Chilean / Belgian band King Heavy is set to release its self-titled debut full length on Cruz Del Sur Music on September 4 in Europe and September 19 in the US.

King Heavy is anything but the typical brand of mono-dimensional, superficial doom metal. Aside from strong elements of Candlemass and of the more traditional doom metal sound, King Heavy offers epic arrangements and a twisted touch that reminds of Black Sabbath's Born Again, Celtic Frost's Into The Pandemonium and the early, darkest side of Danzig.

The album contains seven songs for a total running time of over 47 minutes and was engineered, mixed and mastered by Pablo Clares at DM6 Studio, Chile;  vocals were recorded by Peter Maene at Creative Factory, Belgium.

Shortly after the release of the album, the band will engage an European tour which will bring them to Malta's Doom Fest, Dutch Doom Days,  and Biebob. Other tour dates will be published and confirmed very soon.

Tracklisting:

“La Gárgola”
“Life A.D.”
“As Dawn Broke On The Day”
“Thirteen Chosen Ones”
“Wounds”
“The Crowning”
“He Who Spoke In Tongues”

Female-fronted LA rock band, Dekades, have released their guitar heavy, fuzzy and hypnotic self-titled EP. The EP is streaming below in its entirety. Fans have had a little taste of what to expect on Dekades with the release of the quintets two singles "The Drones Are Coming" and "Funkado”. Dekades is available for purchase on Bandcamp.

"We put ourselves in a small, incense laden room and got heavy," singer Arden Fisher says of the new album. "The result was five very different songs blending together in an unmistakable and strange hypnotic force that even we couldn't have dreamt up."

DEKADES by DEKADES

The band recently recorded an Antiquiet session and showcased all five songs on the EP. The performances capture the essence of a Dekades live show. View the footage below.

Dekades is a five-piece rock band from Los Angeles, CA. The band continues to make name for themselves in the local music scene playing raw and intense shows all over southern California and opening for notable acts like The Mowgli's, Dead Sara, Beta Machine and Big Black Delta. The veteran rhythm section of Chris Cano on drums and James Carter on bass rely more upon groove than rote aggression, mimicking the dark undercurrents of a pulsating human heart. Guitarist Josh Benson provides a rich wall of sound upon which multi-instrumentalist Matt Shores applies the chromatic textures. All this beautiful white noise is summoned behind vocalist/guitarist Arden Fisher, a tour de force in her own right.

Diamonds Productions has announced the comeback Italian power metal Odyssea. They are preparing their second album, their first in 11 years.

The band features guitarist Pier Gonella (Necrodeath, Mastercastle, Vanexa, ex-Labyrinth), and vocalist Roberto Tiranti (Wonderworld, ex-Labyrinth). The new album will be recorded at Musicart Studios in Rapallo, Italy and will be out for Diamonds Productions late next year.

The lineup will complete the follow-up to the debut album, Tears In Floods, with various special guests from the metal scene in Italy and outside.

Trailer:

Jungle Rot reinforces their position as a staple in the old school death metal arena with the announcement of their ninth full-length album, Order Shall Prevail. To preview Order Shall Prevail the band has released the first track, "Paralyzed Prey", which delivers more of the groove-laden, no-frills savagery fans have come to expect.

Jungle Rot pre-order packages for Order Shall Prevail are available now at VictoryMerch.com. Starting at just $19.98, various packages include the Order Shall Prevail CD with exclusive t-shirts, long sleeve, patch, flag, camouflage zip-up hoodie and more. All Order Shall Prevail pre-orders include an instant MP3 download of the track "Paralyzed Prey". Order Shall Prevail will be in stores and available digitally on June 30.

Armed for battle on the biggest stage of their 20+ year career, Jungle Rot will be pulverizing the Victory Records Stage all summer long on the 2015 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival in support of Order Shall Prevail.

Order Shall Prevail tracklisting:

“Doomsday”
“Paralyzed Prey”
“Blood Revenge”
“Fight Where You Stand”
“Order Shall Prevail”
“The Dread Pestilence”
“I Cast The First Stone”
“E.F.K.”
“Trench Tactics”
“Nuclear Superiority”

“Paralyzed Prey”:

This summer, German melodic death metallers Scarnival will release their debut album via Kernkraftritter Records. The Art Of Suffering will be out on August 7 and preorders are up at this location.

The new album will also feature a guest appearance from Björn "Speed" Strid on the song “Watch Me”.

The Art Of Suffering tracklisting:

“The Art Of Suffering”
“God Given”
“The Easy Solution”
“Hindsight”
“Losing Identity”
“Watch Me”
“The Hunt”
“Rewind”
“Pathetic”
“Eternal Salvation”
“One Morning Left”
“Lies”

British rock group Anathema has announced the remastered reissues of Judgement, A Fine Day To Exit, and A Natural Disaster on 180-gram vinyl and CD via The End Records/ADA. All three albums are also available as a 3-CD collector's boxset, which includes the 38-song DVD mediabook, Were You There?

This reissue makes available the first ever Anathema collector's set, including an exclusive album bundle configuration of all three titles, boxset, and screen-printed slipmat. All titles are available at The Omega Order.

