Metallian Heavy

Canada-based ETHEREAL VOID has uploaded a song called The Voiceless. It is taken from the Gods Of A Dead World album, which is out through Abstrakted Records. The band is compared to GOJIRA and was previously called HOLLOW AGAIN.

Death/Doom band WORLD EATER has an album called An Insidious Remedy through Horror Pain Gore Death Productions.

In advance of VOMITORY’s All Heads Are Gonna Roll album, there is a Marcus Svensson-directed music video for the song Raped, Strangled, Sodomized.

CORPSESSED has released Skeletal Grotesquery, its new live album, through Krucyator Productions. Skeletal Grotesquery is a live recording from the band’s performance at Braincrusher In Hell Festival in Hirschaid, Germany, on 25 November 2022.

Italy-based death metal group HUSQWARNAH releases Live At Bloom. The album is a live recording from the band’s performance at Bloom club in Mezzago, Italy, on 6th December 2022, when the act supported VOIVOD and VOID OF SLEEP. HUSQWARNAH welcomes Alessio Capatti (MEXICAN CHILI FUNERAL PARTY, GORDO and TRECCANI) on rhythm guitar. The band will enter the Toxic Basement Studio with producer Carlo Altobelli to begin recording a new full-length album before the end of the year.

Germany-based CORROSIVE is currently working on a full-length, which will be released through MDD Records this autumn. The album will feature guests like Gerre (TANKARD) and Sabina Classen (HOLY MOSES).

Mega-Thrash Revolution!!!! Is the new album of Finland-based PYÖVELI. It is out through Witches Brew.

KATAKLYSM has an album called Goliath through Nuclear Blast Records in August. The self-produced album comes with a video for the song Bringer Of Vengeance.

In advance of a self-titled full-length through Pest Records, Serbia-based black metal band KOLAC has uploaded a song called Eppur Si Muove. The album is a loose concept about torture and the Middle Ages.

IMPERISHABLE has an advance song called The Perennial Desire, which is taken from the band’s Come, Sweet Death album. It is released through Hammerheart Records on June 9th.

Germany-based TEMPLE OF DREAD will release a full-length, entitled Beyond Acheron, through Testimony Records in August. It was produced by drummer Jörg Uken at his Soundlodge Studio. Marc Grewe (ex-MORGOTH) contributes guest vocals.

Osaka, Japan-based SUBCONSCIOUS TERROR has signed a deal with Brutal Mind. The Chaotic Diffusion album will be out this summer.

Bergen, Norway-based black metal group NATTVERD has a video for Det Stormer I Norge, which is taken from the I Helvetes Forakt album. Soulseller Records is the label.

The Netherlands-based black metal band SAMMATH has a new album called Grebbebert, which will be released through Hammerheart Records in June.

TORTURED has a record called Genetically Engineered Monstrosity through Comatose Music on July 7th. The members are dispersed geographically.

TORTURE RACK’s new record, Primeval Onslaught, is out on 20 Buck Spin in June.

ON THORNS I LAY has signed to Season Of Mist. The Greece-based death doom band will release a new album in the autumn. The band is honoured.

Australia-based THY ART IS MURDER has a demo called Godlike on September 15th. It will be released through the band’s own imprint, Human Warfare.

Germany-based DARK FORTRESS is no more. After touring Europe with THE SPIRIT and ASPHAGOR the band has thrown in the towel. The band’s appearance at California, USA’s Deathfest VI in 2022 became the band’s first and last foray to that country.

LORD ASTAROTH’s Vita Aeterna demo of 1996 is being issued on vinyl by Crawling Chaos. The demo had a limited run of 600 copies and is being re-released in another limited run of 160 copies. The band was called ASTAROTH then.

The solo doom/death project RISE TO THE SKY will release a new album, entitled Two Years Of Grief, through Meuse Music Records and Tragedy Productions, on June 16th. There is a video for the song Funeral For My Home.

Unorthodox Emanations will release Australia-based solo death metal act SNORLAX’s The Necrotrophic Abyss album in June.

