Metallian Heavy

Super Duper Top Secret Metal! KREATOR drummer Ventor will not be with the band on several upcoming tours due to “personal issues.” The band has enlisted NECROPHAGIST and ILLOGICIST credited drummer Marco Minnemann.

INSOMNIUM’s Across The Dark album has entered the Finnish charts at the number five slot!

EXODUS was forced to cancel its Beijing, China show at the Mao Live venue on September 25th ostensibly due to visa issues. The band is planning on recording a new album with British producer Andy Sneap in November.

The Humanity On Parole line-up of the Dutch crossover band GENETIC WISDOM will reunite for one show at the Eindhoven Metal Meeting on December 19th at Effenaar in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Despite having disbanded over three years ago Swedish Gothenburg death metal progenitors ABLAZE MY SORROW has a new EP, entitled The Suicide Note, through Pronode Records.

Swedish death metal band AEON has parted ways with bassist Max Carlberg due to touring tribulations and immediately replaced him with former SATYRICON er Victor Brandt.

Inspired by KEEL? DERANGED has reformed and following a show at this year’s Gothenburg Deathfest on October 3rd will play three shows in Russia in November. The band is singer Martin Schönherr, guitarist Thomas Ahlgren, bassist Andreas Johansson and drummer Rikard Wermén.

GLORIOR BELLI has recruited bassist Jay Newman and drummer Darren Verni both of UNEARTHLY TRANCE. They join Chris (a.k.a. Alastor) and Julien (a.k.a. Infestvvs).

Metal Mind Productions presents a live album by Norwegian band CARPATHIAN FOREST. The album entitled We’re Going To Hollywood For This – Live Perversions features a remastered recording of the band’s gig in Kraków in early 2004. This remastered edition will be available in a digipak edition limited to 1,000 copies. The release date is scheduled for 19th of October in Europe and 26th of January 2010 in USA (through MVD).

Sweden’s NOMINON lost its vocalist Daniel Garptoft in the midst of the proceedings for the recording of its next album. The band is at Necromorbus Studio and guitarist Juha Sulasalmi is singing. An EP, called Omen, will precede the full-length in December.

MÅNEGARM’s Nattväsen album (‘Night Creatures’), is out on October 22nd through Regain Records. A release party is scheduled for November 7th at Clustret in Stockholm, capital of Sweden with THYRFING and SKYFORGER.

Inspired by KEEL? San Francisco Bay Area thrash band DEFIANCE will release its reformation album, The Prophecy, on October 19th through Candlelight Records. It has been over 14 years since the band released music. The music was taped at Trident and Greendot Studios.

Pennsylvania thrashers MANTIC RITUAL have lost singer and guitarist Dan Wetmore to his love of photography. The band’s previous sound engineer Dan Watson is temporarily replacing him.

Pennsylvania thrashers CROWN THE LOST lost drummer Kevin Antonacci to his work and school last month. The band is looking for a replacement and can be contacted via crownthelost@hotmail.com.

Spain’s HAEMORRHAGE will release its next full-length album through Relapse Records. The group is working the CD and hopes to record it in the winter. Relapse will also reissue the band’s Grume and Apology For Pathology albums.

HELLBASTARD has signed with Poland’s Selfmadegod Records. The label will re-issue The Need To Kill, as well as the new Eco-War EP, which is due this month. Eco-war recycles old 1986 demo songs.

ENTHRONED has again lost members. Guitarist Nguaroth and drummer Ahephaim decided to part ways with ENTHRONED due to a lack of time and availability. Former GORGOROTH member Garghuf has joined on drums as has returning guitarist Neraath.

Agonia Records has issued a KOLDBRANN seven-inch single called Russian Vodka/Metalni Bog. The single covers KORROZIA METALLA of Russia and BOMBARDER of Bosnia.

