Metallian Heavy

FUELBLOODED has lost three members. Singer Peter Brinkman, guitarist Danny Tunker and drummer Norbert Moen have left the act. The band has suspended all live activity with the remaining members writing songs.

PRO-PAIN‘s Absolute Power will be released in North America on August 10th, 2010 through Regain Records. It was recorded at Little Creek Studio in Gelterkinden, Switzerland. The band is touring Germany this month.

ENTHRONED will return to North America for the first time in nine years this August! The US/Canadian leg of the Pentagrammaton World Tour 2010 will begin in Brooklyn, New York at Europa and work its way through nearly two dozen cities before winding down at the Hostile City Deathfest in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 29. Support will come from Australian black thrashers DESTÖYER 666.

MODUS DELICTI is back with a new EP and a new line-up. Together with Max Criminal Exhaler (VOMIT THE SOUL) on guitar and vocals and Baffo (CLITORIDUS INVAGINATUS) on bass, Clod The Ripper (SEPTYCAL GORGE and BLASPHEMER) on drums has a new EP on The Spew Records.

As a ‘thank-you’ to the Southern California fan base EXODUS offered a shirt at the Los Angeles record release show for Exhibit B: The Human Condition on Friday, June 11th at The Key Club in Hollywood. Stated guitarist/songwriter Gary Holt: “We are offering a limited ‘Satanic Hispanic’ shirt in honor of our very loyal and insane Latino fans! This shirt is really cool and I hope our fans will dig the fuck out of it!”

KREATOR will headline Thrashfest 2010, the “thrash metal tour of the year” this autumn in Europe, which also features EXODUS, DEATH ANGEL and SUICIDAL ANGELS.

OVERKILL and EXODUS have teamed up for the Thrash Domination 2010 mini-tour of Japan in September. Support on all three shows will come from OUTRAGE.

HELL WITHIN will release its new album, God Grant Me Vengeance, on July 13th through Thorp Records.

Dutch band CONSPIRACY returns with its third full-length, Irremediable, this year through Pulverised Records.

On June 28th, Season of Mist released Californian thrashers HIRAX‘ newest record, entitled Noise Chaos War. Made of three thrashing EPs remastered, remixed and available on CD for the first time, this release includes a video of Bombs Of Death filmed live in Japan last year.

The Norwegian death metal band HORIZON ABLAZE has signed a deal with Mayhem Music for its debut album. A tentative release date for the as yet untitled album is set for the winter of 2011.

Inspired by KEEL? DETERIOROT‘s comeback album The Faithless is out now through Xtreem Music.

EXUMER has announced the departure of guitarist and second vocalist Paul Arakaki, as well as session drummer J.P. Rapp. Guitarist H.K. and drummer Matthias Kassner, who were both recruited for EXUMER’s last European tour, have replaced Arakaki and Rapp as permanent additions to the band’s roster.

ONSLAUGHT has signed with AFM Records. The band is in the studio recording the follow-up to 2007’s Killing Peace, which was released through Candlelight. The new album is due in late 2010.

If an album doesn’t exist could it be released? This month brings the release of Strong Enough a new EP from thrash/death metal band BROKEN MIRRORS from France featuring two tracks that will appear on the band’s next album as well two punk rock cover versions. Strong Enough will be released digitally through UK-based label Hunter’s Moon Records.

Basick Records will be releasing Cursed, the new album from Canadian extreme technical band ION DISSONANCE in Europe.

DREAMING DEAD has recorded a five-song demo to shop to labels. One track, Midnightmares, is uploaded to http://www.myspace.com/dreamingdead.

After losing guitarist Clint Bower ABSCESS has ceased activity. Main man Chris Reifert has fully reformed AUTOPSY instead. The band is due to release an EP and LP this year.

Lawless Darkness, the fourth full-length from WATAIN, is out now through Season Of Mist. The ten-track album was recorded at Necromorbus Studio.

MANDATORY, which signed to Xtreem Music last year, is mixing its debut album Adrift Beyond at Sunlight Studio with Tomas Skogsberg.

