Metallian Heavy

Montreal, Canada-based FROSTBITE has an album called Relentless Grief through Black Lion Records in September.

Following shows at the Decibel Metal & Beer Fest, Austin Deathfest, Prepare The Ground Fest, etc., TOMB MOLD is on the Enraptured By Fate’s Tangled Thread Tour alongside openers HORRENDOUS.

CENTINEX has signed a deal with Black Lion Records. The band will release an EP later this year as it continues working on a new full-length, which will be out in 2025.

LACERATION’s I, Erode album is out through 20 Buck Spin.

NAILS’ full-length album Every Bridge Burning is available through Nuclear Blast Records on 30.08.2024.

BRED FOR SLAUGHTER has a new EP called Kill For Satan through Horror Pain Gore Death on August 23rd.The release features Mark Smith (ex-EXHUMED) on vocals.

Oklahoma, USA-based PEELING FLESH has a new album, which is called The G CodeIt and will be issued through Unique Leader Records in September.

LOUDBLAST has a new album, entitled Altering Fates And Destinies, through Listenable Records in October. It is described as more mid-paced compared to its predecessors.

USA-based grindcore and hardcore band CRUSHUMAN returns to Horror Pain Gore Death for its debut full-length simply called CrusHuman in August. The band was formed out of the ashes of SNIPERS OF BABEL.

Brazil-based PIAH MATER has an album called Under The Shadow Of A Foreign Sun through Code666 on 6 September 2024.

Hungary-based death metal trio …IN VISCERO has its debut full-length album Italia Violenta scheduled for a September 1st release on Pest Records (Romania) and Metal Ör Die Records (Hungary). The band’s sound is Swedish, the band members are seasoned musicians with experience in Hungarian bands such as CASKETGARDEN, BORU, MUTILATION CASE and RÉM, and the lyrics are in Italian. The cinematic act’s album evokes seven films.

Poland-based Metal 2 The Masses winners SEMPRAH will head to the UK for the first time to play at Bloodstock as a result of the competition. SEMPRAH has been active since 2019 and released a debut EP, Infernal Claws, through Polish label GOP in November of last year.

Spain-based death metal band KRYPTICY is back with an album called The Non-Return through Violence In The Veins as of 22 July 2024.

DEICIDE is embarking on a North American Banished By Sin Tour beginning September 5th. Opening are KRISIUN, INFERI and CLOAK.

Memento Mori has signed Los Angeles, California, USA-based death metal act INSINERATEHYMN. The band’s new full-length is slated for 21.10.2024.

Featuring members of SADISTIC INTENT, death/grind band LURKING TERROR has signed with M-Theory Audio. The band’s debut is a five-song EP entitled A World Of Darkness.

Black metal band SERVANT’s newest album Death Devil Magick is available through AOP Records on September 20th. The lyrics are inspired by poets and philosophers like Charles Baudelaire and Friedrich Nietzsche, as well as paintings by Franz Von Stuck.

Back On Black is reissuing two NATTEFROST albums, Blood & Vomit (2004) and Terrorist (2005), as a double-CD. NATTEFROST is the solo album of CARPATHIAN FOREST singer Nattefrost.

AVMAKT, featuring the duo of Kristian Valbo and Christoffer Bråthen known for their work with AURA NOIR, OBLITERATION and CONDOR, has a debut album called The Satanic Inversion Of…. through Peaceville on 30.08.2024. The band’s monicker translates into ‘powerlessness’ or ‘impotence’ from Norwegian.

VOMIT FORTH has an album called Terrified Of God set for release through Century Media Records on October 11th. The band relates that the concept revolves around humanity being flawed and not knowing everything. The band had previously announced a video for the song Blood Soaked Death Dream.

Described as slam and deathcore, London, England-based HELLWRATH has a demo called Sin Eater. It contains a cover of GODSMACK’s I Stand Alone and an EDM remix of Sin Eater. The lyrics are inspired by time spent working in the prison system, Old Testament and mental illness.

RISE TO FALL, VHÄLDEMAR and BLOODHUNTER are conducting a mini-tour of Japan in October.

Germany-based KNIFE has an EP, called Live Leather Hounds, through Napalm Records. It was recorded during the Evil Obsession Tour with SODOM in 2023.

