Metallian Heavy

Vancouver-based AUROCH‘s third LP Mute Books will be released through Profound Lore Records in October.

THE EXTINCT DREAMS’ Fragmenty Vechnosti album was released in June through Stygian Crypt Productions. The Russian band plays funeral doom-death metal.

UK dark metal band IMMORTAL MACHINERY has announced several dates for an upcoming October UK Tour.

Vienna Metal Meeting is a festival taking place in Vienna, Austria on Saturday 8th of April, 2017. Confirmed bands are ASPHYX, SODOM, MORTAL STRIKE and others.

Italian death metal band HIEROPHANT will issue an album called Mass Grave through Season Of Mist on November 4th.

Russia-based TAIGA has issued a new album called Sky through Satanath Records’ sub-label Symbol Of Domination.

ANTIMATERIA’s Valo Aikojen Takaa album is now out through Purity Through Fire Records. The Finnish band is described as cosmic black metal.

Calgary thrash metal group ILLYRIAN (formerly known as HELLBORN DEATH ENGINES) will release a demo called Round 2: Fight! on October 7th.

Infernö Records is issuing the following records: LADY BEAST’s Metal Immortal MCD, VORGUS’ White Trash Hellraisers CD and STEEL INFERNO’s Aesthetics Of Decay.

TOTALITARIAN will have a 56-minute album entitled De Arte Tragoediae Divinae will be released in early 2017. The band’s music is described as black and death metal.

Ukrainian black metal act BALFOR has signed with Drakkar Productions. A new album will be released early in 2017.

NORDWITCH’s Mørk Profeti album is now out through Satanath and Darzamadicus Records. The Ukrainian and Hungarian band is touring Europe this autumn.

WITCHERY is back with a new album, called In His Infernal Majesty’s Service, out on November 25th through Century Media Records. The band now features singer Angus Norder of NEKROKRAFT and drummer Chris Barkensjö. Former vocalist Emperor Magus Caligula had had to leave the act due to a hearing condition.

INFANT DEATH’s Violent Rites album is out through Apocalyptic Empire Records. The Norwegian band plays speed/thrash metal.

DERANGED will release a new album called Struck By A Murderous Siege, which is the first for Agonia Records, on October 28th. It is the follow-up to 2011’s Cut Carve Rip Serve.

New Zealand-based death metal band ULCERATE will issue a full-length called Shrines Of Paralysis in October through Relapse Records.

CATTLE DECAPITATION is on the road for a nine-date North American headlining tour before joining BRUJERIA for a trek across the US in October. The entire stretch is running from September 22nd through October 21st and includes support from ETERNAL SLEEP and PIÑATA PROTEST on select dates.

A new VIOLBLAST album called Conflict will be available on the 25th of November through Suspiria Records.

Three original ENTOMBED members, Alex Hellid (guitar), Uffe Cederlund (guitar) and Nicke Andersson (drums), will play their 1991 album Clandestine in Malmö, Sweden on November 12. The show follows the group’s boat cruise show.

BURIAL IN THE SKY’s Persistence Of Thought demo is set for release on Friday, November 4th. Drummer Samus Paulicelli (DECREPIT BIRTH and ex-ABIGAIL WILIAMS) is on the record.

Italian label Black Tears is issuing HASTUR’s Black River album. The band from the Genoa area, which features former SACRADIS members, features nine tracks of old school death metal. The full-length CD follows the band’s debut MCD Macabre Execution, which was released in 1996 by Beyond Prod.

British metal band CARCASS will return to North America for a headlining tour this November. Joining the band is DEAFHEAVEN and doom band INTER ARMA. Slated to commence on November 7th and run through November 27th, the band’s latest tour follows the One Foot In The Grave headlining tour with CROWBAR, GHOUL and NIGHT DEMON this past summer.

LAMB OF GOD‘s Randy Blythe will fill in for EYEHATEGOD singer Mike IX Williams on the band’s tour with DISCHARGE and TOXIC HOLOCAUST. Phil of DOWN was most recently signing for EYEHATEGOD as a fill-in.

