Metallian Heavy

HATE has recruited drummer Pawel “Pavulon” Jaroszewicz known for his work in CRIONICS, VADER, DECAPITATED and more. The band is touring Europe with KAMPFAR.

Australian thrash grind band KING PARROT has added Canadian and US dates to its current string of shows.

Spain’s Dan’s Crypt is reissuing an album by JUDECCA (USA). The label is also issuing records by UNCONSECRATED from Spain, a full-length by the Dutch band ECOCIDE and Mexico’s DEMONIC MANIFESTATION.

Relapse will issue BLACK ANVIL’s Hail Death album this May.

HOD has signed with newly revamped Arctic Music (lead by Julian Hollowell of KULT OV AZAZEL) for the release of a new full-length, Book Of The Worm, this Summer.

DEATH TOLL RISING will be supporting the Western Canadian tour dates of KATAKYLSM and ABORTED during the Kill The Elite Tour, which includes a hometown show in Edmonton.

PROTEST THE HERO was the winner in the Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year category at this year’s Juno Awards, which was held on March 30th in Winnipeg.

HORNED ALMIGHTY is in the studio recording a full-length album, tentatively entitled World Of Tombs. It will be released later this year.

The reunited Italian death metal band ELECTROCUTION has a new album called Metaphysincarnation through Goregorecords. It is now over twenty years since the 1993 debut, Inside The Unreal. The new album was produced by guitarist-producer Alex Guadagnoli at The Strands Studio in Los Angeles and includes eleven new songs.

On April 9th Dutch Black Metal band COUNTESS will release a new full-length album, entitled Ancient Lies And Battle Cries, through the band’s long-time label Barbarian Wrath.

New York City area-based black/death metal quintet, GREY SKIES FALLEN, is preparing to release its The Many Sides of Truth demo late this April.

Relapse Records has signed Richmond, Virginia crossover group, IRON REAGAN. A new record is due this autumn.

Reykjavik, Iceland-based death metal band BENEATH will release its sophomore full-length, The Barren Throne, through Unique Leader Records.

TRIBUNE has announced its 2014 Canada Slays tour kicking off in Kelowna on April 3rd, trekking as far East as Montreal and returning west to wrap up the tour in Nanaimo on May 3rd.

GRENOUER members are changing the band’s name to GreNOwar until the end of the crisis in Crimea, which the Russian band considers, “caused by Russian government.” GRENOUER has a video for the song Blood On The Face.

Montreal’s DARK CENTURY returns in 2014 with its Murder Motel CD, which is a follow-up to 2009’s debut Days of The Mosh. It is produced by Chris Donaldson.

EYEHATEGOD will release a new full-length this May. Financed by the band, the self-titled, eleven-track long player will be released through Housecore Records in North America.

HOUR OF PENANCE has announced Regicide as the title for its next album, which will be out on May 12th through Prosthetic Records.

Sweden’s MIASMAL has a new album, called Cursed Redeemer, out on April 28th through Century Media Records. The album was recorded by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman.

Guitarist Alex Bouks has left INCANTATION. The band will release its new album, Dirges Of Elysium, in May through Listenable Records.

FROM HELL is a new “horror heavy metal” band featuring George Anderson (a.k.a. Aleister Sinn) on vocals and lead guitar, Steve Smyth (NEVERMORE) on lead guitar, Damien Sisson (DEATH ANGEL) on bass and drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER and TESTAMENT). The band will release its debut album, Ascent From Hell, on April 8th through Scourge Records.

EXODUS has signed with Breaking Bands LLC and The Agency Group. Breaking Bands LLC is owned by TESTAMENT singer and co-manager Chuck Billy, Adrenaline PR CEO Maria Ferrero and one-time Megaforce Records and Crazed Management owners Jon and Marsha Zazula.

Drummer John Longstreth is no longer with GORGUTS. Patrice Hamelin is in. Patrice had replaced John before. John and GORGUTS’ 2014 schedule were in conflict.

In an interview with The Quietus singer Gabriel Fischer has revealed that Wacken Open Air had offered he and bassist Martin Eric Ain €100,000 ($150,000 CDN) to reform and play the festival.

