Metallian Heavy

PRC Music has issued singles by UPON RUINS (Canada), SURVIVAL INSTINCT (Canada), DISCHORD (Canada) and EXECRATION (Norway). The label has signed CRUEL FATE from Ottawa as well.

PIG DESTROYER is back and has a new album called Head Cage through Relapse in September. The album is named after a medieval torture apparatus.

Snow Wave Records shall issue the upcoming debut album from AEOLIAN. This “environmental death metal group” will release its debut album on September 12th.

PYRE’s Human Hecatomb has been reissued by Redefining Darkness Records. Chaos Records originally issued the album in 2014. The band has signed with Redefining Darkness.

Brazil-based DIABOLIC FORCE will issue an album called Praise Of Satan through Hells Headbangers on the 14th of September.

Ireland-based MALTHUSIAN has an album called Across Deaths through Invictus Productions/Dark Descent on the 7th of September.

DESCENT’s Towers Of Grandiosity is out through Redefining Darkness Records on the 31st of August. The band is based in Australia.

TORNADO has an album called Commitment To Excellence. Set to be released through Extreme Metal Music, a subsidiary of Rockshots Records, in late August the album features a guest line-up of NILE’s Karl Sanders, IMMOLATION‘s Ross Dolan, and PRO-PAIN’s Adam Phillips and Glen Drover formerly of MEGADETH.

SLICE OF SORROW released a new single called Parasite through Metal Carnival Records on July 6th. The single is a cover of KISS’ song.

CARNAL GARDEN and HUMANITY DELETE have a split release called Lethal Onslaught.

Switzerland-based DAKHMA has an album called Hamkar Atonement through Iron Bonehead on the 28th of September. The album’s concepts revolve around ancient Persian deities.

After the 2017 debut EP Future Kill, Oakland, USA-based CULTURAL WARFARE will issue Warmageddon full-length next month.

COSMIC VOID RITUAL’s Grotesque Infections Of Interplanetary Divide 12″ MLP/MCD is out through Iron Bonehead on the 21st of September.

Canada-based BURIAL SHRINE will issue its debut Labyrinth Of Bridges through Saturnal on the 23rd of September.

HECATE ENTHRONED has signed with M-Theory and will issue a new album in January. The band’s last album appeared five years ago.

Heidens Hart Records has reissued the debut full-length from pagan black metallers ILDRA, Eðelland.

MOONSHADE has signed with Art Gates Records. The debut Sun Dethroned will be released through Art Gates Records worldwide on October 26th. Formed in 2010, the Portugal-based quintet has performed at well-known festivals such as Vagos Open Air and Pax Julia Metal Fest with a demo and an EP in its repertoire.

EXODUS shall headline the 2018 edition of the MTV Headbangers Ball Tour in Europe this November.

The Netherlands-based death metal band SISTERS OF SUFFOCATION has signed a deal with Napalm Records. An album is expected in 2019.

It’s “personal” but they keep making announcements to the public anyway! Guitarist Jeff Pogan has left SUICIDAL TENDENCIES for “personal reasons.”

OVERKILL, DESTRUCTION, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM and MESHIAAK will tour Europe using the Killfest Tour 2019 monicker next March. DESTRUCTION has made Randy Black its permanent drummer.

PUTRID OFFAL and INHUME will tour Europe this October.

After twenty years in existence CRONAXIA’S debut full-length album, Collapsing The Outer Structure, will be issued by Lusitanian Music in September.

The trend of so-called labels releasing demos continues. Portugal-based black metal band CINZAS has its Demo I distributed through Purodium Rekords.

DEPHOSPHORUS Impossible Orbits is out on vinyl through 7 Degrees now. It was originally issued by Selfmadegod in 2017.

SHALLOW RIVERS has a single called Water Awakes MMXVIII through Solitude Productions. It was originally recorded in 2009.

SAVAGE ANNIHILATION is promoting its recently released album Quand S’abaisse La Croix Du Blasphème this time announcing a new French weekend tour with Dubai-based NERVECELL.

Even more line-up changes in ONSLAUGHT: The band has recruited Wayne Dorman (guitar) and James Perry (drums) for its show at Bloodstock Open Air festival on Friday, August 10th in the UK.

