Danish groove metallers ELECTRIC HELLRIDE (winners of the last Danish edition of W:O:A Metal Battle) will release the Come Darkness, Come Light EP on May 5th through the band's own label, ElHell Records, on CD, vinyl and free download.
The artwork for Come Darkness, Come Light was made by the Copenhagen-based illustrator and designer Tunguska, who stated the following about his collaboration with Electric Hellride:

"The band wanted a dark and gloomy atmosphere in a urban environment reflecting the track 'Grey Mass Depression'. The challenge with this was to make it visually interesting to avoid things seen way to many times before. The lighting and the different composition of the front and back were important elements in order to achieve a satisfying product".

Electric Hellride has expressed its views on cooperation with Tunguska: "Tunguska did a design for us that should be available on t-shirt soon and we liked that design so much that it was only natural to ask him to do the cover for the EP as well. He really nailed the atmosphere we wanted, so we are of course very satisfied. We are looking forward to show the vinyl version to the public as the large format only makes the artwork even better"

The follow-up to the debut album Hate.Control.Manipulate from 2012 (released on Mighty Music) was recorded in Grizzly Sauer Studio with Emil Buus Sauer.

Come Darkness, Come Light sees Electric Hellride evolving and changing the music into something more varied and diverse. This is also the primary reason for choosing to release an EP instead of a full length album. The band is working hard with the songwriting for the next album but wanted to make a little stop in the studio to try out some of the new stuff as well as to test the music on the fans and potential new fans.

Tracklisting:

'Master Inferno'
'Higher Profanity'
'Grey Mass Depression'
'Phosphorus'
In the Youtube clip below, Electric Hellride brings you inside the studio, where you can get a sneak peek of some new material.

Swimming With Sharks Records has announced the addition of THE CONJURATION to their roster of artists. The project is a solo effort from producer and multi-instrumentalist, Corey Jason, and can best be described as extreme, experimental metal and/or avant-garde death metal. The band’s latest effort Surreal is currently available to stream and download and boasts eight insane tracks and a free bonus track featuring a cover of 'F(r)iend' from IN FLAMES.

The Conjuration mastermind, Corey Jason states: “After almost 10 years of diligently learning and perfecting my craft, it’s a dream come true that my labors of love have been discovered! I spent hours upon hours over the last year and a half making the newest The Conjuration album ‘Surreal’; a vicious work of refined emotion that exceeds my artistic vision. Swimming With Sharks Records has shown me that my efforts have not been in vain! I’m beyond excited to work with Swimming With Sharks, as it’s clear they’re offering an artist-centric promotion platform and are 100% committed to the growth and advancement of each band on their roster. I’m sure it’s every artist’s goal to sign with a label that promotes creativity, and I believe I’m lucky enough to have reached such goal. Expect great things, my friends.”
Surreal tracklisting is as follows:
'Profane
'Capricorn
'Kaleidoscopic Thought
'Fragile
'Surreal
'Perception Shattered: A Darker Scope
'Introvert
'Overdose
'F(r)iend' (In Flames cover streaming below)

Saturnal Records has set May 26th as the international release date for HELLSPIRIT's debut album, Dawn Under Curse. Hellspirit was formed in 2004 in Kuopio, Finland by Dethrone and Goat. The band released two demos during the years 2005-2006 and recorded a split release with Australian blackthrashers NOCTURNAL GRAVES in 2007, but it was not released until 2010, by Nuclear War Now! Productions, due to numerous difficulties on the way.

??Hellspirit's lineup altered very drastically during the first years of the band's existence. A stabile lineup was established in 2011 when Dethrone and Heinrich Von Heretic, who had already joined the ranks of bassist in 2008, teamed up with Eld on drums and MSA on guitars. The band then started working on a debut full-length with a whole new intensity together with raging live shows, where they shared a stage with such bands as ANAL CUNT, NIFELHEIM, and SABBAT.
?The musical style of Hellspirit had changed during the years from very straightforward thrash-oriented black metal towards more epic and war-like black metal where influences of thrash and heavy have taken a step up to a whole other level.

