Metallian Heavy

KREATOR’s next album, Phantom Antichrist, is out on June 1st through Nuclear Blast. The album is engineered at Fascination Street Studio in Örebro, Sweden with producer Jens Bogren.

French band BENIGHTED recently filmed a video for the song Let the Blood Spill between My Broken Teeth, which is taken from the group’s latest album, Asylum Cave. The band is touring Europe all spring.

SUFFOCATION and drummer Mike Smith have divorced. The band has replaced him with Dave Culross (formerly of MALEVOLENT CREATION) who had played on Despise The Sun. Bill Robinson of DECREPIT BIRTH is filling in for vocalist Frank Mullen on tour as well.

Eat Your Heart Out: Portugal’s grinding HOLOCAUSTO CANIBAL has signed a deal with Xtreem Music for the release of its next album, Gorefilia. Due in April, the 18-song CD was recorded at 213 Studio in Portugal and mixed and mastered at Hertz Studio.

Metal Mind Productions is reissuing two albums by GOREFEST this month, False and Erase.

ENEMY REIGN has completed work on its new full-length. Entitled Between Hell And Oblivion, the offering was recorded at Flatline Audio by Dave Otero and offers up 11 tracks of brutality as well as the debut of vocalist, Stevie Boiser who replaced former throat, Sherwood Webber (SKINLESS) last Summer.

Original DEATH ANGEL guitarist Gus Pepa made an appearance on stage with his former band on February 24th at Slim’s in San Francisco. The group stated that, “We haven’t shared the stage with Gus since 1990!”

SUNN O))) has announced a number of European shows culminating with a concert at the Hellfest Festival in France in June. On stage will be: TOS Nieuwenhuizen (organ), Attila Csihar (vocals), Greg Anderson (guitars), Stephen O’Malley.

FDA Rekotz will release Death Strike by The Netherlands’ MASSIVE ASSAULT on March 2nd.

Seattle death metal band BLACK BREATH has a new album called, Sentenced To Life, out through Southern Lord on March 27th. As with its debut full-length album Heavy Breathing, BLACK BREATH recorded it at God City Studio with Kurt Ballou and had the finished product mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side.

FLESHDOLL has left Pervade Productions. The Toulouse-based band will record its third album under the auspices of Mobo-Conkrete Studio (MINUSHUMAN, OTARGOS, etc.) this spring with Samuel Santiago (GOROD) as drummer.

Following a cancelled South American run with ABORTED, the Grind Over Europe Tour with ROTTEN SOUND and MAGRUDERGRIND, a U.K. journey with ANAAL NATHRAKH and a handful of stateside headlining dates, California goregrind band EXHUMED has announced a near month-long bout of U.S. dates with CANNIBAL CORPSE beginning late April.

Burnaby, Canada’s TRIBUNE has a new 8-track demo called Elder Lore/The Dark Arts. The band is playing in Canada and USA this spring.

Swedish musician Rogga Johansson (every band in Sweden) has a new band for the next 15 minutes. MEGASCAVENGER has a two-song 7″ EP entitled Songs Of Flesh: Part I, which features growling duets with Jörgen Sandström (GRAVE, KRUX, TORTURE DIVISION, etc.) and Paul Speckmann (MASTER, DEATH STRIKE, ABOMINATION, etc.). The EP is available through Selfmadegod Records. A MEGASCAVENGER full-length is due this Summer through Selfmadegod. The album features Marc Grewe (MORGOTH), Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY), Eric Daniels (ex-ASPHYX), Jonas Lindblood (PUTERAEON), Patrick Mameli (PESTILENCE) and more.

PESTILENCE has a new line-up. Bassist Jeroen Paul Thesseling (NUFUTIC and OBSCURA) and drummer Yuma van Eekelen (THE NEW DOMINION) have moved on and will focus on their main bands. The group now features bassist Stephan Fimmers (NECROPHAGIST) and drummer Tim Yeung (DIVINE HERESY, VITAL REMAINS, MORBID ANGEL, HATE ETERNAL, etc.) to record an album called Obsideo.

KULT OV AZAZEL has recruited bassist Amduscias (ex-HATE ETERNAL). The band is writing for its album, Violators Of The Covenant, due to be released through Negativity Records.

