Metallian Heavy

Southern Lord will issue Canadian black metal band ISKRA’s Ruins on digipak CD, including a twenty-page booklet with lyrics and liner notes, on July 1st. The band is compared to IMMORTAL and ABSU.

Unique Leader has signed INGESTED from Great Britain. INGESTED will release its as-yet-untitled fourth full-length later this year.

ARKAIK will embark upon a fifteen-date USA headlining tour this summer. The Make America Shred Again Tour 2016 will run from July 2nd through July 24th. Support will be provided by VALE OF PNATH and SINGULARITY.

Germany’s BETRAYAL has a demo called Infinite Circles. The band is compared to AT THE GATES and BEHEMOTH.

Hailing from Timisoara, Romania, grindcore band BLUTRINA has announced the release of its debut album entitled Looney Fuckin’ Grind. The release is scheduled for September through Loud Rage Music.

Kansas-based death metal band UNMERCIFUL will issue a full-length this summer through Unique Leader Records. Titled Ravenous Impulse, the record features the drum work of John Lonstreth (DIM MAK, ORIGIN, ex-GORGUTS, etc.). The band features guitarist Clint Appelhanz (ex-ORIGIN).

US thrash metal band GREEN DEATH has premiered an animated music video for the song One With The Flame. The track is taken from the band’s second album Manufacturing Evil available through EMP Label Group/eOne in USA since April and out in Europe this June through EMP Label Group/SPV.

Selfmadegod Records has issued the first single to Overkill Commando, the debut full-length from Polish grindcore quartet NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST. Abominations Of Annihilation is the single. The album is completed and due for a September release.

OVERKILL will tour Europe in November with support by CROWBAR and thrash metal band DESECRATOR.

MESHUGGAH will tour next autumn with support from HIGH ON FIRE.

Three of the original members of ENTOMBED, Alex Hellid (guitar), Ulf “Uffe” Cederlund (guitar) and Nicke Andersson (drums) are reuniting to perform the band’s early music on the Close-Up Båten cruise, which will leave Stockholm, Sweden on October 27th for a one-day cruise. Hellid and singer LG Petrov have been entangled in a legal battle over the ownership of the name ENTOMBED.

MEGADETH played its first concert with drummer Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK) on Friday, May 20th at the Rock On The Range festival in Columbus, Ohio, USA. MEGADETH recruited Verbeuren to temporarily replace Chris Adler while the man is touring with LAMB OF GOD.

All Of A Sudden Everyone Looooves The Guy: Former MEGADETH drummer Nick Menza died while on stage with OHM at The Baked Potato in Studio City, California on Saturday May 21st 2016. He was 51 years old. OHM’s previous drummer had also died of a heart attack.

LORD OF WAR will release its new full-length Suffer on July 8th through Unique Leader Records.

RIVERS OF NIHIL will embark on another North American tour in support of its album, Monarchy. The quintet will first play a short run of headlining shows before joining BEYOND CREATION and THE ZENITH PASSAGE for a tour that will run from July 8th through July 23rd.

On September 17th, 2016 ANNIHILATOR will perform its first show in Western Canada since 1993. Also appearing will be the recently reformed and original lineup of speed metal pioneers EXCITER at their first Western Canadian performance since 1985. The show will be opened by thrash metal veterans RAZOR and SACRIFICE. Calgary’s GATEKRASHÖR will provide last call entertainment. Go to http://calgarymetalfest.com for information.

Montreal, Canada-based band THE AGONIST has signed a deal with Napalm Records. The band is in the studio recording an album with mallcore producer Mike Plotnikoff.

NOCTEM is recording a new album. The band is at Firework Studio in Valencia, Spain for an album, which is due later this year through Art Gates Records Spain.

HATE ETERNAL, VITAL REMAINS, INANIMATE EXISTENCE and BLACK FAST are touring the USA.

KREATOR will tour Europe in support of its upcoming, yet untitled new record, with SEPULTURA and ABORTED in the winter of 2017.

