Metal News for March 31, 2003
Last updated on October 4, 2025 at 3:07 AM ET
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19 news articles posted on this day.
Summary/Misc
Daily Reviews
There are a dozen new reviews over at Metal Reviews:
- Aphotic - Stillness Grows
- Audioslave - Audioslave
- Bonfire - Point Blank
- Circle II Circle - Watching in Silence
- Conquest - No Boundries
- Die Apokalyptischen Reiter - Have A Nice Trip
- Heraldry - Shadows Of Ancient Skies
- Norther - Mirror of Madness
- Skymning - Artificial Supernova
- Tyrant Eyes - The Darkest Hour
- Voivod - Voivod
- Wizard - Odin
Danzig Recruit Bassist
Danzig have brought in former Deadlights/Nothingface bassist Jerry Montano. He replaces Howie Pyro, who played with the band on their recent UK/European tour.
HatePlow Return
HatePlow will break they're silence May 29th at the Fuck The Commerce Open Air Festival in Germany when they headline the first night of the 3 day festival.Following completion of the festival HatePlow will embark on a 13 show headlining tour from June 3rd till June15th in Germany, France, Holland, Austria, Belgium and Czech. In other news HatePlow will record a 3rd and final album by the years end.The Hateplow line up remains the same as it was on the band's 2nd album "The Only Law Is Survival"and European Tour 2001.The line up is:
Dave Culross - Drums
Kyle Symons - Vox
Rob Barrett - Guitar
Phil Fasciana - Guitar
Xaphan (Kult Ov Azazel) - Bass
As I Lay Dying Finish Debut Album
As I Lay Dying have finished the recordings of their debut album and they are currently mixing the material. T heir debut album will have the title "Frail Words Collapse" and will be released later this year.
Draconian Sign to Napalm Records
Draconian have inked a deal with Napalm Records. The band is currently working on new material and will enter the studio in June to start the recording process.
Cannae Complete Prosthetic Debut
Massachusetts metal/hardcore outfit Cannae finished recording their second album this past week. The full-length is entitled "Horror" and will consist of ten tracks. The effort was recorded by Adam D. (Norma Jean, Every Time I Die) and mixing will take place within the week. Look for the record to hit stores in early-July via Prosthetic Records. In related news, the band is currently lining up a few tours, most likely beginning in May.
Kult Ov Azazel Complete Work on New CD
Kult Ov Azazel have finally completed work on their new album, "Oculus Infernum", for a summer release through Arctic Music. A limited-edition (limited to 500 copies), gatefold vinyl version of the album will surface through Regimental Records.
The complete track listing is as follows: More...
Magus Noctum Line Up News
Magus Noctum have come to the decision that Varg Gorgoneion will take over the vocals along with doing lead guitar work. Gorgoneion used to be a vocalist and a guitarist in Noctiferia, so he is the best for this job. A fifth member is being looked for a role of a second guitarist. Again, if interested, contact the band. All who've have showed interest so far do not need to apply again.
In other news: 6 songs have been finished for the next album, and the other half of the next album is still in the stage of development. As soon as band finishs with the line-up reorganization, it will hit the stages again. Studio recordings are being planned for October (repeat: "being planned", many things can happen till then).
Darkest Hour Update
Darkest Hour guitar player Mike Schleibaum gave BW&BK an update on the band's forthcoming tour plans to support new album Cult Of A Sadist Nation (due out in May).
"We're probably opening for The Haunted in Toronto and Montreal. We've never gone further east than Montreal in Canada, so we're planning on doing a 30 date tour of your country in August. That might get moved to September, but we're really looking forward to it."
Abattoir Complete Evil Incarnate
Abattoir have finished recording their third studio album, Evil Incarnate. The band are hoping for a worldwide release later this year. The album features 14 new songs, and has been called, "the best music Abattoir has ever done. Slightly ahead of 1985's classic Vicious Attack. Exactly what you would expect from Abattoir.”
In other news, Abattoir are confirmed to headline at the Classic Metal Festival 3, taking place June 27 - 28 in the greater Chicago area. They’ll play on the 28th. This will most likely be Abattoir’s only Midwest US appearance this year. Tickets for CMF3 are only $30, and can be purchased at www.metal-music-foundation.com.
Kataklysm Announce New Drummer
Canadian death metallers Kataklysm have announced the addition of drummer Martin Maurais to the group's ranks. Maurais replaces longtime sticksman Max Duhamel, who left the band in January and has since retired from the music business.
