Metallian Heavy

Canada-based black metal trio LIMINAL SHROUD will release an album called All Virtues Ablaze through Willowtip Records on August 5th.

Ukraine-based Propaganda based in Mykolaiv has removed all Russian and Belarusian artists from its estore in response to the Russian invasion of its country and shelling of its town. The imprint reports that LUCIFUGUM is working on a new album, SATANIC CORPSE’s Belita Adair, who had been ill, is incommunicado and American label Dark Horizon Records has illegally printed LUCIFUGUM Instinct Prevelance T-shirts after having delayed the band two years for a CD re-issue of the same. Five LUCIFUGUM albums dating from 1996 to 2002 are being re-released as LPs by GoatowaRex. A portion of the funds is donated to the Ukrainian army.

BLOODRAIN’s Resurgam album was issued by Ketzer Records on 26.05.2022.

Germany-based black metal band LUNAR CHALICE has an album called Transcendentia: The Shadow Pilgrimage through Iron Bonehead Productions.

Australia-based DENOUNCEMENT PYRE has a lyric video for The Liberating Fires Of Moloch single. The track is from band’s Forever Burning album, which will be released through Agonia Records this month. The album was recorded at the band’s own studio, apart from the drums, which were recorded at The Black Lodge Studio.

Czech Republic-based techno death metal band NEUROTIC MACHINERY will issue a full-length album called A Loathsome Abberation (sic) through Bizarre Leprous Prod. this summer. It is a concept album about one’s personal demons. The act will have an official release party at its very own summer festival Husman Fest, taking place in Tachov on July 16, 2022. Headlining this festival will be MASTER.

OTUS has signed to Time To Kill Records for the release of its Torch album. Fabrizio Aromolo is on vocals and keyboards, Daniele Antolini is on bass, Fabio Listrani and Brunomaria Cosenza are on guitars and Leopoldo Russo Ceccotti drums.

Early INCANTATION bassist Ronnie Deo died on April 12th.

Italy-based crust group SCHELETRO will release a new album called Un Feto Schiacciato Senza Tre Falangi through Time To Kill Records in September. It is a concept album delving into how patriarchy ends in suicide and related topics.

Sweden and USA-based black metal band VAKAREN is working on finalizing the recording of a third full-length. In the meantime, the band has uploaded a song called The Personification Of Time & Dust.

USA-based MATSUNAGA WAS RIGHT has an album called Born In Wire through Horror Pain Gore Death. The band’s sound is described as similar to AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED. The release’s CD has reflective laser etching on its outside rim.

USA-based REBIRTH has issued a demo called Live: American Hellion Metal. It was recorded with the group’s early line-up during the band’s first tour in 2007. The band is working on a new full-length.

DEATH cover band LEFT TO DIE featuring early DEATH members guitarist Rick Rozz and bassist Terry Butler will tour the USA this summer. The band is expected to play the 1988 Leprosy album in its entirety. Openers are SKELETAL REMAINS and MORTUOUS.

PIGWEED and DREAMS IN PERIL are touring the USA.

NIGHTFALL has a video for the track Meteor Gods, which was recorded during the At Night We Play concert in Athens in November 2021. The band has announced a live EP, entitled In The Temple Of Ishtar, featuring two tracks from this show, for July 22nd.

Tennessee, USA-based QUIESCENT MANTIS has a song and lyric video for the song Shake The Cage. The band is compared to KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and MACHINE HEAD.

Burning Coffin Records and Dawnbreed Records have come together to release the Eternal Gloom: A Void Of Agony And Repugnancy EP from Chile-based death metal act PUTRID EVOCATION. This 2021 EP will be available on May 13th on compact disk and on vinyl in 2023. It is the band’s first release since 2014.

UNLEASHED canceled its Saturday, May 7th show at the Incineration Fest in London, England when drummer Anders Schultz broke his ribs in an accident.

RIBSPREADER has a new album called Crypt World through Xtreem Music.

Osmose Productions will release Y.A.HW.E.H, the new album by France-based black metal band HATS BARN on CD this month. An LP version will follow.

Another demo re-released: BARBARIAN SWORDS’ Crusaders Of The Apocalypse – The Return is a release of the band’s demo with bonus rehearsal and live tracks through Negra Nit, Negre planY.

Oregon, USA-based ANCIENT NORTH has a demo called The Gates and another called Berzerker. The solo act professes to black metal.