CANNIBAL CORPSE will headline this year’s The Summer Slaughter Tour, beginning July 23rd. The tour features AFTER THE BURIAL, NILE, SUFFOCATION, KRISIUN and others.

SLAYER and openers ANTHRAX and DEATH ANGEL will tour North America this autumn.

Italy’s melodic death metal band STORM OF PARTICLES will issue a self-titled debut demo on July 1.

Black Tears has announced that Unholy Puppets album by LAST RITES has been released on May, 28th.

Sliptrick Records has issued RAGESTORM’s album The Thin Line Between Hope And Ruin. The Italian band plays death metal.

THUS DEFILED’s An Unhallowed Legacy album is out through Shadowflame Productions.

IMPERIUM DEKADENZ has announced the title for its forthcoming album to be Dis Manibvs. The phrase translates from Latin to ‘To The Spirits Of The Dead’, which basically means ‘In Remembrance’ – an inscription found on antique Roman grave markers. The German black metal band will release its fifth full-length on August 26th.

Sliptrick has signed Israeli thrash metal band CHUGUN. The band’s Virus demo of 2015 is being –reissued by the label.
Italy’s DOMINANCE has a demo out, which is called XX The Rising Vengeance. The band plays death metal.

Italian grindcore band NEID has a demo called Atomoxetine out this July.

TESTAMENT’s next album will definitely be entitled The Brotherhood Of The Snake.

DROWNING’s new album, Senescent Signs, is out through Casket Music. It features new singer Matt Small.

Releasing a new album, called Advent of The Human God, this past March through Season of Mist, Canadian death metal band NECRONOMICON will be hitting the road for a USA/Canada tour with Swedish black metallers MARDUK, label-mates ROTTING CHRIST and Dutch pop trio CARACH ANGREN. The tour will kick off in Fort Lauderdale, FL on September 2nd and end in Austin, TX. on September 25th.

German death metal band REBEL SOULS has a debut album, which will be entitled The Forces Of Darkness and be released through Art Gates.

Heavy Over The Home, the debut release from Perth, Australia’s SANZU is out through Listenable Records. The band had issued the record independently in 2015.

Transcending Records has issued the Depths Of Decay album by Virginia’s ROTTING OBSCENE. This is the band’s debut full-length.

Another project: SCOUR is a grind act comprised of Philip H. Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN, etc.), John Jarvis (PIG DESTROYER), Derek Engemann (CATTLE DECAPITATION), Chase Fraser (CONTINUUM and DECREPIT BIRTH) and Jesse Schobel (STRONG INTENTION). The band’s six-track, self-titled debut was mixed by Dave Otero (CEPHALIC CARNAGE, CATTLE DECAPITATION, COBALT, KHEMMIS) and will see release July 15th through Housecore Records on CD and vinyl formats.

CARNIFEX will release its new album, titled Slow Death, on August 5th through Nuclear Blast Records.

Canadian death thrashers MORTOR have announced their return, along with a new lineup and a new demo, which is entitled Burn Up The Dead. The band will return to the stage for the first time in Ottawa alongside Brazil’s NERVOSA on August 3rd.

Initializing Irreversible Process is the name for the new full-length from Rome, Italy’s DECEPTIONIST. Set for release through Unique Leader next month, Initializing Irreversible Process was recorded with Giuseppe Orlando at Outersound Studio.

DESASTER will be touring Canada and the USA in support of the new album, The Oath Of An Iron Ritual. The run is limited to four shows with Canada’s only stop being in Montreal.

Oklahoma City “progressive death metal” trio DISCHORDIA has completed the recording of an upcoming demo, called Thanatopsis. A release date for Thanatopsis is currently being planned for sometime this summer.

Dasein, the debut full-length from Canadian neoclassical-influenced techno death metal band, FIRST FRAGMENT is out through Unique Leader.

The 10th of June 2016 is the release date for X-TINXION’s first full-length album, which is entitled From The Ashes Of Eden.

Set to release the Mouichido demo Vancouver, Canada’s WITHOUT MERCY will be hitting the road this month for a cross-Canada tour in support. Their demo is a rebirth for the band as it is a re-release of re-recorded material from their 2014 EP Reborn.

GHOUL has released a flexi-single called Wall Of Death, which was recorded exclusively for Decibel’s Flexi Series. The release serves as a precursor to the band’s next full-length, which is set for release in the coming months through Tankcrimes.

MISTUR’s latest full-length, In Memoriam, is out through Dark Essence Records. The band calls its music sognametal. New in the band are vocalist Oliver Øien and drummer Tomas Myklebust.

DORSAL ATLANTICA has a movie called Guerrilha! The movie is based on the band’s return in 2012. There is also a graphic novel about the history of the band (written and drawn by Carlos Lopes) which is out soon. Moreover, the band will record a new album that merges Brazilian music with the band’s style.

INSOMNIUM has written a one-track album called Winter’s Gate, which will be out this September through Century Media. The album is a story of the Vikings.

D.R.I. will release a new EP, called But Wait… There’s More!, on June 10th through Beer City Records.

Art Gates Records has signed Germany’s DYING EMPIRE and will issue its Dystopia album.

Moscow-based death metal band KATALEPSY will release the Gravenous Hour full-length this month through Unique Leader.

COBALT and MANTAR are touring this autumn.

THROES’ This Viper Womb album is out through Aesthetic Death. The band features Australian vocalist James Ludbrook and current SUFFOCATION drummer, Kevin Talley (also ex-MISERY INDEX, ex-SIX FEET UNDER, ex-DYING FETUS and a host more).

Argento Records has announced the release of an album by Dutch black metal act VERWOED, which is entitled Bodemloos. This marks the band’s first recordings since changing monickers from WOUDLOPER.

BLAST OFF‘s guitarist Ruben has left the band after nearly two years together without a reason. The band has a new guitarist called Álex who is known for his work in LETHAL VICE.

San Diego-based crossover band MIZERY has completed its debut LP Absolute Light which is being finalized for a July release. Flatspot Records will release Absolute Light on July 22nd. The album is licensed to Reality Records for a European pressing.


Metallian Hard

Danish heavy metal band SAVAGE MACHINE has signed a management deal with Germany-based Rock'N'Growl Management. SAVAGE MACHINE will be entering the Jailhouse Studio this summer to record a debut album, called Abandon Earth, with Tommy Hansen (PRETTY MAIDS, JORN, HELLOWEEN, etc.) at the controls.

Italian shock rock band SUPERHORRORFUCK will enter the studio in June to record its next album. The band will work with sound engineer and producer Larsen Premoli at RecLab Studio near Milan.

VANEXA's album Too Heavy To Fly is out on the 3rd of June through Punishment 18.

Colorado's doom metal quartet KHEMMIS has confirmed a series of tour dates preceding and including the band's impending performance at the Migration Fest this August. Additionally, the band has entered the studio in order to record a new album.

Doom band DESTROYER OF LIGHT has confirmed a string of tour dates spanning the Western US in late June into mid-July. The band is working on an album.

Italian hard rockers ALCHEMY have a video for the song End Of The Line taken from the debut album Never Too Late, which is scheduled for release on May 31st through Street Symphonies Records.

Tony Harnell has rejoined TNT 18 months after last quitting the band. The man left SKID ROW recently and was again pursuing a solo career. TNT will write new material.

Two progressive metal bands, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME and DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, will join forces for the Transcending The Coma co-headlining tour of Canada and USA this autumn. The trek will run from September 9th through October 15th and includes support from FALLUJAH.

DIAMOND HEAD is touring North America this autumn.

NIHILISTINEN BARBAARISUUS’ next EP Madness Incarnate is out through Symbol Of Domination Productions.

WOLVERINE's first title for the Laser's Edge metal division, Sensory Records, Machina Viva will see worldwide release on July 8th. Recorded and produced by WOLVERINE at various locations throughout Sweden during the autumn and winter months of late 2015 and early 2016, Machina Viva was mixed at Spacelab Studio in Germany by Christian "Moschus" Moos.

ANGEL appeared at the 2016 Vegas Rocks! Hair Metal Awards on May 15th at the Eastside Cannery Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The group received a Glam Rock Legends award in honour of its work. This was the first time the members had shared a stage since the early ‘80s.

Ukrainian modern metal combo AFTERMOON has signed a deal for the worldwide release of their debut album “Phase One” with WormholeDeath Records!"

Guitarist Peter Scheithauer of KILLING MACHINE and TEMPLE OF BRUTALITY has signed a management deal with Germany-based Rock'N'Growl Management. The band is working on putting a band together.

COUGH will issue Still They Pray, its first full-length in over five years, this month through Relapse Records.

THE OBSESSED kicked off its first tour in over a decade in Washington, DC, USA. Support is provided by THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX and KARMA TO BURN.

FATES WARNING commemorated the 30th anniversary of its Awaken The Guardian album with a show at the Keep It True festival on April 30th in Germany. The band featured the Awaken The Guardian lineup including singer John Arch. The band’s Theories Of Flight album is now out through InsideOut. Guitarist Mike Abdow is taking the place of Frank Aresti for touring purpose. The latter man has day job commitments.

UDO is issuing a DVD filmed this year during the tour in which the man played ACCEPT songs for the last time. The band is also working on a new album next year.

DEF LEPPARD will play on the Good Morning America show on US channel ABC on June 21st. The band is touring USA.

BLIND GUARDIAN is touring Canada and USA beginning September 9th. GRAVE DIGGER is supporting. BLIND GUARDIAN will be playing ProgPower USA festival.

SWEET CREATURE is a new hard rock group featuring Martin Sweet, guitarist for CRASHDÏET, on vocals. His brother Michael of TOXICROSE is on drums, Linus Nirbrant of THIS ENDING is on rhythm guitar and Tin Star of GEMINI FIVE is on bass. The group has an as-yet untitled full-length due later this year.

Frontiers Music has signed the Sweden-based progressive metal band SEVENTH WONDER, which features KAMELOT singer Tommy Karevik, to a multi-album deal.

Sins Of The Elders is the forthcoming full-length album from Massachusetts-based doom metal band CONCLAVE. It was recorded at Raven's Head Studio in Allston, Massachusetts with Eric Braunschweiger producing. The band features former members of WARHORSE, GRIEF, DISRUPT, DESOLATE and MARTYRVOR.

THE DROWNING’s Senescent Signs album is out through Casket Music. The band is compared to PARADISE LOST.

MOTÖRHEAD’s dead frontman Lemmy Kilmister is honoured by the German postal service through a collection of stamps.

MÖTLEY CRÜE: The End is a concert film that will be at select big screens for one night on Tuesday, June 14.

Romanian atmospheric band FALSE REALITY will issue its debut album, End of Eternity, this autumn through Loud Rage Music.

Pitch Black Records has signed Greek power metal band CRIMSON FIRE and announced the band’s next release Fireborn for June 3rd.

Paul Di'Anno, who recently has been wheelchair-bound, has been hospitalized for unnamed medical issue, thus leading to the cancellation of the June 2016 tour of Brazil.

Swedish “medieval metal” band BLACK MAGIC FOOLS has a demo called Soul Collector.

ELTON JOHN, SCORPIONS, OZZY OSBOURNE, JUDAS PRIEST and many others say ‘hello.’: MANOWAR has announced a farewell tour, which will begin in Germany.

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford will join the Japanese bubble gum metal band BABYMETAL on stage at the 2016 Alternative Press Music Awards, which will take place on July 18th at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

FEMME FATALE's second album, One More For The Road, has been released through FnA Records. The album was recorded in 1990, but was shelved once the band was dropped by its then label MCA.