The reformed Australian thrash metal band MORTAL SIN has released a live album, called Into the Inferno (Live In Oslo), through Riot! Entertainment. The CD was taped at the group’s March 2008 show in Oslo, Norway

LOUDBLAST’s Loud, Live & Heavy CD is out now. It is the French band’s first release in five years.

KONKHRA has lost bassist Lars Schmidt. The band is searching for a replacement. Bassists can email info@konkhra.com to contact the Danish band.

Colorado black metal band SATAN’S HOST will release its new album, Power ~ Purity ~ Perfection: 999, on October 26th through Moribund Records.

On next November 16th, several Season Of Mist releases will hit the stores. The first one is Sweden’s RIMFROST’s sophomore album, Veraldar Nagli. Translating as ‘Axis Of The World’ and referring to the North Star, this new album combines Nordic lyrics with black metal roots and early METALLICA-style thrash according to the label. Norwegian black metallers URGEHAL will also see a new album released on November 16th. Entitled Ikonoklast, the band’s sixth album offers doom and black metal. The label will re-release DRUDKH ‘s Autumn Aurora from 2004.

GODGORY’s 2001 album Way Beyond is being re-released this month by the re-issue label, Metal Mind.

DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA’s 2002 album Ahead is being re-released this month by the re-issue label, Metal Mind.

Upcoming releases by Osmose Productions include: FIDES INVERSA’s Hanc Aciem Sola Retundit Virtus (The Algolagnia Divine) CD/LP, DAÄTH SHADOW’s Crown For Kings” CD/LP, ODEM ARCARUM’s Outrageous Reverie Above The Erosion Of Barren Earth CD/LP and ONDSKAPT Arisen From The Ashes CD/LP.

FAUST’s From Glory To Infinity is out now through Paragon Records. FAUST is the brainchild of singer Aleister (ANCIENT and ABGOTT) who formed the band in 1992 and resurrected it in 2008.

Die Todesrune Records has issued VARATHRON’s Stygian Forces Of Scorn CD/LP and WITCH TOMB ‘s Crippled Messiah CD/LP.

WITCHMASTER has returned with Trücizna (‘poison’), the band’s first full-length since 2004’s self-titled album. Ibex Moon Records issues the album on November 10th in the USA.

The label is proud (again)! Xtreem Music is proud to announce the signing of WINTERWOLF, featuring DEMILICH ‘s mastermind Antti Bo. The band was formed in 1997 and changed its name to DEATHCHAIN in 2001. The original members resurrected the original name in 2006. The band’s album is called Cycle Of The Werewolf and out now. Cycles Of The Werewolf will be initially released on 12″ LP vinyl format as a limited edition of 500 copies in early October, 2009 and will be followed by a CD version around January, 2010.

BLACK COBRA has released its Southern Lord debut album, Chronomega, on September 29th. The band is in Japan and will next proceed to Australia for touring.

FAITH OR FEAR bassist Clarence “C.J.” Jenkins died Sunday September 13th after suffering a heart attack during the group’s concert at Millville, NJ’s Arts, Music and Antiques Festival.

Virginia’s ARSIS is at Planet Z Studio in Massachusetts to record its fourth studio album, Starve For The Devil. The band believes this will be its best album.

SLAYER will play its 1986 album, Reign In Blood, in its entirety in Sydney, Australia on Thursday, October 15th at Big Top Luna Park. The band’s World Painted Blood album is out on November 3rd through Columbia.

Italy’s APEIRON has signed a deal with Last Scream Records. The band’s next album, Among The Lost, was mixed by Simone Mularoni at Fear Studio and is now scheduled for release in December.

Australia’s IMPETUOUS RITUAL has completed work on its debut album, Relentless Execution Of Ceremonial Excrescence, which will be issued by Profound Lore Records. Expect it in December. Profound Lore will issue the 77-minute long album in November.

Rochester NY’s CRUCIFIST has released its debut Demon Haunted World through Profound Lore Records. The band features bassist Danny Lilker (BRUTAL TRUTH, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, etc.) and guitarist John Gallo of ORODRUIN.

