT will be opening all date on the tour. “American Carnage” will kick off on January 18 in Seattle, WA for a 26-date trek across North America that will include the six Canadian dates postponed earlier this month.
November 18, 2009 — Japanese quintet, SIGH, are excited to announce the release of their eighth studio album, Scenes From Hell, out January 19, 2010 in the U.S, available on CD and LP.
November 17, 2009 — HYPOCRISY have been forced to cancel their North American tour with ENSIFERUM due to troubles with U.S. immigration. Here’s a statement from the band: “We regretfully have to officially announce the cancelation of our tour in North America.
November 12, 2009 — New York hardcore godfathers AGNOSTIC FRONT, who recently announced the addition of new drummer Pokey Mo (ex-LEEWAY), have announced a headlining tour with direct support coming from Orange County’s DEATH BY STEREO.
November 12, 2009 — Sweden’s KATATONIA has posted a music video for “Day and Then the Shade,” the first single off their latest release, Night is the New Day, on their official MySpace page (www.
November 11, 2009 — On November 14th, The Congregation Gallery will be hosting the second annual METAL Art Show, curated by Cam Rackman. Over 50 original paintings and sculptures by Vincent Castiglia, Max Cavalera, Johny Chow, Chris Peters, Nikko Hurtado, Christopher Conte, Cam Rackam, Cam De Leon, Axis, Zac Shavrick, Krystopher Sapp, Vince Locke, Joachim Luetke, and many more will be showcased.
November 6, 2009 — ARSIS, Virginia’s melodic/technical death metal band, has revealed the artwork by Mark Riddick for their Starve for the Devil album, set to be released in North America on February 9th, 2010.
November 6, 2009 — Candlelight Records today confirms February 9, 2010 as the American release date for Mechanize, the seventh studio album from FEAR FACTORY. Mechanize features the highly reported reconciliation of vocalist Burton C.
November 6, 2009 — A track from IHSAHN’s forthcoming album, After, has been premiered by Guitar World Magazine. The song, “Frozen Lakes on Mars,” is the fourth song from the former EMPEROR vocalist/guitarist’s new album, which is scheduled for a January 26th American release.
November 2, 2009 — Doom metal supergroup, SHRINEBUILDER, will be making their U.S. debut at The Viper Room on Wednesday, November 11, 2009. Consisting of Scott “Wino” Weinrich (ST.
October 31, 2009 — Despite numerous reports of his death, D.O.A.’s Joe Keithley has dispelled rumors that famed drummer Chuck Biscuits (ex-D.O.A., BLACK FLAG, MISFITS, DANZIG) has recently passed away.
October 30, 2009 — Former EMPEROR vocalist/guitarist IHSAHN will be releasing his new album, After, on January 26th (North America) through Candlelight Records. The follow-up to angL was recorded during the first half of 2009 at his own Symphonique Studio with some additional work at Toproom Studio.
October 28, 2009 — Los Angeles’ ABYSMAL DAWN have posted a demo of a new song on their MySpace page. The band, who are busy looking for a new drummer while working on the follow-up to 2008’s Programmed to Consume, commented on their decision to preview new material so early:
October 28, 2009 — British doom rockers CATHEDRAL will commence recording their ninth full-length album, The Guessing Game, in November. The recording will take place at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, U.
October 28, 2009 — Heidi Tveitan (Ihriel) is busy working on a new STAROFASH album, currently carrying the title Lakhesis. The album is planned for a release early next year.
October 28, 2009 — VALIENT THORR’s new music video for “Tomorrow Police,” from their latest album Immortalizer (on Volcom Entertainment) has been posted for viewing. The North Carolinians premiered the video at their recent show at The Viper Room in West Hollywood, CA, and now you can watch it right here!
October 27, 2009 — Esteemed death metal stalwarts, IMMOLATION, have entered Milbrook Sound Studios in New York with longtime producer Paul Orofino to begin recording their Nuclear Blast debut and eighth album over all.
October 24, 2009 — Italian melodic-death metallers DISHARMONIA MUNDI have finally completed their new record entitled The Isolation Game. The album has been recorded, produced, mixed and mastered at The Metal House Studio by Ettore Rigotti and contains 13 tracks.
October 24, 2009 — Following three very special U.S. appearances this summer in Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York (effectively breaking their streak of visa issues), Swedish black metal monsters MARDUK will return for a full headlining North American tour this November.
October 23, 2009 — MUNICIPAL WASTE have announced that THE ACCÜSED will not be taking part in the Waste the World Tour 2009 as their singer Brad Mowen has to have emergency surgery.
October 22, 2009 — Wacek “Vogg” Kieltyka, guitarist and founding member of the Polish death metal band DECAPITATED, has announced plans to reform the band following the tragic road accident that occurred in October 2007.
October 20, 2009 — The Alternative Tentacles 30th Anniversary Incest-A-Thon features three shows running over the range of available talent at our disposal, which is mighty. Though less than a handful of labels in the punk genre have stuck it out longer, we are proud nonetheless to make it battered and bruised through the past three decades.
October 20, 2009 — HYPOCRISY have enlisted the help of CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist/frontman Alexi Laiho for their upcoming North American tour. Alexi has agreed to temporarily fill the currently vacant guitarist spot on their tour alongside ENSIFERUM, EX DEO, BLACKGUARD, and SWASHBUCKLE.
October 20, 2009 — Norway’s FLEURETY have just issued their first release since 2000’s eclectic Department of Apocalyptic Affairs in a vinyl 7" titled Ingentes Atque Decorii Vexilliferi Apokalypsis.
October 20, 2009 — SLEEPYTIME GORILLA MUSEUM will bring their self-described “costumed festival of hyperventilating self-derangement” to audiences on the west coast for four exclusive dates. The band has been hailed by critics for their stunning live performances and these dates will be the band’s final performances for the rest of the year.
October 20, 2009 — Southern Lord Records is eager to announce the official signing of Washington’s BLACK BREATH. Their riotous Razor to Oblivion MLP is set for re-release on Southern Lord this November 10th, and their debut full-length will see the light of day in early 2010.
October 17, 2009 — Boston’s DOOMRIDERS, featuring Nate Newton of CONVERGE, have announced a few east coast dates supporting the mighty CLUTCH in December.DOOMRIDERSjust released their sophomore album, Darkness Comes Alive, on Deathwish Inc.
October 16, 2009 — Fenriz of DARKTHRONE has compiled a second compilation for Vice Magazine called Trapped Under Vice Vol. II. In contrast to Vol. I’s thrash metal mix, Vol.
October 14, 2009 — Sweden’s ARCH ENEMY have announced the Tyrants of Evil headlining tour of North America in support of their latest release, The Root of All Evil (which came out last week via Century Media Records).
October 14, 2009 — California’s long running blackened death metallers RISE have just released their long-awaited new full-length album Pentagramnation through the band’s own label Hymnus Records. Produced by legendary guitarist-turned-producer James Murphy (ex-DEATH/OBITUARY/TESTAMENT), the disc features noteworthy guest spots by Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY) and Dave Suzuki (VITAL REMAINS).
October 13, 2009 — CONVERGE’s new album, Axe to Fall, has been made available for streaming in it’s entirety on their MySpace page. Get blasted here: http://www.myspace.com/converge Axe to Fall officially drops October 20th worldwide via Epitaph (and on vinyl via Deathwish Inc.
October 10, 2009 — Orange County’s BLEEDING THROUGH have dropped off the SATYRICON/CHTHONIC tour. The band offered the following words: “Hello All we’ve got some good news and bad news.
October 8, 2009 — CONVERGE have premiered the video for the title track from their forthcoming new album, Axe to Fall, on FEARnet. Check it… FEARnet also conducted an interview with frontman Jacob Bannon.
October 8, 2009 — Sweden’s WATAIN, who have been working on their fourth full-length album, have confirmed their return to North America with an appearance at next year’s Maryland Deathfest.
October 5, 2009 — Swedish black metallers DARK FUNERAL recently shot a video for “My Funeral,” the fist song off the band’s long-awaiting upcoming new full-length Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus.
September 29, 2009 — DIR EN GREY will be returning to North America for a short tour in November that includes two very special residencies; One 3-night stand in New York City, NY and one 2-night takeover of the House of Blues in West Hollywood, CA.
September 25, 2009 — NILE have posted a new song “Permitting the Noble Dead to Descend to the Underworld” on their MySpace page. The song is from their forthcoming album, Those Whom The Gods Detest, which is scheduled for a North American release on November 3rd, 2009.
September 21, 2009 — Mortal Music and MVD Audio are proud to announce the release of OPPRESSOR’s The Solstice of Agony and Corrosion on November 3rd worldwide. Despite being listed as an influence by such renowned metal acts as GOD FORBID and SHADOWS FALL, the Chicago, IL-based OPPRESSOR largely fell under the metallic radar during their years as an active band (1991-1999).
September 21, 2009 — Death metallers HYPOCRISY have posted an official album trailer for their long awaited follow up to 2005’s Virus record here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO1cpXmmmq8&feature=channel_page. A Taste of Extreme Divinity will be released on October 23rd (Europe) and November 3rd (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records and was produced once again by vocalist/guitarist Peter Tägtgren.
September 17, 2009 — Spin Magazine has posted a free downlod of CONVERGE’s “Axe to Fall,” the title track off their forthcoming new album. Download the ripper here: http://www.
September 17, 2009 — MUNICIPAL WASTE will be packing their beer bong and toting it across North America for their just announced “Waste the World Tour 2009.” The Virginia thrashers will be touring in support of their recently released Massive Aggressive album, which debuted at #10 on the Billboard Heat Seekers chart.
September 17, 2009 — NILE, who entered the studio in June, have completed recording of their new album, Those Whom the Gods Detest. The album was produced by Neil Kernon (NEVERMORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE), with drum production by HATE ETERNAL’s Erik Rutan, and artwork was created by Michal “Xaay” Loranc.
September 15, 2009 — Los Angeles’ INTRONAUT have announced that they will be playing in India for the first time. The band will play two shows in late October. Here are details from the band:
September 14, 2009 — Metal Blade Records has announced that it will be reissuing KING DIAMOND’s The Spiders Lullabye and The Graveyard. Both albums have been re-mastered by KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy LaRocque and are set to be released on October 13th.
September 11, 2009 — BORIS is set to release a new 7" series called Japanese Heavy Rock Hits. The series features three vinyl 7"s to be released over the next three months exclusively through Southern Lord.
September 10, 2009 — Despite the recent lineup shakeup, DIMMU BORGIR are hard at work on their forthcoming new album. The band offered a quick update to assure their fans that they have suffered no setbacks:
September 10, 2009 — PELICAN, who have kept busy this year with a whole lot of touring, will be embarking their own headlining U.S. tour that begins just days before the release of the band’s upcoming new album, What We All Come To Need.
September 9, 2009 — Metal Blade Records is proud to announce that BEHEMOTH are still dominating charts worldwide with their latest full-length release Evangelion, which was released on August 11.
September 9, 2009 — Irish thrashers, GAMA BOMB, will be entering the studio on September 15th to record their forthcoming album, Tales from the Grave in Space, which they will be giving away for free.
September 9, 2009 — Variance Films has announced the acquisition of U.S. theatrical rights for Until the Light Takes Us, the acclaimed documentary from directors Aaron Aites and Audrey Ewell.
September 9, 2009 — On October 27th, 2009, Indie Recordings will be releasing VREID’s Milorg in North America with distribution and marketing duties handled by The End Records. Praised by both fans and critics across Europe, Milorg showcases a unique sound that fuses dark atmospheric sounds with raw, aggressive rock-infused black metal.
September 4, 2009 — Norway’s SATYRICON have announced a 24-city headlining tour of North America which kicks off September 25th in Baltimore, MD. Support will come from BLEEDING THROUGH, CHTHONIC, and TOXIC HOLOCAUST (through 10/10).
September 3, 2009 — Ex-DEAD KENNEDYS vocalist, Jello Biafra, has joined forces with Ralph Spight (VICTIMS FAMILY, FREAK ACCIDENT, HELLWORMS), Jon Weiss (SHARKBAIT, HORSEY), Billy Gould (FAITH NO MORE), and Kimo Ball (FREAK ACCIDENT, CARNEYBALL JOHNSON, MOL TRIFFID, GRIDDLE) to form the new band, JELLO BIAFRA AND THE GUANTANAMO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.
September 2, 2009 — APESHIT has been added to CircleTwitt, a recently launched metal Twitter aggregator that provides metal fans a single place to get their metal news and tweets.
September 1, 2009 — Norway’s DIMMU BORGIR have confirmed the departure of keyboardist Mustis and bassist/vocalist I.C.S. Vortex. The following statement was released by the band: “We regret to inform you that we have parted ways with both I.
August 31, 2009 — Los Angeles, CA’s blackened-death metal force ABYSMAL DAWN recently returned home after an insanely long North American tour with GOATWHORE, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, DAATH and SUCCESS WILL WRITE APOCALYPSE ACROSS THE SKY.
August 31, 2009 — On October 27th, 2009, The End Records will release a brand new DVD from Japanese rockers DIR EN GREY. The DVD, entitled Average Blasphemy, is the first comprehensive collection of DIR EN GREY’s amazing music videos released in the United States.
August 28, 2009 — Swedish black metallers DARK FUNERAL are currently holed up in Abyss Studio with producer Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN) recording their as-yet-untitled new full-length, schedule for release in November via Regain Records.
August 28, 2009 — Death metal vets OBITUARY are readying to embark on a North American headlining tour in support of latest long player Darkest Day, released via Candlelight Records this past June.
August 27, 2009 — The release date for the new KATATONIA album has gone back slightly. Night is the New Day, is the Swedish masters of melancholy’s eighth studio album and their follow-up to 2006’s groundbreaking album, The Great Cold Distance.
August 27, 2009 — Peaceville Records is proud to announce the signing of Finnish prog death metallers, BARREN EARTH. With a line-up consisting of former members of prog/folk metal legends AMORPHIS, as well as current members of SWALLOW THE SUN, MOONSORROW and KREATOR, the band has been busy recording their debut album at the renowned Seawolf Studios in Helsinki, with the tracks currently being mixed by Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY) who has described it as, “One of the best albums I have ever had the privilege to mix.
August 26, 2009 — MUNICIPAL WASTE’s new music video for “Wrong Answer” has been released! The clip was filmed in New York City and was directed by David Brodsky (SUICIDE SILENCE, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER).
August 25, 2009 — The Gospel of Filth is an all-encompassing, coffee-table-sized book about the U.K.’s CRADLE OF FILTH, written by renowned music journalist Gavin Baddeley (Dissecting Marilyn Manson, Lucifer Rising) and the outspoken vocalist of the band, Dani Filth.
August 21, 2009 — Gothenburg, Sweden’s DARK TRANQUILLITY have announced details about their upcoming DVD, Where Death is Most Alive. Here is official word from the band: “After a lot of work, we’re proud to announce that the ‘Where Death Is Most Alive’ DVD will see the light of day on October 26th, 2009 in Europe and November 17th, 2009 in North America via Century Media Records.
August 18, 2009 — Ex-EXODUS vocalist Steve “Zetro” Souza and lead guitarist Glen Alvelais (FORBIDDEN/ex-TESTAMENT) has joined forces with ex-STRAPPING YOUNG LAD members Jed Simon, Byron Stroud and Gene Hoglan in a project known as TENET.
August 18, 2009 — On the heels of yesterday’s new album announcement, CONVERGE have posted the opening track, “Dark Horse,” for listening. Check it out on their official MySpace page: http://www.
August 18, 2009 — EVERY TIME I DIE has posted a new song, “Wonderlust,” from their forthcoming album, New Junk Aesthetic, which is due out on September 15 via Epitaph Records.
August 18, 2009 — Max Cavalera’s SOULFLY have confirmed a North American tour with support from PRONG, CATTLE DECAPITATION, and MUTINY WITHIN. The tour begins at the end of September in Los Angeles.
August 17, 2009 — Lambgoat has revealed that CONVERGE’s new album will carry the title Axe to Fall, and is scheduled for release on October 20th through Epitaph Records (with vinyl to come via Deathwish Inc.
August 11, 2009 — Texas grindcore freaks INSECT WARFARE, who split following the release of their 2007 album, World Extermination, are reuniting for a string of UK and Ireland shows later this year.
August 10, 2009 — “The most evil video ever,” as described by Metal Injection, has been banned from YouTube. Said video, BEHEMOTH’s “Ov Fire and the Void,” is a graphic yet highly polished visual accompaniment to an already evil song.
August 10, 2009 — Boston’s DOOMRIDERS have been forced to drop off the upcoming KYLESA tour due to guitarist Nate Newton’s commitment with CONVERGE. The band posted the following message apologizing for the cancellation:
August 10, 2009 — Nick Oliveri, the musician best known for his former role as the bassist in QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE and KYUSS, is set to release his first solo album under his own name.
August 6, 2009 — Los Angeles’ IT’S CASUAL is Amobea Music’s “Homegrown Artist of the Month” for August. The heavy noisemakers, who will also be featured in the LA Weekly this month, recently released the album, The New Los Angeles.
August 5, 2009 — Richmond, Virginia’s CANNABIS CORPSE have set The Weeding as the title of their forthcoming EP. The Weeding will be available via Tankcrimes Records in October on 12" vinyl, CD, digital, and “Die Hard Pro Stoner” editions (details TBA).
August 3, 2009 — MASTODON will be co-headlining a North American tour with animated metal band, DETHKLOK from the Adult Swim series, Metalocalypse. Support will come from CONVERGE and HIGH ON FIRE.
August 3, 2009 — SATYRICON have announced that they will be returning to North America for a headlining tour this fall. The tour will be rounded out by BLEEDING THROUGH, CHTHONIC, and TOXIC HOLOCAUST.
July 28, 2009 — EARLY MAN want you to get your “fat lazy American ass” out to their slew of just-announced August shows with HIGH ON FIRE so they can shoot their “soundwaves of death into your soul.
July 25, 2009 — Sweden’s BURST have announced that they will go on an “indefinite hiatus” this fall following a wealth of summer touring activity, which includes their first U.
July 23, 2009 — Japan’s BORIS have two separate splits scheduled for release in August. The first is a split CD with TORCHE, called Chapter Ahead Being Fake, on Daymare Recordings.
July 23, 2009 — France’s GOJIRA have announced a series of headline dates on off days from the METALLICA/LAMB OF GOD tour which goes from September 14th thru October 18.
July 22, 2009 — Death metal stalwarts, CANNIBAL CORPSE, have released their entire discography in one digital package on iTunes. The 16 album package contains 196 songs and costs $99.
July 20, 2009 — DOOMRIDERS, the band featuring Nate Newton (CONVERGE), Chris Pupecki (CAST IRON HIKE), JR Conners (CAVE IN), and Jebb Riley (DISAPPEARER), have set Darkness Come Alive as the title of their sophomore full-length album, which drops September 29th via Deathwish Inc.
July 20, 2009 — Swedish death metal graduates, IN FLAMES, have announced a North American headlining tour in support of its latest album, A Sense of Purpose. The band, which was hand-picked by MEGADETH for last year’s North American Gigantour dates, will be joined on this tour by BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, and THE FACELESS.
July 18, 2009 — MARDUK’s forthcoming new album, entitled Wormwood, is being finalized, and while a release date is not yet set, the band have revealed the album cover (to the right).
July 16, 2009 — Sweden’s HYPOCRISY have set A Taste of Extreme Divinity as the title of their new album, due November 3rd in North America (and October 23rd in Europe).
July 15, 2009 — Support acts for DOWN’s upcoming North American tour have been confirmed. North Carolina’s WEEDEATER have been confirmed, and Canadian dates will feature support from VOIVOD while the bulk of U.
July 9, 2009 — Fresh off the heels of their successful and critically acclaimed first U.S. headlining tour, French metal act, GOJIRA, have been tapped by METALLICA to support the first half of their North American fall tour in September and October, along with LAMB OF GOD.
July 7, 2009 — GREYMACHINE, the collaboration between JESU/GODFLESH’s Justin K. Broadrick, ISIS’ Aaron Turner, Diarmuid Dalton (JESU), and Dave Cochran (HEAD OF DAVID, GOD, ICE), will be releasing their debut album, Disconnected, on August 4th through Hydra Head Records.
July 6, 2009 — As many of you already know, MERCYFUL FATE’s “Evil” is featured as a playable track on Guitar Hero: Metallica. MERCYFUL FATE re-recorded these two tracks specifically for the game because the original masters no longer exist.
July 2, 2009 — Cleveland’s KEELHAUL are coming out of a six-year hiatus with a new album called Keelhaul’s Triumphant Return to Obscurity. The album, which picks up where the band left off with heavy and precise instrumentation, is set for an August 18th release through Hydra Head Records.
July 2, 2009 — As previously mentioned, LACUNA COIL will be blazing the trails with a summer tour of North America with KILL HANNAH, SEVENTH VOID, and DOMMIN. Tour dates are as follows:
June 29, 2009 — DOWN, who are spending the first half of their summer performing at European music festivals, will be bringing their act back to North America in August.
June 27, 2009 — New York death metal veterans, IMMOLATION, have inked a worldwide, multi-album contract with Nuclear Blast Records. Their first release for the label, the band’s eighth, will drop early 2010.
June 26, 2009 — SUNN O))), who recently announced a handful of Midwest shows, just revealed dates for a West Coast tour. The tour kicks off in Seattle where SUNN O))) will headline two Southern Lord label showcase events.
June 25, 2009 — Poland’s VADER have announced a North American tour in support of their forthcoming new album, Necropolis (out September 22nd in the U.S. and Canada). The 38-show Decibel Presents: Monsters Of Death Tour begins November 4th in Baltimore, Maryland, and also features DECREPIT BIRTH, WARBRINGER, THE AMENTA, S.
June 24, 2009 — BEHEMOTH, who have set Evangelion as the title of the band’s ninth hell-breaking opus, have just posted a brand new track and the first single off the band’s August release on their official MySpace page.
June 23, 2009 — Sweden’s ARCH ENEMY will be unleashing their new album, The Root of All Evil, on October 6th (September 28th in Europe) through Century Media Records.
June 22, 2009 — Sweden’s MARDUK have announced a few U.S. shows following their last minute withdrawal from the Blackenedfest with MAYHEM due to visa issues. These makeup dates will feature support from WITHERED and BLACK ANVIL.
June 19, 2009 — MEGADETH have announced Endgame as the title of their twelfth studio album. The album is tentatively scheduled for a September release through Roadrunner Records. Endgame was recorded at the band’s brand new, self-built studio, Vic’s Garage, located near San Diego and named after their iconic Vic Rattlehead character (seen on the band’s album covers).
June 17, 2009 — SUSPERIA vocalist, Athera (Pål Mathiesen), is set to make his return to the stage at this year’s Steinkjer Festival in Norway following his heart attack recovery.
June 16, 2009 — In addition to their upcoming trek across North America with PATHOLOGY and MASTER, DREAMING DEAD have been added to the first half of MONSTROSITY’s summer tour.
June 16, 2009 — The Kansas City Power Metal Fest, a two-day metal festival in Kansas City, MO, is confirmed for August 14th and 15th at The Riot Room.
June 16, 2009 — New Orleans grinders, SOILENT GREEN, have recorded the opening theme song for the fourth season of Adult Swim’s Squidbillies animated series. Here’s what vocalist Ben Falgoust had to say:
June 12, 2009 — Seattle’s NEVERMORE have recently completed the songwriting process for the follow up to 2005’s This Godless Endeavor entitled The Obsidian Conspiracy. The band will commence recording in August with producer/SOILWORK guitarist Peter Wichers (who previously worked with NEVERMORE vocalist Warrel Dane on his solo debut Praises to the War Machine).
June 10, 2009 — Portugal’s MOONSPELL and Switzerland’s SAMAEL will be uniting for the Night Eternal Above America tour. The tour, pairing veteran heavyweights, takes place this fall and features support from BOOK OF BLACK EARTH and SECRETS OF THE MOON.
June 5, 2009 — Richmond, Virginia’s MUNICIPAL WASTE have unveiled the cover art for their much anticipated new album, Massive Aggressive, which is scheduled to drop August 24th through Earache Records.