Piranha Fest II is scheduled for Montreal, Canada on September 20th. Bands like SINISTER SHOVEL HEADED KILL MACHINE, NEIL TURBIN (“40 Years of Fistful Of Metal set” because ‘sets’ are the latest trend), BLOOD FEAST, GLACIAL TOMB, MALIGNANCY, POINT BLANK RAGE, TOMBSTONER and ZERO STATE are playing. This is not a fest and attendees should not expect give-aways, candy, confetti or a carnival.

Italy-based PERFIDIOUS has signed to Time To Kill Records for the release of its second album, Savouring His Flesh. It is due in September.

OXYGEN DESTROYER’s third album, Guardian Of The Universe, is available through Redefining Darkness Records in August. The concept pays tribute to the Heisei Gamera trilogy, which is three Japanese films featuring a monster turtle from the 1990s.

Death metal duo INGURGITATING OBLIVION will release an album, entitled Ontology Of Nought, through Willowtip Records on September 27th. There is an 18-minute closing track.

OLD-BLACK, unfortunately described as “black ‘n’ roll,” has signed with Music-Records for the release of an album, which is due in March 2025.

Switzerland-based black metallers group COLDCELL have issued a fifth album. It is called Age Of Unreason and available through AOP Records.

Back On Black has a reissue of DODECAHEDRON’s only two albums from 2012 and 2017. The Netherlands-based group has disbanded and Dodecahedron//Kwintessens is available on CD now.

GHOSTHEART NEBULA will release its album Blackshift through Meuse Music Records on October 17th. The song Sunya features a guest guitar solo by Diego ‘Didi’ Cavallotti (ex-LACUNA COIL).

Vancouver, Canada-based KAYAS has a demo called By The Moon And The Stars. There is a video for the song Reflections In The Water.

Germany-based hooded black metal band GROZA will release a new album, Nadir, through AOP Records, on 20.09.2024. The band is touring Europe in October.

Germany-based ERADICATOR has uploaded a song called The Paradox. It is the title track for the band’s next album, which will be released on Metalville Records on September 20th.

Calling its style horror thrash, UK-based band BLACKLIST has a new demo called With Murderous Intent. It contains several rerecordings.

1349 will be releasing a full-length, entitled The Wolf And The King, through Season Of Mist on October 4th. The band has a video for the song Shadow Point.

GEISTERFAUST has signed with Crawling Chaos Records and will release the band’s self-titled debut in September.

In advance of a new album in September, THORIUM has uploaded a song called Eclipsed. The band is singer MHA, guitarist Rogga Johansson, bassist Jesper Nielsen and drummer Thomas Ohlsson.

Japan-based thrash metal band VOLCANO has a new album called Tenka-Musou. It is released through the act’s Metallic Core imprint.

Sweden-based death/thrash metal band, BLOODCROWN has a video for the song Other I. The track is featured on the Sound Of Flesh And Bone album, which is available through Gruesome Records on July 26th. The band is singer Barry Halldan, guitarists and bassists Johan Wold Ylenstrand and Rickard Gustafsson and drummer Jachin.

EYEHATEGOD and openers EXHORDER are touring the USA this month.

Norway-based CREST OF DARKNESS’ new album, called My Ghost, will be released through My Kingdom Music in October. The band describes it as a concept about the recesses of the mind and being its heaviest.

TRIPTYKON is working on a new album for 2025. The band expects it to be issued by Century Media next year, which is forty years after the debut of singer Tom Warrior in HELLHAMMER and CELTIC FROST.

FIRTAN has a video for Komm Herbei, Schwarze Nacht, which is featured on the band’s full-length Ethos. It will be released through AOP Records in September.

FULCI has a full-length called Duck Face Killings through 20 Buck Spin. The cover artwork was created by Wes Benscoter.

EXCEL‘s Seeking Refuge album of 1995 was reissued by Southern Lord for Record Store Day 2024. It is being made available as a full rerelease with a new cover artwork and the band’s original logo as well. The derided album was issued by Capitol Records originally.

M-Theory Audio has signed CLAUSTROFOBIA. The band was founded in Brazil, but is based in the USA now. The label is reissuing the band’s Unleeched album on September 13th. The band, SEPULTURA, OBITUARY and AGNOSTIC FRONT are touring this autumn.

Norway-based thrash metal band UNDER THE OAK has an album called The Last Of A Dying Breed through Wormholedeath in September. The title reflects the band members’ tenure in metal.The band reports that guest musician Jan-Erik Johansen plays the triangle! The act is booked for True Thrash Fest in Hamburg, Germany in November.

