Metallian Heavy

The new full-length from Swedish death metallers MY OWN GRAVE, entitled Necrology, is now available for streaming. Head over to MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/pulverisedrecords. Necrology was produced by Dan Swanö at Unisound, released by Pulverised and has artwork by illustrator/tattooist Jon Zig.

AUGURY’s Fragmentary Existence is out on August 11th through Nuclear Blast Records.

BLACK COBRA has completed its upcoming Southern Lord Recordings debut album, Chronomega. The worldwide release date is set for September 29th, 2009.

The new EP of SOMBRE PRESAGE is now available through the Russian label The Kether Crown Productions on pro tape and limited to 350 copies.

Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt, the ninth full-length from GORGOROTH, is now complete. The album was recorded in Tomas Asklund’s Monolith Studio and features Pest on vocals, Infernus on guitars, Frank Watkins on bass and Tomas Asklund on drums. Since Infernus wrote all the music and because of all the rehearsals prior to the return of second guitarist Tormentor last year, Infernus recorded all guitars on the album. The record was produced by Infernus and co-produced and engineered by Tomas Asklund. It will be released through Regain Records on October 21st in Europe and November 11th in Canada.

ARCH ENEMY will release a new album, entitled The Root Of All Evil, on September 28th through Century Media Records. The album was mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap with the band’s drummer, Daniel Erlandsson, engineering.

UNLEASHED has signed with Nuclear Blast Records and will begin recording a new album in either October or November.

Gene Hoglan need not apply! INFERNAL has lost drummer Tomas Asklund and is seeking a replacement who is preferably Swedish or at least a European.

Season Of Mist has issued GHOST BRIGADE’s Isolation Songs and DRUDKH’s Microcosmos.

Hailing from Blekinge, Sweden on the frozen coasts of the Baltic Sea, is ISTAPP. Mordechai Von Renvaktar, C. Ashuck Von Renvaktar and Fjalar “have set out on a campaign to destroy the sun and all of its followers.” To this end, the band has signed with Metal Blade Records for its next album, Blekinge, which is due in 2010.

NOVEMBERS DOOM has released its seventh studio album, Into Night’s Requiem Infernal, through The End Records. The album was recorded at Belle City Sound.

GENERATION KILL is a new crossover band featuring EXODUS singer Rob Dukes, MOD’s Rob Moschetti and MORTICIAN drummer Sam Inzerra. The band has a song called, Hate. EXODUS, in the meantime, is touring and hitting Japan, China and Taiwan this summer.

Immigration officers informed BEHEMOTH last month of a regulation regarding Polish citizens entering Canada that had changed while the band was en route to the Calgary and Vancouver shows of the Summer Slaughter Festival. The passports needed to be codified with chips. With Canada Day on July first, there was no way for them to obtain the last minute forms they required to re-enter the country after having played Toronto and Montreal.

MAYHEM‘s Hellhammer has agreed to drum on ANTI-human, the debut album of DEATH OF DESIRE. The album is due in late 2009.

Argentina’s Dark Hidden has issued NA RASPUTJE’s Early Demos (1998-2003) on one disc. The release contains the Raven (1998), The Iceflame Of Hyperborea (2002) and Blizzard from 2003). The band is described as Russian Aryan black metal!

MARTRIDEN, which is no longer on Siege Of Amida Records, has recorded a new independent CD called Encounter The Monolith. The band is looking for a label.

Italian thrash/death band FOMENTO has signed with Coroner Records for the release of its debut album, Either Caesars Or Nothing. The album is out in October.

Guitarist Phil Fasciana of MALEVOLENT CREATION is reporting that he walked into a robbery in progress and a shootout at a corner store in his hometown of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Apparently, looking to but chocolate milk he walked in on the robbery, was shot at, took one gun away from the would-be robber before being shot at with a second gun and, in reaction, killing the assailant. Local authorities reportedly soon refuted the implausible affair.

Singer Athera of SUSPERIA appeared with the band on stage at the Steinkjer Festival in Norway on Friday, June 26th. The singer had suffered a heart attack earlier this year and had undergone open-heart surgery.

ARSIS has picked Starve For The Devil as the title for its next studio album, which is due in the winter of 2010 through Nuclear Blast Records. The album will be recorded this autumn with producer Chris “Zeuss” Harris who has worked with AGNOSTIC FRONT.

Drummer Mauro “Tschibu” Casciero has left GURD in order to concentrate on his family after ten years of service.

