Metallian Heavy

In Involuntary Abortion We Trust MCD from Austria’s unpronounceable VxPxOxAxAxWxAxMxC (VAGINAL PENETRATION OF AN AMELUS WITH A MUSTY CARROT) is now available on Kaotoxin Records. It is described as , “Seven tracks of stupid, baby hating, yet childish Goregrind with Slamming Brutal Death Metal touches.”

OBITUARY has announced a North American headlining tour. The near month-long Carnival Of Death Tour 2012 will run through September and include a reformed BROKEN HOPE, DECREPIT BIRTH, JUNGLE ROT and ENCRUST.

Singer Corey Athos has been booted from DEEDS OF FLESH to make room for guitarist Erik Lindmark to return solely to vocals. Lindmark has tendonitis and much pain as a result when playing guitar. The band’s Portals To Canaan, is due out on Unique Leader in January.

DEUS OTIOSUS will release Godless through Deepsend Records in September.

Inspired by KEEL and Christ? 3 Frogz Records is issuing an album by white metal band DELIVERANCE called Hear What I Say!

PRC Music has signed Hungarian death metal band SIN OF GOD. Entitled Limbus, PRC Music will release the album in CD and digital formats on December 4th, 2012.

JOB FOR A COWBOY is participating in the month-long Summer Slaughter trek. Bassist Nick Schendzielos is forced to sit out part of the run due to his girlfriend being involved in a collision on her scooter. The band is temporarily joined by THE RED CHORD guitarist Mike “Gunface” McKenzie.

Singer and guitarist Helmuth Lehner of BELPHEGOR, who underwent an operation last October is still not recovered and will be unable to handle vocals at the band’s Extremefest appearances. Filling in for him is the band’s former bassist, Bartholomäus “Barth” Resch.

UK blackened thrashers CULTFINDER will release the Black Thrashing Terror vinyl 7″ on Eldritch Lunar Miasma in August.

Finland’s GOREPHILIA is issuing its debut album Embodiment Of Death through Dark Descent Records.

HELGRIND’s Inquisition is now out on Digital Media Records.

Polish death metal band MASACHIST has completed work on its second full-length, Scorned. The follow-up to 2009’s Death March Fury was recorded in mid-2011 at Monroe Sound Studio with final production touches taken care by guitarist Aro. Featuring nine songs, Scorned will be released worldwide by Selfmadegod Records on September 3rd.

On July 6th Abyss Records will release SOUTHWICKED’s Death’s Crown album. It features former OBITUARY death metal guitarist Allen West.

Illinois-based “Vikings thrashers” THE HORDE has signed with Abyss Records for the follow-up for the release to 2011’s Thy Blackened Reign, working title Destroyer… Slayer of Men

California death-thrashers SACRIFICIAL SLAUGHTER will team up with tech-metal outfit ISOLATION IN INFAMY and MADROST for the Sickening Southwest Tour III, which kicks off September 23rd in Los Angeles.

Bassist Matt Camacho has left FORBIDDEN. In tandem, singer Russ Anderson has also decided to take a break from the music business. The band has cancelled its Wacken appearance.

Indie Recordings has signed NETTLECARRIER. The band features (DJEVEL and LJÅ), Mannevond (KOLDBRANN and URGEHAL) and Dirge Rep (ORCUSTUS, GEHENNA, ENSLAVED and GORGOROTH). The band will release its debut album later in the year.

DEATHRIDERS, featuring former ANTHRAX singer Neil Turbin, will embark on a July U.S. tour, called The Metal Beast Is Back. ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante and his wife Sandra were arrested Friday July 27th for domestic battery in front of their daughter.

MORBID ANGEL has announced that they will play shows of “all-time classic songs” on the upcoming European tour with KREATOR, NILE and FUELED BY FIRE, which begins on November 1st in Antwerp, Belgium.

Danish old school death metallers DEUS OTIOSUS will release Godless on Deepsend Records in late summer of 2012. The Danes’ sophomore effort (and first for Deepsend) is the follow-up to debut album Murderer, which was released by FDA Rekotz and American Line Productions.

In time for its US shows and November European dates BLOODSOAKED has added Joe Darling as second guitarist and vocalist.

DIABOLICAL is at Necromorbus Studio in Alvik, Sweden to record its fifth album, Neogenesis. The album is being produced by the band’s Sverker Widgren.