EXUMER and ARTILLERY are touring South America in May and June.

Massacre Records has brought the latest album from EXCITER to North America. Death Machine was issued in 2010 in Europe.

CCP Records has issued STRYDEGOR’s In The Shadow Of Remembrance and SPECTRAL’s Gateway To Death.

Vocalist Mat Maurer has quit Australian thrash metal veterans MORTAL SIN due to personal differences with the rest of the band.

The reformed thrashers MACE are working on a new album. They are now armed with a new logo courtesy of Tommy Niemeyer from THE ACCUSED. MACE guitarist Dave Hillis had gone in to produce rock albums by bands such as PEARL JAM.

Paul Speckman’s MASTER has completed work on its eleventh studio offering. Entitled The New Elite, the 11-tracks were recorded at Shaark Studios and features cover art by German graphic designer Mark Bridgeman.

Following two full-length releases through Relapse Records, ANTIGAMA has re-signed with Selfmadegod and is currently at Warsaw’s Progresja Studio with sound engineer Pawel “Janos” Grabowski. The band is in the process of recording several tracks for two different upcoming releases – a 3-way split with NOISEAR and THE KILL (Australia), as well as a MCD tentatively entitled Stop The Chaos.

Century Media Records has signed NACHTMYSTIUM for the world after working with the Americans for the USA territory for the last three years. NACHTMYSTIUM is in the studio recording a new album, called Silencing Machine, due on July 31st through Century Media Records. A mini-tour with KRIEG and MURMUR is scheduled for July.

Estonian death metal band NEOANDERTALS will release a new album, called Australopithecus, on February 17th through Kunaki LLC. The follow-up to 2011’s Ebu Gogo Gutting The Child was recorded in Otepää, Estonia in 2009 with original drummer Roland Seer.

Los Angeles thrashers HEXEN has completed work on its album, Being And Nothingness, due in the summer through Pulverised Records.

NAGLFAR’s Téras album is out this month through Century Media. Prior to the release the label will release a 7” EP called An Extension Of His Arm And Will, which is limited to 500 hand-numbered copies.

CROWBAR and PRONG will conduct a U.S. tour in April.

KING’S X drummer Jerry Gaskill, who is 54 years old, suffered a heart attack on Saturday February 25th. He is stable. The band has cancelled its planned shows.

Former CHIMAIRA guitarist Matt DeVries has ended his run as the touring bassist for SIX FEET UNDER and joined FEAR FACTORY. The band is working on a new album. SIX FEET UNDER has recruited bassist Jeff Hughell, formerly of BRAIN DRILL and VILE. FEAR FACTORY and SHADOWS FALL will tour the USA in May.

MONSTROSITY is releasing the Live Apocalypse DVD on March 13th through its own Conquest Music. It was recorded at the Brutal Assault festival in Czech Republic.

DERIDE has signed a deal with Massacre Records. The band’s next album is called The Void and will be released on April 27th.

GORY BLISTER will release a new album, called Earth-Sick, on April 23rd through Italy’s Bakerteam Records.

MARDUK has a new album called Serpent Sermon for a spring release through Blooddawn/Century Media.

German band DAWN OF DISEASE will release a new album, Crypts Of The Unrotten, on April 27th through NoiseArt Records. The album was again recorded at Soundlodge Studio.

EX DEO has canceled its involvement in the US leg of Paganfest America Part III tour with TURISAS, ALESTORM, ARKONA and HUNTRESS. The band claims the cancellation is due to members being busy elsewhere.

Canadian company War On Music Records will reissue CRYPTOPSY’s Blasphemy Made Flesh and None So Vile albums on LPs. The Ungentle Exhumation demo will get the 7” treatment.

Love a recording meant to be LEUKEMIA’s third album has now been released by Vic Records.

TANKARD has signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The band’s new album is due this summer.

Inspired by KEEL? FESTER has reformed and will issue a 17-track disc called A Celebration Of Death through Abyss Records.

Turkish mathcore band CHOPSTICK SUICIDE will release Lost Fathers and Sons on March 29th through Turkey’s Peyote Müzik.


Metallian Hard

Back with their first album since 2005, progressive metal band LORD OF MUSHROOMS returns with its third album Perspectives on 27th February 2012 through Lion Music.

