Metallian Heavy

Canada-based SKUMSTRIKE will issue its debut album Deadly Intrusions through Selfmadegod Records on April 8th. The band is compared to SODOM and TOXIC HOLOCAUST.

Italy-based ASSUMPTION has signed with Everlasting Spew and will issue an album called Hadean Tides in May.

WATAIN has been forced to cancel its slot on the North American tour with MAYHEM and MIDNIGHT due to a lack of US visas. The tour is called The Sanguine Sodomy Of North America.

SEPTIC FLESH will release an album called Modern Primitive through Nuclear Blast on 20.05.2022. A single and video, called Hierophant, is out now.

AGATHODAIMON is back from hiatus with an album called The Seven. It was released through Napalm Records on March 18th. This is the band’s seventh album and the lyrics deal with the seven deadly sins. The band features three new members with singer Ashtrael and singer/guitarist Sathonys returning. The last two men had put the band on hold due to fatherhood.

KATHAROS XIII‘s new album will be titled Chthonian Transmissions and released in collaboration with Loud Rage Music on jewel-case CD format and collectors’ edition picture Digipak disc this May 23rd.

Following the departure of Gene Hoglan TESTAMENT has again recruited former SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo. TESTAMENT, EXODUS and DEATH ANGEL are touring the USA using The Bay Strikes Back Tour monicker this spring. EXODUS will tour Europe using the Persona Non Grata monicker in July and August. TESTAMENT will open select dates.

TESTAMENT singer and band manager Chuck Billy is working on a solo album and has asked EXODUS’ Gary Holt and ex-MEGADETH man Glen Drover, among others, to write for him.

MEGADETH has confirmed that SADUS/TESTAMENT bassist Steve DiGiorgio recorded on the new band album, The Sick, The Dying, And The Dead following the dismissal of David Ellefson.

SACRED REICH has canceled several shows on its current tour SEPULTURA after singer Phil Rind was taken to a hospital. Also on the bill are CROWBAR and ART OF SHOCK.

Former SEPULTURA brothers Max and Igor Cavalera will perform songs from the band’s Beneath The Remains and Arise albums on a U.S.A. tour this spring and summer. The two will also appear at this year’s Maryland Deathfest.

Nagasaki, Japan-based deathcore band HOTOKE has a new demo called Private Sanctions.

JUNGLE ROT will release a new album, A Call To Arms, through Unique Leader in May. The record was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö.

Japan-based RIVERGE’s Stand In Fear Of Nothing is a 3-LP and CD release courtesy of Rock Stakk Records. The package includes two shows from the ‘80s, as well as a slew of demo and rare material.

VIO-LENCE, WHIPLASH and ARTILLERY will tour Europe using the MTV Headbangers Ball Tour 2022 monicker this autumn.

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, VALE OF PNATH, STORMRULER, GHOST BATH and ROTTING CHRIST are using the Devastation On The Nation Tour 2022 monicker for a North American trek this April and May.

Thirty years after its Passage album, VIOGRESSION is issuing a new album. It is called 3rd Stage Of Decay and features singer Brian DeNeffe as the sole remaining member from the early ‘90s. The album is being co-released by Satanath, Pest, Murdher and other labels.

There goes the pride again: “Season Of Mist are (sic) proud to announce the signing of WORMHOLE.” The band is working on an album with new singer Julian Kersey.

RISE TO THE SKY will release Every Day, A Funeral through Meuse Music Records on May 6th. The drums are supplied by Emidio Alexandre Ramos (ADAMANTINE, COLOSSO and DARK OATH).

GATECREEPER will tour North America with support from NARROW HEAD, 200 STAB WOUNDS and FEARING this April and May.

Solo black metal act AKERBELTZ has an album called Merciless through BlackSeed Productions. The band is Spain-based.

Time To KIll Records is re-pressing the Italy-based doom-death metallers FOR THE STORMS’ demo The Grieving Path in CD format this month. The band was founded by former SHANTAK members in Brescia, Italy in 2019.

Japan-based SWAZÖND has a video for the track Our Heresies off the Cursed Inheritance album. The label is Zero Dimensional Records. The track speaks to Christianity’s destruction of indigenous religions and rituals in times gone by.

Singapore-based thrash/folk band RUDRA is getting its first 3 albums re-released by China’s Awakening Records in May. The band was founded in 1992.

BEKHIRA’s L’Elu Du Mal CD is out through Impure Weddings Production.