June 5, 2009 — Architects of sound, SUNN O))), have scheduled some live shows in the Midwest to take place in July. Many cities/states on the tour are places they have not played before.
June 4, 2009 — Jarboe (formerly of THE SWANS) has announced that she will be performing at Santos Party House in New York on Saturday, June 27th. Jarboe’s return to New York comes at the end of a full European tour and marks Jarboe’s first time performing music from her latest album, Mahakali, live in the US.
June 4, 2009 — SOILWORK vocalist, Bjorn “Speed” Strid, has revealed that he is working on a solo project of diverse proportions. Read his announcement below: “The tropical heat has just arrived to Sweden and things are starting to shape up.
June 4, 2009 — Helsinki’s THE 69 EYES have signed a deal with The End Records in North America. The band’s ninth studio album, Back in Blood, will be released on September 15th.
June 2, 2009 — DEATH ANGEL have amicably split with their longtime drummer, Andy Galeon. Here’s their official statement from the band: “As some of you may have already heard, DEATH ANGEL’s long time drummer and original member Andrew Galeon has decided that it is time for him to move on from the band.
June 2, 2009 — Italy’s LACUNA COIL have announced a headlining North American summer tour with support from KILL HANNAH, SEVENTH VOID, and DOMMIN. The tour, which kicks off July 7th, will be the band’s first headlining tour of North America in over two years.
June 2, 2009 — Norway’s ULVER performed live this past weekend for the first time in 15 years. The eclectic band who have dabbled in everything from black metal to electronic to ambient/experiemental to art rock played at the Norwegian Festival of Literature at Maihaugsalen in Lillehammer, Norway on Saturday, May 30th.
June 1, 2009 — The track “Unfurling a Darkened Gospel,” from JOB FOR A COWBOY’s forthcoming new album, Ruination, has been posted for listening. Click on “New Track Here” in the widget below to listen.
May 31, 2009 — Canadian metallers BISON B.C. and Wisconsin thrashers LAZARUS AD have teamed up for the 2009 Baptized in Beer Tour, which kicks off on July 8th in Vancouver, BC.
May 31, 2009 — The new and final album, entitled Clean Hands Go Foul, from legendary New York doom-metal supergroup, KHANATE, can be streamed online here. The four song mini-epic features James Plotkin and Alan Dubin (OLD), Tim Wyskida (BLIND IDIOT GOD) and Stephen O’Malley (BURNING WITCH and SUNN O)))).
May 29, 2009 — The Blackend Music Series is an upcoming new event that will kick off July 31st in Brooklyn, NY with three legendary metal bands, BRUTAL TRUTH, PIG DESTROYER, and REPULSION.
May 29, 2009 — Blackenedfest, a North American tour featuring MAYHEM, MARDUK, CEPHALIC CARNAGE, CATTLE DECAPITATION, and WITHERED has been partially marred by MARDUK’s unexplained absence from the tour. The tour, which kicked off on May 21st, has carried on without MARDUK’s participation.
May 28, 2009 — Longstanding Norwegian black metallers, IMMORTAL, have titled their forthcoming new album, All Shall Fall. The album will be their eighth full-length, and is tentatively scheduled for a fall release through Nuclear Blast Records.
May 28, 2009 — Season of Mist have announced the signing of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, who will be releasing their fourth studio album in early 2010 in collaboration with the band’s brand new label Phonogetic Records.
May 28, 2009 — The Viper Room in Hollywood has been bringing metal back to the Sunset Strip as the Strip’s only metal bar with its Friday night metal club, The Dirty Lounge.
May 20, 2009 — BONE GNAWER is an American/Swedish death metal band, which features Kam Lee (MASSACRE/ex-DENIAL FIEND), Rogga Johansson (PAGANIZER), Ronnie Bjornstorm (RIBSPREADER, HATE AMMO) and Morgan Lie (NAGLFAR).
May 19, 2009 — Drummer Richard Christy’s new band, CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED, have announced they’ve signed with Metal Blade Records. CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED’s roster is stacked with some of metal’s most talented musicians–famed producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER) on guitars, Tim “Ripper” Owens (BEYOND FEAR, ex-ICED EARTH, ex-JUDAS PRIEST) on vocals, Steve Digiorgio (SADUS, TESTAMENT, CONTROL DENIED) on bass, and Christy on drums.
May 13, 2009 — Los Angeles’ DREAMING DEAD have announced that they participating in the 31st Annual Harmony Festival at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, CA this summer, and will be the sole extreme metal act at the event.
May 13, 2009 — PELICAN will be hitting the road in support of their new EP, Ephemeral, during the months of May and June as direct support to ISIS. Also joining them will be TOMBS.
May 12, 2009 — EARLY MAN are set to hit the road with CKY next month, following last month’s abrupt pulling out of a tour with VALIENT THORR due to an injury sustained by frontman Mike Conte.
May 11, 2009 — The Viper Room in Hollywood, who’ve already been bringing the metal to The Sunset Strip with a weekly metal night called The Dirty Lounge, will be home to a new monthly metal night, dubbed Club My War, that kicks off tomorrow night (May 12th).
May 9, 2009 — Daniel Dismal, vocalist/mainman of CREMATORIUM and mastermind behind The Los Angeles Murderfest and Church of the 8th Day booking/promotion/management, was recently interviewed by Liz Ohanesian for LA Weekly.
May 6, 2009 — Fresh from wrapping up their latest UK tour, the members of EVILE have entered the studio to record the yet-to-be-titled follow up album to their 2007 debut, Enter the Grave.
May 6, 2009 — THE GATHERING’s new album, The West Pole, is available for streaming in its entirety at this location: http://3voor12.vpro.nl/speler/luisterpaal/41900839 The West Pole is the band’s ninth studio album and first to feature new vocalist Silje Wergeland (OCTAVIA SPERATI).
May 4, 2009 — Arizona’s JOB FOR A COWBOY have completed work on their forthcoming new album, Ruination. The album is scheduled for a worldwide release in July through Metal Blade Records.
May 1, 2009 — HATEBREED have confirmed a summer tour of the U.S. in support of their new album, For the Lions (in store May 5th). The tour, dubbed Decimation of the Nations, is sponsored by Hot Topic, and will feature CHIMAIRA as the main support act on all dates.
May 1, 2009 — Swedish black metal band, SHINING, have posted two new songs, “Vilseledda Barnasjälars Hemvist” and “Plågoande O’Helga Plågoande,” from their forthcoming sixth studio album, VI / Klagopsalmer.
April 28, 2009 — Final details for SUFFOCATION’s forthcoming new album, Blood Oath, have been revealed. The album, which drops July 14th in North America through Nuclear Blast Records, will be available in three formats.
April 27, 2009 — ARKAEA, featuring members Raymond Herrera and Christian Olde Wolbers of FEAR FACTORY and THREAT SIGNAL, have just finished their debut album Years in the Darkness. The album is set to be released on July 14, 2009 on E1 Music, formerly Koch Records.
April 27, 2009 — DARKTHRONE’s Fenriz and Nattefrost (of NATTEFROST and CARPATHIAN FOREST) will be releasing a split album called Engangsgrill via Indie Recordings. ** Fenriz**’ three tracks will be released under the moniker, FENRIZ’ RED PLANET, while Nattefrost’s will be under NATTEFROST.
April 26, 2009 — In a world of increasing conformity and musical banality, Devin Townsend is among the few real personalities who have character, charisma and surprising innovative creativity. As a solo artist and producer, a member of the (by now disbanded) STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, and vocalist on Steve Vai’s album, Sex and Religion, – Townsend has always inspired fans and critics alike.
April 25, 2009 — XASTHUR’s next evolution in experimental, black metal art is set to materialize on May 26th in the form of All Reflections Drained via Hydra Head Records.
April 24, 2009 — NILE will be entering the studio on June 8th at Mana Recording in Tampa, Florida to work on their forthcoming second album on Nuclear Blast with Neil Kernon as producer and Erik Rutan as engineer.
April 23, 2009 — MNEMIC guitarist Mircea Gabriel Eftemie is planning to build a new Interactive Performance System in relation to his studies at the University of Aalborg, Denmark.
April 23, 2009 — THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER are set to release their first ever DVD, Majesty, on May 12th. The two DVD digipak contains over three hours of footage including interviews, performances, the complete THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER audio/video history, and assorted everyday antics.
April 23, 2009 — Footage from Anneke van Giersbergen’s recent in-store appearance at Plato in Utrecht, Netherlands on April 3rd has been posted on YouTube for viewing. The fan-filmed videos of former THE GATHERING and current AGUA DE ANNIQUE vocalist was provided by dastardmusic.
April 21, 2009 — Virginia thrashers, MUNICIPAL WASTE, who recently embarked on their tour alongside LAMB OF GOD, AS I LAY DYING, CHILDREN OF BODOM, and GOD FORBID, have set up a couple blogs to document their touring antics.
April 20, 2009 — THE ANSWER have been forced to cancel their Los Angeles and New York City shows next week due to James Heatley breaking his hand. The band has been touring with AC/DC and were to hit Los Angeles and New York City for headlining club dates next week.
April 17, 2009 — In an interview with HardTimes, EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt and frontman Rob Dukes confirmed that they are working on their first official live DVD. Here’s what Holt had to say:
April 17, 2009 — Polish death metallers VADER have announced the track listing for their new album, Necropolis (named after the first VADER song ever), tentatively due out on Nuclear Blast Records in late summer.
April 16, 2009 — BEHEMOTH have set Evangelion as the title of their 9th full-length studio album due out this summer. Evangelion marks the follow up to the bands extremely successful 2007 release The Apostasy; a release which saw BEHEMOTH acquire the supporting slot to second stage headliners HATEBREED on Ozzfest, followed by a co-headlining tour with JOB FOR A COWBOY and another North American tour as direct support to DIMMU BORGIR.
April 16, 2009 — DARKEST HOUR, the Washington D.C. metal quintet, will be releasing their fifth full-length record, The Eternal Return, on June 23rd through Victory Records. The album was produced by Brian McTernan (SENSES FAIL, THRICE, FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES) and recorded at his Baltimore, MD-based Salad Days Studio.
April 16, 2009 — Check out AMORPHIS’ MySpace page to listen to the song “Silver Bride” off their forthcoming new album, Skyforger. The track will be released as a single in Finland on April 22nd.
April 15, 2009 — Massachusetts’ KILLSWITCH ENGAGE have announced the title for their eagerly anticipated fifth album. The title is Killswitch Engage, which also happens to be the title of their first album.
April 14, 2009 — MASTODON will be playing a free show this Wednesday, April 15th as a part of the MySpace Secret Shows series at The Launchpad in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
April 14, 2009 — THE MARS VOLTA will be releasing their fifth album, Octahedron, on June 23rd via Warner Bros. Records in the U.S. (June 22nd via Mercury Records elsewhere).
April 12, 2009 — MADDER MORTEM’s new album, Eight Ways, is set for a June 16th release date in the U.S. It will be their first album for Peaceville Records.
April 11, 2009 — EARLY MAN have regretfully been forced to cancel their tour with VALIENT THORR due to an injury sustained by frontman, Mike Conte. He released the following statement:
April 11, 2009 — KHANATE’s next album, Clean Hands Go Foul, is scheduled for a May 26th release on Hydra Head Records. The band, featuring James Plotkin (OLD, PHANTOMSMASHER), Stephen O’Malley (SUNN O))), BURNING WITCH), Alan Dubin (OLD), and Tim Wyskida (BLIND IDIOT GOD), also announced that Clean Hands Go Foul will be their final album.
April 10, 2009 — Poland’s VADER have inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The band issued the following statement on the signing: “We are very glad that after so many years VADER finally joined one of the biggest metal labels in the world.
April 9, 2009 — Following the successful reissue of Once Sent from the Golden Hall, AMON AMARTH will be reissuing The Avenger as a 2-disc, deluxe, digipak set on May 26.
April 9, 2009 — Reunited grindcore band, BRUTAL TRUTH, have made their new album available for listening in its entirety on http://www.evolutionthroughrevolution.info. The album, entitled Evolution Through Revolution, is the band’s first album in 10 years.
April 8, 2009 — American death metal band, ANGELCORPSE, have officially announced their disbandment. In a short statement on the band’s official MySpace page, they simply stated, “due to musical differences amongst its members, it has been decided with much consideration to end ANGELCORPSE.
April 7, 2009 — DARKANE are back in Sweden having completed their North American tour. Guitarist Christofer Malmström offered the following update: “We’re back in Sweden from a what we believe was a very successful tour in North America together with SOILWORK, WARBRINGER and SWALLOW THE SUN.
April 7, 2009 — EMPEROR/ZYKLON guitarist Samoth recently filled in for MINDGRINDER guitarist Håkon during the band’s performance in Oslo, Norway. Samoth is also continuing work on his new solo album with MINDGRINDER’s Cosmocrator.
April 7, 2009 — KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, who recently put the finishing touches on their yet-to-be-titled new album, have been officially added to this year’s Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival’s main stage.
April 6, 2009 — GOATWHORE and ABIGAIL WILLIAMS will team up for the Conquer & Curse Tour 2009 this summer. Joining them will be DAATH, ABYSMAL DAWN and SUCCESS WILL WRITE APOCALYPSE ACROSS THE SKY.
April 3, 2009 — After last year’s successful East Coast U.S. tour, Japan’s COFFINS are set to bring their heavy music to the West Coast, which includes a stop at Murderfest 5.
April 2, 2009 — Poland’s BEHEMOTH has tapped Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, SLIPKNOT, NAPALM DEATH, CARCASS) to mix their new, as of yet untitled album due out late summer 2009.
April 2, 2009 — GOD FORBID has officially confirmed that longtime guitarist Dallas Coyle has left the band. Doc Coyle issued the following statement: “There have been a barrage of rumors and questions on whether or not Dallas has left GOD FORBID.
April 1, 2009 — The Heart Is A Drum Machine, the eagerly awaited documentary film that explores the complex and critical relationship between humanity and music, will premiere in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 25th at Nike’s Ricardo Montalbán Theater in the heart of Hollywood.
April 1, 2009 — SHADOWS FALL have announced two new shows to their itinerary. The band will be supporting KORN on Friday May 22 in Wallingford, CT and will also be playing this year’s Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee this June.
March 31, 2009 — JUDAS PRIEST will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of their album British Steel with a U.S. tour this summer in which they’ll perform the album in its entirety.
March 27, 2009 — The Second Annual Metal Insider Summit has been confirmed for this year’s New England Metal and Hardcore Festival on April 17, 2009. The Metal Insider Summit is an interactive, educational conference consisting of two panels where fans and the metal music industry can engage, share ideas and help further the scene.
March 27, 2009 — Death metal band, VITAL REMAINS, posted an urgent notice regarding theft of their gear: “Tuesday night [March 24] thieves broke into our trailer at our hotel in Austin, Texas and stole some of our gear (Gator’s bass and Tony’s guitar are pictured below) and 300+ shirts.
March 25, 2009 — Heavy Metal in Instanbul, the follow-up documentary to Heavy Metal in Baghdad, can be streamed in its entirety right here, courtesy of VBS.TV. The documentary follows the Iraqi band, ACRASSICAUDA, during their two years of exile in Syria and Turkey.
March 25, 2009 — Norway’s BLOOD RED THRONE have finished recording their fifth album, Souls of Damnation. The first pressing of the album will include two bonus tracks plus a DVD featuring interviews, an in-depth studio diary, and footage of the album recording.
March 25, 2009 — CANDLEMASS’ new album, Death Magic Doom, is available for streaming on the band’s official MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/candlemass Death Magic Doom is the follow-up to last year’s massive Lucifer Rising EP and second full-length album with new vocalist Robert Lowe (SOLITUDE AETURNUS).
March 23, 2009 — CONVERGE have posted video footage of them in the studio rehearsing material from their new album. The new stuff sounds as hard-hitting and arresting as ever!
March 22, 2009 — Long running death metal/hardcore stalwarts CREMATORIUM have just confirmed a handful of west coast dates, including appearances alongside BRUTAL TRUTH and at Murderfest 5.0. Here are the dates:
March 19, 2009 — The recently regrouped ABATTOIR have scheduled a warm-up show in Los Angeles (at The Black Castle on April 18th) to prepare for their upcoming European tour.
March 18, 2009 — Acclaimed ethereal USBM unit WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM have just announced their upcoming North American tour this May, which they will be headlining. Joined by a host of other acts such as KRALLICE, A STORM OF LIGHT, THRONES and more along the way, the band has also been added to this year’s Maryland Deathfest which lands in the middle of the tour, appearing alongside DESTROYER 666, ABSU, BOLT THROWER, BRUTAL TRUTH and more.
March 17, 2009 — Oslo City District Court has delivered a verdict on the main question in the GORGOROTH trademark case, which took place at the end of January 2009.
March 17, 2009 — MUNICIPAL WASTE have reached the halfway point in recording their new album, titled Massive Aggressive, tentatively scheduled for an August 2009 release on Earache Records. The band are recording the album at Red Planet Studios in Richmond, VA with acclaimed producer Zeuss (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL), who also produced the band’s previous album, 2007’s The Art of Partying.
March 12, 2009 — THE GATHERING have finally announced their new singer, Silje Wergeland (OCTAVIA SPERATI). She will make her debut on the band’s new album, The West Pole. The album is set for an April 2009 release via the band’s Psychonaut Records.
March 11, 2009 — If you haven’t yet seen it, check out MASTODON’s “Divinations” video from their forthcoming new album, Crack the Skye.
March 10, 2009 — Athera (Pal Mathieson), vocalist with Norwegian band SUSPERIA, was rushed to Akershus Universitetssykehus Hospital in Lørenskog, Norway yesterday morning after suffering from acute stomach pains and heavy bleeding.
March 9, 2009 — DECAPITATED guitarist Vogg has made the decision to continue the band and is looking for a new drummer to replace his brother Witek, and vocalist Covan, who remains hospitalized following their tragic van accident.
March 5, 2009 — NIN.com has posted high-quality footage of guitarist Ben Weinman and vocalist Greg Puciato of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN performing “Wish” with NINE INCH NAILS on February 28 at the Soundwave Festival in Adelaide, Australia.
March 5, 2009 — Cleveland’s CHIMAIRA have a new single, “Secrets of the Dead,” which is available for purchase via the iTunes Store and can be heard streaming on the band’s official MySpace page.
March 5, 2009 — O.G. death metallers, PESTILENCE, are back after 15 years of deathlike silence. The band are set to release a brand new studio album entitled Resurrection Macabre.
March 4, 2009 — Los Angeles’ DREAMING DEAD will be invading Annie’s Social Club in San Francisco this Friday with NIHILIST, DÉTENTE, HAVOK, and headliner SADISTIC INTENT. The band will also be hitting the road in July as support for PATHOLOGY and labelmates, MASTER.
March 4, 2009 — ** The End Record**’s Omega Mailorder is featuring a pre-order special of MASTODON’s new album, Crack the Skye. All pre-orders include an exclusive MASTODON t-shirt for free!
March 4, 2009 — This year’s Thrasho De Mayo IV is set to take place May 1st at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, CA. The latest installment of the thrash-fest will mark the North American live debut of German thrash legends, EXUMER.
March 3, 2009 — MASTODON will embark on a North American tour next month in support of their new album, Crack the Skye. For this tour, MASTODON will perform said album in its entirety.
March 3, 2009 — New York’s SUFFOCATION are currently in the studio working on their new album, Blood Oath. The band provided a brief update on their progress: “We’ve just completed another shift at Full Force Studios (6pm - 2am, typical shift).
February 27, 2009 — Japan’s DIR EN GREY are on schedule to release a new DVD, entitled Shinkiba, on April 28th in North America as a Japanese import only and in two versions–a standard edition and a limited edition with an alternate cover and two bonus discs.
February 26, 2009 — Massachusetts’ ALL THAT REMAINS have scheduled two warm-up shows in preparation for their headlining appearance at this year’s New England Metal and Hardcore Festival in Worcester, Mass.
February 26, 2009 — FAITH NO MORE’s reunion plans have officially been confirmed by bassist Billy Gould, who issued the following statement to Blabbermouth.net: “FAITH NO MORE has always stood out as some sort of unique beast; part dog, part cat — its music almost as schizophrenic as the personalities of its members.
February 25, 2009 — The internet is abuzz with an offhanded announcement that FAITH NO MORE will be reuniting for a European tour this summer. A press release, issued to announce FAITH NO MORE frontman, Mike Patton’s participation in this year’s Coachella festival, also added “the highly anticipated reunion tour with FAITH NO MORE in Europe this summer.
February 24, 2009 — Atlanta’s MASTODON will be releasing their fourth album, Crack the Skye, on March 23rd through Reprise Records. Crack the Skye was recorded in their hometown with producer Brendan O’Brien (PEARL JAM, AC/DC, AUDIOSLAVE).
February 24, 2009 — U.K.’s MY DYING BRIDE are set to release their 10th studio album and first since 2006’s A Line of Deathless Kings on March 23rd through Peaceville Records.
February 23, 2009 — Surviving members of the defunct SENTENCED have collectively issued a statement regarding the passing of former guitarist/songwriter, Miika Tenkula: “SENTENCED mourn the loss of Miika Tenkula, a dear friend, a truly remarkable artist and musician, and the very soul of what used to be SENTENCED.
February 21, 2009 — Atlanta’s DAATH have revealed the tracklisting and artwork for their new album, The Concealers. Produced and mixed by Jason Suecof and Mark Lewis (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, DEVILDRIVER), The Concealers is set for release on April 21st in the U.
February 20, 2009 — Miika Tenkula, founding member of Finland’s SENTENCED has passed away today, as reported by Blabbermouth. The official cause of death has not been released.
February 20, 2009 — The title-track from the new BRUTAL TRUTH album, Evolution Through Revolution, is available for preview on the band’s MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/brutalfuckingtruth Evolution Through Revolution, which was recorded at Watchman Studios in Lockport, NY with engineer Doug White (PSYOPUS), is set for an April 14th North American release date (April 20th internationally) via Relapse Records.
February 18, 2009 — Record label/mail order distro Robotic Empire’s audio archiving project Robotic Obscurities has seen a new posting, including newly unearthed and previously unreleased material from several Richmond, Virginia metal bands.
February 14, 2009 — SUNN O))) are set to release their seventh studio album, entitled Monoliths & Dimensions. The album features guest musicians, enigmatic Hungarian vocalist Attila Csihar (MAYHEM, TORMENTOR, etc.
February 12, 2009 — AMORPHIS have set Skyforger as the title of their ninth full-length album, tentatively due out this Summer in North America (and May 29th in Europe) through Nuclear Blast Records.
February 11, 2009 — Blackenedfest has been announced for North America and will feature MAYHEM, MARDUK, CEPHALIC CARNAGE, CATTLE DECAPITATION, and WITHERED. The tour kicks off May 21st in New York.
February 10, 2009 — The Earache Records reissuing machine is chugging along as the label are reissuing a pair of GODFLESH releases, Songs of Love and Hate (1996) and it’s accompanying remix album, Love and Hate in Dub (1997).
February 10, 2009 — Daniel Cardoso of HEAD CONTROL SYSTEM, also featuring Kristoffer G. Rygg (a.k.a Garm of ULVER), has announced that a solo album under the band name, DEL, is on course for completion.
February 10, 2009 — STAROFASH (featuring Heidi Solberg Tveitan, a.k.a. Ihriel) has just completed the soundtrack to an Irish film called Ulterior. Written and directed by Jason Mehlhorn, Ulterior is a low-budget debut feature film from Jason Mehlhorn.
February 7, 2009 — Candlelight Records has announced their third label tour, dubbed CIII, to kick off June 6th. The package will feature the talents of US black metal band, ABSU, with support coming from France’s GLORIOR BELLI, Austin-based AVERSE SEFIRA and Los Angeles-based SOTHIS.
February 7, 2009 — Southern Lord Records has announced the signing of Chicago’s PELICAN. The instrumental rockers are busy recording their first EP for the label at Red Room Studios in Seattle, Washington.
February 6, 2009 — The North American release of DIR EN GREY’s DVD, A Knot Of, has been delayed due to a “manufacturing error.” The DVD has a new street date of February 24th via The End Records.