Chicago doom metal band TROUBLE has recruited Kyle Thomas as its new singer again. Thomas was in the band in the ‘90s and most recently in EXHORDER again. Singer Kory Clarke (formerly of WARRIOR SOUL) has left the band. Two of the early members of the band, singer Eric Wagner and drummer Jeff Olson, have in the meanwhile formed a project with the band's bassist Ron Holzner in a new doom metal band called THE SKULL. The new act’s name is derived from TROUBLE’s early album.

CRAWL BACK TO ZERO is a new band featuring vocalist Mikael Skager (KEROZENE), drummer Patrik J. Sten (PASSENGER and TRANSPORT LEAGUE) and guitarist Jocke Lundgren of HELLFUELDED. The band is recording an 11-song debut CD for a 2012 release.

Money talks. POISON and DEF LEPPARD have once again traded their insults for a planned summer tour. The bands toured together three years ago.

Philadelphia’s ON TOP has issued an album called Top Heavy Horror Pain Gore Death Productions.

TANK is in the studio recording War Nation, the follow-up to its 2010 release War Machine. Guitarists Mick Tucker and Cliff Evans, vocalist Doogie White and bassist Chris Dale are now joined by former TANK member Steve Hopgood on drums. Scheduled for release in late April/May on Metal Mind Productions, recording is being overseen by producer Phil Kinman at his west London studio.

According to a new report in the UK’s The Telegraph tabloid, guitarist GARY MOORE suffered a heart attack due to a massive amount of alcohol he had imbibed prior to being found dead in bed at a luxury Costa del Sol hotel last February.

MEKONG DELTA is releasing a sampler of re-recorded material called Intersections on April 20th through SPV/Steamhammer.

HIGH ON FIRE will release a new studio album, called De Vermis Mysteriis, on April 3rd through eOne Music.

NWOBHM band BLACK ROSE is playing this year's Hammerfest on the VIP night on March 15th at Pontins Holiday Park in Prestatyn and Headbangers Open Air festival on July 28th. The band has two upcoming releases. One is an 18-track disc, The Early Years And More - Remastered, through Hellion Records, which features eight unreleased tracks from the band’s heyday. A record with demo tracks is due this year through the High Roller label.

The Jack Russell-less version of GREAT WHITE will play a 30th-anniversary concert at the Key Club in Hollywood, California on March 22.

Metal Mind Productions is re-issuing the third studio album by CRACK UP, Heads Will Roll. The new digipak edition of Heads Will Roll is limited to numbered 2000 copies. The album is remastered using, something called, tube technology and is digitally edited on a golden disc. The release date is scheduled for March, 6th.

MOURNING BELOVETH has issued its fourth album A Disease For The Ages on vinyl through our label Grau Records. The band’s second album The Sullen Sulcus will be released on DLP this year. It commemorates the band’s tenth anniversary.

NIGHTMARE will issue The Burden Of God (formerly titled Mercury Rain) on May 18th through AFM Records. The album was recorded at the Peek studio with producer Patrick Liotard.

IQ test: KORPIKLAANI is in the studio recording a new album for Nuclear Blast Records. The album will feature new fiddler, Tuomas Rounakari.

BORKNAGAR has recruited Baard Kolstad (a.k.a. ICS VORTEX) as its new drummer.

DYNAZTY has released a new album, Sultans Of Sin, featuring new guitarist Mike Lavér. The album was produced by Peter Tägtgren at The Abyss studio.

Inspired by KEEL? MOONLYGHT has reformed and been rejoined by its original bassist Christian Jacques.

Brazil’s CLENCHED FIST has signed with Inferno Records. The band’s new album is called The Gift Of Death.

FEAR FACTORY has confirmed Matt DeVries as the band’s new bass player. DeVries, previously of CHIMAIRA and most recently SIX FEET UNDER, joins the band replacing Byron Stroud. The announcement comes as the band continues work on their upcoming new album, The Industrialist, planned for release early Summer. The album is currently being mixed in Canada by Greg Reely while artwork for the album’s packaging is nearly complete.