My Kingdom Music is issuing the debut album of SYMBOLYC, Engraved Flesh, this month. The death metal band hails from Naples. The label will also issue VEHEMENT’s All That’s Behind album. The thrash metal band also hails from Italy.

AVULSED, EMETH and GRIMNESS 69 are going through 7 different countries for their European tour. AVULSED is supporting its fifth full-length album, Nullo (The Pleasure Of Self-Mutilation), which is being issued in the USA through Ibex Moon.

Big IN FLAMES fans? Oklahoma based Death Metal band BROKEN FLESH released its debut album, Forever In Flames last month through Sullen Records. The band is comprised of founding members Kevin Tubby on vocals and guitars (ex-DEATH LIST and ex-OBLITERATION), Lopez on drum (ex-BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE) and Jacob Mathes on bass.

Evil and agnostic at the same time! The Dutch pagan black metal band HELLEBAARD has finished its fourth album, Fier. Gardarika Musikk will release the album in the second half of November 2009.

The Italian death metal band APEIRON has signed a contract with Last Scream Records for the release of the its full-length, Among The Lost. The album, mixed by Simone Mularoni at Fear Studio (THE MODERN AGE SLAVERY, EMPYRIOS and GORY BLISTER), will contain ten tracks of technical death metal. The release is scheduled for next autumn and will follow The Cruel Crime EP by a year.

Salem Rose Music (WARBRINGER, etc.) has announced that it has expanded its management roster with the addition of new clients, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS and DECREPIT BIRTH.

Mortal Music and MVD Audio will release OPPRESSOR‘s The Solstice Of Agony And Corrosion on November 3rd worldwide. Ten years after the band ceased to be, highlights from all three of OPPRESSOR’s studio albums will be on the forthcoming fourteen-track compilation.

CONTRADICTION commemorates its twentieth birthday with an album called The Essence Of Anger. It is released by Limited Access Records.

Brazilian thrash metallers CLAUSTROFOBIA have signed with Candlelight Records and issued an album called I See Red.

Confederacy Of Ruined Lives EYEHATEGOD ‘s fourth studio album from 2000 is being released by the vinyl-only imprint I’m Better Than Everyone Records. This release will be available on Tuesday, October 22nd and will be available in two versions. The main edition will be hand numbered and limited to 400 on thick black vinyl. There will also be a limited edition of 100 hand numbered copies on white vinyl with tan and black splatter.

NILE’s Those Whom the Gods Detest album is out November 3rd through Nuclear Blast Records. Neil Kernon produced the album.

SUFFOCATION has just issued a live album, called The Close Of A Chapter: Live In Quebec City. It was recorded in 2005 during the band’s Souls To Deny world tour. The band has several Canadian and US shows planned in November.

ABSU has recruited live lead guitarist Vis Crom in place of Zawicizuz. The latter man was recently fired due to “irreconcilable differences.”

Australia’s THE AMENTA has dismissed singer Jarrod Krafczyk and bassist Dale Harrison. The departed have been replaced by Cain Cressall (MALIGNANT MONSTER) and Dan Quinlan (PAIN DIVISION) respectively. The band’s new line-up debuted at the Against The Grain festival on September 19th in Australia.

Austria’s MASTIC SCUM will release a new album, called Dust, on November 13th through Twilight Distribution. Jacob Hansen mastered the songs. Look for a performance by new singe Maggo Wenzel.

Inspired by KEEL? Following his firing from DIMMU BORGIR singer and guitar player Simen “Vortex” Hestnæs has reformed LAMENTED SOULS. Olav Knutsen (INFERNÖ), OJ “Apollyon”, Moe (IMMORTAL and AURA NOIR) and Einar Sjursø (VIRUS) will play at the Metal Merchants festival in Oslo at the end of January.