Profound Lore Records shall release Animate The Emptiness, the debut full-length by New York City, USA-based metal duo LUMINOUS VAULT in May. An advance single is called Regeneration. The band has keyboards and a drum machine.

Death metal duo EGREGORE Will release The Word Of His Law LP through 20 Buck Spin this month.

Republican Party? TEXAS MURDER CREW releases Wrapped In Their Blood album through Comatose Music on May 20th.

SAVAGE NECROMANCY is re-releasing the Feathers Fall To Flames LP of 2021 through 20 Buck Spin. It was issued through Unpure Records originally. The US-based band is working on a new record. The band is compared to BLASPHEMY.

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions is issuing USA-based crossover band FRIGHT’s self-titled debut EP. The band features current and former members of bands A.S.D. , CITIZENS ARREST, DAS OATH, DOWN IN FLAMES, DEVOID OF FAITH, 97A, SÖFT DOV and more. Gloom Records had released the EP digitally last year.

Rome, Italy-based crusty band SCHELETRO has signed to Time To Kill Records for the release of an album this year in conjunction with Hellnation Music. The band is Lo Scheletro: vocals, Hell Nenni: guitar, Fitz Ravik: bass and drummer Senzafaccia.

DEATHSPELL OMEGA’s The Long Defeat CD is out through Impure Wedding Productions now.

ULTRA SILVAM’s The Sanctity Of Death album is out through Shadow Records.

OFERMOD has picked up two BLACK ALTAR members. Bassist Shadow and guitarist Les have joined the band.

Spain-based THIRD NAIL’s Theos-Haimaton is out through BlackSeed Productions. This album includes the act’s Shepherd Of Wolves demo. THIRD NAIL is another solo project by Balc.

Time To Kill Records has re-released MAYHEM’s Esoteric Warfare on cassette. Originally released in 2014 Esoteric Warfare was the band’s first album with Teloch on guitar following Blasphemer’s departure from the band in 2008.

Former MORBID ANGEL drummer Pete Sandoval will rejoin his former singer David Vincent on the upcoming I AM MORBID tour. The band is commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Blessed Are The Sick album in Europe this month. BELPHEGOR and HATE are opening.

MACHINE HEAD commemorated the 25th anniversary of the band’s second album The More Things Change…, with an album play-through on March 18th. Joining the band was the album’s second guitarist Logan Mader.

Metal Blade has signed MANTAR. The band is hoping to release an album this summer and is touring Germany to coincide with the release.

Italy-based death metal group POSTHUMAN ABOMINATION will issue its Mankind Recall sophomore album through Comatose Music on May 6th.

NECRODEATH has issued its Transformer Treatment 7″ through Time To KIll Records. The single is backed with MERCYFUL FATE’s track Come To The Sabbath.

Metalcore Finns HORIZON IGNITED has signed with Nuclear Blast after being introduced to the label by their manager Maurizio Iacono from KATAKLYSM. The band has a single and a video called Towards The Dying Lands. The Finland-based act has keyboards.

After being blocked by communist former Virginia politician Lee J. Carter, LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton was addressed by his former drummer CHRIS ADLER, who is now in MEGADETH, as “Maybe because you are a fucking douche” on Twitter. Adler subsequently deleted the tweet after Morton tweeted back “I usually wait until after dark to drunk message my exes.” LAMB OF GOD and MEGADETH have jointly recorded a cover of the MEGADETH song Wake Up Dead at the same time.

BURIED REALM, the solo project of Josh Dummer, is issuing a new and self-titled demo. Guests include Bob Katsionis (ex-FIREWIND) and Dean Arnold (PRIMALFROST, OPERUS and ex-VITAL REMAINS).

Michigan, USA-based GOAT BLOOD FETISH has a demo called Cover The Earth In Blood. The band was formed in 2014, but solidified a line-up in 2021.

CARCASS, IMMOLATION and CREEPING DEATH will tour the USA this spring.

NILE has announced a tour of Europe called Vile Nilotic Rites for November and December. The band’s Vile Nilotic Rites album was issued in 2019.

WRETCHED TONGUES will release a full-length debut album called Ulter Praefinitum through Vicious Instinct Records on March 18th. The band’s music is described as deathcore.

Slovakia-based death metal group BRUTE has an album called Essence Of Tyranny through Gothoom Productions.

