Latest Metal News
Last updated on January 28, 2015 at 3:58 PM ET
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Hot Topics
- Barren Earth Streams New Album's Title Track
- Demonical Enters The Studio
- Drakkar Unveils Album Artwork
- Behemoth Releasing Biography
- Blind Guardian Recruits Barend Courbois
- Heavydeath Reveals Album Artwork, Track Listing
- Chainfist Releases New Video
- Taken By The Sun Announces Self-Titled Album
- The Agonist Posts "My Witness, Your Victim" Video
- Infesting Swarm Announces Debut Album
25 news articles posted today (and counting...)
Yesterday's Saints Streaming "Recursion"
After streaming "Origen Adamantius" online, Yesterday's Saints has a new track up for listening titled "Recursion." Check it out below, courtesy of Dcist.com.
Both songs hail from new album "Generation of Vipers," which will drop on February 3rd, 2015 (read our review here). The track listing is:
1. Fall of the Ancients
2. Origen Adamantius
3. The Recruitment
4. A Priori
5. Sangreale
6. Cain's Agony
7. Sands of Nod
8. Generation of Vipers
9. The Divine Tragedy
10. Recursion
11. Luctus en Mane More...
Tovarish Signs With Argonauta
Tovarish is the new exciting name in the Argonauta Records family. After signing a record deal, the label comments:
"Based in Providence, Rhode Island (USA) and combining dark ambient electronics, metal guitars and excruciatingly inhuman vocals, Tovarish explore themes such as bio-terrorism, man-made disasters and paranoia.
"Glacially-paced, cold, and depressive, their music challenges listeners with dense, aleatory textures offering only fleeting respite in brief moments of coherent rhythm and melody.
"Tovarish are also a staple of the live noise/metal scene in the New England region, and have performed alongside acts including Gnaw, Pharmakon, Kowloon Walled City, Zozobra, Batillus, Gnawed, and Yoshiko Ohara."
The forthcoming album is scheduled out by Spring 2015. Stay tuned for further details coming soon. More...
Demon Hunter Releases "Death" Video
Demon Hunter has a new video clip online taken off the "Extremist" album released last year. Check out "Death" in the player below. The album's full track listing is:
1. Death
2. Artificial Light
3. What I'm Not
4. The Last One Alive
5. I Will Fail You (watch the music video here)
6. One Last Song
7. Cross To Bear
8. Hell Don't Need Me
9. In Time
10. Beyond Me
11. Gasoline
12. The Heart Of A Graveyard
Deluxe edition bonus songs
13. Waste Me
14. Helpless Hop
Simbiose Streaming New Track
Nearly three years following the release of the crushing fifth album “Economical Terrorism,” Portuguese grind/crust group Simbiose is back with a new effort called “Trapped,” which is scheduled for release on March 15th via Anticorpos Records in collaboration with Criminal Attack Records, Deviance Records, Apathy Never, Punk Vortex, Tanker and Neanderthal Stench.
The album was recorded by Paulo Viera at Brugo Studio and BPM’S Studio and offers 14 new tracks of venomous and downright crushing grind/crust, including a guest performance of Bri Doom from British crust legends Doom with a guitar solo on the song “Deixós falar…”
Today you can also hear the song “Ignorância Colectiva” below, courtesy of PontoAlternativo.com. Asked about this new song and the musical direction of “Trapped,” vocalist Jonhie said the following:
"Ignorância Colectiva is a song that talks about the kind of people that just likes to criticize and say bad things about others, but in reality don’t do nothing for anyone or to change anything!
"Trapped is a different record, we wanted to give a new and fresh tone to the band's sound without disappointing our long-time fans. It’s more mature and has a cleaner sound... but it shows the same attitude!” More...
Wolvhammer Adds Headlining Shows
Midwestern cult Wolvhammer has confirmed several headlining dates surrounding an upcoming U.S. tour supporting 1349, Origin, and Abysmal Dawn.
Following the two-pronged Desanctifying North America 2014 Tour, Wolvhammer will spend the majority of February on the opening slot of the Chaos Raids USA 2015 tour, headlined by Norwegian black metal legion, 1349, with additional support from Kansas' tech death metal unit, Origin, and California death outfit, Abysmal Dawn.
