Metal News for January 8, 2009
Last updated on October 6, 2025 at 2:37 AM ET
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Hot Topics
- Kreator To Release New Album In January
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- Omnium Gatherum Drops "Walking Ghost Phase" Video
- Messa Shares New Music Video "Reveal"
- Spite Premiere New Single & Music Video
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- Tailgunner Signs With Napalm Records
34 news articles posted on this day.
Mastodon Posts New Song "Oblivion" Online
American metallers Mastodon have posted a brand new song online entitled, "Oblivion" which comes from their forthcoming new studio album, "Crack The Skye." You can check it out by heading to www.mastodonrocks.com. The album will be released next month.
Chimaira's "The Infection" Mixing Complete
Chimaira vocalist Mark Hunter has posted an update announcing that their new album, entitled "The Infection," is done being mixed:
"Zeuss has completed mixing the new record! We are spending today listening to it and enjoying it. Anyone that has a shred of doubt about the sonic of this album need not worry at all. It sounds unbelievably good.
"Tomorrow i will meet up with Zeuss and Ted Jensen in NYC to master it!"
As previously reported, "The Infection" is set for an April 21, 2009 release via Ferret Music.
Opeth Vocalist Comments On Losing Swedish Grammy
Opeth vocalist and guitarist Mikael Akerfeldt issued the following statement about losing out to In Flames for a Swedish Grammy this year:
"OPETH = LOSERS!
Haha, no I'm not THAT bitter!
We didn't win the Grammy award this year either and I admit I got a little disappointed although it doesn't really mean anything. Since I'm there at the show I wanna fucking win! But In flames got it. They're mates of ours so I'm happy for them.
I wanna thank all of you who voted for us. Cheers people!
The show was boring as usual, all the same people, same winners, same "surprise" band constellations. Some artists there really have high thoughts of themselves. It's quite embarrassing to see how stuck up some of them are. I mean they don't even have a international career most of them and still they act they're the fucking "deal". More...
September Murder Replaces Drummer
September Murder recently parted with their drummer, Stefan, and announced his replacement as Clemens Frank (Hidden In The Fog, Disilusion). Here is the official statement from the band:
"Stefan has left September Murder some weeks ago. After 4 years of good work he has set new priorities for his life and choose this way. We wish him good luck for the future and would say THANKS for a great time together.
"Otherwise we are proud to present the new face behind the drumkit: Clemens Frank, also known from Hidden In The Fog and ex-Disilusion will destroy the stages with us in the future like a tornado. We look forward to upcoming show and a good time too. Cheers SM"
Megadeth Begins Recording New Album
Megadeth drummer Shawn Drover has issued the following statement about the recording of a new album:
"So now it is official, we have started to record our 12th record yesterday. I laid down drum tracks for the 1st 2 songs, which I am happy to say, turned out quite well. Tuesday was spent changing all my drumheads and getting the best possible drum tone Andy Sneap and myself could, as we are going back to the old school on this in terms of natural drum tone - From this record insepction, I had many conversations with Andy expressing how great so many records sounded back in the day with drum tones, etc. and that we both wanted to get certain aspects of that into what we are doing now. You will hear the results of this when this record is released. Anyways, day 2 will have myself playing song's 3 & 4, (obviously, no song titles as I write this) and if we stay on track, I will have 8 song's completed on drums by weeks end."
hAND Announces Live Shows
UK gothic metal band hAND, who just signed to Femme Metal Records, has announced a couple of live shows:
Jan 15th – Hobbits venue, Carlton Street, Weston-Super-Mare BS23 1UA. hAND are headlining this event with support from My Silent Wake and The Drowning. Doors open 7.30pm, 16+ £2 entry.
Jan 31st – The Golden Cross, Hay Lane, Coventry CV1 5DL. Female Fronted Metal Showcase featuring hAND, Drag, Near Dark, Little Girl Screaming and Scarlets Wake. Doors 7.30pm £2 entry.
Day of the Dead, For The Glory Booking Euro Tour
Day of the Dead and For The Glory are booking a European tour. Here's the routing so far:
27/03 - TBA - PORTUGAL
28/03 - TBA - SPAIN
29/03 - TBA - SPAIN
30/03 - TBA - FRANCE
31/03 - TBA - FRANCE
01/04 - TBA - FRANCE
02/04 - TBA - BELGIUM
03/04 - TBA - GERMANY
04/04 - TBA - GERMANY
05/04 - TBA - POLAND
06/04 - TBA - GERMANY
07/04 - TBA - GERMANY
08/04 - TBA - GERMANY
09/04 - TBA - NETHERLANDS
10/04 - TBA - NETHERLANDS
11/04 - TBA - FRANCE
12/04 - TBA - SPAIN
More info and details will follow soon. They still need help booking a few date, so contact Andre at Onward Agency at booking@onwardagency.com if you're interested in booking them in your town.
Wolves In The Throne Room Announces European Tour
Black metal act Wolves in the Throne Room has issued the following tour and album update:
"Wolves in the Throne Room will be touring Europe in January and February of 2009. This tour will be in support of our "Malevolent Grain" e.p. which is being released by Conspiracy Records as a limited edition picture disc. Also new for this tour is Live at Roadburn 2008 12" record, which also includes a DVD and is being released by Burning World Records. A U.S. tour is in the works and will be announced soon. "
The promotional poster including tour dates can be viewed here.
Blood Mortized Issues Studio Update
BLOOD MORTIZED, a Swedish Death Metal band with musicians from bands such as AMON AMARTH (Guitarist Anders Hansson, performed on Amon Amarth’s first two albums, "Sorrow Throughout The Nine Worlds," Pulverised Records, 1996 and "Once Sent From The Golden Hall", Metal Blade Records, 1998) and CRYPT OF KERBEROS (Drummer Mattias Borgh), is about to release their self titled debut album through Singapore based Vrykoblast Productions in the beginning of 2009.
Drummer Mattias Borgh has posted the following on the bands blog:
"I have now recorded all the drum tracks for the upcoming Blood Mortized debut CD which will be released on Vrykoblast Productions early 2009!" More...
Onheil Signs with Cyclone Empire
Dutch blackened thrash/death metal band, ONHEIL, have announced the signing of a worldwide record contract with German metal record label Cyclone Empire. ONHEIL is currently working on their next album with the working-title "Razor." The album is being recorded in the Sound World Studios and is produced by Bart Hennephof (TEXTURES, BRUTUS) and Yuma van Eekelen (THE NEW DOMINION, BRUTUS). The album is planned to be released in March or Aril and will be ONHEIL's first effort in 5.5 years. More...
16 Posts New Music Online and Announces Tour
LA metallers, 16, have posted two more tracks from their forthcoming full-length, "Bridges To Burn," online now via the band's official MySpace page. The tracks, "So Broken Down" and "Man Interrupted," are posted in addition to the first preview track "Skin And Bones" taken from the record. All three tracks can also be accessed via this media player. "Bridges To Burn" will see a January 20 release (January 26th internationally) through Relapse Records and features original artwork from Florian Bertmer which can be viewed here. More...
Eric Peterson To Appear At NAMM 2009
Testament and Dragonlord guitarist Eric Peterson has announced that he will be doing a signing at the Dean Guitars booth (#5466B) on the following dates and times:
FRI, January 16th: 11:00am - 12:00pm
SAT, January 17th: 03:00pm - 04:00pm
NAMM will occur at the Anaheim Convention Center from January 15 - 18, 2009.
Zandelle Posts New Song, "Inner Strength," Online
Brooklyn, New York power metallers, Zandelle, have posted a new song on their MySpace page. The song is entitled "Inner Strength" and comes off their upcoming album, "Flames of Rage."
Drummer Joe "Jofu" Cardillo comments on their new album and songs, "…its in the style of Hammerfall and Manowar… in no way does it reflect how the rest of the songs on the album will be, we covered all bases with the cd and I think people will be impressed at how our song writing, sound and production has come along. When we get our new label deal finalized we will make the announcement and hopefully get more songs posted, and there will be a video or two as well..."
DevilDriver Signs New Record Deal
DevilDriver has issued the following update about signing a new record deal and working on a new album:
"Just to let everyone know, we just signed with RoadRunner Worldwide and are excited to have a new management company, Davis Entertainment Group.
We are also starting studio work on our fourth coming album!
Stay tuned for updates and some sneak peaks on what we are working on!"
