Metallian Heavy

OVERKILL will release a new album, called The Electric Age, in North America on March 27th through eOne Music and in Europe through on March 30th through Nuclear Blast Records. It was recorded at bassist D.D., Verni’s Gain Studio.

AMON AMARTH will celebrate its twentieth anniversary with five shows in August in Germany, Poland and Holland. The band will play songs spanning its entire career.

Brazil’s hardcore and grindcore band ORRÖR will release Monstro Brasilis album through Carnificina Records in mid-March. It will feature 13 tracks.

AURA NOIR will release its next full-length album, Out To Die, on March 23rd through Indie Recordings. The band again features ex-MAYHEM guitarist Rune Eriksen (a.k.a. Blasphemer).

DESASTER has a new album, The Arts Of Destruction, for a February 28th release through Metal Blade Records.

Poland’s LOST SOUL has recruited former VADER drummer Paul Jaroszewicz as well as guitarist Marek Golas (SAMMATH NAUR).

DESTRUCTION has begun work on its 30th-anniversary album. The album is tentatively due before the end of the year. DESTRUCTION will undertake a North American “30th Year Anniversary Tour” in May with support from WARBRINGER, VITAL REMAINS and PATHOLOGY.

Germany’s OBSCENITY has signed a deal with Apostasy Records. The band is preparing to enter Soundlodge Studio in Rhauderfehn, Germany to begin recording its next album, tentatively entitled Atrophied In Anguish, for a June release.

Due on February 20th through Peaceville Records, Sempiternal Past is a compilation of all four of DARKTHRONE‘s demos recorded between 1988 and 1989 (Land Of Frost, A New Dimension, Thulcandra and Cromlech). All demos have been remastered.

ASPHYX has released a 7” EP entitled Reign Of The Brute through Century Media.

DEFIANCE has thrown in the towel. Jim Adams has moved on to SEVERED FIFTH.

After six years of sleep LULLACRY will release a new demo, called Where Angels Fear, on March 7th through the band’s own OUTO Recordings.

Former INCANTATION bassist Joey Lombard died on January 3rd at the age of 42. Living in Windber, Pennsylvania, Lombard was employed by Lockheed Martin in Johnstown.

LOCK UP is touring North America for the first time. Support comes from GOATWHORE and STRONG INTENTION. LOCK UP bassist Shane Embury was unable to make it and is temporarily replaced by Dan Lilker of NUCLEAR ASSAULT and BRUTAL TRUTH.

Norwegian experimental black metal band MESOPOTAMIA has signed to Abyss Records. The band is currently at work on its debut, which is set to be released later this year.

Australian thrashers TRUTH CORRODED, as well as KRISIUN, MALEVOLENT CREATION and VITAL REMAINS are touring across Europe from January 27th to February 18th using The Sounds Of Extreme Tour 2012 monicker.

The Spell Of Damnation, from Mexico’s OMINOUS CRUCIFIX, is now out through FDA Rekotz. The label has also announced the release of Death Strike, the new full-length album from Dutch band MASSIVE ASSAULT for the Spring of 2012.

Suspiria Records has issued DARK ETERNITY’s Selenia and FREQUENCY’s Rotten Empire.

CONVERGE has picked All We Love We Leave Behind as the title for its new album, tentatively due in June through Epitaph.

HATE SQUAD released its newest full-length, Katharsis, through Massacre Records on January 17th.

Swedish techno-metal band SPAWN OF POSSESSION has announced its upcoming third full-length, Incurso, will be issued on Relapse Records in March.

GOATWHORE and HATE ETERNAL have joined forces for a North American co-headlining tour in February and March. Support on the tour will come from FALLUJAH and CEREBRAL BORE.

THANATOS has announced the return of drummer Yuri Rinkel.

An album about right-wing politics? Danish thrash metal band MORDAX has signed a deal with Ultimhate Records. The band’s debut album, Violence Fraud Treachery, will be released on February 24th.

