Interview

Interview With Myrkskog's Secthdamon

One of our interviews for the recent Hammerslag Festival (December 16 and 17, 2005) coverage was with Norwegian black/death metal band Myrkskog. After a slight delay, we've heard back from Myrkskog's drummer, Secthdamon. More...

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Abysmal Dawn Sign To Crash Music

Crash Music, Inc. has announced the signing of ABYSMAL DAWN, the Los Angeles-based extreme metal band featuring former members of RISE and INHUMAN VISIONS.

According to a press release, ABYSMAL DAWN "plays aggressive modern death that combines some of the best elements of both black and thrash metal. The band seamlessly blends the catchiness and technicality of early '90s American death, with ample doses of atmosphere, melody and the brutality of their contemporaries."

Commented the band: "We are very excited to be working with Crash Music. They are one of the few labels in this industry still supporting premium extreme acts and it's an honor to be working with them. We know that there is still plenty of hard work that lies ahead but we say, bring it on!"

ABYSMAL DAWN's debut album, "From Ashes", is scheduled for release on April 4. The CD was engineered, mixed and mastered by John Haddad (EYES OF FIRE, PHOBIA, INTRONAUT) at Shiva Industries in Santa Ana, CA. Here's the final track listing of "From Ashes":

1. Impending Doom (Instrumental)
2. In the Hands of Death
3. Blacken the Sky
4. Servants to Their Knees
5. Wicked Impulse
6. Solitude's Demise
7. State of Mind
8. Salting the Earth
9. Crown Desire

Advanced tracks from the CD and additional info may be found on their MySpace page or their official web site.

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Neuraxis Part With Guitarist, Founding Member

Montreal's Neuraxis have announced the departure of guitarist and founding member, Steven Henry. The move is the result of "personal and musical differences," though the band emphatically states that the split is amicable. The group will continue as a 4-piece with intentions to recruit a live session guitarist for their upcoming tours. For his part, Henry has released the following statement:

"After 13 years as guitarist and founder of Neuraxis, I decided to take a different path. It's simple, the flame of playing Neuraxis is extinct, and gone are the motivation and taste for it. These things happen, especially when I did not expect the band to go as far as it has gone up to now, so it would be ridiculous for me to slow Neuraxis down. I don't want to be a burden, what I want is the band to grow bigger and I don't think I'm part of that equation. I definitely need a break and Neuraxis cannot afford to lose its time waiting for me. There are way too many good things ahead for the band, and I do not worry at all that Neuraxis will do great without me. I wish nothing but the best for the guys, and also that they'll find another talented and dedicated guitar player. I want to thank the guys for their time, friendship and passion for music. I wish them the best! As for me, I'll keep going with my 3 projects: Urban Aliens, Idiopathetics and Empathy Denied."

Meanwhile, Neuraxis have revealed plans to tour Japan in March with Misery Index. The following dates have been confirmed:

3/11 Yotsuya, Tokyo @ Outbreak w/ Woundeep, Defiled, Mad Butcher ABC
3/12 Shibuya, Tokyo @ Cyclone w/ Woundeep, Disconformity, Loyal To The Grave, At One Stroke, Enzweck

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Sicadis Shows and News

Kansas City Missouri's Metal Heavyweights SICADIS,a band featuring former Roadrunner Records recording artist Lance" KUK "Collier(downthesun),will be playing shows with Green Carnation and Embrace the End on March 3,2006 and with The 69 Eyes and Wednesday 13 (lead singer of the Murderdolls) on March 16,2006 at El Torreon 3101 Gillham Plaza Kansas City,MO 64109

In other SICADIS news the band is working with M.Shawn Crahan(Slipknot) as producer this month to do some demos for interested lables. You can hear some of their material at their MySpace page.

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Haste The Day Touring With New Singer

Haste The Day recently said goodbye to longtime friend and band vocalist Jimmy Ryan, whose final show at the Knights of Columbus in Indianapolis, IN was an amazing night for all. The crowd was more than lively and emotions ran high as the night erupted. Jimmy left the band gracefully and ended his career with Haste the Day, by far, with his best performance ever. The sold-out crowd's energy was felt and heard as their voices over powered the band throughout the night. Expect to see a DVD of the show to surface later this year.

Now, Haste the Day welcomes Stephen Keech, from Denver, to take on the lead vocal spot on their current European tour with The Juliana Theory; then in the U.S. this February with the group as they set out on the Bleeding Through, Every Time I Die, and Between The Buried And Me tour. HTD's new release, "When Everything Falls" (6/05) has currently sold more than 40,000 copies in the U.S. alone and is primed to excel with the exposure the band will receive from the next few months of hard work touring around the globe.

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Born From Pain Part w/ Guitarist, Other Notes

Born from Pain have announced the departure of guitarist Stefan van Neerven. Here is the statement:

"Sadly we announce that, in common agreement, Born From Pain and guitarist Stefan van Neerven will go their seperate ways. Stefan's personal situation has forced both the band and himself to reconsider his role in the band with, eventually, the abovementioned outcome. Naturally, we wish him all the best for the future and hope to keep him as close to the band as possible. Stefan's long-time stand-in Dominik Stammen (Zero Mentality) will take up the role of steady guitarist for Born From Pain as of now. Dominik as well as Stefan will play their last shows for their current bands in February."

Born From Pain will be hitting Eastern Europe full-on at the beginning of April. They will be stopping in Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania for sure, maybe more. Born from pain has also been confirmed for Wacken Open, with more summer festival confirmations expected.

Finally, March 2006 will see the re-release of "Reclaiming the Crown" on GSR. Besides the Reclaiming the Crown cd itself this package will include an extra CD containing the whole Immortality MCD and songs that only saw the light of day on compilations. April this year the re-release of Sands of Time will follow with an extra DVD disc containing over 2 hours of pre-In Love With The End live footage. Witness De Moker, Alers and Bolle in action with the band.
Both will be available for normal single CD price.

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Fear The Future Album Shelved Due To Label

Swedish black/death metallers FEAR THE FUTURE have posted the following message on their official web site:

"[Holland's] Karmageddon [Media; formerly Hammerheart Records] has backed out and will not release the [group's long-completed debut] album 'The Bloody Beginning'. Why? Yes, it is a story about a record company facing their own destruction. The label is more or less finished. And sad to say, we cannot do anything about it. So if and when we can and will release it is a question of when another record company wants to release it. It sucks, we know... We will keep you informed."

"The Bloody Beginning" was completed in 2004 at Sunlight Studios in Stockholm with producer Tomas Skogsberg (ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER). A total of 12 tracks were laid down for the effort, including two cuts that originally appeared on the band's 2003 demo, "Demo I". Audio samples are available for download at the group's official web site.

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Everest (ex-Nehemiah) Seek Guitarist and Bassist

Minneapolis, MN band Everest, a new project featuring members of Nehemiah, are in search of a second guitarist and bassist. Interested candidates must have previous band experience. Contact Everest at everestband@gmail.com for more information.

Nehemiah played their final tour last summer (2005) with Wings of Scarlet and Amora Savant, and are due to release a split CD with Wings of Scarlet. There is no word on what new material, if any, will be on the split CD.

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Negative Progression Moves To Lumberjack/Mordam

Lumberjack Mordam Music Group, Inc. (created by the combination of Lumberjack Distribution, Inc. and Mordam Records, Inc.) announced that it has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Negative Progression Records. The label will be part of LMMG¹s Lumberjack Label Group. Negative Progression was formerly distributed by Suburban Home Records.

Dirk Hemsath, CEO and President of LMMG says that he happy to have a label like Negative Progression on board. "I've been seeing ads from Negative Progression for years and I always wondered what the story was with this label. They presented themselves in such a consistent and professional manner that I thought it was some huge independent label that I just didn¹t know about. It turned out they were more of a huge independent label waiting to happen. I'm really impressed by Seth's ability to find artists and I think the new partnership between his label and LMMG will provide the infrastructure he needs to get to the next level."

Seth Hyman, owner and President of Negative Progression Records says he is "Proud to be entering into a exclusive distribution agreement with the Lumberjack-Mordam Music Group. LMMG and NPR share a commitment to promoting independent music and maintaining a high level of professionalism. Negative Progression has admired the integrity with which LMMG has operated for years, and is excited for the opportunity to grow with them in the future."