The recently expanded nineteen-date run will begin February 8th in Tampa, Florida, and run through the 26th in Savannah, Georgia. Yet Wolvhammer has also just locked up several headlining shows preceding and subsequent to the main run, February 5th, 6th and 7th, as well as the 27th and 28th. More...
Taken By The Sun Announces Self-Titled Album
Chicago progressive post metal doom/gaze collective Taken By The Sun will release a debut full-length next month.
Tracked almost exclusively live at Electrical Audio (with "Confessions Of An Opium Eater" recorded at Studio 54 Music Zone), engineered by Sanford Parker (Twilight, Voivod, Eyehategod, Yob etc.) and mastered by Collin Jordan (Eyehategod, Indian, Wovenhand, Voivod etc.) at The Boiler Room, all in Chicago, "Taken By The Sun" is monolithic in its delivery boasting a sprawling, eight-track, forty-two minute sound expedition. The track listing is as follows:
1. Scars
2. Demons Tempt the Dying Man with Crowns
3. Fuse
4. Red
5. Detached
6. Volatile
7. Confessions of an Opium Eater
8. Ornaflux
The self-titled "Taken By The Sun" will be released independently on February 24th via Bandcamp. More...
Black Cyclone Splits With Vocalist
Swedish thrash outfit Black Cyclone has issued the following announcement about parting ways with the band's vocalist:
"Announcements from the BC-HQ! Our singer Arnór has decided to leave the band due to personal reasons and we wish him good luck in the future.
"If you like to hear more from Arnór, check out Lawgiver and Under Attack. The upcoming demo is making progress and we hope to release it in the near future. Beast up! Ugh!" More...
Heavydeath Reveals Album Artwork, Track Listing
Named one of CVLT Nations's "Top 6 New Bands You Must Hear Today," Heavydeath was formed with the purpose of creating and playing exactly what the name implies.
The music is recorded as a trio. No frills: just guitar, bass, drums, and some vocals on top/inside of it. To date, Heaydeath has recorded four demos, alternately released on cassette and digital formats.
Slated for release on March 6th via Svart, the debut album "Eternal Sleepwalker" from Heavydeath was recorded under rather simple conditions in the summer of 2014: simply a drum-kit, a bass, and a guitar and with no overdubs. In the landscapes of heavy riffs, there are also some chanting vocals here and there in the songs, too.
As the band states, "We have, just like the previous demo recordings, tried to keep the material straight and primitive in the same Heavydeath style. We enjoy creating small details like morbid dis-harmonies and melodies in the riffs, but we have also tried to make it sound a little different than previous recordings. It would be boring if the album sounds exactly like the demo recordings. One thing is, for sure, it sounds heavy as death."
The track listing and artwork can be seen below. More...
Demonical Enters The Studio
Swedish death metal outfit Demonical recently went into the studio to record an EP scheduled for a Spring release via Agonia Records.
The first new tracks since the release of the 2013's "Darkness Unbound" album are being recorded in Amplified Studios (drums) and Wing Studios (rest of the instruments) in Sweden, with Sverker Widgren (vocals) behind the knobs. Sverker will also be handling the mixing and mastering duties in the near future.
On the recording of the new EP, bassist Martin Schulman commented: "Armed with blood and iron we have hereby started the recording process of a new four track EP, once again bringing forth the ravishing sounds of HM-2 and razor sharp chants of Stockholm-style death metal darkness. The hour of death draws near!" More...
Beyond Creation Announces U.S. Shows
Tech death outfit Beyond Creation just announced upcoming U.S. tour dates kicking off March 27th in Michigan and seeing the band travel through the East Coast before concluding April 12th in Rhode Island.
Beyond Creation is touring in support of new album "Earthborn Evolution," which can be streamed in full below. Catch the band live on these dates:
3/27 Westland, MI @ Token Lounge
3/28 Crest Hill, IL @ Bada Brew
3/29 Akron, OH @ Empire Concert Club
4/10 Philadelphia, PA @ Infest w/Cannabis Corpse
4/11 Brooklyn, NY @ Coco 66
4/12 Providence, RI @ Firehouse 13 More...