Finally, in 2012, Hellspirit started recording their debut full-length album, which led to a deal with Finnish underground record label No Sign Of Life, which eventually ceased all activities before the debut was released. The band was perhaps one of the most prominent ones in Finland's underground scene at the time, and yet an unsigned artist. ??At the threshold of the band's 10-year anniversary in 2014, Hellspirit signed to Saturnal Records, and finally, the band's debut album, Dawn Under Curse, is seeing daylight this year. Hellspirit delivers raw and epic black metal with solid roots in thrash and heavy metal. The band's musical style has been evolving through their 10-year existence, from the point where one can find resemblances to classic Finnish and Australian black thrash acts to more epic soundscapes influenced by classic names like BATHORY and MORRIGAN.
Dawn Under Curse tracklisting:

'Call To Arms'
'Weak Flesh - Filthy Blood'
'Total Holocaust'
'Unholy Redemption'
'Eternal Night (Millennia Of Might)'
'Blood And Metal'

'Weak Flesh - Filthy Blood', the first sample from Dawn Under Curse, can be heard via a special promotional video:

DEGENERHATE, featuring former members of NOVEMBRE, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, CORPSEFUCKINGART, and FLEGIAS, have inked a worldwide deal with Sliptrick Records.
The band's forthcoming new albm, Chronicles Of The Apocalypse, was recorded at Playrec Studio in Rome by Fabio Fraschini and sound engineer Luigi Colasanti Antonelli. The album was mastered by grindcore guru Scott Hull (BRUTAL TRUTH, PIG DESTROYER, etc.) at Visceral Sound Studio, in Bethesda, Maryland.

Tracklisting:

'Intro'
'Bushit'
'Earth First'
'War Inside My Head'
'Behind The Black Horizon'
'Power'
'All The Promises That I Have Made'
'Cannibal Ritual' (BLOOD cover)
'Breeding Hatred Inside'
'Fur Is Dead'
'Another You Another Me'
'Last Fight 13. New World Disorder'
'No Excuses Anymore'
'Running Through The Blood' (FEAR OF GOD cover)
'Under The Same Sky'
'Song Of Hate And Destruction'
'Turn Off The TV Turn On The Brain'
'Outro'

Check out a few audio samples below.

'Bushit':
'Earth First':
'Power':
Degenerhate was started by Gianluca Lucarini in 2002 in Rome, along with two old friends, Max Varani on vocals (ENTHRALMENT, CORPSEGOD, CorpseFuckingArt) and Fabio Fraschini on bass guitar (DESECRATION, D-FORM, Enthralment, Novembre). Later on, recruiting drummer Cristiano Rotatori and recording in 2005, the mini-CD The End Has Just Begun, released by mexican label EBM Records.
Over the years, Degenerhate have changed several drummers, until the arrival of Francesco Struglia (ex-Fleshgod Apocalypse) and in 2010, a second guitarist , Angelo Vernati, a very good friend and excellent musician, stepping the sound to a new compact and massive step.

Guitar Center, the world's largest retailer of musical instruments and equipment, and DirecTV, one of the world's leading providers of digital television entertainment services, will spotlight SOUNDGARDEN in the award-winning music series Guitar Center Sessions on Sunday, May 4 on DirecTV's Audience Network (Channel 239). Guitar Center Sessions features exclusive performances and intimate, enlightening conversations conducted by revered musical tastemaker Nic Harcourt.

Video footage of the "Rusty Cage" performance from SOUNDGARDEN's Guitar Center Sessions episode — which was filmed in Austin, Texas — can be seen below.

"With 'Guitar Center Sessions', it all begins with the curation process. From legends like Peter Gabriel and Joe Walsh to buzzworthy up-and-comers like Gary Clark Jr. and FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS, this wide variety of musical acts creates a broad and unique musical journey simply unmatched anywhere on television," says Harcourt.

"With millions of viewers tuning in each month, it is clear that there is an audience seeking the type of quality music programming that has otherwise virtually disappeared from television in the past decade," says Dustin Hinz, director of music and entertainment marketing for Guitar Center.

"'Guitar Center Sessions' aims to fill that void while providing musicians with a world-class television platform that exposes their music to the masses, and inspires music enthusiasts and fans across the globe."