Seattle, USA-based WHYTHRE has a demo called Impregnate My Hate. The band’s publicist reports that the recordings feature “synth” and “groove.”

PURTENANCE will release The Rot Within Us album through Xtreem Music this month. The cover art is by Chris Moyen again.

MYSTIFIER will return to Europe to tour and play festivals this summer using the Primitive Black Magic Dynasty monicker.

Metalhart Festival is scheduled for Germany on 02.09.2023. It is conceived as a benefit festival, featuring bands from around the world, in order to raise funds for coma patients and their families in memory of Hartmuth “BlackGoat” Schindler. The man ran Nazgul’s Eyrie Productions and later Barbarian Wrath and fell into a coma in 2017. His wife and her label, namely Witches Brew, are part of the organisation. Bands appearing include ERUPTION, COUNTESS and MASTER.

India-based GUTSLIT has a demo called Carnal. The band recorded the material in the USA and will issue it in July. The group will appear at Scarfest’s Freshblood in India this month and Obscene Extreme festival in Czech Republic in July.

Heavy/death metal band VADIAT has an album called Spear Of Creation through Redefining Darkness.

LAMB OF GOD will tour the USA this summer with guests ICE NINE KILLS, SUICIDE SILENCE, THE ACACIA STRAIN and FROZEN SOUL opening. The band commemorated the 20th anniversary of the release of As The Palaces Burn album at Milwaukee Metal Fest on May 28th.

Session drummer Derek Roddy was part of the line-up of ANTHRAX playing the revived Milwaukee Metal Fest in May. ANTHRAX’s Charlie Benante is touring with PANTERA. Roddy had previously replaced Benante on the road when the latter was undergoing a medical operation this winter.

Sweden-based MANIAK will be releasing an EP, entitled Speed Metal Terrorist, through Dawnbreed and De Nihil Records on 18.06.2023.

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM has cancelled its June European tour dates. The band cited rising costs that make the trek uneconomical as the reason.

TESTAMENT’s guitarist Alex Skolnick is not joining the band in Europe to tour. Family emergency in the form of an ill mother is the reason. It goes without saying that the tour goes on and the replacement is guitar-for-hire Phil Demmel. Nonetheless, Demmel missed the opening date of the tour and was only able to join TESTAMENT beginning with the Rock Hard Festival on May 27th. Demmel was at the Milwaukee Metal Fest with VIO-LENCE.

Louisiana, USA-based GAMERRA has a demo called Tedium. The thrashing trio is lacking a bassist and drummer and promises that its sound has moved forward since its 2019 demo.

EXODUS has cancelled its European tour following the brother of guitarist Gary Holt, one Charles Holt, being struck by a taxi in Rome, Italy. The band quickly launched a GoFundMe, Gary flew to Italy to attend to his brother and the tour was postponed after the band issued a statement calling itself “a family-oriented band.”

MEGADETH and Brent Elliott White, who created the artwork for The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead album, have settled following the latter suing the band for using his artwork without final contract and terms. The illustrator would report that MEGADETH would attempt to buy the rights to the artwork after the fact at a smaller amount than he had informed the band would be acceptable.

Scotland-based DOG TIRED has a new demo called The Red Verse on June 3rd. The band also has a demo launch concert at La Belle Angele in Edinburgh on the same day.

Another one of those self-cover version things: PYREXIA has a lyric video for Purging The Nemesis, which is taken from the 25th anniversary re-recorded edition of the System Of The Animal album. The new version is available in June.

Tokyo, Japan’s version of SACRIFICE has booked a concert for Tokyo this October. The band issued several albums in the 1980s and 1990s.

CADAVER has an album called The Age Of The Offended through Nuclear Blast Records in July. The band has been working on the record since 2020.

Russia-based solo act CADAVER CARNIVORE’s debut album, Devouring Eclipse Of Darkest Realm, is released through Heretic Impalement Records on June 1st.

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions will issue TO DESCEND’s Mindless Birth EP this month. Based in Sweden, the group features Jens Johansson Of MEGASLAUGHTER on vocals. It goes without saying that Rogga Johansson of a million bands is here too. He is on guitar.

