Metallian Heavy

Canada-based act THE BLOOD OF CHRIST has an EP, with three tracks, called Sworn Trilogy through CDN Records.

Canada-based science fiction-oriented FRACTAL GENERATOR has an album called Convergence through Everlasting Spew Records on the 7th of June. It was produced again by Stefano Morabito at 16th Cellar Studio.

ALTAR OF OBLIVION announced an album called In The Cesspit Of Divine Decay for June 28th. It was based on the diary of guitarist Martin Meyer Sparvath’s maternal great grandfather Jesper Wilhem Meyer who fought for the Germans during WWI, As such, the previously announced album, Proselytes Of The Apocalypse, has been pushed back.

CROCELL’s Of Frost, Of Flame, Of Flesh album is available through Emanzipation in late June.

BARBARIAN SWORDS’ Fetid album is out through Base Record Production. It is the second album that the group recorded simultaneously with Javi Félez at Moontower Studio in July 2022.

Denmark-based death metal group MORBID GRAVE will release its The Slime Crawlers album through Horror Pain Gore Death Productions this month. It will contain the band’s previously released Pandemic Mutations as bonus tracks.

MORBID ANGEL, SUFFOCATION, UADA, MORTIFERUM, FULCI and KNOLL will conduct The Devastation On The Nation Tour 2024 in the USA this November.

Underground Forever, the newest full-length from DUSKWALKER, will be released through Black Lion Records in July. It was recorded by John Robinson at Castle Tracula and mixed and mastered By Marko Tervonen.

BETWEEN THE KILLINGS will release The Killing Quartet Vol. 2: Omnipotence EP through Comatose Music on June 7th.

RIVERS OF NIHIL has a single, entitled Criminals, from the band’s upcoming new full-length. The band is part of the 2024 edition of the Chaos & Carnage Tour featuring co-headliners CARNIFEX and Metal Blade label-mates CATTLE DECAPITATION alongside THE ZENITH PASSAGE, HUMANITY’S LAST BREATH, VITRIOL and FACE YOURSELF.

USA-based SEPTARIAN has signed with Dark Sails Entertainment. An album is expected this year in August.

Indonesia-based death metal band CRANIAL DISORDER has signed to Lethal Scissor Records for the release of its debut album Congenital Depravity, which is released on July 10th. The band was founded in 2019 and had a PromoSick 2022.

A new 12″ LP by EGGS OF GOMORRH is called Rot Prophet and coming out through Blasphemous Art Production.

EMBRYONIC AUTOPSY’s Origins Of The Deformed album is out through Massacre Records in June. The song Orgies Of The Inseminated features a guest guitar solo by James Murphy.

ILLDISPOSED is embarking on a European tour in September 2024. A new album, In Chambers Of Sonic Disgust, will be released through Massacre Records in the summer.

A self-titled compilation album by Italy-based URANIAVORE GOATPHAGO is out through Blasphemous Art Productions. It is a reissue of the band’s Compendium Of Nucleargoat Abominations demo, the first rehearsal and some live material for the first time on CD. The band is compared to BLASPHEMY.

Japan-based techno-death band IMPENDING ANNIHILATION has a single called Idiopathic Osteonecrosis Of The Femoral Head through Gore House Productions. The duo eschews lyrics in favour of growls.

NERVECELL is touring Europe this May.

Poland-based NORTH is back and has announced an EP called We Are, We Remain…through Pagan Records. There is new music, a self-cover version and a cover version of a BATHORY song.

In tandem with the acceleration of the self-cover version bandwagon, and following the rerecording of the Morbid Visions and Bestial Devastation albums, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY is now rerecording SEPULTURA’s Schizophrenia album. It is out through Nuclear Blast in June. The band, featuring two former SEPULTURA members, is conducting the Third World Trilogy tour.

Belgium-based BRUTAL SPHINCTER is booked for Brews And Blast Fest this month.

Indonesia-based ANTHROPOPHAGUS DEPRAVITY has an album called Demonic Paradise through Comatose Music on June 21st.

Italy-based death metal group VOMIT THE SOUL has a new album, entitled Massive Incineration, which will be released through Unique Leader Records in June. There is also a self-cover version of a song called Third.

