Metallian Heavy

Canada-based thrash metal band SACRIFICE will release a new album, called Volume Six, through Cursed Blessings/High Roller Records in January, 2025.

SARKASM will release a full-length called Carnival Of Atrocities through Xtreem Music in January. The album was recorded at House Of Gain Studio with producer Maxime Lacroix.

Italy-based FERAL FORMS has an album called Through Demonic Spell through Everlasting Spew Records on 29.11.2024.

Avantgarde Records has three new releases. They are Italy-based black metal duo EARD’s album, Melancholia, followed by VRAZORTH debut studio record, Emergence, which is compared to MYSTICUM and DARKSPACE, and the sophomore effort by England-based WOLVENCROWN, namely Celestial Lands.

Metal Blade Records has signed UK-based death metal band CELESTIAL SANCTUARY. The band is touring Europe with KRUELTY and SLIMELORD.

Solo act PARUSIGHT’s debut album Deathly Pale is available through Wulfhere Productions now. The act by Oliver Groves (BLASFEME) is influenced by BURZUM.

UK-based death/grind band SHRYKULL has an album called Beyond Subconscious Realms through Road To Masochist Records/Eggy Tapes on November 8th.

Avantgarde is issuing MESARTHIM’s Anthropic Bias/Departure, which is a combination of the act’s two singles, and TODESTRIEB’s Corona Tenebra. Both bands profess to black metal.

GHOULHOUSE’s Fresh Out Of Flesh is available through Horror Pain Gore Death on December 6th. The band’s sound is compared to REPULSION and COFFINS.

DETEST’s A World Drowning In Detest album is out through Emanzipation in December.

Featuring singer and guitarist Michael Poulsen of VOLBEAT, ASINHELL, the death metal side-project of the man, has a video for the song Impii Hora, which is the title track for the album of the same name. The album was issued by Metal Blade in 2023.

After the experimental Shadows Without Light trilogy and the aggressive Crucifix Dreams, Tom Reynolds’ FOUL BODY AUTOPSY has a single called The Discovery Of Witches. It is inspired by the witch trials of the main man’s hometown of Leicester. Dirk Verbeuren (MEGADETH) is on drums and Linus Klausenitzer (ALKALOID and ex-OBSCURA, etc) is on guitar and bass.

Costa Rica-based death metal act NECROFERUM has a debut EP, entitled Visions From The Necrorealm, through Nuclear Winter Records on November 4th 2024. NECROFERUM was established by Juan Salas and Justin Sanchez, both of MORTUAL, in 2023 and the line-up was completed with the addition of drummer Juan José Fernandez, who introduced bassist Kevin Venegas to the group.

Mexico-based STENCHED has a debut full-length, Purulence Gushing From The Coffin, which will be released through Me Saco Un Ojo Records on 26.11.2024.

Brucia Records presents Res Ipsa Loquitur, the second full-length release from US-based death/doom metal act POSSESSIVE on November 7th 2024.

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions shall release CHAINED TO THE DEAD’s Only Hunger Remains mini-album on October 25th. The band is compared to PUNGENT STENCH or CARCASS and features cover versions of PUNGENT STENCH and BLOOD DUSTER as well as originals.

Death Metal band INFESTED ANGEL has released a single, entitled Euphony Of Dismay, from its forthcoming album Threnodies To Eternal Despair which will be released through Art Gates Records on 17.01.2025.

Lethal Scissor Records has signed death metal band INFERNAL HOSTILITY. A 4-track Promosick EP is first (the band’s demo basically) and a full-length album, to be called The Eternal Punishment, is to follow sometime in 2025.

Greece-based CAELESTIA has signed with Wormholedeath for the CD release of its Infernalia EP. The line-up features former DESTRUCTION man Marc Reign. The word ‘Infernalia’ is an antonym of Caelestia.

Hungary-based MONASTERY has a video for its song Strangled In Torture. The band has an upcoming album on Art Gates Records.