DAWN OF AZAZEL has signed a deal with Unique Leader Records. The band’s next album, Relentless, is scheduled for release on October 13th.

Former HELLHAMMER and CELTIC FROST main man Thomas Gabriel Fischer and Bazillion Points Books have announced a release date of November as the publication date for Only Death Is Real: An Illustrated History Of Hellhammer And Early Celtic Frost. It is compiled by Fischer in cooperation with band bassist Martin Eric Ain. In a blog comment, Fischer also claimed to have relinquished all financial interest in the bands’ catalogue henceforth in order to escape his former colleagues.

SIX FEET UNDER is in the studio recording a new covers album, Graveyard Classics 3. “We are about 60% finished with tracking,” according to the band’s announcement.

Inspired by KEEL? IMMORTAL will release its comeback album, All Shall Fall, on September 25th in Europe and October 6th in North America through Nuclear Blast Records. It was recorded at Grieghallen and Abyss studios in Norway and Sweden, respectively. In order to create some hype, the label and the band’s management have issued the following statement: “The album has been presented to a few journalists already, but no one will get a physical copy! There will be NO promotional copies of the new album. NO watermarked downloads will be available via the Nuclear Blast iPool. Also, be sure that NO song will be streamed on the internet in advance before the official release date.”

Norway’s KOLDBRANN has recruited drummer Folkedal (SARKOM) and guitarist Voidar (HJARNIDAUDI) for live work this summer.

ABGOTT’s new album is called Godfather In Black and is out on September 7th through Code7. The band is playing at the Bloodstock Open Air festival this month.

Montreal’s NEURAXIS has lost bassist Yan Thiel and drummer Tommy McKinnon to work and school. The band is seeking replacements.

Canadian band DEATH DEALER reunited for one show in Jonquière, Canada on July 4, 2009 in order to play some of its original ‘80s repertoire and open for VOIVOD.

ANTHRAX‘s first album with singer Dan Nelson, entitled Worship Music, was to be released on October 23rd through Nuclear Blast Records. Former UGLY KID JOE Dave Fortman mixed the album. The band, however, recently cancelled several European shows after Nelson supposedly fell ill just prior to the tour. In fact, it was next revealed that the band was lying and ANTHRAX had booted the singer due to personality differences. John Bush is fronting the band again for “one show” at the Sonisphere festival in Knebworth, England.

THE ACCUSED’s, The Curse Of Martha Splatterhead, is scheduled for release on August 18th through Southern Lord Records. The band teamed up with Billy Anderson at Seattle’s Soundhouse Recording studio to create the long player.

Italian thrash metal band SUBHUMAN will release its full-length debut, Profondo Rozzo, on August 21st through Maple Metal Records.

Sweden’s IMPIOUS has announced Death Domination as the title for its next album, which is due in January through Metal Blade Records. The band claims that “this album will by far be the most crushingly brutal album we’ve ever made and we believe this title says it all!”

After a period of protracted silence, HYPOCRISY has announced A Taste Of Extreme Divinity as the title for its next album, which is due on October 23rd through Nuclear Blast Records. The band is touring the USA with ENSIFERUM in November.

More wife swapping in Sweden! IRON LAMB, is a new Stockholm-based band by Thomas Daun (DISMEMBER, ex-REPUGNANT, ex- INSISION), Johan Wallin (GENERAL SURGERY, SCURVY and ex-REPUGNANT), Gustaf Lindström (ex-REPUGNANT), and Daniel Ekeroth (TYRANT, ex-INSISION and ex- DELLAMORTE). The band is in the rock/heavy metal vein.

DECAPITATED has recruited Austrian drummer Kerim “Krimh” Lechner, of THORNS OF IVY fame, as the replacement for the dead Witold “Vitek” Kieltyka. The latter man died in a road accident in Russia two years ago.

All for none! LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton will not be with the band during the last six shows of the band’s European tour as his wife is expecting their baby. UNEARTH’s Buz McGrath will fill in for the shows.

According to festival organizers, AUTOPSY will reunite for an appearance at next year’s Maryland Deathfest, due to take place in May, 2010.

DYING FETUS will release its next album, Descend Into Depravity, on September 15th through Relapse Records.

THUNDRA will release its next album, Ignored By Fear, on August 29th through Einheit Production. Dan Swanö has mastered the album.

Xtreem Music has reached an agreement with Italian grindcore band GRIMNESS 69 for the re-release of the IllHeaven Hells album, which was originally released by Copro Records at the end of 2008. The album “suffered of a deficient distribution and promotion nearly leaving this album unnoticed to the scene.”