MALIGNANCY will release an album called…Discontinued through Willowtip Records on 14.06.2024.

Hot on the heels of its debut EP, Expanse Of Hellish Black Mire, NOXIS releases the Violence Inherent In The System debut LP through Rotted Life (USA) and demo re-release company Dawnbreed Records (Europe) in June. The band is compared to early CRYPTOPSY and DEMIGOD.

Australia-based WEREWOLVES formed in 2019 with the express purpose of releasing ten albums in ten years. 2024 sees them hit the halfway mark with Die For Us.

PHANTASMAL ABYSS played several shows on the USA West Coast in April. The band has uploaded a song called The Spawn Of Lycaon. PHANTASMAL ABYSS was started by guitarist and frontwoman Dara Santhai (ex-SERPENT CROWN and LARVAE) and drummer Todd Wilkinson.

Because when other labels sign bands they are ashamed of it: Comatose Music has “proudly” signed Italy-based VULVECTOMY. A full-length album is set to be released in early 2025.

Canada-based death metal group BACKSTABBER will be hitting the road for select gigs across its home province of Quebec which includes a performance at Festival Des Guitares Du Monde with BLINDED BY FAITH and BLACKGUARD this summer.

Virginia, USA-based HUMAN INFECTION has a new edition of its 2019 album Gravesight. It has been remastered by guitarist Jeremiah Tuck and has new artwork.

Time To Kill Records has signed Finland-based death metal band CRYPTIC HATRED. The band will release a full-length album, entitled Internal Torment, later this year.

SHROUD OF DESPONDENCY and LANZERRATH have a split EP released on May 10th.

200 STAB WOUNDS has an album called Manual Manic Procedures, which is out through Metal Blade Records in June. The band has a tour supporting DYING FETUS along with FULL OF HELL, KRUELTY and PSYCHO-FRAME. The band has also confirmed a European tour with GATECREEPER and ENFORCED this autumn.

Belgium-based NYRAK has an album, entitled Devourer Of All, through Phoenix Mortis Productions on May 3rd. First formed as a solo studio project by Guy Van Nieuwenhove (aka Nevel) in 2021, the band is a quartet today.

Spain-based DEVOTION has a full-length called Astral Catacombs through Memento Mori.

Vancouver, Canada-based death metal band REVERSED has a debut full-length called Wildly Possessed through Invictus Productions this month. There is a video for the song Final Death.

Milwaukee, USA-based ANCIENT ENTITIES, featuring founder Alex Rausa, Bernardo Mendia, Jake Falk, Luke Veranth and Brian Gulliford, have a demo called Echoes Of Annihilation on June 21st. The band began work in 2021. The group is booked for the Milwaukee Metalfest this year.

NoEvDia released Evangelii Härold, the new full-length from Sweden-based black metal band LIFVSLEDA, in April.

Solo black metal project CULMEN will release its debut EP De Un Soplo La Creación through Deepest Records on May 12th. It was recorded between 2022 and 2023.

Avantgarde Music is issuing INHERITS THE VOID’s Scars Of Yesteryears, which is described as “Melodic black metal from France.”

GREH was founded as a solo project in 2022 after guitarist Gjero Krsteski left his previous group HELLGREASER. A line-up was assembled in 2023. The band is working on a full-length, but has uploaded a song called Illusional Cenotaph already.

EXODUS will issue a live album, called British Disaster: The Battle Of ’89 – Live At The Astoria, through Nuclear Blast. It was recorded 35 years ago on the band’s tour for the Fabulous Disaster album.

BAT, featuring MUNICIPAL WASTE guitarists Ryan Waste and Nick Poulos, has released a full-length album called Under The Crooked Claw through Nuclear Blast Records. BAT will be touring the USA followed by the first half of the Lifeless Birth Tour 2024 with headliners NECROT.

THY WILL BE DONE has returned and has a single and video for Prelude To Apostasy. The song is released through the band’s Eye.On Lion Recordings.