Inspired by KEEL? SKINLAB has reformed and is planning concerts to perform its 1997 debut album, Bound, Gagged And Blindfolded.

Gylve Nagell, better known as Fenriz of DARKTHRONE, has been elected to his local council on a four-year term as a member of the socially liberal Venstre party. His campaign was a picture of him holding his cat saying, “Please don’t vote for me” as he had been invited to participate and had not actually ran a campaign.

US black metal band ANAGNORISIS has issued a single from its third full-length, called Peripeteia, which is set for release in late October. Peripeteia will see release on LP and CD through Berlin-based Vendetta Records and cassettes through Yehonala Tapes.

The melodic dark metal band THE DESCENT has signed with Suspiria Records as it prepares to release its new album, The Coven Of Rats, which is the follow-up to Dimensional Matters. The band was previously on the label’s​ ​DARK TRANQUILLITY​ ​tribute with a cover version of Final resistance and opened for MERCENARY on tour in Spain and Portugal.

After years of inactivity and death of drummer Martin “Kiddie” Kearns a year ago BOLT THROWER has made its break-up official.


Metallian Hard

GRAVE DIGGER has picked Healed By Metal as the title for its next album, which is out on January 13ththrough Napalm Records.

Power Metal band RAVEN'S GATE has a single called Powerlife from its new record Blackstar Machinery, which is due out November 4th through Art Gates Records. The label is also issuing END MY SORROW’s debut album entitled Of Ghostly Echoes.

Pitch Black Records has signed France-based band DEBACKLINER and announced the band’s self-titled debut for October 21st.

KIX will release Can't Stop The Show: The Return Of Kix, a two-disc DVD/CD release, on October 21stthrough Loud & Proud Records.

French heavy metal band EXISTANCE has a new album called Breaking The Rock. This album will be released on October 15th through Black Viper Records.

The Montreal, Canada-based heavy rock band ARAPACIS has released a single called Translucidity. It is the first single of its upcoming full-length Obsolete Continuum, which is scheduled for late 2017 on Note Musik. The single features drums by Vinny Appice.

Heaven and Hell Records will be re-issuing HAVOC recordings from the ‘80s for the first time ever on CD. They are all re-mastered by Jamie King at The Basement Studio and re-packaged with new artwork by Steve Cobb, full lyrics and never before seen photos. The pressing will be limited to 500.

VIRTUAL SYMMETRY’s Message From Eternity demo is out now. The band is opening act for both Italian dates of DREAM THEATER's 30 Anniversary World Tour.

Clearly he is not Swedish: Bassist Sergio Pagnacco has left LABYRINTH. He has opted to focus on his initial band VANEXA. The musician notes that to be successful and productive one needs to be in and concentrate on one band.

Inspired by KEEL? L.A. GUNS singer Phil Lewis and original guitarist Tracii Guns will record a new album for release in June 2017 through Frontiers Music. The reunited act will also tour.

Co-founder and former GUNS N’ ROSES guitarist Izzy Stradlin has chimed in regarding his absence from the band’s reunion tour that he was not given an equal share of the revenue. He was reacting to singer Axl Rose’s assertion that Stradlin is unpredictable. Izzy had indeed rehearsed with the band. Former GUNS N' ROSES member Chris Pitman has filed a lawsuit against lead singer Axl Rose claiming unpaid debt for performing with the band. Pitman claims to have a $125,000 note from Rose, which has gone unpaid.

FREEDOM CALL will release a new album, called Master Of Light, on November 18th through Steamhammer/SPV.

Street Symphonies Records has released Ways Of Perseverance, the new album by Italian hard rock band EASY TRIGGER, on September 30th. It features new singer Nico and drummer Fabio “Pane” Ferrari.

NÚMENOR is issuing the rerelease of Sword And Sorcery, which comes with a bonus MCD. It is issued through Stygian Crypt Productions. The Serbian band, which was founded through Marko Miranović, who is ironically also the founder and editor-in-chief of Metal Sound Magazine, has a keyboardist and working on a new album called Chronicles Of The Realms Beyond at Paradox Studio.