RETROMORPHOSIS has signed with Season Of Mist. The line-up features two founding members of SPAWN OF POSSESSION. Jonas Bryssling (guitar) and Dennis Röndum (vocals) are joined by their old band-mates Erlend Caperson (bass) and Christian Muenzner (guitar), who’s also a former member of OBSCURA and NECROPHAGIST. All four members played together on SPAWN OF POSSESSION’S Incurso album.

BECERUS has an album called Troglodyte through Everlasting Spew Records on 20 December 2024. The trio’s line-up has remained the same.

Inspired by revelations about aliens, UFOs and other astronomical phenomena, the Mexico-based death metal band MYSTIFICATION has a single entitled Declassified Truth. The band is working on a full-length for 2025.

Techno-death metal band with science fiction influences EXUVIAL has a debut concept album The Hive Mind Chronicles Part I: Parasitica on November 22, 2024. There is a video for the song Autonomic Awakening.

Canada-based IMMORTAL FORCE has an album called Mystic Seance Unrealities through Horror Pain Gore Death on November 22nd. The band is compared to PESTILENCE and DEMILICH.

USA-based death metal trio, PRIMAL CODE, which was founded in 2021, has signed to Relapse Records and will issue its debut full-length Opaque Fixation this month. Featuring former members of ABIGAIL WILLIAMS and INDIAN, the band has a music video for the song Anapsid.

Finland-based DIMMAN will release a full-length, entitled Consciousness through Inverse Records on February 28, 2025. There is a video for the song The First Daylight.

Phil Veluz the singer for DARK COLONY and DAMNATION CALL died in September.

Germany-based MINDREAPER has a video for the song The God I Am. It is in advance of the Withering Shine (…Into Oblivion) album that will be issued through Death Age Records in December.

Listenable Records has signed a multi-album deal with Costa Rica-based CHEMICIDE for the band’s next recordings and is also reissuing the band’s previous albums. An album called Violence Prevails will be released in early 2025.

RIVERS OF NIHIL will reissue its Hierarchy demo from 2010 through Metal Blade Records on November 8th. The band has completed a 2025 album featuring two self-cover versions, The Sub-Orbital Blues and Criminals. RIVERS OF NIHIL, CYNIC, DAATH and BEYOND CREATION are part of The Aggressive Progressive Tour in Europe in the new year.

ARCH ENEMY will release an album, called Blood Dynasty, through Century Media Records on 28.03.2025.

Hardcore/metalcore band FREYA’s drummer Ethan Henry has an independent movie called Severance Mountain streaming on several mainstream outlets. Henry wrote, produced, scored and directed the film.

France-based H.P. Lovecraft devotees THE GREAT OLD ONES have a new album called Kadath through Season Of Mist in January.

Barcelona, Spain-based thrash metal band EMISSARY has a video for the song At The Throne Of Chaos, which is taken from the debut album Eldritch, which is out through Fetzner Death Records in 2025. It is inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s The Dreams In The Witch House. Phillip Graves (REDSHARK and INVERTED CROSS) joined EMISSARY as a guitarist in April.

Metalcore act UNDER EXILE has a video for the song Meira. “We (sic) proud to be part of the growing community of Native American heavy music and musicians, and are also proud to be a representation of the Dinè/Navajo Nation along with other bands like HEART MUSEUM, TRIBUS, HELLTHRONE, GRAVES OF THE MONUMENTS and BORN OF WINTER to name a few,” states the band.

Folk/extreme band PATRIARKH (formerly BATUSHKA) has a concept album, called ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ, through Napalm Records on January 3rd. The concept narrates the story of Eliasz Klimowicz, the Prophet Ilja.

Belgium-based funeral doom group UNTIL DEATH OVERTAKES ME will release a new album, called Diagenesis, through Aesthetic Death on 06.12.2024. Most of the band’s music since 1999 has been issued independently including through the act’s Null imprint.