Switzerland-based deathcore group ALL LIFE ENDS has a lyric video for Pandemonic, which is taken from the band’s new album, Miscreation. It will be released through Black Sunset/MDD this month.

After a European tour, the Italy-based death metal group MISCREANCE is now ready to release an album called Convergence through Season Of Mist.

Spain-based sludge trio AATHMA will be releasing a full-length album, entitled Dust From A Dark Sun, through Ardua Music in June. Originally formed in Madrid in 2007, the band was a new project from members of GLOW, AUTUMNAL and ADRIFT. The band has previously toured with KHMER.

Halifax, Canada-based ORCHID’S CURSE has a demo called The Decay. The band was founded in 2005. The band is compared to DARKEST HOUR.

Rockshots Records has signed Finland-based crossover group TAKALAITON for the release of its debut album Mindfection. It is produced by Teemu Aalto (OMNIUM GATHERUM and INSOMNIUM) and out on July 28th.

Awakening Records is issuing SAPREMIA’s Subconscious Existence, which is a collection of demo material from the mid-1990s, the re-release of ENERGETIC KRUSHER’s Path To Oblivion and the re-release of CORROSIVE’s I’m Bleeding.

Toledo Death Fest is being hosted in Toledo, Ohio, USA on June 3rd and will feature headliners, SIGNS OF THE SWARM, alongside THE CONVALESCENCE, CASKET ROBBERY, SUMMONER’S CIRCLE and others. OCEANO, INCITE and VCTMS had pulled out, however, and the organiser (Keith Wampler, the singer for THE CONVALESCENCE and owner of The Legend Agency) had had to revamp the line-up.

Utah, USA-based CHRONIC TRIGGER has an upcoming demo called You Can’t Dance To This. The deathrash group has uploaded a song called Word Of Hate, which addresses Salt Lake City and Mormon-dominated Utah. The band was founded in 2016.

MARDUK has fired bassist Joel Lindholm after he appeared to give a Nazi salute onstage at Incineration Fest in London England. Bassist Devo has temporarily re-joined the act. MARDUK has a demo with Nazi imagery and the founding guitarist has praised his nazi grandfather.

USA-based bands SOLT and OBSIDIAN SHRINE have a split release called In Consortium Diaboli. The bands are described as black and death metal.

Sweden-based HELLTRAIN is back with a new video and upload called Mischief. The band intends to record and release more material going forward, but for now singer Pierre Törnkvist is focused on writing a SCHEITAN album.

Philippines-based NATAL CLEFT has an album called Particles Of Hate through Sliptrick Records in 2023.

Bewitchment Of The Dark Ages is the title for the new album by GAROTED. It is out through Lavadome Productions. There is a video for the song Unfathomable Manifestation.

France-based HELL GATE has signed with Music-Records for the release of an album called Vagues D’Amertume, which is scheduled for November 17th. The band intends to tour France this year and next.

New York, USA-based grindcore act SULLY (featuring members of BRUTAL TRUTH, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, SULACO and PSYOPUS) has been signed by Horror Pain Gore Death Productions. The band’s “The Tony” demo is out through the label. Erik Burke (SULACO, BRUTAL TRUTH, NUCLEAR ASSAULT) is in the line-up.

Canada-based MISERERE LUMINIS has a song called Le Sang Des Rêves from its upcoming album Ordalie, which will be released through Sepulchral Productions this month. The project’s previous release came 14 years ago.

PARACRONA is a new project featuring Ringo Christiaan Van Droffelaar and Øystein Hansen (formerly of FORTÍÐ). The two met at Wacken Open Air festival in 2007 and eventually began working on new music in 2016. The debut album, Sun God, was completed three years later in 2019 before Ringo was stricken with cancer. Now free of cancer, the CD, which also features Baard Kolstad (LEPROUS, BORKNAGAR, etc), is being released independently.

Italy-based GIGANTOMACHIA has a single called Gargani Gemini through Agoge Records. There is a video for the track as well. The band focuses on Greek mythology.

Technical death metal band HORRENDOUS has a new record called Ontological Mysterium through Season Of Mist in August. A poster by artist Daniel Warren Johnson will be included in a vinyl version.