UK-based SOLITARY and its independent release Embrace The Darkness are termed “thrash masters,” but the full-length is described as having “a Black album Metallica vibe about it.” There is a video for the song Filtering Hindsight.

DEMONICAL has a live record, entitled Victorious Death – Live In Latin America, through Agonia Records. The album was taped during a tour in September 2023.

Canada-based thrash metal band INFRARED has a video for the song Demon’s Blood, which is taken from the new demo Manifestation out in September 2024. The band is described as being old-school.

Thrash metal band FABULOUS DESASTER has joined the self-cover version trend and re-recorded the demo track Hungry For Life at Soundsight Studio with Armin Rave. The band’s original bassist Patrick “Bude” Hausmann is on vocals. The group is working on a new full-length.

CALIBAN has uploaded a song and a video called I Was A Happy Kid Once. The group had also announced Iain Duncan as their new bassist and clean vocalist. The group is working on a new album.

Japan-based BRIDEAR has a new album, called Born Again, through Psychomanteum Records. It was recorded by Fredrik Nordström in Sweden. There is a video for the song Cult, which sees two witches waging war for the soul of a willing victim. It was shot partly using AI. Fredrik Nordström’s DREAM EVIL will tour with the band in Australia this autumn. BRIDEAR will tour Europe and North America next year. Drummer Natsumi was part of her own birthday jam using the Natsumi Hard Beats monicker and played Kill The King in a Rainbow cover jam with keyboardist Yuhki of GALNERYUS among others.

Canada-based duo SKUMSTRIKE will embark on the Skum For The Road European tour this month. The band released the Deadly Intrusion album through Selfmadegod Records in 2022.

Formed in 2022 and including WAANO, XKRUDE and ANIMA ADVERSA members, REDFACE released its first album First Blood through the Violence In The Veins label in July. It is compared to bands like IN FLAMES, AT THE GATES, LAMB OF GOD, GOJIRA or DEFTONES.

Hell Is Full Of Fire is a new upload from South Carolina, USA-based DEMISER. It is taken from the Slave To The Scythe full-length, which is released through Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records in August.

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA-based death thrash trio HERAKLEION will release a demo called Necroverse on September 13. The songs were recorded in analog with producer Pete deBoer.

London, England-based ANOXIDE will release a full-length called Morals & Dogma through Ghastly Music this month.

RIPPED TO SHREDS has an album called Sanshi through Relapse Records in September. There is a video for the song Perverting The Funeral Rites, which was shot in Taiwan. The album delves into the afterlife in the context of Chinese folklore.

Spain-based SANCTUARIUM has a new full-length called Melted And Decomposed, which will be released through Me Saco Un Ojo Records and BlackSeed Productions on September 3rd.

In The Jaws Of Bereavement,is an album by MAUL, which will be released through 20 Buck Spin in October.

This band has a person on synthesizers, but calls itself death metal: USA-based NIGHTWRAITH has a new demo called Divergence on September 13, 2024. There is a video for the song Whispers Of Dragonflies.

Keyboard-damaged band HALIPHRON has a full-length called Anatomy Of Darkness through Listenable Records in October. As is normal with these bands there are growls, clean vocals and whispers.

ABIGORUM (featuring the Satanath Records’ founder), India-based KASCK and BITTER WINE (Iran) are the line-up for the Satanath Records’ mini-tour of Armenia and Georgia this October. BITTER WINE’s Murray has added guitarist Vahid Karimifard, bassist Amir Bonakdar and drummer Hossein “Ermita” Zahedi to the line-up.

Solo noise/synth/extreme metal act MAGNADUR, run by podcaster Tomi Perrakoski, has a demo called Unholy Punisher. There is a video for the song Twisted Obsession.

The Netherlands-based MISANTHROPIA has a deal with WormHoleDeath Records to release an album, called Envy The Dead, on September 6, 2024. The band with synthesisers is influenced by CRADLE OF FILTH. Mike Wead produced again.

Spain-based HELEVORN has an album called Espectres through Meuse Music Records on 13 September 2024. Session drummer for the work is Sebastià Barceló. As usual, there are several guests. The material is based on the book Ghosts Of My Life by philosopher and critic Mark Fisher.

SETH has an album called La France Des Maudits on Season Of Mist. There are videos for the songs Et Que Vive Le Diable ! and Dans Le Coeur Un Poignard. The album was issued on Bastille Day, which falls on July 14th.