Solo act of Matt Barkley NOTSM has a demo called Only Death Brings Silence. There is an AI-generated video for the song Humans. The band’s music is compared to ALL THAT REMAINS or SYLOSIS.

NIGHTRAGE has a new record called Remains Of A Dead.World through Despotz Records on 31.05.2024. A video for the song A Throne Of Melancholy and another for Persevere Through Adversity is available now. The band is fronted by Konstantinos Togas now.

AKROASIS has an album called Hubris through Doc Gator Records. The deathrash act has a video for the song Insult The Gods.

France-based APOCRYPHAL whose last album was 1999’s Black Dreams Of Silence, has signed to The Circle Music and will release a new album this year. It goes without saying that as usual Björn “Speed” Strid will guest on it.

Germany-based speed metal band VULTURE has an album called Sentinels through Metal Blade Records. There is a video for the song Oathbreaker, which the band describes as being in the mould of late 1970s and early 1980s.

Three former members of DIMMU BORGIR, bassist/singer ICS Vortex, drummer Tjodalv and keyboardist Mustis, joined the band for their headliner set at the Inferno Festival in Oslo, Norway last month in order to perform the song The Insight And The Catharsis. Mustis had left citing a lack of credit and payment for his songwriting.

Brazil-based PARADISE IN FLAMES, which is presented as an extreme band, but has not one, but two keyboardists, has uploaded a song called Feel The Plague in advance of its concept demo, Blindness. It is out on June 14th. The band has a mini-tour of Brazil, including dates with BATUSHKA, in August.

Spain-based doom/death band GOLGOTHA has joined Ardua Music for the June 14th 2024 release of a new album, Spreading The Wings Of Hope. It was mixed by Javier Fernández (AVULSED, HOLYCIDE and TODOMAL).

HOLYCIDE has an album called Towards Idiocracy through Xtreem Music on June 6th. It was mixed and mastered by Javier Fernández Milla (ANGELUS APATRIDA, AVULSED, etc.) and Davide Billia (POSTHUMAN ABOMINATION, BEHEADED, etc).

USA-based thrash metal band DESOLUS has a debut full-length called System Shock, which will be released through Hells Headbangers on 30.05.2024. The band has a local Washington DC album release gig with NUCLEAR TOMB and APHELLION replacing NEMESIS.

Guitarist Saki has left NEMOPHILA due to differences in musical direction. The band will continue as a quartet. SAKI has announced a solo concert for June.

Sludge band BA’AL has an EP called Soft Eyes through Ripcord Records.

USA-based Sludge trio APE VERMIN has a sci-fi-oriented demo called Andromedas Colossus on May 17th. The band is touring the USA using the Riders Of The Damned Tour monicker.

LAWNMOWER DETH, CATALYSIS, GORGONCHRIST, MASTER’S CALL, SUFFERING and others are booked for the Beermageddon festival in the UK this August.

Thrash band TORTURE SQUAD issued its Devilish album last year. There is a new version and video for the track Warrior, featuring singer Leather Leone.

TURBO MOSES (formerly DOMINATION OVERLOAD) has a debut album called Desert Frost through Crawling Chaos Records.

Finland-based BARON’s – Beneath The Blazing Abyss debut album is out through Transcending Obscurity.

Selfmadegod Records released Ascension, the new album from Poland-based WINGLESS, on April 26th. The band replaced singer Olaf Różański Michał “Xaay” Loranc (REDEMPTOR) and hired bassist Pascal for concerts.

Finland-based ARMADA NORTH is a septet side-project with members from CATAMENIA, CHARON and KALMAH. The band has a single called Rituals.

ARCHITECTS has uploaded a song called Curse. The Brits are touring with support from OF MICE & MEN and WHILE SHE SLEEPS in May, while the second leg sees the band bringing performances with support from WE CAME AS ROMANS and BRUTUS.

Time To Kill Records has signed Finland-based crossover act SARS. The first release for the label is an album called Nothing Hurts Quite Like Life, which is out this summer. The band was founded in 2016.

Tales Of Woe, an album by The Netherlands-based black metal band CODEX MORTIS, is out through Black Lion Records in June. It is a story about an evil spirit that tortures a man through demonic possession and mind control.