Focusing on a fresh mix of old-school NAPALM DEATH (Scum era) and modern grindcore, INFECTED SOCIETY’s Get Infected MCD is now available through Kaotoxin Records.

Chicago thrashers TRIALS have parted ways with guitarist Remy Walle. The band’s new guitarist is Ryan Bruchert (CENTAURUS and ex-HE WHO CORRUPTS).

Comatose Music has signed ENGORGEMENT. The UK death metal band’s debut album Excruciating Intestinal Lacerations was released on July 17th.

EXHUMED is part of this year’s edition of the Summer Slaughter Tour. This run will mark the return of former bassist Bud Burke, who will take the place of Wes Caley on guitar. The latter man was booted from the band following a run of Canadian shows.

Candlelight Records has brought back its Cult series beginning this autumn with new releases from WODENSTHRONE (Curse), REVERENCE (The Asthenic Ascension), and KHORS (Wisdom Of Centuries). These will be available in North American stores on September 11th.

SINISTER will release a new album, The Carnage Ending, on September 28th through Massacre Records. The album was again recorded at Soundlodge studios in Rhauderfehn, Germany with producer Jörg Uken.

ARSIS has picked Unwelcome as the title for its fifth album, which is due in October through Nuclear Blast Records. The album was recorded at Audiohammer Studios in Florida with producer Mark Lewis.

German death metallers OBSCENITY will release their eighth album Atrophied In Anguish on September 14th through Apostasy Records. It’s the band’s first record since 2006.

Harley Flanagan, who founded NYC’s CRO-MAGS, was arrested in New York City on July 6th charged with attacking several members of the current CRO-MAGS line-up during the CBGB Festival. He was a panelist at one of the tables and wanted to attend the new CROMAGS’ show. A fight ensued and he suffered a broken leg.

CANNIBAL CORPSE and DEVILDRIVER co-headline Europe for a tour in February and March, 2013.

Greek black thrash metal band SATAN’S WRATH has signed with Metal Blade Records. The band’s debut album, Galloping Blasphemy, will be released on September 25th in North America.

BRUTALITY, featuring Scott Reigel, Jeff Acres, Don Gates and Jay Fernandez, as well as drummer Earl “Maddog” Zambella, will reunite for one show on October 13th at the Brass Mug in Tampa. This is the annual Metal Meowlisha show, which is a charity operated by OBITUARY drummer Donald Tardy and his wife Heather, with all proceeds go to benefit felines.

Prosthetic Records has signed Italian death metallers EYECONOCLAST. The band will enter the studio to record a new album — a first with new singer Giuseppe Di Giorgio.

Inspired by KEEL? MORBID SAINT has been playing several shows since reforming. The band will travel to Germany and play the Keep It True festival in 2013.

Bassist Alexander “Impaler” Friberg (NECROPHOBIC) and drummer Efraim Juntunen (PERSUADER and GUILLOTINE) have joined NAGLFAR’s touring line-up.

Montreal’s RAGE NUCLÉAIRE, featuring Lord Worm formerly of CRYPTOPSY, has signed a deal with Season Of Mist. The band will release its debut album, Unrelenting Fucking Hatred, in the autumn. The album was recorded last year and the band is working on a second album Annihilation Frenzy. RAGE NUCLÉAIRE also features guitarist Dark Rage (ex-CRYPTOPSY) and bassist Alvater (ex-FROZEN SHADOWS).

Pulverised Records will reissue of World Of Myths by CRYPT OF KERBEROS. It was initially released in 1993 through Adipocere Records. It includes additional liner notes, demo recordings and pictures.

Doom band CASTLE will release its second album, Blacklands, on September 11th through Prosthetic Records.

HEATHEN has cancelled its summer shows. A reason was not offered.

Los Angeles-based melodic death metal group DREAMING DEAD has added guitarist Chris McCarthy to the fold.

Earache Records has purchased New York’s Heavy Artillery Records.

Los Angeles-based death metal band THE FACELESS will release its third full-length album, Autotheism, on August 14th through Sumerian Records.

A Prague Municipal Court has dismissed the Prague State Attorney’s Office complaint against LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe’s release on bail. However, the court increased Blythe’s bail from $200,000, which has already been deposited, to $400,000, reportedly equivalent to twice Randy’s annual income.

