Metal News for December 28, 2016
Last updated on September 14, 2025 at 3:01 AM ET
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29 news articles posted on this day.
Levels Posts "Slip" Video
Arkansas-based group Levels, which released the "Exist" album earlier this year, just posted a music video online for the “Slip” single, which can be viewed below. The band comments:
“The idea behind the lyrics of ‘Slip’ comes from the constant feeling of being trapped inside your own mind. I believe everyone has those thoughts and ideas of what or who they want to be, but the constant pressures of the people around them impact what they actually do. Letting our minds ‘slip’ from those constant pressures and images engraved in our heads allows us to become a person that we are proud to be and comfortable with being.”
In Thousand Lakes Posts "True North"
Veteran Spanish melodic death metal group In Thousand Lakes just finished the recording process for second album "Age of Decay" and also launched a lyric video for first song "True North." New album "Age of Decay" will be released on February 20th, 2017 through Xtreem Music.
Vader Issues Year End Message
After releasing new album "The Empire" (reviewed here), Vader just checked in with this year-end message to all the fans out there:
"VADERMANIAX! Thanks so much for your support in 2016! That was another one busy, crazy and satisfactory year. We have played over 70 shows, from which 1/4 were festivals.
"We released also new album 'The Empire,' which has so good a response from you. However, the NEW YEAR is coming and we are pretty much ready for 2017 \m/\m/
"This 'imperial year' starts in a few months for Vader. We have many surprises for ALL of you for the whole coming season. Stay VADERIZED and have much fun in NEW YEAR 2017!" More...
Morbid Vomit Working On Album
The strength of debut full-length album "Doctrine of Violence" album (reviewed here) had us repeatedly covering fledgling death metal outfit Morbid Vomit throughout 2015, but since then we haven't heard much from the band.
That changes today as the Finnish group issued this brief statement via Facebook: "It's been quiet in here but no worries, we are doing shows in 2017 and the next album is being written."
Stay tuned for more info on the impending album as it becomes available, and be sure to check out a song off the last album below. More...
Nile Recording New Material
U.S. death metal outfit Nile is hard at work on new material to follow the 2015 album "What Should Not Be Unearthed."
The band comments: "We are slaving away in the dungeon (studio) gearing up for our February and March USA tour with Overkill - Looking forward to getting back on the road!"
For those preparing to see the band on upcoming U.S. tour dates, be sure to check out our show report of Nile's performance at the Summer Slaughter tour this summer. More...
Klone Streaming Acoustic Track
Klone is gearing up to release an acoustic album simply titled "Unplugged" on February 17th, 2017. Today acoustic track "Gone Up In Flames" taken from that release has come online. The album was mixed by Chris Edrich and mastered by Pierrick Noel, with pre-orders online here. The full track listing is as follows:
01. Immersion
02. Grim Dance
03. People Are People (Depeche Mode cover)
04. The Silent Field Of Slaves
05. Nebulous
06. Gone Up In Flames
07. Into The Void
08. Fog
09. Come Undone
10. Rocket Smoke
11. Summertime
Odyssey Offering EP For Free Download
Now through the end of the year, Spokane instru-metal band Odyssey is offering a free download of the 2014 EP "The Turning Tide."
Pick up your own digital copy on a name-your-price basis via Bandcamp here. "The Turning Tide" precedes the band's latest album "Voids" (reviewed here) and the EP's track listing is as follows:
1. The Devil's in the Details 06:22
2. The Turning Tide 03:50
3. The Machine Stops 05:52
4. Quietly Waiting 04:21 More...
Kaine Releases New Single
Kaine has a new single online titled "Holding The Line," which can be heard below, and the band also comments:
"The single was written to support live music in the United Kingdom and recorded live in the studio. Buy the track for just £1.00 today and help us save the Asylum venue from closure!
"The ambition is to raise £12,000 to keep the Asylum music venue open in Chelmsford. Please support live, underground music by buying the track and sharing with your friends on facebook, twitter etc.
"The band is optimistic that at such a low price, and with enough social reach the single could help raise a significant amount of money should people get behind it."
Wintersun Trolls Fans Seeking New Album
Echoing the "it is 100% done" comments from back in July, Wintersun has again taken to trolling fans. Yesterday the group posted the image below online, only to be followed up today with this comment from Jari Mäenpää:
"Damn, I love the sense of humor of the Wintersun fans! :D And btw, over 16.000 personal likes broken. Very nice! Thank you! Keep'em coming! Can I get over 20.000 before March? "
Needless to say, some weren't exactly impressed by this latest round of non-updates from the band, while others were more good natured about it. By far the best comment on Wintersun's Facebook page has been this prescient musing on two things that are never actually going to be released:
I have a bet going with my sister that if "Time 2" comes out before George RR Martin's "The Winds of Winter" that she has to buy it for me. And if the book comes first I get it for her. This bet has been going for about 2 years now. Maybe I'll win.More...