Following NIFELHEIM’s hiatus, singer Hellbutcher founded his own band. HELLBUTCHER, featuring the singer, guitarists Necrophiliac (also of MORDANT) and Iron Beast, bassist Eld, and drummer Devastator (ex-NIFELHEIM). The Hellbutcher is available through Metal Blade Records. There is a video for the song The Sword Of Wrath.

ULCERATE has a new album called Cutting The Throat Of God through Debemur Morti Productions. It was produced by drummer Jamie Saint Merat. There is a video for the song To Flow Through Ashen Hearts.

The Malady is the new release by death-grind project FEED THEM DEATH. It will be released through Brucia Records on June 20th. A special limited edition containing CD, Tape with low-fi one take rehearsals, a personalised notebook and a pin all placed inside a black mortuary bag. The lyrics are again central to the delivery and contain references to 1984, Sisyphus and Icarus.

USA-based thrash metal band MEXICAN APE-LORD’s full-length is available through 10-31 Records on May 10th. Founding guitarist Anthony Nichols suffered a wrist injury and was told he would never play guitar again before the last album. Yet, has continued following surgery and rehabilitation.

Endo Feight, the new full-length by SARKE, featuring DARKTHRONE’s Nocturno Culto on vocals, will be released through Soulseller Records on June 21st. It was recorded and mixed at H10 Productions by Lars-Erik Westby.

Continuing with Rottweiler Records, USA-based Christian deathcore act (UN)WORTHY will issue a mini-album called This Present Darkness on May 17th.

Finland-based death/doom/goth act NEVER STOP THE SADNESS has signed to Lifeforce Records. The band has uploaded a song called Go Gently, Swan, Into That Dark Water featuring AMORPHIS singer Tomi Joutsen on guest vocals.

Canada-based SENTIMENT DISSOLVE has a debut album, entitled The Orwellian Dream, through CDN Records on 24.05.2024. The London, Ontario-based quartet has uploaded a song that it reports as being against anti-abortion reactionaries.

Good news/bad news: The band promises the album contains no synthesizers, but there is a cello. AMIENSUS has an album called Reclamation: Part 1 with the song Senses Amplified being an early upload and lyric video.

USA-based “groove” and thrash band THE MONARCH has released a demo called A Moment To Lose Your Breath. The act features current and former members of SOULFLY, BORKNAGAR, STATIC-X, ILL NINO, MUTINY WITHIN. The songs are taking the listener from birth to death.

Post/depressive black metal act NOBODY will release a full-length album, entitled Despair Is Where My Thoughts Swim, through End My Life Records/Tragedy Productions on 17.05.2024. The members are in serial side-projects. This act was founded in early 2023.

Finland-based SHADE OF SORROW has a debut album, entitled Upon The Fields Of Grief, through M-Theory Audio in June. The act was founded by Mika Kankainen, former drummer of SOUL TERROR and WARCEREMONY, as a solo vehicle in 2017.

France-based drone-ambient act EVENTIDE, featuring members of EPITAPHE, released its debut album Waterline through Aesthetic Death on April 11th. Cited are SUNN O))), ULVER and TANGERINE DREAM as influences.

Switzerland-based REDRAW has a demo called The Party. The track Smoking Demons references BLACK SABBATH.

Melodic thrash metal band MOTIVIK, consisting of the Atlanta, Georgia, USA-based duo of multi-instrumentalist Ryan Roebuck and vocalist Courtney Simmons, has a new album on Roxx Records called Renouncement on July 1st.

Saudi Arabia-based DUNE has a lyric video for the song Refuge from its Years Of Chains demo. The track stems from 2007, but was never released as the band was unhappy with its arrangements then. The band is influenced by METALLICA, TESTAMENT and PANTERA.

Dressed as ‘Orthodox vampire priests,’ CAINITES will release its debut album Revenant through Scarlet Records on 21.06.2024.

CLOAK, HELLRIPPER and HIGH COMMAND are touring Europe.

Polish death metal band DISLOYAL will release a full-length album, entitled Divine Miasmata, through Black Lion Records on 12.07.2024. A video for the song The Black Pope is made available.