ANCIENT is working on a new album, Chapter VII: Back From The Land Of The Dead, for a tentative autumn release. The band (Zel – vocals, guitars and keyboards, Dhilorz – guitar and bass and drummer Nick Barker) are looking for a label.

OVERKILL has picked White Devil Armory as the title for its next album, which is due in July through Nuclear Blast Records.

ABORYM has signed with Agonia Records.

One-time MAYHEM singer Eirik “Messiah” Nordheim and MAYHEM drummer Kjetil “Manheim” Haraldsson have banded together with original CADAVER members guitarist Anders “Neddo” Odden and bassist René Jansen in a new project called ORDER. The band has a rehearsal recording.

Lost Forever // Lost Together by ARCHITECTS has entered the U.K. chart at position No. 16.

ARCH ENEMY has replaced singer Angela Gossow with Alissa White-Gluz formerly of THE AGONIST. The new album, War Eternal, will be issued this June through Century Media. Gossow will manage the band. Alissa wanted to simultaneously remain with THE AGONIST, but that band has recruited Vicky Psarakis.

BELPHEGOR will release its next album, Conjuring The Dead, on August 11th through Nuclear Blast.

Drummer Bob Bagchus has left ASPHYX in order to spend more time with his family. He was a band founder. His replacement is DESASTER and METALUCIFER man Stefan Hüskes.

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM has parted ways with guitarist Edward Carlson and bassist Jason Ward and replaced them respectively with Steve Conley (F5) and Michael Spencer. Carlson is suffering from physical issues. Ward had left a year ago.

Century Media bands AT THE GATES, TRIPTYKON and MORBUS CHRON will tour Europe this December. Since reforming AT THE GATES has only been seen live at festivals.

AKANI, which features singer Jorge Rosado (MERAUDER), guitarists Anders Björler (AT THE GATES and THE HAUNTED) and Daniel Antonsson (DARK TRANQUILLITY), bassist Victor Brandt (ENTOMBED and SATYRICON) and drummer Anders Lowren (DEAD REPRISE) will issue a 7” EP through Demons Run Amok Records this month.

Original ENTOMBED drummer Nicke Andersson booked to take part in ENTOMBED’s February 1st concert with Gävle Symphonic Orchestra performing the Clandestine album, but was forced to miss the show due to touring commitments with IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC.

Singer Lars Göran Petrov (ENTOMBED A.D.) and guitarist Victor Brandt (ENTOMBED A.D. ) have joined with UNLEASHED and NECROPHOBIC guitarist Fredrik Folkare and bassist Alex Friberg (NECROPHOBIC) to form a death metal band called FIREBORN. The band is seeking a drummer.

Vic Records has signed VIOLATION WOUND, the punk rock band of AUTOPSY’s Chris Reifert on guitar and vocals. Due on May 26th, the band’s debut album features guest appearances by AUTOPSY’s Danny Coralles and Eric Cutler.

MESHUGGAH will tour North America this summer to commomerate its 25th year in music with a couple of festival appearances, Canadian shows and US clubs dates. Opening the shows is North Carolina’s BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME.

Profound Lore Records will issue LORD MANTIS‘ third LP Death Mask this spring.

One-time CRISIS singer Karyn Crisis has a new project called GOSPEL OF THE WITCHES, which features music composed by EPHEL DUATH’s Davide Tiso who also plays guitar and bass.


Metallian Hard

THRESHOLD has picked For The Journey as the title for its next album, which is due at the end of September through Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2012's March Of Progress is being recorded at Thin Ice Studio in England by band members Karl Groom and Richard West.

Metal Blade Records has signed Salt Lake City’s VISIGOTH. The heavy metal band is at Boar's Nest Studios with Andy Patterson recording its full-length debut.

BLACK SABBATH will headline British Summer Time, a show at London’s Hyde Park. Also playing on Friday July 4th are the likes of MORORHEAD, FAITH NO MORE and SOULFLY. Warner Brothers has rereleased BLACK SABBATH’s first eight albums in Black Sabbath: Complete Studio Albums (1970-1978). The eight-disc boxed set will be available on April 15th.