Could a wooden mp3 be far behind? According to Metal Blade, a CANNIBAL CORPSE digital box set is set up on itunes now. This “box set” features 16 albums and 196 songs.

Australia’s UNIVERSUM is recording the follow-up to its Leto Destinatus demo next month. Due for release in early 2010, the new demo is tentatively entitled Mortuus Machina and will feature guest appearances from vocalist Christian Älvestam (ex SCAR SYMMETRY and MISERATION).

NILE is partnering with IMMOLATION and KRISIUN as well as ABIGAIL WILLIAMS and DREAMING DEAD for an American tour called Those Whom The Gods Detest in the USA in support of a new album, which is scheduled for worldwide release this autumn on Nuclear Blast Records.

KAMPFAR has cancelled its appearance at Wacken this year due to a “family matter.”

BLUT AUS NORD has signed with Debemur Morti Productions. The band is in the studio recording its vinyl-only album, What Once Was…”.

Vancouver thrash metal band GROSS MISCONDUCT is recording its new demo with drum tracking at Vancouver’s Mushroom Studio. Following up on the band’s independently released 2007 debut, The Process Of Indoctrination, the band’s as-of-yet-untitled second disc is set for an autumn release date.

KREATOR is hitting Australia for a tour at the end of this month. Support for the Germans is provided by MORTAL SIN.

MARDUK will release its next album, Wormwood, in September through Regain Records. The album was recorded at Endarker Studio in Norrköping, Sweden with engineer Magnus Devo Andersson. The album will be supported by the Funeral Nation 2009/2010 tour.

Century Media Records has announced October 26th as the release date for Where Death Is Most Alive, a video and CD package from DARK TRANQUILLITY. The recording stems from a 2008 performance in Milan, Italy.

KATATONIA has announced Night Is The New Day as the title for its next album, which is out on October 19th through Peaceville Records.

Sweden’s SPAZMOSITY will release its debut album, Welcome Death, this autumn on Khaosmaster Productions. The album was recorded at Necromorbus Studios with producer Tore Stjerna.


Metallian Hard

Frontiers Records has announced September 18th as the release date for DANGER DANGER's new album, Revolve. The band features singer Ted Poley again.

HELIX has announced Vagabond Bones as the title for its next album, which is due in the winter of 2010 through AOR Heaven.

DIRTY LOOKS has issued a compilation called The Worst Of Dirty Looks through Sticky Records. It features over 20 songs from the band’s early days.

The evolution of “inspired by KEEL”? After breaking up in April with much ado about hating metal, the new wave cover band TO/DIE/FOR will continue and is writing again. Vocalist Jape Peratalo and drummer Tonmi Lillman have regrouped after their vacation.

CANDLEMASS and TROUBLE will perform several shows together in Sweden in September.

Guitarist STEVE VAI will release his concert film and live CD Where The Wild Things Are on September 29th on Favored Nations Records. The show was recorded and filmed at the State Theatre in Minneapolis, MN before a sold-out audience as part of Vai’s successful Sound Theories world tour.

MANTICORA will be playing this year’s Progpower Scandinavia Festival at Vega in Copenhagen on September 26th. Other bands appearing are CANDLEMASS and PRETTY MAIDS.

Frontiers Records will release the next HOUSE OF LORDS album, entitled Cartesian Dreams, in September in Europe and in October in the USA.

The tributes shall flow. Former CRIMSON GLORY singer Midnight (John Patrick Jr. McDonald) died on Wednesday, July 8th from kidney and liver failure. He was 47 years old. The band has consequently been asked by ProgPower USA to replace its original headliner on Friday, September 11th in Atlanta, Georgia. Featuring Wade Black on vocals, and several guest singers, the band will also be missing bassist Jeff Lords who has to sit out the show for personal reasons.

MACHINE HEAD guitarist Phil Demmel collapsed on stage on Saturday, July 25th during the finale to the band's show at the Sonisphere festival in Finland. He suffers from cardiogenic syncope, thus occasionally being deprived of blood in his brain. Demmel, however, believes his collapse was due to fatigue.

BRAND NEW SIN, with Kris Wiechmann on guitar and vocals, has released a demo entitled Distilled.

Metal Mind Productions is issuing Playing Off The Board by Sweden’s ANDROMEDA. The live album features a live performance recorded at the Wyspianski Theater, Poland in the autumn of 2006. The band was promoting its most recent album at the time, Chimera.