Kylesa Reveals New Album Details
Savannah, GA metal band, Kylesa, have revealed the details of "Static Tensions," their fourth studio album. Due out on March 17, the album will be available as a regular CD through the Prosthetic imprint, and on two vinyl options from the 20 Buck Spin label. The normal vinyl version come on a single LP with an eight-page, full-size booklet. Then there’s the deluxe version: limited to 500 copies, the edition is a double-LP mastered at 45 rpm for a fuller sound. The coloured vinyl will come packaged in a foil-stamped slipcase and will include the eight-page booklet and a poster.
Fenriz of Darkthrone Announces Trivia Contest
Darkthrone's very own Fenriz has just announced a trivia competition on MySpace that involves the history of Darkthrone. The prize is a copy of Fenriz' Metal Merchants DJ set. The trivia question is the following: what are the similarities between Darkthrone's earlier musical career (he said "carrier," but one can only assume he meant "career") and that of James Brown or Status Quo? To answer, go to Fenriz' blog post and post your answer. Fenriz will contact the first two people that answer the question correctly. He will also ask for your address in order to deliver the set.
Bloodbath Dominates Terrorizer's Readers Poll
Swedish death metal band Bloodbath and its individual members have been charting high in Terrorizer's 2008 Readers Poll. The rankings they received within each category are as follows.
Best Album:
1. Bloodbath - "The Fathomless Mastery"
Best Vocalist:
3. Mikael Åkerfeldt
Best Drummer:
2. Martin Axenrot
Best Band:
2. Bloodbath
Best Cover Art:
2. Bloodbath - "The Fathomless Mastery"
Personality of the Year:
1. Mikael Åkerfeldt
Biclops, The Postman Syndrome Set To Record
Biclops (ex and current The Postman Syndrome, East Of The Wall, Day Without Dawn) will be entering the studio on March 15th to record their debut full-length for a to-be-determined label. Recording and mixing will be handled at The Machine Shop (Clutch) by producer Will Putney.
In addition, two releases from the bands' previous incarnation, The Postman Syndrome, are planned for the coming year as well. The first will be the long awaited release of The Postman Syndrome's demos for an unreleased record that was scrapped when the band's former label, Now Or Never Records, folded in 2004. These demos will finally come to light this summer.
Finally, original Postman Syndrome members Mike Somers (East Of The Wall), Matt Lupo (East Of The Wall), Chris Alfano (Biclops), and Brett Bamberger (Biclops, East Of The Wall) will join forces with Kevin Conway (Biclops, East Of The Wall) to compose new Postman Syndrome material. The writing sessions will begin this May following completion of the Biclops record, and the current plan is to release two or three new songs on a split or an EP in late-2009 or early-2010.
Just For Fun
Ace Frehley May Finally Be Headed To Outer Space
KISS member Ace Frehley, known as the "Spaceman," has launched a project to actually head into outer space to record music. The Ace To Space website has issued the following statement:
"To put the biggest question to rest, YES this is a real venture and we are going to do everything we can to be sure Ace is given the opportunity to take a journey into outer space.
During the last 10 months since we started this venture, our priority has been to establish our mission and do the due diligence to make sure it was even possible. Now that we know it is, our next objective is to make sure Ace is given the opportunity.
We have chosen VH1 to document this mission from the ground up and yesterday, Jeff Olde, VH1 Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Production, was given the latest top secret details regarding this mission."
First Confirmed Acts For Kanya Festival Announced
The 2009 Kanya Festival in Spain will occur on February 7th in Sant Climent. The acts confirmed for the festival so far have been:
Necronomicon, Avulsed, Foscor, Setge, Lux Divina, Death Over Threat, Unbounded Sadism, and Trobar De Mort.
Dark Tranquility Issues Year End Message
Swedish melodic death metal act Dark Tranquility has issued the following year-end update:
"2008 was truly one of the most active years in D.T. history, with close to 100 shows being played in most corners of the world. Apart from seeing a lot of familiar faces on the regular US tour and European/Scandinavian headline trips, we also had the pleasure of visiting more remote territory such as Japan, Taiwan, China, Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, Turkey, Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Argentina. In addition, the first proper headline tours of the UK and Finland were made, which of course were long overdue.
This year will probably be a bit more calm on the live front, as we'll first and foremost focus on the songwriting for the new album, but there are already a couple of shows and festivals confirmed and more are in the pipeline.