"We just finished jamming with Martin and all we can say is, 'Holy shit… Human machine?? Fuck yeah!!" commented Kataklysm frontman Maurizio Iacono. "Martin will be introducing his own version of the northern hyperblast to the masses on the next album. Fans of [former Kataklysm drummer] Nick Miller ('Temple Of Knowledge') and Max Duhamel, watch out!"
Kataklysm are continuing to write material for their next album, "Serenity In Fire", due out in Feb. 2004. Among the titles tentatively set to appear on the CD are as follows: More...
Moonspell Post Studio Report
Moonspell frontman Fernando Ribeiro has posted a lengthy studio report on the group's official web site at this location.
Moonspell, who recently parted ways with bassist Sérgio Crestana and temporarily replaced him with Amorphis bassist Niclas Etelävuori, are currently recording the follow-up to 2001's "Darkness And Hope" at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (H.I.M., Sentenced, Amorphis).
God Forbid Writing Material
God Forbid are tentatively scheduled to enter the studio in May to begin recording their new album, tentatively titled "A Perfect World", for a late 2003 release through Century Media Records.
The band, who were recently rumored to have parted ways with frontman Byron Davis, have completed the following new tracks, among others: More...
To/Die/For Post King Diamond Cover Online
To/Die/For's previously-unreleased cover version of King Diamond's "Behind These Walls" has been posted online at this location. The track, which was originally recorded for a King Diamond tribute album, was most recently set to surface as an exclusive track on the first single from the Finnish group's latest CD, "Jaded", but was eventually shelved when a decision was made to scrap the single idea altogether for reasons that have yet to be disclosed.
To/Die/For's "Jaded" was released March 3 through Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to 2001's "Epilogue" was recorded at Astia Studios in Lappeenranta, Finland and was mixed at CrystalSound studio under the watchful eye of T.T. Oksala.
Iron Maiden Single to be Released in Summer
Iron Maiden are nearing completion of the mixing process for their as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2000's "Brave New World", due later in the year through Sony/Columbia Records. "We should be finished the first stage of mixing the Iron Maiden album next week," producer Kevin Shirley revealed via his web site. "I'll be off to New York next weekend to attend a mastering session with George Marino [at Sterling Sound Studios], then back to complete the final stage of Maiden, which will be all the 5.1 surround sound mixes, and we should be all done by the end of April. This doesn't mean that there'll be product two weeks later, because with all the packaging and artwork still to be finalized, and release schedules to be set up all over the world, it may take a few more months before it sees the dark of night, but you'll probably see a new single by the time they hit the stage on the first leg of their 'Give Me Ed…' tour!"
Ancient Working on New Album
Norwegian black metallers Ancient have returned from a very successful tour in Mexico with Mayhem and Sinister and are back in Italy working on their new album, tentatively due before the end of the year through Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2001's "Proxima Centauri" will be recorded at Denmark's Hansen Studios with producer Jacob Hansen and will be "a very strong, powerful" effort in the vein of its predecessor. A new video will also be filmed in October. In related news, Ancient vocalist Deadly Kristin has started a graphic design/web-design company, called Hellbound, with her husband, Raven. For more info, click here or write to: hellbound@juxtapoze.net.
Maple Cross Tour Dates
The Finnish power thrash metal band Maple Crossis playing in the UK soon. The dates are as follows: More...
Let Me Dream Euro Tour Dates
The finnish gothic/dark metal cult group Let Me Dream will do a small tour in Germany, Holland & Belgium in late April. The band is promoting their forthcoming (3rd) album "Soulshine". Sound samples, video & more information at www.letmedream.com. More...
Summary/Misc
New Videos @ MetalVideos
Here are the latest videos added to Metal Videos:
- Blind Guardian And The Story Ends - Live!
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- Blind Guardian Nightfall - Live!
- Blind Guardian Ashes to Ashes - Live!
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- Gamma Ray Gamma Ray - Live!
- Helloween A Tale That Wasn't Right
- Helloween I Want Out
- Primal Fear Angel In Black
- Slayer Dittohead
- Slayer Seasons In The Abyss
- Stratovarius Hunting High and Low
- Therion In the Desert of Set - Live!
- Morbid Angel World Of Shit
- In Flames Cloud Connected
- Cradle Of Filth Her Ghost in the Fog
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