Canada-based HOOKER SPIT has a demo called Krötch Splitter and has uploaded a song called Call of the Void. The band is compared to AT THE GATES and CARCASS. The band is appearing at the Loud As Hell festival.

FEAR FACTORY recruited bassist Alexandro Hernandez of DEATHMASK for its shows in Costa Rica, Colombia and Ecuador in May. He was filling in for bassist Tony Campos who had a scheduling conflict and was committed to his main band, STATIC-X. The band was also touring with drummer Pete Webber as FEAR FACTORY’s main drummer Mike Heller was similarly unavailable. The band has booked a European tour with BUTCHER BABIES and IGNEA for this autumn.

Capitalism? Italy-based PUTRIDITY will release a new EP called Greedy Gory Gluttony through Willowtip Records in July. It contains two new tracks and a cover of a CANNIBAL CORPSE song. The band is working on a full-length called Morbid Ataraxia.

Brazil-based CRYPTA will release a new album, entitled Shades Of Sorrow, through Napalm Records in August. A song called Lord Of Ruins is available now. The band describes the record as a semi-concept dealing with our psyche.

Canada-based THE AGONIST has thrown in the towel. The band cites financial and industry reasons as the cause. Individual band members will continue on with their individual projects.

CRYPTOPSY has signed with Nuclear Blast Records. The band’s first album in over a decade is due this year.


Metallian Hard

Sweden-based ENFORCER has an album called Nostalgia available through Nuclear Blast Records. There is a video for the track Metal Supremacia.

Australia-based heavy metal group NIGHT LEGION releases an album called Fight Or Fall through Massacre Records in June. Fight Or Fall was produced by NIGHT LEGION guitarist Stu Marshall.

Progressive band APOTHEUS will issue an album called Ergo Atlas through Black Lion in September. Inspired by Isaac Asimov, the new record is a direct sequel to the 2019 album, The Far Star.

VIRGIN STEELE’s next album, The Passion Of Dionysus, will be released worldwide through SPV/Steamhammer on June 30th. The album deals with Dionysus and duality. David DeFeis is on vocals, keyboards and bass while Edward Pursino and Josh Block are on guitars. The band is booked for Leyendas Del Rock in Spain for August.

YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and GLENN HUGHES will tour the U.S.A. this summer. Hughes will play DEEP PURPLE songs commemorating the 50th anniversary of that band’s Burn album.

Prior to kicking off its arena tour of Europe, DEF LEPPARD played a smaller one-off show in Sheffield, England where the act was formed originally. The concert at The Leadmill, which seats 850, has its net proceeds donated to Music Venue Trust, which works to conserve live music venues in the UK.

JUDAS PRIEST will conduct a tour of the UK and Ireland in March 2024. Opening the Metal Masters tour are SAXON and URIAH HEEP. JUDAS PRIEST has almost completed its latest album.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD has an album called Life Is But A Dream…, which was conceived and recorded over the last four years. AVENGED SEVENFOLD played its first concert since June 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on May 12th. The band is touring with support from ALEXIS ON FIRE and subsequently FALLING IN REVERSE.

Argonauta Records has issued WOLVES IN WINTER’s The Calling Quiet, AZKEN AUZI’s self titled record and INFECTION CODE’s Alea Iacta Est.

PALLBEARER and YOB are touring the USA. The former act is also playing individual concerts and also appearing at Mutants Of The Monster Fest. YOB has promoted tour drummer Dave French to full-time membership.

Chile-based and diaspora folks have come together in a goth/doom act called WOODEN VEINS. This band will be releasing the Imploding Waves through Ardua Music on 23.06.2023. Imploding Waves was recorded in Chile, Czech Republic, Spain and Germany between July and October 2022.

Armstrong Metalfest is taking place in Armstrong in Western Canada on July 14th and 15th. Bands appearing include WARBRINGER, FALLUJAH, ENTERPRISE EARTH, THE ZENITH PASSAGE, VALE OF PNATH, STRIKER and more. The previously announced ZIMMERS HOLE and OMNIA NIHIL have disappeared from the line-up.

WITHERING SCORN, the new project of Former EIDOLON members brothers Shawn and Glen Drover, former FATES WARNING bassist Joe DiBiase and METALIUM singer Henning Basse has announced its debut album will be called Prophets Of Demise. It is out through Frontiers Music in July.

UDO has an album called Touchdown through Atomic Fire this summer. Former ACCEPT bassist Peter Baltes plays on the record and has joined the act.

Frontiers Music has acquired the rights to the concerts BLUE ÖYSTER CULT gave at Sony Hall in New York City in celebration of the band's 50th anniversary in September 2022. The act gave three shows with each performing the entirety of one of the act’s first three albums, Blue Öyster Cult (1971), Tyranny And Mutation (1973) and Secret Treaties (1974) and other tracks. Founding member Albert Bouchard was a guest.

Germany-based CRAVING has an album called Call Of The Sirens through Massacre Records. There is a video for the song Blood Ov Franconia.

Sweden-based LANCER has a new album, entitled Tempest, through Fireflash Records It will be available on August 11th. The band has uploaded a song called Fan The Flames.

Original SAINT VITUS bassist Mark Adams died on May 23rd due to Parkinson's disease. He was 64 years old. The band had already replaced him with DOWN bassist Pat Bruders as Adams was unable to tour.

Former METAL CHURCH drummer Kirk Arrington died in May at the age of 61. He was in METAL CHURCH until 2006.

Golden Core has issued the first full-length of NWOBHM/AOR band MARQUIS DE SADE. It is called Chapter II. The band appeared at the Keep It True festival this year after its appearance was cancelled in 2021 due to COVID-19.

GRAVE DIGGER singer Chris Boltendahl will release his first solo album on July 28th. Using the CHRIS BOLTENDAHL'S STEELHAMMER monicker, Reborn In Flames will be issued through ROAR and features guitarist Tobias Kersting (ex-ORDEN OGAN), bassist Lars Schneider (ex-ORDEN OGAN) and drummer Patrick Klose (IRON SAVIOR).

Tracii Guns and Adam Hamilton of L.A. GUNS and Todd Kerns (SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS) have a new side-project and it is called BLACKBIRD ANGELS. They aim to issue an album called Solsorte in September.

DEE SNIDER had his performance at San Francisco Pride in the USA in June cancelled because the TWISTED SISTER singer supported Paul Stanley of KISS’ remarks criticising gender-affirming treatment for teenagers. The singer disputes his being transphobic.

THE DARKNESS, POKOLGEP, WOLFMOTHER and GLENN HUGHES, among others, are performing for four nights under the banner of Harley-Davidson in Budapest, Hungary in June. It celebrates the 120th Anniversary of the American company.

TED NUGENT is still around and conducting his farewell tour dubbed Adios Mofo '23. One concert in Alabama, USA was cancelled when citizens protested the man’s bigotry. TED NUGENT bassist Greg Smith consequently abandoned the band for a more permanent gig. In the meantime, Nugent is being sued by Michigan, USA’s Department Of Natural Resources for supposedly keeping feral Russian boars.

Born again Christian Mark Farner, the original singer and guitarist for GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, has expressed dismay at the band’s tour for the 50th anniversary of the 1973 We're An American Band album. The man has not been in the band and would like to be a member again. Farner has not been in the band since the turn of the century.

KIX has announced it will join MANOWAR, SCORPIONS, JUDAS PRIEST and MÖTLEY CRÜE and disband. The band will join ELTON JOHN, KISS and OZZY OSBOURNE in retirement and play its last concert at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, USA in September this year.

KISS has cancelled its concert in Plymouth, England on June 3rd due to logistical issues. The band’s latest farewell tour of the UK will now begin two days later in Birmingham.

John Corabi, former singer of MÖTLEY CRÜE, has rejoined THE DEAD DAISIES. The band will tour Canada and the USA this summer.