Brazilian death metal band KRISIUN has re-signed with Century Media Records.


Metallian Hard

Canadian heavy metal band CAULDRON will release its third full-length album, Tomorrow's Lost, in October through Earache Records. The album was recorded in Toronto with producer Jameson Elliott. CAULDRON has also recruited drummer Myles Deck of HELLACAUST. Chris Steve is out.

Singer and guitarist Ivan Sekyra of DRAKAR died on Saturday, June 30th after a long illness. He was 59 years old.

EDEN’S CURSE has signed a new worldwide record deal with AFM Records. The band is working on its next record.

DIAMOND HEAD was forced to cancel its July 3rd show at the O2 Academy in London, England after the band's drummer, Karl Wilcox, was admitted to hospital with a suspected blood clot.

KNOCK OUT KAINE will be releasing its House Of Sins to the North American sleaze market on August 5th, 2012.

Salt Lake City-based blackened horde YAOTL MICTLAN has announced a mini tour of Mexico for this August.

Eagle Rock Entertainment has announced September 25th as the release date of a GARY MOORE CD, DVD and Blu-ray entitled Blues For Jimi. Gary Moore plays JIMI HENDRIX songs.

TED NUGENT drummer Mick Brown (also DOKKEN) was arrested on July 8th for reportedly stealing a golf cart and driving it while drunk in Bangor, Maine. He will appear in court on August 15th after being released on bail.

War Mongering: KISS played a small show on July 4th at London, England's Forum. The concert was a benefit for the British Help For Heroes organization, which raises money for its wounded, sick and injured troops. KISS' twentieth studio album, Monster, is scheduled for release in October through Universal Music Enterprises. On August 21st, Universal Music Enterprise will release KISS' 1976 album as Destroyer: Resurrected, newly remixed from the original master tapes by the album's original producer, Bob Ezrin.

Shadow Kingdom Records has set September 11, 2012 as the date for the release of The Time Lord EP from 70s NWOBHM act PAGAN ALTAR.

Germany’s answer to KISS? Working with natural cosmetic company Rutano, GRAVE DIGGER has released a 2-in-1 shampoo and shower gel. The product is manufactured as a “valent aluminum finish” and available at the GRAVE DIGGER online shop.

Ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Izzy Stradlin joined his former band-mate on stage on July 21st to play at a last-minute concert at a private wedding in Saint-Tropez, France.

Candlelight Records has announced October 9th as the North American release date for DAYLIGHT DIES’ new album, A Frail Becoming. It was mixed by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studio.

DEATH ANGEL drummer Will Carroll has joined AC/DZ, the Bay Area-based AC/DC cover band formed by former EXODUS singer Steve "Zetro" Souza.

DORO PESCH, will release Under My Skin - A Fine Selection Of Doro Classics in North America through AFM Records on August 14th, 2012.

After two years together and one studio album, Dead Girls Don't Say No through (logic(il)logic Records 2011), RAGDOLLS has decided to call it quits.

Bulgarian band CLAYMORE has parted ways with bassist Velislav Danov. The band’s drummer Kamen Manev has taken over the bass duties and Nikolai Nikolaev (DIZEXIST and DIVISION ONE) has accepted to play drums for the band.

U.D.O.'s November 16th, 2011 concert at Hristo Botev Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria was is now a DVD and CD package entitled Live In Sofia, on September 28th through AFM Records.

Sooo kvlt! Caligvla by EX DEO is out this summer through Napalm Records following several years of delays.

Ozzy Osbourne 2012? Due to health issues including a knee problem which will require surgery, former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno has announced that he will stop touring next year. A farewell tour is being planned.

Universal Music Enterprises has announced the release of IRON MAIDEN bassist STEVE HARRIS' first solo album. It is entitled British Lion and features ten songs that Harris and collaborators have recorded.

“Due to reasons well beyond the band’s control,” FEAR FACTORY will not be taking part in this Summer’s Shockwave Tour, slated to commence on July 6th in Seattle. VOIVOD has also pulled out.

LORDI keyboardist Awa has announced her decision to leave the group. She will perform with the band for the last time on August 11th at Simerock in Finland where LORDI celebrates its 10-year anniversary.

JACKYL’s new album, Best In Show, is out now through Mighty Loud Entertainment.