Following an alleges breach of distribution agreement by The Century Family (USA) for Earache’s catalogue and non-payment of contractual advances the latter British label is suing the American distributor.

Ten years after departing the label HELLOWEEN has returned to Nuclear Blast. A new record is expected in 2015.

SPV/Steamhammer will re-release VIRGIN STEELE's The Marriage Of Heaven & Hell I+II and Invictus albums in June. These two CD digipak re-releases will come with bonus material.

Guitarist James McIlroy of CRADLE OF FILTH has decided against undergoing disc replacement surgery at the last minute. He suffers from back pain and decreased mobility.

QUIET RIOT, FASTER PUSSYCAT, BULLETBOYS and GILBY CLARKE will join forces for the Bang Your Head Tour of North America this summer. Dates are being worked out.

EYES 'N' LIPS’ debut album is called Pornstar For President. It will be released on April 29th, 2014 through Street Symphonies Records. The CD will be distributed by Andromeda Dischi.

Following the departure of guitarist James 'Claymore' Clarke CONQUEST OF STEEL has thrown in the towel. The band’s four planned concerts will be the group’s last.

STEEL PROPHET will release a new album, Omniscient, this July through Cruz Del Sur Music.

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS is touring the Eastern half of the USA with plans for more shows in May and June with LECHEROUS NOCTURNE and PANZERFAUST.

Slovenian heavy metal band METALSTEEL has released a new studio album called This Is Your Revelation on 7th March through On Parole Productions. This Is Your Revelation is the fifth album from the band.

AVATAR will release a new album, Hail The Apocalypse, on May 16th through eOne in USA.

Zakk Wylde's Blue Bullseye Gibson LP guitar and leather vest were stolen on Friday, March 14th from his tour bus at the Chicago, Illinois stop of the Experience Hendrix tour at the Chicago Theater.

No connection to ‘Cemetery Gates’: Cruz Del Sur Music has signed Finnish band MAUSOLEUM GATE. The band's self-titled debut album will be released in October.

Dublin-based doom metal trio DREAD SOVEREIGN - featuring two members of long-time Irish band PRIMORDIAL – has released its debut album, All Hell's Martyrs through Pitchfork.

SAINT VITUS has announced a thirty-fifth anniversary tour! The tour will begin on May 8th in Albuquerque, Texas and come to a close on May 25th in Dallas. The band will be performing the Born Too Late album - the first SAINT VITUS outing to feature the voice of Scott "Wino" Weinrich - in its entirety alongside other SAINT VITUS songs.

TESLA’s next album will be called Simplicity.

CRUCIFIED BARBARA has signed a contract with Despotz Records. The band is completing its next album, which is due in August.

Drummer Paolo Crimi has left Italy’s EXTREMA after nine years on the stool and been replaced by Francesco "Frullo" La Rosa. The popular ‘personal reasons’ has been given as the reason.

EUROPE performed the entire Wings Of Tomorrow album from 1984 on Monday, March 3rd at the opening show of its Swedish tour in Stockholm. ARCH ENEMY’s Mike Amott joined the group on stage for the song Wings Of Tomorrow. ARCH ENEMY has recorded a cover version of the track.

According to the New York Post tabloid, the heirs to the late KISS drummer Eric Carr have filed a lawsuit against the band over unpaid royalties. Carr died in 1991. The family subsequently denied the action and attributed the suit to unauthorized legal parties. KISS and DEF LEPPARD will tour the USA this summer.

To commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the California Jam festival, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release DEEP PURPLE Live In California 74 on April 1.

An album featuring guitarist brothers Malcolm and Angus Young predating AC/DC is being reissued. The album by the MARCUS HOOK ROLL BAND, Tales Of Old Grand-Daddy, will be out on June 2nd on CD, vinyl and digital download. The band was formed by oldest brother George Young.

Tony Morabito (a.k.a. Tony Moore), former singer for RIOT, has joined Todd "Vinny" Vinciguerra (V.H.F.) and WARRIOR guitarist Joe Floyd to form BIG MUFF PI.

‘80s hard rockers PARTY ANIMALS has signed a deal with Street Symphonies Records for the release of its debut album Light A Fan Cool, which is scheduled for late spring 2014.