Metallian Heavy

Ottawa-based death thrashers MORTOR whom are releasing a new 14-track demo Shoot ‘Em Up follow their 2010 debut release Metal Ride have just opened for KREATOR in their hometown. The demo was recorded at Garage Studio by Christian Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY and MYTHOSIS) and engineered by Mathieu Marcotte (AUGURY). Both also made guest guitar solo appearances on tracks Point Black (guitar solo by Donaldson) and For Glory (guitar solo by Marcotte).

Swedish band AEON will issue Aeons Black through Metal Blade Records on November 20, 2012. It was recorded at Empire Studio in Östersund, Sweden, engineered, mixed and mastered by Ronnie Björnström (Garageland Studios) and features cover art by Kristian “Necrolord” Wåhlin.

Tokyo-based ARISE IN STABILITY will go into hiatus in February. The band’s bassist Hiroshi is moving to Canada for a year.

Black metal band ASTROPHOBOS has signed a deal with Abyss Records for the release of the band’s debut full-length album. The band is entering the studio with producer Erik Nilsson (A SWARM OF THE SUN, AORIA, KAUSAL, etc.) to record the album, which is expected to be out next winter. ASTROPHOBOS has recruited Fredrik Widigs (DEMONICAL and THE UGLY) as a session drummer for the recording.

FDA Rekotz has released Hymns Of Ghastly Horror, the fourth album from Swedish band REVOLTING.

On September 24th The Gloomy Reflections of Our Hidden Sorrow, the debut from Mexican death metal band CENOTAPH, will be made available for the first time on vinyl through Chaos Records. Originally recorded in May of 1992 by Hans Mues at Estudios Tequila in Mexico City, this vinyl reissue has been fully remastered by Roberto Granados at Seismic Sound Studio.

Northern Virginia-based trio DRUGS OF FAITH has completed a short tour on the Northeastern quadrant of the USA. It ran from September 20th through 23rd and ran through Philadelphia, New York, Pittsburgh and Richmond alongside Philly grinders DRONES FOR QUEENS.

Candlelight Records has confirmed November 6th as the North American release date for Vanitas, the new album from England’s ANAAL NATHRAKH. Produced by Mick Kenney (BLEEDING THROUGH and INGESTED), the album, according to the label, carries the band’s signature mix of black metal and grindcore.

Central Pennsylvania crust-infused, old-school black metal band THE BEYOND has brought drummer Lucas Sweger from HORDE OF THE ECLIPSE on board to fill the recently vacated drum position for the band’s upcoming live dates and recording sessions. In the weeks to come, the band will enter Welfare Line Studio in West Chester, PA next month to record Frostbitepanzerfuck, the full-length follow up to the Gross Encounters Of The Sacrificial Rite split 7″ with THE LURKING CORPSES, which came out in early 2012 on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions.

CRYPTOPSY has announced November 20th as the U.S. release date for its forthcoming self-titled album. Cryptopsy will be released in the U.S. by Cryptopsy/Defen Society in association with Revulotion Harmony/Candlelight Records. The album is heralded as a return to form.

Rise Of The Phoenix is the name of the seventh album from Finnish death metal band BEFORE THE DAWN. It was issued through FrostByte Media. The band now features bassist Pyry Hanski and drummer Joonas Kauppinen.

After return shows with singer Randy Blythe at Knotfest in August LAMB OF GOD has announced an autumn tour starting October 30th in Phoenix, Arizona with IN FLAMES, HELLYEAH and SYLOSIS opening at various stages.

Stockholm, Sweden-based band DEGRADEAD has recruited drummer Amit Mohla (RAID).

Switzerland’s grindcore band MUMAKIL is in the studio to record its next full-length album due out in 2013 through Relapse Records.

Crimes Against Humanity, the debut full-length from North Carolina thrashers EUGENIC DEATH is out now on Heaven and Hell Records. The album features a guest appearance from ICED EARTH guitarist Troy Seele on the track Epitaph.

badGod Music is issuing Neowarfare, the debut from Spanish black/death metallers TSAR BOMB which is out on October 9th.

KOLDBRANN has signed to Season Of Mist. The band’s third full-length album should hit the stores in early 2013. In the meantime, on November 16th, KOLDBRANN will release Totalt Sjelelig Bankerott, a 7″ single including a song from the forthcoming album. KOLDBRANN’s first two albums Nekrotisk Inkvisition and Moribund, as well as 2008’s Stigma: På kant med livet EP, will be reissued on Season Of Mist.

Atrophied in Anguish, the long-awaiting eighth studio album from German death metal veterans OBSCENITY is out now through Apostasy Records.

EXHUMED, will add to their live agenda a string of Japanese tour dates alongside CANNIBAL CORPSE. The shows kick off on October 15th in Tokyo and will serve as a warm-up to the band’s recently announced five-week North American Tour with NAPALM DEATH and MUNICIPAL WASTE with additional support from VEKTOR, DAYGLO ABORTIONS, ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT, SPEEDWOLF, MARTHA SPLATTERHEAD’S REVENGE, REPULSION and DWARVES on select dates. CANNIBAL CORPSE itself will be embarking on its first U.S. tour since the Summer Slaughter Tour 2012. This headlining tour is scheduled to begin on November 16th and wrap up on December 7th. Support will be provided by MISERY INDEX and HOUR OF PENANCE.