February 6, 2009 — MORBID ANGEL are set to play their first U.S. show since 2006. The band will be playing the Key Club in Los Angeles on May 26th as a warm-up for their Australian tour.
February 5, 2009 — Two additional U.S. shows have been added to **CARCASS’**s recently announced Exhumed to Consume II tour. The tour, also featuring SUICIDE SILENCE, SAMAEL, ARSIS, and PSYCROPTIC, will now be making stops at the following cities:
February 5, 2009 — Avantgarde black metal band, CODE, are set to release a new album, Resplendent Grotesque, on Tabu Records this spring (date TBD). The band, featuring guitarist Aort, bassist Vicotnik (DHG), vocalist Kvohst (DHG), and drummer Adrian Erlandsson (CRADLE OF FILTH, AT THE GATES), will be making a live appearance at the forthcoming Inferno festival in Norway on April 11th.
February 3, 2009 — Party-thrashers, MUNICIPAL WASTE, are scheduled to enter the studio in March to commence recording of their fourth album. The recording will take place at Red Planet Studios in their hometown of Richmond, VA.
February 3, 2009 — PIG DESTROYER and TRASH TALK will be playing a free Scion Metal Show at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood tomorrow, February 4th. RSVP is required, and entry is not guaranteed so get there early.
February 1, 2009 — Guitarist Alex Auburn, of Canadian death metal band, CRYPTOPSY, has quit the band after a decade in the ranks, as revealed by Blabbermouth.net. His statement reads:
January 31, 2009 — Former members of U.K. metallers, BIOMECHANICAL, Chris Webb (guitar) and Matt C. (drums), have unveiled songs from their new band, SOLSIKK, on their MySpace page.
January 30, 2009 — CONVERGE have scheduled a handful of east coast tour dates, beginning with the Scion Rock Festival in Atlanta: 02/28: Atlanta, GA @ Scion Rock Festival w/ MASTODON, NEUROSIS, HIGH ON FIRE, BORIS, and more [info] 03/23: Allston, MA @ ICC Church w/ CEREMONY, COLISEUM, RISE AND FALL, PULLING TEETH 03/24: Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place w/ CEREMONY, COLISEUM, RISE AND FALL, PULLING TEETH 03/25: Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop w/ CEREMONY, COLISEUM, RISE AND FALL, PULLING TEETH 03/26: Lemoyne, PA @ Championship w/ CEREMONY, COLISEUM, RISE AND FALL, PULLING TEETH 03/27: Brooklyn, NY @ Europa w/ CEREMONY, COLISEUM, RISE AND FALL, PULLING TEETH 03/28: Richmond, VA @ United Blood Fest w/ CEREMONY, COLISEUM, RISE AND FALL, PULLING TEETH, etc.
January 30, 2009 — Germany’s SUIDAKRA are set to release their ninth studio album, Crógacht, an epic combination of melodic death metal and folk music, on March 9th. The album was recorded at Gernart Studios with producer Martin Muchwalter and features artwork from Belgian graphic artist, Kris Verwimp, who also happened to write lyrics for the concept album.
January 30, 2009 — U.S. CHRISTMAS are kicking off a handful of shows beginning tonight in their home state of North Carolina. Along the way, the band will be making a stop in Atlanta for the Scion Rock Fest (which also features heavyweights, MASTODON, NEUROSIS, CONVERGE, and more).
January 30, 2009 — WINO (the band) have announced a last minute show, making it their debut live performance, at 9:30 (the club) in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, February 7th.
January 29, 2009 — Sweden’s OPETH are set to return to North America for a third tour run supporting their acclaimed Watershed album. Direct support will come from Norway’s ENSLAVED, who recently won their third Norwegian Grammy award, are touring in support of their much talked about Vertebrae album.
January 29, 2009 — Legendary thrashers, TESTAMENT, will be reissuing two albums, Demonic (1997) and The Gathering (1999) on gatefold double vinyl through Prosthetic Records on Februrary 3rd. Each will feature etched artwork on Side D and be limited to 1,000 copies worldwide.
January 28, 2009 — Texas-based mythological occult metal band ABSU have posted the song “Girra’s Temple” from their self-titled new album due in stores February 24. The song offers fans the first listen to material on the anxiously awaited new album that features an all-star array of guest musicians.
January 28, 2009 — CARCASS have announced that they will be returning to the United States this March for the Exhumed to Consume II tour. The follow up to last year’s highly successful reunion tour, Exhume to Consume, will feature SUICIDE SILENCE, SAMAEL, ARSIS and PSYCROPTIC plus a few special guests on select dates.
January 28, 2009 — For the third time in five years, ENSLAVED have won the Spellemann Award (the Norwegian equivalent to the American Grammy) for Best Metal Album 2008 with their latest offering, Vertebrae.
January 28, 2009 — MILLIONS, the Chicago-based band led by Seventh Rule Recordings boss Scott Flaster, proudly reveals “Lest The Professor Catches Fire,” the first track off its forthcoming full-length debut, Gather Scatter.
January 28, 2009 — Montreal technical death metallers NEURAXIS are currently prepping for back-to-back tours. First up is the “Montreal Assault” tour, which will see the band play alongside DESPISED ICON, CARNIFEX, THE PLASMARIFLE and labelmates BENEATH THE MASSACRE.
January 28, 2009 — The End Records announced today the signing of Karl Sanders, the driving force behind South Carolina’s Egyptian-themed death metal titans NILE. The label will release Sanders’ second full-length solo album, entitled _Saurian Exorcism_s, on April 14th.
January 28, 2009 — March 6th and 7th, 2009 will bear witness to return of the authentic, pioneering madman, Bobby Liebling and PENTAGRAM. This legendary US deity of dark rock and doom will cast its shadow for two nights only, March 6th and 7th, 2009 in NYC and Baltimore.
January 28, 2009 — SOILWORK, who are set to kick off their North American tour with DARKANE this Friday, have posted their new music video for the track, “20 More Miles.
January 28, 2009 — Irish rockers, THE ANSWER, premiered the track “Demon Eyes” from their forthcoming album, Everyday Demons, via Spin.com. Everyday Demons is the band’s North American debut full length album.
January 24, 2009 — The third annual California Metalfest, presented by Nederlander Concerts and Headbang For The Highway, is confirmed for March 28th at The Grove of Anaheim. Confirmed talent thus far includes CARCASS, EXODUS, SUFFOCATION, THE FACELESS, WHITECHAPEL, SAMAEL, ARSIS, DECREPIT BIRTH, VEIL OF MAYA, PSYCROPTIC, and others to be announced in the coming weeks.
January 24, 2009 — Rockabilly-influenced Danish metal band VOLBEAT will be releasing their second album, Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood, on March 17th through Mascot Records. The album follows their successful 2008 release, Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil.
January 21, 2009 — Los Angeles area blackend death metal band, DREAMING DEAD, have posted behind-the-scenes footage from the recording of their debut album, Within One. Check out the footage…
January 20, 2009 — Fresh off of their west coast run with METALLICA and upcoming visits to Finland, UK, Ireland, Australia, Japan, and Indonesia, LAMB OF GOD are primed to tour Noarth America in support of their fifth studio album, Wrath, which will be released by Epic Records on February 24th.
January 19, 2009 — James Hoare, deputy editor of Terrorizer magazine, is campaigning to have January 29th declared International Blastbeat Celebration Day. Hoare describes the blastbeat as “a kind of very, very rapid repeat hitting of the drums, usually in excess of 180bpms, so it sounds kind of like an apocalyptic typing pool.
January 19, 2009 — NOVEMBERS DOOM entered recording studio Belle City Sound to begin recording their 7th full length CD, to be titled Into Night’s Requiem Infernal. Tracking duties will be handled by Chris Djuricic (engineer and NOVEMBERS DOOM bassist), and the mixing of the disc by Dan Swano at Unisound.
January 19, 2009 — OCEANO guitarist Andrew Mikhail and bassist Jason Jones were involved in a van accident over the weekend. Both members luckily limped out of the accident with minor injuries, however their van and the trailer that was attached to it had flipped and is need of repair.
January 18, 2009 — Swiss pagan metal horde ELUVEITIE will release its new folk/acoustic album, Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion, on April 10 in Europe and tentatively in the Spring in the US via Nuclear Blast Records.
January 17, 2009 — NAPALM DEATH’s forthcoming new album, Time Waits for No Slave, has been posted for streaming in its entirety on the band’s MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/napalmdeath The album was produced by Russ Russell and recorded at Parlour Studios and Foel Studios.
January 16, 2009 — New York’s death metal legends, SUFFOCATION, will enter the studio to begin recording their Nuclear Blast debut Blood Oath starting January 31st. The follow up to their 2006 self-titled record will once again be recorded with Joe Cincotta, whom they worked with on their previous two releases.
January 13, 2009 — Swedish heavyweights THE HAUNTED have announced details of new double disc compilation that details the bands time with Earache Records, from 1998 - 2003. Titled Warning Shots, the album contains 28 of songs, including a second disc with many rare and unreleased songs.
January 12, 2009 — WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM’s new EP entitled Malevolent Grain, will be released by Southern Lord in February. The EP features two brand new tracks from the Pacific Northwest organic black metallers.
January 6, 2009 — Century Media Records has announced the signing of one of death metal’s founding fathers, DEICIDE. Led by original members Glen Benton (vocals, bass) and Steve Asheim (drums), DEICIDE have been busy at Audiohammer Studios with Mark Lewis (BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA) and are looking at a summer ‘09 release.
January 6, 2009 — To coincide with the release of their Ibex Moon Records debut, Within One, DREAMING DEAD will take over Hollywood’s Knitting Factory on Sunday, January 25th at 6pm.
January 6, 2009 — A new SAMAEL track entitled “Illumination” is currently being streamed on the Swiss metal veterans’ MySpace page (www.myspace.com/samael). The song comes off the band’s new album, Above, which is said to be “a pure black metal album that is more than just a nod in the direction of old SAMAEL masterpieces such as Ceremony of Opposites and Passage!
January 5, 2009 — ZYKLON/ex-EMPEROR guitarist Samoth has posted a recap of 2008 and offered a glimpse into 2009, including the announcement of a new project. “New year, new challenges… and man, does time go fast!
December 24, 2008 — INTRONAUT be playing a few shows with BASTARD NOISE (members of MAN IS THE BASTARD and INTRONAUT) before their recently announced tour with THE HAUNTED. Here are the dates:
December 23, 2008 — THE HAUNTED, NACHTMYSTIUM, KYLESA, and INTRONAUT have announced a North American tour for the new year. Tour dates are follows: 4/2 Pomona, CA @ The Glasshouse 4/3 Hollywood, CA @ The Key Club 4/4 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s 4/5 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater 4/6 Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s 4/7 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom 4/8 Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Ballroom 4/9 Calgary, AB @ The Warehouse 4/11 Winnipeg, MB @ Royal Albert 4/12 St.
December 17, 2008 — Mnemosyne Productions have announced that Ihsahn will support OPETH on their upcoming Norwegian live performances arranged by Rikskonsertene/Statnett. Ihsahn had this to say about the live dates: “I’ve been getting quite a few live-offers for my solo stuff, but haven’t found time to prioritize this until now.
December 14, 2008 — The End Records have announced the signing of Brooklyn heavy metallers HULL. The hard-working quintet has made a name for themselves in the New York underground over the past few years and will be a welcome addition to The End Records’s growing family of diverse artists.
December 14, 2008 — The Asian symphonic black metal band CHTHONIC, who made international headlines by championing Taiwanese democracy from the Ozzfest and Wacken stages last summer, has recently finished recording their new album, Mirror of Retribution, which is a concept album in Los Angeles with producer (and ANTHRAX guitarist) Rob Caggiano.
December 14, 2008 — Norwegian avant garde band, SOLEFALD, have announced their signing to Oslo, Norway’s Indie Recordings. The band expect their next album to be released next fall. The band’s compilation album, The Circular Drain, is now available via Season of Mist and Indie Recordings.
December 12, 2008 — EARLY MAN is back in the studio, currently working on their long-awaited sophomore full-length with Jack Endino (HIGH ON FIRE, ZEKE, VALIENT THORR, NIRVANA). The still-untitled album–the followup to the band’s critically-acclaimed 2005 debut Closing In (Matador)–will be released by The End Records in early 2009.
December 12, 2008 — Candlelight Records confirms the completion of the final recordings from black metal legends EMPEROR. Titled Live Inferno, the special live series features various releases recorded/filmed during the band’s sold out 2005-2007 reunion performances.
December 11, 2008 — With Hordes of Chaos (the follow-up to 2003’s ultra-successful Enemy of God), KREATOR delivers ten tracks of pure unadulterated thrash metal like only the true masters can.
December 9, 2008 — Adrian Bromley, well-known and respect music journalist and publicist passed away this past Sunday from pneumonia. Among his accomplishments, he was the editor of Unrestrained Magazine, publicist for The End Records, and founded his own PR firm, Ixmati Media.
December 6, 2008 — TESTAMENT’s video for “More than Meets the Eye” off of their latest album, The Formation of Damnation, can be viewed here.
December 5, 2008 — KILLSWITCH ENGAGE are proud to announce the recording of their as-yet untitled fourth album for Roadrunner Records. The album will follow 2006’s As Daylight Dies, which is approaching Gold-status.
December 5, 2008 — Two new songs, “The Treatment” and “We’ve Lost You,” from SEPULTURA’s new album A-Lex are available at myspace.com/sepultura. A-Lex is scheduled to be release worldwide in January 2009 via SPV Records:
December 3, 2008 — DIR EN GREY, who recently landed at the top of **Billboard’**s Heatseekers chart, have planted their roots firmly in every region they have traversed, reaching out of Japan to the rest of the world and participating in world class festivals like Rock am Ring, Rock im Park, Wacken Open Air, Family Values and more.
December 3, 2008 — DIVINE HERESY are hard at work on their much anticipated sophomore release, their first with Travis Neal on vocals. The group plan on hitting the studio on Feb.
November 28, 2008 — TURBONEGRO guitarist, Euroboy (Knut Schreiner), has provided an update on his battle with lymphoma cancer: “As the year 2008 is coming to an end, I’m happy to inform you all that I’ve undergone successful treatment for lymphoma cancer.
November 25, 2008 — MELDRUM’s drummer, Gene Hoglan, announced the completion of recording their new album, entitled Lifer, consisting of ten tracks for 2009 release. The new album stands as a proud tribute to founder, Michelle Meldrum, who passed away earlier this year.
November 25, 2008 — Members of Bay Area thrash legends TESTAMENT plan to ring in the New Year with a special hometown show. The band will be performing at Fat City in San Francisco on December 31.
November 23, 2008 — DAYLIGHT DIES will join SOILWORK and DARKANE for the start of their upcoming US tour beginning January 30 in Rochester, New York. Continuing to support their latest record, Lost to the Living, DAYLIGHT DIES were selected to replace WARBRINGER who are unable to start the tour due to extended recording obligations.
November 19, 2008 — The video for the title track of ABYSMAL DAWN’s Relapse Records debut, “Programmed to Consume,” can now be viewed here. The clip was shot in Los Angeles with director Gary Smithson.
November 15, 2008 — PELICAN’s new video for “Lost in the Headlights” can be viewed here.
November 14, 2008 — SOILWORK have invited fans to vote for their setlist on their upcoming North American tour with DARKANE, WARBRINGER, and SWALLOW THE SUN. The tour which will kick of at the end of January will be the first North American tour featuring rejoined guitarist Peter Wichers and new guitarist Sylvian Coudret.
November 11, 2008 — Norway’s ENSLAVED have landed on the American Billboard Hard Music chart at #11 and the Heatseekers chart at #49 after having sold over 1,100 copies of their latest album Vertebrae since it’s October 28th release.
November 10, 2008 — Heathen Crusade III will be taking place at Station 4 in Minneapolis, MN on November 14th-15th. Tickets are $20 for each day, or $30 for both days.
November 10, 2008 — THE ANSWER, a four-piece rock band from Northern Ireland now touring as the opening act on AC/DC’s Black Ice World Tour, will make an in-store appearance at the Union Square Virgin Megastore in New York City on Tuesday, November 11 at 7PM.
November 10, 2008 — Headbangers Blog premiered today DIR EN GREY’s new video for the song “Dozing Green,” the twelfth cut from the band’s forthcoming seventh studio effort, Uroboros. The video was directed by the band’s longtime collaborator Hiroyuki Kondo and took two and a half months to create from filming to post-production.
November 4, 2008 — Greece’s longstanding black/death band SEPTICFLESH have been announced as the official opener for the upcoming CRADLE OF FILTH and SATYRICON tour this January and February! The full North American tour rampages through the US and Canada from mid-January through the end of February.
November 2, 2008 — Norwegian death metallers BLOOD RED THRONE are currently hard at work on their next, as-yet-untitled album. Guitarist Død comments: “We’re currently workin’ on our fifth studio album, and so far we got 9 killer tracks.
November 2, 2008 — Shadow Kingdom Records will be releasing a double-CD this December compiling the early live and demo recordings from metallic nomads THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG (fka SLOUGH FEG).
November 2, 2008 — Elvis metal ‘n’ rollers VOLBEAT will tour the US with Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH on their two-week May 2009 U.S. tour. VOLBEAT will be in support of their second U.
October 30, 2008 — Zune Gallery in Los Angeles will be hosting a gallery for photographer Peter Beste’s 216-page photo book, True Norwegian Black Metal, from November 21st to December 18th.
October 30, 2008 — AKIMBO’s new album, Jersey Shores, which was just released on 10/28 through Neurot Recordings, is available for streaming here: http://www.punknews.org/bands/akimbo The band is currently in the midst of a U.
October 29, 2008 — Montreal’s DESPISED ICON will be serving up their first DVD offering, Montreal Assault Live, which is set for a Jan. 27th release. The DVD features a multi-camera shoot from the band’s sold-out hometown show, alongside a new hour long documentary and all of the band’s promotional video clips.
October 23, 2008 — SATYRICON’s upcoming single, “Black Crow on a Tombstone,” will released digitally on October 20th. The song comes from the band’s forthcoming album, The Age of Nero, which is set for November 3rd release date in Europe.
October 22, 2008 — TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION frontman/drummer Richard Hoak has finished recording the drum tracks for the forthcoming BRUTAL TRUTH album, the band’s first new studio album in over ten years.
October 20, 2008 — Los Angeles’ brothers for metal supremacy ABYSMAL DAWN and SOTHIS will join forces for a west coast US tour in December, dubbed the Endless Wintour. Sponsored by Metal Maniacs, the tour will kick-off on December 5th in Bakersfield, CA and will round out in Hollywood, CA on December 14th.
October 20, 2008 — The release date for Traced in Air, the new album from reunited progressive metallers CYNIC originally slated for release on October 28th via Season of Mist Records in North America, has now been pushed back to November 25th, 2008.
October 16, 2008 — THE ANSWER, an emergent and award-winning rock band from Northern Ireland, has been selected as the opening act for the imminent North American leg of AC/DC’s Black Ice World Tour.
October 13, 2008 — SOULFLY will set off for their first headlining tour in support of their latest album, Conquer. Tour dates: Nov.1 – Riverside Multiplex - Victoria, TX Nov.
October 9, 2008 — Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse: Season Two is set for a Decmeber 2nd release as a two-DVD set. The release will contain all 18 episodes plus a slew of hidden special features that the fans will have to find.
October 9, 2008 — Seattle’s AKIMBO will be taking their act on the road in support of their new album, Jersey Shores, which was inspired by an infamous and bizarre legacy left from a string of shark attacks which occurred in the Garden State some 92 years ago.
October 9, 2008 — Reformed death metal/grindcore legends CARCASS recently completed their first North American tour since embarking on a reunion trek early this year. Guitarist Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY) commented on what their recent touring experience was like:
October 9, 2008 — Norway’s DARKTHRONE are set to release their follow-up to 2007’s F.O.A.D. album on October 20th entitled, Dark Thrones & Black Flags. The release will be available in three formats: a regular edition in super jewel case, a vinyl edition, and a special edition, in a Slipcased super jewel case package with exclusive new video footage featuring DARKTHRONE in the studio - Fucking Around Version 1 & Fucking Around Version 2.
October 3, 2008 — Los Angeles, California-based death/thrash metal band DREAMING DEAD have signed to Ibex Moon Records and will release their debut album Within One on January 20th, 2009.
September 29, 2008 — EARLY MAN returns next month with Beware The Circling Fin, their first release since 2005’s acclaimed Closing In. Beware The Circling Fin, the band’s first release for The End Records, was mixed with the help of legendary producer Jack Endino and will be available October 14th.
September 29, 2008 — Index Verlag proudly announces the release of Pure Fucking Mayhem, a MAYHEM documentary by Stefan Rydehed. Pure Fucking Mayhem is an impressive account of the history of this legendary band, clearly focusing on the years 1984-1993 with their tales of unrelenting, brutal black metal and bloody crimes.
September 29, 2008 — The Canadian duo of Aidan Baker and Leah Buckareff will be hitting the road again at the end of September for dates around North America (including an NYC Halloween appearance curated by NYC underground gurus UNSOUND alongside BLACK SUN, STEVE MOORE, and MENACE RUINE), followed by a tour of Europe.
September 24, 2008 — SUFFOCATION have announced their signing to Nuclear Blast Records to a worldwide record deal. SUFFOCATION has released the following collective statement: “After 20 years of discovering the right and wrong relationships in our career, we are proud to announce that Nuclear Blast will be our new record label for 2009 and home to SUFFOCATION.
September 20, 2008 — Original SOILWORK guitarist Peter Wichers, who split from the band in December of 2005, has announced he’s rejoining the band. An official statement from the band reads:
September 18, 2008 — The wait is finally over as progressive titans INTRONAUT unveil their much anticipated new album, Prehistoricisms, to the masses today. Prehistoricisms, was engineered by Josh Newell and will certainly captivate the metal world with it’s blend of psychedelic brutality, captivating hooks and unpredictable time changes.
September 15, 2008 — Premier Japanese heavy metal outfit DIR EN GREY announced today via MTV’s Headbangers Blog that they have signed with The End Records for the release of their seventh studio album.
September 15, 2008 — One of the most anticipated and talked about reunions was without a doubt the reformation of EARTH CRISIS, who embarked on a massive North American headlining trek this past spring to rave reviews.
September 15, 2008 — Polish gothic metal newcomers UNSUN, which features ex-VADER guitarist Mauser, have just posted an in-depth, behind-the-scenes clip into their new video for the track “Whispers,” which is from their much anticipated debut offering, The End of Life.
September 13, 2008 — THE HAUNTED’s new album, Versus, has been posted for streaming in its entirety until September 19th on MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/thehaunted). The band are also posting track-by-track videos in daily turn on their page.
September 12, 2008 — Once a cult name in the doom scene, now becoming a household name… Japan’s BORIS just keep expanding their horizons and cementing their name into music on all levels.
September 12, 2008 — As the hard rock world eagerly anticipates the much talked about new effort from the Seattle-based sonic force Duff McKagan’s LOADED, the group has gone ahead and posted an in-depth, four-part miniseries (shot by King of Hearts Promotions) giving fans a look into the making of their new album.
September 12, 2008 — Montreal’s technical death metallers NEURAXIS have confirmed the band’s first return to the United States since 2006 in support of NEURAXIS’ latest album, The Thin Line Between.
September 9, 2008 — Hydra Head Records has announced their second ever Champions of Sound Tour. Originally devised in 2003 and also featuring label staples and instrumental metal masters, PELICAN, this year’s trek sees avant-metal pioneers KAYO DOT, supporting their latest Blue Lambency Downward, and CAVE-IN frontman Stephen Brodsky (aka Stove Bredsky), support his psychedelic rock outing that is the Black Ribbon Award.
September 5, 2008 — SATYRICON’s forthcoming new album, The Age of Nero, is approaching release. The album was recorded at Sound City in Los Angeles back in May with producer Joe Barresi (TOOL, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE).
August 30, 2008 — Reunited progressive metallers CYNIC new album Traced In Air is set for release on October 28 via Season of Mist Records in North America. Says CYNIC guitarist/vocalist Paul Masvidal about the upcoming album, “We’re thrilled to share the new CYNIC alien seedling with the world.