KOLDBORN has recruited guitarist Martin “O” Olsen of AS WE FIGHT and drummer Kim Jensen of DAWN OF DEMISE.

Germany’s BURDEN OF GRIEF is in the studio recording a new album, which is due in the spring of 2010. Follow The Flames will contain ten new songs and comes with a bonus CD of IRON MAIDEN, SEPULTURA, WHITESNAKE and other cover versions.

Musical chairs! Guitarist Craig Goldy will not tour with DIO in Europe in November and December due to his touring commitments with BUDGIE in Australia. Filling in for Craig Goldy will be former DIO guitarist Doug Aldrich who has busied himself with WHITESNAKE.

HATESPHERE is performing three shows in Turkey in November.

Inspired By KEEL? ORDER FROM CHAOS has reformed of course and will play six shows in the U.S.A followed by ten in Europe next year. The group is hitting its Kansas City hometown on January 2. Osmose Productions is reissuing the band’s music.

ABSCESS is in the studio recording a new album called Dawn Of Inhumanity. The album will be issued through Tyrant Syndicate Productions, which belongs to DARKTHRONE’s Nocturno Culto.

Nuclear Winter Records has issued MYTHOS’ Moulded In Clay 10’ MLP. This is the band’s demo given the re-release treatment 16 years after recording.

Andrew of Stygian Crypt Productions as well as the principle of Xtreem Music are alleging that Scott of Brutal bands is a rip-off. The latter company has apparently not shipped orders placed after receiving payment through Paypal.

Slovenian black metal band BLEEDING FIST has completed the recording of a new MCD, to be entitled Macabrum Bestia Ex Abyssus. To be released in early 2010 through Moribund Records, Macabrum Bestia Ex Abyssus will feature four new songs and a cover of a HELLHAMMER song.


Metallian Hard

NWOBHM band WEAPON is back. The band is rehearsing, writing, and planning to go back on the road in November. Bruce Bisland and Baz Downes won't be a part of the band as Bruce is committed to playing drums with ANDY SCOTT'S SWEET and Baz, unfortunately, has had to retire from live work due to illness. Singer Danny Hynes and guitarist Jeff Summers have recruited Gavin Cooper on bass and vocals, formerly of BATTLEZONE, KILLERS and STATETROOPER and Ian Sweeting on drums, formerly of THE RISEN and STONE KATZ.

Guitarist Neil Buchanan of the reformed MARSEILLES broke his thumb last month while unloading a van in Liverpool. He will be out of action for the month.

MOB RULES will release its sixth album, Radical Peace, on November 13th through AFM Records. The album was recorded at Bazement Studio with engineer Markus Teske.

BATTLEROAR has parted ways with singer Marco Concoreggi due to the famous "personal reasons" and replaced him with John Papanikolaou.

Century Media Records has signed on FINNTROLL directly following a licensing collaboration with the band for its previous album. A new album from the band is due in 2010.

Following the release of Single Ticket To Paradise HEARSE will play its very first concert in its home country of Sweden on October 24th in Stockholm at Kafé 44. GENERAL SURGERY and UNCURBED will open.

Vic Records, which has signed HEARSE featuring Johan Liiva of FURBOWL, will release the debut from FURBOWL, Those Shredded Dreams, again on October 26th.

HALFORD is back in solo mode with Halford III - Winter Songs. The album is the JUDAS PRIEST singer’s first new and original record in seven years and includes both new metal songs and seminal Christmas jingles. Expect it in December.

AC/DC singer Brian Johnson underwent surgery in September thus cancelling all touring activities for October. The band is still scheduled to hit South America in November.

Brooklyn NY’s KRALLICE has completed work on its new album, Dimensional Bleedthrough.

SAMAEL will no longer be appearing alongside MOONSPELL on its North American tour this October and November. Taking SAMAEL’s place will be Century Media recording artists DIVINE HERESY. SAMAEL has issued a statement mentioning income and finances as the reason.

