Metallian Heavy

Inspired by KEEL? EXMORTIS has reformed and signed with Xtreem Music for the release of a new EP and full-length album. The EP is called Resurrection… Book Of The Dead and out on the 20th of December. It was recorded by Brian Werking at Shockwerks Audio in Tampa, Florida.

Inspired by KEEL? Mexico’s DIES IRAE has reformed. A new album called Secret Veils of Passion will be released on January 9th through Chaos Records.

Germany’s LIFELESS has signed with FDA Rekotz. A full-length is due in the spring.

Abyss Records signed Sweden’s CARNIVORE before the group changing its monicker to ERUPTED “out of respect for the late Pete Steele’s CARNIVORE.” Plans are in place for the label to re-release a limited edition version of
the band’s demo Faces of Death in early 2012. The band will enter the studio in December to record its full-length debut, which will be out sometime next year.

ASPHYX has a new album, Deathhammer, out on February 27th through Century Media.

CARNAL FORGE has disbanded. The songs written by bassist Lars linden will be used in a new project called DELERIUM.

SEPULTURA has recruited drummer Eloy Casagrande (GLÓRIA and ANDRÉ MATOS) replacing Jean Dolabella who has been with the band since 2006. The 20-year old drummer had won the Modern Drummer Undiscovered Drummer’ contest in 2006. Dolabella will focus on teaching and his band Dolabella.

NAPALM DEATH’s fourteenth studio album is called Utilitarian and out through Century Media on February 27th.

THE FORSAKEN is back and has signed a deal with Massacre Records. The band’s fourth album is due in the spring. Guitarist Calle Fäldt (ex-DERANGED) has replaced Stefan Holm.

Relapse has a DEATH double CD called Vivus! Out in late February. The disc features two DEATH concerts, both of which were recorded in 1998. Disc one features DEATH at Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, while Disc two is from Dynamo Open Air in Eindhoven, Holland.

DESALMADO is touring Europe in advance of a new album in 2012.

Germany’s DAVIDIAN has signed a deal with Massacre Records. The band is working with producer Tue Madsen on a new album.

Inspired by KEEL? TERRORIZER has picked Hordes Of Zombies as the title for its comeback album, which is due on February 28th through the French label Season Of Mist. Interestingly, former MORBID ANGEL drummer, who had withdrawn from his main band due to back problems, Pete Sandoval is on the stool.

This past June, Toronto crossover band MASTERY entered Studio 57 at Music Lab in Austin, Texas with producer Tim Gerron and recorded its as-yet-untitled full-length. The band’s debut was an instrumental, but it has now recruited Billy Milano of S.O.D on vocals.

Inspired by KEEL? MARTIN MISSY AND THE PROTECTORS is now PROTECTOR. PROTECTOR is writing new music. The band features singer Martin Missy and Swedish guys Micke Carlsson (guitar), SUICIDAL WINDS’ Matte Johansson (bass) and GRIEF OF EMERALD and MASTEMA drummer Carl G. Karlsson.

Dubai’s first ever death metal band NEPHELIUM, who now reside in Toronto, Canada has announced several shows in Ontario for December and January for the promotion of its demo, Coils Of Entropy, set for release in early 2012.

United Guttural has signed Bulgarian death metal act ENTHRALLMENT. The band will finish its newest album entitled People From The Lands Of Vit late 2011, which is scheduled for release early 2012.

PROTECTOR’s current line-up has spent the last five years playing gigs in Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Czech Republic, Italy and Germany as MARTIN MISSY AND THE PROTECTORS.

Dark Descent Records has signed Belgium’s EMPTINESS, which is formed by members of ENTHRONED. The release is called Error and due in May/June 2012. Error is the band’s third full-length and is a follow-up to Oblivion, which came out in 2007 on Agonia Records.

HOUWITSER has lost vocalist Stan Blonk and drummer Marco De Groot. Blonk left the band for the famous “personal reasons” and is replaced for the band’s final two shows of 2011 by Mike Van Mastrigt (SINISTER and HOUWITSER). The group is searching for a new singer. Marco’s replacement is Marten Van Kruijssen (DICTATED). He was the band’s temporary drummer for the last two HOUWITSER shows.