PREDATORY LIGHT’s Death And The Twilight Hours album is out through 20 Buck Spin now. The band’s previous release was out in 2016.

New York City, USA-based black metal act BOG BODY release its debut LP, Cryonic Crevasse Cult, through Profound Lore Records.

BEHEMOTH will release a new album, called Opvs Contra Natvram, through Nuclear Blast on 16.09.2022. There is a video for the single, Ov My Herculean Exile.

BETWEEN THE KILLINGS will release The Killing Quartet Volume 1 – Reflection Of Murder through Comatose Music EP on July 1st. The band features current and former members of HORRIFIC DEMISE, GORGASM, LIVIDITY, COLOSSUS, MORTAL DECAY and RUPTURE CHRIST.

Sweden-based VAGUS/INSISION has a demo called Sulfurous. This recording is dedicated to the Slovak metal army and foremost Juro Immortal Haríň. The band was founded in 1997.

IMMORTAL PAIN of Saudi Arabia has uploaded a song called Unhealed. The band, which was founded in 2005, is promising to keep uploading new music.

Profound Lore shall release the debut album by REEKING AURA, entitled Blood And Bonemeal, in July. A song called Seed The Size Of A Spider’s Eye is available now. The band was founded by guitarists Ryan Lipynsky (UNEARTHLY TRANCE and THE HOWLING WIND) and Rick Habeeb (GREY SKIES FALLEN).

Brazil and UK-based BRUTTA is a relatively new trio featuring singer and guitarist Adriano Ribeiro (ATHEMON), bassist Tom MacLean (ATHEMON and ex-HAKEN) and drummer Gledson Gonçalves who nonetheless have many years of experience working together. The band has a self-titled demo and a video available.

Iron Bonehead Productions will release Hema Ignis Necros, a new mini-album by France-based RITUALIZATION in August. It is the band’s first release with new singer and bassist Daethorn (MERRIMACK). The cover artwork was illustrated by Chris Moyen.

USA-based black/death metal band HIERARCHY has issued a 2022 Promo.

Slither In Slime, the new album by Romania-based death metal group ROTHEADS, will be released through Memento Mori on July 25th.

EXCITER, VIO-LENCE, CORONER and LICH KING are conducting a mini-tour of the USA.

Italy-based NUBIVAGANT will issue The Wheel And The Universe LP through Amor Fati Productions this month.

Greece-based black metal group MEDIEVAL DEMON is streaming the track Black Coven from the upcoming Black Coven album, which will be released through Hells Headbangers this summer.

Seattle, Washington, USA-based black/death metal band HISSING has an album, called Hypervirulence Architecture, through Profound Lore Records in July. The band was founded in 2014.

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER singer Trevor Strnad has killed himself. He had suffered from depression and alcoholism. He was 41.

Hells Headbangers will release Bathe The Babe In Bats’ Blood debut full-length by SPITER in the autumn. The band plays thrash metal.

Sweden-based SAILOR HUNTER has released its self-titled EP through Inverse Records. There is a video for the song Scarred.

Greece-based WAMPYRINACHT has issued an album called Night Of The Desecration through Iron Bonehead Productions.

DEFECTED DECAY will release the CD version of its Troops Of Abomination album through Silent Watcher Records in July. It was mastered by Dan Swanö.

Canada-based thrashers TRUENT have a video for the song This Verdant Coil. The song is from the Through The Vale Of Earthly Torment demo.

AS I LAY DYING‘s bassist/vocalist Josh Gilbert has left the band to pursue other music. The band has replaced him with Ryan Neff of MISS MAY I for the Two Decades of Destruction US Tour this June and July and European festivals.

GAEREA will embark on a Latin America tour. The tour will kick off in Brazil on November 15th.

Los Angeles, California, USA-based OUR DYING WORLD claims to have taken a melodic turn from its metalcore sound on its new demo, Hymns Of Blinding Darkness. The band has a keyboardist.

Spain-based black/death metal outfit NOCTEM has joined the MNRK Heavy roster with plans to release a new full-length later this year.

Italy-based CULTØ has signed to Time To Kill Records for the release of its debut album, Of the Sun. The band is Dave – vocals, Panta – drums, Ema and John Pino Lisi – guitars and BT on bass. The band is compared to both IN FLAMES and BLOODBATH.

