Old News - April 2009 - Old News - More April 2009 News
April 5th, 2009
  • STATIC-X Unleash New Album TODAY

    CULT OF STATIC on REPRISE RECORDS

    “BEST BUY” EXCLUSIVE PACKAGE CONTAINS BONUS MATERIAL & OFFERS TO FANS

    BURBANK, CA– Best Buy partners to bring you, the fans, an exclusive bonus package of the new Static-X album CULT OF STATIC. The package contains 2 bonus tracks, and a membership card to the CULT OF STATIC where you can register to access a 3rd bonus track plus the chance to win tickets and a meet & greet with the band.

    The Industrial Metal Machine called Static-X returns with their heaviest, most flammable work to date. CULT OF STATIC, on Reprise Records, marries the band's aggressive driving force with disarming experimentation.

    The fiery raw quality of CULT OF STATIC is blatant as the first single “Stingwray” hits airwaves February 14th. “Stingwray” was inspired by Wayne Static’s wife Tera Wray Static and the Corvette Stingray she drives. The song’s powerful beats and heavy guitar riffs make this song a commanding force on the record.

    Keeping the integral tones, Static-X encompasses shredding guitars with solos that have brought the band to a level of playing to be reckoned with. The cybernetic stomp of "Hypure" and "You Am I" bludgeon, bruise and break with precise grooves. Elsewhere, the staccato riffs on "Terminal" crush through an unmistakable guitar tone. Guitarist Koichi Fukuda blazes through incendiary solos, while Tony Campos bolts down demonic bass lines and Nick Oshiro pounds out deadly rhythms. Front-man Wayne Static riffs pure violence and screams out his soul. “Over the years my voice has been destroyed from excessive touring... and I love it,” exclaims Static. “The vocals on the new record are raw and brutal.”

    A song you may already be familiar with is "LUNATIC" as it was included on the Punisher: War Zone movie soundtrack. Although “LUNATIC” is relentless and raw, brandishing a ripping groove and an impenetrable barrier of guitars the album cut was re-recorded to feature a solo by legendary Megadeth front-man Dave Mustaine. "I've been a huge Megadeth fan for years,” explains Static. “We've toured with them twice. Mustaine and I really hit it off on the road. His lead style is one of the most distinctive styles out there. There's something amazing about it. When you hear him solo, you know it's him."

    Since their breakthrough debut, Wisconsin Death Trip, Static-X has sold over three million records, and they've completed numerous successful world tours including three Ozzfests, The Family Values Tour and Gigantour. CULT OF STATIC is the bastard child of a 10 year journey of metal annihilation, unleashing the beast to all in their path. “I can hardly believe it's been a decade since the release of our first cd, "Wisconsin Death Trip," and we're still going strong thanks to all of our loyal fans,” explains Static. “The title CULT OF STATIC is meant to be a big thank-you to everyone who has supported us through the years. I'm looking forward to seeing you all on the upcoming world tour.”

    Track List:
    01. Lunatic
    02. Z28
    03. Terminal
    04. Hypure
    05. Tera-Fied
    06. Stingwray
    07. You Am I
    08. Isolaytore
    09. Nocturnally
    10. Skinned
    11. Grind 2 Halt

    For More information go to www.myspace.com/staticx or www.static-x.com
  • WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM to headline North American tour

    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 years Maryland Deathfest which lands in the middle of the tour, appearing alongside Destroyer 666, Absu, Bolt Thrower, Brutal Truth and more.

    WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM - headlining North American tour
    5/13/2009 Marquis Theatre - Denver, CO w/Krallice
    5/14/2009 The Picador - Iowa City, IA w/Krallice
    5/15/2009 Triple Rock Social Club - Minneapolis, MN
    5/16/2009 Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL w/Krallice, A Storm of Light
    5/17/2009 Casbah - Hamilton, ON w/A Storm of Light, Krallice
    5/18/2009 Wreck Room - Toronto, ON w/Thrones, Krallice, A Storm of Light
    5/19/2009 La Sala Rosa - Montreal, QC w/Thrones, Krallice, A Storm of Light
    5/21/2009 Great Scott - Allston, MA w/Krallice, A Storm of Light
    5/22/2009 Europa - Brooklyn, NY w/Thrones, A Storm of Light
    5/23/2009 Sonar - Baltimore, MD - as part of Maryland Deathfest
    5/24/2009 Club Hell - Providence, RI w/A Storm of Light
    5/25/2009 Wallingford American Legion - Wallingford, CT w/Krallice, A Storm of Light
    5/26/2009 The Studio at Webster Hall - New York, NY w/Krallice, A Storm of Light
    5/28/2009 Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA w/Krallice, A Storm of Light [6 PM show]
    5/28/2009 Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA w/Krallice, A Storm of Light [10 PM show]
    5/29/2009 Gallery 5 - Richmond, VA w/Krallice, A Storm of Light, Forensics
    5/30/2009 The Hideaway - Johnson City, TN w/Krallice, A Storm of Light
    6/01/2009 Caledonia - Athens, GA w/Krallice, A Storm of Light
    6/02/2009 The Earl - Atlanta, GA w/Krallice, A Storm of Light

    All of this action after the now ongoing tour WITTR is on alongside Tombs and label mates Pelican. The band are touring in support of their third full-length Black Cascade, which is reaping massive critical response from the media!

    http://www.wittr.com
    http://www.myspace.com/wolvesinthethroneroom
    http://www.southernlord.com
    http://blog.southernlord.com
    http://www.myspace.com/southernlordrecordings
  • MY KINGDOM MUSIC is very proud to announce its newest signings: NOVA ART with their Progressive Gothic Metal and ROSSOMETILE with a great and dreaming Progressive Metal album.

    Without a doubt NOVA ART is one the most exciting bands in years not only because of all the different styles but because they mix works like a charm. Nova Art’s music is the place where Progressive, Gothic, Heavy Metal, Dark Wave converge to be synthesized in a unique style. Beautiful melodies and complicated instrumental parts, expressive vocal and a bit Petrucci-like guitar, various keyboard passages and unusual backing sounds are the keywords to describe these high-skilled musicians and their music. Every open minded Metal fan should give it a chance but it will be for sure a must for you who love Opeth, Amorphis, A Perfect Circle, Paradise Lost! Their album "Follow Yourself" will be released on May 4th, 2009 - www.myspace.com/novaartband

    With “Terrenica” ROSSOMETILE return after 5 years of silence but intense work. They represent one of the new leading act of the Progressive Italian scene and with this new album they reach new levels of emotion. They present a music that is an intense mixture of Rock tunes and more aggressive sound that recalls the Prog-metal with the presence of majestic symphonic elements, oniric atmospheres and amazing female vocals. If Dream Theater, Rush, PFM but also The Gathering or Klimt 1918 are part of your world be sure that in their music you will find many more facets that will carry you in a magic vortex of feelings! Their album "Terrenica" will be released on May 4th, 2009 - www.myspace.com/rossometile

    more info at: www.mykingdommusic.net * www.myspace.com/mykingdommusic
  • New from SELFMADEGOD Records:

    MOTHRA - Dyes
    If you like blastbeats, sonic beat downs, hoarse vocals, choppy riffs and something like Unsane on speed, then you've got it here in MOTHRA. Songs take a left turn and then a right before circling back and threatening to turn the wheel violently while stepping on the gas, damn the consequences. Just when you think you're in for a high-octane ride, they throw a slow burner at you, and yet you're compelled by the power of MOTHRA to stay on board. And when you've about caught your breath, they throw even more tricks at you , if only to demonstrate that when you think you have this band figured out, you probably don't. Fans of Converge, Burnt By The Sun and older The Dillinger Escape Plan pay head!

    http://www.myspace.com/mothra

    EGOIST - Ultra-Selfish Revolution
    Besides some solos from Patrick Mameli of Pestilence and C-187 fame, a maniac from Poland named Stanislaw Wolonciej recorded and produced the album Ultra-Selfish Revolution himself, under the name EGOIST, and that included writing and performing all of the music himself. And what does this music sound like? Well, take the off-time tempo, crunch and clean-tone moments of Meshuggah and add prog metal influences and sound effects from outer space, and clean and supremely confident vocals over top, and you have something approximating what EGOIST does on this, the second release. Fat, downtuned riffs pile up, ready to slap upside the head anyone who foolishly isn't paying attention. Melodies and harmonies with large helpings of reverb and texture weave an enveloping cloud that will give any prog rock enthusiast something to get excited about. And throughout it all EGOIST keeps moving, not content to ride any one set of ideas for too long before expanding, growing and tugging you along for the ride.

    http://egoist.metal.pl/
    http://www.myspace.com/egoistpoland

    http://www.selfmadegod.com
    http://www.myspace.com/selfmadegodrecords
  • Geïst are setting sail for "Galeere"

    The release of German avantgarde black metal band Geïst's third album, "Galeere" (engl.: "galley"), is set for May 4th, 2009. After two albums highly lauded by the scene base - the obscure, eccentric, furious, resignative "Patina" (2005) and the warmer, melancholic, autumnal "Kainsmal" (2006) - Geïst herewith clearly outshine their previous works.

    In many regards, "Galeere" represents a quantum leap for the six musicians from Bielefeld/Germany: not only does the album contain the most unfathomable and darkest material in the band's history, but also their most atmospheric and epic moments. "This album is the deep sea set to music," the band's bass player and songwriter Alboin says about the conceptual framework. "It expresses the beautiful forsakenness and infinite extent of the sea as a sanctuary, but also its indomitability and diversity, its threat and hostility."

    The musical characteristics of Geïst such as the elegiac lead guitars, the unique arrangement of the pieces, or the expressive and recognizable vocals of Cypher D. Rex are all firm in place on "Galeere". The new members of the band, Hedrykk and Larva B. Caneer (guitars) and Faruk (synthesizer), and elements of dark ambient, doom metal, and rock, make sure that the soundscapes of the album's five extra-long tracks are more open and diverse than ever.