Finnish act DESOLATE SHRINE has signed with Dark Descent Records for the release of its next album. Desolate Shrine, which released its debut on Hammer Of Hate Records in 2011, will issue its forthcoming sophomore effort, The Sanctum Of Human Darkness, before year’s end.

Spain’s VIVID REMORSE has it second album, Down To The Wire, out now through Art Gates Records.

New York death metal veterans DEHUMANIZED recently inked a multi-album contract with US record label Comatose Music. Controlled Elite is the title of the new DEHUMANIZED album scheduled for world-wide release on November 27th via Comatose Music. The band broke up in 2000. They reformed in 2004 only to break up once again in 2007. Finally in 2011 DEHUMANIZED resurfaced with a new line-up and new music.

Comatose Music is issuing The Acceptance of Zero Existence, the second full-length from Colorado’s EXECRATION. It is the follow-up to 2008’s A Feast For The Wretched.

Suspiria Records has issued a tribute to DARK TRANQUILLITY called The Final Resistance. The disc features fifteen tracks by bands like THE DESCENT (performing Final Resistance) and SKYDANCER (performing The Treason Wall).

Cannibalisme, Hérésie Et Autres Sauvageries is the full-length debut from French Death Metal band SAVAGE ANNIHILATION. It is out now through Kaotoxin Records. The band features members of DEFECAL OF GERBE and BRENNKELT.

FDA Rekotz has released My Empire from Germany’s death metal band DESERTED FEAR.

British band CRADLE OF FILTH will release its tenth studio album, The Manticore And Other Horrors, in North America on October 30th through Nuclear Blast Records.

Vancouver band BISON B.C. will release its next album, Lovelessness, on October 22nd through Metal Blade Records. The album was recorded with producer Sanford Parker at Soma and Electrical Audio Studios in Chicago.

LECHEROUS NOCTURNE will release its third album, Behold Almighty Doctrine, on February 19th, 2013 through Unique Leader Records.

Former HOUWITSER bassist Ramon Ploeg has a new band called BLEEDING GODS, in which he plays guitar.

Inspired by KEEL? Dutch death metal band CENTURIAN has reunited and is working on a new album, called Contra Rationem, due in early 2013 on Listenable Records. The album was recorded at the We Are (Music) Junkies studio in Eindhoven with producer Jo Peeters.

Bow Down Before The Blood Court is the debut album from Dutch death/doom band GRAND SUPREME BLOOD COURT. It will be released on November 12th through Century Media Records. The album’s cover artwork was created by Axel Hermann (ASPHYX, UNLEASHED and more). The band features former ASPHYX guitar player Eric Daniels.

French band DESTINITY has picked Resolve In Crimson as the title for its sixth full-length album, due in January through Lifeforce Records. The album was recorded at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen.


Metallian Hard

HELLOWEEN has picked Straight Out Of Hell as the title for its next album, which is due on January 18th, 2013. The album was again produced by Charlie Bauerfeind at HELLOWEEN singer Andi Deris' Mi Sueño Studio in Tenerife, Spain.

Swedish band BLOODBOUND will release its fifth full-length album, In The Name Of Metal, on November 7th through AFM Records. The album was recorded with producer Jonas Kjellgren.

ENEMY OF THE SUN has parted ways with Greek bassist Eirini Papadopoulou.

FULLFORCE has finished recording its new album. The album is entitled Next Level and will be released in December through SPV/Steamhammer.

Cruz Del Sur Music will release On the Blackest of Nights from Swedish doom metal band VOID MOON on November 6th.

VOIVOD's imprint, Iron Gang Factory, has signed a deal with Century Media Records. The band’s next album Target Earth was recorded in January at Pierre Rémillard's (OBLIVEON, KRISIUN, CRYPTOPSY, etc.) Wild Studio.

AC/DC will release Live At River Plate on November 16th as a three-disc red vinyl or a two-CD package featuring multiple covers. The live record follows last year's Live At River Plate DVD. Early AC/DC singer Bon Scott will be honoured with a statue in in Kirriemuir, Scotland, his birthplace.

HELLWELL's Beyond The Boundaries of Sin, the project led by MANILLA ROAD's Mark Shelton, released its debut on September 23rd on Shadow Kingdom Records.

Shadow Kingdom Records has announced the reissue of MANILLA ROAD’s Invasion for November 6th, 2012. It was originally issued in 1980.

ION VEIN was the support for SYMPHONY X at Mojoe's Music Venue in Joliet, IL on Thursday, September 13th. Also appearing were DISSONA and MOMENTS OF SANITY.

French melodic metal band VENTURIA has returned for its third release, Dawn Of A New Era courtesy of Lion Music on the 21st of September.