CANNIBAL CORPSE, HATE ETERNAL and HARM’S WAY are touring USA this autumn.

CANCER has signed with Peaceville and scheduling the release of an album tentatively called Shadow Gripped. It was recorded with Simon Efemy (WOLFSBANE, THE EXPLOITED, etc.).

HATE has signed with Metal Blade. The label is looking to release its next album in mid-2019.

ANAAL NATHRAKH will release a full-length album, entitled A New Kind Of Horror, through Metal Blade Records on September 28th.

HORRENDOUS’ new album Idol will be out through Season Of Mist on September 28th.

PYREXIA has an album, called Unholy Requiem, through Unique Leader on September 14th. Bloodletting North America tour featuring ARSIS, DECREPIT BIRTH, INTERNAL BLEEDING, PYREXIA, ANGELMAKER and WITHIN DESTRUCTION is scheduled for October and November.

KRISIUN’s Scourge Of The Enthroned album will be released through Century Media Records on September 7th.

TERRORIZER will issue a new album called Caustic Attack through The End records this October.

Australia-based ILL OMEN’s The Grande Usurper 12″ MLP/MCD is out through Iron Bonehead on the 10th of August.

BONEHUNTER’s Children Of The Atom is out through Hells Headbangers on the 28th of September. The band calls its style death metal punk.

Cluj-Napoca, Romania-based death metal band MALPRAXIS will issue its debut album, entitled Gutted In Gluttony, through Loud Rage Music this autumn.

After their 2017 Europe tour with AVULSED and MERCYLESS and French tour with NEPHREN-KA and 2018 Europe tour with 01101111011101100110111001101001, SAVAGE ANNIHILATION will shortly embark on the Past, Present… Torture & Blasphemy French weekender for three days/gigs this month.

BEYOND CARNAGE’s Profane Sounds Of The Flesh EP debut is out on Firecum Records. The band plays death metal.

Sweden-based THOSE WHO BRING THE TORTURE has an album called Pain Offerings through Iron, Blood & Death Corp.

Serbia-based KOBOLD has an album called Death Parade through Iron, Blood & Death Corp. The band thrashes it.

Brazil-based INTO THE CAVE has an album called Insulters Of Jesus Christ through Iron, Blood & Death Corp.

Sliptrick Records has signed Italy-based AGONY FACE. An album is expected this year.

Poland-based APE TO GOD’s full-length debut The Head Meets The Tail will be released through Deformeathing Production in October. It follows the band’s self-titled EP.

CRAWLING MANIFEST has signed with Sliptrick and begun writing and recording an EP, which is due to be released through Sliptrick Records late 2018.

Former MALEVOLENT CREATION singer Bret Hoffmann succumbed to colon cancer and died on July 7th.

PAGANLAND’s From Carpathian Land + Gods of Golden Circle 1999 demo will be rereleased in Japan through Hidden Marly Productions on October 15th. PAGANLAND’s XX Years Of Paganland is a live album out through Azermedoth Records now.

SEPULCHER’s Panoptic Horror album is out through Edged Circle Productions on the 14th of September.

WHIPLASH has signed with Metal Blade Records. A record is expected this autumn.

BLIGHT HOUSE’s duo will issue an album called, Summer Camp Sex Party Massacre, through Nefarious Industries this month.

San Francisco-based thrash metal band TRAUMA has released its new album, As The World Dies, through The Orchard.

USA-based VALDRIN’s Two Carrion Talismans album is out through Blood Harvest on the 28th of September.

Twenty years on from its original release SOLITARY has revisited the album that announced its arrival. Nothing Changes has returned with new artwork. Nothing Changes 20th Anniversary Edition is out through Doc Records this month.

KILL EVERYTHIING’s Scorched Earth will be released through Comatose Music on August 17th.

BINAH’s Phobiate is out through Osmose Productions on the 28th of September.

Hungary-based AGREGATOR shall release its Semmiből, A Semmin Át album through GarageLive this month.

Like every other release this too is “highly anticipated” ALL MY SINS’ Pra Sila – Vukov Totem is out through Saturnal on the 23rd of September. It is dedicated to the wolf.