Perpetual Dawn Streaming "Lost By Dawn"
Written in 2013 and recorded in 2016 as part of an Australian folk metal compilation CD, Perpetual Dawn is now offering the "Lost By Dawn" track for free at Bandcamp.
The group comments: "The compilation CD for which 'Lost by Dawn' was created doesn't appear to be going through, however the song can still be downloaded as a free (name your price of $0 or more) download."
Korpse Releases Obscene Extreme Footage
Obscene Extreme Fest just released footage of the Korpse performance at this year's edition, with the band also commenting:
"Only 3 days to go and 2016 is over. It's been an AMAZING year for us!!! Not only have we played 21 shows in 8 different countries (of which 4 where a first timer), we also released a full length album, a music video and a lyric video!
"As we couldn't wish ourselves a better year, 2017 is shaping up to be at least as awesome! Our planned gigs list is already beyond exciting and is far from complete! Also we have around 7 songs done for a 3rd full length album, and besides that we are working on another special release which will be announced in a couple of months!!!
"We noticed 'Unethical' ended up in quite some people's 'Best of 2016' lists, which makes us feel very honored! That's why we will wrap up this post and year with a list of albums that we enjoyed and recommand to you all!
"Thanks to every single one that was involved in making 2016 our best year yet, and a heavy, slamming and beer-drenched new year to you all!!!" More...
Dyed In Grey Posts Album Teaser
Dyed In Grey just released a new teaser clip for a song to appear on an impending album due out next year. The band comments:
"Our new track 'TARS,' off of our upcoming full length that will be released shortly. 2017 will be a very productive year for Dyed in Grey be on the look out for more new material leading up to our full length release!" More...
No Turning Back Streams New Song
No Turning Back is now streaming the title track to new album "No Time To Waste," which can be heard below, and the band also comments:
"Pre-order our new album 'No Time To Waste' digitally and you'll be able to download both songs for free and get the new album a week before it's released on February 17th!!"
1. I Won't Fall
2. Hold On Tight
3. Heart Of Stone
4. Sick Society
5. End This War
6. Betrayed
7. Turn The Tide
8. Stand My Ground
9. Together
10. Ashes To Dust
11. True Sorrow
12. No Time To Waste More...
Netherbird Crowd Funding Lyric/Art Book
Netherbird is currently crowd funding the release of a new lyric artbook, with full details available here. The band also comments:
"Greetings, I am Johan Nephente Fridell and I invite you to release of the book 'Netherbird: Svensk jävla svärta.' I have always considered Netherbird a combination of three art forms: music, lyrics and artwork, all being equally important pillars of our craft. These days album releases tend to be a mostly digital affair and that is generally a good thing: our music reaches more people than we could ever hope for in the past.
"But now our artwork is reduced to thumbnails and the lyrics are only available for those that go and look for them; the words are no longer in the hands of a new listener as was the case with CDs and LPs. All of that is fine, times change, but I want to offer something different, something extra for those that happen to really care about the words and who, just like myself, see art as an integral aspect of what Netherbird is about.
"So my solution is simple: to create a thick, heavy artbook containing all the lyrics from all our releases in chronological order from the first tune we recorded to our latest album The Grander Voyage. It will be bound together with an introduction where I try to explain the vision behind the band and our music, and a closing chapter where I will reflect upon the journey we have made and where we might be going next. Nothing long, but I will take the opportunity to somehow give all these lyrical texts a context, a frame of reference if you may. More...
Tridoid Records Offering Free CD With Online Order
Through the end of this relentlessly shitty year (well, except for on the metal front), Tridoid Records is offering a free CD with any purchase online. The label comments:
"Just go to our website, order anything you like (if you order something marked 'pre-order', I'll wait to ship your free CD until the release date) and add the 'FREE CD!' item to your cart.
"Let me know in the notes which CD you'd like, and get your free music in the mail.
"New releases include Violet Cold - 'Magic Night' (limited edition cassette) and Tyrants Blood - 'Into the Kingdom of Graves' (Special Edition LP) Fuck 2016. Get free music." More...
