Sweden-based VEONITY will release a new album called The Final Element through Scarlet Records on October 18 2024. The album features new singer Isak Stenvall. “As power metal slowly turns softer and synth-based, The Final Element ensures that this trend gets forever broken.” The band is booked for the Port Of Power festival. The album is a continuation of the The Elements Of Power chronicles, a saga of a hero that needs to seal the veil between the overworld and the underworld.

Chile-based power metal band ARGE has issued a single called Eye Of Eternity.

SANKT VELTEN, the project of Arnd the guitarist for DARKNESS, has recruited former DARKNESS bassist Tom Becker. The band has uploaded a song called What If.

NASTY SAVAGE has an album called Jeopardy Room, which will be released through FHM Records on 10.10.2024. The album was recorded at Morrisound Recording Studio in Tampa, Florida, USA with producer Jim Morris and features Donald Tardy (drums) and John Tardy (vocals) from OBITUARY as guests.

STRIKER has a music video, Live To Fight Another Day, in advance of Canada and USA tour dates. The song is a pop track. The band is appearing at ProgPower USA in September followed by Canadian shows with LUTHARO and then conducting the Shredding North America Tour with SEVEN KINGDOMS, LUTHARO and OSYRON beginning in November.

PRIMAL FEAR has imploded with four members leaving. Guitarists Alex Beyrodt and Tom Naumann, bassist Alex Jansen and drummer Michael Ehré have departed owing to, “decisions within the band that we do not agree with.” Singer Ralf Scheepers and bassist Mat Sinner are left behind. The band has recruited guitarist Thalia Bellazecca (ANGUS MCSIX and ex-FROZEN CROWN). They have made studio member and guitarist Magnus Karlsson also a live member and recent concert drummer André Hilgers a permanent member.

ASTRAL DOORS has a single, called Temple Of Lies, in advance of The End Of It All album, which will be released through Metalville Records in October.

Jawbreaker Records has three new tape rereleases by MINDLESS SINNER thus completing its collection of five cassettes by the Swedes.

Featuring the songs Dead Men Tell No Tales, Lawman and Alligator (which would become All The Aces), Bomber: The Demos is a 10" EP of the songs from the era of MOTÖRHEAD’s Bomber album of 1979.

After a run back in 2019 alongside, GIRLSCHOOL and TANK, RAVEN is again touring Australia with Peru-based HYENA in tow this time. The November mini-tour includes a stop at Steel Assassins Festival.

No Remorse Records will issue AMETHYST’s full-length debut Throw Down The Gauntlet on September 27th. There is a music video for the song Serenade (Under The Rising Moon), which was shot in a retro style. The band is described as hard rock and heavy metal.

Folk and metalcore act EQUILIBRIUM returns its first new song of 2024, which is called Gnosis. The song features new singer Fabian. The band is touring Europe with SEPTICFLESH this autumn.

After playing live at the Acropolis of Athens on September 28th, SEPTEICFLESH moves further away from heavy music and metal and travels to Mexico to play at the Pepsi Center WTC in February 2025. The band will be joined by Mex Pops Orquesta & Coro and the Ninos Y Jovenes Cantores Fam Unam with conductor Caesar Uriel Hernandez. In-between the act is touring Europe with folk band EQUILIBRIUM.

Post something and sludge Denmark and Faroe Island-based band GRAVA will release a sophomore album, called The Great White Nothing, through Aesthetic Death (CD), Vinyltroll Records (LP) and Evil Noise (MC) in September. Metallian will update as the names of more labels come to the fore.

Both W.A.S.P. and the band lead by former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes are touring around that band’s 1984 debut album. W.A.S.P. is performing the debut and CHRIS HOLMES is approximating the set list of the 1985 full-length video, Live At The Lyceum, London in Europe. ARMORED SAINT, in the meantime, has replaced DEATH ANGEL on the Album One Alive North American tour. DEATH ANGEL has pulled out “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

Eliminated is the new full-length album by SABER TIGER. It is available through Walküre Records on 25.09.2024. There is a music video for the song 斑の鳥.

SAXON singer Biff Byford has undergone a procedure to treat atrial flutter, which is a type of heart rhythm abnormality or arrhythmia that causes the heart's atria to beat too quickly. He is recuperating.

INNERWISH has signed to Reigning Phoenix Music and released a single called Cult Of The Blind. “The lyrics are about the modern society where social media, 'influencers' and the control of media offer a reality far from the actual one.” The band is on social media.

Sweden-based doom metal band STILLBORN's singer Kari was admitted to the hospital last month where he underwent a medical procedure to assist with his inability to move and the accompanied pain. The band has cancelled a gig on September 6th. The next gig is with DUN RINGILL and YEAR OF THE GOAT on November 9th.

ANUBIS guitarist Justin Escamilla has decided to step away from the band. ANUBIS is looking for a new guitarist.