    Not by any stretch of the imagination could we describe this as an insider's tip from the underground anymore. With "Galeere", Geïst have finally taped their full potential and are ready to join the ranks of Germany's leading black metal bands. A foretaste of "Galeere" is given by this album trailer: Geist - Galeere.
  • Klimt 1918 "Ghost Of A Tape Listener" (Video and EP)

    Together with director Paolo Marchione Klimt 1918 shot a fantastic video clip to the song "Ghost Of A Tape Listener" from their last year's album "Just In Case We'll Never Meet Again (Soundtrack For The Cassette Generation)". The clip can be watched here: Klimt 1918 - Ghost Of A Tape Listener

    Additionally a digital EP of "Ghost Of A Tape Listener" will be released on April 10th, 2009, featuring the unreleased Klimt 1918 track "Blackeberg 1918". In tandem to this, there will also be a strictly limited Digipak EP (lim. 250), which will only be available for Prophecy club members and from the ProMedia online store.

    Tracklist "Ghost Of A Tape Listener" EP:
    1. Ghost Of A Tape Listener ("Just In Case..."-Version)
    2. Skygazer ("Just In Case..."-Version)
    3.. Blackeberg 1981 (unveröffentlicht)
  • SWR barroselas metalfest XII

    Greetings from SWR inc. extreme music crew,

    The small village of Barroselas gets now ready to welcome those thousands of metalheads that yearly visit the northern region of portugal so as to attend to SWR, the leading portuguese extreme music festival. The 12th edition of barroselas metalfest goes on from April 30 to May 2. SODOM, THE HAUNTED, ABSU, ORIGIN, ESOTERIC and AKERCOCKE shape up the top of its line up.

    The March Issue of the press release concerning the 12th edition of SWR barroselas metalfest may be downloaded directly from our online press room. You may also download the SWR poster, flyer, logo and banner as well as a lot of photos and other promotional stuff from the media section of our website.

    Thanks for helping us in spreading the severe underground disease!

    SWR barroselas metalfest XII
    [ 30 april > 02 may 2009 - barroselas, PORTUGAL ]

    >>> DAY 1 <<< thursday (april 30th) - doors 19:00
    AKERCOCKE [ uk ]
    UNMERCIFUL [ usa ]
    DORNENREICH [ austria ]
    AD HOMINEM [ france ]
    ROMPEPROP [ holland ]
    INSIDIOUS DECREPANCY [ usa ]
    RECTAL SMEGMA [ holland ]
    DESPISE [ czech republic ]
    ALCOHOLOCAUST [ portugal ] [new!]
    + 1 band tbc

    >>> DAY 2 <<< friday (may 1st) - doors 15:00
    THE HAUNTED [ sweden ]
    ABSU [ usa ]
    EVILE [ uk ] [new!]
    MACHETAZO [ spain ]
    MOURNFUL CONGREGATION [ australia ]
    CORPUS CHRISTII [ portugal ]
    GREY DATURAS [ australia ]
    YEAR OF NO LIGHT [ france ]
    BLACKLODGE [ france ]
    LEGACY OF BRUTALITY [ spain ] [new!]
    MORBID DEATH [ portugal ]
    GWYDION [ portugal ] [new!]
    DEMON DAGGER [ portugal ] [new!]
    IMPUREZA [ france ]
    EQUALEFT [ portugal ] [new!]
    CRYSTALLINE DARKNESS [ portugal ] [new!]

    >>> DAY 3 <<< saturday (may 2nd) - doors 15:00
    SODOM [ germany ] [new!]
    ORIGIN [ usa ]
    URGEHAL [ norway ]
    ESOTERIC [ uk ]
    ASVA [ usa ]
    INGROWING [ czech republic ]
    GAMA BOMB [ ireland ]
    NEHËMAH [ france ]
    THE FIRSTBORN [ portugal ]
    TORTURE SQUAD [ brasil ]
    SPEARHEAD [ uk ]
    IN THA UMBRA [ portugal ] [new!]
    THERIOMORPHIC [ portugal ] [new!]
    THE RANSACK [ portugal ] [new!]
    DEAD MEAT [ portugal ] [new!]
    HACKSAW [ portugal ] [new!]

    S W R b a r r o s e l a s m e t a l f e s t XII
    30 april - 02 may 2009 . Barroselas - Portugal
    www.swr-fest.com
  • UNHOLY unveils new song, announces new album release date and upcoming tour with Earth Crisis!

    Los Angeles, CA – The Syracuse, N.Y. quintet UNHOLY whose "thrash-tinged metallic stomp" (Outburn) and "muscular, face-collapsing bursts of energy" (Metal Maniacs) have earned critical acclaim will release their Prosthetic Records debut, New Life Behind Closed Eyes, on May 12th. The new track Seeker Immortal off the upcoming album New Life Behind Closed Eyes (recorded at More Sound Studios[Ed Gein] in Syracuse) is currently streaming on the group's MySpace page HERE.

    Pre-order packages are now available in the Prosthetic webstore HERE.

    New Life Behind Closed Eyes -- the follow-up to the group's 2007 debut, Blood of the Medusa (Lambgoat Records) -- sees new vocalist Billy Price paint a scathing portrait of mankind's failures and shortcomings. The album's concept, written by guitarist Jonathan Dennison, revolves around an end-time narrative of the final days of humanity delivered by its own hand. Richly detailed artwork furthers the album's unsettling mood, but ultimately, it's the music within -- a very heavy take on the northeastern metal sound, with strong riffs, intense vocals and sharp soloing -- that makes UNHOLY impossible to ignore.

    “We've poured a lot of blood into this new record and hope this will be a soundscape to your nightmares. The aggression and energy of UNHOLY has truly been captured in New Life Behind Closed Eyes. This record is for people who are looking for something more in heavy music. Extreme music fans old and new prepare to get your faces shredded off!" - Guitarist Jonathan Dennison

    UNHOLY were recently confirmed as support for Earth Crisis' spring U.S. tour, which kicks off May 2nd in Fredericksburg, VA @ KC's (ARMAGEDDON FEST). The group will also support label mates All That Remains in Syracuse on April 15th and perform at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival on April 18.

    "We're more than excited to go on the road with such a genre defining band as Earth Crisis, beyond great friends they've been a part of our lives since day one" comments Jonathan Dennison.

    Earth Crisis, Walls of Jericho, Reign Supreme, UNHOLY, and Blood Stands Still
    05/02 - Fredericksburg, VA @ KC's - ARMAGEDDON FEST w/ Sworn Enemy
    05/03 - Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon w/ Madball
    05/04 - Detroit, MI @ The Hayloft
    05/06 - Minneapolis, MN @ Station 4
    05/09 - Tulsa, OK @ The Marquee
    05/10 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada
    05/11 - Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
    05/12 - Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
    05/13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Key Club
    05/14 - Santa Cruz @ The Urgency
    05/15 - Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
    05/16 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Clubhouse
    05/17 - Albuquerque, NM
    05/19 - Austin, TX @ Emo’s
    05/22 - Houston, TX @ Java Jazz
    05/23 - Dallas, TX @ The Max
    05/25 - Winston-Salem, NC @ Oasis
    05/26 - Louisville, KY @ Uncle Pleasant's
    05/27 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's
    05/28 - Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
    05/29 - Montreal, ON @ Underworld
    05/31 - Albany, NY @ Northern Lights

    New Life Behind Closed Eyes available everywhere May 12th 2009

    http://www.myspace.com/unholy
    http://www.prostheticrecords.com/
  • Metal Blade announces “Young Guns” tour

    This spring, fans will have the chance to witness several of Metal Blade's youngest and brightest bands share the stage at venues across the US. The tour will include headliners, Psyopus, who are joined by DIY touring vets, Rose Funeral, critically acclaimed shred heavy newcomers, Woe of Tyrants, and Las Vegas' latest and brutal offering to the world of extreme metal, Molotov Solution.

    Metal Blade founder and CEO, Brian Slagel comments, “We are very excited to get our cool new bands all on the road together for a great price. We hope that everyone comes out to support the bands and check out the latest in metal.”

    Psyopus' latest masterpiece, Odd Senses, hit streets on February 17th and has blown away fans and critics alike - from the add explosive tracks like The Burning Halo to the epic nearly classical track, A Murder to a Child. This band's live performance literally has to been seen to be believed. Main man Chris Arp is excited to join up with these bands on the road, “We're psyched to own stages across this country with these rocking kats. Metal in your face, zinch, zinch, zinch!” - Chris Arp, Psyopus

    “…ODD SENSES, is a mind blowing journey into the psychotic realm of extreme metal music.” Fangoria.com

    Rose Funeral's sophomore release and Metal Blade debut, The Resting Sonata, offers an impressive slab of death metal that, when delivered live, causes audiences to erupt into violent mosh pits. Expect gang vocals and death metal delivered with precision. The band adds, “We are all stoked to be on tour with some of our Metal Blade family members. This will definitely be a tour full of surprises for everyone. Don't miss a show coming to your area or you will miss out on one of the best highlights of the year.”

    “Rose Funeral has potential to actually change the scene, rather than add to its generic-ness.” Hails & Horns

    Woe of Tyrants have wowed critics and guitar aficionados with, Kingdom of Might. Their ability to meld high flying near Dragonforce-esque guitars with the groove and aggression of death metal is coupled with a positive and thought-provoking lyrical message. Vocalist Chris Catanzaro comments, “Woe of Tyrants are extremely proud and grateful to represent our label, Metal Blade, on the Young Guns Tour this spring, alongside some fantastic bands. Getting to share the stage with our boys in Psyopus once again is an honor, and we're looking forward to going out for the first time with Rose Funeral and Molotov Solution. Come and check out some great new talents, see you on the road!”

    “Kingdom of Might IS habit forming and shouldn't be taken with alcohol. For dry spells (when the album doesn't have your complete attention) of 5 minutes or more, please consult a doctor (you'd have to be dead).” AbsolutePunk.net

    Molotov Solution, one of Metal Blade's newest additions, just finished recording their Metal Blade debut at Lambesis Studios in San Diego with the duo of Tim Lambesis and Daniel Castlman mixing. Their social commentary and intelligent lyrical attacks are sure to continue on this next installment. Guitarist Robbie Pina adds, “We are extremely excited and honored to be included in Metal Blades "Young Guns" tour. This will be our first tour as part of the Metal Blade family and our anticipation precedes us.”