A movie, called Bones, will feature an appearance by guitarist Zakk Wylde of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and OZZY OSBOURNE. It is due in 2010 and revolves around the story of despondent youths. Wylde is apparently being replaced in OZZY OSBOURNE once again; although the guitarist has expressed ignorance about the issue and gone on to severely criticize the lack of communication from his “boss”.

A Dutch rapper called Diorno Braaf is being billed as DIO for his appearance at Zomerpop festival in Netherlands on Sept 5th and 6th. The management for Ronnie James Dio has protested the billing and contends that the name ‘Dio’ is a trademark of the heavy metal singer.

BRAINSTORM has signed with AFM Records after spending years with Metal Blade Records.

KINGCROW has picked Phlegethon as the title for its next release, tentatively due in the autumn. A label has not been announced.

Finnish folk band ENSIFERUM has picked From Afar as the title for its fourth album, which is slated for an American release on September 8th, 2009 (September 9th for the rest of the world) through Spinefarm Records.

ECHOES OF ETERNITY has signed to Massacre Records for the European territory for the release of its second album, As Shadows Burn. The band is still with Nuclear Blast for America.

FEEDFORWARD’s singer Biejanka has moved to Finland prompting the band to seek a new male or female singer. The Dutch melodic band can be reached at info@feedforwardband.com.

LORENZO is a new rock band featuring singer Marko Lorenzo, guitarist Ira Black (VICIOUS RUMORS, LIZZY BORDEN and HEATHEN), bassist Jason VieBrooks (GRIP INC. and HEATHEN), drummer Steve Jacobs (FORBIDDEN and MANMADEGOD). The band opened for SLAUGHTER on June 19th at the Riverstar Entertainment Complex in Cincinnati, Ohio.

CITY OF FIRE is a new project featuring FEAR FACTORY members Burton C. Bell and Byron Stroud in addition to Terry "Sho" Murray (guitar), Ian White and drummer Bob Wagner. The band is releasing a demo this month.

Too hip for publicity? GATES OF SLUMBER’s Hymns Of Blood & Thunder “drops” on September 19th, 2009 through Metal Blade Records.

Blistering Records has announced the signing of Swedish hard rockers THE POODLES for the European territory. Clash Of The Elements is out this month.

MAD MARGRITT performed at Rocklahoma in Pryor, Oklahoma on July 12th. Due to a recent health issue, guitarist Scott Banks was unable to perform at Rocklahoma. Filling in for Scott was guitarist Anar Seville.

IN FLAMES is touring Canada in September with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and will follow it up with a U.S. headlining tour in September and October. The US shows are supported by BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD and THE FACELESS.

Guitarist Mark Simpson of FLOTSAM AND JETSAM and BEAUTIFUL CREATURES and HELSTAR singer James Rivera are in Las Vegas’ DENIM AND LEATHER. The band plays metal cover versions.

The Phil Lewis version of L.A. GUNS has lost bassist Scotty Griffin and has replaced him with Kenny Kweens of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES. Griffin’s THE KING MIXERS has found a year-round gig at Sunset Station Casino in Las Vegas.

Inspired by KEEL? Following his release from prison, Varg Vikernes has reformed his solo band, BURZUM, and completed nine songs. An autobiography is also being written.

Reunion 2010 pre-announced? METAL CHURCH has thrown in the towel. Following the bankruptcy of the band’s label, SPV, the group has made Rocklahoma earlier in the summer its last hurrah.

Frontiers Records has announced September 18th as the release date for LYNCH MOB's Smoke And Mirrors album. The record features Oni Logan on vocals again.

In order to generate some publicity SONATA ARCTICA has launched a contest whereby the public can design the group’s cover artwork for its upcoming promotional European single, Flag In The Ground. The song stems from the band’s upcoming album, The Days Of Grays. Deadline for this contest is August 10th and should be submitted to SonataArctica@nuclearblast.de.

The original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has signed a European licensing deal with Season Of Mist (MAYHEM, DESTRÖYER 666, etc.) for the release of his new solo album, Anomaly, on that continent. The US territory is being handled independently.

Slutty girls in dresses without sleeves and too many tattoos and/or too much make-up are ‘interviewing’ all sorts of bands with skater haircuts.