Sweden-based death metal group DISRUPTED will release an album, entitled Striking Death, through Trust No One Recordings on January 24, 2025.

Chile-based groove metal band DIAMETRAL has a single called I Am The Truth from its The Roots Of Modern Sins release. As a first chapter, I Am The Truth addresses the sin of pride. Its lyrics and graphic novel were inspired by various stories of messianic leaders and their followers such as Charles Manson.

AGALLOCH (and the act’s JOHN HAUGHM as a solo artist), BRAINOIL, COKE BUST, CROSSSPITTER, DARK MEDITATION, DECEASED, DREADNOUGHT, GLACIAL TOMB, GORGUTS, DEMOLITION HAMMER, HIRAX, THE KEENING, MANY BLESSINGS, PERSEKUTOR, SONJA, TERRORIZER L.A. (performing the World Downfall album), VERMIN WOMB, VICIOUS BLADE, WEALD & WOE, WITCHING, XOTH and more are booked for Northwest Terror Fest 2025 in May.

Finland-based death metal act SERPENT FIRE has a debut EP called Pathways through Inverse Records.

Indonesia-based death metal act VULTURES has a debut EP called Divine Retribution Unleashed through Death In Pieces Records.

Black/death metal band, THY LEGION, has a video for the song Dark Mother from the upcoming album Grand Cosmic Funeral, which will be released through Art Gates Records on November 29th, 2024.

GHOST BATH has re-signed with Nuclear Blast for a deal that for the first time encompasses worldwide rights. The band finished a 10-day US tour with DARK FUNERAL and will embark on a 23-date European Tour with UADA. A full North American tour and a new album are due in 2025.

MORBID ANGEL has dropped off the headlining position of the Devastation On The Nation tour suddenly and been replaced by I AM MORBID featuring two of its former members. Also on the bill are SUFFOCATION, UADA, MORTIFERUM, FULCI and KNOLL.

Finland-based GRAVE WITH A VIEW will release a new album, Raw Illumination, through Dusktone on November 29th.

Desecration Of The Archangels is an EP by CRUCIFIXION RITUAL, which is available through Invictus Productions now.

Sweden-based death metal group REVOLTING will release a new full-length, entitled Night Of The Horrid, through Xtreem Music in December.

DEFILED SERENITY, formed by BEFORE THE DAWN singer Paavo Laapotti in 2021, has a music video for the song Your Worst Enemy from the debut album, Within The Slumber Of The Mind, which will be issued by Inverse Records on February 21st, 2025.

Germany-based death metal duo RATS OF GOMORRAH will release a full-length called Infectious Vermin through Testimony Records on January 17, 2025. There is a video for the song Swarming Death available now.

Germany-based trio CRYPTIC BROOD will release a full-length, entitled Necrotic Flesh Bacteria, through War Anthem Records this month.

Sweden-based thrash metal band SARCATOR has a full-length, called Swarming Angels & Flies, through Century Media Records in January 2025.

Germany-based thrash metal trio WARFIELD has signed to Napalm Records. The band is booked for Ohmkrach Festival in January and 30 Jahre Café Central Festival in June.

Rottweiler Records is re-issuing CRIMSON THORN’s 1990s’ album Unearthed once more, remixed and remastered by Charles Powell of Battlefrost Productions with new artwork and band logo. The label is also digitally re-issuing other works by the band. The members’ other act THE HEAD OF GOLIATH has ceased activity and this band is taking the lead.

Germany-based black metal band APOSTASIE has a debut full-length called Non Est Deus through Trollzorn Records. There is a lyric video for the song Pein, Pest.

Finland-based ADMIRE THE GRIM will release its debut full-length album, entitled Resist, through Inverse Records on January 31st, 2025. The group was founded in 2021.