    Metal Blade Young Guns Tour
    Psyopus, Rose Funeral, Woe Of Tyrants, Molotov Solution
    05/01 Detroit, MI Hayloft no Woe of Tyrants
    05/02 Buffalo, NY Xtreme Wheels w/ Cattle Decapitation
    05/03 New London, CT El N Gee
    05/04 Melrose, MA Melrose VFW
    05/05 Manchester, NH Rockos
    05/06 Yonkers, NY The Haunt
    05/07 Fredricksburg, VA The Refuge
    05/08 Danville, VA Plan B
    05/09 Raleigh, NC The Brewery
    05/11 Charleston, SC The Oasis
    05/12 Atlanta, GA Masquerade
    05/13 Metairie, LA The High Ground
    05/14 Waco, TX Art Ambush
    05/15 San Antonio, TX Rock Bottom
    05/16 Albuquerque, NM The Compound
    05/17 Tempe, AZ The Sets
    05/18 Victorville, CA Karma
    05/19 Anaheim, CA Chain Reaction
    05/20 Fresno, CA The Exit
    05/21 Modesto, CA Modesto Virtual
    05/22 Portland, OR Satyricon
    05/23 Seattle, WA Studio Seven
    05/25 Salt Lake City, UT Studio 600
    05/26 Denver, CO Marquis Theatre
    05/27 Omaha, NE Sokol underground
    05/28 Kansas City, KS Riot Room
    05/29 Edelstein, IL The Hub
    05/30 Sidney, OH 4th Avenue Hall
    05/31 Louisville, KY Bulldog Café
    06/01 Cleveland, OH Peabodys
    06/02 Orland Park, IL Mojoes Coffehouse

    www.myspace.com/psyopus
    www.myspace.com/rosefuneral
    www.myspace.com/wot
    www.myspace.com/molotovsolution

    METAL BLADE WEBSITE | METAL BLADE MYSPACE
  • AGNOSTIC FRONT Announce New Drummer and Tour Plans!

    The Godfathers of New York Hardcore, AGNOSTIC FRONT, are proud to announce the addition of new drummer Pokey Mo (formerly of the legendary hardcore/metal crossover band LEEWAY). "The band is extremely happy to welcome Pokey to the fold," exclaimed AGNOSTIC FRONT vocalist Roger Miret. "He's a pro and we look forward to having him as a part of the band!"

    AGNOSTIC FRONT will conclude the group’s final tour in the US in support of "Warriors" this April 1st - 12th with support from RUINER. They will return to Europe this Summer and to South America for a tour with MADBALL in the Fall.

    AGNOSTIC FRONT w/ RUINER:
    04/01/09 Valentines Upstairs – Albany, NY
    04/02/09 Diesel – Pittsburgh, PA
    04/03/09 Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH
    04/04/09 Macs – Lansing, MI
    04/05/09 Subterranean – Chicago, IL
    04/06/09 Triple Rock Social Club – Minneapolis, MN
    04/07/09 Sokol Underground – Omaha, NE
    04/08/09 Bluebird – Saint Louis, MO
    04/09/09 Uncle Pleasants – Louisville, KY
    04/10/09 The Brickhouse – St. Albans, WV
    04/11/09 Otto Bar – Baltimore, MD
    04/12/09 Anchors Up – Haverhill, MA
  • ELUVEITIE: Post statement about Pagafest USA cancellation + "Evocation I" FAQ!

    Swiss folk metallers ELUVEITIE have issued a statement regarding their forced cancellation of their Paganfest USA tour appearance with KORPIKLAANI, PRIMORDIAL, MOONSORROW, BLACKGUARD and SWASHBUCKLE:

    “We are very sorry to announce that we will not be able to make it to this years edition of Paganfest USA after all. We would like to make clear that this was in no way the decision of the band and that we all were looking forward to do this tour a lot. Also we are working on a replacement tour within 2009 where we'll hopefully also be able to play a special showcase featuring songs off our upcoming acoustic release "Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion" (due April 11th). We will be back for sure 'cause you guys truly rock and we did not forget the warm welcome we've received on Paganfest I & Death By Decibels!“

    Furthermore the band has released a statement regarding the upcoming release of their folk/acoustic album Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion which will be out on April 11th in Europe and May 19th in North America.

    Mainman Chrigel Glanzmann answers a few frequently asked questions since there has been quite a bit of confusion among their fans about the musical direction of the band in the near future:

    „Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion“ sounds very different than every other ELUVEITIE release so far. It doesn’t have much to do with metal, neither does it sound like pure folk music!”

    “Yes, absolutely! It is a purely acoustic album. We had the wish of once doing an acoustic album for quite a while already - it came up in our heads already three years ago, actually. It seems perfectly obvious that the result of a folk metal band producing an acoustic album will be a folk album. But we wanted to go much further than that. We wanted to stay 100% true to ourselves and continue the idea of ELUVEITIE’s music, even on a purely acoustic album: To portray ancient history, mythology and culture “in our own words” and music and to transport something ancient and primordial into our modern age. So we tried to not just display 1000-times-heard traditional folkmusic (much as we love it though), but to create some thing new: Our own acoustic music – still rooting in tradition and containing traditional tunes, but in our own version.”

    „So, did you change your style of music now? Will ELUVEITIE be kind of a folkish acoustic band in future?”

    “No, of course not! ELUVEITIE is fuckin metal and will always be! As mentioned before, we wanted to once do something purely acoustic. This is something that really challenged us. So, to us “Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion” is more something like a project. A project that means a lot to us though, we really love the album. But still we’re a metal band and our next album after “Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion” will for sure be a metal album again!”

    “The album is entitled “Evocation I”. Does this mean, that there will also be a part II?”

    „Yes. When we began to write the concept of “Evocation”, the idea came up to really extend it and to do a two-pieced concept album. Now we’ll release the first part. For the second part we will again take our time to write and elaborate it. Our next release will be a metal album again, as mentioned earlier. We are a metal band and metal is what we love. After a next metal album we will work out the second part of our acoustic project then.”

    www.eluveitie.ch

April 4th, 2009
  • QUO VADIS ANNOUNCE EUROPEAN TOUR DATES!!!

    One of Canada's most respected and influential metal bands, Quo Vadis announce their European Tour Dates that will see them return to Europe since their 2007 tour with Kataklysm. As Quo Vadis cross the Atlantic for the 4-country, 10 day long tour they return to Europe with new members drummer Patrice Hamelin (Martyr), vocalist Trevor Birnie (Annex Theory, Damascus) & Bassist /Keyboardist Roxanne Constantin and new music from their highly anticipated release still in production, a follow up to 2004's critically acclaimed Defiant Imagination.

    European Tour Dates:
    April 3, 2009 - Istanbul, Turkey - Kemanci
    April 4, 2009 - Ankara, Turkey - IF Performance Hall
    April 5, 2009 - Izmir, Turkey - PUNTA
    April 6, 2009 - Bucharest, Romania - Live Metal Club
    April 7, 2009 - Cluj-Napoca, Romania - Irish Music & Pub
    April 8, 2009 - Split, Croatia - Kocka
    April 10, 2009 - Sisak, Croatia - SKWHAT
    April 11, 2009 - Golbey, France - L'Artiste -
    April 12, 2009 - Chaulnes, France - Chaulnes Metal Fest at L'OMCSL

    Quo Vadis Official Website
    Quo Vadis Myspace
    Quo Vadis Facebook Page
  • Cattle Decapitation comments on numerous upcoming tours!

    On the heels of their fastest selling and most critically acclaimed album to date, The Harvest Floor, Cattle Decapitation will be criss-crossing North America with everyone from GWAR, to Marduk & Mayhem, to label mates Rose Funeral, Woe of Tyrants and will be appearing at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival in Worcester, MA.

    Vocalist Travis Ryan comments, “We'll be heading out on another headlining trek and FINALLY we'll be doing a FULL CANADIAN TOUR!!! That's right! Years in the making, hundreds of requests gone unfulfilled, Cattle Decapitation will be grinding its way from British Columbia to Quebec! Along these dates we'll be playing with bands like Psyopus, Rose Funeral, Woe of Tyrants and even a one off fest with our brothers in gore, Suffocation! After that, we'll be meeting up once again with the almighty GWAR!!! That part of the trek will also feature Priestess and it runs right into the one everyone's been waiting for…The Blackened Fest featuring Mayhem, Marduk, our long-time friends Cephalic Carnage and Atlanta's Withered! We're excited to hear that Attila is back in Mayhem (look ma, no pig heads!) and to jam alongside Marduk & Cephalic again and look forward to sharing our brand of depravity with their fans!

    CATTLE DECAPITATION
    03/31/2009 Modesto, CA Modesto Virtual
    04/01/2009 Portland, OR Satyricon
    04/02/2009 Seattle, WA Studio Seven
    04/03/2009 Vancouver, BC The Metro Hall
    04/05/2009 Edmonton, AB The Pawn Shop
    04/06/2009 Coaldale, AB The Ventura Bar
    04/07/2009 Calgary, AB The Den / MacEwan Events Centre
    04/08/2009 Saskatoon, SK The Roxy
    04/09/2009 Winnipeg, MB The Zoo
    tour w/ PSYOPUS & ROSE FUNERAL
    04/11/2009 Thunder Bay, ON The Den
    04/13/2009 Sudbury, ON The Townehouse Tavern
    04/14/2009 Kingston, ON Time To Laugh
    04/15/2009 Ottawa, ON The Bronson Center w/ Suffocation & Whitechapel
    04/16/2009 Montreal, QC Underworld
    04/17/2009 Worcester, MA The Palladium New England Metal and Hardcore Festival
    tour w/ ROSE FUNERAL & WOE OF TYRANTS
    04/19/2009 Rochester, NY Penny Arcade
    04/20/2009 Wheeling, WV Yesterday's Draught House
    04/21/2009 Indianapolis, IN Emerson Theatre
    04/22/2009 Sauget, IL Pop's
    04/24/2009 Amarillo, TX The War Legion Underground
    04/25/2009 Dallas, TX The Lounge on Elm Street
    04/26/2009 Austin, TX Emo's
    04/28/2009 Clarksville, TN The Coup
    04/29/2009 Danville, VA Plan B
    04/30/2009 Fredericksburg, VA KC's Music Alley
    05/01/2009 New York City, NY Studio at Webster Hall
    05/02/2009 Buffalo, NY Xtreme Wheels w/ Psyopus
    Fights of Spring
    w/GWAR & Priestes
    05/03/2009 Providence, RI Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
    05/04/2009 Orono, ME 103 Ultra Lounge
    05/05/2009 Boston, MA House of Blues
    05/06/2009 Poughkeepsie, NY The Chance
    05/07/2009 Allentown, PA Crocodile Rock
    05/08/2009 Millvale, PA Mr. Small's Theatre
    05/09/2009 Cincinnati, OH Bogart's
    05/10/2009 Traverse City, MI The Terminal
    05/11/2009 DeKalb, IL Otto's Niteclub
    05/12/2009 East Peoria, IL East Peoria Event Center
    05/14/2009 Springfield, MS Remmington's Downtown
    05/15/2009 Nashville, TN The Muse
    05/16/2009 Jackson, MS Club Fire
    05/17/2009 Knoxville, TN Valarium
    05/19/2009 Fayetteville, NC Jester's Pub
    05/20/2009 Jacksonville, NC Hooligans
    05/21/2009 Lancaster, PA Chameleon Club
    Blackened Fest
    featuring Mayhem, Marduk, Cephalic Carnage & Withered
    05/22/2009 Baltimore, MD Sonar Maryland Death Fest
    05/23/2009 Spartanburg, SC Ground Zero
    05/24/2009 Orlando, FL Club Firestone
    05/26/2009 Houston, TX Numbers
    05/27/2009 San Antonio, TX White Rabbit
    05/29/2009 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theatre
    05/30/2009 Tempe, AZ Clubhouse
    05/31/2009 San Diego, CA House Of Blues
    06/02/2009 Hollywood, CA House Of Blues
    06/03/2009 San Francisco, CA DNA
    06/04/2009 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre
    06/05/2009 Seattle, WA Studio Seven
    06/06/2009 Boise, ID Knitting Factory
    06/07/2009 Denver, CO Gothic Theatre
    06/09/2009 St Paul, MN Station 4
    06/11/2009 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
    06/12/2009 Cleveland, OH Peabody's
    06/13/2009 Detroit, MI The Majestic Theatre
    06/14/2009 Toronto, ON The Opera House
    06/15/2009 Montreal, QC Les Foufounes Electriques