ALL THAT REMAINS singer Phil Labonte has contradicted the rumour that he will join KILLSWITCH ENGAGE as the replacement for Howard Jones. Labonte filled in for Jones during KILLSWITCH ENGAGE’s early 2010 North American tour once Howard was ousted. The official separation happened last month.

Italian black metal band DISGUISE will release its album, Second Coming, on January 16th through My Kingdom Music.

BENEATH THE MASSACRE will release a new album, Incongruous, on February 14th through Prosthetic Records. The album was produced and mixed by Chris Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY).

Seattle’s BLACK BREATH has completed its second album. The forthcoming record, Sentenced To Life, is the follow-up to the band’s 2010 debut album, Heavy Breathing.

CANNIBAL CORPSE will release its twelfth studio album, entitled Torture, in March through Metal Blade Records. The album was recorded in September and October of 2011 at Sonic Ranch studio in Tornillo, Texas and Mana Recording Studio in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer Erik Rutan.

Two early bands of CANNIBAL CORPSE members reunited on January 7 and 8th at Club Infinity in Buffalo, New York for a benefit concert for SONS OF AZRAEL guitarist Tony Lorenzo who was shot in October was paralyzed and requires medical attention. BEYOND DEATH, featuring CANNIBAL CORPSE bassist Alex Webster, Jack Owen (formerly of CANNIBAL CORPSE and currently DEICIDE), as well as TIRANT SIN, which featured original CANNIBAL singer Chris Barnes, guitarist Bob Rusay and drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz were on stage. Mazurkiewicz played at the concert along with current CANNIBAL CORPSE guitarist Rob Barrett. SUFFOCATION and EMBALMER were also on the bill.

INSISION is commemorating its fifteenth anniversary with the release of a 23-song compilation with material from the first demo, 1998’s Meant To Suffer; a recording of the band’s second live appearance in 1998, Live Like A Worm; the 1999 demo The Dead Live On; 2000’s Promo 2000; 2001’s Revelation Of The SadoGod demo and more. The album is due in May through Sevared Records.

A Collection Of Depravation, a compilation of 30 GENERAL SURGERY tracks will be out through Relapse on March 27th. The label has re-signed the band with plans for a new album and a single.

GRAVE is at its own Studio Soulless recording a new album, tentatively titled Endless Procession Of Souls. It is due this summer through Century Media.

BIOHAZARD, Revolver magazine and Repudo were giving away the band’s new album, Reborn In Defiance, in its entirety for free to all fans in the United States. Fans were to go to www.repudo.com before the whole scheme was cancelled due to “circumstances beyond our control” bla bla.

BARREN EARTH will release a new full-length album, The Devil’s Resolve, on March 13th through Peaceville Records.

Dutch black metal band COUNTESS has issued a demo called On Wings Of Defiance.

COLDWORKER entered a number of studios during the 2010-2011 winter to record its third album with their long-time collaborator Dan Swanö doing the final mix and master. The Doomsayer’s Call is out this month through Listenable.

Incurso is the first release for Swedish band SPAWN OF POSSESSION through Relapse Records. It is confirmed for release onto North American audiences on March 13th.

Finland’s CHAOSWEAVER has signed a deal with Napalm Records. The band has a new album out this summer.

Sweden’s EVOCATION has signed a deal with Century Media Records. The band is entering the studio to record the follow-up to 2010’s Apocalyptic. In the meantime, Century Media will issue a CD containing the band’s demos and unreleased songs this summer.

Tony Foresta (MUNICIPAL WASTE and NO FRIENDS), Landphil Hall (MUNICIPAL WASTE and CANNABIS CORPSE), Ryan Parish (DARKEST HOUR, SUPPRESSION and CITY OF CATERPILLAR) and Paul Burnette (DARKEST HOUR) have formed a new band called IRON REAGAN. The band has a demo.

HOUR OF PENANCE has picked Sedition as the title for its next album, which is out on March 27th through Prosthetic Records.

‘Circumstances beyond our control’ is the new ‘for personal reasons’: DARK FUNERAL has postponed its North American tour, which was due to begin on January 29th.