August 30, 2008 — STOLEN BABIES has been confirmed as the resident band for Shipwreck: The 14th Annual Halloween Terrorfest at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. Shipwreck dates are as follows: October 2008: 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 & Nov 1st.
August 28, 2008 — To tide fans over until the release of their much anticipated new album, LACUNA COIL, will be releasing their first-ever DVD, Visual Karma (Body, Mind, and Soul).
August 27, 2008 — San Francisco’s progressive/doom/stoner rock band GIANT SQUID have completed a week of studio work on their upcoming, self-released album The Ichthyologist with Matt Bayles (MASTODON, ISIS, PEARL JAM).
August 24, 2008 — Swedish metal band, DARK TRANQUILLITY, have announced that they have parted ways with their longtime bassist, Michael Nicklasson. The band and Nicklasson, who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last year, maintain that the separation is amicable.
August 22, 2008 — The latest installment of the Death by Decibels tour has been announced. This edition will feature KATAKLYSM, DYING FETUS, ELUVEITIE, and KEEP OF KALESSIN. Chrigel Glanzman of ELUVEITIE commented on their participation: “ELUVEITIE is homesick for America!
August 22, 2008 — NAPALM DEATH bassist Shane Embury recently revealed the title of their forthcoming interview in an interview with Paul Travers at Suite101.com. “We’ve got about seventeen songs together,” Embury said.
August 22, 2008 — Justin Broadrick’s JESU are set to release a new five-song EP entitled, Why Are We Not Perfect?, on September 9th (pushed back from August 19th) through Hydra Head.
August 22, 2008 — Norway’s SATYRICON have completed the follow-up to 2006’s Now Diabolical entitled, The Age of Nero. Here’s a message from the band: “We have completed the new album The Age Of Nero in its entirety and we are very very proud of it!
August 19, 2008 — San Antonio, Texas-based extreme metal band HOD will release their debut album on Ibex Moon Records sometime in early 2009. The band, comprised of members from NECROVORE, THORNSPAWN, EXULCERATE and PILLCRUSHER, are currently in the studio working on their debut, titled Serpent.
August 19, 2008 — Grammy nominee’s MACHINE HEAD are pleased to announce that they will serve as direct support to METALLICA for a spate of dates that begin in January.
August 18, 2008 — Volcom Tour 2008 is almost upon us! Making a considerable move up in venue sizes and the inclusion of “legend” status bands, this year’s tour kicks off September 2nd and will be headlined by MOTÖRHEAD.
August 17, 2008 — Montreal’s death metal quartet BENEATH THE MASSACRE has unveiled artwork for the band’s forthcoming record, Dystopia. See the artwork and pre-order the album here: http://www.prostheticrecords.com/BTMsplash.html
August 17, 2008 — ENSLAVED will be releasing their new album Vertebrae on October 28th in North America. The album has been exclusively licensed to Nuclear Blast from Indie Recordings in Norway, whom the band are signed to.
August 17, 2008 — Norwegian avant-garde metal trio VIRUS will be releasing their long-awaited new album, The Black Flux, on November 10th through Season of Mist. The follow-up to 2003’s twisted post-rock debut, Carheart, is said to encompass the same unique style of experimental rock/metal.
August 14, 2008 — Sweden’s THE HAUNTED have launched a newly redesigned MySpace page with a new track, “Moronic Colossus,” from their forthcoming album, Versus. The album marks a much welcomed return to the band’s trademarked aggressive, thrashy sound.
August 11, 2008 — DIR EN GREY are returning to the U.S. this fall with openers, THE HUMAN ABSTRACT. Here are the details from the band: “This fall, DIR EN GREY will return to North America for a headlining tour with special guests, THE HUMAN ABSTRACT…
August 6, 2008 — MUNICIPAL WASTE’s Waste ‘Em All line-up will be reuniting for one night only at the 7th annual Best Friends Day Weekend. Here is more info from the band:
August 4, 2008 — The new band formed by ex-EYEHATEGOD members sans guitarist Jimmy Bower, OUTLAW ORDER, has signed with Season of Mist. Their debut album, Dragging Down the Enforcer, will be released October 13th.
August 4, 2008 — To celebrate the ten cursed years of madness and magic that have passed since Swedish black metal tyrants WATAIN crawled out of their molten caskets, Season of Mist is now releasing their first two full length albums, Casus Luciferi and Rabid Death’s Curse on digipack CD’s, respectively on next October 13th and 27th.
July 30, 2008 — Reunited melodic-death/grind legends CARCASS have announced additional U.S. shows. In addition to support on the entire tour from SUFFOCATION, 1349, ABORTED and ROTTEN SOUND, additional special guests have been noted below on select shows.
July 29, 2008 — BLACK COBRA, the act that just does not stop touring, bring their two-man sludgefest to the masses once again beginning this week. First they hit some West Coast and Southern dates with ‘Frisco brothers SLOUGH FEG, then pick up and head up through the rest of the country with filthmongers WEEDEATER for a few weeks.
July 29, 2008 — Earache Records is proud to announce the signing of British technical metallers THE BOY WILL DROWN to a multi-album, worldwide recording deal. THE BOY WILL DROWN are a four-piece band based in Norwich/Colchester in the UK who formed in late 2006.
July 27, 2008 — Montreal technical death metallers BENEATH THE MASSACRE have been confirmed for a run of dates on the Pillage The Village Tour as support to NECROPHAGIST and DYING FETUS, along with VEIL OF MAYA, including one appearance with legendary British gore-grinders CARCASS.
July 27, 2008 — LAETHORA, the Swedish death/grind band featuring members of DARK TRANQUILITY and THE PROVENANCE, has just posted two new tracks on their MySpace page. Said the band:
July 27, 2008 — Fresh off an 18-country headlining tour of Europe and a 7-week headlining tour of the US, TODAY IS THE DAY will be making a special live appearance at the Scion Metal Show, August 4 at The Echo in Los Angeles, sponsored by Scion and Vice Magazine.
July 27, 2008 — Sweden’s WATAIN will headline the Black Metal Magic Tour 2008 this October with support from WITHERED and BOOK OF BLACK EARTH. Tour dates: 10/03/2008 The Opera House - Toronto, ON 10/04/2008 Katacombes - Montreal, QC 10/07/2008 The Middle East - Boston, MA 10/08/2008 Knitting Factory - New York, NY 10/09/2008 31st St Pub - Pittsburgh, PA 10/10/2008 Peabody’s - Cleveland, OH 10/11/2008 Reggie’s Rock Club - Chicago, IL 10/12/2008 Vaudeville Mews - Des Moines, IA 10/13/2008 Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom - Denver, CO 10/14/2008 Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT 10/15/2008 Studio Seven - Seattle, WA 10/16/2008 Rotture - Portland, OR 10/17/2008 The Metro - Oakland, CA 10/18/2008 Knitting Factory - Hollywood, CA 10/19/2008 Jumping Turtle - San Marcos, CA 10/20/2008 The Sets - Tempe, AZ 10/21/2008 Gator’s - Farmington, NM 10/23/2008 Reno’s Chop Shop - Dallas, TX 10/24/2008 Mario’s Ballroom - Victoria, TX w/Ritual Killer 10/25/2008 Red 7 - Austin, TX w/Ritual Killer 10/26/2008 Red Dragon - New Orleans, LA w/Ritual Killer 10/28/2008 Brass Mug - Tampa, FL 10/29/2008 Masquerade - Atlanta, GA 10/31/2008 Jaxx - Springfield, VA 11/01/2008 Sterling Hotel - Allentown, PA
July 15, 2008 — DIMMU BORGIR have announced the release of a new 3 disc DVD/CD release titled, The Invaluable Darkness. Track list is as follows: DVD ONE I. THE INVALUABLE DARKNESS TOUR - EUROPE 2007 01.
July 15, 2008 — Italian avant-garde metallers EPHEL DUATH have revealed that Ben Weinman, founding member and guitarist of DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, will be appearing as a special guest musican on EPHEL DUATH’s highly anticipated upcoming new album, Through My Dog’s Eyes.
July 15, 2008 — THE HAUNTED have set Versus as the title of their forthcoming new album. Produced by Tue Madsen, Versus is set for an October release throughout North America.
July 11, 2008 — TESTAMENT, who are about to hit the road with JUDAS PRIEST, have announced a few in-store signing sessions on their trek. Currently scheduled signings: 07/24/08 Scrape Records - Vancouver, BC - CANADA (time n/a) 08/05/08 Vintage Vinyl – Fords, NJ @ 6:00PM 08/10/08 Looney Tunes – W.
July 9, 2008 — Japan’s SIGH will be releasing their limited edition A Tribute to Venom album (cover art) on September 2nd via The End Records. Limited to one pressing, the album will released in a special collectible packaging (LP w/ etching + CD).
July 8, 2008 — Brooklyn-based trio, EARLY MAN, who won critical praise in 2005 with the release of their debut album Closing In, have signed a record deal with The End Records.
July 8, 2008 — Zack de la Rocha and former THE MARS VOLTA drummer, Jon Theodore, have teamed for a new creative collaboration called ONE DAY AS A LION. The band just signed to Anti- Records, who will be releasing their eponymous debut EP worldwide on July 22nd.
July 7, 2008 — Finnish rock band, LORDI, have set October 28th for the release of their forthcoming new album via The End Records. The as-yet-untitled follow-up to The Arockalypse will showcase the band’s trademark melodic hard rock sound.
July 7, 2008 — Earache Records have added Chicago death metal band, OCEANO, to their roster. Conceived in 2006, this young band comprises of former members of several Chicago metal outfits, and together are rapidly becoming one of the standouts of the Chicago extreme metal scene.
June 26, 2008 — Toronto’s CANCER BATS’ much anticipated new album, Hail Destroyer, has been made available for streaming here: http://decoymusic.com/index.php?content=wimpy&playerid=31304 The hardcore/punk/metal noise makers are set to embark on a U.
June 26, 2008 — TURBONEGRO will be premiering a new song, “Destroy All Monsters,” on their MySpace page tomorrow. The band posted the following note regarding the song: “Last month TURBONEGRO hit the studio in Oslo to record ‘Destroy All Monsters,’ a tribute to fellow apocalypse dude Conan The Barbarian and all other hard working people everywhere.
June 25, 2008 — Reactivated British extreme metal pioneers CARCASS have announced their first U.S. show since reuniting for a slew of festival performances around the globe. CARCASS will play the Nokia Theatre in New York City on Saturday, September 6 with support to come from NECROPHAGIST, ABORTED, and three soon-to-be-announced special guests.
June 25, 2008 — A new SOULFLY song, “Unleash,” from the band’s upcoming Conquer album can be downloaded here. The album is set for a July 29, 2008 release date via Roadrunner Records.
June 22, 2008 — Grammy winning metal band, SLIPKNOT, are set to release their fourth album, All Hope is Gone, on August 26th via Roadrunner Records. The album was recorded this spring in the band’s home state of Iowa and is co-produced by the band and Dave Fortman.
June 19, 2008 — Norway’s SATYRICON have posted an update on the recording of their forthcoming album: “We’ve now completed the drums and the guitars for the new SATYRICON album in Los Angeles!
June 18, 2008 — Belgian death metal band, ABORTED, have posted their forthcoming, sixth new album up for streaming. The album, Strychnine:213, is set for a June 24th release through Century Media.
June 17, 2008 — ORIGIN, MISERY INDEX, and ABYSMAL DAWN will join forces for the 2008 installment of the Relapse Records Contamination Tour. The MySpace Metal, Decibel Magazine, and SickDrummer sponsored tour kicks off on July 21st in St.
June 17, 2008 — ULVER have posted a cover of Prince’s “Thieves in the Temple,” a track originally released on Prince’s 1990 album, Graffiti Bridge. For the cover, ULVER collaborated with female soul singer and Wyclef Jean protégée, Siri Stranger.
June 15, 2008 — CRYPTOPSY recently shot a new video with acclaimed director David Brodsky for the album’s vicious opening cut “Worship Your Demons.” The band’s new album, The Unspoken King, is set for a June 24th release.
June 15, 2008 — KRISIUN has posted “Combustion Inferno” from their upcoming album, Southern Storm, on their myspace page here. The album is set for a July 21st release date.
June 14, 2008 — While supplies last, when you purchase any configuration of the initial pressing of JUDAS PRIEST’s double disc concept album, Nostradamus (release date – June 17th), specially marked CD’s will contain an insert with a exclusive code inside the CD package for one free lawn ticket to see JUDAS PRIEST on selected dates of the Metal Masters Tour this summer.
June 14, 2008 — Filmed at the Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant in Playa del Ray, California, the “Sadistic Magician” video was directed by Jeff Speed of 1134 Films and produced by Carolyn Vye of The Vault LA and features MUNICIPAL WASTE doing what they best - thrashing it up and laying waste to everything around them!
June 6, 2008 — Southern California’s INTRONAUT will be taking thinking man’s metal in a new direction with their Century Media debut, Prehistoricisms. The band is currently tracking drums at Opera Studios in North Hollywood and recording guitars and bass at Castle Oaks Studios in Calabasas.
June 6, 2008 — San Francisco thrashers VOETSEK have signed an album deal with Selfmadegod Records to release their brand-new full length entitled Infernal Command. The album consists of 17 fast tracks mixing Bay Area Fastcore/Power violence and Bay Area Thrash Metal.
June 5, 2008 — The End Records have recently reissued the first two albums from NOVEMBERS DOOM, Amid its Hallowed Mirth and Of Sculptured Ivy and Stone Flowers. The albums are remastered, feature new artwork, and bonus tracks.
May 24, 2008 — Jello Biafra will celebrate his 50th birthday and 30th anniversary of the DEAD KENNEDYS with two shows on June 16th and 17th, dubbed Biafra Five-O, at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA.
May 22, 2008 — MYRKSKOG vocalist/guitarist and ZYKLON lead guitarist, Destructhor, has joined MORBID ANGEL as their second guitarist. He will make his live debut with the band this summer.
May 22, 2008 — TURBONEGRO guitarist, Euroboy, was recently diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease which has forced the band to cancel all touring plans for the immediate future. He has provided the following update regarding his health and treatment:
May 12, 2008 — The previously announced BORIS North American tour beginning in June has been updated. The full routing is below. TORCHE will be supporting BORIS on dates, but WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM have since dropped from the tour.
May 12, 2008 — CAVALERA CONSPIRACY have announced their first ever headlining U.S. tour featuring support from DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, THROWDOWN, BURY YOUR DEAD, and INCITE. Tour dates are as follows:
May 12, 2008 — Tokyo’s COFFINS has released two tracks from their upcoming album Buried Death on their MySpace page. The album, to be released on 20 Buck Spin Records with distribution through Southern Lord, will hit the streets on June 20th.
May 3, 2008 — LAMB OF GOD are proud to announce the release of an all-new, 2-disc DVD on July 1, 2008. Walk With Me In Hell is a documentary chronicling every detail in the lives of the biggest band in metal as they completed recording and toured around the world nearly three times over in support of the biggest selling metal album of 2007, the Grammy-nominated, Top 10 charting, Sacrament.
April 30, 2008 — Japan’s BORIS, who’s new album Smile came out in the U.S. today, will be embarking on a North American tour with TORCHE and WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM.
April 30, 2008 — The End Records have set a release date of June 24th, 2008 for the North American release of The Ruiner from Brooklyn-based band MADE OUT OF BABIES.
April 30, 2008 — Sweden’s TIAMAT are currently streaming their entire new album, Amanethes, on the band’s MySpace page. Due out on May 2 (Europe) and May 27 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD was produced by vocalist/guitarist Johan Edlund, recorded mainly at The Mansion in Greece, and additionally recorded at Studio Mega in Sweden and Cue in Greece.
April 26, 2008 — Alternative Tentacles Records recently released a new collection of early AMEBIX rarities in the form of No Sanctuary: The Spiderleg Recordings. The collection gathers the sought-after cult releases No Sanctuary, Who’s The Enemy, and Winter.
April 22, 2008 — MAYHEM guitarist Blasphemer (Rune Eriksen) has announced his departure from the band after more than 13 years. Here is his official statement: “It is with these written words that I hereby retract myself from my position as the guitar player of MAYHEM.
April 21, 2008 — Think “Double vinyl, gatefold sleeve concept album,” and some of rock’s all-time classic recordings come to mind. But in the realm of heavy metal, there has never been a double vinyl (now disc!
April 21, 2008 — After weeks of speculation, Live Nation has put together a killer package that is bound to go down as the heavy metal event of 2008 - JUDAS PRIEST, HEAVEN AND HELL, MOTORHEAD and TESTAMENT will be touring together for the first time.
April 21, 2008 — NEUROSIS vocalist/guitarists Scott Kelly and Steve Von Till will each be releasing new solo albums on NEUROSIS’ label, Neurot Recordings. Scott Kelly’s The Wake will be released on May 6th while Steve Von Till’s A Grave is a Grim Horse will be released on May 20th.
April 18, 2008 — Metal legends ANTHRAX have announced a short spring tour, kicking off with a warmup club show at Chicago”™s Double Door on May 28th, 2008. The Chicago warm-up show will be the band”™s first live performance with their new singer Dan Nelson.
April 18, 2008 — The SOULFLY tribe returns with their new album, Conquer, which is due in stores on July 29th. About Conquer, Max Cavalera cryptically says, referencing key album titles from his illustrious career that spans SEPULTURA, NAILBOMB and SOULFLY, “From the beginning of this Devastation, from Visions of Schizophrenia and battles Beneath The Remains to Arise in this Chaos A.
April 15, 2008 — Animated metal band, DETHKLOK, from Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse, are set to hit the road on a 28-city headlining tour kicking off June 2 in Portland. Support will come from CHIMAIRA and SOILENT GREEN.
April 11, 2008 — Sweden’s DARK TRANQUILLITY are set to embark on the Tyranny and Bloodshred 2008 tour alongside ARCH ENEMY, DIVINE HERESY, and FIREWIND. The tour will consist of several off-date shows without ARCH ENEMY and conclude with a headlining run of shows with just DIVINE HERESY and FIREWIND.
April 11, 2008 — DEICIDE’s forthcoming new album, ‘Till Death Do Us Part, will include a limited edition release packaged with a free “Glen for President” woven patch. Pre-orders are available through the Earache Records website at http://www.
April 10, 2008 — Extreme music legend Tom Gabriel Fischer aka Tom G. Warrior has announced his departure from CELTIC FROST. Here is official word from the band: “CELTIC FROST singer and guitarist Tom Gabriel Fischer has left CELTIC FROST due to the irresolvable, severe erosion of the personal basis so urgently required to collaborate within a band so unique, volatile, and ambitious.
April 9, 2008 — Seattle’s masters of Americana-style drone Earth are set to play some U.S. dates following their recent jaunt across Europe. Beginning this month they’ll hit the Midwest and South a bit then travel up the East Coast.
April 8, 2008 — MUNICIPAL WASTE has announced new dates in the northeast that coincide with their big April 26th show at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival.
April 8, 2008 — KAYO DOT’s new album, Blue Lambency Downward, is due out on May 6th via Hydra Head Records. The band have also lined up three dates with EARTH.
April 4, 2008 — FEAR FACTORY members Christian Olde Wolbers (guitar) and Raymond Herrera (drums) are proud to announce the debut album of their new group, ARKAEA, featuring THREAT SIGNAL vocalist, Jon Howard.
April 3, 2008 — CULT OF LUNA have posted a message up on their official website proclaiming the completion of the recording process for their new, as of yet untitled album scheduled for release later this year:
April 3, 2008 — One of metal’s most talented shredders, Jeff Loomis, of NEVERMORE fame will further prove his undeniable skills with his first solo project, which is set for a fall release.
April 2, 2008 — Richmond, Virginia’s weedian heathens CANNABIS CORPSE, featuring MUNICIPAL WASTE’s Land Phil and his twin brother, have posted the first public sampling of their new and true death metal album, Tube of the Resinated.
April 1, 2008 — SOULFLY/CAVALERA CONSPIRACY lead guitarist Marco Rizzo is currently on tour promoting his latest solo album, The Ultimate Devotion. Current tour dates: 26-Mar New York, NY Fat Baby 29-Mar Lowell, MA Lowell Brewery Exchange 30-Mar Haverhill, MA Welfare Records 3-Apr Battle Creek, MI Plant Rock 5-Apr Huntsville, OH The Blue Cat 6-Apr Berwyn, IL Tiger O’Stylies 8-Apr Green Bay, WI Toxic 9-Apr Davenport, IA River Music 11-Apr Sioux Falls, SD Nutty’s North 12-Apr East Peoria, IL Tails and Tops 14-Apr Kansas City, MO The Riot Room 15-Apr Springfield, MO Outland Ballroom 16-Apr Mulberry, KS Foxtown City Limits 18-Apr Mesa, AZ Cell Block 21-Apr Hollywood, CA Roxy 22-Apr Salt Lake City, UT Club Vegas 23-Apr Billings, MT Foe 24-Apr Denver, CO 3 Kings Tavern 25-Apr Lincoln, NE Kinckerbockers 27-Apr Chicago, IL Red Line Tap
March 31, 2008 — San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans, DEATH ANGEL, are pleased to announce their first full US tour since their initial split 18 years ago! The band will embark on a co-headlining tour this May/June with GOD FORBID that will include SOILENT GREEN and LIGHT THIS CITY.
March 25, 2008 — SAMAEL is proud to announce their first US tour in nearly five years in support of their latest Solar Soul release! The band will be making the trek with headliners/labelmates AMORPHIS as well as LEAVES EYES and VIRGIN BLACK.
March 24, 2008 — CRYPTOPSY have posted a new track, “Worship Your Demons,” on the band’s revamped MySpace page (www.myspace.com/cryptopsy). Drummer Flo Mounier states: We as a band have, since the beginning, been experimenting and trying to come up with music that is fresh and new.
March 24, 2008 — Legendary Florida death metallers DEICIDE have announced a unique and exciting competition for fans to create and upload their own video clip for a new DEICIDE track called “In The Eyes Of God” taken from their upcoming album, Till Death Do Us Part.
March 21, 2008 — Albany, NY based Equal Vision Records is proud to welcome Fort Worth, TX electronic-hardcore act, SKY EATS AIRPLANE to its roster. The five-piece recently recorded a 10-track set with producer Brian McTernan at his studio in Baltimore, MD.
March 21, 2008 — Candlelight Records today confirms May 27 as the American release date for strong>angL, the second solo album from former EMPEROR vocalist/guitarist Ihsahn. The album features nine new songs all written and performed by the highly respected musician.
March 21, 2008 — Japanese black metal act SIGH have recorded a six-song tribute to legendary black metal band VENOM, titled . In an update from the band, singer Mirai Kawashima says: “We’ve just completed the recording of six songs for our tribute to VENOM at Earth Studios.
March 21, 2008 — The Volcom Tour originally featuring TURBONEGRO, VALIENT THORR, and YEAR LONG DISASTER has been postponed due to TURBONEGRO guitarist, Euroboy’s illness. TURBONEGRO issued the following statement:
March 12, 2008 — After announcing plans to reunite for select shows late last year, Swedish death metal legends, AT THE GATES, have confirmed that they will indeed play the US this summer.
March 12, 2008 — Finland’s TENHI are currently working on their new album, Saivo. Here is word from the band: “The new songs for the coming album Saivo are evolving nicely.
March 11, 2008 — Swedish death metal veterans DISMEMBER has made their new full self-titled album available for streaming in its entirety on the group’s MySpace page NOW through March 14: www.
March 11, 2008 — MESHUGGAH will be direct support to MINISTRY on MINISTRY’s farewell tour. MESHUGGAH will be touring in support of their new album, obZen, which will be released in stores today.
March 9, 2008 — TESTAMENT have posted a new song, “More Than Meets the Eye,” here. The song is from the band’s upcoming album, The Formation of Damnation, on Nuclear Blast Records.
March 8, 2008 — Germany’s THE OCEAN have announced that they will touring North America for the first time starting off on May 21. The band will be playing with several bands on the tour, including LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR, KYLESA, and INTRONAUT.