Portugal-based GAEREA has an album called Coma through Season Of Mist on 25.10.2024. There is a video for the song Hope Shatters. The group and fusion act ZEAL & ARDOR are touring North America late this year.

TUSENÅRSEKEN will release its next album, entitled Omhuldra, through Grind To Death Records on September 6th 2024.

…And It Will All End Forever is a new demo by Canada-based deathcore act ART OF ATTRITION. The band is on The Cascadian Carnage Tour in July and August, which includes a performance at Loud As Hell Festival in Drumheller, Alberta. The tour includes select support dates with ANGELMAKER and I DECLARE WAR.


Metallian Hard

CASTLE will hit the road in Europe in September in order to promote its new album, Evil Remains.

KING DIAMOND will embark on a North American tour this autumn. The Saint Lucifer's Hospital 1920 trek will come with support by OVERKILL and NIGHT DEMON. Additional backing vocals for the KING DIAMOND set will be provided by Myrkur.

Power metal band KRILLOAN will release a new album, entitled Return Of The Heralds, through Scarlet Records on September 20th. The themes further revolve around swords and sorcery.

SATAN has a full-length album called Songs In Crimson through Metal Blade Records in September. The band is touring Europe with HAUNT, HELL FIRE and SEVEN SISTERS this autumn.

BLITZKRIEG has a self-titled album through Mighty Music on 6 September 2024. The band nowadays is singer Brian Ross, guitarists Nick Jennison and Alan Ross, bassist Liam Ferguson and Matthew Graham on drums.

SERIOUS BLACK has an album, entitled Rise Of Akhenaton, through AFM Records on September 27th.

PUNISH has its third album available. It is called No Regrets. The ban is fronted by former SABER TIGER singer Kubota Yoko. The singer was part of a special concert with SABER TIGER performing its 1995 album, Timystery, in Japan. PUNISH is touring Japan this autumn.

LEGIONS OF DOOM will release The Skull 3 full-length through Tee Pee Records in September. The 2021 death of singer Eric Wagner (THE SKULL, ex-TROUBLE, BLACKFINGER, etc.) means THE SKULL guitarist Lothar Keller and bassist Ron Holzner (also ex-TROUBLE) pick up with material that would have been on that band’s third full-length and finish it. Also in is Scott Reagers (original frontman of SAINT VITUS) who accessed lyrics found on Wagner’s computer by the latter’s family for the album.

GRAND MAGUS will release an album, called Sunraven, through Nuclear Blast Records in October. It conceptually deals with the poem Beowulf.

Metal On Metal Records has signed DREAD OGRE, a new doom metal band from Sweden featuring members of STONEGRIFF and GRAND MAGUS. The first full-length, entitled Get Ready For The Storm, was released on July 25th.The act features Jacob Kramsjö (vocals and guitars) and Michael Lang (bass), as well as the drummer of GRAND MAGUS and SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, Ludwig Witt.

Denmark-based FATE has an album called Reconnect ‘N Ignite through Frontiers Music on 18.10.2024. There is a video for the song Around The Sun.

Italy-based UDAL CUAIN has a record called No One Falls Like a God through Agoge Records.

Brazil-based LOSS’ Human Factor album is available through DMG on 23 August, 2024. The band is compared to MASTODON and BLACK SABBATH.

Gates Of Hell Records has signed USA-based DEMON BITCH. The label will release the band’s Master Of The Games album later this year. The label will also rerelease the group’s earlier material.

Greece-based power metal band TRIUMPHER will release Spirit Invictus through No Remorse Records in October. There was a lyric video for the song Arrival Of The Avenger. The band previously opened for TRIUMPH OF DEATH and PRIMORDIAL.

Greece-based power metal band SIRIUS has an album called A Quest For Life through WormHoleDeath Records. Desdichado is a song based on the novel Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott and the subject of a lyric video. All releases nowadays must have guest members and Tim “Ripper” Owens and Derek Sherinian must be on every release and this one features Tim "Ripper" Owens and Derek Sherinian.

BURNING WITCHES will tour the USA this October and November. GRAVESHADOW will support on select dates.

Chile-based FIURA has uploaded a song called El Corregidor, a song that preceded a full release called Dioses Chilenos “One of our main inspirations for the album was the book by Chilean author Francisco Ortega called Chilean Gods,” comments the band. This act has a keyboardist.

42nd anniversary? VIRGIN STEELE’s first two albums, the self-titled of 1982 and Guardians Of The Flame of 1983, are remixed as “anniversary editions” and being rereleased through SPV in August 2024.