    Attn: VINYL COLLECTORS: The limited edition PICTURE DISC LP version of the NEW album The Harvest Floor will be available APRIL 14th via METAL BLADE RECORDS!!!

    Cattle Decapitation drummer David McGraw now endorsed by Paiste Cymbals!

    David has this to say about the new endorsement: “I'm very proud to be a part of the Paiste family! I'm pleased to use cymbals that I know will deliver the goods night after night and that will cut through the sonic wall of gore that is Cattle Decapitation!”

    *Cattle Decapitation is now on TWITTER.COM!!! Visit www.twitter.com/cattledecap and add us up to get up to the minute Cattle Decapitation info!!!

    *Cattle Decapitation is now with INDIEMERCHSTORE.COM!!!
    Check out our page, a few designs are up and more are on the way!!!
    http://www.indiemerchstore.com/cattledecap

    COMING SHORTLY:
    *The “Regret & the Grave” music video and its airing dates!
    http://www.myspace.com/cattledecapitation

    METAL BLADE WEBSITE | METAL BLADE MYSPACE
  • SKYFIRE’s “Esoteric” Ready for Mixing and a Digital-Only EP Release Announced

    SKYFIRE’s “Esoteric” Ready for Mixing and a Digital-Only EP Release Announced Swedish progressive death metallers SKYFIRE have wrapped up the recordings for the follow up to 2004’s ‘Spectral,’ entitled ‘Esoteric.’ The album’s music was self-produced at Powernest Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden, while vocals were produced by THE FORSAKEN guitarist Patrik Persson. ‘Esoteric’ is set to be mixed by Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, SONIC SYNDICATE, ZONARIA, THE ABSENCE) at Abyss Studios. The album will be released this fall via Pivotal Rockordings.

    Additionally, SKYFIRE and Pivotal Rockordings have teamed up to release a digital-only EP this summer featuring tracks that were written and recorded after the release of Spectral. More details to be announced shortly.

    http://label.pivotalalliance.com/
    http://www.myspace.com/pivotalrockordings
  • SKYFORGER NEWS

    Hello!

    Skyforger is back from the studio break and we've got some few gigs coming up, so check out the list and hope to see You at some of these. New album recordings are mostly finished and there's already the light at the end of the tunnel to see. Some of new album tunes are going to be present on next live shows. Of course, that is not all what's planned for this year, more news as they happen.

    11.03.2009 Vilnius (LT), Forum Palace
    14.03.2009 Tallinn (EE), Tapper
    03.04.2009 Bratislava (SVK), Randal
    04.04.2009 Milotice u Kyjova (CZ), Kulturni Dum
    09.04.2009 Leeuwarden (NL), Poppodium Romein
    10.04.2009 Roermond (NL), Azijnfabriek
    11.04.2009 Dendermonde (BEL), JH Zenith
    24.04.2009 Berlin (GER), K17
    25.04.2009 Erfurt (GER), From Hell
    08.05.2009 Linz (A), Posthof
    09.05.2009 Vienna (A), Bach
    13.06.2009 Kilkim Zaibu festival (LT), Joniskis
    25.07.2009 Zvera festival (LV), Saldus
    14.08.2009 Summer Breeze festival (GER), Dinkelsbühl
    04.09.2009 Wolfszeit festival (GER), Hollfeld

    For more information on gigs visit website: www.skyforger.lv
  • GOLLUM To Release The Core

    Wilmington, North Carolina metal troupe GOLLUM, who recently signed with Rotten Records, will release their long anticipated The Core full-length on April 14th. The record is dedicated to late drummer Hunter Holland, who died suddenly of heart failure just a short time after he completed the drum tracks for the new record. "You helped lay the foundation and blueprint, then you left us with a gift," writes the band on their official MySpace page. "We will never forget. Thank you dear friend for the inspiration you have given each of us. Your beat goes on and forever with us you shall be."

    Check out preview tracks here: http://www.myspace.com/gollum

    Upcoming GOLLUM Tour Dates

    Mar 21 - Headliners - (Tattoo Convention ’09!) - Columbia, SC
    Mar 26 - Lucky’s w/ Skeleton Witch & Kylesa - Wilmington, NC
    Apr 11 - Soapbox - (CD RELEASE SHOW!) - Wilmington, NC
    April 17 - Volume 11 - Raleigh, NC
    April 18 - Plan B - Danville, VA
    May 09 - Tremont Music Hall - Charlotte, NC
    May 29 - The Dive Bar- Raleigh, NC
    June 05 - Outback Lodge - Charlottesville, VA
    June 9 - Dark Horse Saloon - Atlanta, GA
    September 26 - Old Dorchester Club - Charleston, SC....

    GOLLUM Bio

    Wilmington, North Carolina metal troupe Gollum — a name derived from the Yiddish “goylem” which literally translates to “shapeless mass”— formed in the summer of 1998 by late drummer Hunter Holland and brothers Frank and Serge Stroehmer (guitar and bass respectively). “Hunter and I met through a mutual college friend and always talked about jamming after realizing that we were each into heavy music,” recalls Frank. “I had played with Hunter and was very impressed. He will forever be recognized as one of the most intense drummers the world has ever known. Serge soon entered the picture after moving to Wilmington from Goldsboro to live with me. The three of us jammed regularly. The chemistry was undeniable.”

    Frank would later incorporate samples and keyboards to further expand Gollum’s already eclectic palette. Once confident enough in their delivery, they took to the road opening for the likes of Mastodon, Soilent Green, Vital Remains, Incantation, God Forbid, Death Angel, Rwake, Alabama Thunderpussy, Minsk, Skeletonwitch, Crisis, and home-state sludge kings, Weedeater. They went on to self-produce and release their first full-length album in 2004 in the form of Lesser Traveled Waters. The disc received a host of positive reviews and featured a guest appearance by Grammy-nominated singer D. Randall Blythe of Lamb of God as well as Weedeater’s Dave “Dixie” Collins.

    All the while, Gollum employed a revolving door of vocalists but finally found a keeper in Shawn Corbett. A multi-instrumentalist and longtime band friend, Corbett’s talent and natural intensity meshed perfectly with the band’s music. By 2008, Gollum had garnered a considerable buzz and caught the attention of Los Angeles-based label Rotten Records. After a three-month courting process and a successful showcase in Wilmington, the band signed to the label in June and quickly entered the studio to craft and perfect what would become The Core. Just before the band could finish recording the record however, tragedy struck when founding member Hunter Holland died of heart failure just a few weeks after completing his drum tracks. The surviving members, devastated by Holland’s untimely passing and unsure of the band’s future, ultimately put all Gollum-related dealings on hold. After some deep soul-searching, the band soldiered on, confident that it’s what Holland would have wanted.

    Gollum eventually recruited gifted drummer Seth Long who had played with Frank in a side project. Long played his first show with the band on New Year’s Eve 2008.

    Recorded in Wilmington, NC at Umbilical Studios by Frank Stroehmer, The Core is dedicated to the memory of Hunter Holland. Guest appearances include the return of D. Randall Blythe and Dave “Dixie” Collins as well as Scott Angelacos of Hope & Suicide, the angelic vocal work of Cassie Sipe and Dr. George Zervos, professor of Religion/Philosophy at UNCW. The Core is scheduled to hit streets, April 14, 2009
  • SUSPERIA VOCALIST SUFFERS HEART ATTACK

    OSLO, NORWAY -- Athera ( Pal Mathieson) , vocalist with Norwegian band SUSPERIA, was rushed to Akershus Universitetssykehus Hospital in Lørenskog, Norway on the morning of March 9th suffering from acute stomach pains and heavy bleeding. Initial tests revealed that the singer had suffered a heart attack caused by a damaged blood vessel. Athera is currently in the intensive care unit under close observation, while further tests are carried out. He is expected to remain hospitalised for the foreseeable future. At this moment future plans including touring commitments remain unchanged, until a full diagnosis of his condition has been confirmed.

    Athera recently completed vocals on SUSPERIA's fifh studio album, which is due for an early summer release through the bands new label Candlelight Records.The band worked continuously throughout 2008 on the album which Athera described as "going back to the early days with the melancholic riffing and dark emotional vocals and coming all the way through to today, with a perfect blend of everything Susperia has been and become."