March 4, 2008 — TURBONEGO have announced the resignation of longtime drummer, Chris Summers. Here’s an official statement from the band: “It is with our deepest regrets to inform you that after his 6 month hiatus due to a damaged foot, personal priorities and a focus on other projects, we have been forced to ask drummer Chris Summers to resign from TURBONEGO.
March 4, 2008 — North Carolina’s GIANT have issued an update regarding the recording of their debut album, Telemores, for The End Records and East Coast and Canadian tour dates with BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME.
February 29, 2008 — Norwegian progressive/extreme metal band, ANSUR, have announced that their new album, Warring Factions, is set for an April 21, 2008 release date via Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records.
February 29, 2008 — KING DIAMOND’s new video, “Give me Your Soul,” from the band’s latest album, Give Me Your Soul…Please, has been posted online here.
February 27, 2008 — DEICIDE have uploaded a preview of the song “In the Eyes of God,” taken from the forthcoming album Till Death Do Us Part, to the band’s myspace: www.
February 27, 2008 — Tampa, Florida’s LIGHT YOURSELF ON FIRE have completed work on a new EP and have posted a brand new exclusive track, titled Love And Death here: www.
February 27, 2008 — Church of the 8th Day, the organizers behind the Los Angeles Murderfest, are proud to announce the next round of bands for the festival, set to take place April 18th, 19th, 20th at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, California as well as announce that tickets for the fest are on sale now!
February 27, 2008 — After much anticipation, the stunning, inaugural solo effort from NEVERMORE vocalist Warrel Dane will finally see a North American release on May 13th. With this effort one of metal’s most defining and revolutionary vocalists further hones his craft to perfection.
February 26, 2008 — Extreme metal titans CRYPTOPSY have been forced to cancel their recently announced tour of South America in March, after drummer Flo Mounier broke his knee cap.
February 20, 2008 — From onstage last night (Feb 19), amid the pandemonium in front of 14,000 screaming fans at a packed Los Angeles Forum, IRON MAIDEN announced the first leg of their eagerly anticipated North American summer tour.
February 19, 2008 — Prog-rockers 3 are pleased to announce that they will be performing on the Progressive Nation Tour this Spring. The Progressive Nation Tour features prog-metal extraordinaires DREAM THEATER, OPETH, and BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME.
February 19, 2008 — Relapse Records is proud to announce the signing of Los Angeles, CA’s ABYSMAL DAWN. ABYSMAL DAWN are currently working on their Relapse debut and follow-up to 2005’s From Ashes.
February 19, 2008 — MELECHESH have fulfilled their three-album recording contract with Osmose Productions. The band has decided not to renew the agreement with Osmose and will soon announce a new label home.
February 19, 2008 — Richmond, VA’s MUNICIPAL WASTE have announced U.S. tour dates that will cover the Southeast region. Tour dates: March: 7 Volume 11 Raleigh, North Carolina 8 The Hideway Johnson City, Tennessee 10 Meridian Red Room Houston, Texas 11 Red 7 Austin, Texas 12 Red Blood Club Dallas, Texas 13 Emo’s Annex - SXSW Austin, Texas 14 SXSW Austin, Texas 15 SXSW Austin, Texas 16 The Crossing San Antonio, Texas 18 Sluggo’s Pensecola, Florida 19 State Theater St Petersburg, Florida 20 Common Grounds Gainesville, Florida 21 The Drunken Unicorn Atlanta, Georgia
February 19, 2008 — Grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH are set to make their triumphant return to North America at the end of the month joining up with DEVILDRIVER, WALLS OF JERICHO, 36 CRAZYFISTS and INVITRO for the “Bound By The Road” tour.
February 19, 2008 — DEATH ANGEL’s new album, Killing Season, can now be streamed in it’s entirety at the groups Myspace page (www.myspace.com/deathangel). The stream will last until February 22nd.
February 18, 2008 — TORCHE has posted a new song, “Pirahna,” off their upcoming album, Meanderthal, here. The album drops April 8, 2008 on Hydra Head Records.
February 14, 2008 — Groundbreaking Japanese black metal act SIGH will embark on a two and a half week headlining tour North America this fall. Support for the tour will come from Vancouver’s ZIMMERS HOLE and Montreal’s UNEXPECT.
February 14, 2008 — Canada’s pioneering metal band VOIVOD will enter the studio this spring to record their final album using songs left behind by founding guitarist Denis ‘Piggy’ D’Amour who died in August 2005 from colon cancer.
February 13, 2008 — Deactivated death/black metal band, SANCTUS, have made a pair of rare recordings available for free download on their new discography site at sanctusmusic.com. Fateshifter, the band’s swansong EP released in 2003, and their original demo from 1998 (when the band was called PANTHEON) have been posted for download.
February 13, 2008 — Swedish metallers SOILWORK, who recently completed a U.S. tour with LAMB OF GOD, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE in support of their new album Sworn To A Great Divide, have decided to part ways with guitarist Ola Frenning.
February 11, 2008 — The UK’s ANATHEMA have announced plans to release two new albums this year including a semi-acoustic album of older songs. The band issued the following update:
February 11, 2008 — SOURVEIN are serious, down-tuned sludge/doom with the Southern flavor of bands like DOWN and EYEHATEGOD. Following their debut full-length on Southern Lord Records, the band’s This Dark Reign debut EP, Emerald Vulture, was an ugly 17 minutes of slow, hateful, grinding darkness, full of thick guitars and malicious vocals.
February 10, 2008 — SEPULTURA has announced that they have begun work on their next album, which will be based on famed book and movie, “A Clockwork Orange.” Guitarist Andreas Kisser issues an update:
February 8, 2008 — Sweden’s SHINING have announced that bassist Phil A. Cirone has quit. The split was amicable and the band are currently seeking a replacement. Here is the band’s statement in regards to Phil’s departure:
February 7, 2008 — Poland’s BEHEMOTH are set to make their much anticipated return to North America this spring on “The Invaluable Darkness Tour Part 2” as direct support to DIMMU BORGIR.
January 30, 2008 — Japanese noise-makers and drone-architects, BORIS, are set to release a new full-length album, Smile, on April 29th through Southern Lord Records. The trio will also be flying to New York City for a one-off show on March 4th at the Knitting Factory.
January 30, 2008 — Two songs from the upcoming debut album from CAVALERA CONSPIRACY entitled, Inflikted, have been posted online. Inflickted is set for a March 25th release date via Roadrunner Records.
January 30, 2008 — Thrash legends, TESTAMENT, have announced upcoming tour dates for 2008. The band will be touring to support their April 29 release of The Formation of Damnation.
January 29, 2008 — Legendary guitarist Scott “Wino” Weinrich (SAINT VITUS, OBSESSED, SPIRIT CARAVAN, PLACE OF SKULLS, THE HIDDEN HAND) has announced plans for his first solo album. Assisting Wino will on the album will be Jean-Paul Gaster (CLUTCH) on drums and Jon Blank (REZ N) on bass.
January 22, 2008 — GOD FORBID wrapped up an extremely successfully 2007 as part of the Stillborn Fest playing alongside HATEBREED and AGNOSTIC FRONT, among others but will now concentrate solely on completing their much anticipated new full-length release.
January 18, 2008 — The Austrian blackened/death metal machine, BELPHEGOR, will be returning to the U.S. this February with ROTTING CHRIST, IMMOLATION and AVERSE SIFERA for the “Lucifer Over North America” Tour.
January 18, 2008 — The first confirmed tour dates for the Lambs For Lions Tour 2K8 featuring CONVERGE, THE RED CHORD, and GENGHIS TRON have been announced. Select shows will also feature BARONESS and COLISEUM.
January 18, 2008 — In support of their Billboard Top 200-charting album In Sorte Diaboli, Norway’s renowned melodic black metal band, DIMMU BORGIR, will be returning to North America as part of “The Invaluable Darkness Tour Part 2 ”“ Legions Of The Chosen Few” headlining run with Poland’s BEHEMOTH and fellow countrymen, KEEP OF KALESSIN.
January 16, 2008 — Very few bands can effectively mix intelligence with intensity like Southern California”™s INTRONAUT, which is one of the biggest reasons Century Media Records quickly signed the quartet to a worldwide deal.
January 16, 2008 — Having destroyed minds and eardrums across America last fall with the first Axis of Eden U.S. Tour – a label package tour that showcased bands from frontman Steve Austin’s own SuperNova Records roster – TODAY IS THE DAY prepares for Round Two:
January 10, 2008 — HEAD CONTROL SYSTEM, featuring Daniel Cardoso (ex-SIRIUS) and Garm (ULVER), have posted their cover of SEAL’s “Kiss from a Rose” here. The track was left off the band’s debut album, Murder Nature.
January 9, 2008 — Los Angeles’ ABYSMAL DAWN have been hard at work on their follow-up to 2005’s From Ashes album. Frontman Charles Elliot offered an update on the album’s progress and the band’s going ons:
January 8, 2008 — French Canadian death metallers BENEATH THE MASSACRE have confirmed plans for a headlining tour of America later this spring. Support on the package will come from SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY, BORN OF OSIRIS, and TONY DANZA TAPDANCE EXTRAVAGANZA.
January 8, 2008 — With the release of Demon Entrails on February 26th in the U.S. the days of numerous sub-standard bootlegs of the classic HELLHAMMER demos Death Fiend, Triumph of Death and Satanic Rites are finally over!
January 8, 2008 — PELICAN, BLACK COBRA, and UNEARTHLY TRANCE will team up for a short run of dates starting at the end of February until mid March. Tour dates:
January 5, 2008 — Norways’ FLEURETY have completed recording two new tracks, “The Animal of the City” and “Summon the Beasts”, to be released as a forthcoming 7" EP. It’s the band’s first new material to be properly recorded since 1998.
January 5, 2008 — Vocalist Kvost has announced his departure from DHG (formerly DØDHEIMSGARD). His statement reads as follows: “After a pretty tough month and some deep contemplation, I have decided to call it a day and check out of the DØDHEIMSGARD asylum.
January 3, 2008 — An ULVER tribute album entitled, My Own Wolf: A New Approach, has been released by Asphyrical Asphyxia to commemorate the Norwegian band’s 15 year anniversary. The 2 CD set has been posted as a free download, and will receive an physical release on May 8th.
January 2, 2008 — Korea’s Dope Entertainment is proud to announce the signing of Korean black/dark metal pioneers MOONSHINE. Moonshine is currently in the studio self-producing their self-titled third album.
January 1, 2008 — Brazil’s KRISIUN have begun writing the follow up to AssasiNation, which is scheduled to be released this summer. The new album will be recorded in Germany, once again at Stage One Studios, with producer Andy Classen.
December 20, 2007 — Anneke Van Giersbergen (AGUA DE ANNIQUE, ex-THE GATHERING) and Danny Cavanagh (ANATHEMA) have announced a special one-off show where each musician will perform a solo set, followed by a special set with both musicians.
December 20, 2007 — DOWN have announced another slew of North American tour dates for the upcoming new year. “An Evening with DOWN” is set to kick off January 18th in Mobile, Alabama.
December 19, 2007 — Raleigh-based DAYLIGHT DIES have started tracking their new album, titled Lost to the Living. The album, expected for release late Spring 2008, is the band’s second album with Candlelight Records.
December 18, 2007 — Prosthetic Records is proud to announce the addition of Canadian progressive death metal band NEURAXIS to the label’s roster. The band will tentatively release its Prosthetic debut in mid-2008.
December 15, 2007 — Max and Igor Cavalera’s CAVALERA CONSPIRACY have announced a March 25th release date for their debut album through Roadrunner Records. The band, rounded out by Marc Rizzo (SOULFLY) and Joe Deplantier (GOJIRA), marks the first effort between the ex-SEPULTURA brothers since 1996’s Roots album.
December 15, 2007 — Regain Records have made an official announcement recognizing founding member Infernus as the holder of the “GORGOROTH” band name. Infernus has been in dispute with other members Gaahl (vocals) and King ov Hell (bass) who claim ownership of the band name as well as the fact that they kicked Infernus out of the band.
December 13, 2007 — CHIMAIRA, ALL THAT REMAINS, and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH are teaming up for a U.S. tour in early 2008. East coast dates will feature support from DIVINE HERESY and west coast shows will be opened by LIGHT THIS CITY.
December 9, 2007 — Norway’s SOLEFALD celebrate their 10th anniversary with the release of The Circular Drain. The album contains a remixed version of their 1996 Jernlov demo as well as remixes of select SOLEFALD songs spanning their catalogue.
December 6, 2007 — Metal Blade is both very proud and excited to announce that KING DIAMOND has received a Grammy Nomination for Best Metal Performance for the track “Never Ending Hill” off their latest album Give me Your Soul”¦Please.
December 5, 2007 — Montreal’s CRYPTOPSY have announced the addition of new members, Matt Mcgachy (vocals) and Maggie Durand (keyboards/samples). The band will enter the studio mid December to record their upcoming sixth album.
December 2, 2007 — Prosthetic Records is proud to announce the addition of Japan’s GRIEF OF WAR to the label’s roster. Having formed - in their own words - for the purpose of being the true heir of real heavy metal, GRIEF OF WAR was started from humble beginnings in 2002 based out of Tokyo, and almost immediately after forming, the band quickly started rehearsing to develop and refine their sound through a series pre-productions recordings.
November 28, 2007 — Los Angeles’ ABYSMAL DAWN are currently in the studio recording their sophomore album. Vocalist/guitarist Charles Elliot issued the following update: “Just a quick update to let everyone know that things have been coming along quite nicely with the recording of our second record.
November 28, 2007 — BEHEMOTH frontman, Nergal, issued an announcement reflecting upon the band’s successful year and upcoming plans: “It feels great to finally be back in Poland especially after spending the last eight months intensely touring across almost every corner of the globe.
November 26, 2007 — Norway’s VIRUS, masterminded by Czral (a.k.a. Carl-Michael Eide, VED BUENS ENDE, DØDHEIMSGARD), have posted a rough-cut of a new song on their MySpace page. Czral talks about the track:
November 24, 2007 — ANATHEMA, who are currently touring Europe with PORCUPINE TREE, have posted a new song, called “Angels Walk Among Us”, for download here. The track is from their forthcoming new album, tentatively titled Paradigm Shift.
November 23, 2007 — CEPHALIC CARNAGE were recently robbed while on tour with DYING FETUS in Tulsa, OK. Here’s a statement from the band: “While CEPHALIC CARNAGE were getting their van repaired in Tulsa, OK on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, we were robbed.
November 21, 2007 — KING DIAMOND have announced that they have been forced to cancel their anticipated March 2008 tour with KREATOR, LEAVES EYES, and CELLADOR due to a serious herniated disc injury to King Diamond.
November 16, 2007 — The End Records has signed the new project entitled: J2, featuring enigmatic singer/songwriter/performer Jarboe (SWANS) and Justin K. Broadrick, frontman for ambient/progressive noise project JESU (ex-GODFLESH).
November 10, 2007 — Finally available on DVD for the first time, New Door Records/UMe are proud to announce the eagerly awaited release of the double disc DVD of Live After Death, the legendary recording of IRON MAIDEN’s four night stand at Long Beach Arena, California, in 1984.
November 9, 2007 — DECAPITATED, their families, and Nuclear Blast Records is asking for donations to help support the families of DECAPITATED drummer Vitek, who tragically passes away earlier this week, and vocalist Covan who remains hospitalized in serious condition.
November 9, 2007 — Los Angeles’ STOLEN BABIES will embark on a run of dates throughout November which will cover the western half of the U.S. CREATURE FEATURE will appear on all dates on the tour.
November 7, 2007 — Prosthetic Records is proud to announce reissues from Bay Area metal legends, TESTAMENT. Both to feature new liner notes, 1997’s Demonic was remastered and 1999’s The Gathering will include the previously only available in Japan, “Hammer Of The Gods.
November 5, 2007 — IRON MAIDEN announce only two U.S. shows at the Los Angeles Forum on Tuesday February 19th and at the Izod Center, New Jersey on March 14th as part of the Somewhere Back in Time World Tour 2008.
November 2, 2007 — The following statement was recently given by ABYSMAL DAWN vocalist/guitarist Charles Elliott, via the band’s official website: “ABYSMAL DAWN will no longer be working with Crash Music, Inc.
November 2, 2007 — DECAPITATED drummer Witold “Vitek” Kieltyka passed away this morning as a result of injuries sustained from a vehicular accident involving their tour bus and a truck carrying wood in Gomel, on the Russia/Belarus border.
November 2, 2007 — Compelling, stark and aggressive War Of Words - The Film starring Rob Halford and his first solo band FIGHT unleashes upon legions of metal maniacs November 20th in North America, November 30th in the United Kingdom & Europe, December 3rd in Australia & New Zealand and December 19th in Japan.
October 30, 2007 — OPETH’s forthcoming release, The Roundhouse Tapes, is a 2 CD set containing the band’s live performance from Camden Roundhouse in London where they played last November 9th.
October 25, 2007 — It has been reported that founding guitarist Rune Rebellion has decided to leave TURBONEGRO. While he is stepping down from his post as rhythm guitarist, he will continue in his instrumental role in running the band’s label, Scandinavian Leather Recordings, as well as managing a lot of the touring business.
October 24, 2007 — Legendary death metal titans IMMOLATION kick off a massive a month-long North American tour this week with SUFFOCATION and SKINLESS, which marks their first stateside trek in three years.
October 24, 2007 — The End Records has set a North American release date of January 22nd, 2007 for Shadows, the debut album from ENEMY OF THE SUN, the new band of metal legend Waldemar Sorychta.
October 22, 2007 — ZYKLON bandleader/guitarist Samoth has announced that the band will be going on hiatus. All of the band’s members will focus on their individual projects and priorities for the time being.
October 18, 2007 — Sweden’s AT THE GATES, who broke up at the peak of their success in 1996, have confirmed a select few reunion shows to take place next summer in Europe.
October 18, 2007 — Sweden’s DARKANE have announced a new vocalist following the resignation of former singer Andreas Sidow. Guitarist Christopher Malmström made the following annoucement: “DARKANE would like to welcome Jens Broman as our new vocalist!
October 17, 2007 — The new EXODUS album, The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A, can be heard in its entirety through October 22nd here. PC Users: You will have to click on each individual track to hear them.
October 16, 2007 — BLACK COBRA will be hitting the road in support of their upcoming album, Feather And Stone. The eight-track assault showcases the bands’ exploration of gritty hardcore/sludge depravity since their previous outing, Bestial (once thought untouchable), will be unleashed upon humanity on October 30th.
October 16, 2007 — Swedish rockers THE HELLACOPTERS (featuring Nicke Anderson, DEATH BREATH/ex-ENTOMBED) have announced their decision to disband following the release of their forthcoming album. Here is the statement straight from the band:
October 12, 2007 — VADER, MALEVOLENT CREATION, and CATTLE DECAPITATION will embark on the The Death By Decibels Tour this November. The tour will also feature LIGHT THIS CITY, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, and VEIL OF MAYA.
October 12, 2007 — SOULFLY Guitarist Marc Rizzo will be going on tour with SOULFLY bandmate Bobby Burns with Burns’ band, PRIMER 55. The three month tour starts today.
October 10, 2007 — Paul Bostaph (ex-FORBIDDEN/SLAYER/EXODUS) will join the ranks alongside originating classic thrash legends Chuck Billy on vocals, Alex Skolnick on lead guitar, Eric Peterson on rhythm guitar and Greg Christian on bass.
October 6, 2007 — Legendary British death metal band, CARCASS, will reunite for next year’s Wacken Open Air festival. Bassist/vocalist, Jeff Walker, issued the following statement on behalf of the band:
October 5, 2007 — From November 17 to December 5, MUNICIPAL WASTE will be bringing the party on the road for a tour of the west coast. Then again, it’s never really a party unless you bring some friends, right?
October 2, 2007 — Romanian band NEGURA BUNGET and Lupus Lounge have agreed upon an encompassing collaboration. Among other things, Lupus Lounge will re-release From Transylvanian Forests as well as the albums Zirnindu-Sa, Maiastru Sfetnic and Sala Molksa with extensive bonus material.
October 2, 2007 — Various reports announcing that legendary hardcore punk icon Ian MacKaye (MINOR THREAT, FUGAZI, Dischord Records) died on Monday night in Baltimore are false. The Baltimore Sun has reported that he is indeed alive after speaking to him on the phone today.
September 29, 2007 — Norway’s VIRUS have uploaded a demo version of a new song, “Lost Peacocks,” online here. The demo track does not have bass and is unmixed. The song will appear in its final form on the band’s upcoming album, The Black Flux, via Jester Records.
September 28, 2007 — DECAPITATED and AMON AMARTH will be hitting the road this November for a U.S. tour. Opening on the tour will be HIMSA and SONIC SYNDICATE.
September 28, 2007 — Finland’s monster rock n’ roll band LORDI, who triumphantly rocked this year’s Ozzfest 2007 across North America, are returning this October as direct support for TYPE O NEGATIVE.
September 28, 2007 — The End Records have announced plans to reissue SIGH’s 2005 album Gallows Gallery on November 27th, 2007. The reissue, remastered by James Murphy, also features revamped artwork and several bonus tracks.
September 26, 2007 — JESU have announced yet another release this year in the form of their Lifeline EP. One song features a guest appearance by former SWANS vocalist Jarboe.
September 21, 2007 — Crossover thrashers MUNICIPAL WASTE will begin their east coast tour today in Kingston, Pennsylvania. The band will be supported by SKELETON WITCH and TOXIC HOLOCAUST.
September 21, 2007 — The Roundhouse Tapes contains a captivating OPETH performance from the Camden Roundhouse, London, UK, on November 9th, 2006 (a gig which also featured Goth metal legends PARADISE LOST), and sees the band in scintillating form churning out a selection of classics from their illustrious career.
September 18, 2007 — With renewed vigor and a fiery new frontman, Finnish cult icons FINNTROLL crawl up from their clammy cavern clutching their fifth full-length Ur Jordens Djup, which was released this past spring.
September 14, 2007 — Legendary death metal outfit DEICIDE have begun work on their ninth studio album at Florida’s Morrisound Studios, the follow up to their 2006 Billboard charting album, The Stench of Redemption.
September 12, 2007 — Taiwanese extreme metal band CHTHONIC, who recently wrapped up a successful appearance on Ozzfest, are currently trekking across the US on their historic “UNlimited” tour, performing their first headlining concerts in America.
September 10, 2007 — AMORPHIS’ new album, Silent Waters, is now available for streaming in its entirety at MP3.com. Due in North America September 18th, Silent Waters is the second AMORPHIS album to feature singer Tomi Joutsen (SINISTHRA).
September 10, 2007 — WEEDEATER will be heading out this month in support of their latest album, God Luck and Good Speed. The band will be joined by various bands along the tour.
September 6, 2007 — UK epic-thrash metallers BIOMECHANICAL have announced the completion of their upcoming release Cannibalised, mixed by famed producer Chris Tsangarides (JUDAS PRIEST). The band have posted an exclusive advance track entitled “Fallen in Fear” on their MySpace page for fans to get a taste of what to expect from the hotly anticipated release, currently streeting in February 2008.
September 6, 2007 — Virginia thrashers MUNICIPAL WASTE have posted their new video for “Headbanger Face Rip” online. The video was filmed by the legendary 80’s cult splatter/horror independent film company Troma Entertainment.
September 5, 2007 — The long out-of-print 1996 breakthrough album from UK deviants PITCH SHIFTER, Infotainment?, is to be made available again on September 24 via Earache Records. Marking the band’s evolution from underground notables to mainstream success, Infotainment?
September 5, 2007 — ULVER vocalist Kristoffer Rygg (aka Garm, Trickster G) and programmer/keyboardist Tore Ylwizaker will be DJ-ing the CD release party for their upcoming album Shadows of the Sun (out October 2nd on The End Records) Thursday September 20th, 2007 at Europa Night Club in Brooklyn, New York.
August 28, 2007 — CONVERGE, 108, and INTERNAL AFFAIRS will head out to California for four dates starting on October 18th. Tour dates: 10/18 Oakland, CA @ The Oakland Metro 10/19 Ventura, CA @ The Alpine 10/20 Corona, CA @ Showcase Theatre 10/21 San Diego, CA @ SOMA Sidestage
August 28, 2007 — ULVER have made the new song “Vigil” available for listening on the band’s MySpace page. The track comes of the band’s forthcoming new album Shadows of the Sun, which is set for an October 2nd U.