Italy-based MIASMIC SERUM will issue its debut album, Infected Seed, through Night Terrors Records (tape) and Chaos Records (CD) in June. The death metal act was founded in 2022 and per edicts of all bands there are guest appearances here too, namely vocals from Jason Netherton of MISERY INDEX, while the title track features guest vocals from Fiore Stravino of FULCI.

CRADLE OF FILTH has pulled out of the Rampage Summer Festival in Thailand on May 3rd. The band reports it was not paid its advance or received its tickets. AS I LAY DYING, MADBALL and others are booked to play.

MOTUS TENEBRAE was founded by Andrea Falaschi aka Frater Orion (DEATHLESS LEGACY), on vocals, drums and keyboards and Daniele Ciranna, on guitar and bass. Revenant is a concept album about an old Orthodox priest who became a vampire against his will.

Germany-based MAERE has an album called …And The Universe Keeps Silent on Transcending Obscurity Records.

Described as “Blackened melodic death metallers with hints of industrial” AGAINST I has a new demo called Destruction Lullaby. The publicity claims this release has pushed back the electronic parts.

LIMBONIC ART‘s full-length album, Opus Daemoniacal, will be released through Kyrck Productions & Armour in June. A video for the song Ad Astra Et Abyssos is available now.


Metallian Hard

ANVIL’s twentieth studio album is called One And Only and available through AFM Records on June 28th. A video for the song Feed Your Fantasy is available now.

The Vir Fortis demo is a heavy metal-infused history lesson covering Napoleon and Vlad The Impaler, by Toronto, Canada-based AXMINISTER. The band has a video, with the use of AI, to tell a visual story in the track Vlad The Impaler... Son Of The Dragon.

Argentina-based heavy metal band DOMINATION has a new demo called Echoes Of Persecution. The band will be on its third European tour, dubbed Echoes Of Persecution Tour 2024, in June as well. It is redundant to note that the act has a song with Ripper Owens on guest vocals.

Germany-based FACTORY OF ART has an advance song called Blessing In Disguise from its upcoming demo, Back To Life. The song’s origins date back 25 years and to even before the band became FACTORY UNDER COVER before reverting to the current monicker.

Sneakout Records and Burning Minds Music Group have issued The Cherubims, a track taken from Good ‘n’ Evil, which is the new album of the Italy-based ANIMS. Francesco Di Nicola (DANGER ZONE, CRYING STEEL, etc.), plays both the bass guitars and guitars. Drums are by Paolo Caridi (ELLEFSON-SOTO, REB BEACH, GEOFF TATE and MICHELE LUPPI), a professional with whom Francesco Di Nicola has already collaborated on the recent Deserts album by KRELL.

Italy-based TYTUS re-releases its Rises album of 2016 through Kornalcielo Records and is touring Europe with Canada-based THUNDEROR.

Sweden-based BATTERING RAM has released The World Belongs To Me single through Uprising Records as of May 10th. The phrase “battering ram" is featured in JUDAS PRIEST’s song Rapid Fire and is also a SAXON album.

Steve Dawson, a founding member of SAXON who was later in OLIVER/DAWSON SAXON, has been jailed for six years for child sex offences going back to the 1990s.

In advance of more new music, Severed Ties is a single from Florida, USA-based solo doom metal act, SOMNENT.

LORDS OF BLACK has a video for the song Can We Be Heroes Again. It is taken from the Mechanics Of Predacity album, which is out through Frontiers Music. The album was produced by Tony Hernando with mixing and mastering by Roland Grapow.

GENERATION STEEL has a new singer, Dirk Meyer (ex-IVORY TOWER), and has uploaded a song called Steelers through El Puerto Records. The line-up is working on a new record. Singer Rio Ullrich and bassist Michael Kaspar have recently left the band. Andreas Drommershausen (bass) and Marc Laukel (drums) are guest musicians.

Indiana, USA-based power metal band IDOL THRONE will release a full-length, entitled A Clarion Call, through Stormspell Records on 31.05.2024. The new album is composed of eight tracks in almost 50 minutes.