Century Media Records has signed MARDUK and the band’s record label, Blooddawn Productions, to a licensing deal.

LECHEROUS NOCTURNE has recruited vocalist Brett Bentley as it enters the studio to record a new album.

Under The Sign Of Hell 2011, the re-recording of GORGOROTH‘s third album, has been released independently as a limited edition CD independently and is being sold at the band’s upcoming European tour. A Regain Records’ version is still due out soon.

MOTÖRHEAD has cancelled several November concerts in England as Lemmy suffered an injury to his left hand and was unable to play.

GOJIRA has signed with Roadrunner.

CHILDREN OF BODOM will undertake a North American headlining tour in celebration of the band’s 15th anniversary in January and February. Support will come from ELUVEITIE, REVOCATION and Canada’s THREAT SIGNAL.

Death/grind band COLDWORKER will release its third album, The Doomsayer’s Call, in February through Listenable Records.

EVILE will undertake a European headlining tour to promote its album, Five Serpent’s Teeth. The trek will begin on January 10th in Prague.

Austrian thrashers IRDORATH have signed a deal with Massacre Records. The band’s second album, Dekonstrukteur Des Fleisches, will be released in January of 2012.

Inspired by KEEL? The German NECRONOMICON has signed a deal with Massacre Records. The band is writing a new album called Invictus.

ANTHRAX is being sued by former vocalist Dan Nelson. The vocalist was fired/fell ill and resigned (which are the basis for the lawsuit) in 2009 resulting in his vocals not being used on the album that eventually became the band’s latest release, Worship Music.

There is a new death metal super group afoot. Kevin Quirion (DEICIDE and ORDER OF ENNEAD), Brian Werner (INFERNAEON and MONSTROSITY) and (INFERNAEON and INTO ETERNITY) have joined SHADOW SOCIETY. The band is recording a demo.

HOLY MOSES will commemorate its 30th anniversary by playing 30 shows around the world beginning on December 3rd, 2011 – the 30th anniversary of vocalist Sabina Classen joining the band – and ending one year later. The band’s self-cover album, 30th-Year Anniversary – In The Power Of Now double CD, is out this winter.

GRAVE’s next album is tentatively called Endless Procession Of Souls.

IN MOURNING has signed a deal with Spinefarm Records. The band’s next album, The Weight Of Oceans, is due in the spring.


Metallian Hard

Frontiers Records has signed DOKKEN for the worldwide release of the band's next studio album, which is due in the spring of 2012. The band and label worked together for the group's Lightning Strikes Again album of 2007.

On the 10th of November, Silesian Theatre in Katowice, Poland, hosted special concerts played by three bands representing progressive rock. The concerts were special because ARENA, BELIEVE and OSADA VIDA were recording their live DVDs. Their release is planned for the Spring/Summer of 2012 on Metal Mind Productions.

FREEDOM CALL will release a new album, Land Of The Crimson Dawn, on February 24 in Germany through SPV/Steamhammer. The album will contain 14 tracks.

UFO has picked Seven Deadly (earlier Last Of The Bone Riders) as the title for its next album, which is due on February 27th through SPV/Steamhammer. The album is being recorded with producer Tommy Newton. A European tour will follow the album’s release.

CIRCLE II CIRCLE, featuring ex-SAVATAGE singer Zak Stevens, will play at the Wacken Open Air festival 2012. The band will be joined by SAVATAGE guitarist Chris Caffery for a performance of the 1997 SAVATAGE album The Wake Of Magellan.

Former CATAMENIA musicians Ari Nissilä and Toni Kansanoja have joined with Teemu Hautamäki (CHARON), Lauri Tuohimaa (CHARON and EMBRAZE) and Jussi Ontero (BURNING POINT and GHOST MACHINERY) in a new Oulu, Finland-based metal band called DEVILSENT.

Swedish band SPAWN OF POSSESSION, featuring NECROPHAGIST and OBSCURA members, has completed its third full-length album, Incurso, and is preparing it for its release this Spring through Relapse.

DIMMU BORGIR is touring South America this winter.

VAN HALEN has signed with Interscope Records.

RIOT, which cancelled European dates with HAMMERFALL last month, has booked US East Coast shows for January.