MESHUGGAH will release its next studio album, Koloss, on March 23rd through Nuclear Blast. The band is touring North America with DECAPITATED and BARONESS.

KATAKLYSM will release a DVD, called The Iron Will: 20 Years Determined, in April through Nuclear Blast. The DVD features the band’s archival footage, as well as KATAKLYSM’s show at last year’s Summer Breeze festival.

Dark Domains is a new compilation by Sweden’s ALTAR, which is now out through Konqueror Records. It is dedicated to Mieszko Talarczyk (NASUM and ex-ALTAR).

UNLEASHED has picked Odalheim as the title for its next album, which is out on April 20th through Nuclear Blast Records. It is a concept album about about the future of Yggdrasil and those who survived Ragnarök.

ANTHRAX‘s February 2nd concert at The Taberncale in Atlanta, Georgia featured stand-ins Joey Vera (ARMORED SAINT and FATES WARNING) and Gene Hoglan (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, TESTAMENT, FEAR FACTORY, DARK ANGEL, etc.) filling in for bassist Frank Bello and drummer Charlie Benante, respectively. Benante and Bello (who is Charlie’s nephew) missed several shows on ANTHRAX’s North American tour in order to spend time with Charlie’s mother who was terminally ill and indeed died.

Vancouver, Canada’s 3 INCHES OF BLOOD has recruited Byron Stroud (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, FEAR FACTORY, etc.) as its new bassist. 3 INCHES OF BLOOD will release its album, Long Live Heavy Metal, on March 27th through Century Media Records.

FEAR FACTORY has picked The Industrialist as the title for its next album, which is due later this year through Candlelight.

CANCER BATS will release its next album, Dead Set On Living, on April 24 through Metal Blade.

METALLICA and former EXODUS guitarist Kirk Hammett, former EXODUS guitarist Rick Hunolt and original EXODUS bassist Jeff Andrews joined the current line-up of EXODUS on stage on February 4th at a special event marking the tenth anniversary of former EXODUS singer Paul Baloff’s death. Called Bonded By Baloff: A Decade Of Remembrance, the show took place at the Oakland Metro Operahouse and featured appearances by POSSESSED, FORBIDDEN and HEATHEN, among others.

PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT has lost guitarist Danny Tunker “due to different musical interests.” The band has recruited guitarists Frank Schiphorst and Martijn Moes.


Metallian Hard

INTO ETERNITY has recruited Amanda Kiernan of Edmonton’s THE ORDER OF CHAOS as its new touring singer. She replaces Stu Block who is now in ICED EARTH.

On March 23rd Frontiers Records will commemorate PRETTY MAIDS' 30th anniversary with the release of a live 2CD/DVD disc called It Comes Alive (Maid In Switzerland).

Fourteen months after undergoing open-heart bypass surgery KING DIAMOND has announced two shows in Europe for the summer. These are June 09 at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg and June 15th at Hellfest in Clisson, France. King Diamond was on stage recently commemorating METALLICA’s birthday party.

BORKNAGAR has a new album ready called Urd. It was recorded by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studio. It will be released on March 26th through Century Media Records.

L.A. GUNS version with Phil Lewis, Steve Riley, Scotty Griffin and Stacey Blades has signed a contract with Cleopatra Records. A record is due this summer.

Bassist Glenn Five is officially out of ANVIL following sixteen years of service. ANVIL has recruited Sal Italiano (most recently IRON MAIDEN cover band LIVE AFTER DEATH, as well as THE NIGHTMARE STAGE and CITIES) as a touring bassist.

Jesse Forte from VAINS OF JENNA is the new touring singer for LYNCH MOB.

THRESHOLD has announced the cancelation of all plans including April concerts. THRESHOLD is in the studio recording its next album, March Of Progress, but singer Damian Wilson’s illness has postponed all activities.

Original DESTINTY singer Therese Hanserot died on January 17th at the age of 48. She had reconnected and engaged to DESTINY guitarist Stefan Björnshög last year.