Ukrainian black metallers BALFOR is issuing its debut Barbaric Blood through Pulverised Records. Designed by Martin Saavedra at Uruguay’s Spina Studio, Barbaric Blood was recorded at Blacklight Studio, Ukraine in August 2009 and mixed and mastered by Shaddar.

Long Island, New York’s Paragon Records’ latest signing KOZELJNIK is issuing its second full-length Deeper The Fall.

Negativity Records has issued TERATISM‘s Via Negativa and F A U S T‘s (Italy) From Glory To Infinity.

Original bassist Jason Blachowicz has once again rejoined MALEVOLENT CREATION. According to the band’s latest statement, “Blachowicz initially left on good terms to further his tattoo career…”MALEVOLENT CREATION eleventh studio album was produced and recorded by Erik Rutan (CANNIBAL CORPSE, VITAL REMAINS, KRISIUN and GOATWHORE) at Mana Studio in Florida. The new album, entitled Invidious Dominion, will be released on August 24 in North America through Nuclear Blast.

RATTLEHEAD will tour across the USA for its third self-booked headlining trek in as many years. Dubbed the Thrashed And Detoured 2010 RATTLEHEAD will be joined this time by LA metal band HEXEN and MANTIC RITUAL on select dates. RATTLEHEAD will release a new demo, Tales from The Gutter, on July 9th.

Upheaval in ALL SHALL PERISH‘s camp. Adam Pierce (SEA OF TREACHERY) has joined as the band’s new drummer replacing original member Matt Kuykendall. Guitarist Jason Richardson had left ALL SHALL PERISH and joined BORN OF OSIRIS. Francesco Artusato, originally hailing from Treviso, Italy, replaced him.

Profound Lore Records will release a new full-length album by AGALLOCH. The band is currently in the studio.

DARKANE will release a live DVD, Layers Of Live, this month through Listenable. It contains a main show stemming from Sweden in 2006 plus several older footage.

After finding a home on AFM Records, DESTRUCTION has once again signed with Nuclear Blast Records. The band expects to have a new album out for January of 2011.

Code666 has announced the signing of Ankara, Turkey’s RAVENWOODS. The Band is currently in the studio recording the ten songs of the new album titled Rising.

SKELETONWITCH will be touring Canada this month beginning in Vancouver on the 8th and ending in Montreal.

THE HERETIC‘s drummer Cristobal died on the 13th of June due to a “home accident.”

Greek thrash metal band SUICIDAL ANGELS’ new full-length Sanctify The Darkness will see North American release this month on Sonic Unyon. Nuclear Blast released the album in Europe in December of 2009.

ILLDISPOSED drummer Thomas Jensen has inexplicably sat out the band’s shows for June and July and was temporarily replaced by Morten Toft Hansen of RAUNCHY.

Flo Mounier, the drummer for CRYPTOPSY, was in South Carolina last month recording with former NILE members Chief Spires and John Ehlers for a new SHAITAN MAZAR EP. Steven Tucker (formerly of MORBID ANGEL) is working on guitar and vocals for the band, but a full-time singer is being sought.

Drummer Steve Bolognese of INTO ETERNITY has been invited back to Berklee College Of Music’s world percussion festival for a fourth year.

CROWBAR has signed a deal with E1 Music and is working on a new album due this year.

Colorado Springs’ Dark Descent Records is releasing three new limited-run cassettes from HORRENDOUS, THE WAKEDEAD GATHERING, and DECAPITATION.

Candlelight USA has the following upcoming releases: BLOOD OF KINGU’s Sun In the House Of The Scorpion, YAOTL MICTLAN’s Dentro Del Manto Gris De Chaac, DIVINITY’s The Singularity, WAKING THE CADAVER’s Beyond Cops. Beyond God and TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED’s Degenerate album.

Inspired by KEEL? THE CROWN has reunited and will play shows this summer across Europe. Upon disbandment in 2004, the Swedes claims the trials of business and the road drove the band into grave.