Candlelight Records has announced November 6th as the North American release date for CORROSION OF CONFORMITY’s Eye For An Eye. This reissue has been remastered, packaged and includes the EP Six Songs With Mike Singing.

Faroe Islands’ band TÝR has signed a three-album deal with Metal Blade Records. The ceremony took place on September 12th at the famous Rainbow Bar & Grill on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, California.

Wendy Dio, the widow of Ronnie James Dio, has married her boyfriend of many years, Omar Gimenez on September 9th.

California band SUICIDE SILENCE has signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Entertainment, the new division of Nuclear Blast run by former Roadrunner A&R man Monte Conner.

WhoCares is the name of the two-disc release miscellaneous recordings pulled from the joint works of DEEP PURPLE's Ian Gillan and BLACK SABBATH's Tony Iommi.

SECRET SPHERE and ELVENKING will join forces for an Italian co-headlining tour, The Italian Alliance, in October 2012 taking place across Italy.

When in 2010 the members of AEROSMITH considered replacing singer Steven Tyler, who had joined American Idol as a judge, one of the many candidates auditioned or considered was Sammy Hagar. AEROSMITH guitarist Brad Whitford recently remembered the fact on a VH1 interview.

Former METAL CHURCH and LILLIAN AXE singer Ronny Munroe has joined FIREWOLFE. The band also features guitarists Paul Kleff and Nick Layton as well as drummer Jay Schellen (HURRICANE and ASIA). He replaces David Fefolt who left FIREWOLFE in the winter to pursue music in a Christian sub-genre.

DORO PESCH will be returning to North America in 2013 in support of her twelfth album, Raise Your Fist. The tour is set to commence on February 1st in Tampa, Florida with support provided by Sweden’s SISTER SIN.

Italian melodic metal band TWINTERA has inked a deal with logic(il)logic Records. The band's debut album, Lines, will be released in November.

Ordo MCM records has issued the debut album of MONADS, a combinations of slow and dragging funeral doom with melodic death/doom parts. It is called Intellectus Judicat Veritatem.

German band ALPHA TIGER has signed a deal with Century Media Records. The band's new album, Beneath The Surface, will be released in January.

Sweden's TIAMAT will release its next album, The Scarred People, on November 2nd through Napalm Records. The album was recorded at Woodhouse Studio in Hagen, Germany with producer Siggi Bemm.

The Russian LAKE OF TEARS fan site and Fono Ltd. have released Twenty Years In Tears - A Tribute To Lake Of Tears, which is a double-disc tribute compilation to the Swedish band.

CEREMONIAL OATH has signed a deal with Century Media Records for the re-release of several of its albums including 1993’s The Book Of Truth.

Former MERCYFUL FATE drummer Kim Ruzz (a.k.a. Kim Thyge Jensen) is now in Danish hard rock band METALRUZZ.

Guitarist Stefan Kaufmann has left U.D.O. citing health reasons. Kaufmann had originally switched to guitar from drums citing back problems. U.D.O. is about to enter the studio to record a new album and is looking for a new guitar player. Interested musicians can contact ITM Agency fsuepfle@itm-agency.com.

Bassist Robbie Crane has quit LYNCH MOB following the release of the band’s Sound Mountain Sessions EP through Rat Pak Records.


Metallian Demos

DETHONATOR – Same
The band’s name sounds heavy metal and so does the art on the cover. The band also compares itself to Anthrax, Metallica and Slayer, which is different. Unfortunately, there are limitations to the band’s sound. This perplexes even me. There is some variation in the music, but the singer James Burton and the sound are limiting the group. The singer tries and has some bite too, yet his range is limited and it is flat. The music goes from the fast beat of opener Wreckers to the vocals of harbinger which starts immediately to the unexpected Who synthesizer of I Am Thunder God and yet the best tracks are the title song, Morbid Skies, Massive Demonic Killing Spree and the closer In The Place Of The Skull, which starts slowly. These last titles show some penchant for power and heaviness beyond just a rehash. The vocalist is backed by some growling. It is not convincing, but it helps the main vocals. Full lyrics in place and included. The band is at info@dethonator.com and has its website at www.dethonator.com. - Anna Tergel

SCYTHIA - FOR THE BEAR
What can you say about a band that has an Oboe playing full-time member? Folk/progressive metal is one way to put it perhaps. The ever present Oboe tarnishes the sometimes interesting song and riffing proceedings and Dave Khan’s pirate-esque lead vocals and Celine Derval’s backing vocals while meant to bear the story of an ancient Nordic empire sometimes fail to do it justice. For The Bear is a seven song EP that actually contains only two new songs, the title track and Sailor’s Accolade, plus three remixes in Fierce Riders Of Scythia, Black Death and Dies Irae Pt1. These are complemented by Mattawa Reel ‘adapted’ from a Quebec folk song and Video Game Medley, which is a cover version of sorts and includes excerpts of various video game soundtracks done the Scythia way. Find them at www.scythia.ca – Anna Tergel