Metallian Demos

YDIN – SAASTA
NOTIFICATION NO. 9/2008, DATED 21-09-2008

Whereas in exercise of the powers conferred to Council Of State, Valtioneuvosto, of the Republic Of Finland the naturalization of members of band (known as Ydin) as Finnish is assigned as inconceivable and as such the council banishes the band, its members, affiliates et al to depart the Republic for violating the Finnish sound due to exclusion of true brutal and heavy death metal instrumentation such as opera vocals, keyboards, flute, moaning and, where possible, sitar.

Whereas the authority of the Republic Of Finland is vested in the Parliament Of Finland, Eduskunta, representing all electoral districts of the Republic we two hundred representatives proclaim the members of band (known as Ydin) to be of Danish descent and subject to the laws of her kingdom. By these powers we place into exile the band (known as Ydin), its members and affiliates et al based on a metal style hitherto extinct in Suomi, its regions and 348 municipalities, which is more akin to Illdisposed, Iniquity, Konkhra, etc and not sounds emanating from the Republic Of Finland and its sensitive artistes.

By order of the Finnish Council Of State the members of band (known as Ydin) is hereby summarily deported and its music recording, Saasta, declared unanimously unFinnish and banned from publication, distribution, authorization and dissemination until such time as members regain natural Finnish statute through exercise of true heavy metal essence thereby featuring two keyboardist, an opera singer, a synthesizer and minimum three Finnish kilograms of lipstick.

Additional information on foreign agents masquerading as naturalized Finnish citizenry: www.ydinband.com or ydinband@gmail.com. - Ali “The Metallian”

DIVINUS – NINE WAYS TO ROME
Obviously, this brand of diluted and diverse music is hardly a favourite here at Metallian Towers. As a bastion of purity and superiority, the Metallian knights support and nurture metal that is true, real and devoid of frailty. German band Divinus is chock-full of elements from there, here and everywhere. Credit where credit is due though as Divinus is more creative than many a band out there as clearly demonstrated on this full-length of ten tracks done independently with a completely professional performance, presentation and production. The group evokes memories of Therion, rock opera era Savatage, Metallica (vocally), Blind Guardian and more recent and upbeat Candlemass mixed with pop allusions in crafting its music. These guys have many musical and lyrical ideas (called just that in the booklet) some of which show an active mind, which speaks to the demo’s title one believes. The song Forever Lost is rerecorded from the band’s earlier recording. Keyboards, violin and marimba (perhaps the band can perform in Zambia?) are never metal and Divinus is hardly an exception, but hey, there is ten times worse on the Nuclear Blast roster and people seem to be into it so someone should give these guys a break. Is the so-called folk-metal trend over so Metal Hamster can pay attention to something else already? – Ali “The Metallian”

MAELSTROM – IT WAS PREDESTINED
One cannot be sure what Maelstrom’s demo wants to be or what it is attempting, but to my ears it sounds like these reformed New Yorkers want to be a progressive power/thrash metal band. The long tracks contain plenty of hair raising musicianship that takes it cues from those early Yngwie Malmsteen explosions. The bass guitar that accompaneis the drums and guitars is also phenomenal. Sadly, the vocals are a major letdown. The singer has a gruff attempt at being epic or grand or something that clearly is not one of the genre’s best. There are plenty of effects and acoustic guitars as well, which lead me to my point. The word that kept leaping to mind as the disc was playing was ‘unfocused.’ Malestrom is all over the place and much of it is hardly entertaining or serious. The female backing vocals hint at a concept. Maybe that is where the problem lies. It is mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen so one knows the sound is of a high calibre. Write to the band at 248 West Park Ave., Suite 166, Long Beach, NY 11561 USA or visit www. Metalmaelstrom.com. – Anna Tergel

HOUSEMASTER – J.B.
The Italians are back and kick it off with Electrical Saint. The quintet really seems to be trying to be thrashy and is not always successful. The overall sound is dated but that is surely very much by design. Faceless Man is next and is faster... in the ‘80s kind of way. Often thin riffs, numerous solos and moments of aggressive vocals that add a little something to the regular and higher pitched vocals of Pierluigi Cavazzano are the main features of J.B. Twisted tries the heavy metal and thrash metal mix and succeeds a bit more at creating what it aims. The title track starts off something like Mortal Sin’s Lebanon and perhaps the Aussies are as good as a comparison there is for these Italians’ thrash attempts. In Times Of War is just dated ‘80s thrash with heavy metal solos, not much more can be said. The Hell Swallow You! has an acoustic start before providing another dose of metal like the songs before it, with perhaps Overkill being one small influence. – Anna Tergel