Swarm Of Eyes Releasing New Album
On January 6th, 2017, thrash / doom band Swarm Of Eyes will release second album, "We Go to War With the Weapons We Have," via Humanemic Records.
Produced by Dave "Weirdbeard" McCafferty and Swarm of Eyes' guitarist George O'Connor, the 7-song EP features four brand new tracks, two cover songs, and re-recorded tarck "Humanemic" (the imprint's namesake) from the band's first album, "Designing the Dystopia."
The band decided to re-record "Humanemic" since its original incarnation only featured three of the band's current members and originally used a programmed rhythm section. Since the recording of "Designing the Dystopia,: bassist Jeff Grossman and drummer Tommy Burke joined the ranks, giving Swarm of Eyes a more dynamic element. More...
Solitude Posts "Blow" Video
After unleashing latest album "Reach For The Sky" in North America via Test Your Metal Records this past November, Japanese heavy metal crew Solitude released a new lyric video for the track "Blow."
The track is one of 8 fist pounders off the band's third album that was issued in Japan in 2015 by Spiritual Beast and follows 2009's "Brave The Storm" plus 2001's "Virtual Image."
"Reach For The Sky" was mixed by Magnus “Mankan” Sedenberg, who has previously worked with Bullet and Crucified Barbara along with artwork by Velio Josto (Warlord, Medieval Steel, Ostrogoth). More...
Maniacal Violator Releases New Album
Connecticut based black / death / thrash group Maniacal Violator - featuring Kevin Narowski from Formless - just released the "Dead and Out of Control" album, which can be heard below or picked up at Bandcamp here.
1. Ancient Remnants 05:00
2. Whirlwind of Hate 04:50
3. Beyond the Pale 05:21
4. Unifier 04:23
5. Poison 07:14 More...
Hamerex Posts Footage With New Drummer
Hamerex has uploaded footage of the band playing "Traitor" during rehearsal at Diamond Studios in Wakefield with new drummer Diz. Check out the clip below, and Hamerex also issued this year-end update to fans:
"We just want to take a moment to thank each and everyone of you that's supported Hamerex through 2016. Though we've not been seen to do a great deal with only two highly enjoyable gigs, we have spent a large amount of time wrapping up writing sessions and recording Traitor, as well as running a relatively successful crowdfunding campaign.
"On top of that, we've had to say goodbye to Darren Kelsall, our drummer of 9 years, and have welcomed Marc Hood and Sharif Diz Dyson, both of whom we've been getting up to speed with our music.
"We hope you've enjoyed the new album we released back in October, and we're extremely excited to be getting back to gigging and seeing as many of our friends as possible in support of Traitor, with 2 gigs announced for 2017, with one more unannounced for 2017, one unannounced for 2018 and another we're waiting to see what happens with. So from all of us in Hamerex, have a very merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!" More...
Jotnar Signs With Massacre Records
Spanish melodic death metal outfit Jotnar has issued this statement online about inking a new record deal:
"Big news!! We're very excited to announce that we have signed a deal with Massacre Records to release 'Connected/Condemned,' which finally will be out on April 21st. Can't wait!!"
Enjoy the official video for the album's title track below. The video was filmed on the Canary Islands by director Pablo García Gallego and features actor Francisco Vázquez. This is the first of a series of videos that will be published in the following months. More...
Empyrean Throne Reveals "Chaosborne" Details
Empyrean Throne's "Chaosborne" will be self-released this coming January 24th, 2017 and will appeal to fans of Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Watain, and Cradle of Filth. This is the band's debut full-length album, produced/engineered by Mick Kenney (Anaal Nathrakh).
While indisputably an American band, the initial spark was in fact ignited by two travelers in Scandinavia, from where it journeyed south and west to the sweltering heat of Lake Forest, California, where in 2011, the first manifestation of the band that would eventually become Empyrean Throne was founded.
“Chaosborne” is a testament to this new unfolding, lurching deeper into the infernal depths of black metal and higher unto the celestial realm of orchestral concert music. Telling the story of a hapless Templar knight in medieval Europe and his subsequent decent into the realm of Chaos, the album offers eleven solemn hymns to unbecoming, with the searing black flame of illumination and wrath burning brighter than ever before in the hearts of those who have crafted it, the members of the Order themselves.
Empyrean Throne have been privileged to fly their banners and leave their mark on the live front alongside many of the esteemed acts in extreme music, including Nile, Kataklysm, Aborted, and Cattle Decapitation, among others. The Order has also carved its sphere of influence from the sweat and grime of the road, with two west coast tours under their belts and an appearance at Central Oregon Metalfest in 2016. Apart from that and a smattering of singles, which include a vast rendition of the Behemoth classic “Ov Fire and the Void”, Empyrean Throne have been quite occupied indeed preparing the ground for “Chaosborne”, and for whatever may lie beyond… More...
Team Rock Crowd Funding Campaign Hits 400%
Looks like there's some hope this holiday season for all the Team Rock, Prog, Metal Hammer, and Classic Rock staff who unexpectedly lost their jobs two weeks ago.
As was previously reported, Orange Goblin's Ben Ward set up a crowd funding campaign to help raise money for those who are now without employment right at the Christmas season.
Since the JustGiving campaign went live, it has now raised a whopping 416% of its original $20,000 goal, having hit $83,000 today. You can still contribute to the campaign right here. More...
Aeurtum Working On Album
Aeurtum is currently working on the follow-up to "The Depths Of Which These Roots Do Bind" (streaming below), with the band issuing this update to fans:
"...and so this year draws to a close. It has been extremely quiet in the Aeurtum camp for the past 12 months, as I have mentioned previously in posts before. However, I can now safely say work is beginning to take place for record number 3.
"Make sure to still check out 'The Depths Of Which These Roots Do Bind' and 'The Fall,' and share them with friends and foe alike.
"You shall hear more in the New Year. Until then, rest easy and enjoy the close of December as best you can, and thank you for your continued support!" More...
OpEd
2016 Metal Newcomers Explored, Part III
Our annual staff awards were recently announced, but each year we delve into some of the newcomers a little more in-depth to help our readers discover new metal bands. I have not been on the pulse of metal as much as in years past, but I still discovered a few new bands to enjoy in 2016. While my best-of picks were all folk metal and thrash, the newcomers I enjoyed were a little more varied, but some still falling into those categories. Here were my top five metal newcomer picks for 2016:
Huldre
I enjoy folk metal a lot and with the shakeup in Eluveitie's lineup, I was especially happy to discover another excellent folk metal alternative in Huldre, who released "Tusmørke" this year. While not officially the band's first album, until hitting bandcamp just recently it was extremely difficult to get a copy of the band's music in the States. Huldre varies things quite a bit on "Tusmørke," going from soothing folk with female vocals to heavier, chugging riffs. "Hindeham" is a decently heavy track throughout and is a good place to start, while "Underjordisk" is a bit faster paced overall.
Reverence Streaming "Until My Dying Breath"
Detroit power metal band Reverence - featuring members of Savatage, Tokyo Blade, and Wind Wraith - just inked a deal with Rock'N'Growl Promotions and also released an updated 2016 version of the song "Until My Dying Breath."
Reverence’s new, as-yet-untitled album will be released sometime in 2017 and both U.S. and European dates will be announced very soon to celebrate that album. Reverence is:
Bryan Holland - Guitars
Scott Oliva - Vocals
Pete Rossi - Guitars
Russell Pzutto - Bass
Doc ‘Killdrums’ Wacholz - Drums
Tony Rossi - Guest/Live Drums More...
Ululatum Tollunt Debuts "Triumph Continuum"
Ululatum Tollunt (Latin meaning "war cry" in English) premieres a new song titled "Triumph Continuum", taken from the band's debut release "Quantum Noose of Usurpation", out now via Invictus Productions.
Check out now "Triumph Continuum" below.
Death Worship New Full-Album Streaming
Death Worship premieres the full-album stream of the band's long-awaited debut EP "Extermination Mass", out in stores via Nuclear War Now!. The EP features members of Conqueror, Blasphemy, and Revenge: guitarist/bassist/vocalist Ryan Förster, backing vocalist Gerry Joseph Buhl, and drummer J. Read.
Check out now "Extermination Mass" in its entirety below.
Teitanblood Premieres New Song "Accursed Skin"
Spanish black metal duo Teitanblood premieres the title track of the band's new 12'' EP "Accursed Skin", out in stores now on vinyl, CD, and digitally via Norma Evangelium Diaboli and The Ajna Offensive.
Check out now "Accursed Skin" below.
Sleeping Giant Posts New Video For "Victory"
Sleeping Giant releases a new video for "Victory", which is part of a campaign to end human trafficking. States the band on Facebook:
"New SG music video! Stand with us and Agape International Missions and end human trafficking in our generation. Click the link below, give what you can. #justicetoinjustice #victory #finishedpeople
https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx…
Please SHARE!"
Check out now "Victory" below.
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