As most of you know, we'll release our second DVD later this year, recorded at the Rolling Stone in Milan, Italy. The preview footage we've seen looks absolutely killer, and the material is currently being edited by the good folks of Vasara films in Finland. More info on this will follow in the near future.
Well, thanks for the support and have a prosperous 2009!"
Entwine Delays Release Date For New Album
Finnish goth metal band Entwine has issued the following update about the release of "Painstained," their upcoming album:
"Sorry, not good news. The usual putting a record out gremlins have struck in traditional fashion as they nearly always do ... it's been put back 2 weeks!
New release date looks to be January 28, 2009.
We're really sorry for all you guys that were looking forward to it and have pre-ordered it. We really appreciate your support and hope you can bear waiting another 2 weeks.
Keep your eye on our MySpace page because we'll be putting different tracks up from 1/14 (morning) until 1/17 (evening) before the album launch party in Lahti."
Violent Divine Posts New Video Online
Swedish metal act Violent Divine has posted a new video online for the song "Blackheart," which is from their upcoming album "In Harm's Way." The new album will be released on January 31st and it's track listing is as follows:
1. Let Them Burn
2. Pain
3. Blackheart
4. Days of Sorrow
5. I Am
6. Love is Divine
7. End of Times
8. Master of Reality
9. Happy Ever Afterlife
10. Skin Deep
11. This Love
12. Vampire Empire
The video can be viewed below. More...
Fatal Smile Announce Upcoming Tour With Lordi
Swedish hard rock/metal outfit Fatal Smile has issued the following statement:
"So...no rest for the wicked they say...and that's actually true... We're back after the holidays and we're so ready to kick some serious ass together with Lordi. Please make sure to check the tour dates and buy your tickets today & see ya all soon!!!
Peace & Love,
The Fatals"
The promotional poster including tour dates can be viewed below: More...
These Arms Are Snakes Announces US Tour Dates
After debuting their new video for "Red Line Season" to the world at the end of 2008, Seattle's These Arms Are Snakes has just announced full details on their upcoming US tour.
Their trek will take them around the country, and, for the first time since the release of their latest full-length, "Tail Swallower & Dove" (Suicide Squeeze), they will be traveling coast to coast imposing their spasm-inducing brutality on the U.S.A. Joining the band on the majority of their trek are Touch & Go's All The Saints, and Young Widows.
In other band news, Brian Cook sat down with FUSE TV.com and gave some insider tidbits into the making of the band's brand new video for Red Line Season. You can read what Brian had to say about the video as well as watch it here.
Here are the newly announced These Arms Are Snakes US Tour dates: More...
Site Update
Metalunderground.com Experiencing Email Issues
We've had intermittent email issues for a few months, here at Metalunderground.com. Over the holidays I thought possibly email traffic was just THAT low, but it turns out our email server is dying and we're simply not getting most of our email in the first place (we normally get a LOT of email).
We'll be working on resolving this situation in the next few days to a week and I'll post an update when it is resolved and when it's safe to re-send any emails of interest that you may have sent since the holidays. Thanks for your patience in this matter.
As I Lay Dying Announces More 2009 Tour Dates
As I Lay Dying will follow up their North American tour with Protest the Hero with a few dates in Latin America.
09.02.28 Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Hangar 110
09.03.01 Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Hangar 110
09.03.03 Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Teatrito
09.03.05 Santiago De Chile, Chile @ Teatro Novedades
09.03.06 Lima, Peru @ Onuba
09.03.08 Bogota, Columbia @ Teatro Metro Bogota
The Grammy-nominated band has also confirmed they will be playing the Alive Festival in Ohio on June 20, and on July 18 at the Sonshine Festival in Wilmar MN.
Wolfchant Signs To Massacre Records
Pagan metal quintet Wolfchant have just announced a new deal with Massacre Records, an independent label in Abstatt, Germany devoted to metal.
"With bands such as Legion Of The Damned, Crematory, Illdisposed, One Man Army & TUQ,... as label mates we are in very good company" the band said in an official statement on their website.
Siebenburgen, Bleed the Sky, Steel Attack and Malevolent Creation are also part of the Massacre Records family.
Wolfchant's Massacre debut and third full-length album "Determined Damnation" is set for release on April 29. Their previous records were released through CCP Records.