"Guitar Center and DirecTV have created a unique venue for these artists whereby the taping of these shows takes place directly on the premises at Guitar Center in Hollywood as they create a personal and intimate experience for our customers," said Christopher Long, senior vice president of original content and production, DirecTV.

"It's like a private concert and discussion that happens in your living room."

"Guitar Center Sessions" captures exclusive live performances and interviews from noteworthy and influential artists in stunning hi-definition and 5.1 Surround Sound in Guitar Center's iconic location on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. In addition to show-stopping performances, each episode features intimate interviews conducted by renowned journalist Nic Harcourt, offering rare insights into the celebrated careers of these icons and the inspirations behind their music. "Guitar Center Sessions" is but one example of the music retailer's efforts to support artists by creating new avenues to expose their music to large audiences in an ever-changing music industry.

Jordan Mancino (drums), Nick Hipa (guitar), Phil Sgrosso (guitar) and Josh Gilbert (bass) of San Diego, California-based metal act AS I LAY DYING have teamed up with vocalist Shane Blay (previously lead guitar/clean vocals in OH, SLEEPER) to create the new band WOVENWAR. Over approximately the last year, the band completed work on new material recorded with producer Bill Stevenson (DESCENDENTS, BLACK FLAG) with mixing duties currently being handled by Colin Richardson (SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD, TRIVIUM).

Fans can now get their first full listen of WOVENWAR's debut single, "All Rise". While not the final mastered version, the song is a proper representation of what's to come when WOVENWAR's self-titled debut, set to drop late summer.

AS I LAY DYING singer Tim Lambesis in Febraury pleaded guilty to hiring a hit man to kill his estranged wife.

The singer remains free on $2 million bond until he is sentenced on May 2.

AS I LAY DYING's sixth album, "Awakened", sold around 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 11 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released in September 2012 via Metal Blade Records, the CD was produced by Bill Stevenson and was mixed by Colin Richardson.

Louisiana rockers LILLIAN AXE will release their thirteenth album, "One Night In The Temple", produced by Steve Blaze, on May 27 via CME Records in the USA and Canada and via Melodic Rock Records in the rest of the world.

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for "One Night In The Temple" can be seen below.

Performed acoustically in an intimate setting housed in a Masonic Temple in the Bayou with LILLIAN AXE's most diehard fans, "One Night In The Temple" features all the band's hits, including "True Believer", "Show A Little Love", "Crucified", "Misery Loves Company", "Ghost Of Winter", "The Great Divide", "Bow Your Head", "Waters Rising" and the crowd favorite "Nobody Knows".

LILLIAN AXE guitarist founder Steve Blaze reflects: "When I first had the idea of putting this show together, it was originally going to be a private 20-person show with acoustic guitars, vocals and no production, however, it took on a life of its own."

"One Night In The Temple" will be released as three-disc set (2CDs/1DVD and 2CDs/1Blu-ray), housed in an elaborate digipack. Filmed in high definition, the Blu-ray and DVD will contain the acoustic performance, fan question and answer session, videos for the songs "Caged In" and "Death Comes Tomorrow", live concert footage from the band's July 4, 2013 performance at the Paragon Casino and behind-the-scenes footage.

"One Night In The Temple" track listing:

Disc 1:

01. Waters Rising02. Death Comes Tomorrow03. Ghost Of Winter04. See You Someday05. The Great Divide06. Nocturnal Symphony07. Sad Day On Planet Earth08. Bow Your Head09. Show A Little Love10. Misery Loves Company

Disc 2:

01. Crucified02. The World Stopped Turning03. Dyin' To Live (Shades Of Blue)04. Until The End Of The World05. The Day I Met You06. The Promised Land07. Nobody Knows08. My Apologies09. True Believer10. Nobody Knows (Crowd Version)

LILLIAN AXE is Brian Jones (lead vocals), Steve Blaze (guitar and vocals), Sam Poitevent (guitar and vocals), Eric Morris (bass) and Ken Koudelka (drums).

LILLIAN AXE will be touring to support this release this summer.

