Metallian Heavy

Alex Friberg has joined NECROPHOBIC on bass. After utilizing WATAIN’s Erik Danielsson as a session member the band and its new members are hitting the studio.

OPPROBRIUM (who used to be called INCUBUS) is back this time on Metal Mind Productions. The label is releasing the band’s Nuclear Blast catalogue again.

WHIPLASH has reunited and recording a CD called Unborn Again (previously Pitbulls In The Playground), which is due in March. The band is planning on obtaining a deal and hitting the road. The band is singer and guitarist Tony Portaro, bassist Rich Day and drummer Joe Cangelosi.

Supporting its Hordes Of Chaos album (which is due in January), KREATOR is touring North America with EXODUS, WARBRINGER, BELPHEGOR and EPICUREAN next April and May.

Former GRIP INC. and SONS OF DAMANTION singer Gus Chambers committed suicide on October 13th. He was 52. Everyone is paying tribute and remembering him fondly.

DAMSCUS and ANNEX THEORY singer Trevor Birnie has joined QUO VADIS for its run of Canadian dates this and next month. The band’s new bassist is former NEGATIVE woman Roxanne Constantin.

DIMMU BORGIR is accusing the organizers of Norway’s Hell Music Festival of defrauding the band of 70,000 Norwegian kroners or approximately $12,500 from the band’s merchandise proceeds following the declaration of bankruptcy by the festival.

GOSPEL OF THE HORNS will say goodbye forever with a show on the seventh of December in Melbourne, Australia.

BURNING SKIES has cancelled all concerts in the immediate future. The band’s singer Merv was reportedly attacked and beaten recently.

DETONATION has recruited Michiel Van Der Plicht (formerly of PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT and TOXOCARA) as a permanent drummer.

DISMEMBER is undertaking a 16-day Canadian tour this month and next in support of its self-titled album. Support comes courtesy of AUGURY. The tour begins in Sherbrooke. The band is holding a meet-and-greet show in Sweden at the end of this month to celebrate its twentieth anniversary.

NEVERMORE’s first DVD/live album, entitled The Year Of The Voyager, is due this month. It features music, interviews and footage from 2006.

Mighty Music and Denmark’s SUBMISSION have parted ways.

D.R.I. singer Kurt Brecht and one-time DEADHORSE members Scott Sevall, Greg Martin and Ronny Guyote have a new band in Texas called PASADENA NAPALM DIVISION.

Ohio white metal band WOE OF TYRANTS has announced Kingdom Of Might as the title for its upcoming Metal Blade Records debut. The album is set for a January 6th release!

DIMENSION F3H singer Krister ‘Morfeus’ Dreyer has joined MAYHEM as the session guitarist for the latter band’s current South America shows. He replaces the departed Blasphemer.

AT WAR has signed with New York’s Heavy Artillery Records for the release of Infidel, the band’s 2009 comeback album.

DEATHCHAIN’s Death Eternal album has landed on Finland’s national album charts. The thrash metal album has penetrated the Top 20.

Drummer Snick has left BARCODE after undergoing surgery for his back. Singer Butch followed him last month.

The reunited BULLDOZER has signed to
Scarlet Records and will release an album called Unexpected Fate in April 2009.

EXODUS will play the entire 1985 debut album, Bonded By Blood, at the group’s November shows in Seattle and Los Angeles.

LOWBROW is in the midst of a 10-date European tour with former SIX FEET UNDER and OBITUARY guitarist Allen West in tow.

ABSU has recruited bassist/co-singer Ezezu (ex-PANZRAM) and is completing its self-titled album for a 2009 release through Candlelight Records.

According to Naga Productions, the band of Lord Morbivod, STÍNY PLAMENŮ, has begun the recording of a new
album. The new album will be called Mrtvá komora and will
contain 47 minutes in 9 songs.

Cyclone Empire has issued EVOCATION’s new album, Dead Calm Chaos. AT THE GATES’ Anders Björler makes a guest appearance on the album.

DESPISED ICON will release its first DVD, Montreal Assault Live, on January 27th through Century Media. The DVD features video and live footage as well as a documentary.

GOD FORBID has picked set Earthsblood as the title for its next album, which is due in February of 2009 through Century Media Records. The album was produced by Eric Rachel (ATREYU) and Christian Olde Wolbers of FEAR FACTORY, with the latter handling the vocals.

Pittsburgh’s CROWN THE LOST has signed a recording deal with Cruz del Sur Music for the release of the Blind Faith Loyalty album, set for a March 2009 release.

ALL SHALL PERISH has issued Awaken The Dreamers. The band is touring with JOB FOR A COWBOY, HATE ETERNAL, ANIMOSITY and ANNOTATION OF AN AUTOPSY this month and next.