Guitarist Zakk Wylde of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and OZZY OSBOURNE and his wife, Barbaranne, have a fourth child. He is named Sabbath Page Wielandt Wylde. Another son is called Hendrix.

KAMELOT has announced Silverthorn as the title for its new album, which is due on September 24th through Steamhammer/SPV. The album features new singer Tommy Karevik.

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM has picked Ugly Noise as the title for its new album, which the band is currently writing for a 2013 release. Former band and METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted is writing for the band.

Everyone now remembers him as swell. DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord has died due to pancreatic cancer at the age of 71.

JOE STUMP will release a new solo album, Revenge Of The Shredlord, on August 17th through Lion Music.

Inspired by KEEL? Crossover band EXCEL is planning to reunite for select live shows.

ENSLAVED has picked RIITIIR as the title for its next album, which is out on September 28th through Nuclear Blast Records.

The first EP from Los Angeles’ ARMORED SAINT will be reissued on August 13th through Metal Blade Records with bonus tracks and etching on vinyl. The band is touring Europe.

VOIVOD has picked Target Earth as the title for its next album, which is to be released this year.

ICED EARTH will tour Europe this December with support from EVERGREY, STEEL ENGRAVED and DEAD SHAPE FIGURE.

Abyss Records has issued Rock N' Rott, the debut from Finland's heavy rock duo ROCKING CORPSES.

YERBADIABLO will issue its debut album, Jester In Brick Lane, on August 27th 2012 through logic(il)logic Records.

CIRCLE II CIRCLE has signed with Rage On Stage Management for management, promotions, and booking in the USA and Canadian territories. CIRCLE II CIRCLE, the band formed by ex-SAVATAGE front man Zak Stevens, has recruited drummer Adam Sagan (Into Eternity, Final Darkness and Echoterra) to sit behind the kit for their upcoming European tour, which includes a stop at this year’s edition of the Wacken Open Air Festival in Wacken, Germany. CIRCLE II CIRCLE has been rejoined by guitarist Bill Hudson (ex-CELLADOR) for the shows. The band has recruited drummer Adam Sagan of INTO ETERNITY, FINAL DARKNESS and ECHOTERRA.

INTO ETERNITY just completed a Canadian headlining tour encompassing Western Canada.

AEROSMITH’s fifteenth studio album, Music From Another Dimension, has had its release date postponed from August 28th to November 6th. It will be out through Columbia Records. Singer Steven Tyler has left American Idol presumably to focus on AEROSMITH again. Rumours have it that he was not satisfied with the renewal money.

CHILDREN OF BODOM’s Alexi Laiho was taken to the Oslo hospital on July 3rd with extreme stomach pain. The band’s show was cancelled.

Reformation 2013: ABIGAIL WILLIAMS has thrown in the towel. "After much consideration, we have decided to make these upcoming ABIGAIL WILLIAMS shows our last U.S. tour.”

On July 1 Canada Day ANVIL performed at the Celebration Canada event in Taiwan. The concert, at the Legacy Club in Taipei, was part of a two-day festival to celebrate Canada's 145th birthday organized by the Canadian Chamber Of Commerce of Taiwan. It marked band's first appearance in Taiwan.

Seven years after its debut album Groovin' Sexplosion, MIDNITE SUN has signed a deal with logic(il)logic Records for the release of its second full-length Anyone Like Us?. After new drummer Mike Galletto (REPLOSION) joined in 2009, the band recently welcomed new bass player Marco Nicoli of THE UNRIPES and SUTUANA.

In March of 2012 Heaven And Hell Records released a limited 1000 pressing CD for the band OVERLORDE SR (formerly known as OVERLORDE) titled Medieval Metal Too. Since the announcement of this release, both Heaven And Hell Records and OVERLORDE SR have been contacted by the New Jersey band OVERLORDE with claims of trademark infringement. Despite the obvious name distinction and attempt to distinguish the band’s monickers the New Jersey band is claiming infringement. Heaven And Hell is ceasing distribution of its record pending resolution of the matter between bands.

Listenable Records has signed ‘70s-tinged U.S. hard rock band BLOOD OF THE SUN. The band's album Burning On The Wings Of Desire, is scheduled for a late 2012 release. The band features Henry Vasquez of SAINT VITUS and ARCHIE BUNKER.