France-based NOIRSUAIRE has an EP called Black Flame Of Unholy Tradition through Khaoszophy Productions. The act reports that the drums were recorded at the rehearsal room, the other instruments in the musician’s attic and that the release is a precursor to a full-length.

Italy-based crossover band URAL has a visualizer video for the MUNICIPAL WASTE cover version Unleash The Bastards. The song features a guest appearance by BULLDOZER guitarist Andy Bull Panigada. It is taken from the band’s Psychoverse album, which was released through Xtreem Music.

SYLOSIS has a new EP, entitled The Path, in advance of its co-headlining tour with FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY. The video for its title track features Debbie Gough of HERIOT who will be joining the band as support in Europe.

Must be from an area with McDonalds locations. USA-based “brutal gruesome food porn” band A LA CARTE will release a new demo called Born To Entertain on November 12, 2024.

Sweden-based thrash metal act NIGHTBORN has a demo called Impenitent Ones. Guitarist Arda used a one-of-a-kind Ken Lawrence Explorer guitar to record. Simon McKay (ex-THE AGONIST) performed the drum parts, while Hubert Wiecek (Ex-DECAPITATED, DIETH and BANISHER) handled the bass.

THREE SIXES has a lyric video for the song Welcome To The New World Order. “It’s a fierce declaration of rebellion in a world on the brink.”

Portugal-based speed metal band FILII NIGRANTIUM INFERNALIUM has an album called Pérfida Contracção Do Aço, which will be released through Osmose Productions on 29.11.2024.

Bulgaria-based groove band GRIMAZE, which is being compared to PANTERA and GOJIRA, has a demo called The Heart Of A Collapsing Star. It reflects on the relationship between the micro and macro cosmos.

Australia-based DESTRUKTOR has a full-length called Indomitable through Hells Headbangers Records.

Latest trend alert! Here comes another “cinematic” release: Australia-based SARCOPHAGUM will release its “cinematic” debut full-length, The Grand Arc Of Madness, through Nuclear Winter Records on December 6th 2024. The band features GOLGOTHAN REMAINS members and is a studio-only act.

UK-based OLD FOREST has a new full-length, called Graveside, which will be released through Soulseller Records in December.

Frontiers has launched a new imprint called BLKIIBLK and announced it to be dedicated to “pushing the boundaries of heavy music” and aiming “to bring a fresh perspective…” The first signing was BIOHAZARD, a band that was founded in 1987. A new album is due in 2025. BIOHAZARD and LIFE OF AGONY are touring Europe as co-headliners in the winter.

Gothic and keyboard damaged acts GENUS ORDINIS DEI (back from a long hiatus), XANDRIA and SIRENIA are touring Europe this November.

Since everything is “classic”: CREMATORY has signed a new deal with ROAR. The band is currently working on finalising their new studio album, Destination, which is scheduled for release on May 2, 2025. “Fans can expect a return to the classic gothic metal style with lots of catchy hits. The album release will follow with an extensive tour of Germany,” says the press release.

Original idea! Play other people’s songs and sell it to your fans!!! HAVOK has a new EP called New Eyes. The four-track EP features two originals and two cover versions.

THEM’s The Goblin Sessions is the band’s first since the release of the Fear City album in 2022. It includes the obligatory cover version, this time a song by GOBLIN.

In tandem with everyone else in the scene, SYMPHONY OF HEAVEN does not have keyboards. They have “orchestration”. The white metal act has a demo called Ordo Aurum Archeia.

SUIDAKRA will release a full-length called DarkanakraD through MDD Records this month.It was recorded and mixed by Arkadius at his own GHA Studio in Würzburg, Germany and mastered by Dan Swanö.

Canada-based BORNBROKEN is supporting its new demo, which is called Am I Invisible, with several concerts in Central Canada.

Canada-based thrash metal group MUTANK is back with a new release after seven years since releasing the W.H.A.T.S.T.H.A.T. EP through Boonsdale Records in 2017. Entitled Think Before You Think, the album will be released once again on Boonsdale Records on November 29th, 2024.