BLACK DAHLIA MURDER is conducting a Canadian tour next month alongside SOILENT GREEN and MISERY INDEX.

KATAKLYSM has confirmed a show in Mexico City, Mexico for January 16th at the Hard Rock live. This is the band’s first foray into Mexico since the 1995 tour with INCANTATION which ended up with the bands hating one another and losing money and appetite.

BEHEMOTH will release a special EP and limited edition box set called Ezkaton on November 11th. The band will issue a full-length in 2009 through Metal Blade.

GORGOROTH singer Gaahl has come out of the closet in a Hard Rock magazine interview and spoken openly about his homosexuality.

CATTLE DECAPITATION’s next album is called The Harvest Floor. Artwork comes courtesy of Wes Benscoter.


Metallian Hard

Shadow Kingdom Records will be releasing a double-CD this December compiling the early live and demo recordings from THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG. It is called The Slay Stack Grows - Early Demos And Live Recordings.

CRUCIFIED BARBARA’s Til Death Do Us Party is due in January through GMR Music of Sweden. The first single is still meant to be Sex Action.

QUEENSRŸCHE is in the studio recording its twelfth studio album, American Soldier. The album is a concept and due next spring through Rhino/Atco.

Eagle Records has released ZZ TOP’s Live From Texas on CD November 4. It is the audio version of the band’s DVD of this last summer.

SKEPTICISM’s Alloy CD is out now.

Drummer Martin has left HYDROGYN and been replaced with Tobbe G-son.

MEMORY GARDEN has lost guitarist Anders Looström. The band issued Carnage Carnival on Vic Records last summer.

GURD’s Your Drug Of Choice is out in January through LC Records.

GUNS ‘N ROSES’ long-rumoured album, Chinese Democracy, is out on November 23rd through Geffen. The band’s first album since 1991’s Use Your Illusion I and II is available exclusively through the Best Buy chain in the USA.

Following a 2-CD compilation called This One's For Rock'n'Roll - The Best Of Hanoi Rocks 1980 – 2008, the current UK tour and a Japanese tour HANOI ROCKS is throwing in the towel.

Former EINHERJER singer Ragnar Vikse is back with a new rock band called SPIRITS OF THE DEAD.

MUSTASCH has now made its touring guitarist, David Johannesson (ex-SPARZANZA), a permanent member.

Following a series of re-issues ICON has reformed with three out of five vintage line-up members and is opening for TESLA in Phoenix at the end of this month. Guitarists Dan Wexler and John Aquilino and drummer Pat Dixon are joined by singer Scott Hammons and bassist Ken Geraghty.

TESLA’s new Live DVD, Comin' Atcha Live! 2008, is out on Frontiers Records on December 5th. The obligatory American ‘tribute to the troops’ is included.

HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE has simultaneously issued two new albums, Fields and Church Of Broken Glass, through Profound Lore Records.

KINETIC is welcoming back Vaggelis Kakarougas into the fold. The keyboardist has completed his military service in Greece.

Italy’s 5 STAR GRAVE has finished recording its new demo Corpse Breed Syndrome, which will feature 11 new tracks and will be released on the 24th of November through mail order.

GUY-MCCOY-TORME (GMT), featuring several scene veterans, has announced November 17th as the release date for its new album, Evil Twin. Distribution comes courtesy of Koch Records.

Singer Betsy of BETSY and BITCH has joined WITCH. The band had last disbanded in 1991.

IRON FIRE has picked To The Grave as the title for its new album, which is due in early 2009 through Napalm Records. It was produced by Tommy Hansen.

EDGUY and KAMLEOT are touring North America. EDGUY’s Tinnitus Sanctus is out next month.

Priest Feast is the monicker for a tour featuring JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH and TESTAMENT due in Europe in February.

Powerage Records in cooperation with Candlelight Records proud has announced November 25th as the American release date for Doom Gloom Heartache & Whiskey, the new album from England’s VIKING SKULL. Recorded and produced outside Philadelphia, where Candlelight's American offices are located, the record is the first to feature new drummer Jess Margera (cKy). The band will support the release with five special performances alongside CLUTCH.

CIRCUS OF POWER has begun selling a covers album called Working For The Machine featuring unknown bands playing the New York group’s songs.

CLOVEN HOOF has yet another new member and another line-up change. Guitarist Christian Horton will debut at the Dutch Metal Maniacs 2008 festival.

Former RAINBOW and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN singer Doogie White can be heard on the Nomad album by American guitarist IAIN ASHLEY HERSEY. The album also features German musicians Jochen Mayer (CASANOVA, DEMON DRIVE and DOMAIN) and DEMON DRIVE’s Frank Kraus.