Judgement tracklisting:

“Deep”
“Pitiless”
“Forgotten Hope”
“Destiny Is Dead”
“Make It Right (F.F.S)”
“One Last Goodbye”
“Parisienne Moonlight”
“Judgement”
“Don’t Look Too Far”
“Emotional Winter”
“Wings Of God”
“Anyone, Anywhere”
“2000 & Gone”

A Fine Day To Exit tracklisting:

“Harmonium”
“Balance”
“Closer”
“Are You There?”
“Childhood Dream”
“Pulled Under At 2000 Metres A Second”
“A Natural Disaster”
“Flying”
“Electricity”
“Violence”

A Natural Disaster tracklisting:

“Pressure”
“Release”
“Looking Outside Inside”
“Leave No Trace”
“Underworld”
“Barrier”
“Panic”
“Fine Day To Exit”
“Temporary Peace”

Fine Days: 1999-2004 – Three remastered CDs and DVD Mediabook
CD1 – Judgement (13 songs)
CD2 – A Fine Day To Exit (Ten songs)
CD3 – A Natural Disaster (Nine songs)
Disc 4 – Were You There? (38 songs – DVD)

Taklit Music has set June 21st as the release date for Commute, the new album from Israeli progressive metal outfit, Solstice Coil.

Commute features 10 tracks of beautiful prog-metal tunes that will appeal to fans of Pain Of Salvation, Haken, etc. On this album, the band takes a stab at the epic while mixing classic progressive rock influences with heavy metal tendencies and even some elements of electronic music. Commute is also the first studio album to feature bassist Mihael Galperin and drummer Yakir Fitousi.

The album was produced and mixed by Shai Yallin and mastered by the legendary Jens Bogren (Opeth, Haken, Katatonia) at Fascination Street Studios. The cover illustration was created by upcoming artist Pavel Postovoit.

Tracklisting:

“New Eyes”
“Forget You Ever Saw Us”
“Shuffle the Cards”
“Her Silent Silhouette”
“Anywhere”
“The Bargain”
“Acid Bath”
“Meltdown”
“An Oldie (But Your Kids Are Gonna Love It)”
“Nowhere”

Check out a preview video below, as well as a lyric video for the new single, “Forget You Ever Saw Us”.

Preview:

“Forget You Ever Saw Us” lyric video:

A two-camera fan-filmed mix of SLIPKNOT's May 8 performance in Bloomington, Illinois can be seen below.

SLIPKNOT guitarist Jim Root told the Des Moines Register in a new interview that he's ready for the band to make its sixth studio album and has already written music for it. Root explained, "We haven’t been able to do two albums back to back since our first one and Iowa. We're at a point in our career where the band is on top of its game. If we take two years or however long away, who knows if we could come back? Someone might decide they want to direct or write or other bands' projects might take priority. I plan for the best and expect the worst. I started writing again today. Hopefully the songs will be on a new SLIPKNOT record. If not, I'll find something else to do with them."

It was six years between SLIPKNOT's 2008 album, "All Hope Is Gone", and last year's ".5: The Gray Chapter", during which the band dealt with the death of bassist Paul Gray in 2010 and the dismissal of drummer Joey Jordison in 2013.

SLIPKNOT's "Summer's Last Stand" tour kicks off on July 24 in West Palm Beach, Florida, wrapping up six weeks later on September 5 in Dallas. Joining SLIPKNOT on the road trip will be LAMB OF GOD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and MOTIONLESS IN WHITE. The summer jaunt follows a brief spring run that SLIPKNOT launched on April 25 at the Fort Rock festival in Fort Myers, Florida and ended on May 16 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Reunited Swedish sleaze rockers BACKYARD BABIES have released a new single, "Th1rt3en Or Nothing", via Gain Music Entertainment, which is distributed and partly owned by Sony Music. A new full-length album, "Four By Four", will follow on August 28.

Listen to "Th1rt3en Or Nothing" on Spotify. "We are extremely pleased to continue our career together with Gain / Sony Music Sweden," said BACKYARD BABIES' Nicke Borg. "It's partly our history together, through the RCA, but above all it is the common love of real rock that makes this cooperation will become a success story. Here we go another 25 years, at least!"

BACKYARD BABIES officially reunited in 2014, five years after they announced that they were going on an "indefinite hiatus."

In a 2009 interview with Classic Rock magazine, BACKYARD BABIES guitarist Dregen stated about the band's decision to take a break. "We've been touring, recording and writing for 20 years, the last 10 at a very intense level. It's time for a well-deserved break before we begin writing the next album. . . We're talking months. For the BACKYARD BABIES, two weeks is a long time. If the hiatus lasted for a year, that would be an absolute maximum. During that time we won't be booking any shows, just trying to find a new spark."

To celebrate two decades together, BACKYARD BABIES embarked on the "Them XX Tour" in January/February 2010. In addition, they released a deluxe 120-page book titled "Them XX" containing private photos, three CDs and a DVD-documentary that conveys the 20 years of the BACKYARD BABIES story.

The band's last, self-titled album topped the chart in the group's home country in its first week of release. The CD also entered the Finnish album chart at No. 31.