Infesting Swarm Announces Debut Album
Art of Propaganda today unveils a daring newcomer that breathes new life into usually traditional metal tropes: Infesting Swarm and debut album, "Desolation Road," set for international release on March 30th. Art Of Propaganda comments:
"Hailing from Germany, Infesting Swarm have been quietly and patiently perfecting their craft for the past eight years, waiting for the right moment to unveil their momentous creation. At last, it is here, and the band's debut album swells and surges with a glorious melancholy without losing its metallic might. Very aptly titled, 'Desolation Road' deftly combines achingly melodic doom-death with emotive-yet-poisonous black metal, each of its eight epic tracks travelling down different corridors of the soul.
"But at its core, Infesting Swarm's 'Desolation Road' is a METAL record: not your standard 'post-black metal' where the latter (and most important) element is an afterthought at best, the aggression is kept to a maximum while the peripheral, non-metal elements are maximized without overtaking the central, black metalled thrust.
"Thus, 'Desolation Road' is an album that both ably walks the line between traditionalism and progression, triumph and tragedy."
1. Dead Transmission
2. Ending
3. Desperation
4. Year Of No Light
5. Abandoned Life
6. Der Lauf der Zeit
7. Horizon On Fire
8. Desolation Road More...
Barren Earth Streams New Album's Title Track
Finnish progressive death metal outfit Barren Earth, now reinforced by Faroese native lead singer Jón Aldará, just launched the title track from an upcoming third full-length.
The album will be entitled "On Lonely Towers" and will be released via Century Media Records on March 30th, 2015 in Europe and March 24th, 2015 in North America.
Bassist Olli-Pekka Laine comments: "During the writing process of the album, we did many things from a totally new perspective. If there ever was a certain pattern in a basic Barren Earth song, this time we consciously tried to think things differently. Many other things changed too, some of them unintentionally, some of them willfully. A new production team, a new front man, a new record label... The list goes on.
"With the first song representing the album, we make no exception. Instead of putting out a song in a typical verse-chorus form, we thought that this 3-piece boulder would stand for the album better. It demands some concentration from the listener, but patience is rewarded in the end! So there you are, the title track of the upcoming album, On Lonely Towers."
Vocalist Jón Aldará adds: "On Lonely Towers can be considered a centrepiece of the album concept; stringing together the different storylines from the other songs, uniting the main characters and finally bringing a sense of hope to their struggles. It is also the song which inspired Travis Smiths beautifully crafted album cover."
"On Lonely Towers" was mixed by Petri Majuri and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios. The artwork was created by no other than Travis Smith.
This new album follows previous releases "The Devil's Resolve" (reviewed here) and "Curse of the Red River" (reviewed here). More...
Drakkar Unveils Album Artwork
The new Drakkar album "Run With The Wolf" will be released via My Kingdom Music on March 16th, 2015.
The album will feature special guest appearances by Terence Holler (Eldritch vocalist), Olaf Thorsen (Vision Divine, Labyrinth) and Mat Stancioiu (ex-Labyrinth) and will release as a limited digipack deluxe edition including a bonus CD titled "Coming From The Past," with 5 classic songs from the first three albums of Drakkar re-recorded by the current lineup.
Cover artwork was handled by Alessandro Bragalini (who created the "When Lightning Strikes" cover), and the track listing will be as follows:
CD I: “Run With The Wolf”
1. Rise Of The Dark Lords (Intro)
2. Under The Banners Of War
3. Run With The Wolf
4. Watcher On The Wall
5. Ride The Storm
6. Burning
7. Southern Cross
8. Gods Of Thunder
9. Invincible
10. Call Of The Dragonblood
CD II: “Coming From The Past” - bonus CD
1. Coming From The Past
2. Dragonheart
3. Eridan Falls
4. Pure Of Heart
5. Galadriel' Song More...
Dead In The Manger Streaming Full Album
Just days before 20 Buck Spin sets mysterious metal legion Dead In The Manger's "Cessation" LP loose upon the public, metal webzine Steel For Brains is hosting a stream of the entire torrential album (give it a listen below).