Steve Lee, who was killed in a motorcycle accident last year in the USA, has been replaced on vocals by Swiss man Nic Maeder as vocalist for GOTTHARD.

Inspired by KEEL? MAXX WARRIOR, whose members later formed FIREHOUSE, will reform for one show on January 7th, 2012 at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh, North Carolina.

HOUSE of SHAKIRA, now featuring ANDREAS NOVAK (solo/ex-MIND’S EYE) on vocals, has a new album called HoS on 27th of January through Lion Music.

Ignoramus no more? Right-wing CAGE singer Sean Peck joined former IRON MAIDEN singer Blaze Bayley on stage on November 13th at Brick By Brick club in San Diego, California to sing the IRON MAIDEN song Man On The Edge. Peck has exercised thuggery with Bayley in 2004 when the latter criticized George W. Bush during a live performance.

IRON MAIDEN has taken over the entire Hopton Holiday Park in Norfolk, England for three nights next October. The thematic night will feature all things IRON MAIDEN including music, shows, games and cover bands. IRON MAIDEN will not be playing.

Southern Lord Recordings has signed Canada’s BURNING LOVE, as the label prepares for the release of the band’s sophomore full-length Rotten Thing To Say in March of 2012.

Former FEAR FACTORY member Christian Olde Wolbers has joined Venice Beach, California crossover band BEOWÜLF on bass.

PYRAMAZE has picked up "longtime producer and very good friend" Jacob Hansen (INVOCATOR, ANUBIS GATE and BEYOND TWILIGHT) as the band's latest guitarist.

MAD MAX has signed with SPV and will issue Another Night Of Passion (named after the band’s 80s album Night Of Passion) in March.

AC/DC singer Brian Johnson will undergo wrist surgery in February. His previously announced solo tour is therefore cancelled.

Guitarist Blake Bunzel and drummer Jeff Fabb have left IN THIS MOMENT and joined the backing band of American Idol contestant James Durbin. Latest reports from IN THIS MOMENT had indicated the band was to enter studio in January in order to record a new album.

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS has a new album, Becoming, for a January 24th release through Candlelight Records.

Glorious Christmas Songs That Will Make Your Black Label Heart Feel Good is a new EP of acoustic and instrumental Christmas classics from BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. The band is touring the USA with GUNS N’ ROSES.

Swedish ‘Viking metal’ band MÅNEGARM has signed a deal with Napalm Records. The band's next album is scheduled for release at the end of 2012.

KATATONIA’s December 12th show in Stockholm will feature several former members. Former members Fredrik and Mattias Norrman will appear on bass and guitar. Additionally, Guillaume Le Huche (Israphel Wing) and Krister Linder will also be on stage.

Inspired by KEEL? After much rumour mongering and hype the original line-up of BLACK SABBATH has reunited. The band has already begun working on its first new full-length in 33 years with Rick Rubin producing. BLACK SABBATH has signed with Vertigo for the album, which is due in the autumn of 2012, and booked for June’s Download Festival in the UK. Recently, the band has been touring and recording without Ozzy Osbourne on vocals as HEAVEN AND HELL with Ronnie James Dio singing. Dio died recently. Guitarist Iommi and singer Osbourne have also dismissed their lawsuit over band name ownership.

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford's manager John Baxter has filed a lawsuit against Halford and other members of the band and its management team, alleging fraud and breach of contract. Baxter had been managing the singer since 1982. He alleges that Halford and the band are removing him just in time for HALFORD’s solo career take-off as Priest winds down.

JUDAS PRIEST will play in Singapore in February with support coming from LAMB OF GOD.

ARAPACIS, the Montreal, Canada-based female-fronted hard rock band, has picked Netherworld as the title for its forthcoming third album. The album should be out around late 2011 or early 2012. Netherworld was recorded at Red Tube and Krighammer studios during the summer and autumn of 2011 and was produced by the band and engineer Tom "Thodrekr" Guevara (DAGAZ and OBTENEBRIS).