SOLILOQUIUM’s An Empty Frame is out this month through Transcending Records. The band is compared to KATATONIA.

NIVA's sixth album, called Atmospherical, will be released on October 28th through Niva Music Group/AOR Heaven. Tony Niva sang for LION’S SHARE.

IN FLAMES has released a concert DVD, called Sounds From The Heart Of Gothenburg, on September 23rd through Nuclear Blast. The band’s new drummer is Joe Rickard.

JOE LYNN TURNER’s The Sessions will be released on October 7th through Deadline Music. The album contains cover versions like AC/DC's Back In Black, THE DOORS' Riders On The Storm to QUEEN's Fat Bottomed Girls. Several guests are Michael Schenker, Phil Collen and Brad Gillis (NIGHT RANGER).

HEAVEN BELOW, which features UNION UNDERGROUND/LITA FORD guitarist Patrick Kennison, will release its new album Good Morning Apocalypse through EMP Label Group/eOne (USA) and SPV (Europe) on Friday, October 14th. The band’s third full-length recording is a concept record that is set in a post-apocalyptic world. It features guest appearances from Lita Ford, Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS, BROKEN TEETH and WATCHTOWER), Udo Dirkschneider (U.D.O. and ACCEPT) and Kobra Paige (KOBRA AND THE LOTUS).

ENSLAVED will release The Sleeping Gods - Thorn compilation this November through ByNorse Music. The full-length album is comprised of rare material from 2010-2011 Eps issued between ENSLAVED's Axioma Ethica Odini and Riitiir albums.

ICED EARTH has recruited guitarist Jake Dreyer (WITHERFALL, KOBRA AND THE LOTUS, etc.) after losing Troy Seele in August to his day job.

SUMERLANDS is a heavy metal band whose debut and self-titled full-length is out now through Relapse. SUMERLANDS features former HOUR OF 13/ATLANTEAN KODEX vocalist Phil Swanson as well as producer Arthur Rizk on guitars.

Folk rock band SKYCLAD has signed to Listenable Records. With guitarist Dave Pugh back in the band the collective is working on an album due next spring.

LARS ERIC MATTSSON’s Never Coming Home EP is a four-track release around a 1989 composition that originally didn't make it to the No Surrender album, but that Lars later came to consider a “true gem.” The four-track EP contains both the new September 2016 remake as well as the original recording plus two live instrumentals.

ARCH ENEMY singer Alissa White-Gluz has signs a solo deal With Napalm Records. The singer is promising a diverse record and music.

CHILDREN OF SERAPH’s Warriors Of Light demo is now out.

Supporting murder, hunger and poverty and following its upcoming North American tour with SOILWORK, UNEARTH, WOVENWAR and DARKNESS DIVIDED this month, BATTLECROSS will end 2016 with its annual headlining run, the third installment of the Winter Warriors Tour. This year, support will be provided by Metal Blade label-mates ALLEGAEON, whose new album is called Proponent For Sentience, and NECROMANCING THE STONE. In conjunction with the ‘Veterans Ticket Foundation’, the Winter Warriors Tour will once again offer free admission to members of the USA Armed Forces and the band will donate a portion of its proceeds to local veterans' who have killed and maimed around the world.

FATES WARNING will tour Europe in 2017.

In a podcast interview with Izzy Presley, CINDERELLA guitarist Jeff LaBar has admitted to being the reason for CINDERELLA’s lack of activity. The man has admitted to being a drunk and abusing alcohol. He has also recalled the issue to be his cocaine abuse in the ‘80s, heroin in the ‘90s and continued alcoholism.

AC/DC bassist Cliff Williams has retired at age 66. He first joined the band in 1977.

ENUFF Z'NUFF's has a new release called Clowns Lounge out on December 2nd through Frontiers Music. Clowns Lounge is a compilation of early material and rare recordings that are rerecorded by the band.