AFM Records has issued Burning Leather the first new album from Scandinavian heavy metal band OZ since 1991. The label has also issued the latest album from Sweden's DRAGONLAND, onto North American audiences this January 31st.

Nuclear Blast’s GRAVEWORM has seen the return of founding member guitarist Stefan Unterpertinger after 10 years of being away. He replaces Thomas Orgler, who left the group for personal reasons. Keyboardist Sabine Mair is also out.

NIGHTMARE is at Peek studio in France with producer Patrick Liotard recording a new album, called Mercury Rain, which is due on May 18th through AFM Records.

Frontiers Records has signed British heavy and progressive metal band FURYON for the Worldwide release of its debut album, Gravitas. It is out in March.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY has announced a U.S. headlining tour this March. Set to commence on March 1st at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City, the trek will hit 15 cities including two performances at this year's SXSW Music Conference in Austin. The band will be joined by TORCHE, VALIENT THORR and A STORM OF LIGHT.

KING'S X will tour North America this March and April for the First Church Of Rock And Roll trek.

Drummer Dave McClain of MACHINE HEAD has admitted that the band nearly broke up during the SLIPKNOT tour. Singer and guitarist Robb Flynn and bassist Adam Duce were the cause of the serious friction. They underwent therapy.

VAN HALEN’s new album is out this month and called A Different Kind Of Truth. The band is touring North America. The band again features David Lee Roth.

AVATAR has signed a North American deal with eOne Music. The band's fourth full-length album, Black Waltz, including a limited-edition EP that was released in Sweden last autumn will be made available on February 14th.

Chicago’s BIBLE OF THE DEVIL has announced the completion of its sixth full-length album and third for Cruz Del Sur Music. It is out on May 8th. It is entitled For the Love Of Thugs And Fools and is the follow-up to its 2008 release, Freedom Metal.

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of cell that forms part of the immune system. He is 63 years old. The reformed BLACK SABBATH is working on a new album with Ozzy Osbourne. The band still intends to plat at UK’s Download Festival in June. At the same time, BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward has announced that he will not participate in the recording of the reunited line-up's new album or perform with them on tour unless he is awarded a "fair agreement" and a "signable contract" that financially reflects his contributions to SABBATH's history and his status as a founding member of the band.

HYDROGYN has picked Private Sessions as the title for its next album, tentatively due this spring. 13 songs are recorded for the album at guitarist Jeff Westlake's Ridgeline Studio in Ashland, Kentucky and Patrick Liotard's Peek Studio in Boisseron, France. A HYDROGYN live album and a digital-only best-of release called Phase 1 are also due this year.

AXEL RUDI PELL and co-producer Charlie Bauerfeind have completed the recording of the next studio album, titled Circle Of The Oath, which will be released in March by SPV.

PRONG has picked Carved Into Stone as the title for its next album, due this summer through Long Branch Records. The record is being recorded with producer Steve Evetts.

Finnish horror metal band DOMINATION BLACK will release a new album, Dimension: Death, on February 22nd through Kanki Rekords.

Of Loyalty and fidelity: QUIET RIOT fired singer Mark Huff who was with the band since September of 2010. Apparently, he was to undergo brain surgery and was thus fired via a certified letter. The band claims the impending situation was not a factor. The band has recruited ex-MONTROSE singer Keith St. John for planned shows.

Of Loyalty and fidelity 2: Mark Reale, the founding guitarist for RIOT, died on Wednesday, January 25th in San Antonio, Texas due to Crohn's disease. He was 56 years old. RIOT, in the meantime, is proceeding with all planned shows including 70,000 Tons Of Metal last month.

LITA FORD has signed a worldwide deal with SPV/Steamhammer. The band’s reformation album, Living Like A Runaway, which is a reference to her earlier band THE RUNAWAYS is tentatively due in May.

FIREWIND, featuring OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Gus G., have signed a new deal (excluding North America) with Century Media Records. The band is in the studio in its hometown of Thessaloniki recording a new studio album, called Few Against Many, which is due in June.