The follow-up to the anonymous act's malicious "Transience" EP, released approximately a year ago, Dead In The Manger's ominous objective is made all the more evident on this debut full-length endeavor, "Cessation." The album surely unleashes the expected searing and blast-driven grind/black metal alloy as its predecessor, yet also explores much more spacious and trance-inducing textures, opening portals to new realms of their insidious dimension through six unnamed movements.
20 Buck Spin will officially release "Cessation" this Tuesday, February 3rd, on 12" vinyl and through all prime digital outlets. More...
Sorcerer Signs With Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is proud to announce the signing of Swedish epic doom metal band Sorcerer, will release "In The Shadow Of The Inverted Cross" on March 20th on CD, vinyl, and digitally.
Pre-orders for the album are available now at this location, and you can also hear the song "The Dark Tower Of The Sorcerer" below. The band comments:
"Sorcerer are proud to have signed with the legendary metal label Metal Blade, home of many bands that has inspired us to start making music. With the new album 'In the Shadow of the Inverted Cross' we hope to continue where we ended many years ago. It is all the fans that have supported us through the years that has inspired us to do this album and we really looking forward to meet you all on gigs and festivals soon!"
Sorcerer was formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1988 but disbanded after two demos in 1992. In 2010 the band came back together to play the Hammer of Doom festival in Germany and a year later the Up The Hammers festival in Athens, Greece.
In the end it took over two years to write, arrange, and record a new album, but the result is nothing but pure, heavy epic doom metal. The process of putting all bits and pieces together and making it ready for mix and mastering was the work of drummer Robert Iversen, who was acting as the spider in the recording web. The album was mastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Amon Amarth, Devin Townsend). The track listing is as follows:
1. The Dark Tower of the Sorcerer
2. Sumerian Script
3. Lake of the Lost Souls
4. Excorcise the Demon
5. In the Shadow of the Inverted Cross
6. Prayers for a King
7. The Gates of Hell
8. Pagans Dance More...
Blind Guardian Recruits Barend Courbois
In the course of his career he has played over 4,000 shows and recorded over 60 albums and worked together with musicians like Adrian Vandenberg (Whitesnake), Zakk Wylde, and Atma Anur (Journey). In 2004 he was voted as best metal and all around bass player by Guitar Player magazine.
His name is Barend Courbois, and he is the new bass player of Blind Guardian – out on January 30th (Europe) and February 3rd (North America), fans will be able to enjoy his skills on the upcoming album "Beyond The Red Mirror" (reviewed here).
“This was the longest production I have ever been involved in,” the Dutch musician explains. “As we all know, the recordings took a total of two years. The music is so versatile, which is just what makes the style of Blind Guardian so unique.”
Regarding his own style, Courbois is quite confident: “I play in a very powerful, but also melodic way,” he explains. “You could compare me to John Deacon. Something that Queen-fans Hansi Kürsch and Gitarrist André Olbrich really like.” More...
Behemoth Releasing Biography
"Behemoth: Devil's Conquistadors" by Lukasz Dunaj serves as the definitive Behemoth biography. This book, officially blessed, or rather damned, by Behemoth, serves as an in depth look at the history of the events that materially influenced the band.
As Dunaj points out in the intro, this isn't "Poland's response to Motley Crue's biography The Dirt." Simply put, "Behemoth: Devil's Conquistadors" is the story of Behemoth, the music, and the band's rise to the upper echelon of metal, becoming a household name in Poland.
"Behemoth: Devil's Conquistadors" is a 490 page, hardcover tome that is being released by Metal Blade Records in February 2015. The book includes quotes and anecdotes from current and former members that provide context and details in addition to the author's narrative, plus interviews with Tomas Krajewski, Rob Darken, Graal, Havok, and more. The artistically presented pages are splattered with old photos of the band, flyers, and lyric sheets. Pre-orders are available now at this location.