Italy’s HIGHLORD will release a new album, The Death Of The Artists, this month through Scarlet Records.

The Atlanta, GA-based progressive metal band HALCYON WAY has parted ways with singer Sean Shields due to creative differences. Taking over on vocals for the Nightmare Records recording artists is Steve Braun, known for his work with Italian progressive-metallers ASHENT, which have released two records through Lion Music.

Inspired by KEEL? Doom metal band GOATSNAKE will reunite for a show at next year's Roadburn festival, on April 15-17th, 2010 at the 013 and Midi Theatre in Tilburg, The Netherlands.

Gus G. has replaced Zakk Wylde in OZZY OSBOURNE. The former DREAM EVIL and ARCH ENEMY guitarist is touring with the former BLACK SABBATH singer.

Retroactive Records has reissued the debut album by white metal band GUARDIAN. It is dubbed First Watch: 20th Anniversary Edition.

ENEMY OF THE SUN has begun production on the follow-up to its debut LP, Shadows. The album should be done by the end of the year, with a release date planned for sometime in spring of 2010. Production will again be handled by the band’s own Waldemar Sorychta.

Can the purchaser also pay digitally? Reissued KING DIAMOND albums The Spider's Lullabye and The Graveyard have both been re-mastered by KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy LaRocque and are released on October 13th by Metal Blade. Each album will include bonus material that purchasers will be able to obtain digitally. Apparently, the bonus material is of too low a quality to appear on disc!

TOKYO BLADE will release a Live In Germany CD and DVD on October 27th through Razar Ice Records. The album was recorded last November at the Keep It True festival in Germany in the middle of the band's Die By The Sword tour.

LED ZEPPELIN singer Robert Plant performed African-style versions of the band's Black Dog and Whole Lotta Love songs on Friday, September 11th at the Rockwell charity gig at London, England's O2 arena. The charity’s earnings go towards music therapy.

Former HAWK and GUNS N’ ROSES drummer Matt Sorum will tour with MOTÖRHEAD this season as the latter band’s Mikkey Dee is participating in the Swedish version of I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!

Between December 11th and 19th GUNS N’ ROSES will perform in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan in December.

The new ALCATRAZZ has parted ways with drummer Glen Sobel and already replaced him with Dave Dzialak who has played with JEFF SCOTT SOTO before.

Sweden’s ASTRAL DOORS will issue a new album called Requiem Of Time in January through new German label Metalville. Mika Itaranta is out. Former LUNATIC PARADE man Ulf Lagerström is in.

The Portuguese Viking/folk band GWYDION is now recording its upcoming album. The recordings take place in the Urban Insect Studio in Portugal with their friend Fernando Matias (F.E.VE.R.) and is scheduled to be finished by the end of October.

W.A.S.P.’s next album is called Babylon and is due on October 12th through Demolition Records. The album bears a Biblical armageddon theme.

KISS kicked off the Alive 35 North American tour on September 25th in Detroit where the group played its 1975 album Alive! from start to finish.

German doom metal band AHAB’s guitarist Christian Hector was forced to sit out the band's tour for "personal reasons." Filling in for him on the jaunt with DORNENREICH was Markus Sailer of THE EXORIAL.

Inspired by pop! EXCITER, NECROPHOBIC, FREEDOM CALL, CRASHDIET and UDO are participating in a ship cruise called Sweden Rock Cruise departing Stockholm on October 8th!

BIBLEBLACK, featuring members of KING DIAMOND, has lost drummer Tobhias Ljung and replaced him with Staffan Lundholm of CIRCLE OF CHAOS. The band has shows planned in Sweden and Finland in support of its The Black Swan Epilogue album. BIBLEBLACK's debut album, The Black Swan Epilogue, was released in May through Vic Records.