    Everyone involved with the band wishes Athera a fast and speedy recovery.

    www.susperia.net
    www.myspace.com/susperiafans
    www.candlelightrecordsusa.com
  • BLIND GUARDIAN - EIGHT NEW SONGS COMPLETED

    Vocalist Hansi Kürsch announces:

    "We have already accomplished eight new songs. What can I say about these songs? They rule, of course. You want a more precise description? Impossible. All I can say is that each and every song is 100% Blind Guardian, which naturally means there is a wild bunch of different things going on from time to time (always?).

    According to atmospheres: we have everything from the more Nightfallish "Curse My Name," to the Scriptish "Wheel Of Time." In comparison to A Twist In The Myth the lyrical direction will be more on the fantasy side as you most probably can figure out by these titles. The song "Sacred" will give you an idea about the quality and the direction of the songs.

    We have mixed modern elements with traditional ones throughout the whole songs. We may need two or three more tracks before we can call it a complete album, but being that far in the songwriting process we nevertheless have made first plans for a production start in September or October 2009.

    Apart from songwriting we will be heavily engaged in preproduction activities and in playing festivals during the next months. As a majority of the new songs seem to demand a sort of "live" atmosphere, we consider it to be good idea breathing in some real "live" air before we will finally get lost in the "Twilight Hall studios" again.

    In accordance to these events I can promise you some surprising songs (though most probably no new ones) and a nice stage set up. In total we are not going to play more than ten shows, I would think. I am sure they all will turn out to be a great blast and a unique experience for everyone joining us."

    Blind Guardian MySpace Page
    Blind Guardian Facebook Page
  • EPICA BEGINS RECORDING NEW ALBUM

    Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal act EPICA entered Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany on Monday, March 2 with producer Sascha Paeth to begin recording the follow-up to 2007's The Divine Conspiracy, tentatively due before the end of the year via Nuclear Blast Records.

    According to the band, drummer Ariën van Weesenbeek "is doing great so far. The beast already nailed five songs; he's been drumming for about 12 hours [on Tuesday]!"

    A short video clip from the recording sessions can be viewed here.

    Vocalist Simone Simons previously stated about EPICA's new material, "It is so exciting! I love the new songs and can't wait to play them live."
    The Divine Conspiracy was EPICA's first full-length concept album. According to the band, "This concept deals with the theory that, as a test, God created all kinds of different religions and released those upon humanity to see if they would be able to find the true nature of them, realizing that in all religions it is actually the same. But there's more to it; it also concludes the 'Embrace That Smothers' concept that could already be found on [2003's] The Phantom Agony."

    Epica MySpace Page
    Epica Facebook Page
  • DIMMU BORGIR DRUMMER DARAY AWARDED 'TOP DRUMMER'

    DIMMU BORGIR/ex-VADER drummer Dariusz "Daray" Brzozowski took first place in the "Rock Metal" category in Poland's largest drum magazine, Top Drummer.

    Daray played his final concert with VADER on August 30, 2008 as part of the band's 25-year anniversary show at Stodola Club in Warsaw, Poland. The gig, which was sold out, also featured performances from GRAVE, ROTTING CHRIST, DISMEMBER, GOREFEST, MARDUK, NILE, ENTOMBED and SAMAEL.

    In a late 2008 interview with Metal-Rules.com, DIMMU BORGIR guitarist Silenoz was asked how he would you rank Daray against all the other drummers the Norwegian black metal band has worked with over the years. "I would say that he is the most steady and consistent drummer I've ever played with, no matter what," he replied. "He's extremely reliable, hard-working, determined and he really, really pushes himself, you know? Even if he plays a really killer show and the rest of us have nothing to complain about, he still is not happy. It's not good enough. That's the attitude we need, you know? After all, the drummer is the engine in the band and you won't get anywhere if you only have oil and gas…you need the engine to work too…so… he's awesome."

    Dimmu Borgir MySpace Page
    Dimmu Borgir Facebook Page
  • MARKY RAMONE Besieged By Uncontrollable Fans In Mexico

    Hollywood, CA - Things got way out of control after last Saturday night’s show in Mexico. The van shuttling the band back to the hotel was besieged by fans. While attempting to protect the band, a member of the touring party was injured. The security at the venue did their best, but was overwhelmed by the numbers of people and intensity of the situation. They never had to deal with anything like this before.

    When attempting to leave the venue, fans rushed toward Marky Ramone and band. Surrounded by overzealous fans pounding on the windows of the band's vehicle, the fans eventually cracked the windshield. One fan was thrown into on-coming traffic trying to cling to the side of the moving van. He was not injured. A few moments later he and a friend were spotted in a taxi that caught up to the van, shouting and waving at their hero.
    If anyone saw the DVD "RAW" when the band was besieged by fans in Argentina? Picture that, but much worse. It was a life threatening situation.

    Sunday's show was to be in a larger venue, with the same amount of security. In the interests of everyone's safety and well being, it has been decided that Sunday's show in Mexico City will not go forward.

    Marky apologies to all his fans in Mexico City and says he's really enjoyed everything about the shows and wants to make sure no one gets hurt moving forward. He promises to come back with The Blitzkrieg soon under safer circumstances.

    Marky will be coming back to Mexico to play in May, so keep a look out. For more information go to www.myspace.com/markyramone
  • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (WEDNESDAY MARCH 11th 2009)
    HEAVY ARTILLERY SIGNS VEKTOR

    In continuing their commitment to a worldwide metallic onslaught HEAVY ARTILLERY is proud to announce the signing of Phoenix, AZ based futuristic thrashers, VEKTOR. Refusing to be pigeon-holed into any metal sub-genre, VEKTOR employs an array of intricacy, virtuosity and a wholly unique sound that sets them clearly apart from the growing legions of color-by-numbers thrash bands. Their debut full length album, Black Future on HEAVY ARTILLERY, is tentatively slated for release in August 2009.

    Conceived in 2004 by front man / guitarist David DiSanto and lead shredder Erik Nelson, VEKTOR quickly forged a formidable name for themselves amongst the Phoenix metal contingent for their unique mix of technical, speed thrash and progressive influences. Going against the grain of the Phoenix metal scene, VEKTOR created a wave of interest with their self released CD Demolition (2006) and the ferocious two track demo Hunger for Violence (2007). After four years of local and regional gigging opening for such national acts as TESTAMENT, HIRAX, ICED EARTH and MUNICPAL WASTE, VEKTOR is preparing to hit the road for their first national tour alongside label mates EXMORTUS in support of Black Future.

    Listen to VEKTOR at www.myspace.com/vektor

    www.heavyartillery.us
  • HEAVEN & HELL INTRODUCES THE DEVIL YOU KNOW

    Highly Anticipated New Album from Dio, Iommi, Butler, and Appice,
    Their First in 17 Years, Features Epic First Single "Bible Black"

    Available from Rhino April 28

    LOS ANGELES -- After finishing several heralded world tours as Heaven & Hell last summer, Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice were tighter than ever before, both musically and personally. Agreeing that it would be a shame to stop making music together at tour's end, the quartet began writing, first in England at Iommi's home studio and later in Los Angeles at Dio's studio. "The band had gotten too good to just walk away," Dio says. "We wanted to show people that we were still capable of giving them new music that measured up to what we'd done in the past.."

    With that goal in mind, the band once again converged on Rockfield Studios in Wales last winter, the same place they used 17 years earlier to record their last album, Dehumanizer. The result is the long awaited new album THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, featuring 10 soon-to-be-classic tracks from the Dio-fronted version of Black Sabbath. The highly anticipated set arrives on April 28 from Rhino for a suggested list price of $18.98 (physical) and $9.99 (digital).

    It took less than three weeks to finish the album, with most of the songs only needing a couple of takes. "It was good to play them live in the studio. It keeps you on edge," Iommi says. "I mean, somewhere along the line we were gonna have to play them live; might as well start in the studio." Butler adds: "We've learned from the past that you can kill a song doing it over and over. The first Sabbath albums were done in two or three days. Technically they weren't great, but vibe-wise they were great. If you capture that feeling, that's all you need."

    "Bible Black," the epic first single, begins with Iommi on acoustic guitar behind Dio's plaintive wail before the rhythm shifts to a menacing stomp for the rest of this dark tale about a book of sinister scriptures. One of the first songs written for the album, Dio says it established a tone for the rest of the album. "When you start off with a blockbuster like that, it makes the rest of the album so much easier because it gives you a benchmark to measure the other songs against."

    Iommi proves he hasn't lost the ability to inspire six-string envy, unleashing riffs like a pack of rabid hellhounds on "Atom And Evil," "Fear," "Neverwhere," and "Eating The Cannibals," a tune about doing more than biting the hand that feeds. Butler and Appice slow the pace while ramping up the intensity on "Follow The Tears" and "Double The Pain" and "Breaking Into Heaven," the latter diverging from its glacial procession for Dio's majestic chorus about fallen angels planning an attack on paradise.

    THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
    Track Listing

    1. "Atom And Evil"
    2. "Fear"
    3. "Bible Black"
    4. "Double The Pain"
    5. "Rock And Roll Angel"
    6. "The Turn Of The Screw"
    7. "Eating The Cannibals"
    8. "Follow The Tears"
    9. "Neverwhere"
    10. "Breaking Into Heaven"
  • ABORTED kicking off European headlining tour in May 2009! Announce new video clip!

    Death metal masters ABORTED have just confirmed their first European headlining tour, which will be kicking off in May, the band states:
    "We are proud to announce our first European headline run, which will go from end of May until June 21st, ending at France’s renowned Hellfest festival. The tour will include several other festivals and the bands we will be sharing the stage with on this run are: The Acacia Strain (US, http://www.myspace.com/theacaciastrain) and Salt The Wound (US, http://www.myspace.com/saltthewound). The tour has been booked by our new booking agency Avocado Booking and will also take us through Russia for the first time!

    Needless to say we are damn excited about all this and to see everyone out there on the road once more, make sure you come out and share the bloodshed with us! A new video for “The Enterrement Of An Idol” has also been finished, shot live by Steven Henry, and edited by Svencho and will be premiered soon! So, stay tuned! Rock 'n Roll!"