Swiss hard rock veterans GOTTHARD kicked off their "BANG!" world tour on April 8 at De Boerderij in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

GOTTHARD's new album, "BANG!", was released on April 7 through PIAS. GOTTHARD has been at home touring the globe for over 20 years throughout Europe, North and South America and Asia on the back of 14 studio and live albums. They have collected multiple gold and platinum awards on the way, selling almost three million records and appearing at the biggest, most important festivals on the map of rock. The dynamic boogie groove of the "BANG!" title track is also new ground for the band, reflecting their unbridled energy and pure confidence. Also worthy of mention is a duet with the unknown (so far) American vocalist Melody Tibbits on a ballad entitled "Maybe". As is the blues excursion the band takes in "Spread Your Wings". The final "Thank You" is a veritable epic complete with orchestra and goosebumps, flowing against radio friendly convention to a length of more than ten minutes. Written as a tribute to the departed mother of guitarist Leo Leoni, it serves as a homage to mothers everywhere.

The first single from the new album is "Feel What I Feel", a perfect demonstration of the group's talent for combining melodic vocals with strong guitar hooks. These songs are set against a background of classic GOTTHARD rock tunes like "Get Up 'N' Move On", "Jump The Gun" and "My Belief", which traditionally grace every album by the Swiss combo. All told, "BANG!" presents a compelling mix that is sure to take its rightful place in the proud legend of GOTTHARD.

Recorded and produced by Charlie Bauerfeind and GOTTHARD's own Leo Leoni at Yellow House Studios in Lugano in the Swiss canton of Tessin, "BANG!" was then mixed at the Dutch Wisseloord Studios (Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner) by Ronald Prent, who has managed to keep the GOTTHARD sound but transport them into 2014. No wonder, after all Prent has worked in the studio with bands such as the SCORPIONS, 3 DOORS DOWN, DEF LEPPARD and WITHIN TEMPTATION.

Apart from a standard jewel case, the album was made available in digipack version, with two bonus tracks and also on vinyl.

GOTTHARD's last album, "Firebirth", marked the band's first release with singer Nic Maeder, who was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, lived in Melbourne, Australia and grew up between Switzerland and "Down Under."

GOTTHARD's previous vocalist, Steve Lee, was killed on October 5, 2010 in what has been described as a freak road accident in Nevada.

German heavy metal act FORENSICK have signed a worldwide deal with Pure Underground Records, a sub-label of Pure Steel Records.

“We, Forensick, are really happy having signed the deal with Pure Steel Records. For us, a dream became true. We are looking forward to the cooperation!”

The band's new album, The Prophecy, is coming soon. Stay tuned for updates.
Forensick lineup:

Tobias Hübner - vocals
Stephan Vogt - guitars
Matthias Ehmig - guitars
Andreas Armbruster - bass
Julian Rocco Lepore - drums

London-based metallers OTHER EYES WISE have released a new video, for the track 'Climb Aboe', featured on their album, Zer(0).
Zer(0) tracklisting:

'Zer(0)'
'Almost Asleep'
'Climb Above'
'Decade of Struggle'
'You're Wrong, You're Right'
'Vague Monster'
'Awkward Eclipse'
'Paths'
'Beyond Belief'
'Notes of Joy'

'Climb Above' video:
'Almost Asleep' lyric video:
The band is busy in London writing new songs for their upcoming second album.

During their most recent European tour, Brazilian death metal band KROW - at the invitation of producer Ronnie Bjornström - recorded their newest EP at Garageland Studios in Umea, Sweden. Titled Relentless Disease, the EP contains two songs which will be released later this month in virtual format and later in physical format.

Check out a teaser below:
Take a survey and try to count how many metal bands – national and international – have continentally toured for more than five months in recent years. Krow is one of these few rare bands.

The tour began with the release of Traces Of The Trade in Santiago, Chile in March 2nd, 2012, the band was invited to play with DIMMU BORGIR. With the new album in hand the band again went to Europe, this trip yielded the music video for ‘Retaliated’, recorded in Romania with the participation of Alvaro Lilo, bassist for WATAIN and vocalist of UNDERCROFT, and shared the stage in concerts and festivals alongside the likes of Undercroft, ARCH ENEMY, DYING FETUS, JOB FOR A COWBOY, HAEMORRAGE, ONSLAUGHT, and has also participated of Destroying the Balkans Tour with the SINISTER.