Former PUNGENT STENCH man commemorates the thirtieth anniversary of the band’s last album with European X-Mas shows. Schirenc plays PUNGENT STENCH and brings as openers CARNATION, THEOTOXIN and IRDORATH.

LAMB OF GOD drummer Chris Adler will not accompany the band on the current North American tour dates with SLAYER, ANTHRAX and NAPALM DEATH. The band has recruited Art Cruz (PRONG and WINDS OF PLAGUE).

Deathcore solo project SWALLOWING THE WEAK has joined Sliptrick Records. The EP, Devourer Of Souls, shall be released worldwide through Sliptrick Records on November 6th.

Death/black metal band WITCH KING is issuing the Voice Of The Ossuary CD/LP through Blood Harvest on the 14th of September 2018.

Spain-based AEOLIAN has an album called Silent Witness through Snow Wave Records in September. The band is described as melodic death metal.

Iran-based CONNATE EXASPERATION has issued its debut full-length album Delusional Primacy through Sleaszy Rider.


Metallian Hard

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of its self-titled debut, as well as a new single called Kill The Lies, Canada-based SVEN GALI is playing several Canadian tour dates in July and August before heading to the UK to headline the Hull Metal Festival alongside LA GUNS and others in September. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the single will go to support cancer research in the name of founding guitar player Dee Cernile who dies from cancer in 2012.

GREAT WHITE has kicked out singer Terry Ilous and replaced him with one Mitch Malloy. The ousted singer reports that he found out he is booted on the Internet.

INTO ETERNITY has a demo called The Sirens on August 3rd. Amanda Keirnan (THE ORDER OF CHAOS) is the band’s vocalist currently.

Sweden-based doom metal band VANHÄVD has a demo called Låt Köttet Dö. The band and its publicist call it an album.

Italy-based heavy metal band TYTUS, which signed a deal with Fighter Records in December 2017, is finishing the recordings of an album called Rain After Drought. It is expected for late 2018 or early 2019 through Fighter Records. The band was founded in 2014.

Germany-based INNER AXIS has an album called We Live By The Steel through Fastball Music.

PARADISE LOST will tour North America in support of the Medusa album. Openers are SÓLSTAFIR and THE ATLAS MOTH.

Pride & Joy Music has signed ONCE a Münster, Germany-based symphonic metal act. The band has a track, called The Hour Of Eden's Fall, which will also appear on the upcoming debut album After Earth in October.

CROWBAR will commemorate the twentieth anniversary of its 1998 Odd Fellows Rest album by performing it in its entirety at the Southport Hall in the group’s hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4th. The concert will also mark the exit of bassist Todd "Sexy T" Strange.

JOE SATRIANI has a tour documentary called Beyond The Supernova.

Frontiers Music will release IMPELLITTERI's next album, The Nature Of The Beast, on October 12th.

The local supermarket pays tribute to canned soup every day. Julien's Auctions will hold an auction mid-September to sell off merchandise and belongings from Ronnie James Dio. They call it “pay tribute” to the dead singer. Items being auctioned include paintings, cover artwork and used clothing.

Rockshots Records will issue Canada-based horror-oriented band MALACODA’s Restless Dreams album in October. The album delivers a musical experience inspired by the horror video game Silent Hill 2.

SAMAEL has recruited Pierre "Zorrac" Carroz (SCARS DIVIDE and HEROD) on bass. Guitarist Marco "Makro" Rivao left the group in April and bassist Thomas "Drop" Betrisey has been playing with the band on guitar.

Australia-based BLACK MAJESTY’s Children Of The Abyss is out through Pride & Joy Music on the 21st of September. It was produced by Roland Grapow.

Italy-based hard rock group BASTIAN has an album called Grimorio through Sliptrick Records. The band is compared to BLACK SABBATH.

HIGH ON FIRE will issue an album called Electric Messiah through Entertainment One this October.

New Brunswick, Canada-based doom metal duo ZAUM will be embarking on Canadian dates in Ontario and Quebec this month with support from Sweden's FIREBREATHER with whom the band toured last year.

NAZARETH is issuing an album called Tattooed On My Brain through Frontiers Music this October.

GRAHAM BONNET BAND’s Meanwhile, Back In The Garage is out through Frontiers Music.