HACKNEYED has parted ways with bassist Alex Büttner and replaced him with a man called Tini. Apparently Alex chose his day job over the lucrative Nuclear Blast contract.

Rotting Corpse Records recording artists, CYANOSIS, has announced the departure of bassist Kirk “Tony” Kangas. Replacing him is Andy Scheeler (ex-SILENT SCREAM/MASTER FURY/ATOMIC #9). The band will record a new album this year.

LENG TCH’E is back with its fifth album Hypomanic through Season Of Mist.


Metallian Hard

Former singer of METAL CHURCH Ronny Munroe has joined LILLIAN AXE replacing departing singer Derrick LeFevre. Apparently, LeFevre did not commit to touring.

FATAL SMILE has lost drummer Zteff purportedly due to the craziness of the touring world. Hard rock drummers interested in joining the band can contact info@fatalsmile.com.

Danish band MANTICORA has completed work on its seventh full-length album, Safe, at Jailhouse Studios in Horsens, Denmark. The album was again produced and mixed by Tommy Hansen. The band is touring Europe this autumn.

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM will release a new album, The Cold, on September 14th through Driven Music Group, the label of former mallcore KORNer Brian "Head" Welch.

DIMMU BORGIR bassist I.C.S. Vortex (a.k.a. Simen Hestnæs) has rejoined BORKNAGAR as the band's new vocalist and bassist. Mallcore band DIMMU BORGIR is touring with mallcore band KORN in Europe this summer. The Norwegian mallcore band will issue a new album in October.

WHILE HEAVEN WEPT is currently working on its next release, a new live album called Triumph:Tragedy:Transcendence – Live At The Hammer Of Doom Festival which is set for a November release date through Cruz Del Sur.

September 28 is the North American release date for A Thin Shell, the new album from Sweden’s OCTOBER TIDE. Currently featuring guitarist/founder Fredrik Norrman (KATATONIA), vocalist Tobias Netzell, drummer Robin Bergh and session bassist Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY and CARNAL FORGE), the album is the band’s first in ten years and follows the 2009 reissue of their debut, Rain Without End through Candlelight.

HOST MACHINERY has signed a worldwide deal with Limb Music. The band's second album, Out For Blood, will be released in the autumn.

HERMAN ZE GERMAN (featuring former SCORPIONS drummer Hermann Rarebell) is back with his latest album, Take It As it Comes, which was released through Dark Star Records.

Edel/earMUSIC has signed KAMELOT. The band's new studio album, Poetry For The Poisoned, will be released on September 3rd. The band calls this album its "most diverse."

AMORPHIS' Majestic Beasts - Tales From The Early Years is a collection of re-recorded versions of the Finnish band's early music. The band's first three albums 1992's Karelian Isthmus, 1994's Tales From The Thousand Lakes and 1996's Elegy will be featured.

DEFIANCE guitarist Jim Adams has joined California's SEVERED FIFTH, a band that releases music freely via the web.

CANDLEMASS will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a longer performance at Debaser Medis in Stockholm on December 18th. The band's classic album, Epicus Doomicus Metalicus, will be performed in its entirety for the first time with CANDLEMASS' original singer Johan Längqvist. Current singer Robert Lowe will also be present.

THRESHOLD keyboardist Richard West and wife Farrah West (who is a singer) have recruited guitarist Ruud Jolie (WITHIN TEMPTATION) and drummer Mark Zonder (FATES WARNING) in order to record an album for a new project. The act has come together after eight years of planning.

WHITESNAKE has parted ways with bassist Uriah Duffy and drummer Chris Frazier. The band is seeking a bassist. Replacing Frazier as WHITESNAKE's new drummer is Brian Tichy, who waswith FOREIGNER, BILLY IDOL, OZZY OSBOURNE and VELVET REVOLVER previously.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY will headline the Black Label Berzerkus tour in North America this autumn. The two-month trek will also feature CLUTCH, CHILDREN OF BODOM and 2CENTS.