The band finished 2012 among the best of the year in several specialized sites and began in 2013 following the promtion of the album throughout Brazil, making an extensive tour through the Northeast, North and Midwest of the country, and than left for Europe again for a large sequence of concerts and festivals in another arm of the tour supporting the album.

With the name Framework of Violence Tour the band performed for more than five months with bands such as NAPALM DEATH, DECAPITATED, SEPTIC FLESH, PRIMORDIAL, AGATHOCLES, NEGURA BUNGET, besides a summer tour with EXHUMED

You can also check the official video the band recorded with Alvaro Lilo from Watain below:

InsideOutMusic has announced the signing of KNIFEWORLD for the release of their forthcoming new album, The Unravelling, later this summer. The eight-piece band led by Kavus Torabi (CARDIACS, GON) have been working on the follow-up to 2009's Buried Alone: Tales of Crushing Defeat.
The band had this to say about the signing: "Knifeworld are very happy to be signing to InsideOut. Our forthcoming album, The Unravelling, is so close to completion we are terrified to mention it. Nonetheless it will be the first Knifeworld album to feature the full psychedelic majesty of our eight piece line-up. It must go off like an atom bomb in your broken hearts. An atom bomb that will make a mockery of all you hold dear. An atom bomb of love. InsideOut hold the trigger and we've dared them to press it. Press it real good now."

Label-head Thomas Waber added: "It's great to welcome Knifeworld to the InsideOutMusic family, and there is no doubt that The Unravelling will prove to be something very special indeed."

Last year the band released a new video for the track 'Don't Land On Me', which is to be featured on the new album. Check the track out below:

FDA Rekotz is presenting Soul Recall, the uncompromising debut album from rotten death metal act RUDE. Hailing from Berkeley, CA, Rude combine classic death metal in the vein of the early PESTILENCE stuff with the dirt of maniacs like AUTOPSY.

Soul Recall, featuring artwork by Dan Seagrave (ENTOMBED, Pestilence, SUFFOCATION), will be released on CD, vinyl and digital formats on May 30th via FDA Rekotz. Preorders are being taken at this location.

The first pressing of the vinyl edition will be limited to 150 copies in pus yellow and 350 copies in plague black vinyl.
Soul Recall tracklisting:

‘Haunted’
‘In Thy Name’
‘Memorial’
‘Soul Recall’
‘Forsaker’
‘Conjuring Of Fates’
‘Last Of Us’
‘Internal Ascension’

‘Haunted’:
For more info visit Facebook.

The past couple of years, Danish Lowrider Betty has played close to a hundred concerts, and now things start rolling for the band. Last year they toured with PRETTY MAIDS and the huge Danish act MAGTENS KORRIDORER. During the tour Lowrider Betty recorded these two live videos. Jacob Hansen, whom is producing the bands début album and also is known for his work with VOLBEAT, has mixed the sound recordings.

Live video 'Crawling Back To Life':
'Unfaithfully Mine':
In the summer Lowrider Betty began recording their début album, in the well-known Hansen Studios, where many other great acts have recorded previously. Jacob describes the band as one of the few bands that has managed to really impress him. He think they’re future looks bright.

Statement from Jacob Hansen:

“It's not often that a young act which enters my studio completely floors me. These guys sure did. They came with the right attitude and a skill set of writing and performing like they've never done anything else their whole life, and considering their very young age, their future looks bright" - Jacob Hansen, Hansen Studios (producer, mixer for Volbeat, AMARANTHE, EPICA)
Patrick (lead singer) leads the young band with his unique and significant vocal. He grew up on the side of big stages all around the world watching his father; Ronnie Atkins of Pretty Maids perform. So he knew from an early stage, that he wanted to be a performer.

Greyhaze Records has set a release date of May 27th for the vinyl reissue of SARCÓFAGO’s second album, Rotting. Originally released in 1989 via Cogumelo Records, Rotting's devastating output made waves throughout the metal underground upon its original release. Today, the album still stands as a hallmark of black/death metal.

