Metal News for July 21, 2003
Last updated on October 3, 2025 at 6:57 PM ET
We post metal news every day, throughout the day, covering thousands of metal bands including underground and unsigned bands. You are currently browsing the news archive, but you can also find news by band.
Hot Topics
- Kreator To Release New Album In January
- Enthroned To Release New Album In December
- Potato Premiere New Single & Music Video "YUGE PP"
- Omnium Gatherum Drops "Walking Ghost Phase" Video
- Tailgunner Signs With Napalm Records
- Messa Shares New Music Video "Reveal"
- Spite Premiere New Single & Music Video
- Carcosa (AngelMaker) Premiere New Single & Video
- Stellar Circuits Premiere New Single & Music Video
- Agnostic Front Premiere New Single & Lyric Video
10 news articles posted on this day.
Summary/Misc
Daily Reviews
Metal Reviews has nine new reviews and an editorial ("Harsh Vocals: Who Needs Them?"):
- Dio - Evil or Divine DVD
- Dome Service - Promo 2002
- Human Fortress - Defenders Of The Crown
- Kiss - Symphony, Alive IV
- Slave Zero - The Defiant Stand
- Soulreaper - Life Erazer
- Talisman - Cats & Dogs
- Viper - Theatre of Fate
- Wizard - Bound By Metal
Gorerotted Sign To Metal Blade
UK extreme metallers Gorerotted have signed a deal with Metal Blade. Their new album, ‘Only Tools And Corpses’, will come out later in the year.
Wehrwolfe Signs To Magick Records
Upstart occult metal label, Magick Records unleashes its first signing on August 12, Charlotte, North Carolina's Wehrwolfe. Some may recognize this band emerging from the remnants of Darkmoon (Music For Nations), however, when Jon Vesano left to front Nile full time, Chuck, Devon & Scott invoked vocalist, Nathan Ellis.
Metallica Explains Cutting Back On Guitar Solos
When LAUNCH.com asked Ulrich about the apparent lack of Hammett's fretwork on St. Anger, he explained that Hammett was actually more involved on this effort than any of Metallica's previous albums. "Kirk is actually way more involved in this record than the previous records because he actually took part with the writing of every one of the songs,” Ulrich said. “In the past, Kirk was sort of [not involved as much. It was] like, 'Ok we're six months into the record now. Me and [vocalist/guitarist] James [Hetfield] have done all the backing tracks. Kirk can come in and play his solo now. Can someone call and tell him that?' It would be like that type of thing. I mean he was there for every minute of this record."
Ulrich added that Kirk's work on the record is pretty apparent. "I mean, it doesn't get much simpler,” Ulrich said. “If you turn it to the left that's James, and if you turn it to the right, that's Kirk."
Ulrich admitted that Hammett recorded guitar solos for half the tunes on the record, but the band collectively decided that the songs were better off without them. Ulrich said, "I have mixes of half of the songs with guitar solos, so maybe one day I'll do the Kirk Hammett Guitar Solo Outtake St. Anger album."
Unfaith's Statement On Metallica E-F Controversy
What follows is the official statement from Unfaith's singer about the Metallica E-F Chord Controversy. The controversy was centered around a legit looking MTV story and a Metallica press release, both of which were hoaxes.
You might have heard about this on CNN, MSNBC, Ananova, or on one of the thousands of radio stations across America since Wednesday.
International rock superstars Metallica is suing an independant Canadian band over unsanctioned usage of the E and F chords ; that band being Unfaith ; us.
Let's make this clear : This story is SATIRE.
But as with most parodies, it is also a statement in sheep's clothing ; one that inadvertantly ended up making a point FOR the band, as much as anything else.More...
Force of Evil Push Back Album Release Date
Force of Evil, the new Danish all-star band featuring guitarist Michael Denner, guitarist Hank Shermann, bassist Hal Patino, drummer Bjarne Holm, and vocalist Martin Steene, have been forced to postpone the "official" release of their self-titled debut album "until [they've negotiated] the last distribution contracts into place," according to a statement on the band's web site. In the meantime, copies can be purchased directly from www.forceofevil.net.
Grimfist to Release Debut in September
Grimfist, the Norwegian band featuring Immortal drummer Horgh and ex-Immortal bassist Iscariah, will release their debut album, "Ghouls of Grandeur", in the U.S. on September 23 through Candlelight Records.
Together only a short while, Grimfist played part to a label bidding match before settling on Candlelight as their official home in late 2002. "Ghouls of Grandeur", which was recorded at Sweden's Abyss Studios with producer Peter Tägtgren, "masterfully blends the best of death, black metal and traditional thrash for a crushing wall of immense sound that will leave metal fans gasping and begging for more," according to an official press release.
The complete track listing for "Ghouls of Grandeur" is as follows: More...
Suffocation Will Play
Recently, SUFFOCATION announced that due to issued with a booking agent, all tour plans would be put on hold. Well, SUFFOCATION has again updated their status, and they WILL be playing their 5 set dates so far, both which include Milwuakee Metalfest, and Las Vegas Metalfest. Here are the 5 dates they have planned:
07/25 Milwaukee, WI US Cellular Arena : Milwaukee Metal Fest
08/01 Albany, NY Valentines
08/02 Farmingdale, NY The Downtown
08/03 Passaic, NJ Connections
08/30 Las Vegas, NV Huntridge Theatre : Las Vegas Metal Fest
Immortal May Live Yet
Contrary to what the band posted on their official forum, and to what many things have been said, IMMORTAL's label Nuclear Blast has stepped up to correct the past week's talks:
"The rumors about the split of IMMORTAL aren’t 100% correct. In fact, IMMORTAL will simply take a long break, as the musicians need to rest a while after 12 months of excessive touring. In the meantime, both Abbath and Horgh will concentrate on their own projects. To start with, the debut album of GRIMFIST will probably be released in September on Candlelight records, with Horgh on drums. So folks, don’t worry, you know what “IMMORTAL” means."
Narcissus Release New Album Details
Cleveland, Ohio natives Narcissus have revealed Crave and Collapse as the album title for their forthcoming Abacus Recordings release to be released Oct. 7. The effort was produced by Bill Korecky (Mushroomhead, Keelhaul) at Mars Studio and features artwork from Niklas Sundin (In Flames, Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquillity). A song from the upcoming album, ‘Pride/Politics,’ is available for listening at: www.narcissusrock.com and www.abacusrecordings.com/downloads.htm. The band will be playing this year’s CSS Fest, July 26, (www.cssfest.i8.com) and Purple Door Festival, Aug 16, (www.purpledoor.com).
The track listing for Crave and Collapse shapes up as follows: More...
Navigate forward or backward through each day of news below: