Metallian Heavy

Canada-based SACCAGE has signed with Music-Records for the reissue of the Khaos Mortem album. Its mastering was done by Joel Grind of TOXIC HOLOCAUST.

LOCK UP has picked up drummer Adam Jarvis (MISERY INDEX and PIG DESTROYER) as the replacement for the departed Nick Barker.

Metalcore act GHOST IN THE ATTIC will release a 2020 demo called Lost In Transmission.

Italy-based INSTIGATE’s Echoes Of A Dying World EP is out through Everlasting Spew Records on the 5th of June. The death metal band was founded by guitarist Stefano Rossi Ciucci and the bassist Riccardo Rogari in 2019. Members were in DEMIURGON and BLOODTRUTH.

Germany-based crust death metal band DIGEST! has a demo called Hard To Digest.

US-based TITHE issued the Penance album through Tartarus Records on vinyl LP, digital and MC format on 15th May.

After losing singer Sy Keeler ONSLAUGHT has recruited singer Dave Garnett. The man performed with ONSLAUGHT in Sweden last year. ONSLAUGHT will release a new album, entitled Generation Antichrist, through AFM Records in August.

Following the departure of two members NERVOSA guitarist Prika Amaral has recruited singer Diva Satanica (BLOODHUNTER), bassist Mia Wallace (formerly ABBATH, TRIUMPH OF DEATH), and drummer Eleni Nota (MASK OF PROSPERO and CROQUE MADAME). Former members Fernanda Lira and drummer Luana Dametto have banded with now former BURNING WITCHES’ guitarist Sonia “Anubis” Nusselder and former HAGBARD guitarist Tainá Bergamaschi in a new death metal project CRYPTA.

More changes at the OBSCURA camp. David Diepold (BENIGHTED, HATE, BELPHEGOR, COGNIZANCE, etc.), has joined OBSCURA on drums. Guitarist Christian Münzner has rejoined the band after a six-year absence.

TRIPTYKON has released the Requiem (Live At Roadburn 2019) DVD/CD through Prowling Death Records/Century Media Records.

Black/death metal band FORNICUS has an album called Sulphuric Omnipotence out through Negative Earth Records on 15.06.2020.

Germany-based thrash metallers NECRONOMICON will re-release its Invictus album through Metal Scrap Records this month.

Released on May 22nd on Bizarre Leprous Production, the new album from BASEMENT TORTURE KILLINGS is Lessons In Murder.

CARRION VAEL’s God Killer is out through Horror Pain Gore Death in June. The US-based band is inspired by Swedish death metal.

The Netherlands-based sludge/black metal unit THROWING BRICKS issues its debut full-length What Will Be Lost was issued by Tartarus Records in May.

Finland-based funeral doom band CONVOCATION has an album called Ashes Coalesce through Everlasting Spew Records on 03.07.2020.

GIGANTOMACHIA has a video for the single Immortal.

California, USA-based death metal band VOID CEREMONY has a single called Sacrosanct Delusions. The song precedes the band’s impending debut LP, Entropic Reflections Continuum: Dimensional Unravel, which is out through 20 Buck Spin this month.

Calgary, Canada-based RED CAIN has a music video for their track Juliet featuring Daniel Louden (BENEVOLENT LIKE QUIETUS). The track comes from Kindred: Act I released through Sliptrick Records.

Italy-based FULCI premiere a new video for Apocalypse Zombie at Slam Worldwide. The clip was shot by Salvatore Delle Femmine during the release party for the band’s last album, Tropical Sun (Time To Kill Records), in Milan.

SEPTICFLESH will release the Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX performance of 2019 in Mexico on DVD through Season Of Mist next month.

Coming June 15th on Lore Breaker Records is new album from ZEBADIAH CROWE, Host Rider. The band is compared to GORGOROTH.

Eindhoven Metal Meeting will take place in December. It is SUFFOCATION’s last European show with Frank Mullen. Also appearing are GOD DETHRONED, CHAPEL OF DISEASE and many others.

SCABBARD will issue an album called Nonsense War through Awakening Records, but a date is not specified yet.

Belgium-based black metallers SERCATI has a role-playing game for the track The Nightstalker. This role-playing game is based on the lyrics and on the book Le journal Du Nightstalker.

EXIT’s Traces Of Human Existence will be out through Art Gates in June.

A reference to gun carrying nutcases? Ex-DEVOURMENT guitarist Kevin Clark returns with new band TEXAS MURDER CREW. The band’s debut Everyone’s Last Breath shall be issued on Comatose Music in August.

MERIDIAN DAWN’s The Fever Syndrome is out through Seeing Red Records on 10.07.2020. The band is compared to IN FLAMES.

Vancouver-based SAINTS OF DEATH has an album called Ascend To The Throne through Head Rattle Productions INC in July. They are releasing the first single Repentance in July.

Canada-based thrash metal band ANONYMUS will be releasing its next album La Bestia through Bam&co Heavy this month. Known for its discography of both French and English releases La Bestia is the first full-length that will be completely in Spanish.


Metallian Hard

FIREWIND, featuring a new line-up, will have its new and self-titled album out through AFM this month.

ENUFF Z'NUFF will release a new album, entitled Brainwashed Generation, through Frontiers Music in July.

Former PRONG Member Dan Laudo has Joined alternative rock band ALLIGATOR BLOOD.

Austria-based BLACK CORONA has an album called The Mission through Art Gates.

Argentina-based FUGHU has a lyric video for the song Right From The Bone, which is taken from the Lost Connection album.

Hard rock band BLACK OLD SCRATCH has an EP called Black On White through Volcano Records.

CHAOS OVER COSMOS is a Polish-Australian project comprised of two members who have never met. The progressive/deathly/electronic band’s The Ultimate Multiverse will be released by Narcoleptica Productions on the 20th of June.

ENCHANTMENT'S 1994 doom metal album Dance The Marble Naked, which was issued by Century Media, is receiving its first US release through Transcending Records in July. The band’s demo is included.

Australia-based progressive metal band IRONSTONE has a demo called Prophecy.

Ecuador-based heavy metal trio BLACK SUN will be releasing a new EP called Silent Enemy through Rockshots Records in September.

OPETH frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt will score the upcoming Netflix serial Clark.

Metalocalypstick, the Canadian festival that puts an emphasis on women in metal and rock has announced the cancellation of its 2020 edition for June 27th and 28th in Lone Butte, British Columbia.

MANOWAR is following up its final tour with a 40th-anniversary tour in 2021.

Dino Cazares has told an interviewer that FEAR FACTORY has been sidelined for the last three years due to lawsuits.

ANNIHILATOR founder and guitarist Jeff Waters is hoping to reunite with former singer Coburn Pharr for a tour commemorating the 30th anniversary of the act’s 1990 record Never, Neverland for 2021.

DOKKEN will release an album called The Lost Songs: 1978-1981 through Silver Lining Music in August. It is a compilation of demo material from the band’s early days as a demo act.

VOIVOD has a three-track 12-inch vinyl and digital EP called The End Of Dormancy. It shall be issued by Century Media in July.

Metalville Records is issuing LIONHEART’s The Reality Of Miracles album next month.

Swedish rocking metal act OXIDIZE have signed with Wormholedeath for their Dark Confessions album, which was set for digital release on 22.05.2020.

Issue number six of Metalegion magazine is available now and features 92 pages, posters and a free CD. Go to metalegion.com for information.

Right-wingers are allergic to what is good, common sense and logic.


Metallian Demos

IRONIC PUNISHMENT DIVISION - THE GREAT AWAKENING
Neil Hess' one man follow up to 2018's Come And Take It EP is 10 songs and 44 minutes long. The CD liner notes feature a 'decide for yourself' rant of clichés about freedom of thought and expression that end with a bible verse. The freedom concept that has been abused to excuse disregarding common sense and science is certainly the nadir of the current era. Somewhat ironically the first song on The Great Awakening is called Orange Man Bad. With lyrics like I can think for myself the irony is indeed ramped up. The aforementioned rant obviously extends to the lyrics. The title track is next and like the opener features over produced vocals. It also features heavy and thick sounding guitars and bass. Demons Call sounds doomy and with a too loud mix. Douglas Schroeder provides a guest solo. Slumber Is My Guide is a sleepy intermission type song. Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God is back to the same thick loud sound. Trollslayer is mostly faster paced and a commentary on social media, of course. The Hermit doesn't offer much, however Anxiety is catchy and is a more properly structured song. Ode To Greta does not deserve a listen or comment and must be skipped. The closing song is almost eight minutes long and is a cleverly titled Time Wounds All Heels. It is slow and doomy again. Its final two minutes features indecipherable voices.
The CD art doesn't necessarily match the style of the music within it. ironicpunishmentdivision.bandcamp.com. – Anna Tergel