RAVEN LORD has announced the addition of keyboardist Pontus Larsson (VINDICTIV and FIRECRACKER) and drummer Henrik Hedman (CELESTIAL DECAY and LAST KINGDOM) to the group’s ranks.

NORTHER has given up with members too busy to be in the band. The band’s last show will be on the 10th of August at Brutal Assault festival 2012 in Czech Republic.

HELSTAR will release 30 Years Of Hel, a DVD featuring footage of the band's March 24, 2012 30-year-anniversary hometown show at Warehouse in Houston, on August 31st through AFM Records.

Guitarist Tore Moren and bassist Nic Angileri have left JORN.

BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL and Bindrune Recordings/Glass Throat Recordings have issued Light The Fires on July 31st on six-panel Deluxe Gatefold CD.

Singer Tobias Sammet of EDGUY fell off the stage on Saturday, July 14th during the band's show at the Bang Your Head Festival in Balingen, Germany. Sammet fell into the photographers' area, hit the concrete floor and suffered a fracture of the nose, a hip contusion and cuts. The band played its full set, which went on for another hour.

When did having a Facebook page and video replace actual promotion and relationships?


Metallian Demos

BLACKLIST UNION – TIL DEATH DO US PART
Fact 1: Los Angeles-based Blacklist Union does itself a massive disservice dropping detritus and inferior acts like Hillary Duff, Danzig or Goldfinger in its biography. Calling itself “alternative…” makes it worse.
Fact 2: The band is unbelievably professional, impressive and underrated. The material is professionally prepared, packaged and finished. The music, vocals, production and artwork are top-notch.
Fact 3: The band thanks “God” first and foremost. Perhaps, “God” will get them signed, famous or whatever, but the raised middle finger, x-rated lyrics, wanton attitude belies a divine intervention. All Christians and God fearing individuals are hypocrites and self-hoaxes anyway.
Back to the meat of the matter and Til Death Do Us Part is incredibly talented. The band goes its own way with energy and attitude to spare, but comparisons are aplenty. Album and the title track begin with a Queensrÿche Empire-ish melody before the group’s massive arrangements and vocal harmonies take over. Alabama Slammer – a lost love story – is perhaps where the band gets its alternative vibe. It begins with a touch of goth and touches upon Smashing Pumpkins. The vocals of Tony West are high, but under control. Game Over has such vocals and simple guitar chords that it’s practically game over for the competition. It is silly how good the sound value of this disc is. Same Ol’ Pressure is the album shortest and catchiest song. Like electric bass? Same song again! Diggin 4 Gold (I don’t like proper English) has a loud guitar vibe and GNR-ish hard sleaze. Feed The Snakes goes AC/DC/Vain/Faster Pussycat. It makes you think the line is “free the slaves.” Don’t Change is rock ‘n roll and is Smashing Pumpkins too. Nice steady beat. The Lick Kitty Split Theme Song is so Ozzy that questions may have to be asked. I Don’t Love You Anymore ends the 42 minutes with a cool and relaxed vibe. Listen for all the vox. Wow. This could be on the radio – not sure that is a good thing.
Every song is worth a listen. And long hair is sexy. Imagine that. www.reverbnation.com/blacklistunion or corporatebusinessctr@gmail.com. - Sheila Wes Det.

HUNTED – WELCOME THE DEAD
Hunted is a little bit of a surprise. Not knowing the band and not knowing what to expect the cover alludes to zombies and, therefore, to gore or death metal. The sound is elaborate and the band is not easy listening or easily absorbed. Thankfully for a commentator and the band the more one listens the better it gets – and the clearer.
Hunted is a band appealing to or influenced by Iron Maiden, Agent Steel, early Queensrÿche and Virgin Steele. The complex sound of the band keeps one interested, but that means one has to stick with it. This is a full-length disc and has an intro, but wait until the ninth song Shadows and the tenth and bonus track (The Heart Collector) by Nevermore for some truly emotional stuff. Good vocals, impressive solos and drama come before it, but so does some not so impressive song writing that takes away a point or two from the band. In the meantime, the British men have signed to Massacre Records. Let’s hope the band succeeds all the way. Website is http://www.myspace.com/huntedrock and the e-mail is huntedrock@hotmail.co.uk. - Anna Tergel