Poland's Selfmadegod Records has announced the reissue of the debut album from DEAD INFECTION! The goregrind outfit's first full-length, Surgical Disembowelment, was originally released on CD and LP in 1993 by now-defunct German label Morbid Records. This re-issue of the album is strictly limited to 500 gatefold copies, with 100 on red vinyl and 100 on green.

The new RAGE album, Strings To A Web, was released in Europe on February 5th through Nuclear Blast Records, immediately entering the German pop charts at number 27. The album will now see official North American release and distribution through Canada's Sonic Unyon Metal on June 22nd, 2010. The North American version of the album will be released in a special two-disc set that includes a high quality bonus DVD bearing 15 live RAGE clips and more.

LULLACRY has regrouped and is playing live and composing material. The band had reportedly signed to SPV two years ago only to find out that the label had gone bankrupt.

RATT has been forced to cancel its European tour in support of the Infestation album. Vocalist Stephen Pearcy underwent emergency hernia surgery last month. The band's tour with SCORPIONS is still in force.

DREAM THEATER vocalist James LaBrie is working on a solo album called Static Pulse. It is expected in September.

EQUILIBRIUM will release a new album, Rekreatur, on June 18th through Nuclear Blast Records.

Inspired by KEEL? The reunited U.K. hard rock band WOLFSBANE, featuring former IRON MAIDEN singer Blaze Bayley, is working on music for a new studio album due next year.

DORO PESCH, who celebrated her 2,500th concert on March 13th, will make her Japanese debut this autumn with three dates in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. In the meantime, Nuclear Blast Records has signed DORO PESCH. Her first release for the label will be the 2-DVD and CD package 25 Years In Rock featuring the entire 25-year anniversary concert and more.

MODERN SUPERSTAR (formerly STARING AT STARS due to a clothing line trademark) performed at the Dakota Rock Fest 2010 on Thursday July 22. The new modern rock group formed by Ryche Green (ex-BULLETBOYS) and Jaime Fletcher (ex-BRITNY FOX) is completing its debut release 1 Part Saint, 2 Parts Sinner to be released later this summer on Jamsync Music. MODERN SUPERSTAR has a new MySpace page at www.myspace.com/modernsuperstar.

Members of the Norway's doom band KRAKOW has joined with Kraft (guitar) and Blix (vocals) in the Bergen-based black metal band VIÐR. The new CT, which FEATURES Eld (bass and vocals) and Tulkas (drums), will enter the studio in August.

VASTATOR has completed the recording of a new album entitled Machine Hell featuring eleven songs and bonus-video for the single The Gods Give No Reply featuring Veronica Freeman of BENEDICTUM and guitarist Metal Mike of HALFORD and PAINMUSEUM. The album will be released in September through Inferno Records.

IVORY NIGHT comprising members of ROSS THE BOSS and the former drummer of Germany's Top-20-charting rock outfit SALTATIO MORTIS has teamed up with the guitar player of MEKONG DELTA Benedikt Zimniak. A new album is expected in September.

Robb Lotta (former Guitarist with JOEY BELLADONNA of ANTHRAX) is playing with FALLEN ANGEL. In the coming months the band will be releasing a concept CD with a companion novel also entitled Fallen Angel - Crawling Out Of Hell. The album was based around the story lines of the novel, which were written by band's second guitarist John.

IRON MAIDEN's new album, The Final Frontier, is due on Monday, August 16. The Final Frontier World Tour is now underway in North America.

Guitar Pete, who has released Mean Streets on Grooveyard Records in 2008 and Live @ The Blues Warehouse in 2009, is currently playing at BB Kings in NYC every Wednesday. His following includes Canada's own Brenda Halloran, Mayor of Waterloo, Canada.

Former LED ZEPPELIN frontman Robert Plant has a new solo album called BAND OF JOY. The album shares a name with the band of Plant before he joined LED ZEPPELIN.