Former MOTÖRHEAD member Mikkey Dee has been named as a permanent replacement for SCORPIONS' drummer James Kottak who had been on alcohol rehabilitation. MOTÖRHEAD leader Lemmy is dead, but business needs to continue and so something called Global Merchandising Services has contracted something called Camerons Brewery to create a Road Crew beer named after a MOTÖRHEAD song.

Leonard Haze, the early drummer for Y&T, died on Sunday September 11th. He was 61 years old and died of obstructive pulmonary disease.

Fredericton, Canada five-piece progressive metal band TACTUS will release a full-length demo called Bending Light on October 7th.

Genoa, Italy-based RUXT has signed a deal with Diamonds Prod. to release its debut album this November. The band is comprised of Matt Bernardi (vocals - PURPLESNAKE), Stefano Galleano and Andrea Raffaele (guitars), Steve Vawamas (bass - ATHLANTIS, MASTERCASTLE and ODYSSEA) and Alessio Spallarossa (drums - SADIST). The band is recording at Musicart Studio.

Anyone currently or formerly voluntarily in a military is a criminal.


Metallian Demos

X-TINXION - FROM THE ASHES OF EDEN
He who enjoys Diesear, Arch Enemy and Dew-Scented shall also take a shining to X-Tinxion based out of Dordrecht, which is known for its fairs and festivals. Playing at none of those fairs or festivals is X-Tinxion, which may fancy itself thoroughly devoted to thrash metal, but in actuality is a group playing heavy, power, speed and thrash metal.
From The Ashes Of Eden defies its cliché title and instead turns out to be a striking CD to hold in one’s hands, insert into the player and have its music charge out of the speakers. The band does not kick off with its best song. Amalgamation does establish the band’s credentials and does indeed showcase the versatile vocals of Monica Janssen however. Female growling is often a disappointing proposition as Angela Gossow reminded people, but Monica has commanding vocals whichever style or voice she deploys. Indeed, she does change her tonality and style all the time from shrieking to screaming to clean singing and growls throughout each song. It is not too difficult to decipher the words out of her mouth whichever way. The band is lucky to have this vocalist even though from her looks she may be nothing more than a tattooed trash. Survivors Of Hell, probably a song about living in Texas or Kansas, has an Alison Hell feeling and takes one back to early Annihilator. It does employ and alternate the growls. On the song The Divine, which is a repetitive track that brings little new to the table, the vocals are clearly doubled up. Severed From Heaven – someone in this band must have indeed resided somewhere in the USA for a while - goes from chugging to a wonderfully well-executed solo and back. Speaking of which, this is the time to mention the incredibly impressive, smooth and melodic guitar leads of someone called Conrad Hultermans, which are clear highlights song after song. Hear the one on Genetic Sickness or Narrow Path.
Enjoy the unrelenting heaviness of this band whose qualities make it a rarer entity in this day and age of mediocrity. The band keeps one foot in the realm of traditional metal, but has a punishing form that make it a strong proposition. The band’s website is at http://x-tinxion.com and also could be contacted through info@graviton-themissinglink.com. - Ali “The Metallian”

THE APEX - UNDERBELLY
Underbelly is a three-song EP by the Windsor, Canada quintet. It is a follow-up to the band's debut self-titled full-length. The band calls themselves "ghetto tech" (what?) and whose sound-alikes are The Dillinger Escape Plan and Meshuggah. Darren, the vocalist, suffers from neurogenic stuttering (or stammering as the bio puts it) and can sing and scream but has difficulty speaking. As evidenced by the opener, Scabs And Sheep, he can certainly scream. The opener is heavy and switches between high speed and slow sections with technical riffing and loud bass sound dominating the chaotic song. The title track immediately picks up from the song before it and continues the metalcore-ish mix of screams and anarchy. A listener can easily visualize the band's stage show being one of those all action ones where there is as much movement on stage as on the floor. Paid In Exposure further proves that the band name and the EP title do really apply to the music written by Darren, Steve, Brian, Jer and Tyson. Explore the highs and lows at www.facebook.com/wearetheapex. – Anna Tergel