After a five-year hiatus from releasing new material, San Diego, USA-based brothers TZIMANI has uploaded a song called We Stand And Fight on July 19th. The track is due to open an upcoming full-length.

Sweden-based ECLIPSE has an album, called Megalomanium II, through Frontiers Music on September 20th. There is a video for the song The Spark.

Electronic progressive band ISLE OF THE CROSS has released Faustus: The Musical through Rockshots Records. It is a “metal opera.”

BRITISH LION is touring Australia and New Zealand before returning to Japan for the first time in six years with shows in Osaka and Tokyo before returning to the U.S.A. for West Coast gigs including appearing at Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles on October 7th and Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, California.

ANVIL is touring the USA in support of its One And Only album. PULSIFIER is opening.

SIGNUM REGIS has a music video for the song Ministry Of Truth, which is taken from the band’s latest album, Undivided.

Dark rock/metal act ARE WE LOST? Has an eponymous album scheduled for Music-Records on September 27, 2024. The album was mixed and mastered by Dan Swano.

Toronto, Canada-based SELIAS, featuring guitarist Steve Elias, has a debut album called Headshot through Sleaszy Rider Records. The band has released a video for the song Twisted Path. The act is compared to SOILWORK and IN FLAMES.

UK-based veteran hard rockers DARK HEART released an album, called Out Of The Shadows, on Battlegod Productions on July 21st 2024. Producer Pete Newdeck drummed, but the band has added drummer Geordie Clark and bassist Daniel Millward. This record was billed by Sleaszy Rider in 2021.

Dwarven warriors WIND ROSE have an album, called Trollslayer, through Napalm Records on May4th. A single called Rock And Stone is a song inspired by the Deep Rock Galactic video game. There are around a dozen versions of the albums vying for your cash.

Slovenia-based heavy metal band SKYEYE will release an album, entitled New Horizons, through Reaper Entertainment on July 19th. The band was founded in 2014.

Italy-based VISION DIVINE will release a new album, entitled Blood And Angels' Tears, through Scarlet Records on 20.09.2024. It narrates a saga of lucifer and archangel Michael battling across two records, with Blood And Angels' Tears as its first part.

MAJESTICA is back with its first new music since 2021. The new song and video is called A New Beginning.

Minstrelics is the latest album by Japan-based Neoclassical act MINSTRELIX. It is out through Rubicon Music.

Miljenko Matijevic, of STEELHEART stars in Mick Davis’ new film, Trust In Love. The film was.named after a STEELHEART song. Matijevic is also working on new music with Niclas Engelin of IN FLAMES. STEELHEART is playing select concerts in Indonesia and USA.

Chile-based ENGRUPID PIPOL releases a new video clip for the song Championz Of The Univerz, which is taken from the Engrupid Divais demo of 2022. The band is planning on issuing a new release next year coinciding with its 25th anniversary.

QUEENSRŸCHE will conduct the European leg of The Origins Tour in February 2025. The Origins Tour Part II features songs from both the self-titled EP and The Warning album, issued respectively in 1983 and 1984, in their entirety. NIGHT DEMON opens.

OOMPH! Has a new album called Richter Und Henker through Napalm Records in September.

OPETH has announced an album called The Last Will And Testament, which will be available through Moderbolaget/Reigning Phoenix Music in October. The Last Will And Testament is a concept album set in the post-World War I era. It unfolds the story of a wealthy and conservative patriarch whose will reveals shocking family secrets. All new albums must have outside guests and this one features JETHRO TULL’S Ian Anderson, EUROPE's Joey Tempest and Åkerfeldt's youngest daughter, Mirjam Åkerfeldt.

DRAGONY shall release its fifth studio album, Hic Svnt Dracones, through SPV on October 11th.

AVANTASIA has announced a new album, called Here Be Dragons, for early 2025. The band has also announced a European arena tour for March and April 2025.

In the age of interchangeable band members and commerce, ROYAL HUNT has picked up project singer Mark Boals and drummer Daniel Rasch Nielsen (STATEMENT) to perform at Leyendas Del Rock in Spain on August 7 and at Jailbreak Festival in Denmark on August 17. The band reports that singer DC Cooper and drummer Andreas Habo Johansson were unavailable due to scheduling conflicts.

GALACTIC COWBOYS has launched a Kickstarter to fund a new demo. The band’s last album, Long Way Back To The Moon, was released through Mascot Records in 2017.