    See below a full list of upcoming ABORTED dates:

    Burn The Hexagon mini-tour
    ABORTED
    With Benighted + guests

    09.04.2009 France – Grenoble, Adaep
    10.04.2009 France – Rennes, Ubu
    11.04.2009 Belgium – Kuurne, St Pieterszaal
    12.04.2009 France – Paris, Glazart
    13.04.2009 France – Limoges, Fourmi
    14.04.2009 France – Lyon, CCO

    ABORTED

    21.05.2009 Germany – Dessau, Legacy Festival
    22.05.2009 Austria - Mining Am Inn, Summer Nights Festival
    23.05.2009 Switzerland – Pratteln, Metal Days Festival

    ABORTED
    The Acacia Strain
    Salt The Wound

    26.05.2009 Russia - St. Petersburg, Orlandina
    28.05.2009 Russia – Moscow, XO

    THE ENTOMBMENT OF EUROPE TOUR 2009
    ABORTED
    The Acacia Strain
    Salt The Wound

    29.05.2009 Germany – Karlsruhe, Stadtmitte
    30.05.2009 Holland – Tilburg, Neurotic Death Fest
    31.05.2009 UK – Plymouth, White Rabbit
    01.06.2009 UK - Manchester, Music Box
    02.06.2009 UK – Glasgow, Ivory Blacks
    03.06.2009 UK – Leeds, Rios
    04.06.2009 UK – London, Underworld
    05.06.2009 UK – Newport, TJs
    06.06.2009 UK – Swindon, The Furnace
    07.06.2009 Belgium – Antwerp, Trix
    08.06.2009 Germany – Köln, Underground
    09.06.2009 Switzerland – Zürich, Dynamo
    10.06.2009 Italy – Bologna, Sottotetto Club
    11.06.2009 Germany – München, Feierwerk
    12.06.2009 TBA
    13.06.2009 TBA
    14.06.2009 TBA
    15.06.2009 TBA
    16.06.2009 TBA
    17.06.2009 Austria – Vienna, Arena
    18.06.2009 Germany – Leipzig, Conne Island
    19.06.2009 Germany – Essen, Turock
    20.06.2009 Germany – Trier, Summer Blast Festival
    21.06.2009 France – Clisson, Hellfest (Aborted only)
    Booking: http://www.avocado-booking.com

    For more info on ABORTED, videos, songs and much more visit:
    http://www.myspace.com/abortedmetal
  • ASPHYX - currently recording new comeback studio album “Death…The Brutal Way”; new tourdates confirmed!

    The legendary Dutch death metal cult ASPHYX is back! In the line-up consisting of Martin van Drunen (Vocals), Wannes Gubbels (Bass/Vocals), Paul Baayens (Guitar) and Bob Bagchus (Drums), these old schoolMetal icons are currently working on recording a highly anticipated new album suitably entitled “Death…The Brutal Way” at Sonic Assault Studio with their longtime engineer Frank Klein Douwel. The album will be mixed and mastered by the none less legendary Dan Swanö (Bloodbath, Edge Of Sanity, etc.), who previously successfully worked on mixing the debut album by Hail Of Bullets debut album, the band featuring Asphyx vocalist Martin van Drunen and guitarist Paul. “Death…The Brutal Way” promises to become the heaviest ASPHYX album to date and is the first ASPHYX album featuring the titanic roar of Martin Van Drunen since 1992’s classic “The Last One On Earth”!

    Here is the band’s comment on the new album’s material: “Cliché or not: This truly IS the heaviest ASPHYX album of all. This could easily be THE real follow up for ‘The Last One On Earth’. The songs are as always catchy, brutal and straight forward. The slower parts have become even more slow and heavier than ever before. This is doom/death metal in the real ASPHYX spirit. This will grind everything to its grave! Just listen to songs as "Asphyx II (They Died As They Marched)”, “Eisenbahnmörser” or the epic “Cape Horn”...This is Death Metal as we, ASPHYX, like it best. Old school to the bone!”

    The album will include songs like “Death...The Brutal Way”, “Cape Horn”, “Riflegun Redeemer”, “Eisenbahnmörser”, “Scorbutics”, “Asphyx II (They Died As They Marched)” and is expected to surface around Summer via Century Media Records.

    A demo version of the track “Death…The Brutal Way” (which appeared on last year’s sold-out 7” released via Iron Pegasus) can be heard at the band’s official MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/officialasphyx

    After the stunning success of their reunion shows in 2007 and the 7” EP release in 2008, in 2009 ASPHYX are back as vicious and powerful as ever before and remain a prime example for the perseverance and indestructible impact of real death metal!

    See ASPHYX krush it live at the following dates:

    04.04.2009 Zürich (CH) – The Dynamo Club
    18.04.2009 Paderborn (DE) – Metal Inferno Festival @ Kulturwerkstatt
    25.04.2009 Barcelona (ES) – Battlefield Metal Fest
    23.05.2009 Baltimore (US) – Maryland Deathfest
    06.06.2009 Thessaloniki (GR) – Harley Bar Live Stage
    07.06.2009 Athens (GR) – An Club
    13.06.2009 Hünxe (DE) – Deathfeast Open Air
    03.07.2009 Roitzschjora (DE) – With Full Force Festival
    24.07.2009 Ostrava (CZ) – Unholy Fest
    15.08.2009 Oulu (FIN) – Jalometalli Festival @ Club Teatria
    05.09.2009 Pavia (IT) – Thunder Road Club
    19.09.2009 Berlin (DE) – TBA
    More dates to be announced soon….
  • TURISAS TV feature on Friday, March 13, 2009!

    By now there cannot be any doubt that the international reputation and interest in Finnish battle metal masters TURISAS is rapidly growing, hence it is no surprise to see them appear in a feature of the renowned TV magazine “Tracks” on French channel ARTE.

    The feature will be broadcasted on Friday, March 13th at 23:10 CET and deals with metal acts that focus on heroic, fantastic and historical themes. Other bands appearing in the report besides TURISAS are Waylander, Folkstone, and Dragonforce.

    The feature can also be viewed online! Approximately 40 minutes after the broadcast the entire show will be online for one week, so just head over to http://plus7.arte.tv or use the following direct link http://plus7.arte.tv/de/detailPage/1697660,Grid=4908.html!
    From mid-April on TURISAS will be supporting black metal stars Cradle Of Filth on the Filthfest tour 2009, see below for all upcoming dates:

    Filthfest Tour 2009

    Cradle of Filth
    Moonspell
    TURISAS

    16.04.09 (D) Hamburg – Markthalle
    17.04.09 (CZ) Prague – Follimanka
    18.04.09 (PL) Krakow – Wisla Hall
    19.04.09 (PL) Warsaw – Studola
    20.04.09 (BY) Minsk – Sportshall
    22.04.09 (SK) Bratislava – PKO
    23.04.09 (RO) Bucharest – Cluj Napaca
    24.04.09 (SRB) Belgrade – SKC
    25.04.09 (HR) Zagreb – Boogaloo
    26.04.09 (SLO) Ljubljana – Media Park
    28.04.09 (I) Rome – Tearto Tenda Strisce
    29.04.09 (I) Milano – Musicodrome
    01.05.09 (CH) Lausanne – Docks
    02.05.09 (F) Clemont Ferrand – Cooprérative de Mai
    03.05.09 (F) Toulouse – Havana Café
    04.05.09 (E) Madrid – Sala Penélope
    05.05.09 (E) Barcelona – Apollo
    07.05.09 (F) Caen – Cargo
    08.05.09 (BE) Durbuy – Durbuy Rock
    09.05.09 (NL) Rotterdam – Watt
    10.05.09 (NL) Rijssen – Lucky & Co

    TURISAS @ Summer Festivals 2009

    30.07-01.08.2009 (D) Wacken – Wacken Open Air http://www.wacken.com
    06.08.2009 (CZ) Jaromer – Brutal Assault Festival http://brutalassault.cz
    14. –16.08.2009 (UK) Derbyshire –- Bloodstock Open Air http://www.bloodstock.uk.com

    TURISAS released the much-lauded “A Finnish Summer With Turisas” DVD, which charted on #1 in the band’s home country, in autumn 2008 on Century Media Records and have already started working on the highly anticipated follow-up to the masterly “The Varangian Way” (2007) album. Find out more about the DVD at http://ecard.centurymedia.com/turisas_dvd/

    More information on TURISAS can be discovered on the following websites:
    http://www.turisas.com
    http://www.myspace.com/turisasofficial
    http://www.thevarangianway.com
  • ORPHANED LAND studio diary online; new album to be mixed by Steven Wilson!
    Israel’s progressive folk metal masters ORPHANED LAND are currently recording the highly anticipated follow-up to 2004’s “Mabool”, vocalist Kobi Farhi states:

    “Hello there to all the ORphaned warriors of light - we are very happy that we finally entered the studio to deliver you the long awaited concept album – “ORwarriOR”!

    The album is going to be more than 70 minutes long and as usual many traditional instruments and languages will be involved in the process. In my opinion this is the best ORPHANED LAND album ever! We can't wait for you to put your hands on it and we look forward to tour and meet you all on the road! Check out our diary from the studio at our Ultimate Metal forum and see you all soon! Your Orphaned brother - Kobi.”

    Click on the following link to read ORPHANED LAND’s regularly updated studio diary: Click Here


    “ORwarriOr” will be mixed by legendary producer Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree, Opeth) and he comments as follows:

    “Finally! I am very happy and look forward to mix ORPHANED LAND's new album, I'm sure this will be one of the greatest and most original albums in the metal scene!”

    The album is expected to surface on Century Media Records in early autumn 2009, stay tuned to the band’s MySpace page for songs, videos and more updates regarding the new opus: www.myspace.com/orphanedmyspace

    Also visit:
    www.orphaned-land.com
  • HEAVEN SHALL BURN reveal title of first official DVD release!

    “Bildersturm – Iconoclast II (The Visual Resistance)” will be the title of the highly anticipated first official DVD by German metal outfit HEAVEN SHALL BURN, guitarist Maik Weichert comments:

    “We can’t believe that we now have the chance to finally hold our first DVD in our hands!!! We did not expect that it would be so much hard work to get it done, but of course it also was loads of fun to put this together.

    Since we could not decide which of the two shows to use on this DVD, we decided to include both of them! The show at Summer Breeze festival last year and the one in Vienna were just equally incredible and watching them still gives us goose bumps!”

    Besides stunning live material the DVD will also include a comprehensive documentary about HSB and loads of additional content, details will be announced soon. “Bildersturm – Iconoclast II (The Visual Resistance)” will be available in 3 different formats, one of them being a limited and very special edition 3-Disc Box-Set and surfaces on Century Media Records towards the end of May.