August 26, 2007 — In an unfortunate turn of events, MACHINE HEAD bassist Adam Duce will miss this Fall’s highly-anticipated Black Tyranny Tour in the U.S. due to a broken leg suffered while dirt biking in Redding, CA.
August 25, 2007 — DOWN, consisting of Philip Anselmo, Rex Brown, Pepper Keenan, Kirk Windstein and Jimmy Bower are set to release Down III - Over the Under on Sept.
August 22, 2007 — Brother’s Max and Igor Cavalera (ex-SEPULTURA) have changed the name of their new band from INFLIKTED to CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, due to conflicts with many other bands already using that name.
August 18, 2007 — Leonardo Dicaprio has hand picked songs by Southern Lord Recording artists, KHANATE and TOADLIQUOR, for the soundtrack of his forthcoming film, 11th Hour. 11th Hour is a documentary concerning the environmental crises caused by human actions and calls for restorative action through a reshaping of human activity.
August 17, 2007 — Vocalist, Andreas Sydow, has announced his resignation from Sweden’s DARKANE following seven years and three albums. Here is a statement direct from Sydow: “The time has come, my friends for me to step down from my position as vocalist of the greatest band in the world!
August 17, 2007 — Ventura, California thrash band, WARBRINGER, have signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records. They will unleash their as-yet-untitled album, produced by Bill Metoyer (SLAYER, D.
August 14, 2007 — Innerstrength Records announces ALL OUT WAR’s follow up EP to the recently released Assassins in the House of God on Victory Records. This EP, titled Purity Through Annihilation is due to be released at the end of this year.
August 14, 2007 — Glendale, AZ’s extreme metal unit JOB FOR A COWBOY and Polish death metal troupe BEHEMOTH will be co-headlining this year’s “Radio Rebellion” tour, presented by Hurley and Converse.
August 12, 2007 — TENHI has posted a new video for the unreleased track, “kausienranta,” off of their brand new career spanning compilation, Folk Aesthetic 1996-2006. Check out the video here.
August 10, 2007 — Kansas City, Missouri’s COALESCE are set to release a limited edition 7", their first release of new material since 1999’s Revolution in Just Listening. Entitled Salt and Passage, the 7" was recorded by longtime producer/friend Ed Rose and features the now-legendary lineup of Sean Ingram (vocals), Jes Steineger (guitar), THE CASKET LOTTERY’s Nathan Ellis (bass) and Nathan “Junior” Richardson (drums).
August 10, 2007 — DESPISED ICON continues their non-stop touring in support of their highly acclaimed new album, The Ills of Modern Man, on August 12th alongside DARKEST HOUR, JOB FOR A COWBOY, A LIFE ONCE LOST and THE FACELESS.
August 9, 2007 — Adult Swim is set to unleash a CD of music by animated extreme metal band, DETHKLOK, on September 25th. The release, entitled Dethalbum, will feature several full-length songs from the Metalocalypse series plus a few brand new ones.
August 7, 2007 — DIVINE HERESY – the new band of former FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares ”“ will celebrate the release of their highly acclaimed debut album, Bleed The Fifth, with a special record release show at The Whisky in Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 28th.
August 7, 2007 — Vancouver’s ZIMMERS HOLE have signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records and will be entering the studio today to begin tracking their third full-length release.
August 6, 2007 — The End Records has set a North American release date of October 2nd, 2007 for the upcoming album Shadows of the Sun from Norway’s ULVER.
August 1, 2007 — ANATHEMA’s Danny Cavanagh has issued a lengthy update on the band’s upcoming plans, which include a European tour with PORCUPINE TREE and tentative plans to release a double-album entitled Paradigm Shift.
August 1, 2007 — Due to a recently diagnosed injury, DIMMU BORGIR drummer Hellhammer will be unable to play drums for the band on the remaining festival dates this summer and the upcoming European tour with AMON AMARTH and HATESPHERE.
August 1, 2007 — Fearless Records has made their new 2007 Summer Sampler available online here. The sampler can be streamed or downloaded for free. Artists include A STATIC LULLABY, PLAIN WHITE T’S, MAYDAY PARADE, and SO THEY SAY.
August 1, 2007 — MONDO GENERATOR has been forced to drop off this year’s Ozzfest due to matters beyond the band’s control. A statement from band frontman Nick Oliveri reads as follows:
August 1, 2007 — Metal-themed rapper NECRO has announced his departure from this year’s Sounds of the Underground Tour. Here is what NECRO had to say about the situation:
August 1, 2007 — SEVERE TORTURE have provided some insight into what fans can expect from their eagerly anticipated forthcoming album Sworn Vengeance, which is due for release in September.
July 25, 2007 — TURBONEGRO will be returning to North America for a fall tour in support of their new album Retox, which drops in North America on August 14th through Cooking Vinyl.
July 24, 2007 — Former SEPULTURA members Max and Igor Cavalera, who recently reunited for the first time in 10 years, have tentatively decided on INFLIKTED as the name of their new project.
July 22, 2007 — On Wednesday, July 20th, live on stage, in front of 20,000 roaring fans at the infamous Earthshaker Festival in Rieden, Germany, heavy metal heroes TESTAMENT inked a recording deal with Nuclear Blast Records for worldwide distribution of brand new TESTAMENT music featuring the killer lineup of original members Eric Peterson, Chuck Billy, Alex Skolnick, Greg Christian with the addition of drummer Nick Barker (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, CRADLE OF FILTH).
July 20, 2007 — The onslaught that is “The Black Tyranny Tour” begins Friday, September 7th. With MACHINE HEAD and ARCH ENEMY both performing full headlining sets and THROWDOWN and SANCTITY supporting, you won’t want to miss this tour!
July 20, 2007 — Savannah sludge-rockers KYLESA have offered an update on the band from home: “We’re happy to announce that our video for ”˜Hollow Severer’ will be airing on MTV2’s Headbanger’s Ball very soon,” guitarist/singer Laura Pleasants says.
July 19, 2007 — While MODERN LIFE IS WAR were recording their upcoming album Midnight in America with legendary producer J. Robbins, a short film was made that documents the recording process.
July 18, 2007 — MONDO GENERATOR have uploaded the video for “Lie Detector,” from their recently released new album Dead Planet, online at the following location: www.one.revver.com/watch/327137 MONDO GENERATOR recently returned from their European tour where front man Nick Oliveri checked in from the road with the following update:
July 15, 2007 — Translation Loss is proud to announce the release of INTRONAUT’s new EP, The Challenger. The Challenger will see a late 2007 release and consist of three new tracks, a handful of live tracks and an outstanding remix totaling over 40 minutes.
July 15, 2007 — ULVER have confirmed the completion of their new album and follow-up to 2005’s acclaimed Blood Inside album, Shadows of the Sun. The band issued the following statement:
July 14, 2007 — Prosthetic Records labelmates CREMATORIUM and INFERNAEON will team up along with SONS OF AZRAEL to provide support for PYREXIA’s forthcoming headlining run. The two bands are each supporting new material - INFERNAEON’s debut record, A Symphony of Suffering, was released earlier this year through Prosthetic Records, while CREMATORIUM will showcase new songs from the band’s forthcoming full length and will continue supporting 2005’s The Process of Endtime, which just got pressed as picture disc vinyl and is available for purchase here.
July 13, 2007 — OBITUARY, ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY, FULL BLOWN CHAOS, and HEMLOCK are teaming up for a U.S. tour this fall. Confirmed dates are as follows: 09/11 Jaxx Nite Club - Springfield VA 09/12 BB King Blues Club - New York NY 09/13 Funhaus - Toronto ON 09/15 ADC Performance Center - Southbridge MA 09/16 Club Infinity - Williamsville NY 09/19 Emerald Theatre - Mt.
July 13, 2007 — STOLEN BABIES, who recently wrapped up a successful tour with LACUNA COIL, have posted a brand new song called “Grubbery” on their MySpace page. The track was recorded for a compilation for the Gris Grimly’s Cannibal Flesh Riot!
July 11, 2007 — Norway’s MANNGARD have completed their second album, European Cowards, and has set an August 27th European release date via Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records. Here is how the band described the new album: “All the beer-infested thrashiness from the initial recording sessions was preserved, but as always, there are plenty of elements adding a bit more depth to the evil brew.
July 11, 2007 — King of the Grey Islands, the first CANDLEMASS album to feature new singer Robert Lowe (SOLITUDE AETURNUS), has been made available for streaming on MP3.com through July 17th, the day of its release.
July 11, 2007 — THE FUCKING WRATH, featuring members from bands such as MISSING 23RD and OX VS. THUNDERBIRD, have signed a deal with Goodfellow Records. The band hailing from Montalvo, California, just finished their debut for Goodfellow entitled, Season of Evil.
July 10, 2007 — MP3.com is streaming NILE’s fifth studio album, Ithyphallic, in its entirety for seven days prior to the album’s North American street date of July 17th at the following link: http://www.
July 10, 2007 — ULVER’s A Quick Fix of Melancholy EP will be released on 10" red vinyl through Viva Hate Records. Pre-orders are now being accepted through the label’s website, www.
July 5, 2007 — ARCH ENEMY are pleased to announce they have completed work on their highly anticipated new album. The new masterpiece, Rise of the Tyrant, is the follow-up to 2005’s Doomsday Machine, the band’s most successful album to date.
July 5, 2007 — This week two albums by Taiwan’s premier metal act CHTHONIC ”“ dubbed the “BLACK SABBATH of Asia” by their home country’s largest newspaper, and soon to be the first-ever Asian act to take part in Ozzfest ”“ will finally be released in North America.
July 4, 2007 — OBITUARY’s forthcoming new album, Xecutioner’s Return, is set to hit North America August 28th via Candlelight Records. An exclusive iTunes-only advance single Evil Ways will be available July 31st.
June 29, 2007 — SOILWORK have completed mixing their forthcoming new album. Guitarist Ola Frenning posted the following update on the band’s official website: “Peter [Wildoer (drums)] and I just finished the mix of the last song.
June 20, 2007 — Tickets for this summer’s free Ozzfest have reportedly “sold out” through LiveNation.com. However, Monster Energy still has tickets which they are giving away via specially marked Monster Energy 4-packs and 8-packs via retail outlets throughout the U.
June 19, 2007 — Philadelphia’s acclaimed noise manipulators/Translation Loss recording artist, ROSETTA, have completed their highly anticipated follow up to 2005’s The Galilean Satellites entitled Wake/Lift. Wake/Lift was co-engineered by Colin Marston of DYSRHYTHMIA/BEHOLD THE ARCTOPUS and Matt Weed of ROSETTA.
June 19, 2007 — Chicago’s forward-thinking YAKUZA have confirmed the release date for the band’s recently completed full-length, Transmutations due out August 7 through Prosthetic Records. A listening party will take in the band’s hometown July 31 at The Liar’s Club, details will be confirmed shortly.
June 18, 2007 — Norwegian black metallers MAYHEM have been forced to cancel their Desconsecrate the States U.S. Tour after drummer Hellhammer suffered a broken arm during his stint with DIMMU BORGIR on their recent U.
June 12, 2007 — This summer’s Third Annual Hot Topic Presents: Sounds of the Underground Tour 2007 is set to kick of July 6th in Dallas, TX. And on June 19th, Hot Topic will be carrying, exclusively, the Sounds of the Underground tour compilation, a limited edition 2 CD and 1 DVD set.
June 9, 2007 — TURBONEGRO’s forthcoming new album, Retox, has been posted for streaming in its entirety on the band’s official MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/turbonegro. The new album is scheduled for various released dates throughout the world–June 11, 2007 in Norway, June 13, 2007 in Sweden, June 15, 2007 in the rest of Europe (excluding the UK), June 23, 2007 in Australia, July 9, 2007 in UK, and finally August 14, 2007 in the U.
June 9, 2007 — Norway’s MANES have posted an e-card online for their new album, How the World Came to an End. It can be viewed here.
June 8, 2007 — A brand new song from NILE’s upcoming album, Ithyphallic, “Papyrus Containing The Spell to Preserve its Possessor Against Attacks from He Who is in the Water” has been posted online here.
June 8, 2007 — Punk legend Jello Biafra will play some records from his massive record collection today, Friday, June 8 between 3-4pm PST on KUSF 90.3 FM San Francisco.
June 5, 2007 — Progressive neo-folk band, TENHI, will release a 3-CD collection of rare and unreleased material, Folk Aesthetic 1996-2006, on August 6, 2007 via Prophecy Productions. It will be packaged as a noble digibook with 76 page booklet, liner notes and special artwork and drawings by TENHI mainman Tyko Saarikko.
June 5, 2007 — Anneke van Giersbergen, singer for world-renowned Dutch rock act THE GATHERING, has decided to pursue new goals in life and music. In a statement from van Giersbergen, she says:
May 25, 2007 — The Southern Lord West Coast Summer Tour featuring SUNNO)), EARTH, WEEDEATER and WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM kicks off July 2nd for a short run of five dates.
May 24, 2007 — Sweden’s KATATONIA will return to headline their first American tour this fall. Kicking of September 4, the tour will make nineteen stops around the country and will feature an all European line-up with Sweden’s SCAR SYMMETRY joining up with Finland’s INSOMNIUM and SWALLOW THE SUN.
May 17, 2007 — After a five-year hiatus, Dino Cazares (co-founding member of the revolutionary band FEAR FACTORY) has triumphantly returned with a new group that is quickly going to force the entire genre to take notice.
May 17, 2007 — Peter Lindgren has stepped down from his guitar-wielding duties in OPETH after 16 years. His official statement on the matter reads as follows: “It is with sadness I announce that OPETH and I are going separate ways after almost 16 years.
May 15, 2007 — DEVILDRIVER has toiled endlessly to create a metallic masterpiece, partnering up with producer Jason Suecof. Marking their third Roadrunner release, The Last Kind Words focuses on structures and arrangement, painting a sinister yet palatable picture.
May 15, 2007 — For the first time in 6 years, and quite possibly the very last, MAYHEM”™s Deconsecrate the States Tour 2007 is sure to be the hottest on record.
May 13, 2007 — On June 5th, ICED EARTH return to action and set the stage for their upcoming double-album epic. The Overture Of The Wicked EP features the brand new, hard-hitting track “Ten Thousand Strong” along with a special 2007 version of the Something Wicked trilogy (originally appearing as the closing to 1998’s classic Something Wicked This Way Comes album.
May 13, 2007 — PARADISE LOST, the godfathers of gothic metal, have returned with a stunning new offering, In Requiem, which marks a return to the band”™s trademark heavy sound.
May 10, 2007 — IMMOLATION unleashes the seventh chapter in their legendary career, Shadows in the Light. The new effort was recorded at Millbrook Sound Studios with producer Paul Orofino and is now available in stores.
May 10, 2007 — Groundbreaking Japanese act SIGH have announced a few tour dates from their upcoming North American tour with Mesopotamian masters MELECHESH. The band is touring North America in support of their upcoming album, Hangman’s Hymn, out June 12th, 2007 on The End Records.
May 9, 2007 — KATATONIA will release a 2-disc CD/DVD set entitled Live Consternation on May 28th. The release is a live recording from their performance at the Summerbreeze Festival in Germany in 2006.
May 9, 2007 — MARILYN MANSON and SLAYER’s 25-city co-headline North American tour will kick off on July 25 in West Palm Beach, FL, pillaging its way cross-country to wrap up in San Antonio, TX on September 1.
May 5, 2007 — NEUROSIS have posted a mini-documentary on the making of their upcoming album, Given to the Rising. It can be viewed here. The new album is set to be released this month via the band’s label, Neurot Recordings.
May 2, 2007 — Norwegian avant garde band, VED BUENS ENDE, has called it a day once again after recently announcing their reformation. Here is official word from the band:
May 1, 2007 — SHADOWS FALL have been added to the third-annual Sounds of the Underground tour as alternatinv co-headliners with CHIMAIRA, EVERY TIME I DIE, and alongside main headliners GWAR.
April 26, 2007 — CRYPTOPSY recently parted ways with vocalist Lord Worm and are now seeking a replacement, in addition to a keyboardist/sampler. Here is word straight from the band:
April 26, 2007 — VOIVOD drummer Michel “Away” Langevin has issued an update on the band’s current activities: “Hello there, Here’s what’s up: The video for ‘Polaroids’ is finished. It was done with Banger Productions and Ottoblix and contains some of my animation work.
April 24, 2007 — Candlelight Records has confirmed September 11 as the US release date for the forthcoming album from death metal legends, OBITUARY. Recording of the currently untitled album is already underway with the album’s completion expected for June 1.
April 21, 2007 — DIR EN GREY have announced that they will be opening for the DEFTONES on the band’s summer tour. The first show begins in June 6, 2007 in Providence, Rhode Island.
April 21, 2007 — Longtime DISMEMBER drummer/producer Fred Estby has announced that he will be leaving the band after nearly 19 years. Here is word directly from the band:
April 21, 2007 — With renewed vigor and a fiery new frontman, Finnish cult icons FINNTROLL crawl up from their clammy cavern clutching their fifth full-length, Ur Jordens Djup, which is set for an April 24th release.
April 21, 2007 — PARADISE LOST, the godfathers of gothic metal, have posted a new e-card online, which features three new tracks (“Never For The Damned,” “Ash & Debris” and “The Enemy”) from their highly anticipated forthcoming release, In Requiem, which is set for a June 5th U.
April 21, 2007 — Australia’s symphonic/gothic/classical act VIRGIN BLACK will tour North America in June and July this year. In a posting from VIRGIN BLACK singer/songwriter Rowan London, he says, “It’s been four years since our minor but magnificent U.
April 21, 2007 — WINDS, the Norwegian band consisting of Lars E. Si, Carl August Tidemann, Jan Axel von Blomberg and Andy Winter, have completed the mixing of their fourth recording, said to be an epic masterpiece entitled Prominence and Demise.
April 17, 2007 — Norway’s ARCTURUS have officially announced their disbandment via a post on their official website reading: “A lot of rumours have been going around after our gig in Melbourne.
April 17, 2007 — DIMMU BORGIR’s new album In Sorte Diaboli (set to hit stores next Teusday, April 24th) has been posted for streaming in its entirety on Mp3.com: http://www.
April 16, 2007 — Polish extreme metal titans BEHEMOTH make their much-anticipated return to North America on April 26th to perform five special shows. This trek includes an appearance at the renowned New England Metal and Hardcore Festival and two rare headlining shows in addition to performances alongside such acclaimed acts as CANNIBAL CORPSE and DIMMU BORGIR, among others.
April 16, 2007 — The much-anticipated new album from Norway’s groundbreaking and unique black metal band DØDHEIMSGARD entitled Supervillain Outcast will be out April 17th, 2007 on The End Records.
April 12, 2007 — The third annual Sounds of the Underground tour has been announced and will feature main acts GWAR, CHIMAIRA, EVERY TIME I DIE, JOB FOR A COWBOY, and more.
April 9, 2007 — Ticket codes for this summer’s free Ozzfest (a.k.a Freefest) will be distributed through sponsor websites beginning May 12. Details on these programs are available on ozzfest.
April 6, 2007 — Los Angeles’ CREMATORIUM and INTRONAUT have signed on to support Norway’s MAYHEM and Japan’s SIGH for their two Los Angeles area shows this summer. Dates are as follows:
April 6, 2007 — VITAL REMAINS have posted a new track called “Hammer Down the Nails” for listening on their MySpace page. The track comes off their forthcoming new album Icons of Evil, which is set for an April 24th release.
April 3, 2007 — Scarlet Records will release the label’s first ever DVD on the 16th of April. Deliver Us From Evil is the confirmed title for the label’s latest effort, a compilation which will include video clips and live clips from some of its most significant artists, such as NECRODEATH, VISION DIVINE, HATESPHERE, BARCODE and ALLHELLUJA to name a few.
April 3, 2007 — Groundbreaking Japanese act SIGH have been added to the two live California dates as direct support for Norway’s MAYHEM this July. The live dates are: July 17 - Santa Ana, CA @ Galaxy Theatre July 18 - West Hollywood, CA @ Key Club
March 31, 2007 — Richmond, VA’s thrash monsters MUNICIPAL WASTE are currently in Planet Z Studios in Philadelphia working on their new album (as yet untitled) to be released on Earache Records on June 11th, 2007.
March 30, 2007 — Poland’s blackened death metallers, BEHEMOTH, have been added to this summer’s Ozzfest’s second stage, joining second stage headliners HATEBREED. Vocalist/guitarist, Nergal, commented on their participation:
March 29, 2007 — Los Angeles’ ABYSMAL DAWN have announced Mike Cosio as their new bassist as well as their opening slot for EMPEROR’s show in LA. Here is more from the band:
March 29, 2007 — THE GATHERING have commented about the recently announced one-off headlining show in New York City and their upcoming live CD and DVD, A Noise Severe.
March 27, 2007 — A new track, “Do You Do You Dig Destruction,” from TURBONEGRO’s forthcoming new album has been posted on the band’s official MySpace page for listening. The band recently finished mixing the new album prior to their appearance at this year’s SXSW festivities.
March 25, 2007 — Century Media Records has announced the signing of AT ALL COST to a worldwide deal. Trey Ramirez (guitars, vocals) describes his excitement: “We are extremely proud and honored to be a part of such a supportive label in independent music today.
March 25, 2007 — LACUNA COIL and Ovation Guitars have teamed up to present a series of free acoustic clinic mini-performances, which will take place at guitar stores across the U.
March 25, 2007 — Finland’s monster rock n’ roll band, LORDI, have been selected as one of the mainstage acts for Ozzfest 2007, alongside mainstage headliners, OZZY OSBOURNE and LAMB OF GOD.
March 22, 2007 — ARCH ENEMY are pleased to be able to announce the return of original guitarist Christopher Amott. The band, having finished an intense 18-month touring cycle all over the world promoting the Doomsday Machine album and Live Apocalypse DVD, are currently busy working on songs for their new studio album.
March 22, 2007 — LAMB OF GOD, HATEBREED, and LORDI are among the first acts announced to join Ozzy Osbourne on this summer’s “free” Ozzfest. LAMB OF GOD and Finland’s LORDI will take on the mainstage while HATEBREED will be the second stage’s lone headlining act.
March 19, 2007 — GC Records, home of THE ANSWER LIES, ESL?!, NECKTIES MAKE ME NERVOUS, and more, has launched a brand new online store for digital downloads at gcdownloads.
March 18, 2007 — DARK TRANQUILLITY’s new video for “Focus Shift” off the band’s upcoming album, Fiction, can be viewed online here. The band are about to begin their U.
March 17, 2007 — Los Angeles’ INTRONAUT have posted photos from their 15 tour dates ISIS’ current headlining tour with TORCHE. Check out the photos here.
March 16, 2007 — Canada’s THINE EYES BLEED entered the studio this week to being work on their sophomore album. Frontman Justin Wolfe issued the following statement: “We entered Beach Road Studio (located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) on March 11th, 2007 to begin tracking with Seigfried Meier.
March 16, 2007 — The title track from ANTIMATTER’s upcoming album, Leaving Eden, has been posted online here. The album is set for an April 13th release date in Europe via Prophecy Productions.
March 15, 2007 — EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt checks in with this breaking news from the EXODUS camp: “I’d like to take a moment here and welcome back Tom Hunting to EXODUS’ drum throne.
March 15, 2007 — MANNGARD entered Lydriket (The SoundREICH) today in order to start recording their sophomore album, title TBA. The band will update their MySpace site with studio reports and pictures from the sessions along the way.
March 12, 2007 — MEGADETH will release their 11th studio album, United Abominations, May 15 via their new label, Roadrunner Records. Frontman Dave Mustaine recently completed tracking and mixing the album in rural Derbyshire, England with producer Andy Sneap.
March 11, 2007 — “The Serpentine Offering,” the lead-off track from DIMMU BORGIR’s upcoming album, In Sorte Diaboli, will be available for digital download at iTunes.com beginning March 30th. The three-track North American version of the iTunes single will include an additional two songs NOT included on the album: “The Serpentine Offering” - Video Edit “The Heretic Hammer” - Instrumental Version, NORTH AMERICAN EXCLUSIVE The European version of the three-track iTunes single will feature an exclusive instrumental version of “The Serpentine Offering” in place of the instrumental version of “The Heretic Hammer.