BLASPHEMOUS CREATION’s Beyond The Grave is out through Horror Pain Gore Death Productions. The EP features self-cover versions from the band’s 2006 to 2009 period.

DISMEMBER pulled out of the Maryland Deathfest last month as members are unvaccinated and the USA demands visitors be vaccinated before they board an aeroplane to the country.

The black metal band ODYRMOS has an album simply entitled Odyrmos in July. The label is Belfry Records. ODYRMOS is the personal project of Andrew Tsekrekos of Argos, Greece. This album is half comprised of black metal and half of dark ambient/dungeon synth pop music.

Canada-based CONCRETE FUNERAL has a single upload called LAFH, which is the band’s tribute to the Loud As Hell festival.

Western Canada’s Decimate Metal Fest is a two-day open-air extreme music event being hosted in High River, Alberta June 24th and 25th. Among others appearing are PLANET EATER, ARRIVAL OF AUTUMN and SNAKEPIT. More information at Decimatemetalfest.com.

Italy-based thrash Metal band CRIMINAL MADHOUSE CONSPIRACY has signed a record deal with Time To Kill Records.

EXHORDER recruited former CANNIBAL CORPSE guitarist Pat O’Brien for its concert at the Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore, Maryland, USA last month. The show came three months after guitarist Marzi Montazeri left EXHORDER. O’Brien was discharged from CANNIBAL CORPSE after an episode fuelled with vandalism, destruction, paranoia and general NRA gun nut behaviour.

MOONSHADE, which was previously on Art Gates Records, has a demo called As We Set The Skies Ablaze on July 22nd. There is a single called Epitaph. The band was founded in 2011 and is compared to IN FLAMES and ARCH ENEMY.

TeufelsZeug Records has issued EXTERMINAS’ Attain Salvation album. The black metal band is based in Italy.

Poland-based grindcore band HERIDA PROFUNDA has an upcoming album called Power To The People. It is out through 7 Degrees Records on July 22nd.

HAIDUK, the solo project of Luka Milojica, has a video for the song Morph off the Diabolica demo. The entirety of HAIDUK’s discography, which spans four full-lengths, takes place in the fantasy medieval realm of Callost.

Keyboard-laden NAZGUL RISING based in Italy has a demo called Cycles Of Primal Chaos.

WITCHERY will release a new album, entitled Nightside, through Century Media Records on 22.07.2022. CARCASS singer Jeff Walker and MERCYFUL FATE guitarist Hank Shermann appear as guests.

Time To Kill Records has signed Texas, USA-based death metallers MARTYRED. Formed in 2003, by founding guitarist Mike DeBord, MARTYRED went on hiatus in 2010 and reformed in 2017. A full-length is expected in the autumn.

CROWBAR and SPIRIT ADRIFT will tour the USA using The Riff Beast Tour monicker this July and August.

Vancouver, Canada-based THIRTEEN GOATS has uploaded a song called Return To Ruin off its Servants Of The Outer Dark debut demo, which is out on July 1st.

ARCHSPIRE‘s Bleed The Future album won the 2022 JUNO Award for Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year.


Metallian Hard

Italy-based hard rock group RAIN has a new single called A New Tomorrow. The song is the first single from the band's upcoming album due to be released in 2022. The band’s line-up is Evil Mala – vocals, Amos and Freddy V – guitars, Gabriele Ravaglia –bass and drummer Gunner.

White metal Americans BROTALITY will issue The Woods Will End You album through Rottweiler Records on June 3rd. John Haring is the drummer now.

Formed in 2020, GALLADORN is a two-piece power metal band comprised of U.S. multi-instrumentalist Chris Johansson and British vocalist Craig Cairns. The Cauldron Born single is inspired by author Lloyd Alexander’s The Chronicles Of Prydain fantasy series.

After urging its fans to vote for the band JUDAS PRIEST has been accepted to be inducted into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in November. The band was on the ballot in 2020 as well. Former guitarist KK Downing will appear with the band.

ONWARD will issue an album, entitled Of Epoch And Inferno, through Cruz Del Sur later this year. The record features singer Robert Van War of ATTIKA. The man is playing several solo shows in the USA as well.

TAD MOROSE will issue an album called March Of The Obsequious through GMR music Group in September. Andreas Silen of LACK OF FAITH is the second guitarist.