Hard rock band ZERO DOWN has an album called Larger Than Death through Minotauro Records on the 10th of August.

Perth, Australia-based groove metal act BAYVIEW SUSPECT has an EP, called Survival Or Ruin, It is out through Rockpit Records on September 14th.

VICIOUS RUMORS has picked up singer Nick Courtney just in time for the Digital Dictator 30th-Anniversary Tour. The new singer made an appearance at American Idol in the past.

ENUFF Z'NUFF has a new album called Diamond Boy through Frontiers on August 10th. The label is also releasing RED DRAGON CARTEL’s Patina album on November 9th.

NASHVILLE PUSSY will release its new album, called Pleased To Eat You, through earMUSIC in September.

Yet another project: FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares and DIE KRUPPS’ singer Jürgen Engler have a new industrial project called DIEKLUTE.

Bassist Tracey Lamb is out of the reformed ROCK GODDESS. Apparently her personal circumstances make her appearances and performance impossible. The band’s latest demo, called This Time, is out on October 5th.

Former KISS and INVASION guitarist Vinnie Vincent will perform a live acoustic show in Memphis, Tennessee. The December 7th concert is the man’s first show in 30 years.

WOEBEGONE OBSCURED’s The Forestroamer will be out through Aesthetic Death on July 27th. The band’s style is doom metal.

Sweden-based heavy rock/hard rock band BAN BIANCA has a demo called Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

Nostalgia and project label Frontiers has signed ROXY BLUE. New guitarist Jeff Caughron has replaced Sid "Boogie" Fletcher. An album is expected in 2019.

Former KING DIAMOND bassist Hal Patino has had a heart attack. He was touring with his son MARYANN COTTON. The Canadian shows are affected.

Round Hill Music has purchased ownership in former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing’s catalog and its royalties. The man’s dream of running a golf course fell to ruins when the venture went bankrupt in 2016.

ROYAL HUNT’s Cast In Stone, which was issued by King Records in Japan in February, is supported now by a video for the song The Wishing Well.

Alternative band IN FLAMES has hired touring drummer Tanner Wayne.

Spain-based KILMARA have an album called Across The Realm Of Time through ROAR Rock Of Angels Records this August. Roland Grapow (ex-HELLOWEEN and MASTERPLAN) has a guest solo on My Haven.

Heavy metal band LORDS THE TRIDENT has a demo called Shadows From The Past out on August 24th.

MOONSPELL singer Fernando Ribeiro has launched Alma Mater Books & Records. His first releases are TIAMAT and other reissues.

Cyprus-based guitarist Kikis A. Apostolou (ARMAGEDDON REV.16:16, ARRAYAN PATH and CHAINSHEART) has issued a solo demo called Phases Of Time.

Germany-based POWERWOLF has release its new album, entitled The Sacrament Of Sin, through Napalm Records.

MADDER MORTEM will release its next full-length album, entitled Marrow, through Dark Essence Records on September 21st.

Italy-based doom band DEADLY CARNAGE has an album called Through The Void, Above The Suns out through Snow Wave Records on October 15th.

Pitch Black Records has signed Finland-based heavy metal band RETURN TO VOID. An album called Memory Shift: The Day After this month. Formed in 2015, RETURN TO VOID initially began as an acoustic cover band to Bruce Dickinson’s solo material under the monicker of DICK & SONS.

Shortly after its first album Waves Of Steel was released, MANDRAGORA parted ways with singer Fatima Natthammer. Maria Orithya of STROGENA has joined the band on vocals now. The band is recording a 7” EP.

Calgary, Canada-based RED CAIN is working on a new demo, called Kindred.

Heavy rock band AMBITION has signed with Infernö Records. The band is issuing a 7" single called Burning Love. The label has also created an imprint called Bleed Metal, which is dedicated to death metal. The imprint is actually a return for a twenty-year-old project.

MAD MAX will release a new album, called 35, through Steamhammer this month.

QUIREBOYS’ album Homewreckers & Heartbreakers shall be re-released with bonus live tracks. A special show at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town will take place on the 14th of September 2018. The 10th Anniversary Limited Edition Homewreckers & Heartbreakers digipacks shall be re-released through Off Yer Rocka Recordings on September 3rd.