LITA FORD has snatched the opening slot on this autumn’s QUEENSRŸCHE tour in support of the American Soldier album. Edel has now issued Lita’s Wicked Wonderland album. In a strange twist, members of QUEENSRŸCHE will act as the backing band for Lita on several songs. In fact, Lita and QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate will perform a duet.

Mickie Jones, the original bassist for ANGEL, died on Saturday, September 5th in San Dimas, California due to liver cancer.

DIAMOND HEAD will be the opening band for EUROPE next February for nine shows in the United Kingdom.

DOKKEN 's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 is a compilation of new versions of the band’s ’80s, new songs and a cover of Lies by THE KNICKERBOCKERS. The CD is out in October through Rhino. Those who cannot wait may see the band in a Symantec anti-virus commercial now.

Metal Mind Productions will re-release CRYSTAL BALL’s Virtual Empire on the 21st of September. The digipak edition is limited to 2,000 copies and digitally remastered using 24-Bit process on a golden disc. The original 2002 release was issued through Nuclear Blast Records.

Arjen Lucassen of AYERON has created a new progressive rock project called GUILT MACHINE. The band released On This Perfect Day on September 29th on Mascot Records USA. The album comes in three formats: regular edition of CD in jewel case, special edition of CD/DVD Digipak and a limited edition CD/DVD Digibook.

HADES and NON-FICTION guitarist Dan Lorenzo has a weekly Internet radio show now called F-Bombs For Everyone. It can be heard on Bionic Strigl Radio.

The fourth sequel to the Hell On Earth series is coming out on November 27, 2009. Hell On Earth V will cover MANOWAR's recent world tours including Germany, Norway, Spain, Finland, Russia, Romania, Turkey, USA and Canada. It will feature live performances of old and new classics such as Gloves Of Metal, The Crown And The Ring, Hand Of Doom, Hymn Of The Immortal Warrior, Father, God Or Man and many others.

Portland, Oregon speed metal band DARKBLACK recently signed a deal with California's StormSpell Records. Said the band of the signing, "StormSpell is currently in the midst of waging an unending, seemingly pitched battle against the followers of the False Metal Gods (more or less weakling usurpers). We now, with our newest allies, raise our weapons of war to the sky! DARKBLACK will be the vanguard for this righteous cleansing of the weak, uninspired and mediocrity that plagues our world! StormSpell Records are true believers in the true Underground Heavy Metal movement!" The band recently released its debut full-length Sellsword, featuring over 49 minutes of music. No word if they then ascended towards heaven.

Bassist Eric Brittingham of CINDERELLA filled in for POISON’s Bobby Dall on the last few shows of the latter band’s tour with DEF LEPPARD and CHEAP TRICK after Dall had to exit for personal reasons. BON JOVI's Hugh McDonald filled in for Dall at the August 25th concert at USANA Amphitheatre in West Valley City, Utah.

U.S. power metal band HEIR APPARENT will release a DVD called Live At The Riviera - 1988 next winter. The rare footage features Steve Benito on vocals.

U.S. white metal band JACOB’S DREAM will release its next full-length album, Beneath The Shadows, on November 10th through Retroactive Records. It is a concept album centring on the choices of the main character, Carmen.

EIGHTBALL CHOLOS, featuring Burrito (Ex-THE WARNING) and Tracy G. (GOAD-ED, Ex-DIO, Ex-SWIFT KICK and Ex-THE WARNING) has announced that it has begun work on a new album titled, Church Of Whores. This will be the first time the band has recorded new material since its 1996 album, Satan's Whore. Mark Solomon (STAVESACRE and THE CRUCIFIED) is slated for a special guest spot on the upcoming album. Church Of Whores is currently slated for a late summer of 2010 release on Open Grave Records. The band's debut album Satan's Whore will be re-issued at the beginning of the new year with new artwork in a limited edition by Open Grave Records.