Metallian Hard

SAXON has announced the Hell, Fire And Steel European tour for the winter of 2025. The band will perform its Wheels Of Steel record in its entirety on its 45th anniversary, as well as songs from the new album, Hell Fire And Damnation. In the meantime, the band’s tour of Japan was cancelled, which the group attributed to its visas not being processed.

Former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno died in Salisbury, England on October 21st 2024. He was 66. Di'Anno had an extended hospital stay for sepsis in 2015 followed by a MRSA bacterial infection. He had been performing sitting down on a chair or in a wheelchair in recent years and had surgery in Croatia. A memorial show will take place at Camden Underworld in London, England on November 7th. Singers Guzz Colins (ELECTRIC GYPSY) and David Smith (GYPSY'S KISS) will sing Paul's songs. Confirmed guests are Terry Wapram (ex-IRON MAIDEN) and Tino Troy (PRAYING MANTIS).

SCORPIONS is following its Las Vegas residency, with openers BUCKCHERRY, with a 60th Anniversary - Coming Home concert in its hometown of Hannover, Germany, on July 5th, 2025. The show includes guests including JUDAS PRIEST. SCORPIONS and JUDAS PRIEST announced end of touring and live activities over a decade ago.

The 2025 edition of Brazil's Monsters Of Rock festival, scheduled for São Paulo in April, is a 30th anniversary edition and will feature co-headliners SCORPIONS and JUDAS PRIEST, as well as EUROPE, QUEENSRŸCHE, OPETH and STRATOVARIUS.

HELLOWEEN will issue the Live At Budokan CD/DVD, taken from a performance in Tokyo, through Reigning Phoenix in December.

SALEM UK has a video for the song Outer Limits. Following the signing to Rude Awakening Records, SALEM UK’s album Outer Limits is available now. This release is inspired by Hull Fair, which takes place in the band’s hometown. Each track has a carnival element and many are named after one of the rides. This album will represent the second release for the band whose beginnings date back to SALEM and NWOBHM. The band is Simon Saxby (v), Jonny Hirons (g), Adrian Jenkinson (b) and drummer Dan Elis. The debut album featured founding members Adrian Jenkinson and Simon Saxby in 2019.

Metal on Metal Records has released IGNITOR’s Horns And Hammers album on October 3rd.

Norway-based CIRCLES OF ILLUSION will release a debut album, entitled Lionheart, on November 14. Mark Boals is on vocals.

Guitar players Bernth and Ola Englund (THE HAUNTED, AT THE GATES, etc.), alongside bass player Charles Berthoud have joined forces to release a new song and music video, Escape The Internet. The three are hitting the road for the “once in a lifetime” Escape The Internet European tour in January 2025.

Lion Music has signed HELISON. The band used to go under the name X ARTICAL but is back with a “completely new sound” and will release its debut single and video Last Night on November 28th.

LEATHERWOLF released a horror themed video for the song Lights Out Agan for Halloween. It is off the band’s Kill The Hunted album. The act is working on an EP for 2025, which will include self-cover versions.

San Diego, USA-based brothers TZIMANI have an album called I Feel Fine through Glory Or Death Records (vinyl) & Noize Cartel (digital).

MASTERPLAN has a club mini-tour in Finland for May 2025. Finland-based DAMNATION PLAN is to open the three dates.

Japan-based power metal band ILLUSION FORCE has a new album, called Halfana, through Frontiers Music in December. The band has a video for the title track. The album was mixed by Matias Kupiainen of STRATOVARIUS.

STREET FIGHTER has a digital single called Feel The Fire through From The Vaults. Having worked together for the last three KUKO DE KOBRA albums, John Sharling (the voice behind KdK) and producer Marco Angioni (STREET FIGHTER’s mastermind) collaborated here. The result is a celebration of the Winter Solstice.