FOUR BY FATE, the band featuring former SKID ROW and FREHLEY’S COMET members John Regan, Tod Howarth, Rob Affuso and Patrick James Gasperini, has an album called Relentless, which will be released on June 3rd through Amazing Record.

Only a retarded wuss would shoot an animal from afar. Real men face their enemies in the eye.


Metallian Demos

ARAPACIS – SYSTEM DECEIVE
Canada’s hard working Arapacis is back with a new record and there is much to absorb. Listening to the record allows this writer to not only offer Metallian readers a review, but to also explain why this band will not make it. The band and readers will feel down at best and be mad at worst, but let it not be said Metallian is another one of those run-of-the-mill hypocritical commercial rags.
It is so obvious that these guys (really one Jerry Fielden) have worked hard on the record. From the hard rocking opener title track with the lush mid-section to the quiet Streets of Anger, whose title must be ironic, to the cryptic and doomy Extinction to the old school NWOBHM Trespasser (which is a personal favourite) to the you-can-guess-the-style Lady Lonely Blues to the progressive Engines Of Despair, whose title defines capitalism to a T, and on this band refuses to stand still or adhere to one style. This is where a fan cannot clutch on to a certain vaunted style and make the band his or her own. Kudos to the band for doing what it wishes to, but it must be understood that this comes at a cost and the band will pay in terms of popularity.
A couple of other notes: the sound is occasionally amazing and, especially so for an independent effort. Finally, glancing at the intimate photo of the two permanent members in the booklet makes one wonder why other bands do not follow the same style in their official band photographs. Let’s see members of Judas Priest or Slayer or, heck, Cannibal Corpse embrace for their photo in the same way. Ignore the last quip and head over to http://www.arapacis.com. - Ali “The Metallian”

VULTURIC EYE - VULTURE MANIFESTO
The UK trio listed as Vulture 417, Vulture 613 and Vulture 9146, are one of those mysterious bands. Under the faded out images of the band, ‘members’ text is redacted as if to protect a secret list of veteran musicians. Beside the absence of the member's real names the claims that the band, to quote the bio, 'forgoes the traditional rising from the ashes, have always been there whether you like them or not and have no need for recognition' adds some air of curiosity. This EP is 19 minutes and three songs long. Musically the band are surprisingly progressive sounding, the opening of Mars Sector 6 is not unlike a Rush, Queensryche mash up. The following minutes wouldn't be out of a place on an ‘80s Fates Warning or Manilla Road album and vocals can take such credits too. Legacy Of Failure offers a faster pace but being eight minutes long the listener waits for the inevitable change in mood and breaks and they do arrive. The song has a catchy feel with a chorus that declares 'Bow to me faithfully ... Behold your legacy of failure', this fuels the almost nihilistic nature of the band reflected not only in the lyrics but the bio as well. The New Sound Of The Vulture is more mid-paced while also embodying somewhat of an 'epic' metal feel. Cast your aspersions at www.vulturiceye.com. – Anna Tergel

BLACK ABSINTHE - EARLY SIGNS OF DENIAL
The Toronto, Canada trio have released 3 EPs, Augusta in 2012, Noise Complaint and Live At Coalition both in 2014, before Early Signs Of Denial and this six song 26 minutes long release is labelled as a LP. The band seems to take some influence from US rock and hard rock bands of years past and perhaps take a bit of inspiration from NWOBHM. The sound is not too dissimilar to hard rock productions of the 80's although the vocals of Jack Cerre is closer to modern grunge or metalcore style that is of course more a feature of more recent times. The band's 'for fans of' lists Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Mastodon among others. The songs here are often lighter or not as heavy as those bands' but perhaps the addition of Coheed and Cambria in that list is meant to balance things out. The riffing that pops up in Now, the fifth song, is one of the few sections of speed in an otherwise mid-paced release. The closer Winter, the self-described crescendo of the album, has a good start but falls back into something akin to sludge rock before surprising again. Being the longest song at over six minutes it has time for a few changes in pace. Absinthe served at www.facebook.com/blackabsintheband. – Anna Tergel