ARMORED SAINT has re-signed with Metal Blade for all territories. Everyone is honoured and humbled as usual.

Chile-based heavy metal band HELEGARDH has a video for the song Aún Sigo Creyendo, which comes in advance of a full-length the band recorded last year and will release this year.

Ecuador-based KILL CITY has an album called Darker Days through Doc Gator Records. There is a video for the song Bitter Smile.

Finland-based OCEANHOARSE has recruited former AMORAL man Silver Ots for the bass position and has a single called Killer & The Queen.

Sweden-based VEONITY has welcomed singer Isak Stenvall. Anders Sköld has decided to focus on his guitar playing only. The band will enter the studio this year to record a new album for Scarlet Records.

Switzerland-based keyboard damaged act BAD MARILYN has a song and video called I Die Inside. The band was founded in 2023 and has a forthcoming full-length.

Argentina-based progressive band FUGHU has a demo called Stolen Pictures and has announced another European tour for June. The band toured Mexico in 2019 and appeared in Europe at Night Of The Prog and Ostrow Rock Festival in 2022.

Jeff and Chris Worley, founders of JACKYL, have announced the release of their first solo/duo album entitled WorleyThePirate for May 24.

On its 45th anniversary as a band, DEMON has a new studio album entitled Invincible. The band is booked for the Rock Hard festival this summer.

The new HALL AFLAME album is called Amplifier and available through Rat Pak Records in May. Aside from guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, the band is original bassist Brian Smith, singer Scott Nutter and drummer Bill Raymond.

Rome, Italy-based hard rock band SONS OF THUNDER has uploaded a song called Stronghead. The song is taken from the band's new album Thunderhood, which is out through Time To Kill Records on May 3rd.

USA-based heavy metal band OUT OF DARKNESS, featuring former ICED EARTH drummer Brent E. Smedley, has released a new video for the self-titled song, which is taken from the Out Of Darkness demo.

RAVAGE has released a demo called Spider On The World, which is the band's first release since 2009's The End Of Tomorrow, which was released through Metal Blade Records. There was a self-cover version release called The Return Of The Spectral Rider in 2017. There are videos for the songs Manmade Ice Age, Ravage In Peace and the title track.

Metal Blade Records had Lizzy Borden of the eponymous band at its Las Vegas, Nevada-based heavy metal museum every Saturday in April.

LAKE OF TEARS’ guitarist Daniel Brennare has released The Secrets of The Rain (Movement I), his first solo composition through his own imprint, roQon. The Classical instrumental track is available as a 7”.

Signing to Rockhots Records for the forthcoming album, Mask Of Lies, which is out this June is the UK-based DENDERA. There is a music video for the title and a guest solo by Russ Parrish (a.k.a. Satchel of STEEL PANTHER).

Belgium-based progressive metal band DYSCORDIA released a demo entitled The Road To Oblivion on April 17. Yarne Heylen mixed and mastered it. Members come from GWYLLION, DOUBLE DIAMOND, ARTRACH, ANESTHESY, IMPEDIGON and RHYMES OF DESTRUCTION. The band has opened for PRIMAL FEAR, REVAMP, ENSIFERUM, ALESTORM and AT VANCE.

Guitarist Joe Satriani and Steve Vai are touring under the Satch/Vai banner. They also collaborated on a new three-part musical endeavour called The Sea Of Emotion.

USA-based heavy metal band EMERALD EYE has a demo called Night Without Day. The band was founded in 2020 when another band VANLADE ceased activity.

BABYLON A.D. has a new album and it is called Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day. It will be released through Perris Records on 17.05.2024. It has been six years since the last studio album, Revelation Highway.

They must be Finnish: HALCYON WAY has a three-track digital EP entitled Night Crawling through Agonia Records. The EP features two new compositions and a cover of a MILEY CYRUS song.

OPETH is touring North America in October.

Doom metal band CRYPT SERMON shall release The Stygian Rose through Dark Descent in June. Says singer Brooks Wilson, “I didn't want to feel burdened by heavy metal tropes.”