The 2014 Rotting release has been carefully remastered to ensure optimal sound output, bringing out all details of this savage and utterly classic recording. The vinyl will be housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket, which will feature all the original artwork, including a full-color gatefold insert. Vinyl colors will be classic black and limited green with black smoke. The reissue will resonate with fans of MYSTIFIER, BLACK WITCHERY, BLASPHEMY, and BATHORY.
Rotting will also be honored with the release of several special product offerings, including a CD/DVD digipak version, the release date for which will be announced soon.

Rotting tracklisting:

Side A
‘The Lust’
‘Alcoholic Coma’
‘Tracy’

Side B
‘Rotting’
‘Sex, Drinks, And Metal’
‘Nightmare’

Sarcófago's drummer during the Rotting sessions, Manu (Joker), had this to say about his cherished time with the band during the Rotting era: "Rotting is one hell of an album. Even though I recognize the importance of Inri, Rotting is still my favorite Sarcófago album. It's better built than the previous album, but it still maintains that elemental rawness. The Rotting era was a great time. Wagner did an outstanding job. We were an interesting trio, and when (Fabio) Jhasko joined the band, our firepower became even greater! Excellent memories!"

Preorders for Rotting are being taken at this location.

About a year after its LP limited release, Vilagvege, the latest album signed by Swiss black/doom metal outfit RORCAL is about to be repressed on CD digipack edition for the first time this spring.

Reissued in elegant digipack packed inside a carton cover case with spot UV printing, the CD version will be out on April 15th with the help of Bleak Recordings from Portugal, the French Lost Pilgrims Records, WOOAAARGH Records from Germany, Hellthrasher Productions (Poland) and Calofror Records from Switzerland.
In the meantime, the album is still available for full streaming and download below:

VILAGVEGE by RORCAL

In other news, the band is also currently working on a split LP with PROCESS OF GUILT, to come in the next months.

MelodicRockRecords has announced the release of one of 2014's finest melodic rock releases, the debut album from Aussie act THE RADIO SUN. The band's debut album, Wrong Things Right, will be released worldwide on May 19th.
The Radio Sun have been very busy since they formed in 2012. With past members from the excellent SQUARE ONE and some of Melbourne's best local musos, The Radio Sun are about catchy rocking songs with an emphasis on layered vocal harmonies somewhere in between RICK SPRINGFIELD, NELSON, FIREHOUSE and THE MARVELOUS 3.

After locking in Paul Laine (solo, DANGER DANGER, SHUGAAZER) to mix the band's debut album in 2013, The Radio Sun impressed so much that Paul Laine asked the guys to be his backing band on his recent tour downunder. The Radio Sun will also do double duty at next year's MelodicRockFest 4 by again being a part of the Paul Laine band and then performing the very next day in their own showcase set.

The album cover and CD package was crafted by Swedish artist Monowasp.
Tracklisting:

'Wrong Things Right'
'Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover'
'World's Crazy Now'
'No Ordinary Star'
'Let's Talk About Love'
'Julie'
'Do It Again'
'Take A Look Around'
'Summer Girl'
'Goodbye'
'Head Over Heels'
'Beginning Or The End'

Soundbytes can be heard below:

'Wrong Things Right':
'Wrong Things Right'

'Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover':
'Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover'

'Let's Talk About Love':
'Let's Talk About Love'

'Julie':
'Julie'

"Slam City", the new video from the long-running Venice Beach, California thrash/punk band SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, can be seen below. The Luke Sorensen-diretced clip was filmed on location in France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands during the 2013 and 2014 "Slam City" and "Persistence" tours. Additional footage was taken from Madrid and Budapest.

"Slam City" comes off SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' latest album, "13", which sold around 3,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 187 on The Billboard 200 chart. The first studio album in 13 years from SUICIDAL TENDENCIES was produced by vocalist Mike Muir and Grammy-nominated engineer/mixer Paul Northfield (DREAM THEATER, HOLE, RUSH).

In a May 2013 interview with Loudwire, Muir stated about the making of "13": "We were close to [having] 160 songs, but there were a lot of changes in the studio right up until the very end. I think if it hadn't been so long we probably would still be recording right now, but we actually kind of enjoyed that process. Putting records out isn't very fun, but recording is fun."