The Brazil-based QUINTESSENTE has a demo called Songs From Celestial Spheres. The band has been around since 1994.

JENNER has recruited Nevena Ilic as its bass player several months after Mina Petrov’s departure.

TRAITORS GATE has an album called Fallen through No Remorse Records.

NIGHT RANGER will commemorate the 35th anniversaries of its first two studio albums, Dawn Patrol and Midnight Madness, by performing both records in full during an October 18th concert at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois.

Finland-based CONVULSE has a new song called The Summoning. This acts as a preview to the band’s forthcoming 2019 album.

VULCAIN’s Vinyle album is out through Season Of Mist next month.

Rockshots Records has signed Finland-based SOULHEALER and will release Up From The Ashes on September 14th.

Doom band ENNUI has an album called End Of The Circle through Non Serviam Records on the 5th of September.

ACCEPT will headline the Rise Of Chaos festivals in Germany in November. The band is in Mexico and Brazil in October.

Sliptrick Records has signed Canada-based band SLEAZY WAY OUT. The hard rock act is playing a few shows in Canada, but is also working on an album for the label.

After performing at Headbangers Open Air Mark "The Shark" Shelton, the singer for MANILLA ROAD, had a heart attack and died at the age of 60.

Heavy metal hates the elites. Heavy metal hates Ted Nugent, Gene Simmons and Dave Mustaine.


Metallian Demos

COSMOGYRAL - BEHOLD
The Florida quintet was formed in 2014 and refused to play live "until they had an offering for the masses". Behold is the said offering. The band forewent an intro and jump in with Apostles Of Ignorance. As the cover art, bio and song titles suggest this is part one of 12 songs that focus on educating the audience through lyrics. Musically the band reminds listeners of a mid-paced death metal offering. Some of the faster paced sections can be compared to Amon Amarth and Sean Adams' vocals are in the same vein too. The band is certainly influenced by the Swedish 'melodic' death metal sounds. The solo and riffing on Reap What You Sow switches between speed metal and Carcass types as the band approaches the technical side of the genre sometimes. For some reason Adams does switch to clean vocals too, for example on Agony & Ecstasy and other songs like In Chaos Lies Creation and Final Judgement. The third song, Agony & Ecstasy, brings in more American influence into the mix and the band seems to want to add slower parts into the songs as partially doomy riffs make a short appearance. Dee Mulligan and newest member Eric Estrada add technicality with their guitar work and the music is dominated by small variations and changing riffs. The shortest song, Coming Storm, is naturally one with a more enjoyable faster pace but each song includes a solo, a riff or some screams. These elements work well more often they do not unlike many other bands and albums which tend to overdo changes within songs. Over an hour of music here to behold. The email contact listed on the band bio is mysolcargo@gmail.com which happens to be ... an anagram for the band's name! Catch the wisdom at www.cosmogyralofficial.com. – Anna Tergel

ERIC VAL - MY GIFT MY CURSE
Eric Val's My Gift My Curse is the Pennsylvania solo artist's second full length following 2012's 3 Year Struggle. There have been several singles in the intervening years. Insisting on "diverse rock" Eric uses 20 musicians on these 13 songs and the list reads like an instrument encyclopedia. There is bass and guitar and drums of course but then there are bagpipes, lap steel, harmonica and banjos too. The man himself takes care of the vocals and guitars as well as being the sole songwriter, naturally. He claims to be a classically trained singer and gotten his training by a Julliard trained vocal coach. No matter the exact qualities his voice is too monotonous for a rock record. The CD comes with a lot of information about his upbringing, the man asked for his first guitar at 11, his family moved to Montana at some point but he returned to the industrial areas of Pennsylvania to delve deeper into rock, hard rock. His influences are listed as Sevendust, Stone Sour and Eric Clapton. Most importantly Eric is Elvis Presley's ninth cousin, yes 9th! This has been established through genealogy research and the family tree connects in the past. This was discovered by Eric's grandmother, Imogene Tompkins. Lyrically the running theme is sadness and depression but the album closes with Stronger, which is not surprisingly the hardest rock of the 44 minutes. Check www.ericvalmusic.com to listen to this rock offering. – Anna Tergel