TROUBLE has recruited Garry Naples of NOVEMBERS DOOM as its drummer. The drummer will be recording on the band’s upcoming studio album. NOVEMBERS DOOM opened for TROUBLE at Heavy Chicago Fest in 2023.

Germany-based doom and stoner metal band HELL IN THE SKIES has an EP called II through metalloscope music. The band terms its music “swamp metal.”

USA-based stoner doom quartet WYNDRIDER will release its second record, entitled Revival, through Electric Valley Records on June 7th. The band has uploaded a song called Motorcycle Witches and explains, “If it’s got two wheels or high heels, you probably can’t afford it and it’s likely trying to kill you.” The group was founded in 2022 and has played at Ohio Doomed & Stoned Festival; Holler Of Doom II and III; Mountains Of Metal 7 and toured throughout the Eastern and Southern USA.

An investment firm called Pophousehas acquired the music catalogue, brand name and likeness and trademarks of KISS. The same company is working on the KISS avatars and will launch an avatar show in 2027. Terms of the deal were not announced, but are understood to be in the neighbourhood of $300m (US).

Greece-based SUBFIRE has a lyric video for the track Samurai, which is taken off from the upcoming album Blood Omen. It will be released by Symmetric Records in May. The concept relates to Japan in the 16th century. The band has organised a show it calls Sinister World Festival, which will be held at the Temple Club, Athens, Greece, on Saturday, May 18th. APOTROPAICO, KOSMOGONIA, XENOVENOUS and NIGHTKILL will appear.

Following an earlier double bypass, Jeff “Mantas” Dunn of VENOM INC. suffered another heart attack in Portugal on Wednesday April 17th. The band’s plans are on hold.

Sweden-based heavy metal group CENTURY has a single from its as-yet-untitled forthcoming full-length called Sacrifice. The album will be released through Electric Assault Records again. The band is touring Europe currently.

Bang Your Head Festival promoter Horst Franz has died of Leukaemia.

WINTERSUN has completed Time II and will have it available on August 30th through Indiegogo. The album has been in the works since 2012’s Time I and been delayed multiple times due to various reasons. The Time package on Indiegogo includes Time II, Time I and what the band calls, “Legendary Early Demos.”

AYREON’s performance at 013 in Tilburg, The Netherlands on September 15, 16 and 17, 2023, performing the album 01011001 in full, is a live Blu-Ray and CD available through Music Theories Recordings on May 17th.

USA-based white metal band MILLENNIAL REIGN will release an album called World On Fire through Ulterium Records on June 14th. Female singer Tiffany Galchutt and drummer Pedro Cortes are new to the act.

DREAM THEATER has announced its 40th Anniversary Tour 2024 - 2025 for Europe this autumn. It is dubbed An Evening With Dream Theater.

STRYPER is touring to celebrate its 40th anniversary. It will follow the band’s acoustic run and the band will play two sets comprised of recent and older material. An album is due late this year.

Norway-based LEPROUS has an album, entitled Melodies Of Atonement, through InsideOutMusic in August. A North American headline tour with guests MONUMENTS and FIGHT THE FIGHT is announced for September and October.

Malaysia-based SHAMASH’s debut album Done With Misery (Nos Pergamos In Domine Saluteum) is available through Rottweiler Records on June 14th. The Christian band’s album is described as “uplifting.”

Deadline Music has announced the May 31st release of a new RATT compilation, which is called Rarities. It contains demo tracks, alternate versions and live recordings.

DEEP PURPLE’s =1 album is out through earMUSIC in July. DEEP PURPLE has fallen off the roster of Australia’s Pandemonium Rocks festival after the organisers were forced to shrink the offering from two stages to one. ALICE COOPER and BLONDIE were kept on.

EVERGREY has a new album, called Theories Of Emptiness, through Napalm Records in June. There is a single called Falling From The Sun, which is a sequel to Ominous from the A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament).album.

Hard rock band SHARK ISLAND releases Memento Mori - Live On The Strip. It was recorded on April 22nd 2022 and available through Deko Entertainment.

Steve Lewis, formerly of DER UNTERMENSCH, has a progressive and instrumental solo project called ViOS and a demo called SlaveForm. It is comprised of the Druj, Abort and Saturation parts.