March 11, 2007 — TYPE O NEGATIVE will head out on tour later this month in support of their new album, Dead Again, with BRAND NEW SIN as support and CELTIC FROST as direct support on select dates.
March 11, 2007 — Chicago’s YAKUZA has offered an update from the studio online (http://www.prostheticrecords.com/yakuza-instudio.html), in addition to posting some new video footage on the band’s MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/yakuza) featuring the video for “Chicago Typewriter,” as well as live footage.
March 8, 2007 — Norway”™s 1349 will be making their way back to the U.S. with their first headlining tour. The tour also features labelmates AVERSE SEFIRA, along with GOATWHORE and NACHTYMYSTIUM.
March 8, 2007 — JESU will finally be joining ISIS on tour beginning this Sunday, March 11th, following some troubles getting the proper paperwork for entering the U.S. JESU mainman Justin K.
March 7, 2007 — ANGEL CORPSE, WATAIN, and NACHTMYSTIUM will head out for this May for the Antichrist Vanguards East Coast Tour 2007. The tour kicks off on May 9th in Minneapolis, MN.
March 6, 2007 — DARK TRANQUILLITY vocalist Mikael Stanne and guitarist Martin Henriksson will be answering fan questions via an online video stream on Thursday, March 8th at 12pm EST.
March 4, 2007 — Savannah, Georgia’s CIRCLE TAKES THE SQUARE are now officially back on the hunt for a new drummer. The band is currently scheduling tryouts, and are looking for a dedicated drummer who is willing and able to tour consistency… and a willingness to relocate to Georgia is a huge plus.
March 4, 2007 — Florida’s blackened death metallers, INFERNAEON, have confirmed a handful of dates in Miami in support of the band’s forthcoming debut, A Symphony of Suffering. Featuring ex-members of MONSTROSITY, INFERNAEON’s debut features guest vocals from Ben Falgoust (GOATWHORE, SOILENT GREEN) and Keith DeVito (CATASTROPHIC), while the band with play dates in Miami as direct support to DEICIDE and ATHEIST before heading up to Milwaukee Metalfest later this year.
March 4, 2007 — Goodfellow recording artists, INTRONAUT, have been added to some additional dates on the current ISIS U.S. tour as a replacement for JESU. The band will now continue on the tour until the March 10th show in Richmond, VA.
March 4, 2007 — Finland’s monster rock n’ roll band LORDI, who will release The Arockalypse March 20, 2007 on The End Records, have announced several dates of their upcoming inaugural tour of North America.
March 3, 2007 — LACUNA COIL have announced a headlining tour to immediately follow their Jägermeister Music Tour (with STONE SOUR and SHADOWS FALL) run, which starts March 23rd and ends May 4th.
February 26, 2007 — Norway’s FLEURETY have re-record two early songs, “Descent into Darkness” (from the 1993 demo, Black Snow) and “Absence” (originally released on the 1995 compilation album, Blackend).
February 25, 2007 — Polish extreme metal titans BEHEMOTH are currently wrapping up the tenuous recording process for The Apostasy, their most ambitious and epic offering yet. The new effort is being recorded in the band’s hometown of Gdansk with Nergal (vocals, guitars) and longtime sound engineer Malta in the producers’ chairs and is set for a late July release.
February 25, 2007 — Miami, Florida’s TORCHE are geared up for a busy year, with several new releases planned, heavy time on the road and the recording of their sophomore album.
February 20, 2007 — As previously reported, JESU have canceled their CD release show and now have been forced to skip out on initial participation on their upcoming tour with ISIS.
February 20, 2007 — Symphonic black metal masters, LIMBONIC ART, return from the dead! On 06.06.06 the two members, Daemon and Morfeus, decided to bring back the dark powerful entity LIMBONIC ART.
February 17, 2007 — Chicago’s YAKUZA have begun demoing new material in the band’s hometown at Semifour Studios for the band’s forthcoming new album, tentatively titled Transmutations and scheduled for a late 2007 release through Prosthetic Records.
February 16, 2007 — Punk icon Jello Biafra will be on tour to support his latest spoken word album, In the Grip of Official Treason. There are two instore meet-n-greet events scheduled for this tour, too.
February 16, 2007 — According to INTRONAUT, JESU’s CD release show at Spaceland in Silverlake, CA (originally scheduled for 2/20/07) has been canceled due to customs issues. No word yet on whether or not the rest of the tour (with ISIS) has been affected.
February 16, 2007 — SATYRICON have issued a brief update on the band’s musical activity and plans for a Spring U.S. tour: “We have so much news for you on the new album in writing and many stories to tell from our visits to Australia and Japan.
February 15, 2007 — CHIMAIRA ringtones of tracks from their forthcoming new album, Resurrection, have been posted for download here. Songs include “Empire,” “Pleasure in Pain,” “Resurrection,” “Six,” and “Worthless.
February 15, 2007 — Loudspeaker is an album that will change all preconceptions about instrumental albums. It is an emotionally fueled work of genius, mixed with brilliant guitar solo mastery that has become Marty Friedman’s signature.
February 15, 2007 — Out of the dark passages of John 5’s mind comes this mind-blowing, sinister guitar instrumental. The Devil Knows My Name is his third solo album, due out on April 3rd, 2007, which features guest guitar solo’s from two legendary guitarists ”“ Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson with newer legend in-the-making, Jim Root (SLIPKNOT).
February 14, 2007 — Conqueror, JESU’s forthcoming new album, has been posted in it’s entirety for previewing at this new website: http://www.jesuconqueror.com/. The album comes out on February 20th in the U.
February 14, 2007 — Together for a short but memorable time””a trio of studio albums, a classic live album, and a couple of tours””the second coming of BLACK SABBATH began in 1979 when founding members Tony Iommi and Terry “Geezer” Butler were joined by Ronnie James Dio.
February 13, 2007 — This spring marks the Century Family”™s inaugural Metal for the Masses Tour, which will be co-headlined by Swedish titans, THE HAUNTED and DARK TRANQUILLITY, with INTO ETERNITY and SCAR SYMMETRY rounding out the stellar bill.
February 13, 2007 — Iowa-based melodic hardcore/punk band, MODERN LIFE IS WAR, have signed with Equal Vision Records. “We chose to sign with Equal Vision for a couple reasons,” explains vocalist Jeffrey Eaton.
February 12, 2007 — DIMMU BORGIR’s highly anticipated new album, In Sorte Diaboli, is finally set for an April 24th release via Nuclear Blast Records (April 27th for Germany and April 30th for the rest of Europe).
February 9, 2007 — Finnish folk/Viking metal band, MOONSORROW, will release their upcoming album Viides Luku ”“ Hävitetty in North America on April 17th, 2007 via Unruly Sounds/The End Records.
February 9, 2007 — Groundbreaking Japanese act SIGH have revealed the artwork for their 7th studio album, entitled Hangman’s Hymn, due out later this year on The End Records. You can to view it here.
February 8, 2007 — While specific details of this week’s Ozzfest announcement are still being worked out, a brief list of details were posted on the official Ozzfest forums:
February 6, 2007 — Norway’s DHG (formerly DØDHEIMSGARD) will release their long-awaited fourth full-length album, Supervillain Outcast, on April 17th in North America through Moonfog/The End Records. The follow-up to 1999’s critically acclaimed 666 International, is described as “a sonically-charged rollercoaster ride of avant-garde chaos and intense black metal drive and atmosphere.
February 6, 2007 — Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne and Ozzfest tour producer Live Nation broke the news today at the Concert Industry Consortium in Los Angeles that their 12th annual hard rock spectacular–a 25-date extravaganza launching July 7 in Los Angeles–is pulling the plug on ticket prices and giving the power back to the fans calling this summer’s Ozzfest “FreeFest.
February 3, 2007 — FLEURETY/ex-DHG keyboardist, Svein Egil Hatlevik, is set to release his ZWEIZZ debut album, The Yawn of the New Age, on March 24th, 2007 via Vendlus Records.
February 1, 2007 — Tickets for EMPEROR’s recently announced set of US shows are on sale as of today, February 1st. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, venue box offices, and other popular regional outlets.
February 1, 2007 — STOLEN BABIES Drummer, Gil Sharone, was called on by PLUS 44’s Travis Barker to fill in for him on their current European tour. Upon his return, STOLEN BABIES will embark on a mini-West Coast tour with Santa Cruz’s ESTRADASPHERE.
January 31, 2007 — SOULFLY guitarist Marc Rizzo has scheduled live dates on the East Coast in support of his latest solo album, Colossal Myopia. Show dates: Fri. Jan 27 Mexicali Blues - Teaneck, NJ Fri.
January 28, 2007 — The Montreal-based deathcore six-piece DESPISED ICON are currently in the midst of recording their highly anticipated sophomore Century Media release with acclaimed producer/former guitarist Yannick St-Amand.
January 28, 2007 — Hydra Head Records have announced their 2007 SXSW Showcase show on March 15th at Emo’s Annex Tent at 7pm. The line-up features PELICAN, JESU, BIG BUSINESS, DAUGHTERS, OXBOW, and Stephen Brodsky’s OCTAVE MUSEUM.
January 28, 2007 — Death metal stalwarts IMMOLATION have wrapped up the recording process for their highly anticipated new full-length album, Shadows in the Light, which is set for an April release.
January 28, 2007 — Rock Against Rock pioneers SLEEPYTIME GORILLA MUSEUM, who will be touring with for San Francisco’s SECRET CHIEFS 3 this Spring in North America (see dates below), have posted an update on their new album and latest video:
January 28, 2007 — TESTAMENT’s classic line-up of Alex Skolnick, Greg Christian, Eric Peterson, and Chuck Billy have recruited drummer Nick Barker (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, CRADLE OF FILTH) for work on the upcoming TESTAMENT album.
January 26, 2007 — ANGELCORPSE frontman Pete Helmkamp has provided the following update on the progress of ANGELCORPSE’s comback album, Of Lucifer and Lightning: “Helmkamp here. Everything is going great for the Of Lucifer and Lightning recording.
January 24, 2007 — Putting to bed the longstanding rumors of a reunion tour, HEAVEN AND HELL have announced their first tour dates for 2007. The tour will feature 11 Canadian shows, along with an exciting one-night-only performance at one of the most prestigious venues in the world, New York’s Radio City Music Hall.
January 24, 2007 — Metal Blade Records is pleased to announce that they have signed a worldwide deal with HATE ETERNAL. Metal Blade Records owner/CEO, Brian Slagel, had this comment: “I am truly honored to be working with HATE ETERNAL.
January 24, 2007 — The End Records has set a release date of April 3rd, 2007 for the new album from Australia’s gothic/classical/doom band VIRGIN BLACK, titled Requiem - Mezzo Forte.
January 20, 2007 — MACHINE HEAD recently finished recording The Blackening at Sharkbite Studios in the band’s hometown of Oakland, California. Once again produced by singer/guitarist Robert Flynn and mixed by Colin Richardson, the album is set for a March 27, 2007 release.
January 19, 2007 — INTRONAUT’s Danny Walker will be filling in on drums for JESU’s upcoming North American Tour with ISIS. The tour kicks off next month starting with a record release show for JESU’s new album, Conqueror, on the day of release, February 20, 2007.
January 19, 2007 — LACUNA COIL will embark on the latest installment of the Jägermeister Music Tour this spring alongside STONE SOUR and SHADOWS FALL. The trek, which kicks off on March 23rd and runs through early May, is the group’s fourth U.
January 19, 2007 — The Church of the 8th Day is proud to announce it’s second round of confirmed headliners for the Los Angeles Murderfest ”“ Version 3.0 which will take place on March 24th and 25th at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood California.
January 18, 2007 — Belgium’s ABORTED have just launched their new website at www.goremageddon.be in anticipation of their new album, Slaughter & Apparatus: A Methodical Overture, which is set for a February 20th release.
January 17, 2007 — Norway’s EMPEROR have announced a return to the United States for three encore performances this spring. The band reunited last year for four reunion performances in the U.
January 17, 2007 — An e-card for Helsinki’s APRIL debut records Tidelines, can be viewed here. The e-card includes soundclips of all the songs from their forthcoming debut album plus their first video, “First Blood.
January 16, 2007 — Los Angeles’ ABYSMAL DAWN have announced the departure of bassist Carlos Arriola and their search for a replacement. Here is word from the band: “ABYSMAL DAWN has parted ways with bassist Carlos Arriola.
January 15, 2007 — Montreal’s UNEXPECT have posted a live video of the song, “Desert Urbania,” online. The video was shot during one of their live performances this past Fall.
January 14, 2007 — Florida-based blackened death metal band INFERNAEON has inked a deal with Los Angeles-based Prosthetic Records. Boasting former members of MONSTROSITY, INFERNAEON’s debut record, A Symphony of Suffering, will see a March release and features guest vocal appearances from Ben Falgoust (SOILENT GREEN, GOATWHORE) and Keith DeVito (OBITUARY, SUFFOCATION, CATASTROPHIC).
January 14, 2007 — By far one of the most over-powering, precise and immensely talented bands within the ever-growing metallic hardcore scene, the Montreal-based quintet ION DISSONANCE are getting ready to record their third album and follow-up to the Abacus release, Solace, that left reviewers raving in 2005.
January 12, 2007 — Finnish monster hard rock act LORDI have experienced massive amounts of success in Europe over the last year and frontman Mr. Lordi knows the task involved in making The Arockalypse a success in North America when it is released on March 20th, 2007 on The End Records.
January 12, 2007 — “Hole in Me” taken from RED HARVEST’s forthcoming album, A Greater Darkness, is available for download here. The new album is scheduled to be released on February 19, 2007 via Season of Mist.
January 12, 2007 — Trustkill Records recording artists NORA will enter the studio this month in New Jersey to begin recording of their next album, Save Yourself. The band have tapped producer Eric Rachel to resume his work with the band after his previous work on the band’s last three releases.
January 9, 2007 — Nuclear Blast Records has announced that they have signed West Virginia”™s ARSIS to a worldwide deal. Checking in from their current tour with GOD FORBID, MNEMIC, and GOATWHORE, guitarist/lead vocalist James Malone has this to say about the newly-inked worldwide collaboration with Nuclear Blast Records: “Since the conception of ARSIS, I hoped to see the band as a part of the Nuclear Blast roster.
January 9, 2007 — The new video for the title track of DIR EN GREY’s new EP, “Agitated Screams of Maggots,” is now online. The EP hit stores today. Watch the video here.
January 9, 2007 — Released nearly a year ago in their native England, IRON MAIDEN’s latest live DVD, Death on the Road, will finally be receiving a much-deserved U.S. release on January 30th.
January 6, 2007 — Richmond, Virginia’s ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY is set to release their new album, Open Fire, on March 6th via Relapse Records. This will be the first effort to feature new singer, Kyle Thomas (ex-EXHORDER/ex-FLOODGATE).
January 5, 2007 — Polish extreme metal titans, BEHEMOTH, are currently hard at work in the studio tracking their much-anticipated new album, The Apostasy, which is currently set for a summer release.
December 27, 2006 — The new video for “Post-Apocalyptic Wastelands” from ANSUR recently released debut album, Axiom, can be viewed here. It was directed by Eirikur Granneman and shot by Robert Vawter.
December 26, 2006 — Due to the increased demand, DIR EN GREY have announced that two additional tour dates have been added to their North American tour. New dates: 2/24/2007 - Los Angeles, CA - Avalon 2/25/2007 - San Francisco, CA - The Filmore
December 21, 2006 — New Jersey’s GOD FORBID will be heading out on the Revolver-sponsored headlining trek, dubbed “The Chains of Humanity” tour with GOATWHORE and MNEMIC. The line-up is rounded out with ARSIS, THE HUMAN ABSTRACT (who will be on the tour from Jan 4th-31st) and BYZANTINE (from Feb 1st-18th).
December 21, 2006 — Belgium’s ABORTED have posted a new track, “The Chondrin Enigma,” on their MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/g0remagedd0n. The track is from their upcoming new album, Slaughter & Apparatus: A Methodical Overture.
December 17, 2006 — LORDI, Finland’s monster rock n roll extravaganza and winners of the 2006 Eurovision award, have signed to The End Records for North America. Since winning Eurovision LORDI’s popularity has grown to gargantuan heights with the band conquering numerous European charts and a six-week sold out tour of Europe.
December 13, 2006 — Polish extreme metal titans BEHEMOTH enter the studio this week to begin tracking their much-anticipated new album, The Apostasy, which is currently set for a summer release.
December 13, 2006 — Returning to the U.S. after a sold-out tour of Europe, Australia and Japan, LAMB OF GOD is excited to announce a headlining American tour in 2007 with MACHINE HEAD, TRIVIUM and GOJIRA.
December 12, 2006 — Los Angeles’ INTRONAUT are currently on tour with YAKUZA and have recently run into van problems. As a result, they have been forced to cancel their shows in Tempe, AZ and San Marcos, CA.
December 9, 2006 — INTO ETERNITY have recruited new members Steve Bolognese (ex-BEYOND THE EMBRACE) on drums and Justin Bender on guitars. Guitarist/vocalist Tim Roth commented on their new recruits:
December 9, 2006 — LACUNA COIL just embarked on a U.S. tour as direct support to IN FLAMES with THE SWORD and SEEMLESS in the support slots. The group recently completed a highly successful run on the annual Blackest of the Black Tour alongside the legendary DANZIG, labelmates THE HAUNTED, BELPHEGOR, and ASESINO.
December 8, 2006 — Supporting their stellar new album, In the Absence of Truth, ISIS is embarking on an ambitious headlining tour next spring. Supporting them on most dates are JESU, masterminded by Justin Broadrick, who will have a new album, Conqueror, out February 20 on Hydra Head.
December 8, 2006 — Richmand, Virginia’s LAMB OF GOD have garnered a Grammy nomination for “Best Metal Performance” for “Redneck,” the first single off their recently released Sacrament album. Drummer Chris Adler comments on the nomination:
December 5, 2006 — The Church of the 8th Day (website) have confirmed BRUTAL TRUTH and PIG DESTROYER the first two headliners for the Los Angeles Murderfest Version 3.0 slated for March 24th and 25th 2007 at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, California.
December 4, 2006 — Swedish death metal veterans, UNLEASHED, will make their long awaited return to America next February on their Midvinterblot North American Tour 2007. Supporting the band will be KRISIUN, BELPHEGOR, and HATESPHERE.
November 30, 2006 — Death metal stalwarts IMMOLATION are currently fine-tuning the tracks for their much-anticipated new album. The band is currently holed up at drummer Steve Shalaty’s house in Ohio prepping their new material, which is shaping up to be very aggressive and much more intense than their past work.
November 29, 2006 — CHIMAIRA’s new album Ressurection has been scheduled for a March 6, 2007 release through Ferret Records in North America (other territories through Nuclear Blast Records). Produced by Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, GOD FORBID) and Andy Sneap (MACHINE HEAD, ARCH ENEMY), the follow-up to last year’s self-titled album will be the first since their departure from Roadrunner Records.
November 29, 2006 — Game Two Records is proud to announce the newest release from Game Two - the scorching CHURCH OF MISERY/DEER CREEK Split LP (GT-33). The Japanese lords of serial doom return with a 16+ minute lysergic, effects-laden track, “The Golden Dawn,” on Side A.
November 23, 2006 — Sweden’s DARK TRANQUILLITY have finished recording their forthcoming new album. Vocalist Mikael Stanne posted the following message the band’s official website: “I can’t believe it….We made it!
November 23, 2006 — Sumerian thrashing black metallers MELECHESH have announced plans for some select North American shows in 2007. Frontman Ashmedi issued the following statement: “We have just returned from doing press in New York City this weekend and it was an outstanding experience.
November 22, 2006 — Greece’s FIREWIND are set to make their highly anticipated U.S. debut at ProgPower USA, which takes place in Atlanta on Oct. 5-6, 2007. FIREWIND are quickly making a name for themselves thanks to the young phenomenon known as Gus G.
November 22, 2006 — DIR EN GREY have announced that their new album, The Marrow of a Bone, will be released on February 7th, 2007 while the band will be in the middle of their first U.
November 21, 2006 — Fresh off supporting CONVERGE, SOME GIRLS and MODERN LIFE IS WAR, Savannah’s sludge rockers, KYLESA, have confirmed a handful of regional tour dates alongside THE SWORD, as well as confirming an appearance at Daytona Beach’s This Is Your Fest 2006 alongside a host of other bands.
November 20, 2006 — DIMMU BORGIR guitarist, Silenoz, has unofficially revealed the title of the band’s forthcoming new album in a quick report from the studio: “After what we can call a pretty mellow and relaxed mixing session (at least from a dimmucratic point of view), In Sorte Diaboli is now mixed and ready for mastering!
November 19, 2006 — BLOODJINN have recently added former HE IS LEGEND guitarist McKenzie Bell to their lineup. McKenzie replaces departing guitarist Hunter McBride. The band have issued this statement:
November 19, 2006 — MALEVOLENT CREATION recently finished writing the material for their upcoming album, Doomsday X, and are planning on entering the studio shortly. Here is word directly from the band:
November 17, 2006 — Following yesterday’s announcement of Adrian Erlandsson’s departure from CRADLE OF FILTH, the band have wasted no time securing a new drummer in Marthus (a.k.a. Martin Å karoupka).
November 16, 2006 — Adrian Erlandsson has officially announced his departure from CRADLE OF FILTH after about seven years of service. His announcement follows the recent release of CRADLE OF FILTH’s latest album, Thornography, as well as his increased involvement with several new bands including NEMHAIN (which is fronted by Erlandsson’s wife, fetish model Morrigan Hel; a.
November 14, 2006 — The inital batch of DIR EN GREY pre-sale tickets for their upcoming US tour sold out in less than 10 minutes. Some tickets still remain for a few shows.
November 14, 2006 — Candlelight Records has confirmed January 23 as the North American release date for EMPEROR’s Scattered Ashes: A Decade of Emperial Wrath tab book. The 132-page oversized book will include guitar tablature, transcribed by vocalist/guitarist Ihsahn himself, for 13 EMPEROR classes as contained on the band’s 2003 compilation of the same name.
November 14, 2006 — NAPALM DEATH’s latest music video has been posted for viewing here: http://www.napalmdeath.org/mediaplayer/videos.php?id=18 The track, “When All is Said and Done,” is taken from the band’s latest release Smear Campaign.
November 13, 2006 — Chicago forward-thinking metal act, YAKUZA, has extended touring plans into December with a string of dates playing alongside the like-minded INTRONAUT. Already teaming up with INTRONAUT for a string of dates with MISERY INDEX and labelmates BURN IN SILENCE, YAKUZA will soldier on for another handful of dates, also meeting up with STRETCH ARM STRONG and VIVISECT along the way.
November 12, 2006 — AOL Music has teamed up with Nuclear Blast Records to debut I’s new album, Between Two Worlds, this Monday, November 13th at 12:01am EST (9:01am PST) and will be available for streaming for seven days at this location: http://music.
November 11, 2006 — DIR EN GREY will be returning this Winter for their first headlining tour in the U.S. The tour will kick off February 1st in Ft. Lauderdale, FL at the Revolution followed by an extensive 16 date run across the country.
November 11, 2006 — ENTOMBED were forced to drop off their upcoming US tour with DISMEMBER and GRAVE. Here’s a statement directly from the band: “Due to circumstances beyond our control, ENTOMBED sadly has had to postpone their upcoming USA West Coast trek.
November 6, 2006 — Duncan Patterson (ex-ANTIMATTER, ANATHEMA) will release his debut album with his new project, ION, on November 27th via Equilibrium Music. The album entitled Madre, Protégenos features an array of guest musicians and vocalists from all over the world.
November 6, 2006 — As the title suggests, A Retrospective… is a look back on the work of EMPYRIUM. Aside from re-mastered songs from all four studio albums, the CD contains two unreleased new tracks, “Der Weiher” and “Am Wolkenstieg,” as well as a newly arranged and recorded version of “The Franconian Woods In Winter’s Silence” (originally off A Wintersunset…).