How to destroy a legacy (even more): Janie Hendrix, the president and Chief Executive Officer of Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix and the step-sister of JIMI HENDRIX, has delighted the fans of the long-dead guitarist/singer by telling NME that she expects the corporation to release new audio and video every 12/18 months for the next decade. No word whether he will continue to exist in Futurama.

BONHAM is playing several US shows this month. The band will play LED ZEPPELIN, FOREIGNER and UFO songs. Jason Bonham has recently been drumming for THUNDER. Kelly Keeling, known for his work in BATON ROUGE and MICHAEL SCHENKER, has replaced the dead vocalist, Daniel MacMaster.

Guitarist Michael Schenker and his ‘80s/’00s singer Gary Barden have dubbed themselves SCHENKER BARDEN ACOUSTIC PROJECT and performing at the Hard Rock Café in Köln, Germany on October 12th. MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP just toured Europe again with Gary Barden on vocals and Chris Glen on bass guitar. A US tour is still in the works.

Poland's Metal Mind Productions will release the recording of DEEP PURPLE's show in Katowice, Poland in 1996 as a live album called, Live Encounters.

Inspired by KEEL? No less than 28 years after the release of the band’s debut album, Dutch hard rock band PICTURE will release a new album, Old Dogs New Tricks, this month through Rocktalent.

earMUSIC will release a new, “deluxe edition” of the eponymous debut album by CHICKENFOOT at the end of November. It was originally due at the end of October. The 2-disc edition includes a bonus DVD disc featuring over 60 minutes of live performances and promotional footage.

Bands are no longer interested in finding record companies. None of them issue demos any longer. They all have their own “albums” now.


Metallian Demos

CIRKUS – LET THE MADNESS BEGIN
The biography supplied to me reads “Swedish rockers,” but as with most official histories, there is an omission. The missing word is ‘hard.’ Who wants to listen to a new Radiohead for example? Cirkus is a band from Sweden, a country that has given us many cool sleaze and glam bands recently and sounds like a cross between Poison (singer Roux’d) and Mötley Crüe and a bunch of more mainstream sounds. The disc does not kick off in the best form possible (never mind a ‘circus’ intro) because Trashy is not up-tempo. Cirkus is best when it’s playing at the upper tempos. The songs are so much more fun and gun and sun. Hard Headed Woman Everlong Lasting and Fuck’Em N’ Flee are the ideal tracks on this thing. Trashy is about pole dancers and Fuck’Em…, well is about that, but the huge surprise on this album is Everlong Lasting cataloguing the list of human miseries like the destruction and wars in the Middle East or Hurricane Katrina in the USA. Where did that come from? Unfortunately, crazy clichés are not excluded either. The album ends with a cover version of Marc Bolan’s Get It On. How boring. At least, the faster songs and the drummer’s cute hair make up for it. By the way, you can get this from Koch Entertainment. Find the band at www.cirkusmusic.com. - Sheila Wes Det

CIRRHA NIVA – FOR MOMENTS NEVER DONE
Band name, CD name and the natural landscape on the cover smell of art. The band is indeed artsy and full of originality and dynamism. Cirrha Niva, however, has improved and become a listenable and serious band. This is a progressive and original band that is still experimenting without the need to bore the pants off a metal fan. The band does not wish to be silly anymore either. In other words, For Moments Never Done is progressive, but not retarded. Gone is the goth and the sound is instead a combination of Meshuggah, Pain Of Salvation, Anacrusis and Threshold. It all starts with a sample and a crazy scream. There are female vocals, acoustic guitars and even a saxophone (on Spring Before Winter), but there is real good material included too. Of course, the detritus loses points for a band that could have and should have known better. Framed could have come from a ‘70s Scorpions opus for instance. That is how organic this material is. There is a song about the territories Israel has stolen and occupied from Syria called Golan Heights. Apparently, the band has a political bent as well. For Moments Never Done is something different, yet very interesting and compelling. Write to the band at cirrhaniva@home.nl or visit www.cirrhaniva.nl. - Anna Tergel

