Agent Fresco Streaming "Dark Water"

The wait is over: since the announcement of signing to Long Branch Records fans and supporters were going crazy to get their hands on new Agent Fresco material, and now it's here.

The brand new single "Dark Water" is out now and available at all download stores and streaming services worldwide. Check out the song below, and keep your eyes peeled for a brand new music video coming on May 15th. A full studio album is also due out later this Summer.

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Black Breath Gearing Up For U.S. Shows

Following several months off the touring grid, Seattle's unstoppable Black Breath will return to the road this month on a swift and brutal trek originating on the opposite side of the country at Maryland Deathfest 2014.

This trek follows misfortune in January where drummer Jamie Byrum was hit by a car and badly injured. While Jamie is still working on getting back to maximum killing capacity, he's now able to slay his kit like a champ once again, and the band is ready to bring some decimating, high-paced action to their fans at these shows.

The action begins with a pre-tour hometown throwdown on May 14th with Theories, Bell Witch and He Whose Ox Is Gored. From there, Black Breath will traverse the country, Baltimore-bound. Six nights of damage will ensue directly after MDF, as Black Breath will tour the way back towards the West Coast, raiding Hartford, Cambridge, New York, Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago joined by Mutilation Rites, Yautja and Theories on all dates.

Much more Black Breath action is in store for 2014 as the band constructs an undoubtedly crushing third album for Southern Lord. In the meantime, fans can help Jamie Byrum defray medical costs by donating funds here. More...

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Drunk Dad Streaming "Light A Fire"

The members of Portland, Oregon's self-proclaimed "fuck-you-all-wave" unit Drunk Dad are getting juiced-up in preparation for the release of debut LP, "Ripper Killer." Today the first shot of the album's nihilism - titled "Light A Fire" - has been poured four your intoxication below, courtesy of Noisey/Vice.

Preorders for the heavyweight 180-gram LP in a run of 500 copies, each including a 12" x 24" poster/insert and digital download code, are live in advance of the "Ripper Killer" July 1st release right here. The track listing is as follows:

1. Five Pack
2. Life's Work
3. Fuck in Garbage
4. Light a Fire
5. S.O.U.
6. Ripper Killer
7. Worthless
8. Whiskey Liver More...

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Witches Of Doom Announces Album Release

The Rome-based doom riders in Witches of Doom will debut on May the 15th with the album "Obey," seeing release via Sliptrick Records.

The nine track (+ one ghost song) full length release is due to be available through all major chain stores, record shops, and digital platforms and was produced by Reeks at Hombrelobo Recording Studios. The track listing is as follows:

1. The Betrayal
2. Witches Of Doom
3. To The Bone
4. Needless Needle
5. Crown Of Thorns
6. Dance Of The Dead Flies
7. Rotten To The Core
8. It’s My Heart (where I Feel The Cold)
9. Obey More...

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Gorefield Posts "Love Thy Enemy" Video

Brisbane-based traditional heavy metal band Gorefield just finished recording and editing its first ever official video clip for the "Love Thy Enemy" single. Check out the new video below.

Since Gorefield's inception in 2011, the band has released an EP, followed by the "As Dawn Bleeds The Sky..." album, which got the group signed to the Australian label New Justice Records. You can order the album at this location.

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OpEd

Denim And Leather: Celebrating 35 Years Of NWOBHM

This month marks thirty five years since one of the most important terms in heavy metal history was coined. After a show featuring Iron Maiden, Angel Witch and Samson, Sounds writer Geoff "Deaf" Barton wrote a review of the concert in which a phrase was used that still stands strong today. It was the time when head banging public was introduced to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The term was arguably created to cause a stir amongst fans who would argue that heavy metal bands in Britain was nothing new and that the likes of Black Sabbath and Judas Priest had been packing out large venues and appearing on such television shows as Top of the Pops for the last few years, despite the dominance of punk rock. However, these bands were different. They possessed the energy of punk but had the look and volume of the early metal bands before them. They took heavy metal away from the grandiose indulgence which some bands had become embroiled in and brought it back to the common man.

It was truly an exciting movement, full of high quality bands which would go on to influence hundreds more and in some cases, become superstars themselves. More or less every metal fan will be able to tell you that Iron Maiden was one such NWOBHM band, with a slightly smaller number being able to point to Def Leppard as another group from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal who went on to stardom after the release of their excellent self-titled EP and debut album, "On Through the Night," following which they shifted direction to the band we know today. More...

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Report

Fozzy And Raven Hit Springfield, Virginia

I recently made my first trip to the United States, for which I decided that catching a metal show was mandatory. The best option was by far a trip to the Empire in Springfield, Virginia, where Fozzy were headlining on May 5th, a show sweetened immensely by the addition of New Wave of British Heavy Metal legends Raven performing as special guests. The venue itself is quite impressive, it's got a nice lounge area before heading into the main venue itself, which is plenty spacious but still relatively compact, perfect for up and coming metal acts as well as those with a cult following.

Unfortunately, the show was far from sold out but there was still a decent sized crowd in attendance for the festivities on hand, which began with a local outfit called Shotgun Sugar, who were exclusively a covers band, performing songs by AC/DC, Journey and the like. They served their purpose as a warm up act before Newcastle nutters Raven took to the stage.

Raven are known for their energetic live performances and influential, hectic sound, something I am pleased to say they still possess in abundance. They kicked things off with the "All For One" opener, "Take Control," which immediately caught the crowd's attention. From then on, it was classic after classic, with songs such as "Live at the Inferno" and "Hard Ride" being thrown to the audience at full speed, as well as the title track from their 1981 debut album, "Rock Until You Drop," which had been slowed down for a more anthem like vibe. The interaction between the Gallagher brothers is still great and Raven put on a proper, old school heavy metal show with plenty of crowd banter, posing and a mid-set guitar solo. They finished their forty minute set with the hit, "On and On" from the 1985 album, "Stay Hard," much to the delight of fans in attendance. Of course, there'll always be a few songs which would have been great to hear such as "Don't Need Your Money" and "Crash, Bang, Wallop" but Raven's catalogue is strong enough that even if some favourites aren't busted out, you're guaranteed great music and a great time. More...

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