Björn “Speed” Strid of SOILWORK makes a guest appearance on the debut album by REVAMP, former AFTER FOREVER singer Floor Jansen’s new band. REVAMP’s self-titled new album will be released in North America on July 27th. SOILWORK, will release a 'Best Of' album entitled The Sledgehammer Files on June 30th through Marquee/Avalon Records in Japan. SOILWORK, DEATH ANGEL, AUGURY, MUTINY WITHIN and SWASHBUCKLE are touring North America this month.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS (featuring Mike Amott of ARCH ENEMY) has asked singer Janne "J.B." Christoffersson to leave so he can focus on GRAND MAGUS. He has been replaced by Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND). ARCH ENEMY had also replaced vocalist nearly 10 years ago. GRAND MAGUS has release its new album, Hammer Of The North, on June 23rd through Roadrunner Records. The album was recorded at 301 studio in Sweden.

Urban Breed (BLOODBOUND, TAD MOROSE, etc.) has joined US band DARK EMPIRE. Urban replaces Jens Carlsson (PERSUADER and SAVAGE CIRCUS) who left in 2008. DARK EMPIRE's From Refuge To Ruin is due this year.

Wendy Dio, the former wife and manager for Ronnie James Dio, has criticized the upcoming tributes to DIO. She is a board member of the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund. The surviving HEAVEN & HELL members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice will play a tribute show at this year's High Voltage festival on July 24th at Victoria Park in London, England. The musicians will be fronted by former DEEP PURPLE and BLACK SABBATH singer Glenn Hughes and MASTERPLAN's Jorn Lande. The latter band is about to release a tribute to DIO. THE RODS and ex-ELF guitarist David "Rock" Feinstein, who is a cousin of Ronnie James Dio, has announced he is canceling his participation in Magic Circle Music's tribute album.

Dutch progressive band CIRRHA NIVA has recruited drummer Wiebe Slim (ex-MELORA RAIN).


Metallian Demos

NORSELAW – RAPE YOU LIKE A GENTLEMAN
This demo with its portrait of an olden gentleman on the cover fell into my laps out of nowhere and the wonder did not lessen once the serfs at Metallian Towers were commanded to insert it into the Metallian Audio. According to the band, “its synthesis of black metal and early punk rock.” So far, so good again noting the disc’s odd title.
The music, however, is less than wondrous. The band endeavours to crack the black metal/punk rock code but instead manages a dismal mixture more reminiscent of Guns ‘N Roses… if the Los Angeles glamsters could not play. Riff after riff and song after song comes off as glam and hard rock, albeit with elementary guitar playing courtesy of someone who clearly has not been handling the six strings for too long. In comparison, the drums are proficient and serious. The vocals too are offbeat and off-track. The false falsetto on I Think I’m Dying (which is followed by Still Not Dead Yet) is just a topping on the potpourri. The vocals are best described as affected. The second half of the disc does become more punky as songs like Nicholas Rage, which lists a whole bunch of untalented films, Nuclear War go for the whole Ramones and Sex Pistols sound.
Norselaw is terrible. There are amusing moments throughout the full-length disc, but these fall under the ‘unintentionally hilarious’ category. This disc was certainly different. Check it out at www.norselawmusic.com or write to norselaw@gmail.com and give special attention to the lyrics. – Ali “The Metallian”

SOUL REMNANTS – PLAGUE OF THE UNIVERSE
This one is a 2009 demo CD from a Massachusetts death metal band that includes thrash and doom to its advantages. The material is fairly strong and extreme and above all tight, but also intermittently too simple for its own good. The disc begins with a track, called Chopwork, that hints at Possessed, but the group soon switches gear into a more conventional form of death metal. Remembrance dons definite shades of Death in its mid-section, while Burning Reflection follows with its many changes. The title track begins with extreme blasting before going all doomy and sporting some heavy growling. Speaking of which, Mitchell Fletcher has a good sound to him most of the time and would do well to stay away from grunting in favour of extreme growls. The title track also features some mood-ruining keyboards, which is sad of course. The drumming is competent and tremendous with its double bass and the guitars are rarely content with keeping rhythm delving into Massacre-inspired tremolo action. Were the band to come up with more involved and less simple arrangements, Soul Remnants would be even better. Of course, ditch the stupidity of the keyboards. One can reach the band at soulremnants@rocketmail.com or by writing to 30 Groton Street, Pepperell, MA. 01463 US of A. – Ali “The Metallian”