Released in Europe on August 18, 2008 via Billion Dollar Babies/Spinefarm, "Backyard Babies" was recorded during 90 sweaty days and nights at Polar and Big Island Sound studios in Stockholm with producer Jacob Hellner (RAMMSTEIN, APOCALYPTICA).

Photo credit: Ville Juurikkala

ÆGES has inked a world-wide deal with Another Century. The band is currently in the studio with producer Bob Marlette (BLACK SABBATH, SHINEDOWN, ROB ZOMBIE) recording its third album for a fall release.

ÆGES melds riffs that echo from California desert sand and imbues them with a post-hardcore angst and the smarts of the most challenging of '90s alt-rock. It's no surprise that ÆGES is the juncture of a band whose current members have helmed such a diverse array of bands as 16, THE RISE, CUTTHROATS 9, JULIETTE & THE LICKS and UNWRITTEN LAW. ÆGES guitarist/vocalist Kemble Walters states: "We're all excited to announce our signing to Another Century. We've seen what they've done with their other artists and can't wait to see what they've got planned for us.

"We are currently in the studio with Bob Marlette making a slamming record. We definitely didn't skimp out on the nasty riffs and fat hooks!

"2015 has been amazing and 2016 is going to be an even bigger year for us. Believe me when I say 'we're all buckled up and ready to roll!'"

Adds drummer Mike Land: "We're thrilled to be partnering with Another Century.

"As a band, we're looking forward to recording the biggest and best ÆGES album to date.

"We've written a diverse array of songs for this release; from heavy and chaotic, to soulful and atmospheric. We feel that our fans, both existing and new, will be able to find something timeless in the new material."

ÆGES has shared stages with a spectrum of bands that runs the gamut from THRICE and COHEED & CAMBRIA to BLACK BREATH and BUCKCHERRY.

Australia's incendiary extreme musical export THY ART IS MURDER will release its third studio album, "Holy War", on June 30 via Nuclear Blast. Produced and mixed by Will Putney (SUICIDE SILENCE, EXHUMED, THE ACACIA STRAIN), the CD will be made available in various formats: digital; limited digipak + bonus track; assorted color vinyl; exclusive mail-order picture disc.

The first in a series of trailers for "Holy War" is available below.

"Holy War" track listing:

01. Absolute Genocide02. Light Bearer03. Holy War04. Coffin Dragger05. Fur And Claw06. Deliver Us To Evil07. Emptiness08. Violent Reckoning09. Child Of Sorrow10. Naked And Cold11. Vengeance (bonus track; initial CD pressings and vinyl only) THY ART IS MURDER guitarist Andrew Marsh shares the following about the origins of the new album and its title: "Late last year, we entered the studio in secret to create our follow up to 'Hate', free of expectation and public pressure. What we came out with was a reaction to things going on around the world that crawl under our skin, that make us feel sick to be alive. Musically, it is darker, faster and more technical than anything we've done in the past and it hits hard lyrically. We wrote about concerns of ours, real issues, hardships that people are facing around the world today. Of course, it wouldn't be a THY ART record if a lot of those affairs weren't rooted in religion somehow, and what better way to sum up the state of all things than by entitling our album 'Holy War'. This is our war on racism, homophobia, child abuse, animal cruelty and all evil born of religious immunity, indoctrination, and ignorance. It is ultimately a push for secularism and humanism. Without it, we will be left in the hands of mad men." Rising from the unhallowed wastes of Western Sydney, THY ART IS MURDER successfully cleaved a trail of blood and mayhem since their inception in 2006. With the acclaimed "Infinite Death" EP (2008) and their debut album, "The Adversary" (2010) firmly establishing their name in the global metal music scene, the band has traversed highways and autobahns all around the world, playing 342 tour dates alone in support of their Nuclear Blast Entertainment debut, "Hate" (2012), which landed at No. 35 on the Top 40 ARIA chart — the highest chart debut of any Australian extreme metal band. Known for their tireless work ethic, THY ART IS MURDER performed at Summer Slaughter 2014 aand 2013, headlined their own "Hate Across America" tour in 2013, and supported EMMURE and BORN OF OSIRIS in 2014, playing throughout the U.S. more times in a two-year period than any other Australian band in any genre of music. Band photo by Thomas Savage

With just under three weeks until the release of their sophomore effort The Moon Lit Our Path, the Arizona-based instrumental duo Tempel has unveiled a second track from the new album with the 12 minute epic “Descending Into The Labyrinth”.The Moon Lit Our Path is due for release on June 16 in North America, June 15 in the UK/EU and June 19 in Germany.

Recorded at guitarist Ryan Wenzel's Phoenix-area Arrowhead Studio, The Moon Lit Our Path - which features intricate artwork by Lucas Ruggieri (Kylesa, Dragged Into Sunlight), as seen below - features five colossal tracks that mix progressive, black, death and post-metal into one mammoth sonic cocktail.

Pre-orders of The Moon Lit Our Path on CD and gatefold 2LP are available now via the Prosthetic web shop, including an exclusive 180-gram clear vinyl variant limited to 200 copies worldwide. Also available for pre-order is a new vinyl pressing of On The Steps Of The Temple, the first two pressings of which sold out in short order last year. Choose your pre-order bundle now at this location.