He continued: "I think one of the things is the way music is now and doing your own thing. It used to be you put out a record and you went on tour for a year or so, you got back, took a little time off and then you went in the studio and recorded 15 or 20 songs and you picked them and put it out. I don't think that is necessarily the way things are anymore and the fact that things don't sell or anything like that. Then it gets to the point, like, 'Why are we putting out something and kind of defend it in a sense because all of our records always get attacked when it's something we love?'

"Ten years ago, we got our own studio and we have that ability where it's not, like, 'Okay, we got three or four weeks, we have to get everything done and then that's it.' You're able to go into the studio anytime and write and when you do that you're not sitting there going, 'How's this song going to fit in on a SUICIDAL record?' You just record and you do what you like and you have a lot of fun. I think it was at the end when it started getting to so many years where we were, like, 'We need to kind of get this done.'"

REFORMERS have released a lyric video for ‘Abomination’ from their upcoming album Abolish. The band’s Mediaskare release will be their debut full-length album, Abolish, which is set to hit stores and digital retailers on April 29th.
Abolish was self-recorded with additional vocal production from the famed Jeremy Reeves of production group The Stereotypes and mixed by Kyle Black (COMEBACK KID). The album also features guest appearances from members of WINDS OF PLAGUE, IMPENDING DOOM, and THE GREAT COMMISSION.

When asked why they chose to title the album Abolish, the band responded, “We see injustice happen every day, some of us being trapped in a chokehold by it, others being the cause of it. It seems as if our culture has taught us to accept these things as the social/political/spiritual norm, leaving little room for one to questions whether or not things could be different, whether or not they could be free... or whether or not they could change the world. We chose the title Abolish as a battle cry. To abolish is to completely do away with something, to end it completely.”
Abolish tracklisting:

'Reform'
'Reckless American' (feat. Johnny Plague of Winds of Plague)
'Hooked'
'Abomination'
'Commercialized Genocide'
'Greed Machine'
'Eliminate The Sickness'
'Belligerence'
'PNP' (feat. Justin Singh of The Great Commission)
'Lipserver'
'Turn It Around'
'Last One Standing' (feat. Brooke Reeves of Impending Doom)

'Belligerence' lyric video:
“This album is our response to the injustice that we see around us. Instead of believing what we are taught from our culture, ("Thing's will never change", "This is just how the world goes round"), we wanted to question to status quo, approach the giant, and see if it were really as immovable as we were told. The album deals with many different injustices, each of them being things that we would like to see come to a complete end. We are all born to change this world that we live in; will we have the strength, courage and fortitude to abolish that which causes injustice?”

The band will be hitting the road alongside MURDER DEATH KILL and LEADERS on the Heavy Hitters 2014 Tour in May, confirmed dates are as follows:

May
2 - Walnut Creek, CA - Red House Studios
3 - Silverado, CA - Wild Wild Fest
4 - Bakersfield, CA - Jerry’s Pizza
7 - Phoenix, AZ - The Underground
8 - Amarillo, TX - Wreck Room
9 - Laredo, TX - The Dugout
10 - San Antonio, TX - The White Rabbit
11 - Ft. Worth, TX - Tom Cats West
12 - Austin, TX - The Dirty Dog
13 - Tulsa, OK - The Vanguard
14 - St. Louis, MO - The Mad Magician
15 - Steger, IL - AHITW
16 - Cedar Rapids, IA - The Yacht Club
17 - Caper, WY - Black Gold Grill
18 - Denver, CO - The Trailside
19 - Las Vegas, NV - Southern NV SC

German deathsters EISREGEN will follow-up their 2013 album Todestage, with a new mini-album, entitled Flötenfreunde, due through Massacre Records on April 25th.
Flötenfreunde will contain five tracks - including brand new tracks - as well as two video clips:
'Rotes Meer'
'Tausendschweiner'
'Blut Saufen'
'Mordlust'
'Tot / Untot' (Demo Version)
'Lang Lebe Die Nade' (Studio Edit/Video Clip)
'Mutter, Der Mann Mit Dem Koks Ist Da' (Video Clip)

According to a press release, 'Rotes Meer' is an soon-to-be extreme metal hit and a sure candidate for the band's live set, 'Tausendschweiner' is the now definite version of the lost 'flute track' of the band, 'Blut Saufen' just can’t be described and 'Mordlust' is a brand new version of an old band classic. These four songs, which will only appear on this mini album, will be completed by the demo version of the blast massacre 'Tot / Untot'.