SHREDDING THE ENVELOPE – THE CALL OF THE FLAMES
This is a slightly different demo CD that The Metallian himself has passed along for a review. The band name gives away much of the sound and the concept of artist David Reffett so it’s clever in that sense. But before getting into the sound one moment to express my bewilderment at the design concept of the CD that is akin to an idea one would anticipate on a Peter Gabriel album (yuck). It is messy, crowded and kinda hippie. That description isn’t much different from the man’s living room, which is what is probably depicted in the jacket.
That whole aspect aside, this new name with little industry experience has somehow managed to accumulate a slew of guest players for his independent disc. Contributors include Joe Stump, Glen Drover, Chris Poland, George Lynch and others. There is a hint to the disc’s sound in there by the way. Additionally, according to the biography, Dave Reffett has met and received advice from Megadeth man Mustaine, which should be another hint regarding the sound of these songs.
The Call Of The Flames is a monumental homage to Megadeth. It is clear from nearly each of the nine songs that Reffett has listened to Megadeth’s Killing Is My Business with care and attention and done a very good job of duplicating the guitar tone, lyricism and snarl of the vocals. Towards the end of the album I Just Don’t Want To Say Goodbye and the title track provide some variety and are longer. The former even shows some King’s X inspiration, while the latter has better vocals. It is not to say that thrash/heavy metal is a bad thing. It is simply that the music is highly derivative of early Megadeth notwithstanding Dave Reffet’s shredding ability. His speed and dexterity is not in doubt, but as with many such discs the man is probably a bigger asset in a proper band than on his own. Nevertheless, he does come out head and shoulder ahead of most instrumental shredders because his songs have mass and not just because there are vocals on this disc. Write the man at dreffett@berklee.net (notice the domain name) or visit www.shreddingtheenvelope.com. - Anna Tergel

NEOLITHIC – FOR DESTROY THE LAMENT
I swear I gave this a chance. In spite of the meaninglessness of the title and the Polish interjections, I gave this a chance. I honestly tried to be nice. “Steady,” I told myself, “be nice.” But the music of Neolithic reared its ugly head, wimpy, keyboard-laden ‘oh so sensitive’ head and through a constant barrage of whining and pretentiousness did what I had willed not to do, hate this bore! Fans of melancholic, slow pop rock will surely cosy up to this. As for I, it is time to listen to some metal now. – Ali “The Metallian”

NECRONOMICON – THE SILVER KEY
Formed in ’91 as Cataclysm, and quickly renaming themselves after the mystic book, the morbid unit managed a rehearsal tape to hold us over until the mid-mark of the decade, which brings us to the first real demonstration, tape of the Canadian trio. Recorded under professional conditions, Necronomicon’s most overt influence, namely the Morbid Angel-ish riffs, hit hard right from the opening moments of the tape. Listen to The Silver Key with its operatic bridge, as well as its harmonies. The percussion is occasionally reminiscent of Mike Susa, circa Seven Churches, in that its shreds the songs into pieces here and there. Often the sticks dance around the kit with incredible fluidity signalling a clean and agile proficiency. The sound on the bass drum and snare is amazing. Yet, and this is the key, they never lose sight of the fact that the end is heaviness. Still, the band overdoses on Morbid Angel, a fact that is all too obvious and unfortunate. On The Witch, the band possesses a vocalist who exudes the necessary evil in this type of metal. Overall, then we have a successful, if not original, recording. One sincerely hopes that the reports of the band’s recent yield to trends of the day (i.e. so-called atmospheric elements) are exaggerated. Whichever the case, The Silver Key in itself is another component of the great Canadian metal scene. – Ali “The Metallian”