The Moon Lit Our Path tracklisting:

“Carvings In The Door”
“The Moon Lit Our Path”
“Descending Into The Labyrinth”
“Tomb Of The Ancients”
“Dawn Breaks Over The Ruins”

"Descending Into The Labyrinth":

“Carvings In The Door”:

Album teaser:

 

UK epic doom metal band Desolate Pathway has announced a guest guitarist for their upcoming album: none other than Kostas Salomidis of Greek stalwarts Sorrows Path. The new material comes off the back of last year’s Valley Of The King.

Guitarist Vince Hempstead commented: “We would like to announce with honor that Kostas Salomidis from the amazing Greek doom band Sorrows Path has recorded two guest guitar solos for our second album planned for early 2016. Last week, Kostas recorded the guitar solos at Fragile Studios in Athens with producer Vangelis Yalamas, and the results are amazing. A great way to connect with our Greek mythology-based new recordings.”

The band is also due to hit the road several times this year:

June
18 – Addlestone, UK – Surrey

August
29 – Hatfield, UK – Power And Glory Festival
30 – Hastings, UK – The Carlisle

September
19 – Hastings, UK – The Carlisle

October
31 – Wakefield, UK – Fest Of Hades

November
13 – Brighton, UK – The Haunt
14 – Bournemouth, UK – The Anvil
28 – London, UK – The Unicorn

Intestinal Disgorge returns with their 11th full length album of extreme and experimental cut-up noisegrind. Having jettisoned the themes so typical of goregrind and noise, the band has recently been exploring a different atmosphere altogether: that of sublime and logic-defying horror reminiscent of H.P. Lovecraft.

Lurking In The Void Between Dreams shows Intestinal Disgorge at their most frenzied and odd, further honing the peculiar style of cut-up noisegrind which they pioneered on 2013's The Shadows That Stride From World To World. The music is jarring, chaotic, and abrasive while snapping unexpectedly between cut-up segments of garage-recorded grind, jazz, death, black metal, doom, sludge, math and noisecore. The result is somewhat akin to flipping randomly (and frequently) through different radio stations, getting nothing but shrieking, hysterical noise and grind on every channel.

Lurking In The Void Between Dreams will be released on Bandcamp on June 9.

“The Sublime Ecstasy Of Mortal Terror”:

“My Blood For Their Return”:

Longtime U2 tour manager Dennis Sheehan died Tuesday night in West Hollywood. The band confirmed his death via its website. He was on tour with the group in Los Angeles, where U2 was about to kick off a five-night residency. Variety reports Sheehan suffered a heart attack. He was 68.

"We've lost a family member, we're still taking it in," Bono said in a statement. "He wasn't just a legend in the music business, he was a legend in our band. He is irreplaceable."

"Our heartfelt sympathy is with his wonderful family," Arthur Fogel, Live Nation's President of Global Touring, said, calling Sheehan a "dear friend to us all."

Sheehan has served as U2's tour manager for more than three decades. Over the course of his career, he also worked with Led Zeppelin, assisting on their 1975 and 1977 tours, as well as Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, Siouxsie and the Banshees and members of the Sex Pistols, according to Projection, Lights and Staging News.

Read more at RollingStone.com.

(Photo - U2.com)

Los Angeles-based cyber metallers FEAR FACTORY will release their ninth studio album, "Genexus", on August 7 worldwide via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The follow-up to 2012's "The Industrialist" was co-produced by longtime collaborator Rhys Fulber, along with guitarist Dino Cazares and vocalist Burton C. Bell and mixed by Andy Sneap (ARCH ENEMY, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, MACHINE HEAD). Artwork was once again handled by Anthony Clarkson. Drums on "Genexus" were performed by Mike Heller (MALIGNANCY).

"The word 'genexus' is a hybrid of two words: 'genesis' and 'nexus,'" explains vocalist Burton C. Bell. "This word describes the next transition in human evolution as man moves forward to a 'mechanical' state of being. Ray Kurzweil predicts that the singularity will occur around 2045. 'Genexus' is the term for that next evolutionary process. Where humans are machines, machines are human, and the differences are oblivious to the naked eye."

He continues: "This album is a record of thought patterns, psychology and struggles of the Genexus generation. The cognitive machine has arrived, and it wants autonomy from the industry that created it. This machine struggles, like every other human has throughout the course of history. This is the story of every one of us."

"Genexus" track listing:

01. Autonomous Combat System02. Anodized03. Dielectric04. Soul Hacker05. Protomech06. Genexus07. Church Of Execution08. Regenerate09. Battle For Utopia10. Expiration Date

Limited digipak bonus tracks:

11. Mandatory Sacrifice (Genexus Remix)12. Enhanced Reality

Says Cazares: "The sensation of finalizing our newest album is one of relief and joy, wrapped within a massive whirlwind of excitement.

"We really feel this is a very special FEAR FACTORY album. While being careful not to replicate ourselves, this album still has a very classic FEAR FACTORY vibe that we feel will appease both old and new fans. The aggressive, melodic and industrial elements are all intact and shine more than ever.

"Burt and I produced the album with Rhys Fulber co-producing. Damien Rainuad and Giuseppe Bassi handled most of the keys and pre-production. We also enlisted the masterful metallic skills of Andy Sneap for an amazing mixing job!