From the foreword by Krzysztof Azarewicz: "If, as a cultural anthropologist, I were to point to a single cosmic force which Behemoth's music expresses, I would name it not Satan but Dionysus. A deity that represents not only the intoxicating influence of cosmic energies and earthly benefits, but also their benevolent healing properties. A deity of strength and pride. A deity of creative might."
Nergal discusses the acquisition of his first electric guitar: "The first communion was a very important moment for me. I know this sounds ridiculous, but it's true. Of course, not as a religion experience - I didn't understand anything and couldn't care less. Same as all the other kids. We all stood there with our votive candles and waited for one thing. Cash. The first communion must be one moment when you get the most money you're ever going to get as a child. And for this money, I bought myself my first electric guitar. Not a bike, no Legos - a guitar." More...
Agnostic Front Issues Track-By-Track Break Down
The New York hardcore pioneers from Agnostic Front have released a full track-by-track commentary for every song on upcoming album "The American Dream Died." Find the piece written by the band's iconic frontman, Roger Miret, below.
The band is also announcing a collaboration of Madball guitarist Matt Henderson on the song "A Wise Man." Commented Miret: "Matt Henderson tracked all guitars for 'A Wise Man' being that song has a total 'One Voice' era feel! Our good friend Ricky Singh (Backtrack NYHC) is to credit for the songs existence! The band executed it with such a great feel and bringing in our brother and ex-AF veteran Matt Henderson to solely do the guitar tracks was just magical!"
Miret had this to say about each track on the release:
"The American Dream Died: It’s a harsh look at what’s going on today in our society. The intro that precedes this song says it all! It’s a reaction to everything happening around us right now. The higher ups are out of control!
"Police Violence: This is our reaction to what’s going on in our country regarding the unprovoked brutality of our citizens by those who we pay to 'protect and serve' us. If they are going to act like criminals, then they should be prosecuted as one! They have some kind of elite fraternity-like understanding that they protect each other with. Don't abuse your badge!
"Only In America: It's sad to learn that the people who serve in our military and risk their lives fighting in wars come home to the government not giving a shit about them, especially if those veterans were wounded mentally or physically. They gotta go through a lot of bullshit just to try and get a little help and support. You've gotta be blind if you don't see that, only in America. This is why I strongly believe the US Government should stop policing the world, and start caring for the issues right here in the USA!
"Test Of Time: Learning from the past is important, to help you move forward and not make the mistakes we did in our youth. Longevity is the key to success. We won't get left behind. More...
The Agonist Posts "My Witness, Your Victim" Video
The Agonist has brought out another video from forthcoming album "Eye Of Providence," due out February 24th. "My Witness, Your Victim" can be seen below, courtesy of Bloody-Disgusting.com. Guitarist Danny Marino had this to say about the video:
"We're thrilled to release the My Witness, Your Victim video! This is the first video we are releasing that was directed and edited by our very own Bassist Chris Kells. Chris shoots music videos for other bands when he is not touring with us and it was really cool to finally do one for The Agonist.
"Lyrically this song dives into the album theme of the Eye of Providence. We live in a world where everything is being tracked and the more we interface with technology the more we lose our humanity. We're really happy with how the video turned out and believe it or not the actor was not harmed (too much) during the shoot!"
You can also watch the band's previously released music video for "Gates Of Horn And Ivory" over at this location. More...
Iris Divine Signs With Sensory Records
Northern Virginia-based trio Iris Divine has joined The Laser's Edge family by signing with the label's progressive metal subdivision, Sensory Records, for the late Spring release of impending debut album, "Karma Sown." Sensory Records comments:
"With a brand of emotional, progressive hard rock/metal not quite like anything else out there, Iris Divine is musically rooted in the raw energy and rhythmic interplay of Rush and King's X. Fans of dark, guitar-driven rock bands from Alice In Chains, Deftones to the contemporary metal riffing of Lamb of God and Pantera, will connect to the heavy core of the band's modern sound.
"Add to that progressive complexity and moody synths inspired by Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree, and a liberal dose of memorable hooks and melodies, to understand some elements of the band's sound. And yet, the band has a distinct identity, not quite sounding like any of the aforementioned bands, and with an emotional urgency that pulls subtly from alternative and other influences.