The Lumberjack Mordam Music Group, Inc. (LMMG) is the new company forged by the merging of Lumberjack Distribution, Inc. and Mordam Records, Inc. LMMG is now one of the premier independent distributors of music and music related media in the country. LMMG has over 30 years of combined experience, a newly combined experienced and focused sales staff, and over 80 of the best independent labels spread amongst the three label groups (Lumberjack Label Group, Mordam Records Group, and the Developing Label Group). LMMG currently maintains offices and warehouses in Toledo, Ohio and Sacramento, California as well as a sales office in Los Angeles, California.

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Scars Of Tomorrow "The Beginning Of" Tracklisting

"The Beginning Of" chronicles the best Scars Of Tomorrow songs on their earlier recordings before they signed to Victory Records. Much of this material has been long out of print. Look for this album to hit stores on March 14th 2006 and check out Scars Of Tomorrow on tour now with the new Thorp signing, Final Burden.

Here is the track listing for "The Beginning Of":

01. You Were Different In My Dreams
02. Perfect Beauty
03. Consume
04. Laying Stars To Sleep
05. Last Dance
06. Whispers In The Wind
07. To Fathom Eternity
08. Design Your Fate
09. Rebirth
10. Bleak Sky
11. With Open Arms
12. Vengeance
13. Another Day Another Mark

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The Human Abstract Set To Record New Album

Hopeless Records newest signing The Human Abstract is set to begin recording their debut full-length album February in North Carolina with Jamie King (Between The Buried And Me, Through The Eyes Of The Dead, He Is Legend). The Album will be mixed by Eric Rachel (The Black Dahlia Murder, Dillinger Escape Plan, Atreyu).

The Human Abstract's style is technical and diverse metal with a good European influence, and a good dose of progressiveness thrown in. You can hear some demo versions of their latest work can at Purevolume.com.

The band currently has some west coast dates booked and they will be out on the road supporting their new Album throughout the summer and fall of 2006.

1/20/06 Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse w/ Job For A Cowboy
1/27/06 Riverside, CA @ The Vibe w/ Bleed The Sky
2/4/06 Los Angeles, CA @ Calicore w/ scars Of Tomorrow
2/14/06 Fullerton, CA @ The Alley

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SOAD Not Worried About Government Pressure

Launch Radio Networks reports: With the controversy growing over George W. Bush's possibly illegal wiretapping of U.S. citizens, it is not too far-fetched to imagine politically outspoken artists such as SYSTEM OF A DOWN being seen as enemies of the state. But SYSTEM vocalist Serj Tankian says he's not particularly worried about the government trying to silence his band. "People always ask us this question — are you pressured in any way, or are you threatened in any way by an intelligence agency or certain organizations?" he said. "And I would say, well, if someone wanted to kill us, they could, you know. I mean, it's not that hard. I think the pressure that I see that we receive is based on commercial ways of doing things, the channels and the way that the machine goes. Those are the pressures that you get."

Tankian and AUDIOSLAVE guitarist Tom Morello kick off a new season of their monthly radio program, Axis Of Justice, tonight (Friday, January 13) with an appearance by famed political writer and activist Noam Chomsky. Information on where to hear Axis Of Justice can be found at axisofjustice.org. A recording of the show will also be archived at the site.

The radio program is an offshoot of Axis Of Justice, a non-profit organization formed by Morello and Tankian to bring together musicians, fans, and grassroots political groups to fight for social justice, peace and human rights.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN has yet to announce 2006 tour plans in support of last year's two album releases, "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize".

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Sargatanas Reign Part Ways With Bassist

Swedish death metallers SARGATANAS REIGN have parted ways with bassist Niklas Samuelsson. "As depressing as is, we will put no time in mourning this great loss," the band write in a statement. "Instead we will continue to look forward and keep working on our forthcoming release! An attempt to replace him would be ridiculous, instead we will try letting our vocalist Jonas Mattsson combine the two tasks of playing bass and shout. There will be no one new joining our troop, at least for now. We wish N. Samuelsson the best of luck in the future and he will always be our friend, no hard feelings! At least you are still alive!"

Samuelsson has issued the following statement regarding his decision to leave the band:

"I have decieded to leave SARGATANAS REIGN due to personal reasons. We are still close friends and there is no tension between us... I don't enjoy playing as much as I used to, and I think this decision is best both for me and the band. I wish them the best of luck in the future."

SARGATANAS REIGN's sophomore album, "Bloodwork", was released last year via Blooddawn Productions/Regain Records.

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