"We would like to thank everyone who has been a big part in the making of this record. We can't wait for everybody to hear it."

Speaking about what FEAR FACTORY is trying to accomplish with its forthcoming album, the band's first since signing with Nuclear Blast, Cazares said: "It's still just to be who we are. We are 'cyber metal,' whatever you wanna call it, but it's still a lot of the killer riffs, killer double bass, Burt's beautiful, melodic vocals. Conceptually, it's always still futuristic, man-versus-machine type of thing, but, you know, we thought we're gonna keep it real, keep it what we are and who we are."

Asked about how it feels to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of FEAR FACTORY's classic "Demanufacture" album in 2015 with only two members of the band's classic lineup remaining in the group, Dino said: "The two main members are in the band right now. The soul of the machine is still intact, and that's me and Burton. And I don't think anything has changed, really."

He continued: "Every album we do always has to have something a little different. From the beginning, from the first album, 'Soul Of A New Machine', it was very death metal inspired, [with] a little bit of industrial. The second album, 'Demanufacture', the classic album… Every record changes. 'Obsolete' was a big difference, you know what I mean?! But my right hand is still there, the passion is still there, Burt's killer melodic vocals are still there. So I think that's all that matters."

In an interview with Silver Tiger Media, Bell stated about the new FEAR FACTORY album: "It's classic FEAR FACTORY sound, the sound that fans have always expected, but I think because we are taking our time, the songs are really well crafted. Without losing the edge or the angst. Without losing the essence of FEAR FACTORY, but they are well-crafted songs."

FEAR FACTORY recently parted ways with bassist Matt DeVries (previously of CHIMAIRA, where he played guitar, and SIX FEET UNDER and replaced him with Tony Campos (ex-SOULFLY, STATIC-X, PRONG, MINISTRY).

FEAR FACTORY will hit the road this July with COAL CHAMBER.

Photo credit: Kevin Estrada

Underground Symphony has announced the new album of the symphonic gothic metal band Eternal Silence, Chasing Chimera. After the success of debut Raw Poetry, the Italian band went back in the Old One Studios to record ten new tracks, under the supervision of Giulio Capone and Alberto Cassina.

For the first time Eternal Silence have a guest: Daniele Scavoni from Spellblast who sing a special duet with Marika Vanni. Chasing Chimera is available in a limited edition in digipak packaging. The album is currently streaming on Bandcamp.

Tracklisting:

“Dreambook”
“Shades Of Dusk”
“Reverb”
“Unbreakable Will”
“My Cage”
“Astronomer”
“The Maze Of My Obsession”
“Never Forgotten”
“Hell On Earth”
“Chimera”
 

Regeneration, the sophomore release from Cerebellion, can now be streamed in its entirety via the SoundCloud widget below.  The albums official release date is June 2 and will be available through iTunes, Amazon, and most other online retailers. Having established the ability to cross genres while maintaining a cohesive sound, the band’s latest effort is no different.

Lead guitarist John Arnold had this to say of the album “As you would expect from us, this is an eclectic body of work. Each song has its own soul. Yet it’s all unquestionably Cerebellion.”

Preorders are currently taking place at Bandcamp and include immediate download of the tracks “Thin Ice” and “Cold”.

Regeneration tracklisting:

“All Came To Light”
“Cold”
“Savior”
“Nothing Left”
“Thin Ice”
“Forsaken”

Album stream:

“Thin Ice”:

Edge Of Paradise have released a new video for the song “Rise For The Fallen”, taken from their newest album Immortal Waltz, released on May 22 through Pure Rock / Pure Steel Records.

Immortal Waltz tracklisting:

“Perfect Shade Of Black”
“It’s My Showtime”
“Immortal Waltz”
“In A Dream”
“Rise For The Fallen”
“Ghost”
“Break Away”
“Goodbye”
“Children Of The Sea” (Black Sabbath cover)

"Rise For The Fallen" video:

“In A Dream” video:

Band lineup:

Margarita Monet – vocals
Dave Bates – guitars
John Chominsky – drums
Nick Ericson – bass

 

Following an entire decade without a new album, Phoenix-based melodic death metal kingpins, Vehemence, return to full-time duty in 2015, having reactivated the band and completed their fourth full-length studio full-length, Forward Without Motion, which is now set for release this Autumn via Battleground Records.

Their first new album since 2004's Metal Blade Records-released Helping The World To See, Vehemence returns to the death metal fold with a stunning new album that will surely see the band regaining their traction within the scene after their time off the grid. Forward Without Motion is the culmination of years of hard work and the collective desire to write the best songs and capture the best performances.

Guitarist and founding member Bjorn Dannov perhaps says it most succinctly when describing the record, "I really believe this is our strongest album to date. With our previous albums, we were so inexperienced in the studio so I was never really happy with the final product, production-wise. This album I feel represents the songs well. We wanted to capture a tight performance, but not overly produced and sound replaced like a lot of modern metal albums. We still wanted to maintain an organic element to the sound, which I believe we achieved."