"Hailing from just outside of the Washington, DC area, Irisi Divine has opened for such acts as Katatonia, Orphaned Land, Fates Warning, and Periphery, channeling its studio output into intense, passionate live performances that balance precision with in-the-moment catharsis. Often called a 'musician's band,' the band time and again earned the respect of its regional peers, and could well become new faces gaining prominence among the musician community on a wider scale. More...
Aversions Crown Recruits New Vocalist
After announcing he would be sitting out a tour, Colin Jeffs has decided to step down permanently from Aversions Crown.
Mark Poida, who has been filling in for Jeffs on the current European tour alongside Within The Ruins, has stepped up to join the band as the full time new vocalist.
The band announced on its Facebook page this morning: “Please welcome Mark Poida to the mic who will be stepping up to fill Colin's very big shoes. If you've seen us this year in Australia or Europe, you'll know that Mark has a huge voice and will be crushing it for us moving forward. Cheers Colin for all the good times!”
Colin announced the departure is not due to his recent vocal scare and thanked fans for support, saying: "Friends, unfortunately the time has come for me to part ways with Aversions Crown. This is a difficult call for me to make but a necessary one. The band has been my sole focus for the past 5 years and whilst it has been an amazing experience it has also been a very draining one.
"I've reached a point in my life where this band is just not what I want to focus on anymore and feel as though if I can't put 100% of my heart into this I shouldn't be doing it at all, this decision is not linked to me being absent from the current tour or my recent vocal scare, it’s something I had comes to terms with before these events. Thanks to everyone who has ever supported what I do in any way, it’s been real. Peace." More...
Chainfist Releases New Video
"Black Rebel Noise," a brand new video from Danish metallers Chainfist, can be viewed below. The track is taken from the band’s album "Scarred," which was released on October 6th, 2014. A previously released lyric video for "Statement" can also be seen at this location.
Amon Amarth Begins Work On New Material
Asked if the band has commenced the songwriting process for the follow-up to 2013's "Deceiver Of The Gods", Ted Lundström of Swedish death metallers Amon Amarth states: "Yeah, we just started very recently. We have some ideas for songs and lyrics, but we haven't really sat down to put it together yet. But after this tour, that will be our main focus, just to work on the album 24/7. So hopefully we can record it after the summer. That's the plan. But we don't have any finished songs yet."
Regarding when fans should expect to see the new Amon Amarth album, Ted says: "I would hope that we can release it early next year. But it depends on so many factors: record label and release schedule and touring and studio time and all that. But hopefully early next year we can get it out. That would be our plan. The plan is to stay out of shows. We will see. If something really interesting shows up, we might do something. But our plan is to not do any festivals whatsoever this year."
You can now watch the entire chat below.
Down Posts "We Knew Him Well" Live Video
Down's video for the song "We Knew Him Well" can be seen below. The clip was filmed at Southport Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana by Mike Holderbeast and the Cement Level crew.
States Philip Anselmo about "We Knew Him Well": "I kinda like people to think for themselves and come up with their own conclusions, because a lot of times I'll have a couple of specifics in mind and then somebody will come along and say to me what their thoughts are on a certain songs is about. And I find it really interesting, because it's something that I haven't even considered before in my life and it makes sense to me the way they explain it. So, "We Knew Him Well" is about several different people, not just in my life, but the lives of my bands, family life, anybody that is, I guess, very very close to you. That's one I wrote for them."
Oceans Ate Alaska Premieres New Music Video
Stemming from Birmingham, UK, the five-piece Oceans Ate Alaska offers a progressive strain of experimental modern metalcore. The band found inspiration for their name from the world's largest recorded mega-tsunami - measuring at 1,700 feet high - that demolished Alaska's coastline in 1958. The band was attracted to the natural disaster's national headline that read "Oceans Ate Alaska" where they decided to carry the name on a path to make their own history.
Oceans Ate Alaska premieres a new song and music video "Vultures and Sharks". The the track is featured on the band’s forthcoming album, "Lost Isles" which is set to drop February 24 via Fearless Records.
Check out "Vultures and Sharks" below.
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