CHARLOTTE’s Self-Titled album is being issued through Eönian Records. This is a compilation of the band’s 1980s’ material. The line-up is Eric Ganz - lead vocals, Nick DiBacco and Vinnie Cacciotti – guitar, Chris Colovas – bass and drummer Eric D. Brewton.

Germany-based IMPACT has an independent single called Hometown.

Los Angeles, California-based LEATHER DUCHESS has a full-length demo called White Leather. The band is also working on a new demo.

CRADLE OF FILTH has signed with Napalm Records. The theatrical goth band had issued five albums on Nuclear Blast. CRADLE OF FILTH also parted ways with guitarist Richard Shaw and keyboardist Anabelle Iratni. The former was replaced for the band's shows by Donny Burbage, while the latter was displaced by Zoe Marie Federoff. The band is opening for DANZIG and also headlining shows with FRAYLE and MISFIRE in Canada and the USofA this month.

LOUDNESS’ Sunburst album is being licensed worldwide by earMUSIC and available this July.

HAIL MARY, featuring former/future LEATHERWOLF members is releasing a single from its upcoming album Disturbing The Peace. HAIL MARY features the rhythm of Olivieri, Howe, and Gayer, formerly of the band LEATHERWOLF. Disturbing The Peace was produced and engineered by Tom Fletcher (DOKKEN, etc.) and was part of a development deal with Epic Records back in 1989.

DOKKEN will tour the USA this summer.

GREAT WHITE has parted ways with singer of four years Mitch Malloy and replaced him with Andrew Freeman of LAST IN LINE.

SCORPIONS postponed the first three concerts of the European leg of its 2022 world tour due to an injury suffered by guitarist Matthias Jabs. The band and openers WHITESNAKE will return to North America later this year.

THE QUIREBOYS’ fired founder and singer Spike has reunited with his co-founder Guy Bailey and original band bassist Nigel Mogg and is writing new songs and finishing old ones with an eye on a new album.

Norway-based HIGH ELECTRIC has a demo called Walls Fall Down. The band is compared to WOLFMOTHER, AEROSMITH and BLACK SABBATH. The members hail from bands like SAHG, FAITH CIRCUS and EMMERHOFF & THE MELANCHOLY BABIES.

DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess will conduct a two-month solo tour of the USA called An Evening With Jordan Rudess from June to August. The dates will mix music with talk.

More keyboards: Synthesizer-oriented pomp pop rock band ANTHEA will have an album called Tales Untold through Rockshots Records on 22.08.2022. The title track is available now.

The band has keyboards, violins and cello and yet calls itself “death metal.” Confused pop rockers TYRANNOS have hired MORBID ANGEL drummer Scott Fuller for the new demo, Spears Of The Aten.

QUEENSRŸCHE has announced Digital Noise Alliance as the title for its next album, which is due through Century Media Records in October.

AVANTASIA has a single, entitled The Wicked Rule The Night, from the act’s A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society, which is out through Nuclear Blast Records this autumn. PRIMAL FEAR singer Ralf Scheepers guests on the single.

USA-based progressive metal band PYRAMID has a demo called Validity. It goes without saying that vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens is a guest.

BLIND GUARDIAN has announced The God Machine as the title for its next album, which is expected through Nuclear Blast Records on September 2nd. The cover artwork for the album was designed by Peter Mohrbacher.

Destination Onward: The Story Of Fates Warning is a book by Jeff Wagner out on July 15th. The story of FATES WARNING was written in conjunction with the members of the band.

Bassist Marten Andersson (STEELHEART, LIZZY BORDEN and more) has joined LITA FORD for her 2022 concerts. Andersson takes over from Marty O'Brien who became the touring bassist for DAUGHTRY.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY was forced to postpone two concerts on its current U.S.A. tour as singer and guitarist Zakk Wylde had lost his voice.

Australia-based ETHEREAL REALM has issued its debut demo Enter The Realm. The band is compared to IRON MAIDEN and formed after a ‘musicians wanted’ advertisement on Facebook in 2019.

JONES STREET’s Out Of The Gutter is out through Eönian Records. Out of The Gutter features tracks produced by Vince Neil (MÖTLEY CRÜE) and Steve Stevens (BILLY IDOL).

Yet another project: Former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno has picked up Croatian musicians to form a new project called WARHORSE. The act has a DVD single and played a free ‘thank-you’ show in Zagreb, Croatia on May 21st. The Stop The War/The Doubt Within single is limited to 666 copies.