The ‘80s power metal band RUTHLESS has reformed. The group is now joined by former DARK ANGEL and DREAMS OF DAMNATION guitarist Jim Durkin.

Former DEADLY BLESSING singer SKI has joined white metal band FAITH FACTOR.

Drummer Blackie Sanchez will guest on the stool for BENEDICTUM during its opening slot on GIRLSCHOOL’s European tour in October. Paul Courtois will not be able to drum due to “personal obligations.”

BLINDED COLONY has asked singer Denny Axelsson to leave the band due to the very descriptive "professional differences." Budding frontpersons can contact the Swedes through singer@blindedcolony.com.

Toronto’s CAULDRON has signed with Earache Records. The band’s debut full-length, Chained To The Nite, is scheduled for a March, 2009 release.

Sweden’s CRYONIC TEMPLE will release its new album, Immortal, on November 21st through Metal Heaven Records.

ANIMAL, featuring former W.A.S.P. guitarist Randy Piper, will release a new album called Virus on October 21st through Locomotive Records.

ADAGIO has signed with Listenable Records and will release a new album, Archangels In Black, which is due in February.

Season Of Mist Records has pushed back the release of CYNIC’s comeback album, entitled Traced In Air, by a month to the end of November. Also released on the same day is the Traced in Air Collector's Box, which will only be available for order on-line and limited to 1,000 copies. It features a DVD, a USB keychain, stickers and posters.

ROSS THE BOSS has announced a first European tour dates as support to its new album New Metal Leader. The band will perform a series of shows in Europe as a double-headliner with SINNER this month.

CHRIS CAFFERY’s new digital album, House Of Insanity, is now out.

MEDIEVAL has returned and will perform live for the first time since the 1980s at the Kalamazoo Metal Fest III on Saturday, November 8th in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

MY KINGDOM MUSIC has signed LAST WARNING from Italy and MORTAL FORM from The Netherlands whose debut album will be called Taste The Blood.

ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW has made singer Jarmo Kylmänen permanent after having him onboard since late 2005. The band is signed to KHY Suomen Musiikki Oy and will issue an album next year.

LIZZY BORDEN and LORDI will tour the US this month. The latter band is supporting its Deadache album.

TO/DIE/FOR and drummer Santtu Lonka have gone separate ways after the man lost his motivation. The new man is called Toni Paananen. The Finns are working on a new album.

OPIATE FOR THE MASSES’ Chris "Seven" Antonopoulos has joined both ATROCITY and LEAVES' EYES on drums.

MAD MARGRITT has shot a video for the song Don't Say A Word during its Halloween show at Buffalos in Georgia.

CONQUEST OF STEEL is entering the studio in order to record its third album Storm Sword (Rise Of The Dread Queen), which is a concept album. It is due through No Face Records in February.

While guitarist Tim Roth did not play with INTO ETERNITY during its recent tour with ICED EARTH, the new father is back and performing again with the band.

Former MORGANA LEFAY drummer Jonas Söderlind has joined LUCY SEVEN. The band features former BABYLON BOMBS man Daniel Redfox.


Metallian Demos

HAMMER – NO WAY OUT
Hammer’s Ready Motherfucker demo was reviewed in these pages over a year ago and this writer is happy to be able to say that No Way Out is a tad better than its antecedent. The new CD is a full-length and still stands out because of Ricchard’s questionable vocals. His voice is a high-pitched shriek that at times sounds like Cinderella’s Tom Keifer or Britny Fox’s Dean Davidson. Even the music occasionally drifts into commercial realms, although the bulk of the material sounds like a primitive and muted Motörhead. Odd combination, and the black metal T-shirts and pro-heavy metal proclamations do not help matters, but it all somehow works at the end. The Italians are brash and unapologetic so do not expect something easily classifiable or streamlined. info@hammerband.net or hellriderband@libero.it is the way to go e-mail-wise. – Anna Tergel

AIRLINES OF TERROR - OUR PLANES ARE UNHIJACKABLE!
The title alone makes it interesting. The cover and song titles Spagehtti Western Kalasnjilkov, Beastie Blues, K Automatique offered by this Italian duo guarantee lots of fun. The hardcore-ish mish mash of guitars, vocals and drums is indeed fun as the four songs here are presented in the following manner ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, Hereby we are proud to present the track list of the musical compositions featured in the listening programme provided on our aircrafts’. Demian Cristiani and Demian Campora seems to be enjoying themselves while poking fun at today’s world on the way. Contact the guys at demian_k@yahoo.it – Anna Tergel