Brothers Jasun and Troy Tipton (ZERO HOUR and both also of CYNTHESIS), Mike Guy (ZERO HOUR) and guitarist Richard Sharman; a student of Jasun's for many years, have an instrumental band called ABNORMAL THOUGHT PATTERNS. The band has a self-titled demo through the newly formed CynNormal Lab Recordings.

ELVENSTORM has joined INFERNÖ Records. The band has already recorded its first studio album, entitled Of Rage & War.

Syracuse heavy rockers BRAND NEW SIN have announced a string of live dates in support of their newest release, United State, out now on Goomba Music. The American shows are currently in progress.

Season of Mist has signed SAINT VITUS. The band has completed its eighth studio album, Lilly F65, which is its first since 1995. SAINT VITUS is now comprised of guitarist Dave Chandler, new drummer Henry Vasquez, bassist Mark Adams and vocalist Scott "Wino" Weinrich, who recorded his first album with the band in over 20 years.

On November 26th guest Taime Downe of FASTER PUSSYCAT joined SIN CITY SINNERS and Brent Muscat on stage, which marked the first time original FASTER PUSSYCAT members Muscat and Taime Downe played together in six years.

Inspired by KEEL? After an aborted reunion attempt in 2008 BREAKER and original vocalist Jim Hamar opened for ANVIL on November 5th at the West Side Masonic Temple in Cleveland, Ohio. Hamar’s show with the band was the first in ten years.

Inspired by KEEL? The four original members of BULLETBOYS — singer Marq Torien, Mick Sweda on guitar, Lonnie Vencent on bass and Jimmy D'Anda on drums — are reuniting for one New Year's Eve show on December 30th at Hollywood’s Club Vodka. The show will be filmed for DVD.

Inspired by KEEL? A reformed DRIVER, featuring singer Rob Rock and guitarist Roy Z, will issue an album in early 2012.

ACCEPT has picked Stalingrad as the title for its next album, which is due out in April of 2012 through Nuclear Blast Records. The album will be produced by producer Andy Sneap again.

Australian funeral doom band MOURNFUL CONGREGATION has begun its first American tour in Seattle. Support comes from ALDEBARAN and ANHEDONIST.

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Metallian Demos

SACRED DAWN – A MADNESS WITHIN
Well, listening to this CD this writer thought the band is German. The band simply sounds German. Sacred Dawn sounds like a name a German band would use. Of course, heavy metal is a bigger genre in Germany than the band’s country, which is the US. Oh well.
Sacred Dawn is a heavy metal band, but is fully diluted and weakened by keyboards. That is sad, but there is still life left in the group. The songs sound like a part of a concept. Whether they are or not songs Wrongfully Accused and Dawn Of The Day sound like Messiah Marcolin is on vocals. These songs are probably the disc’s best. They also come with a steady and hard rhythm section that enforces the hardness. Summer Of Treason, in contrast, is mundane. It is not what one would call ‘stellar.’ Demon Lover features, appropriately, partly gruff vocals. And yes, they didn’t forget the obligatory slow song. It is there and called It Shall Be. Lothar Keller’s voice is flat especially at the higher pitches but does the job. The guitar solos are fluid and often lean Classical. The same cannot be said about the bonus/hidden track at the disc’s end. These guys have a surprising sound and are from a surprising location. The band can be reached at info@sacreddawn.net and has a website at www.sacreddawn.com. - Ali “The Metallian”

TRILLION RED – TWO TONGUES EP
Gotta admire bands like Trillion Red. There is no commercial potential here, no chance for sales and next to zero likelihood of fandom or mass acceptance, yet they forge ahead creating partly extreme music that is likely more personal than anything. The music does not fall into any specific category and is hence not exactly metal – not all the way anyhow. There is some rock here, there is some metal, there is progressive rock and even alternative. The sound is good and the quality uneven. Trillion Red experiments and has a magnetic feel to the songs. Lullaby and Right Over To The Helm begin as if composed by Vangelis. The hollering vocals on Forging Two Tongues/A Reckoning is silly and repellent and the worst part of the disc. Other than that, there is much low-key weirdness in effect here. As said, it is rather compelling overall and all from a two-man band. Find these guys at www.trillionred.com or e-mail trillionred@gmail.com or contact the publicist clawhammerpr@gmail.com. - Ali “The Metallian”