SVEN GALI will play El Mocambo in Toronto, Canada, where the act will record the show for a live album, on September 13th.

Former GREAT WHITE singer Jack Rusell has reported he is retiring from touring following a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy in 2024. Jack Russell has released his biography. It was written by author K. L. Doty and is called The True Tale Of Mista Bone: A Rock + Roll Narrative.

Greece-based modern heavy metal band HEAVENBLACK has a lyric video for the song The Dominant, which is from the Blindfolded album. It is available through Sleaszy Rider Records.

USA-based hard rock band STEELCITY has an album called Reverence through Frontiers Music on 20.09.2024. The band is influenced by WHITESNAKE.

After being the opening act for ROSS THE BOSS, Greece-based SUBFIRE will open for FIFTH ANGEL's first appearance in Greece, which will take place in Kyttaro Live in Athens on Saturday, September 21st.

TNT has cancelled its line-up of August concerts as singer Tony Harnell is scheduled to undergo a "time-sensitive medical procedure." TNT expects to be back on stage next year.

AC/DC’s song Thunderstruck has become the band’s first diamond-certified single in America. This signifies 10 million in sales or consumption. The track is from the 1990 album, The Razors Edge.

Chile-based hard and heavy band SINNER’S BLOOD has a new album, called Dark Horizons, through Frontiers Music on 27.09.2024. There is a video for the song Enemy.

The PLANESWALKER duo of Sozos Michael (GLORYHAMMER) - vocals and Jason Ashcraft (HELION PRIME) - guitar has uploaded a song and video called Compleated. The band revolves around the Magic: The Gathering game. Planeswalkers are wizards in the game.

Singer Rosa Laricchiuta has joined VIXEN following the departure of Lorraine Lewis in May. Lewis has explained that her departure from VIXEN was involuntary.

SPREAD EAGLE is back and will release its first album in over 26 years in August. Subway To The Stars is available through Frontiers Music. There is a video for the song Subway To The Stars in which the members play undercover cops. The band is touring the USA and Europe.

Specialising perhaps in irony, the band called THUNDERSISTERS is based in Portugal and terms itself “Viking metal.” Moreover, the “metal” and “Viking” band is keyboard-oriented. The act’s Valkyries' Call demo is out in 2025. The band was founded by keyboardist Dy Moob and has already replaced singer and guitarist Lidia, who left due to the very non-Viking explanation of personal reasons, with the Brazilian Pri Thunder. The band and goth rock act MASTER DY (featuring Dy Moob) are planning a tour.

Note: The band has no connection to black metal except…perhaps guitar, bass and drums? Tragedy Productions/End My Life Records has released Faded.exe, the goth/gloom LP from Mexico-based “post-black metal” act THE DEPRESSICK.

Alongside standard corporate statements about how proud the label and the band are, goth-oriented act WHEN NOTHING REMAINS has signed to The Circle Music for the release of a new album, A Glimmer Of Hope. The Circle Music stated, “We are delighted to welcome When Nothing Remains, a very promising band from Sweden.” The band was founded in 2010.

Following the release of the Mater Larvarum gold marbled vinyl, DEATHLESS LEGACY has a video for the song Absolution.

SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan married his girlfriend Leila Porreca on Tuesday, July 23rd.

It should qualify as a self-cover version. L.A. GUNS’ 1989 song The Ballad Of Jayne is being rereleased in acoustic form as a 7” by RILEY'S L.A. GUNS through Golden Robot Records in August.

Michael Monroe, along with his former HANOI ROCKS band-mate Sami Yaffa, will have four European shows to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Hanoi Rocks album, Two Steps From The Move of 1984, late this year. The album was released through CBS originally. The band will be playing the album in its entirety with the second half of the show featuring a best of set from all eras of Michael Monroe.

STRYPER, will release an album, entitled When We Were Kings, through Frontiers Musicin September. The band is conducting a 40th anniversary tour in the USA this autumn.

Canada-based glam metal band GELATIN SKELATIN has an album called Big Trouble through SRS/MVD Entertainment in August. The album contains nine tracks including the song with a music video, namely VHS. The band is gigging in Central Canada and will open for TRIXTER this autumn. The act features Myles "Slam" Rourke (ex-BLACK CHRISTMAS whose members included ANNIHILATOR’s Jeff Waters) on guitar.