In Flames Wins Swedish Grammi
In Flames took home a Grammi last night in the Best Hard Rock Album category for their most recent release, "A Sense of Purpose." Other nominees included Meshuggah for "obZen," Millencolin for "Machine 15," Opeth for "Watershed," and Sabaton for "The Art of War."
The death metallers also performed their song "Alias" at the live ceremony, with fellow Swedish recording artist Timo Räisänen. The event took place in Stolkholm and was broadcast on Sweden's national channel TV4. The band's website provided video footage of this performance: More...
Profane Omen Posts Album Teaser Video Online
PROFANE OMEN posted a video as teaser for their upcoming album "Inherit The Void." The video, which contains an overview of the material and impressions from the studio-work, can be seen below.
The tracklisting for "Inherit The Void" is:
Seconds (Intro)
Base
Information
Superpowertrip
I Have Seen
Left To Disintegrate
In The Middle I Breathe
Right To Retaliate
Generation Doom (Count Me Out)
Dealers Of Guilt
Dodge
The album will be published in March 2009 through Playground Music Scandinavia. More...
Horrorfest Soundtrack Details Revealed
Primary Wave Special Markets has announced the Horrorfest Soundtrack "8 Songs To Die For" featuring Ministry, Bleeding Through, Walls Of Jericho, Too Pure To Die, and more. The album was released on January 5th, 2009 on Amazon.com.
Debuting in 2006, Horrorfest, originally billed as 8 Films to Die For, is a one-week national film festival that celebrates all areas of the horror genre. In its first year, Horrorfest became the first film festival in history to break into the Top 10 at the national box office, grossing over $2.5 million with the film An American Haunting.
Based on the highly successful 8 Films To Die For series, Primary Wave will be releasing 8 Songs To Die For featuring songs inspired by the bloodcurdling movies that make up Horrorfest 2009 - the biggest horror film festival in the USA. The digital releases will include some of the best of metal and hardcore bands such as Clutch ("Mob Goes Wild"), Walls of Jericho ("The Prey"), Bleeding Through ("Death Anxiety"), Ministry ("Let's Go"), and Revolting Cocks ("Keys to the City"), among others.
The songs on the two soundtracks, were selected by Primary Wave's Jonathan Platt and Jonathan Miller who also produced by the successful Saw soundtracks.
Asrai Issues Post-Tour Report
Freshly back from the Darkest Tour with CRADLE OF FILTH, GORGOROTH, MOONSPELL and SEPTICFLESH, Dutch goth metallers ASRAI wrote the following report of this European tour that took place in December, ending in an unexpected way:
"We were looking forward to this tour for a long time. Finally the Darkest Tour kicked off on Monday December 1st. Early in the morning together with our tour manager and driver we headed in our van to London, where we would meet everybody and go on the tour bus. Everything went well from Calais to Dover, until we got stuck in traffic. And soon we heard that we were not the only ones... Time was not our friend, so when we heard that there was a possibility that one of the bands couldn't play we drove like maniacs through the streets of London. We arrived with adrenaline rushing though our veins, although it didn't help us much... We heard that one band couldn't play... And in this case it was us... Well at least we had all the time to watch all the shows and enjoyed being there.
"So when after the shows finally 52 people and all the stuff found their way in four tour busses, one truck and a trailer we were ready to go to Paris... Peter brought back our van, ready to meet us at 013. After a bumpy ride we woke up in Paris, with one eye open we saw the Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre and it was time to get up... First we drove straight up to a parking space near the Seine, so there was enough room at the Bataclan to unload the truck. After a glance at the Seine we went back to the bus, up to the Bataclan, where a queue was waiting. The venue was beautiful and the breakfast was nice and more than welcome, giving everybody the time to know one another. Hard work to set everything up on time but it was all worth it. The audience was great and it was nice to finally meet the people from SOM. More...
Soulfly To Release Live EP
Tribal inspired thrash metal act Soulfly will release a six track EP entitled, "Blood Fire Water Hate." The EP is only available via download and contains five songs recorded live in Poland. It will be released on February 9th.
Unmerciful To Tour Europe w/ Insidious Descrepancy
Lacerated Enemy Records is currently in the process of booking a European tour for UNMERICUL (Unique Leader Records) and INSIDIOUS DESCREPANCY (Brutal Bands Records). The tour will take place in April and May 2009 and they are still looking to fill some dates, including one in Poland.
To book this package in your region/country, visit the Lacerated Enemy Records MySpace page.
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