    Furthermore, the brand-new video clip for HEAVEN SHALL BURN’s fantastic version of Edge Of Sanity’s “Black Tears” has just been finished and will be premiered in the coming weeks. The song can be found on the band’s current opus “Iconoclast (Part One: The Final Resistance)”, which was released last year.

    See HEAVEN SHALL BURN live:
    02.05.2009 Abtsgmünd (D) - Was soll Death Festival
    22.- 23.05.2009 Kreuth (D) / Aurich (D) - Wacken Rocks Festival http://www.wackenrocks.com
    30.05.2009 Berlin (D) - Wacken Rocks Festival
    12.06.2009 Bergum (NL) - Waldrock Festival
    20. – 22.06.2009 Clisson (F) - Hellfest
    03.07.2009 Wiesbaden (D) - Vainstream Beastfest
    04.07.2009 Münster (D) - Vainstream Rockfest
    10.07.2009 Ballenstedt (D) - Rock Harz Festival
    12.07.2009 Vizovice (CZ) - Masters Of Rock
    22.08.2009 Loreley, St Goarshausen (D) - Rock Area Metal Festival / http://www.rockarea-festival.com

    For further info visit:
    http://www.myspace.com/officialheavenshallburn
    http://www.heavenshallburn.com
  • BELIEVER releases second song off upcoming release Gabriel!

    Los Angeles, CA – In honor of the upcoming release Gabriel, Pennsylvania based thrashers BELIEVER are releasing a second track ‘Stoned' via the band's MySpace page. The highly anticipated release Gabriel will be available next week, March 17th, 2009 through Cesspool Recordings /Metal Blade Records.

    "As we were mixing Stoned, the ripping old school death metal riff and locking into a groove felt great until we added the weird piano section. After repeated listens to this part during the mix, both Jeff and Kevin developed throbbing headaches and severe nausea. It must have been the odd, conflicting timing between the keys, guitars and drums totally screwing with their inner ears or something. Obviously Kurt and I felt great (not sure what that says about us), but I guess that's what one might call ‘feeling the song'. Warning: Listening to this section over and over again may induce physical illness” states drummer Joey Daub.

    Gabriel track listing:
    1. Medwton
    2. A Moment In Prime
    3. Stoned
    4. Redshift
    5. History Of Decline
    6. The Need For Conflict
    7. Focused Lethality
    8. Shut Out The Sun
    9. The Brave
    10. Nonsense Mediated Decay

    Formed in the mid eighties, BELIEVER gained worldwide recognition for their boundary-breaking, artistic form of extreme metal as a part of Roadrunner Records prog-metal/thrash campaign "The Breed Beyond" alongside Cynic and Pestilence. After a long hiatus, BELIEVER is back with an intense fury and the band's new record, Gabriel, once again sees BELIEVER conquering new musical and artistic territory. With an upgraded sound and songwriting that has been alluded to as a "sick, insane cross between Tool, Voivod, NIN, and Destruction", Believer's 4th release Gabriel shows a band simply not focused on regurgitating and reliving their past. To this end, Bachman and Daub have surrounded themselves with new creative blood in keyboardist/programmer Jeff King, guitarist Kevin Leaman and bassist/programmer Elton Nestler. Securing a new home with legendary Metal Blade Records, BELIEVER is determined to win over fans of old and new with their brand of 'Believer-esque' metal.

    http://www.myspace.com/believerband

    METAL BLADE WEBSITE | METAL BLADE MYSPACE
  • BILOCATE Signed a Management Deal with 279 Productions for Greece and Cyprus

    Sudden Death Syndrome is now available in both countries.

    BILOCATE proudly announces the collaboration with 279 Productions - one of the top professional labels in Greece - to be our official Management and Promotion Company in Greece and Cyprus, and our exclusive distributor for the same countries.

    http://www.279productions.com/
    http://www.myspace.com/279prod

    Great expectations are put on this agreement, another success in Bilocate's musical career and we'd like to extend our greetings to the label manager Sofia Charalampous for the cooperation.

    As per The label Manager:

    It was truly impossible to resist this band's talent! We didn't even have to read any of the excellent reviews that 'Sudden Death Syndrome' received from the media worldwide, to offer them a place on our roster. We are always proud to offer our services and promote exceptional artists such as BILOCATE.

    for more info:
    www.Bilocate.net
    www.myspace.com/Bilocate
  • SUSPERIA VOCALIST TO UNDERGO OPEN HEART SURGERY
    OSLO, NORWAY: SUSPERIA vocalist Athera (Pal Mathieson) remains under close observation at Akershus Universitetssykehus Hospital in Lørenskog, Norway following his heart attack last week. The singer has been diagnosed with a previously undetected genetic disorder that will require the replacement of three narrowed arteries and three heart valves. He will undergo a triple heart by-pass operation through open heart surgery on Monday March 16th 2009. Meanwhile the singer is being kept on heavy doses of medication to keep his blood thin and his heart rate down.

    Though in a serious, but stable condition, a highly spirited and medicated Athera speaking from his hospital bed sent the following message: "Hey everyone out there in the metal universe - friends and strangers. Thanks for all your messages of support. I'm lying here in the hospital reading them all and it's really nice to see that so many of you have taken the time to send them. It's overwhelming. I've had a big shock and it's not something I would want anyone to experience. You know, I always wanted to hit the headlines - but not in this way! Looks like the SUSPERIA curse has hit again, a new album and tour on the way and one of us complicates it all. But damn it, we will never let anything stop us - ever! Even if death itself comes knocking and believe me it did. I am undergoing open heart surgery this Monday to replace some broken valves and veins, and then this metal heart will beat once again. The Doc(tor) says I'll be back stronger than ever. I will have to spend a long time in the hospital, but it's not that bad. You should see the nurses taking care of me. Could be worse. Looking forward to getting back up and on the road again. Sorry for the shows that I'm not going to be able to do. I will make it up to you guys. You all make me stronger, I am truly grateful."

    Future plans for SUSPERIA remain mixed. However the band have confirmed the postponement of Norwegian dates, which were set for April 09. Their UK tour in May with Breed 77 will go ahead at the insistence of Athera himself. He has urged the band not to let their UK fans down and to look at finding a replacement vocalist.

    The release of SUSPERIA's next studio album is still set for early summer as planned, through the band's new label Candlelight Records. Full details will be announced shortly.

    www.susperia.net
    www.myspace.com/susperiafans
    www.candlelightrecordsusa.com
  • GORGOROTH TRADEMARK VERDICT REACHED

    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. The court has decided that King Ov Hell's trademark registration #243365 of the band name GORGOROTH is NOT valid and shall therefore be deleted. The court states that King ov Hell and Gaahl excluded themselves from the band GORGOROTH when they tried to fire Infernus in October 2007. The court further states that Infernus cannot be excluded from GORGOROTH, unless he himself decides to quit. Infernus is very pleased, but not surprised, by this verdict. The remaining issues concerning financial matters and such are yet to be decided upon.

    Blabbermouth.net has received the following statement from bassist Tom Cato Visnes and vocalist Kristian Espedal regarding the latest developments in their legal dispute with guitarist Infernus over the rights to the GORGOROTH band name: "Regarding the recent court case over the use of the name GORGOROTH, Kristian Espedal and Tom Cato Visnes confirm that parts of the verdict have been decided and went in favour of Infernus. This is only a partial verdict on the case. Because of the complexity of this case, there will be further court hearings and the final verdict will be announced within a few weeks.”

    "Gaahl and King wish Infernus the best of luck using the banner of GORGOROTH on his art.”

    Infernus is currently available for interviews. Please contact EarsplitPR with your requests.

    http://www.gorgoroth.info
    http://www.regainrecords.com
  • BEHEMOTH ISSUES STUDIO UPDATE!

    Los Angeles, CA – March 16, 2009 – BEHEMOTH is close to finish tracking down guitars for their next, yet untitled album. This time Woytek and Slawek Wieslawscy from Studio Hertz are co-producing guitars.

    “Works are in progress, everything is goin' just smooth. We get along real fine and I believe we found a killer tone for each guitar!” comments Woytek Wieslawski.

    “It's been five days of recordings and we nailed 3 songs already. We lay down 3 rhythm guitars on each side, sometimes even more.” Adds Woytek's brother, Slawek.

    “We use Mesa Boogie Road King, Sommatone and Diezel Herbert. First two amps are used by BEHEMOTH live so we are bringing some of this live vibe to the record too. Diezel is there just to spice up the overall sound…”

    “This is the most relaxing and at the same time most creative studio session I've ever been a part of. These guys are very effective and they work incredibly fast! Both are very anal bout details so now my guitars for the first time ever don't sound sloppy haha. We found some fresh sounding guitar tones and mixed it up together… I'm using this new custom amp Sommatone that was built for me in US and it sounds just amazing! I'm a long time Mesa Boogie fan so I'm using Road King as a main sound. We mix it with Diezel Herbert. I'm sure there's some new quality made here!” comments Nergal.

    Don't forget to catch BEHEMOTH this summer on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival

    ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL
    Tour w/ Slayer, Marilyn Manson, Bullet For My Valentine, Trivium, All That Remains, God Forbid, Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth, Job For A Cowboy, The Black Dahlia Murder, Whitechapel
    07/10 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
    07/11 San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
    07/12 San Bernardino, CA Glen Helen Pavilion
    07/14 Seattle, WA White River Amphitheater
    07/17 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Pavilion
    07/18 Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion
    07/19 Denver, CO Coors Amphitheater
    07/21 Kansas City, KS Sandstone Amphitheater
    07/22 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
    07/24 Atlanta, GA Lakewood Amphitheater
    07/25 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Centre
    07/26 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
    07/28 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheater
    07/29 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion
    07/31 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center
    08/01 Pittsburgh, PA Post Gazette Pavilion
    08/02 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
    08/04 Boston, MA Tweeter Center for the Perf. Arts
    08/06 Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach Amphitheater
    08/07 Camden, NJ Tweeter Center at the Waterfront
    08/08 Hartford, CT New England Dodge Music Center
    08/09 Washington, DC Nissan Pavilion
    08/11 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
    08/12 West Palm Beach, FL Sound Advice Amphitheater
    08/14 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center
    08/15 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
    08/16 San Antonio, TX Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

    http://www.behemoth.pl
    http://www.myspace.com/behemoth

    METAL BLADE WEBSITE | METAL BLADE MYSPACE
  • Unearth and Lazarus A.D. to support Testament!