Profound Lore Records has released The Ailing Facade, the debut LP from New York City-based progressive death metal quartet AEVITERNE. The act formed as a vehicle for vocalist/guitarist Garett Bussanick to continue from his previous band FLOURISHING. Bussanick was joined by bassist Eric Rizk who also played in Flourishing as well as drummer Ian Jacyszyn (MIASMATIC NECROSIS). The band issued the Sireless EP in 2018.

Chicago, Illinois, USA-based death metal group INNER DECAY has a second full-length ready. Entitled Enter the Void, the band’s new material will be released in collaboration with Pest Records soon.

San Jose, Costa Rica-based CHEMICIDE has a demo called Common Sense. The band was founded in 2011 and had a demo re-issued by PRC Music. The group has previously toured Canada and Mexico.

ANTHROPOVORE has announced the name of its new album and it is Boogeyman. It is out through Music-Records in May. For the occasion, the band reissues its debut album Rip and Tears inclusive of a new production in a limited edition of 50 copies.

Germany-based ABRASIVE has an album called Edge Of Darkness through Rebirth The Metal Productions. The album was produced by Roman Schönsee (ex-PYOGENESIS bassist) at Foundsound NL.

Dark metal/goth outfit DEATHWHITE will be releasing a full-length, called Grey Everlasting, through Season Of Mist on June 10th. The band has a first single called Earthtomb.

Deathrashers FLAYED DISCIPLE return with new demo, called A Hell In Living Flesh, after an eight-year leave of absence on April 22nd. The band has played at Hammerfest, Bloodstock and Neurotic Deathfest.

TOXIK will issue an album called Dis Morta through Massacre Records this August. The band will also tour Europe with HEATHEN.

Lebanon-based groove/thrash metal band PHENOMY has a new demo called Syndicate Of Pain. There is an animation video for the song Lead Me To My Throne.

AGNOSTIC FRONT and SICK OF IT ALL have a spring and summer U.S.A. co-headlining tour. The shows will be opened by CROWN OF THORNZ on certain dates.

Inspired by KEEL? GOD FORBID will play at this year’s Blue Ridge Rock Festival, which takes place September 8-11th at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia, USA. The concert will be the band’s first show in almost a decade.

Greece-based SUICIDAL ANGELS has returned to Nuclear Blast Records and working on a new record. The band is touring this spring and summer.

Texas, USA-based TRIBAL GAZE has re-issued a remastered version of the Godless Voyage Debut EP through Maggot Stomp. The band is in the studio recording a debut full-length called The Nine Choirs for Maggot Stamp.

FOUL BODY AUTOPSY is releasing the Shadows Without Light Part Two demo on May 1st. This is the second of three in the trilogy and the band offers a track in three different versions.

USA-based black/death metal band VERMÖRD will release its debut full-length demo, Nostalgic Predictions, this month. Formed in 2014, VERMÖRD recorded its first EP, Dawn Of The Black Harvest, for Grimoire Records in 2015.

DECAPITATED will release a new album, entitled Cancer Culture, through Nuclear Blast Records on 27.05.2022. The title track is also a single and available now.

It is the famous farewell show: According to bassist Danny Lilker NUCLEAR ASSAULT’s concert at the Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Philly in June could be the band’s last show. The band will play its 1986 Game Over debut album in full. VOIVOD, CANDLEMASS, CANNIBAL CORPSE, THE RED CHORD and others will also appear.

AETERNUS PROPHET has re-issued its debut album Ruthlessness through InViMa Records on March 14th. The new version features new artwork, English translation of lyrics and remastered music.

Sydney, Australia-based metal band STELLAGEN’s debut demo From Dying Stars was released on the 22nd of February. The band’s demo is a musical concept and a follow-up is due at the end of this year. The band was founded in 2019.


Metallian Hard

STRIKER, which is on tour with BEAST IN BLACK and SEVEN KINGDOMS, in North America has tagged several headlining Canadian dates to as well. New to the band is guitarist John Simon Fallon (THE ORDER OF CHAOS).

Germany-based BÖLLVERK has a full-length demo called Heading For The Crown on 22.04.2022.

Finland-based progressive metal band SUM OF SEVEN has released a new song called The Enemy. It features frontman Marko Loukamaa’s who arrived in the summer of 2021. The band was previously called SONUS CORONA and featured vocalist Timo Mustonen.

POWERWOLF’s 2021 streaming show is being issued on video on July 8th. It is called The Monumental Mass - A Cinematic Metal Event and out through Napalm Records.

Nagoya, Japan-based JEALOUS WILD has a new demo called Land Of Eternity through the M’ Rising imprint.