Denmark and Faroe Island-based progressive band IOTUNN will release its second full-length album, entitled Kinship, through Metal Blade Records on 25.10.2024. There is a video for the song I Feel The Night. “Set in primaeval time, Kinship unfolds the story of a tribesman who is part of a prehistoric tribe. It tells the story of life’s many conditions…”

VAN HALEN drummer Alex Van Halen will release his autobiography, Brothers, on October 22nd 2024. The audiobook edition of Brothers contains an unreleased song composed by guitarist Edward and Alex Van Halen. Titled Unfinished, it is the last piece of music the brothers wrote together.

Drummer Kenny Aronoff of CHICKENFOOT stepped in for Jason Bonham, who had to leave the VAN HALEN covers’ tour underway in the USA, after the latter had to depart the tour for a family emergency.

Following a Record Store Day release in April 2024, DEF LEPPARD’s One Night Only Live At The Leadmill Sheffield May 19, 2023 will be available on October 11th in multiple formats. Bands have been rereleasing “exclusive” Record Store Day releases and DEF LEPPARD is doing the same with this full-length recorded at the said venue last year.

Ohio, USA-based heavy metal band ATTAXE has its debut album Braving The Tempest through Golden Core/ZYX on August 30th. The band is Juan Ricardo - vocals, Chris Westfall - guitar, Ray Hitchcock -bass and Drew Sodee - drums.

Sweden-based heavy and viking band BROTHERS OF METAL will release an album, entitled Fimbulvinter, through AFM Records in November. The song Nanna's Fate has roots dating back 25 years. The band appeared at Summer Breeze 2024.

PAUL DI’ANNO is issuing a double compilation album The Book Of The Beast, which features a new version of IRON MAIDEN’s Remember Tomorrow performed alongside Tony Martin and a new version of IRON MAIDEN’s Wrathchild.

Aún Sigo Creyendo is the name of a new song and video by Chile-based HELEGARDH. The song denounces the crimes against the planet through industrialization. A full-length demo is imminent.

Australia-based hard rock band MAMMOTH MAMMOTH has a live album, called Volume VI - Warts N’ All, through Golden Triangle Records. The package features artwork inspired by DEEP PURPLE’s 1972 album Made In Japan.

Japan-based hard rock/pomp rock band GALNERYUS will release an album, called The Stars Will Light The Way, through Warner Music Japan on 25.09.2024. There is an advance single called The Reason We Fight.

FROZEN CROWN has an album called War Hearts on Napalm Records on October 18th. The band is touring with KAMELOT this autumn. There is a video for the song Steel And Gold. The album that features new guitarist Alessia Lanzone pays homage to CHILDREN OF BODOM in its title.

USA-based hard and heavy band NINTH CIRCLE has the digital rerelease of the Legions Of The Brave (2014) and Echo Black.(2020) through its own Ninthcircleworld Records. They were issued by Pure Steel Records originally.

ATHENA XIX: formerly known as ATHENA, which again features singer Fabio Lione, who is also the vocalist of their labelmates ANGRA, has an album, called Everflow Part 1: Frames Of Humanity, through Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM) on October 25th.

ONE MACHINE has a single and video called A New Plane Of Existence. The band is playing live for the first time since 2018 and is on tour with OVERKILL and ANGELUS APATRIDA across Europe in September with new singer Tasos Lazaris.

Shining is the new full-length album by SWALLOW THE SUN. It will be available through Century Media Records on October 18. The band has a winter tour of North America featuring support from HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY, GHOST BATH and SNAKES OF RUSSIA.

UK-based black/heavy metal group VULGARIS has a lyric video for the song Seat Of The Fire, which is the title track of its new album issued by WormHoleDeath in May 2024.

TANITH, LUCIFER and THE NIGHT ETERNAL are touring Europe this autumn.

Doom band RESTLESS SPIRIT has a digital live EP entitled The Doomed And The Dead... Live through Magnetic Eye Records on October 2nd. The recording took place at the RPM Fest in Massachusetts, USA in September 2023. The band is opening for THE OBSESSED on the latter band’s 30th Anniversary Of The Church Within tour in the USA this October.

Finland-based SIMULACRUM, which lost the majority of its members during the pandemic, is working on a new album. A new singer and guitarist are being announced soon. The band’s new drummer is Matias Rokio (FROZEN LAND, etc.).

ROBOT MONSTER ARMY, the project of former WARGASM singer Bob Mayo, has a lyric video for Day Of The Robot, which was created by Tad Leger, former drummer of TOXIC. The video is in support of the Assembly Required album. The band is a homage to hard rock of the late 1970s.

QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre is working on a new solo record, which is the follow-up to 2023’s Rejoice In The Suffering.