ONWARD has left vocalist Robert Van War and was looking for a replacement. Guitarist Toby Knapp can be reached through tkbender72@yahoo.com. In short order, Tyler Anderson (GATEKEEPER and ODINFIST) was recruited to record the next album.

TESLA has a double LP edition of Real To Reel Vol I for Record Store Day, April 20. It was originally released on June 5, 2007 and contains cover versions. TESLA is touring the USA using the Keepin' It Real monicker.

Mighty Music announced BIG SUN’s Rite De Passage album for late June.

Metal Blade Records has signed CATEGORY 7, the new project of vocalist John Bush, guitarists Phil Demmel and Mike Orlando, bassist Jack Gibson and drummer Jason Bittner. The band is compared to THIN LIZZY and a self-titled album is available on 26.07.2024. A video for the song In Stitches is out now.

GRIM REAPER’s Steve Grimmett will be remembered at the Wings Of Angels Festival in Swindon, England on November 23rd. His family will attend and there will be a GRIM REAPER cover act.

In advance of a new record called Avenge The Fallen, HAMMERFALL has a single and music video for the song Hail To The King.

Decimate Metalfest of Millet, Alberta, Canada has announced its 2024 Line-up. Bands appearing include NARCOTIC WASTELAND, THE ART OF DECEPTION, TYRANTS DEMISE, SYRYN, AGGRESSION, KELEVRA and TYMO. The Deimate Metalfest is sponsored by Canadian Beats and Coyote Pancake Mix among others.

Every musician must obey the rules and trends and be in a baker’s dozen of projects in order to be hip and modern.


Metallian Demos

OXDRIFT - Same
As soon as the earliest guitar chords, bass sound and slo-mo cymbals come through one knows that Oxdrift is a stoner band through and through and then the fact is confirmed when it blows up into a wave of distortion with a disembodied voice.
The band is named after a town in Canada and the cover could easily be construed as Canadiana. Simple and big sound with a good drum tone. It is just odd that the song is called Unkillable and there is a carcass on the cover. The song contains some electronica unfortunately. No More Mercy is cymbal heavy and the drumming mid-song becomes reminiscent of Saint Vitus. There is a notable bass sound and the vocals change to more of a growl here. You Are Not My People has an effect on the vocals that does not work and is more ridiculous than horrific, a blemish on an otherwise fine demo. The last two tracks are inspired by the Bible’s Book Of Hosea so you know the lyrics will be cruel. The three tracks are 21 minutes in length and can be found at https://oxdrift.bandcamp.com/music. - Ali “The Metallian”

LIVING DEAD - OPEN THE GATES
Prelude is a very heavy metal intro that could be at home on a Warlord or Skullfist record. Any traditional and true metal band could have come up with it to begin its record. Open The Gates is markedly heavier and if the mid-paced brutal deathly metal, albeit with melodies especially in the lead work, was not enough the growls and screams confirm it. By the way, this girl is grateful that Living Dead is not forgetting to include leads. There is a heavy bass sound and even a larky acoustic midsection on the song. Living Dead is starting to come across as the type of band heavy metal fans might appreciate before complaining about the vocals or deathly growl fans might appreciate before complaining of all the melody (I am complaining about the rockabilly guitar interlude right now). Fact is this is a deathly power metal band. The Web, which is about the fabric kind not the electronic one, has a hard chug to it as a plus, but the feigned drums are a negative. There are at least two vocals on the song and backing vocals. Graves has another interlude and a rapping snippet before reverting to wholesome metal. Too bad about the drum machine, the bane of thousands of metal bands. The man/band still has a sound that’s fairly impressive and a growl that is equally so.
A peculiar band. There is some real goodness on this and yet there are a bunch of diversions that should not have been. Even the logo says barbecue restaurant more than ‘heavy metal’ to me. Look how fancy and colourful it is. It is definitely different from the music. Singing of “Creatures Of The Night” makes sense on the last song along with the growls, thrashing and the secondary high pitched vocals. There is a vocabulary lesson there too. The recording ends with Postlude. Go to https://livingdeadband.bandcamp.com - Anna Tergel