Italy-based CELTIC HILLS will issue a record called Huldufólk through Elevate Records this month. The song After The Earthquake tells of the strength of the people after the earthquake of May 6, 1976 in Friuli, Italy. Almost 1,000 people were killed due to that earthquake.

Austria-based pop/metal act EDENBRIDGE has signed with AFM Records. The band is working on a 2022 album.

The Netherlands-based MARTYR has issued an album called Planet Metalhead through Pt78 Records. Rock Stakk has picked it up for Japan.

Sneakout Records and Burning Minds Music Group have signed Italy-based hard rock band ANIMS for the physical release of the debut album God Is A Witness. It is out on 29.04.2022. This was a 2021 demo.

Finland-based heavy metal group STRIDER will release a new single Into Glory Stride from its upcoming second album through Lion Music on April 1st.

OPETH will release the In Cauda Venenum (Extended Edition) through Atomic Fire Records on May13th. This re-release contains English and Swedish versions of OPETH's latest album, In Cauda Venenum, including new illustrations by Travis Smith. Moreover, there is a third CD including three unreleased tracks.

UMFU stands for United Musicians For Ukraine and is assembled by Ukrainian singer and piano player Marina Ammouri who lives in Sweden. The assembled musicians have a video and include Joacim Cans (HAMMERFALL), Thomas Wikstrom (THERION), Mates Leven (VANDENBERG), as well as others who are in new projects every week, namely singer Doogie White and SOILWORK’s Bjorn Strid.

Lion Music is issuing LUKE FORTINI’s instrumental album, Technical Supremacy, on 29.04.2022.

The four nuns in the band DOGMA have signed with MNRK Heavy and issued a video and song called Father I have Sinned.

Atomic Fire Records has re-signed SINNER. The band will release an album called Brotherhood this summer. Mat Sinner and Atomic Fire’s predecessor Nuclear Blast had had a falling out leading to SINNER’s departure to Frontiers Records.

Pirate metal band VISIONS OF ATLANTIS will release a new album, Pirates, through Napalm Records in mid-May. A music video for the single Legion Of The Seas is available now.

Right-wing crooner KID ROCK, FOREIGNER and GRAND FUNK RAILROAD are touring the USA this spring and summer. JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEPPELIN EVENING will open select shows.

Dio: Dreamers Never Die, a documentary on the life of Ronnie James Dio, received its world premiere at SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, USA on March 17th.

The members of IMARI TONES have a side-project called DAKENO KAKARI. The rock project has a demo called Greetings.

The new MSG album is called Universal and will be issued through Atomic Fire Records on May 27th. Guests include Michael Kiske, Bob Daisley, Barry Sparks and Tony Carey.

ALCATRAZZ has released a video for the track Target, which is taken from the V album. It was released through Silver Lining Music last autumn. The band is hitting Europe this summer and has also booked a tour with GIRLSCHOOL for next winter in the UK. The video includes live footage from the outfit’s 2021 UK tour.

GWAR, CROWBAR, THE NATIVE HOWL and NEKROGOBLIKON will tour the USA this spring using The Black Death Rager World Tour monicker.

IRON ALLIES, the new project featuring former ACCEPT members Herman Frank and David Reece, is at Horus Sound Studio in Hannover, Germany recording its debut album. The album, which is being co-produced by Arne Neurand, will be released through AFM Records this autumn.

JOE SATRIANI has postponed his European tour to the spring of 2023 from this this spring. The decision was made owing to the pandemic. He has announced an autumn 2022 North American tour however.

VOIVOD is touring North America this June.

HANZ KRYPT’s Doomed Planet is a compilation featuring all 12 songs that were ever recorded by the band. The announcement misses the band’s old demos.

PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS, featuring MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Phil Campbell and his sons Todd, Dane and Tyla, will conduct a U.K. tour where they will play MOTÖRHEAD songs this May.

SKID ROW has asked singer ZP Theart to leave the act and replaced him with former H.E.A.T. and current NEW HORIZON Swede vocalist Erik Grönwall. The new singer, who was on Swedish Idol covering SKID ROW once, will sing on the band's The Gang's All Here album, which is due out through earMUSIC in October.

SKID ROW and WARRANT will use the Live To Rock monicker for a USA tour this summer. QUIET RIOT, WINGER and LITA FORD will open select dates. SKID ROW is also opening for SCORPIONS.