Over thirty years after the release of KISS’ The Elder album U.K.-based musician and producer Seb Hunter is planning a "post-apocalyptic road movie" based on "(Music From) The Elder", with production starting this year.

The world is currently looking for any last remaining old bands that have not reformed.

Chicago based band ION VEIN will be making its return to the stage opening for TESTAMENT at The Fuel Room in Libertyville, IL. USA on Friday, February 10th.


Metallian Demos

SOULHEALER – THE KINGS OF BULLET ALLEY
The title track, minus ‘The’, is up first and immediately offers a glam hard rock feel but this Finn quintet is not a glam band. The riffs and chorus contribute most to the aforementioned and perhaps there is a bit of Black Label Society influence in here too. The vocals of Jori Karki seem like a macho-ed up version of Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids). There is a sound that is reminiscent of Ratt on Wheels Of Fire and the Red Hot And Heavy reminders pop up again too. Zoned Out is straight up hard rock with Soulhealer hoping to grab a pinch or two of Dokken and Iron Maiden magic. Nightfall, more ballad-like, does a good job with more of the same without sounding too dated. Dirty Little Wars is catchy but with a boring chorus. The Die Is Cast moves into German melodic heavy metal territory. My Last Day is probably Germanized Pretty Maids and showcases double lead guitars. Nowhere Man borrows something from Cinderella. Heading For Tomorrow is speedier than the rest. Blind Faith is Ratt brought forward a couple of decades. The Real Me, the real Soulhealer?, is the mandatory ballad to close-off this 51-minute debut full length. Contact them through www.soulhealermusic.com or marjo@metalrevelation.com. – Anna Tergel

DICK DELICIOUS AND THE TASTY TESTICLES - VULGAR DISPLAY OF OBSCURITY
OK, let's be serious here. How does Saenz PR get these assignments? Revenant Dead and his Rape March? Jewish metal compilation? And now, seizing the de-momentum, Saenz Public relations brings us the fruit of the reformation of Dick Delicious And The Tasty Testicles and a Vulgar Display Of Obscurity.
This disc is no slouch in the quantity and song line-up department. With forty tracks of utter insulting and degenerative brilliance, the only thing missing is a lyric sheet. Thankfully, the lyrics are easy to discern and understand. Nonetheless, this has to be the band's marketing trick fuelled by a greedy, yet smart, manager who surely has lyric sheets available for order from the band's fan club for, what, $90-$100 each (but call now and you get a free vomit bag too)? With songs titles like Beer Shit, AIDS, And Bad Drugs, I Won The Drug War, I Wanna Kill The Black Eyed Peas, Post Coital Cuddling Syndrome, A Nazi And A Jew Bond Over Blow and the crowd favourite I Shit My Pants For this? this band needs to be heard, understood, studied in elementary schools everywhere and become mandatory reading at all libraries. Songs are interspersed with spoken skits comprised of words of wisdom with particular fetishes for hookers, blow, Black Eyes Peas and pornography. Yes, these Americans are a true workingman's band singing about every man's concerns – you know, bread and butter stuff. Who else dissects the dilemma of offal coming out of the rear, while piss does not? Musically, it is all hardcore, but then again you guessed that from the lyrics. The band might have a noise solo or two and some angelic female vocals praising the meritocracy of poop, but it is hardcore nonetheless. The Odor Of The Floater sounded like a bona fide Metallibore track however, while A Nazi And A Jew Bond Over Blow clearly goes Western in order to preserve the band's white trash credentials. Apparently, there just isn't enough pornography on the web, for otherwise how would these gents and lady find the time to take pen to paper and belt out this wisdom for the masses?
The only mistake the gastronomically inclined Georgians commit is sending their CD to metal outlets. This disc should not be here; it should be at NBC, ABC, CNN, whatever. Over there, the disc will quickly generate institutional outrage and make the primetime news developing the band into notorious D's. Fame and fortune shall follow. Coprophilia fans need to visit www.dickdelicious.com. - Ali “The Metallian"