STORM THE CASTLE – THE HISTORY OF DOOMED EXPEDITIONS VOL.1
When you think about the name of this CD you should discover it certainly fits the band’s name. Storm The Castle is not a new name. The band sent me a demo a couple of years ago and the sticker that came with it is still here. It is a great sticker. STORM THE CASTLE! The new demo is a fully professional endeavour with a pro sound, elaborate artwork and packaging and, as the name indicates, a complex concept. The band is still clearly in the Slough Feg/Hammers Of Misfortune heroic metal mode. The select Iron Maiden melodies cannot be missed either. The guitars are the genuine article and the drumming of, OK seriously, Amjad Saleh Mohammad Tawfiq Eid Saleh Al-Faur, is special in that the guy customizes his beats for the music. The drumming is professional not just because of its tightness, but also because the variety is used to precisely complement the music. The band will never reach the masses, but is both heavy and atmospheric enough to deserve a bigger name-recognition factor. There are actually people this cool in Arkansas? You can write to bassist Joel through his email jwbunch@uark.edu or visit www.stormthecastle.org. - Anna Tergel

ZAPHAYAEL – Same
It is so hard getting excited about a one-man band that calls itself ‘melodic death metal’ yet hashes out three songs full of keyboards and the very faux sounds of a drum machine. Truth be said, several of the riffs are fine and the vocals, when they come, are pretty grim and impressive but the rest of this material is barely metal let alone death metal. The death of metal, maybe. Death metal? No.
There is a lot of Dimmu Borgir and Old Man’s Child influence here. Pretty corrupting. The three songs cover more than twenty minutes of material showing that the man can compose; it’s just that it is too feeble to matter that much. Go to www.zaphayael.be - Anna Tergel

HAUK – TO HEAR THE TRUMPETS CALL
Terrible stuff. Hauk is a Los Angeles-based “Heathen Metal band” (sic) that has nailed its flag to the dubious appeal of Nordic mythology in California, Russian classical composers and a Canadian pianist. Is there a doubt that it will never take off? And it is as bad as the preceding sentence conveys.
The disc begins with a familiar rhythm (Marilyn Manson) and wrenching vocals. The singing of Mr. Hauk is flat and uninspiring – unless the inspiration is to hang oneself from the ceiling. The sole saving grace comes courtesy of the song Lamentation that begins with a modicum of forcefulness and music. The end of the song actually manages to cough up some listenable guitar work; otherwise, it soon gets drowned in a Casio keyboard sound and followed up by the ever so lame female vocals crooning wanna-be opera. With (a lack of) vocals and music like this one doesn’t envy the task of the band’s publicist. Marjo@metalrevelation.com or visit www.haukmusic.com. - Ali “The Metallian”

GRIEVING AGE - IN ALOOF LANTERN, THY BEQUEATHED A WAILER QUIETUS
It is not every day that one comes across a band from Saudi Arabia and it is also not every day that an album is composed of two 15-minute titles. Grieving Age is certainly original even before the CD is inserted into the player. A Quadrennial Dame Pyres, Hearses Shall No Yawn, Thence... is an almost 20-minute heavy doom experience. Grieving Age does not spend much time in ambient realms and indeed this qualifies as very heavy doom with a thick sound and almost non-stop vocals, courtesy of Ahmed, that do the full sound justice. Lyrically, the band are just as impressive and equally philosophical with lines like “A limped butcher wandered, reluctantly, sat and dangled touching his own grey wrinkles, are this the paths where all children rot to corpses?” Therefore, A Myriad Of Gargoyles Bellow Their Aborted Versicles, Quoth Thee... starts off its 17-minute journey quietly then quickly transitions into an excellently produced impactful sound. The song even speeds up and with the aforementioned solid production the result is as imposing.
Impressive and unusual. Worth a listen, check the band at www.myspace.com/grievingage. – Anna Tergel