Bård "Faust" Eithun (EMPEROR) and Tore Bratseth (a.k.a. Stud Bronson of THE BATALLION and OLD FUNERAL) have yet another band called STUDFAUST. They duo was in the studio in November recording two songs of crossover metal and punk. A single is out on March 16th through Soulseller Records.

FATES WARNING has hired Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER and AVENGED SEVENFOLD) to play drums for the band for its show opening for QUEENSRŸCHE in São Paulo, Brazil on April 14th.

A FORCED ENTRY cover? ANGEL WITCH will release a new album, called As Above, So Below, on March 20th through via Metal Blade Records.

Tonmi Lillman drummer for TO/DIE/FOR, SINERGY, LORDI and AJATTARA has died at the age of 38.

THERION will celebrate its 25th anniversary by conducting a European tour in September and October this year. The tour is simply called 25th Anniversary Tour.

CRYSTAL VIPER will release a new album, Crimen Excepa, on April 27th through AFM Records.

KALMAH has recruited keyboardist Veli-Matti Kananen (ONE MORNING LEFT) replacing Marco Sneck.

Due to Tony Iommi’s cancer BLACK SABBATH will perform only one show out of previously scheduled shows. It will take place Sunday, June 10th at the U.K.'s Download festival.

DOKKEN has reportedly picked Broken Bones as the title for its next album, which is due in June through Frontiers Records.

ATROCITY will release a new DVD, Die Gottlosen Jahre (‘The Godless Years’), on March 30. The band has, in the meanwhile, lost drummer Roland Navratil and recruited a Joris Nijenhuis. The DVD features a band documentary, a live 2010 show and the studio CD of the same.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY’s self-titled album is now out through Candlelight Records. It was recorded at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 in Los Angeles.

MANILLA ROAD will headline the Friday night of the Warriors Of Metal Fest V Open Air on June 29th at the Frontier Ranch in Pataskala, Ohio. On Saturday night, June 30th, HELSTAR will return to performing in Ohio after 26 years. Last time HELSTAR performed in Ohio was after the release of the Remnants Of War album in 1986!

Salt Lake City-based heavy rock duo EAGLE TWIN has completed its second full-length. It is entitled The Feather Tipped the Serpent's Scale.


Metallian Demos

FIST FIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT – Same
Fist Fight In The Parking Lot is a new name to me (and everybody else), but that shouldn’t stop you from checking them out. The little blurb from the publicist tries its best to turn you off of their music by comparing them to jaded stuff like Corrosion Of Conformity and Queens Of The Stone Age, except Fist Fight In The Parking Lot is better. The band, which of course is American if you read the name, is heavy and organic and earthy without wimping it to shreds. The first song is S&M and is a doozy. Side Steppin’ Ninja is as good. Eternal Embrace and Three Legged Duck have soul. The former is specially laid back. The latter is pounding and has some strong drumming that shows the instrument is not just a backbeat. So is Blue Jesus. It is not all sublime though. Sloth is sub-par one could say. The bass does shine though on occasion. Wait for it not long on The Lone Gunman. The major element in the proceedings, aside from the music’s description, is that the vocals are mixed too low. At lower volumes it is especially noticeable.
Fist Fight In The Parking lot is heavy and warm, but somewhat accessible at the same time owing to a sense of melody and a down-to-earth attitude. Visit www.fistfightintheparkinglot.com or e-mail the group’s publicist at corbin@screamingcrow.com. – Anna Tergel

ECLIPTIC – AS OF YET UNKNOWN
Ecliptic hails from Virginia in the United States, but the sound is a cross between early Hypocrisy and the Gothenburg sound of those No Fashion Records’ bands. The band’s sound is admirable, the packaging dark and stylish, but the music and sound leave some things to be desired. The songs are mostly short until The Five Ways should have been-instrumental, which is over six minutes. The tracks combine both speed and heaviness, but it is clear that the band is still undeveloped – despite having formed over ten years ago – as the guitar solos are noisy and the group needs to become slightly tighter. Noise solos are not necessarily a bad thing, but lead after such lead adds up. The group does have a few good ideas and riffs, but the production also works against the band. This band needs to maintain its heaviness and intent, but practice more. At that stage their music needs to echo at Metallian Towers yet again. Visit the band at http://www.myspace.com/ecliptic. – Ali “The Metallian”