SCORPIONS has cancelled its German concerts for September 2024 due to an injury by guitarist Matthias Jabs who requires surgery and subsequent rehabilitation. The man reported falling down the stairs of his rented summer home and breaking a pinky twice and breaking a heel. SCORPIONS had its retirement and final tour in 2010.

Japan-based folk rock band BELLFAST, which incorporates Irish and Celtic music and lyrics, has an album called The Warrior Celt through King Records in October. The band has flute, violin and more.

Australia-based progressive rockers TERAMAZE is releasing Teracoustic Sessions Volume 1, an acoustic album compiling different songs from the band.

Chile-based keyboard-oriented pop/rock band, SINNER’S BLOOD, has uploaded a song called Dark Horizons, which is the title track of its new album through Frontiers Music.

MÖTLEY CRÜE returns with an EP called Cancelled on October 4th through the Big Machine label. It features the new song Dogs Of War, the title track and a cover version of BEASTIE BOYS’ Fight For Your Right.

Synthesiser band ULVER’s keyboardist Tore Ylvisaker (Ylwizaker) killed himself on the 16th of August, which was his 54th birthday.

Finland-based synthesised band THE HYPOTHESIS has an album called Evolve through Noble Demon on October 18th. A video for the song Stray is available now.

Japan-based TEARS OF TRAGEDY has a music video for the song Wonder Arts. It is the title track for the new album out through Walküre Records now. The keyboard-oriented act will be playing at the Metal Vampire 20th Anniversary show at Club Citta in Kanagawa, alongside SABER TIGER, PUNISH, CAUSE FOR PAUSE, HAGANE and HADES on November 17th.

Combining the trend of “anniversaries” with self-cover versions, WOLFSBANE is rerecording its debut 1989 album Live Fast, Die Fast as Live Faster for a late 2024 release. The band insists it has had many requests for the release.

Hyperspace Metal Fest returns for its sixth edition to Vancouver, Canada in April 2025. The line-up will feature headliners ENFORCER, PLANESWALKER, GLYPH along with LUNAR, SOLARUS, TOWER HILL, LUMINATOR, TYLOR DORY TRIO and HEYOKA'S MIRROR.

MMMM: Metal Money Making Machine. Every label has transformed itself into a rerelease merchant and every single album or demo is being repressed on some odd “anniversary” as a “deluxe” edition. No exceptions.

CYSTIC EMBALMMENT - DEMO 2024
This demo tape is a rehearsal recording, something which became obvious to me only after ‘play’ was pressed on the song Dégradation De La Paroie Nasale Dû À Un Reniflement Excessif De Liquide Gastrique (someone must have gorged on the wrong food). The sound is rough then, but there is enough guitar, distortion bass, blast drums and howled gurgling by a wild boar to satisfy all lovers… of deathgrind.
There are eight minutes of music and six tracks on the demo so there is no time to waste and Dégurgitation kicks off with cool underground riffs, yet the guitars are buried under the drums and vokillllz. There might be something there if you get to hear it, but that is the obvious problem here. The sound and nature of this make it something only for die-hards. The follow-up Tête Première Dans Soufleuse packs a riffing punch and immortalises someone’s cough at the end.
The dude on the cover was a youngish 20-year-old Nightwish fan with good skin and flowing hair before this whole sonic catastrophe messed up his physique. Look what’s happened to him now. Maybe he visited the butcher shop the band recommended too. - Anna Tergel

MEDRA - DEMO
Medra’s demo of 2024 was followed by a full-length demo, also of 2024, called Shadows Of The World, which reprised the four tracks on this release and added more. The music is bad and could be substituted as a herbicide and pesticide combo if played in the garden, instrument of torture if broadcast by the Americans at Guantanamo Bay or subbed as concentrated radiation on human cells. Unfortunately, by the same token, this music - if we are permitted to call it that - is offensive to my ears.
Firstly, to call this metal is like calling grandma’s daily walk around the backyard a supersonic jet. Of course, per all these websites and magazines, everything is ‘metal’ nowadays (no exception), but the drum machine from hell and the synthesizers… the whole thing sounds like a reject pop band’s demo from 1991 except it is not quite that heavy, well-sung or well-produced. Horrible, thy name is Medra. Still, one has to appreciate the band’s courage and temerity. After realising that there is a dearth of bands, er, musicians and releases out there and so the world desperately needs another one, the member/members has/have put to tape the very first time they have picked up their own instruments, compiled the result into a demo and made it available for us… I mean… this recording is the very first time these people have held musical instruments in their hands, right? Right?
This thing is bad enough that all these websites and magazines would rate it their incredibly rare minimum mark of 7.5/10. Yes, that bad. It may have just rescued Mötley Crüe’s Dogs Of War from the bottom of the 2024 heap.
As for the mystery of whether the band is singing in English or Spanish, we have already spent more time on this than warranted and some fool could go waste time finding the answer to that question. - Ali “The Metallian”