LORDI's founding guitarist AMEN has quit the band. He will continue with is solo act AMEN-RA.

Extreme pop keyboards: solo synthesizer act DAIDALOS, featuring drummer/pianist Tobias Püschner formerly of the technical thrash band REVOLT, has a demo called The Expedition. A track called Icewind is available now.

Ian Arkley of MY SILENT WAKE and GUILLOTINE DREAM has a new folk solo album called Two.

On the occasion of the release of its new album, DEF LEPPARD performed an invitation-only concert at the Whisky A Go Go in in Los Angeles, California, USA for SiriusXM listeners on May 26th. The show was part of SiriusXM's Small Stage Series.

Sweden-based SOILWORK will release an album called Övergivenheten through Nuclear Blast Records on 19.08.2022. There is a video for the title track.

KING’S X has signed with InsideOut Music and will issue its new record this year. It will be the band’s first studio album since 2008. The band is touring North America followed by Europe.

Both GUNS N' ROSES and MEGADETH cancelled their appearances at the Welcome To Rockville concert last month. The former band was cancelled due to an approaching storm while the latter band’s absence was described as being due to travel delays.

L.A. GUNS has hired drummer Shawn Duncan to replace Shane Fitzgibbon. As support to the Checkered Past of 2021 the band is touring the USA this summer and autumn. Fitzgibon’s wife is pregnant.

ANDY MARTONGELLI, guitarist for ELLEFSON and ARTHEMIS, has released a new video for the instrumental song Army Of Darkness, which was inspired by the film of the same name.

A play about MÖTLEY CRÜE called The Crüe: Underneath The Dirt Lies The Truth is playing at Fringe Fest 2022 in California, USA.

HELLOWEEN has issued a 3D video for the song Best Time, which is off the group’s self-titled album. ARCH ENEMY singer Alissa White-Gluz makes a cameo.

EXTREME has had to cancel its appearance at the M3 Rock Festival due to several COVID-19 infections within the ranks of the members and its crew.

AEROSMITH has cancelled its June and July Las Vegas residency as singer Steven Tyler has returned to rehab for alcoholism. The band’s statement noted that the man had foot surgery and pain recently, which led him to the bottle.

FATE GEAR keyboardist Yuri will no longer be a regular member due to joining UNPREDIX. Kurosaki of REVOLDIA and GLITTER TEARS will bang on the keys for FATE GEAR in the near future.

Hamburg, Germany-based VOLDT has a demo called Vandalism.

THE OBSESSED’s Scott "Wino" Weinrich and drummer Brian Costantino have recruited bassist Chris Angleberger (TRANQUILIZER) and guitarist Jason Taylor (WITCHES OF GOD) and are playing USA shows. THE OBSESSED will play at this year's Ripplefest Texas festival on July 21-24.

USA-based heavy and doom metal act ELLIOTT’S KEEP has a demo called Vulnerant Omnes, which shall be released also on vinyl through NoSlip Records. The name was picked when singer Glenn Elliott of the members’ band MARAUDER died in 2004.

Sound And Action - Rare German Metal Vol. 2 is a new compilation from ZYX Music featuring bands like GIPSY, AXON, RAMPAGE, MEKONG DELTA, WARNING and DARKNESS.

Which is more retarded, being an influencer or following one?


Metallian Demos

HEX - BEHOLD THE UNLIGHTED
This three-song 20 minutes’ long EP starts off with a Classical piano segment that kicks off As Darkness Descend Upon You. At over seven minutes the song moves slowly in the style of doomy death metal songs of the 90s. The sound and riffing convey some Bolt Thrower. The influence of the English band on the quintet is clear. The growling is accompanied by a few screamed verses that add a more doom-like feel to the song. The shorter Impending Doom Towards Darkness immediately confirms the Bolt Thrower inspiration. The pace and tone of the riffs take a small step towards Obituary as well but overall this is darker and deeper. The third and longest song is ...and Thus Spoke Darkness ups the tempo somewhat for around two minutes but then takes a step into slower or progressive sounds before reverting back to the same sound. Later in the song the band again step back and create haunting sounds with a bit of acoustic guitars thrown in. The band has produced a music video for this latter song. A self-proclaimed doom death sound is executed well on Behold The Unlighted, head to the darkness at https://hexandhell.bandcamp.com/ - Anna Tergel