Working on the songs off and on for several years between 2007 and 2011, Vehemence began a methodical, painstaking tracking process for Forward Without Motion between 2012 and 2014, the album's guitars, bass, and vocals being recorded at the home studios of Dannov and guitarist Kyle Moeller, with the drums being recorded at Villain Studios in Phoenix.

"Kyle did all the mixing, reamping, and mastering," says Dannov. "It was really great to have those tools at our disposal, without having to worry about a budget or studio expenses."

When listening to Forward Without Motion, one will discover the refreshing sounds of a band creatively reborn and seasoned by experience. The album flows with a relentless, throat grabbing energy that never flags and begs for repeated spins. This cohesive power is nowhere more apparent than in the strength of the instrumental and vocal performances, which slash and hammer their way out of the speakers with a passion rarely found in the cold, mostly lifeless corpses that are most modern death metal recordings.

When asked about the lyrical themes behind the songs and album title of the album, Vehemence vocalist Nathan Gearhart remarks, "The lyrics of Forward Without Motion each tell a unique story dealing with pain, loss, sadness, and horror. Written over the course of twelve years, each piece stands alone in subject. The consistent theme of the lyrics as a whole denote humanity's dark side, and summarize our lives and impact on our world during our limited time. Nothing changes. Nothing gets better or worse. It's all the same. It's time without a number. We are all going to die leaving this world just as fucked as those before us, and future generations will continue this cycle."

 

 

Gearhart also has much to say about the core ethos of the band when reflecting upon both the present and the years past, "Bjorn and I have been jamming together since 1996. Mark and Andy joined in '97-'98. Vehemence is a band of brothers with no bigger intent other than getting together and creating together. Kyle is a great compliment to the core of the band, and his involvement along with the material and performance contributed by Jake Green are what helps to take us into our current chapter. Forward Without Motion is our life's work. I am so proud of what we have created, and I hope others enjoy our art as much as I do."

Vehemence will release Forward Without Motion through Battleground Records on October 27th in various formats, including a 2xLP set on 180-gram black vinyl in gatefold packaging, a CD version, and across various digital platforms.

In conjunction with the release of Forward Without Motion, Vehemence will be performing several shows in support of the album shortly before the street date. Additional information on the album, audio samples, an official video and more will be released throughout the summer and early fall months.

San Francisco-based classic doom metallers Orchid’s brand new EP Sign Of The Witch which was scheduled for a late May release will now be released July 17 via Nuclear Blast Records. Sign Of The Witch will contain four brand new tracks and will exclusively be available at the Nuclear Blast shop.

The band will arrive in Europe next week to play big festivals like Rockavaria and Rock im Revier on the Centerstage.

Guitarist Mark Thomas Baker comments:

"It's been a few years since we've recorded and we've all gotten so much better at playing and working together. We're excited to let people hear what we're up to these days."

Sign Of The Witch tracklisting:

“Sign Of The Witch”
“John The Tiger”
“On Strange Winds”
“Burning Eastern Skies”

Sign Of The Witch marks the band's first release since 2013's The Mouths Of Madness, which hit the German charts on position #18 in its first week of sale.

Orchid tour dates:

May
29 - München, Germany - Rockavaria
30 - Nürburgring, Germany - Grüne Hölle

June
2 - Berlin, Germany - Bi Nuu
3 - Dresden, Germany - Scheune
4 - Geiselwind, Germany - Out & Loud
5 - Netphen-Deuz, Germany - Freak Valley
10 - Lindau, Germany - Club Vaudeville
11 - Milan, Italy - Magnolia (with Blues Pills)
14 - Nickelsdorf, Austria - Novarock
16 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7 Mini
19 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
20 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting
21 - Athens, Greece - Kytarro Live Club
23 - Barcelona, Spain - Boveda

Florida natives, Culture Killer, have signed with Metal Blade Records and are preparing to record their full length debut. Previously, the band had released the Denial EP in 2014, and a single "Exterminate Filth" earlier this year. Today, fans can hear a brand new cut that will be appearing on their forthcoming debut. The track, "Justice Through Retaliation", is streaming below.

Culture Killer will be tracking throughout June with Kenny Gil (Dark Sermon) at Pig Pen Recordings. On signing with Metal Blade, vocalist Ian Campbell commented: "As a group of young musicians, it comes with great honor that Culture Killer is fortunate enough to be a part of the Metal Blade Family, alongside some of the most legendary and influential bands to date. We love working with everyone on the Metal Blade staff and can't wait to release our debut full-length through the label later this year!"

The ferocity of Culture Killer's music and lyrics make it apparent that this band has a goal and message, and that this isn't directionless rage. The cover art for the "Exterminate Filth" single should make this quite obvious.

 

 

Drummer Dylan Blow elaborates on the topic Culture Killer tackled with "Justice Through Retaliation": "The song tells the story of a woman fighting a seemingly endless battle with spousal abuse. She reflects on the words and feelings that she once embraced; soon realizing that the man she loved was now her greatest fear. At the turning point of the song, she finds that her only chance of survival is to kill him.

"Domestic violence is an extremely disturbing and reoccurring reality. Sadly, many stories remain untold. Don't be afraid to speak up, don't be afraid to reach out for help, and most importantly, don't ever feel ashamed to tell your story."

More details about the upcoming album will be made available throughout the next few months. The album is expected to be released later this year.

 

 

Culture Killer is:

Hunter Young - Guitars, vocals
Dylan Blow - Drums, vocals
Storm Bauer - Bass guitars
Ian Campbell - Vocals
Trevor Kopp - Guitar

Motor City thrashers, Battlecross, have just returned home from a successful trip to Bogota, Columbia, and nearly immediately upon returning, have launched a brand new song from their forthcoming album, Rise To Power. The new song, "Not Your Slave", is streaming at below. Head to this location, where pre-order bundles are available.

Rise to Power will be released worldwide on Metal Blade Records on August 21st. The record was produced by Jason Suecof, and mixed/mastered by Mark Lewis at Audiohammer Studios. Cover art was completed by Hungarian artist Péter Sallai (Sabaton, Sacred Steel).

Guitarist Tony Asta offers the following comment on the new single, "Not Your Slave": "We're really happy with the crushing feel of this song. Somehow through the writing process, maybe even on accident, a more groovy feel was created. We won't write the same record twice and I think this is our strongest and more dynamic album yet."

Rise To Power tracklisting:

“Scars”
“Not Your Slave”
“Absence”
“Spoiled”
“The Climb”
“Blood & Lies”
“Bound by Fear”
“Despised”
“Shackles”
“The Path”

“Not Your Slave”:

Find the Battlecross tour itinerary at this location.

 

 

 

 

New Jersey/Philadelphia-local progressive rock/metal group, In The Presence Of Wolves, have been making waves amongst the local scene, impressing new fans with their tight and energetic live performances and high-skill musicality. Fans of bands ranging from Rush and YES to Mastodon and The Mars Volta will find something to love with In The Presence Of Wolves.

Today, the band release a new music video for their track “Storm In A Red Dress”. Originally imagined with a “short film” style, the director Ryan Beacher was able to shrink down the footage into a four-and-a-half minute music video. The theme of the video relates to the title and concept behind the track – a devilish woman out to cause trouble. Watch below.

Guitarist/vocalist Chris Capitanio explains, “Tom (our lead actor) goes out for a night on the town, only to come in contact with a devilish woman in a red dress. Unbeknownst to Tom, she drugs him and leads him on a night he will never remember.”

Capitanio adds, “Our original concept was very different from the final product but the one characteristic that stuck around was that we wanted it to be trippy. Tom (the lead actor) actually came up with the idea of wanting to walk around Philly in a kimono while tripping out and the video stemmed entirely from that concept. It was important to us that video wasn't super serious. We take our music very seriously but we don't take ourselves seriously at all. It was a lot of fun to finally explore that part of our personalities and still connect it with our music.”

 

 

In The Presence Of Wolves released their debut full-length album, entitled Thalassas, this past December.

Tracklisting:

“Man Of The Times”
“Storm In A Red Dress”
“Hypoxia”
“Palladium”
“Birdsong”
“Thalassas I: The Careless Abandon”
“Thalassas II: What Dwells Below (The Portal)”
“Thalassas III: Back To The Surface”

“Storm In A Red Dress” video:

 

 

Portland, Oregon's Lord Dying released their sophomore album, Poisoned Altars, earlier this year via Relapse Records. Recently the band completed work on a video for the latest single "A Wound Outside Time" from Poisoned Altars. The video was directed and edited by Brett Roberts and Jon Meyer.

"We're psyched to release this new video for "A Wound Outside of Time!" This vid pays homage to our favorite early 90's death metal videos, like Bolt Thrower's "Cenotaph”, Unleashed's "Before the Creation Of Time”, Entombed's "Left Hand Path”, etc. We really love the quick flashes of cliched over the top imagery and slow motion head banging sequences that infest so many videos of that era. Enjoy, and catch us on the road," says front man Erik Olson.

Tonight the band takes to the stage headlining in Tulsa, Oklahoma before they join up with Crowbar and Battlecross as part of the Summer Of Doom tour.  The tour runs from May 28th in Shreveport, LA through July 3rd in Baton Rouge, LA.  A complete list of dates, including select headline shows can be seen below.

 

 

Tour dates:

May
27 - Tulsa, OK - Boulevard Trash (Lord Dying headline show)
28 - Shreveport, LA - Riverside Warehouse
29 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey
30 - Austin, TX - Dirty Dog      
31 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar

June
1- Lubbock, TX - Backstage (Lord Dying headline show)
2 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad   
3 - Tempe, AZ - Club Red
4 - San Diego, CA - Til Two         
5 - Long Beach, CA - DiPiazzas     
6 - Los Angeles, CA - Whisky A Go Go      
8 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater  
9 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon    
10 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theater   
12 - Calgary, AB - Republik       
13 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite           
14 - Saskatoon, SK - Obrians         
16 - Winnipeg, MB - The Zoo
17 - Minneapolis, MN  - Amsterdam   
18 - Cudahy, WI - The Metal Grill          
19 - Detroit, MI - Shelter
20 - Chicago, IL - Reggie's       
21 - Columbus, OH - Alrosa Villa    
22 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Ballroom         
23 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club      
24 - Ottawa, ON - Mavericks    
25 - Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa
26 - Worcester, MA - Palladium     
27 - Albany, NY - Trickshot Billiards      
28 - Philadelphia, PA - Voltage         
29 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus    
30 - Frederick, MD - Cafe 611

July
1 - Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern         
2 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade  
3 - Baton Rouge, LA - Varsity Theater

For their eighth studio album, Shadowmaker, Finnish group Apocalyptica hunkered down in a Tennessee studio to produce their most cohesive release to date. They played their song “Path” as well as a cover of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” for NP Sessions.