ICED EARTH's founding guitarist Jon Schaffer was leniently sentenced to 3 years of probation and 120 hours of community service in connection with his involvement with the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. He will also have to pay $1,000 in restitution and a $200 financial assessment. The light sentence was attributed to his expression of regret and full and detailed cooperation with the authorities.

W.A.S.P.'s Album ONE Alive tour commemorates the 40th anniversary of the debut W.A.S.P. album by playing it in its entirety. Singer Blackie Lawless is offering a VIP ticket before each show including what publicity calls the W.A.S.P. Museum with band memorabilia on display.

Italy-based DEATH SS will release a studio album, called The Entity, in early 2025. The act has uploaded a song called Dr. Jeckyll & Sister Hyde.The horrors of many, including Aleister Crowley, inspired the songs.

WARLORD has uploaded a self-cover version called The Rainbow. Per the band, "For each of the 4 great festivals we have performed in 2024, we wanted to offer something unique. Four “new” Warlord recordings were offered as free downloads, with the links hosted on the festivals’ respective websites/social media…” This song was uploaded for the Golden R Festival of Greece.

Indiana, USA-based doom metal trio, THE GATES OF SLUMBER, has an eponymous full-length, through Svart Records on 29.11.2024. The song Full Moon Fever is dedicated to TOM PETTY. The band reformed in 2019.

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT is issuing 50th Anniversary Live - Third Night, the final instalment of the live albums culled from the 50th Anniversary concert, through Frontiers for December 2024.

MAGNUM announced the release of the band's posthumous live album featuring founder Tony Clarkin who died in January. It is called Live At KK's Steel Mill and was recorded on December 10, 2022. It will be released through SPV on January 10th, 2025.

Germany-based hard rock group BONFIRE has signed with Frontiers Music. A single and video called I Died Tonight, featuring a Metallian Towers’ serf on the cover of the single, is available now.

HAWKWIND will release Live At The Royal Albert Hall, which was recorded on September 29, 2023. The 3-CD/LP box will be released on December 13. It includes a bonus disc of rehearsal material.

Keyboard damaged (a.k.a. “symphonic) Italian/Malaysian SILENT ANGEL is visiting Malaysia and Japan as part of its Unyielding 2024 Tour this month. It coincides with the first anniversary of the debut album, Unyielding, Unrelenting, released through Rockshots Records.

SAVATAGE, without Jon Oliva, is appearing at the 2025 edition of Brazil's Monsters Of Rock festival, scheduled for April 19 in São Paulo. Oliva reports having fractured his spine in three places and been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis as well as Meniere's Disease. The man, nonetheless, is working on new music while undergoing treatment.

GOTTHARD has a new album, entitled Stereo Crush, in March 2025. The band and openers Y&T will tour Europe in May 2025.

Botswana-based SKINFLINT has a demo called Baloi. It will be supported through a US tour with SOULFLY this autumn.

Italy-based modern rock band BERIEDIR has released a video for the song Halo, from the forthcoming Liminal Spaces album, which will be released through Rockshots Records in January 2025.

Iceland-based SÓLSTAFIR has an album, called Hin Helga Kvöl, through Century Media Records. There is a video for the song Blakkrakki.

The 2025 Elevation Tour by ZZ TOP is taking place in the USA in March and April. ZZ TOP frontman Billy F Gibbons is touring the USA with his solo act The BFGs in January and February 2025.

Ambient pop band VENAMORIS, featuring former SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo and his wife Paula, has a single and video for the song Spiderweb, which is described by Paula as, “a cinematic song that serves up the cathartic fantasy of pulling a thread from the sticky, cruel web of a narcissist…”

TIGERTAILZ releases Berzerk The Demos through FnA Records. The band’s Berzerk album was issued originally through MFN in 1990. The eighteen tracks also include demo and unreleased material from after Berzerk’s release.

Cons belong in prison.