SCORPIONS will play at Bangladesh's 50th independence anniversary at Madison Square Garden in New York City, USA on Friday, May 6th. The country was part of Pakistan and India prior.

THE QUIREBOYS’ singer Spike (Jonathan Gray) was booted from the band last month. The band intends to have guitarist Guy Griffin sing as well.

Aerosmith: Deuces Are Wild is the band’s new Las Vegas residency beginning at park MGM in June. AEROSMITH drummer Joey Kramer will sit out all 2022 shows in order to take care of family members. His roadie John Douglas replaces him again.

Former QUIET RIOT singer James Durbin, RIOT guitarist Mike Flyntz, bassist Perry Richardson (STRYPER and ex-FIREHOUSE) and STRYPER’s Robert Sweet have a new project called CLEANBREAK. The band's debut single and video will be released through Frontiers Music this month.

ZZ TOP will release a new album entitled Raw. It was recorded in conjunction with the band's 2019 Netflix documentary That Little Ol' Band From Texas. It will be issued by BMG in July.

Original KISS guitarist and drummer Ace Frehley and Peter Criss will perform together at Creatures Fest in Nashville in USA at Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel between May 27 and 29. Also appearing at the event are former KISS guitarists Bruce Kulick and Vinnie Vincent. Others acts performing are QUIET RIOT and ENUFF Z'NUFF.

Melbourne, Australia-based KINGS OF OTHER WINGS has a demo called Phoenix Rising. The band was a BLACK SABBATH cover band earlier.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, NITA STRAUSS and JARED JAMES NICHOLS will tour the USA this spring.

DEEP PURPLE has sent an autograph given to the band by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev back following that country’s invasion of its neighbour, Ukraine. Medvedev is now head of Russia’s Security Council. The man had declared that DEEP PURPLE is his favourite band. At the same time, guitarist Steve Morse is on hiatus from DEEP PURPLE as his wife Janine is battling cancer. The replacement for shows will be session guitarist Simon McBride who has also previously toured with singer Ian Gillan and keyboard player Don Airey.

Former MEGADETH guitarist’s OHM has signed with M-Theory Audio. The trio, featuring Poland, bassist Robertino "Pag" Pagliari (ULI JON ROTH, etc.) and new drummer Carlos Cruz (WARBRINGER, MACHINE HEAD and POWER TRIP), will record this summer. WARBRINGER was previously on Century Media, which M-Theory’s Marco Barbieri managed.

DEF LEPPARD will release a new album, called Diamond Star Halos, through Ume on 27.05.2022. The title references T.REX's Bang a Gong (Get It On) song. The album was recorded separately by the members in the UK, USA and Ireland. A single called Kick is available now.

The horror character Freddy Krueger and Don Dokken of DOKKEN are reuniting on Gibson TV, which is the streaming channel of the guitar company, to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the film A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, which featured the Dokken hit Dream Warriors.

Freedom. noun | \ ˈfrē-dəm \ The power for trucker convoy types, and other right-wingers, to sleep with their daughters and for the rest of us to tell them to go fuck themselves.


Metallian Demos

HYSTE'RIAH - BADASSERY
This 10-song 15-minute release is from old ideas and drafts from the band that has reappeared seemingly out of nowhere. It is said that this takes Hyste'riah back to its roots while including newer "djazzy" influences. A listener is therefore correct to be confused. Of course the songs average less than two minutes in length and therefore little time is wasted getting into Are You Good Enough. The fast paced thrashing song asks the title question several times, includes a short solo and gets it done. Any Port In A Storm does not deviate much, it features angry yet somewhat muffled vocals and is no frills while remaining aggressive. Riot Gear is just slightly more controlled. Time To Die, a D.T.A.L cover, is the shortest at 54 seconds. D.T.A.L, also from Landskrona, Sweden is an 80's hardcorish band linked to Hyste'riah. Behind My Back and Mugshot start and finish without much that can distinguish them. Soon You Will Be Dead is the longest song at just under two and half minutes and unbelievably it is ballad-like. It certainly stands out as different to the song that comes after it called Don't Fuck With Me. This song is bass driven and feels heavier. Get Your Head Out Of My Ass and Greed keep up the messy thrashy sound with loud bass standing out through the chaos. The latter has the band admonishing greedy bastards. The CD label features a motivational message of sorts to 'Do something about it for fuck's sake if you are abused, exploited, poor, fucked and/or humiliated'. Scant more info at www.stringskill.se. – Anna Tergel