TYGERS OF PAN TANG's Bloodlines album has entered sales charts in several countries including Germany for the first time (#89), UK (#35), Denmark (#12) and Sweden (#14). The band is appearing at Alcatraz, Time To Rock, Rock Imperium and Iron Fest Open Air festivals among others this year.

Algy Ward (Alasdair Mackie Ward) of NWOBHM band TANK died on May 17th at the age of 63. The singer and bassist had been in a dispute regarding the authentic version of the band and was in his own version of the act in recent years.

DORO has an album called Conqueress Forever Strong And Proud through Nuclear Blast this summer. The record features a duet with Rob Halford of JUDAS PRIEST.

OBLIVEON is working on a new album. The band has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund its first album in 25 years. New music is expected next year. AUGURY drummer Antoine Baril has joined on bass replacing Stéphane Picard.

Agonia Records has signed ABIGAIL WILLIAMS. The band is working on the follow-up album to 2019’s Walk Beyond The Dark.

Double embarrassment: CRUACHAN has uploaded the song The Blacksmith, which was submitted for the Eurovision 2023 contest. It was not selected to represent Ireland. The band’s The Living And The Dead is out through Despotz Records.

MANOWAR singer Joey DeMaio is conducting a spoken-word tour called Words Of Power this year. There are currently dates booked for Germany for the autumn.

Another self-cover version: PARADISE LOST will re-record its Icon album of 1993 for its thirtieth anniversary. The band is using the Embers Of Europe monicker to tour Europe with MY DYING BRIDE in December.

W.A.S.P. singer Blackie Lawless performed several concerts of the 40th-anniversary world tour in Europe sitting down due to cracked vertebrae and a herniated disc on his lower back. The man has been receiving treatment in Germany and cancelled two concerts in Italy.

The new EXTREME album is called Six and is out through earMUSIC in June. EXTREME was forced to cancel its appearance at the M3 Rock Festival after guitarist Nuno Bettencourt injured his leg while taking part in the Rockers Versus Average Joes basketball game aboard the Monsters Of Rock cruise on Tuesday, May 2nd. EXTREME is touring using the Thicker Than Blood Tour monicker this summer and going to Europe in the autumn.

SKID ROW cancelled the first of its four Australian concerts in Brisbane, Australia on May 17th with singer Erik Grönwall falling ill with the flu. He performed in Sydney on the 19th, but the band postponed its two remaining gigs when the singer’s illness persisted. The group was also forced to cancel its subsequent Japanese tour.

Hard rock band ICARUS DREAM, which reunited earlier this year, has announced Víctor Camargo known for SOMNE 2.0, THYBREATH and LA IRA DE JACK as its new singer. The band is writing a new song and intends to release a video clip as well.

STRATOVARIUS and SONATA ARCTICA will conduct the Nordic Power Metal Titans tour of Europe this autumn. The latter band conducted a 25th Anniversary Tour of South America and a European Acoustic Adventures recently. INDUCTION opens. The bands last toured together in 2000.

Australia-based hard rock group TORRENTIAL THRILL has a demo called State Of Disaster. There is a video for the song High Society, which comments on greed and materialism.

Canada-based progressive metal group PHAETON has a demo called Between Two Worlds. There is a playthrough video for the song Terra Australis. The band is named after “the theoretical proto-planet which collided with Ancient Earth during the Primordial Era.”

Ottawa, Canada-based ROCKIN’ ENGINE has a demo called Altered By Evil, which is inspired by 1980s’ psycho horror. There is a video for the song Monsters Under Your Bed.

Japan-based HAGANE has lost singer Uyu and has put out a call to audition replacements. The band, which has picked up management, played a final concert with its now former line-up.

RUTHLESS will release a new album, entitled The Fallen, through Fireflash Records this autumn. The band has booked several concerts for California, USA this year.

DAKENO KAKARI, which is a rock side-project of the IMARI TONES husband and wife, has a demo called Hypothesis. IMARI TONES, in the meantime, has released a NFT.

GALNERYUS has issued a new album called Between Dread And Valor through Warner Music in Japan. There is a video for the song Let Us Shine. The band’s drummer Lea has an album called 1st Chapter with his neoclassical pomp rock band 1ST0.

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