Hard rock band JUNKYARD DRIVE has an album called Look At Me Now through Mighty Music. The band is touring with THE LAZYS and will further hit the road with PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS. The group is signed to Napalm Events and has toured with STEEL PANTHER.

AVATARIUM has an album, entitled Between You, God, The Devil And The Dead, slated for release on AFM Records on 24.01.2025. A song called Long Black Waves is available now.

“Symphonic” (cough cough) band REVENGIN has signed with Wormholedeath Records for the release of a new album, called Dark Dogma Embrace, which is due in early 2025.

VOIVOD's We Are Connected documentary, which delves into the band’s 40-year history, premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, Canada on July 29th. Musicians like Tom Warrior of CELTIC FROST and Ivan Doroschuk (MEN WITHOUT HATS) were interviewed. A local gallery exhibited material and artwork by the band simultaneously.

ORANGE GOBLIN has a new single, called The Fire At The Centre Of The Earth Is Mine, which is from the upcoming Science, Not Fiction album. The album was released through Peaceville Records in mid-July. The album features friend Harry Armstrong (formerly HANGNAIL) on bass.

Grunge and hard rock band CROBOT has an album called Obsidian through Megaforce Records in September. The album’s title track is also a music video. The band and CKY are touring the USA.

Goth and doom band FUNERAL has a single called My Own Grave in advance of its Gospel Of Bones album. The album is scheduled through Season Of Mist in October.

EREB ALTOR has a single called Skogsrået, which features Swedish folk melodies. The titular character is a mythical female who lived in Norse forests. The single is out through Hammerheart Records.

MX. MOON is a new rock/hard act from Japan. The act’s first album, The Moon Rising, features female vocalist Aki and Takeshi of THE UNCROWNED. It will be released through Blue Butterfly on 25.09.2024.

SAVAGE LANDS, which performed on the main stage at Hellfest, has announced that the musician-run 501(c) 3 non-profit has announced that the festival is donating one million Euro to support its ongoing reforestation efforts in Costa Rica and Europe. Musician-turned-activist Sylvain Demercastel, who founded SAVAGE LANDS with MEGADETH drummer Dirk Verbeuren, are working on creating and maintaining green zones. The non-profit has protected 60,000 square feet of rain forest using 100% of the royalties from its music.

Slovenia’s MetalDays has announced the demise of the festival. Following the pandemic and flooding in 2023, and reported betrayal and withholding of monies earned by concessions’ vendor and more, the organisers have shuttered the annual event. Two litigations are on-going.

Let’s sing together now… pitiful Karen and a SUV, pitiful Karen and SUV, go together like a horse and carriage…


Metallian Demos

POWERLÖAD - DEMO ‘24
Six parts metal, two parts punk and one park rock, Powerlöad is based in the heavy metal capital of the world Edmonton, in Western Canada (okay, giggling here, even the band’s publicity shot is in front of a forest and a lake, although the place is burning up now thanks to the right-wing global warming crew). More importantly, for all the glam metallers reading Metallian, the group has snagged Brett Michaels on guitar, but slight let-down here, he has an extra ‘t’ in his name.
OK, the demo starts with Stakes Are High (So Am I). Good track, rough and ready, heck of an intro and lyrics that may be inspired by Ace Of Spades and, for added measure, the lyrics contain the line, “Another perfect day’s…” Stakes are high (so Am I) has a lyric video that skips the intro and sounds like Motorhead at its most crude, Saint Vitus and Autopsy, but is not as tight as any of the aforementioned. Indeed, the band must have been high when recording the track. A punk vibe rules the roost and it is easy to love the cacophony. Chainsaw Jailbreak is a good showcase for the distorted bass. There is always a certain rocky catchiness to these threesome owing to that whole rock mentality, but make no mistake it is loud and obnoxious all the way through. Maniac, thank the devil no relationship to dance music, may have a horror movie dub. It’s noisy, crushing heavy bash metal like olden Killer. It sure sounds like a metal chain lashing against the victim. The riff is the same as High Tension’s High Risk High Rewards. The throaty vocals are straight out of 1987. The solo is straight out of Saint Vitus 1986 and surely that’s a drum machine. Yeah, these guys love anything chain-y (and glammy - see the lyrics, I knew it) because the last title is Chains Of Rock N' Roll and that noisy solo aargh. The bass is cool though. Final word, I’d be stupefied if you see this band anywhere outside a dive bar (playing or not, I mean). - Anna Tergel