See the footage at this location.

Apocalyptica released Shadowmaker – their first album with vocalist Franky Perez – on April 21st.

 

 

Shadowmaker tracklisting:

“I-III-V- Seed of Chaos”
“Cold Blood”
“Shadowmaker”
“Slowburn”
“Reign of Fear” (Bonus Track)
“Hole in My Soul”
“House of Chains”
“Riot Lights”
“Come Back Down” (Bonus Track)
“Sea Song (You Waded Out)”
“Till Death Do Us Part”
“Dead Man's Eyes”

“Cold Blood” video:

Full album stream:

Catch Apocalyptica live at the following shows:

May
27 - Reno, NV - Knitting Factory Concert House
28 - Garden City, ID - Revolution Center
29 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SODO
30 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom

June
1 - Edmonton, AB - Union Hall
2 - Calgary, AB - MacEwan Hall Ballroom
3 - Saskatoon, SK - O’Brian’s Event Centre
4 - Winnipeg, MB - The Garrick Centre
6 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
7 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection
8 - London, ON - London Music Hall
9 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial
10 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis

 

 

After seven years of touring and three releases, Swedish metal band Denied has parted with singer Johan Fahlberg (pictured above).

Founding member Andreas Carlsson states, “We have shared great times together and created a lot of kick ass heavy metal. We are still the best of friends and there is absolutely no bad blood between him and the band. Johan needed to focus on his commitment to Jaded Heart and there was simply not enough time for the both bands any longer. We fully understand his decision to quit. He will always be our brother.”

The vacancy for a new frontman has been filled by acclaimed vocalist Germán Pascual (ex-Narnia, Divinefire, Minds Eye, Empire 21).

Carlsson continues: “Germán’s experience, skill and great personality made our decision very easy. We are now excited to continue the Denied-journey together and the best is yet to come".

This summer the band will head into the studio to record the follow-up to the 2013 album Let Them Burn. Once again produced by Fredrik Folkare, also mastermind of Sweden’s Unleashed.

(Photo - Jimmie Sonelius)

Denis Shaforostov (pictured), formerly of Ukrainian metalcore act MAKE ME FAMOUS, has been confirmed as the new singer of ASKING ALEXANDRIA.

A new ASKING ALEXANDRIA song, "I Won't Give In", featuring Shaforostov, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

In the new issue of U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine, ASKING ALEXANDRIA guitarist Ben Bruce stated about the band's new addition: "Everyone guessed it was Denis, and I think they did so because they know Denis was the right choice to make. He's an incredibly talented vocalist, from the multiple wide range of screams that ASKING ALEXANDRIA obviously needs and will continue to have, and his singing and range is out of this world. He's been a fan of the band for a long time, so he's familiar with all our old songs, and he really cares about the band. He's a passionate, cool guy; it's the perfect scenario."

Added Denis: "I had this gut feeling, man; I totally felt something big was going to happen right before the guys reached out to me. It's crazy. Honestly, I've never been waiting for such an opportunity to ever knock at my door but, as the same time, I was always ready for it. Without a doubt, I was extremely stoked and I poured all of my emotions into the writing for the new ASKING ALEXANDRIA record."

MAKE ME FAMOUS was stylistically similar to ASKING ALEXANDRIA, to the extent that they were at times accused of copying the British act's sound.

The day before singer Danny Worsnop announced his departure from ASKING ALEXANDRIA in January, Shaforostov posted the following message to Instagram: "There's such thing as karma and magic in this world. The hardest work will always pay off no matter how many of these fucks have ever tried to bring you down on your way. You never know when and how but trust me, your door will open and the future will be yours for the taking — just wait and see."

Worsnop revealed he was exiting ASKING ALEXANDRIA on January 22, explaining in a statement: "Over the last eight years together, we've done some amazing things and created something truly special. I now, same as then, want what's best for the band and at this point in time, that isn't me. ASKING ALEXANDRIA will continue to tour throughout the year and will be working on a new album." Worsnop added, "I will always support and love ASKING ALEXANDRIA and cannot wait to see what the future holds for them."

Ben Bruce wrote at the band's Facebook page, "ASKING ALEXANDRIA will not be slowing down. We are going to tour harder than ever and we are going to write the greatest record of our career . . . This isn't the end, this is the start of a whole new chapter. This is where we come together and make history."

Worsnop's other band, WE ARE HARLOT, released its self-titled debut album on March 31.

Worsnop admitted last year to Kerrang! magazine that his involvement with WE ARE HARLOT had caused some friction with the members of ASKING ALEXANDRIA, saying, "Back when it started, there were maybe concerns and stress and bitterness from the guys. But over time they've realized that it's not detrimental to ASKING in any way."