    Bay Area thrash legends, Testament, are taking the stage once again for their first US headlining tour in support of the award-winning The Formation of Damnation. The band's first new studio album in nine years won “Album of the Year” at the 2008 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards. The tour will feature the classic lineup of vocalist Chuck Billy, guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, bassist Greg Christian, and drummer Paul Bostaph. Testament will be bringing along metalcore heroes UNEARTH and neo-thrashers LAZARUS A.D. The tour kicks off May 2.

    The password for the Testament ticket pre-sale is “Damnation.” Links to purchase can be found below along with the individual tour dates. More details will follow regarding Meet and Greet and VIP ticket packages.
    Singer Chuck Billy commented on the upcoming US headlining tour: “It was really exciting last summer touring with Judas Priest, Heaven and Hell, and Motorhead, playing in front of all the old-school as well as new-school metalheads. Now we look forward to CRUSHING on our first headline tour on the Damnation Vacation US run. Heavy metal forever!!!”

    For over 20 years, Testament has remained committed to the thrash metal sound that brought them to prominence in the late 1980s. The band has never compromised its unmatched intensity or musicianship and has only continued to up the ante with each release.

    The Formation of Damnation was named one of MySpace's Top Albums for 2008 and found itself at the top of many year-end lists including #9 Rock Album of the Year on iTunes for 2008, #4 Album of 2008 in Revolver Magazine, #10 on Metal Edge Top 50 of 2008, #1 on Metal Maniacs Top 20 of 2008, and the #2 Brave Pick in Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles. The album also dominated metal radio, coming in at #1 on Sirius-XM's metal channel, #1 on CMJ's Loud Rock charts, and was the most played album on metal radio according to FMQB.

    Combining elements of hardcore, thrash, and extreme metal, while also never overlooking the importance of thought-provoking lyrical ideas and concepts, UNEARTH has steadily become one of the leading lights in heavy metal. Over the years the quintet has played in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, South America, Mexico, Japan, Europe including the Netherlands and Russia, and has appeared on such renowned metal fests as Ozzfest and Download. They have also appeared on International festivals such as Rock Am Park, Rock Am Ring, Loud Park, Wacken and others. UNEARTH's latest offering, The March, was released in October of 2008.

    “THRASH OR DIE” is the motto LAZARUS A.D. have lived by since day one and their no holds barred attitude is equaled only by their will to become a leading force in modern metal. Their supreme level of creativity, musicianship and professionalism makes them an electrifying and engaging live act. Powered by only a three-song demo, they earned a spot opening for Anthrax and were the only unsigned band included on Earache Records' Thrashing Like A Maniac compilation. After being signed by Metal Blade in 2008, LAZARUS A.D. released The Onslaught on March 3, 2009.

    Testament US headlining tour
    with UNEARTH and LAZARUS A.D.
    05/02 Seattle, WA El Corazon
    05/03 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory
    05/04 Vancouver, BC Commodore
    05/06 Calgary, AB MacEwan Ballroom
    05/07 Edmonton, AB Edmonton Events Centre
    05/09 Winnipeg, MB The Garrick Centre
    05/10 Maplewood, MN The Rock
    05/12 Milwaukee, WI The Rave
    05/13 Sauget, IL Pop's
    05/15 Chicago, IL House of Blues
    05/16 Detroit, MI Harpos
    05/17 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
    05/18 Cincinnati, OH Bogart's
    05/20 Toronto, ON Sound Academy
    05/21 Montreal, QC Metropolis
    05/22 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
    05/23 Hartford, CT Webster Theater
    05/24 Worcester, MA The Palladium
    05/26 Baltimore, MD Ram's Head Live
    05/27 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero
    05/28 Norfolk, VA Norva
    05/29 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theater
    05/30 Atlanta, GA Masquerade
    05/31 New Orleans, LA House of Blues
    06/02 Houston, TX Scout Bar
    06/03 San Antonio Scout Bar
    06/04 Ft. Worth, TX Ridglea Theater
    06/06 Kansas City, MO The Beaumont
    06/07 Denver, CO Cervantes
    06/09 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
    06/10 San Diego, CA House of Blues
    06/11 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
    06/12 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

    www..myspace.com/unearth
    www..myspace.com/lazarus1

    METAL BLADE WEBSITE | METAL BLADE MYSPACE

April 3rd, 2009
  • DARKANE Tour Update from guitarist Christofer Malmström

    Here’s Christofer with an update from the road! We are cruising towards San Francisco as I write this. Such beautiful sights outside the bus windows!!! The tour is still going very well for DARKANE, although we’ve had some serious problems with illness and everybody except for [vocalist] Jens [Broman] is in a pretty bad shape right now. After [2nd guitarist] Klas [Ideberg] left us in Mokena we were joined by great guitar shredder Toby Knapp, but unfortunately he also got ill and had to leave the tour after nine shows. Thanks Toby, you did a great job!!! We have now decided to do this tour as a four piece unit, and it’s working out pretty well I must say.

    We did 9 shows in snowy Canada, and the audience has been great all the way. We have played pretty weird places such as a campus and a roller skating rink, but wherever we’ve been, we’ve felt very welcome! Now we are looking forward to do the West Coast and get some warm air in our sore throats.

    That’s it for now! Take care and if we haven’t met yet, go check the shows out! We have about three weeks left on this tour!

    In metal!

    Christofer”
    www.darkane.com
    www.myspace.com/DARKANE
    www.christofermalmstrom.com
  • Polish Technical Death Metallers ‘NeVeR’ and Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy) now online! New album soon!

    New songs from NeVeR's 3rd, upcoming album BACK TO THE FRONT have been added to band’s official MySpace profile (www.myspace.com/neverofficial).

    As promised before, after successful radio pre premiere of Back To The Front songs the band has added some music to (as they say) destroy your ears... and speakers... and serenity... and world view!!!

    You can find there 2 whole songs (including one out of four done with Angela Gossow) and 2 samples form upcoming album.

    Also on the final release there will appear Mauser (known from VADER, currently UNSUN) doing guest lead guitar.

    The whole production was done with some world famous names such as Fredrik Nordstrom (Producer, Studio Fredman, Sweden) who did for example At The Gate’s Slaughter Of The Soul and Arch Enemy’s Rise Of The Tyrant; Tom Mayer (Master&Servant Mastering Studio, Hamburg, Germany), Niklas Sundin (Cabin Fever Media/Dark Tranquility/Lethora) and more. Back To The Front will consist of 11 songs of technical death/thrash metal with hi pitched, hi class screaming vocals!

    The date of the release of the CD isn’t known yet, but the management of the band says it would be announced shortly. Enjoy the new songs on MySpace and feel free to post a comments! Be scared!

    www.myspace.com/neverofficial
    www.never.pl
  • Puscifer adds second LA show (Apr. 5 @ Club Nokia); new promo video!

    Puscifer has added a second Los Angeles show, Apr. 5 @ Club Nokia. Tickets go on sale via Ticketmaster this Saturday, Mar. 7, at 10 am pacific.

    Check out the promo video for some laughs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2tFcyGjSKs
  • LOITS “Must album” Gatefold LP

    The black and heavy (180g) 12’’ vinyl is packaged in a gatefold sleeve. The singularity of the release is stressed with golden print, picture frames and ornaments, that also adorn the four-page booklet with song lyrics in both Estonian and English, as well as a fair selection of pictures thus far unreleased.

    In fact the regular edition offers:
    - 12" LP in impressive heavy Gatefold sleeve with golden details
    - 180g vinyl LP in black innersleeve
    - 4 page 12" LP Booklet on heavy paper with gold details

    http://www.eisenton.de
  • Liquid Graveyard are ready to enter the studio:

    SadMan Studios/Madrid is booked to record the debut CD of the new project 'LIQUID GRAVEYARD' of John Walker(Ex-Cancer,Uk) . The recording will take place between the 13th April and 3rd May in Madrid. A total of 10 songs are currently being polished off.

    The band is also happy to announce the arrival of new drummer Acaymo Delgado.

    Working Song titles:
    1. Rumours are Black like Machine Guns
    2. Criministers
    3. 1760
    4. We Live Dangerously
    5. The Words Grow Thin
    6. From the Tower
    7. Them Greeds
    8. On Evil Days
    9. The Blood Inside
    10. Anthead

    Their demo 'Criministers' was in general well received by the press.Some old diehard Cancer fans were stupidly upset at not getting what they'd hoped for but the band wants listeners to be a bit more open-minded as this is a different band entirely.

    You can check some reviews here on their Myspace site.

    http://www.myspace.com/liquidgraveyard

    Line-up
    RAQUEL WALKER(voice)
    JOHN WALKER (guitars)
    ADRIAN DE BUITLÉAR (bass)
    ACAYMO DELGADO (drums)
  • LUGGA MUSIC TOURS PRESENTS

    MILESTONES OF MISERY European Tour
    MOURNING BELOVETH (Ire)
    MOURNFUL CONGREGATION (Au)
    LONGING FOR DAWN (Can)

    09&10 april Rouen,Le Bateau Ivre (FR)
    11 april Rotterdam,The Baroeg (NL)
    12 april Hamburg,Bambi Galore (DE)
    14 april Tampere,Club Hellä (FI)
    15 april Helsinki,Dante`s Highlight (FI)
    16 april Tallinn,Rockclub Tapper (EE)
    17 april Riga,Melna Piektdiena (LV)
    18 april Moscow,Plan B (RU)
    19 april Vilnius,Muse (LT)
    20 april Lublin,Tektura (PL)
    21 april Poznan,U Bazyla (PL)
    22 april Wodzislaw Slaski,Art Café(PL)
    23 april Prague,Black Pez (CZ)
    24 april Zapfendorf,Top Act (DE)
    25 april Eindhoven,Dynamo (NL)
    26 april Antwerp,De Rots (BE)

    http://www.mourningbeloveth.com / http://www.myspace.com/mourningbeloveth
    http://www.mournfulcongregation.com / http://www.myspace.com/mournfulcongregation
    http://www.longingfordawn.ca / http://www.myspace.com/longingfordawn