November 5, 2006 — Candlelight Records has confirmed January 23, 2007 as the North American release date for ABIGAIL WILLIAMS’ Legend. The limited edition 5-song EP is the territory’s formal introduction to the Phoenix-based extreme metal band and coincides with the band’s first national American tour; the band participating on Candlelight’s upcoming (and highly anticipated) label tour featuring co-headliners DARK FUNERAL and ENSLAVED.
November 5, 2006 — Candlelight Records has confirmed January 23, 2007 as the North American release date for CROWBAR’s Live: With Full Force. Filmed at the popular German open air festival of the same name, Live: With Full Force was captured on CROWBAR’s world tour supporting their 2005 release, Lifesblood for the Downtrodden.
November 5, 2006 — Washington, DC’s OLYMPIA has signed with Hope Division Records, an imprint label of Equal Vision. “From our very first conversation with Hope Division,” said vocalist Phil Williams, “we recognized that we wanted the exact same things and it just grew from there.
November 5, 2006 — DESTRUCTION will be heading out once again in support of their latest album, Inventor of Evil with support from SADUS and MUNCIPAL WASTE. The band will also be supporting their upcoming release Thrash Anthems out in January, which showcases some killer re-recorded classics as well as new material.
November 1, 2006 — UK metal band, BIOMECHANICAL, have posted guitar tablature for their most recent album, Empires of the Worlds. All tabs for the album (except for the track “Sibelius”) are available here in Guitar Pro 5 format: http://www.
October 31, 2006 — DARK TRANQUILLITY are currently recording their follow-up to Character. Here what the band had to say: “Greetings, minions! “Just a quick update on the studio progress.
October 31, 2006 — NECRODEATH’s videoclip for “Master Of Morphine,” taken from the band’s latest effort 100% Hell, is finally ready. The video will be broadcasted worldwide on RockTV network on November, 2nd 2006 during the popular show Database.
October 28, 2006 — Sweden’s CANDLEMASS have announced that longtime vocalist Messiah Marcolin is out of the band for good. The band are currently scrambling to find a replacement as the material is already written for the their next album.
October 28, 2006 — CONVERGE’s new album, No Heroes, which came out this week can be streamed online at their Myspace page here.
October 25, 2006 — The highly anticipated reunion of the legendary BLACK SABBATH line-up of Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward appears to be shaping up and taking a new form.
October 23, 2006 — Due to problems in acquiring proper transportation for SUFFOCATION’s upcoming trek with FEAR FACTORY, HYPOCRISY, and DECAPITATED as part of The Machines at War Tour, the band has been forced to fly to California without their equipment and merchandise for the start of the tour.
October 22, 2006 — One of the most influential bands in the history of hard music, SICK OF IT ALL, are celebrating their 20th year as a band. In honor of this mark in history SICK OF IT ALL are releasing a tribute album entitled Our Impact Will Be Felt with many of today’s leading bands covering their favorite songs by the band.
October 22, 2006 — The updated tour dates for the Candlelight II: Phoenix Rising tour featuring DARK FUNERAL, ENSLAVED and introducing ABIGAIL WILLIAMS have been announced. Tour dates: Jan 09 - Jaxx Nite Club, Springfield VA Jan 10 - BB King Blues Club, New York NY Jan 11 - Le Medley, Montreal QC Jan 12 - L’Imperial, Quebec City QC Jan 13 - Opera House, Toronto ON Jan 14 - Peabody’s, Cleveland OH Jan 15 - Pearl Room, Mokena IL Jan 16 - Station 4, St.
October 19, 2006 — California rock quartet FU MANCHU will celebrate the November 28th release of their new EP, Hung Out To Dry, with a record release show at the Viper Room in Hollywood on December 1st.
October 18, 2006 — Chicago’s avant-garde/spazz/rock ensemble, TUB RING, has signed to The End Records. The band will release their yet-untitled debut album for the label sometime in early 2007.
October 18, 2006 — Montreal’s ION DISSONANCE has found their new vocalist, in replacement of frontman Gabriel McCaughry, who left the band earlier this year. Kevin McCaughey (SHAOLIN, THE LAST FELONY), who was also DESPISED ICON’s session vocalist, has joined ranks.
October 17, 2006 — According to Cincinnati.com, former MORBID ANGEL/HATE ETERNAL bassist/vocalist Jared Anderson passed away on Saturday, October 14. The cause of death has not yet been released.
October 15, 2006 — Sweden’s WITCHCRAFT will finally tour the US in support of their current album, Firewood, along with the US re-release of their self-titled debut album this fall.
October 15, 2006 — Los Angeles’ FEAR FACTORY will headline The Machines at War Tour this Fall with SUFFOCATION, HYPOCRISY, and DECAPITATED. The tour is set to kick off on October 26 in Orangevale, CA and conclude in early December in Las Vegas, NV.
October 15, 2006 — Chicag’’s prog-minded metal band, YAKUZA, have secured several more live appearances before the end of the year, including an October appearance supporting fellow Chicagoans PELICAN in Cleveland Heights, OH and a string of dates in November and December alongside MISERY INDEX, INTRONAUT and labelmates BURN IN SILENCE.
October 9, 2006 — Emissaries, the fourth album from MELECHESH, is the much-anticipated follow-up to 2003’s brilliant opus, Sphynx. Easily the band’s top album to date, and debut for new drummer Xul, Emissaries is a collection of Sumerian spells, Mesopotamian mysticism and its cosmic connection.
October 7, 2006 — Don’t miss your chance to be a part of history tomorrow as CELTIC FROST are set to be the last band ever to hold an in-store signing session at the legendary Tower Records on Sunset Blvd.
October 7, 2006 — Switzerland’s NUCLEUS TORN has signed a contract for four albums with Prophecy Productions. The first joint release will be the band’s debut album, Nihil. The album offers an organic blending of progressive rock with extreme metal, folk elements, and classical music.
October 7, 2006 — SEPULTURA will be heading out for their first U.S. tour in support of their latest album, Dante XXI, this November. Direct support will come from SWORN ENEMY with DIECAST and SUICIDE SILENCE opening the tour.
October 7, 2006 — SHADOWS FALL has announced plans for a major U.S. tour with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. The Springfield, MA-based rock outfit-currently in the studio recording-will take part in a multi-band itinerary that also features 2 CENTS and BURY YOUR DEAD.
October 6, 2006 — KRISIUN’s new video for the song, “Vicious Wrath,” from their latest new album, AssasiNation, is available online here. In other news, the band is still on the road with SIX FEET UNDER, DECAPITATED, and ABYSMAL DAWN.
October 2, 2006 — The now defunct BOTCH is currently working on the reissue of their classic, American Nervoso. Here what the band had to say via their myspace page:
September 30, 2006 — Los Angeles murdercore band CREMATORIUM will embark on a two-week touring schedule supporting MISERY INDEX. The two bands will be joined up by BLESSING THE HOGS and FUCK THE FACTS along the way.
September 30, 2006 — Los Angeles’ INTRONAUT will be hitting the road hard once again in support of the newly released album, Void. This time around they will be in support of death-grind kings MISERY INDEX and the newly reformed SWARM OF THE LOTUS, but not before they do a few gigs with the eclectic KAYO DOT out west.
September 29, 2006 — Self-professed “fusion future metal” band MNEMIC have named their upcoming third studio album Passenger, which is scheduled for release in Europe on February 2nd and in North America on February 6th.
September 29, 2006 — THE HAUNTED and BELPHEGOR have been added to Glen Danzig’s Blackest of the Black tour featuring DANZIG and Italy’s LACUNA COIL. The 2006 edition of Blackest of the Black is tentatively a West Coast-only tour for two weeks in November.
September 28, 2006 — VITAL REMAINS, who are set to head out on tour with DISMEMBER, GRAVE, DEMIRICOUS, and WITHERED offered a quick note on the tour as well as details on their forthcoming new album:
September 27, 2006 — Claudio Sanchez, frontman and visionary of COHEED AND CAMBRIA, has completed his first solo album under the name, THE PRIZE FIGHTER INFERNO. The 12-song album, entitled My Brother’s Blood Machine, will be released this Halloween (Tuesday, October 31st) on upstate New York indie label, Equal Vision Records.
September 27, 2006 — KHANATE, featuring Stephen O’Malley (THORR’S HAMMER, SUNN 0))), BURNING WITCH) and James Plotkin (OLD, ATOMSMASHER), have called it a day. The band will follow through with the release of their fourth studio album (which is in the mixing phase) and the Japanese reissues of their first two albums, Khanate and Things Viral, via Daymare Recordings.
September 27, 2006 — Norway’s IMMORTAL have announced two exclusive reunion show in the U.S. in addition to their previously announced headlining appearance at Germany’s Wacken Open Air 2007. The band officially disbanded in 2003 following the release of their last studio album, Sons of Northern Darkness.
September 27, 2006 — Peaceville/Snapper Music today confirm October 31 as the U.S. release date for A Line of Deathless Kings, the new album from Yorkshire, England’s MY DYING BRIDE.
September 27, 2006 — Bristol, UK’s BURNING SKIES return with their new sophomore album, Desolation… The quintet has constructed a highly dynamic brand of blast beat fusion with intricate and brutal guitar riffs running the full gamut of extreme metal, from black metal to melodic death to American death metal and even hardcore.
September 26, 2006 — CONVERGE, who are nearing the end of their current tour with MASTODON, have announced the dates for their upcoming No Heroes US tour with MODERN LIFE IS WAR and SOME GIRLS.
September 26, 2006 — Due to overwhelming demand, LACUNA COIL will return to the U.S. this November as direct support to DANZIG as part of the next incarnation of his highly successful Blackest of The Black tour.
September 25, 2006 — TURBONEGRO bassist Happy Tom issued a very brief studio report via the Norwegian band’s MySpace page: “Fellas. FELLAS. Last day of bass guitar today, which means that the songs have more or less been STRUCTURALLY completed.
September 24, 2006 — France’s GOJIRA have been confirmed as support for CHILDREN OF BODOM’s upcoming North American tour, alongside AMON AMARTH and SANCTITY. The tour will cross the continent from late-November to mid-December and marks the first time GOJIRA will play live to North American audiences.
September 22, 2006 — DARK TRANQUILLITY have posted a report from their current tour in Korea: “Finally got some time out of the hectic schedule to issue a website update from the luxurious bar of our hotel in Korea.
September 19, 2006 — SOULFLY bassist Bobby Burns will sit out the U.S. Dark Ages Tour with SOULFLY after suffering a stroke last Thursday. Although home at this time, Burns will need long rest for recovery.
September 19, 2006 — AGALLOCH’s video for “Not Unlike The Waves” is now being streamed at mp3.com. The video for the song, which is from their critically acclaimed new album, Ashes Against the Grain, was directed by Nicole Phillips, DP Richard Stark, and camera operators, Richard Stark and Juan Mosqueda.
September 16, 2006 — SOULFLY bassist Bobby Burns suffered a mild stroke last week and was immediately hospitalized. While he is on track for a full recovery, he will not be able to participate in the band’s upcoming US tour, which begins this Monday (September 28th) in San Deigo.
September 14, 2006 — ARCH ENEMY made their triumphant return to the U.S. this past week on Gigantour sharing the main stage with such genre heavyweights as MEGADETH and OPETH.
September 14, 2006 — Goodfellow Records have announced the signing of hardcore quintet, PASSION. Born and bred in Philadelphia, PA, PASSION is set on a goal that surpasses playing music.
September 14, 2006 — Japan’s SIGH have completed recording their seventh studio album titled Hangman’s Hymn - Musikalische Exequien at Studio Moopies with engineer Takamichi Osada. The album is currently in the mixing stages, and is set for a 2007 release through The End Records.
September 12, 2006 — BETRAYED have quietly announced their disbandment via their MySpace page with no explaination. They also indicated through a bulletin post that they will be playing their final two shows in October.
September 12, 2006 — CONVERGE have added two headlining shows on off-dates of their current tour in support of MASTODON: 9/17 - St. Louis, MO @ Creepy Crawl 9/27 - Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction (w/ LIFE LONG TRAGEDY, THE MISTAKE)
September 12, 2006 — The third installment of the Texas Helloween Metal Fest (flyer) has been confirmed for October 21, 2006 at The Underground in Corpus Christi, TX. The following bands have been confirmed thus far:
September 9, 2006 — Lifeforce Records America is pleased to announce the addition of Richmond, VA’s CASSIUS to the label’s growing roster. Lifeforce Records America president Drew Juergens about the signing: “I am very pleased to welcome CASSIUS to the Lifeforce Records America family, as their debut album I Am Jim Jones showcases a remarkable grasp on the current state of metal and hardcore while expressing amazing growth and potential to think outside the box that is the ever-consuming stale state of Metalcore today!
September 9, 2006 — FEAR BEFORE THE MARCH OF FLAMES have posted another song, “Mouth,” from their upcoming album, The Always Open Mouth, on their official MySpace page. Two other new tracks, “Drowning The Old Hag”, and “Lycanthropy,” are also available for streaming.
September 8, 2006 — Austin, Texas-based eclectic doom rock band, GIANT SQUID, will be making the long haul to South Park, Colorado this weekend to play the PureVolume.com showcase at this year’s South Park Music Festival.
September 6, 2006 — Watch SATYRICON’s new music video, “The Pentagram Burns,” from their latest album, Now, Diabolical, here: QuickTime: http://www.satyricon.no/video/ThePentagramBurns.mov (20.2 MB) Windows Media: http://www.satyricon.no/video/ThePentagramBurns.wmv (19.4 MB) “The Pentagram Burns” video was directed by HÃ¥vard Arnstad in Oslo, Norway.
September 5, 2006 — Sweden’s THE HAUNTED have set October 31st as the release date for their new album, The Dead Eye (cover art), through Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2004’s acclaimed rEVOLVEr album was recorded at PUK studios and Antfarm Studios with Tue Madsen (SICK OF IT ALL, HIMSA).
September 2, 2006 — MASTODON’s new album, Blood Mountain, has been posted for streaming via their MySpace page. The follow-up to 2004’s successful Leviathan is scheduled for a September 12th release via Warner Bros.
September 1, 2006 — UK metallers BIOMECHANICAL have set Cannibalised as the title of their follow-up to 2005’s impressive The Empires of the Worlds. The band will begin recording the effort at vocalist John K.
September 1, 2006 — On the heels of their acclaimed new album, The Stench of Redemption, death metal stalwarts, DEICIDE, have unveiled a brand new logo. Check it out here.
September 1, 2006 — HATEBREED begins their Monsters of Mayhem Tour today in support of their new album, Supremacy. Special guests for the tour include THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, NAPALM DEATH, EXODUS, FIRST BLOOD, and DESPISED ICON.
August 30, 2006 — CANDIRIA drummer Kenneth Schalk has confirmed his departure from the band due to the fact that his “personal life was suffering” amongst otherthings. His full (and lengthy) explaination for why he quit was posted on the band’s official website here.
August 28, 2006 — Century Media Records has reported that TERRORIZER and ex-NAPALM DEATH guitarist, Jesse Pintado, died over the weekend in a hospital in Holland. Jesse was an integral part of NAPALM DEATH up until 2004 when he parted ways with the band.
August 27, 2006 — EARLY MAN has been added to the Philadelphia and New York dates of VENOM’s upcoming US tour: September 5 at Irving Plaza in New York, September 8 at the Trocadero in Philadelphia.
August 26, 2006 — In respect to the 20th anniversary of his untimely death in 1986, metal disc jockey Drewcifer (creator of the KNAC.com classic metal show “The Vault” and soon-to-be new host of “The Pit” on KMKF 101.
August 26, 2006 — DISMEMBER will hit the US for their first tour in years. Beginning September 30, the band will headline alongside GRAVE, VITAL REMAINS, DEMIRICOUS and WITHERED for an East Coast/Midwest run.
August 26, 2006 — Candlelight Records has confirmed October 3rd as the US release date of MoRT, the eagerly anticipated new album from French extremists, BLUT AUS NORD. The album adds to the band’s trilogy of albums and growing stateside sales and fanbase.
August 26, 2006 — Groundbreaking Japanese act, SIGH, have entered the studio today in Japan to commence work on their 7th album, titled Hangman’s Hymn, due out in 2007 on The End Records.
August 25, 2006 — Former SEPULTURA drummer, Igor Cavalera, reunited with his brother and former bandmate, Max Cavalera, at a recent gig of Max’s SOULFLY band. The show, which took place on August 17th in Tempe, Arizona, was a memorial show for Dana Wells (D-Low), the step son of Max and son of Gloria Cavalera.
August 25, 2006 — CONVERGE’s new full-length album, No Heroes (cover art), is set to drop on October 24 via Epitaph Records. The follow-up to 2004’s You Fail Me is said to combine the “textural sonics of You Fail Me with the brutal assault of Jane Doe".
August 25, 2006 — Death metal stalwarts, DEICIDE, have announced a fall headlining tour with DESOLATION in support of their recently released new album, The Stench of Redemption. Here is the latest set of tour dates: Oct.
August 25, 2006 — Sweden’s WOLF will see the North American release of the band’s fourth album, The Black Flame, on October 3rd through Prosthetic Records. The album (cover art) is set to contain the following 10 tracks:
August 24, 2006 — DISSECTION frontman Jon Nödtveidt, 31, was found dead from an apparent ritual suicide on Wednesday, August 16th at his apartment in Hässelby, Sweden. Reports stated that he was surrounded by a ring of lit candles, and had shot himself in the head.
August 14, 2006 — BLOOD TSUNAMI, the Oslo, Norway-based thrash metal band featuring drummer Bård G. Eithun (a.k.a. Faust; SCUM, ABORYM, ex-EMPEROR), has signed a three-album deal with Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records.
August 10, 2006 — ARCH ENEMY’s highly anticipated double disc DVD set, Live Apocalypse, is now available just in time for the group’s triumphant return to the U.S. on Gigantour this September.
August 10, 2006 — Notodden, Norway: After triumphantly headlining the annual Wacken Open Air Festival and completing recent capacity performances in America, EMPEROR have announced two additional performances for 2006.
August 10, 2006 — SPV Records has announced the signing of Swedish death metal masters, UNLEASHED, to a worldwide deal. Known for their skillfully penned, Viking-themed songs and explosive live performances, UNLEASHED are poised to make a major impact this fall with the release of their eighth full-length album, titled Midvinterblot.
August 9, 2006 — Pacific Northwest band AGALLOCH’s long-awaited and much-anticipated new album, Ashes Against the Grain (now available on The End Records), is now streaming on mp3.com. Check out the album in its entirety here.
August 9, 2006 — SICK OF IT ALL, one of the most influential bands in the history of hardcore, are ecstatic to unveil the details for their 20th Anniversary Show and the dates for their upcoming tour with THE WARRIORS, THE AUTUMN OFFERING and DEAD HEARTS.
August 3, 2006 — The new long awaited DHG (formerly known as DODHEIMSGARD) album, Supervillain Outcast, will be released this October via Moonfog Records (run by Satyr of SATYRICON). More info as it becomes available.
August 1, 2006 — Candlelight Records today proudly announces its second North American label tour package. Set to kick off January 9, Candlelight II: Phoenix Rising will feature the long-awaited stateside return of DARK FUNERAL (Sweden), ENSLAVED (Norway) and introduce newcomers ABIGAIL WILLIAMS (USA).
July 26, 2006 — Santa Cruz, California’s eclectic and unclassifiable musical group, ESTRADASPHERE, has set September 19th, 2006 as the release date for their fourth album - and debut for The End Records - titled Palace of Mirrors.
July 26, 2006 — Candlelight Records has premiered “Shadow Fear” from VADER’s forthcoming album, Impressions in Blood, at the label’s official Myspace page. Bring your browser to www.myspace.com/candlelightrecordsusa to have your first listen.
July 25, 2006 — Swedish metal pioneers DISSECTION have cancelled their two scheduled appearances in North America. The band had two shows planned in North America this fall: Sept 1: Los Angeles (USA), House of Blues Sunset Strip Sept 6: New York City (USA), B.
July 16, 2006 — Blabbermouth.net has reported that no progress has been made to get EMPEROR guitarist, Samoth, the clearance to enter the US; therefore, he will not be joining the band for their final two shows in Los Angeles.
July 13, 2006 — According to Blabbermouth.net, EMPEROR guitarist Samoth will miss tonight’s performance at B.B. King’s Blues Club in New York due to problems getting clearance to enter the United States.
July 12, 2006 — CELTIC FROST are very proud to announce the following support billing for the group’s fall 2006 North American tour: For the first leg of the tour, from September 12 (Springfield, Virginia) to October 2, 2006 (Portland, Oregon), CELTIC FROST will be joined by renown Norwegian black metal shooting stars 1349 as well as Norwegian doom supergroup SAHG (featuring some of the most distinguished musicians of Norway’s effervescent metal scene, namely members of MANNGARD and 2005 Norwegian Grammy award winners AUDREY HORNE as well as former GORGOROTH members, King and Kvitrafn).
July 12, 2006 — Candlelight Records confirms the first string of US performances by Sweden’s DISMEMBER in over five years. Set to kick off September 29, the dates will visit East and Midwest cities before concluding on October 14 in Montreal.
July 10, 2006 — The Bloodletting N. America V tour is set to feature DEEDS OF FLESH, VILE, DECREPIT BIRTH, and ODIOUS MORTEM. The tour kicks off this Friday, July, 14th.
July 10, 2006 — Groundbreaking Japanese metal act, SIGH, has revealed the final tracklisting for their forthcoming debut for The End Records, entitled Hangman’s Hymn. The album will be released later this year.
July 3, 2006 — CONVERGE’s follow-up to 2004’s You Fail Me album has been titled No Heroes. The band offered a brief description explaining the meaning of the title:
July 3, 2006 — NAPALM DEATH have completed recording their forthcoming new album, Smear Campaign. View a video studio report straight from the band here: http://www.napalmdeath.org/mediaplayer/videos.php?id=13. Vocalist Barney Greenway reports in and gives his feedback on the recording sessions at Foel Studios together with producer Russ Russell and engineer Chris Fielding:
June 30, 2006 — Candlelight Records has confirmed exclusive autograph signings/in-stores for the upcoming EMPEROR shows. The shows, announced early December 2005, have been met with much excitement. Two of the performances are already sold out (July 14th’s BB Kings performance and July 16th’s Key Club performance).
June 30, 2006 — FEAR FACTORY will embark on the The Machines At War North American Tour along with SUFFOCATION, HYPOCRISY, and DECAPITATED this Fall. HYPOCRISY leader Peter Tägtgren commented on the tour:
June 30, 2006 — After the successful release of Inferno in 2004, and worldwide tours with the likes of IRON MAIDEN, DIO and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, MOTÖRHEAD is prepared to return to the metal fold with Kiss of Death.
June 30, 2006 — Sweden’s traditional metallers, WOLF, have announced that Thomas Holm (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND) will handle artwork duties for the band’s fourth album, The Black Flame. Holm was previously responsible for WOLF’s second album, Black Wings as well.
June 26, 2006 — ANTIMATTER mainman, Mick Moss, has issued the following studio report on the progress of the band’s upcoming album, Leaving Eden: “Things are moving very well regarding the recording of the new album.
June 26, 2006 — Germany’s premier avant garde label, Prophecy Productions, will celebrate its 10 year anniversary with a special concert on October 21, 2006 at Kelterhaus Schorlemer in Zeltingen-Rachtig, Germany.
June 26, 2006 — Swedish thrash titans, THE HAUNTED, have just completed the recording process for the highly anticipated follow-up to 2004’s critically acclaimed rEVOLVEr album. The new effort was recorded in Denmark at Antfarm Studios with producer Tue Madsen and it looks to be their most accomplished work to date.
June 22, 2006 — Norway’s BORKNAGAR have finally begun work on their follow-up to 2004’s Epic album. Guitarist and mainman Øystein G. Brun posted the following message on the band’s official website:
June 22, 2006 — The Danish Metal Machine MNEMIC have begun recording their as-yet-untitled third album for Nuclear Blast Records in Los Angeles. Production is being handled by FEAR FACTORY guitarist, Christian Olde Wolbers, as well as