The mini album will also be available as limited edition digipak with glow-in-the-dark effect and embossed print as well as limited 10'' vinyl edition (666 hand-numbered units).

Germany’s SHADOWBANE has signed a worldwide deal with Pure Steel Records.

The band comments: “Shadowbane are very satisfied to release our debut album on Pure Steel! We are proud that we arrived with our ‘post-apocalyptic power metal’ at Pure Steel universe.”
Stay tuned for more news.

Shadowbane lineup:

Stefan - vocals
Lukas - lead- and rhythm guitars
Markus - lead and rhythm guitars
Moritz - bass and backing vocals
Renè - drums

According to The Associated Press, current JOURNEY singer Arnel Pineda says he’s been putting together an album of his own compositions which he plans to launch within the year.

But he quashed rumours that he is gearing to leave Journey. The Filipino singer says he will stay as long as the band needs him.

Pineda also dismissed talk of the band’s possible reunion with former lead singer Steve Perry, saying there’s been no discussion on that among the band’s members.
The singer spoke in an interview Tuesday during the launch of his version of the song 'Charity' in the animated children’s music video Cha-Ching on Cartoon Network.

The song can be purchased in iTunes Store for the benefit of relief efforts for Typhoon Haiyan victims in the Philippines.

Power Prog has announced the further growth of the label and the Polish heavy/power metal package NIGHT MISTRESS is a part of the family. They will release their second long-player, Into The Madness, to the world on June 20th as CD and digital download.

At the beginning of May 2013, Legacy Records released the European edition of the band’s first album The Back Of Beyond with new artwork. At the beginning of 2014, the band inked a deal with German based label/media company Power Prog and with the goal to reach all metal fans worldwide with their impressive type of sound and exceptional professional performance.
Night Mistress is now ready to release their second full length strike Into The Madness and to challenge the greats of the scene with an imposing kick ass heavy/power metal album with conscious NWOBHM influences, full of catchy, straightforward and honest tracks, a gripping straight in your face production and with Krzysztof Sokolowski in their ranks, one of the most exceptional and most promising voices in metal nowadays. These guys are real hallmarks of a steadily growing Eastern European metal scene and reach their temporarily high-carat climax with Into The Madness.

Into The Madness tracklisting:

‘Into The Madness’
‘Until The Day Will Dawn’
‘Hand Of God’
‘The Place I Belong’
‘Walking On Air’
‘Madman’
‘Longing For The Devil’
‘Hell Race’
‘Grieving Stars’
‘Sacred Dance’
‘Recurring Night’

Album snippets:
For more info visit Facebook.

Svart Records has set May 30th as the release date for OPIUM WARLORDS' Taste My Sword Of Understanding. Set to be release on CD and double-LP formats, Taste My Sword Of Understanding is the third offering of Opium Warlords, the final project of Sami Albert Hynninen (REVEREND BIZARRE, THE PURITAN, SPIRITUS MORTIS, etc).

In comparison to the earlier albums Live At Colonia Dignidad (Cobra, 2009), and We Meditate Under The Pussy In The Sky (Svart, 2012), it takes a few steps towards more conventional and easy-to-listen-to levels, but still can't be mistaken for the average force-fed background bubblegum hum you might hear on the radio.

Composed between 1994 and 2009, recorded in 2010, mixed in 2013 - ripened, literally, with blood, tears, sweat, and exotic neurochemical fluids - the 72-minute Taste My Sword Of Understanding is at the same time minimal and complicated, light and heavy; sometimes gentle and soothing, sometimes raw and cruel, but always real and naked, and this time you may find - among all the repetition, weird noises, and floating on the drone and ultra-light chimes - even some essence of epic heavy metal on board.

Taste My Sword Of Understanding tracklisting:

'The Sadness Of Vultures'
'The Land Beyond The Pole'
'The Self-Made Man'
'The God In Ruins'
'The Solar Burial'
'Mount Meru'
'This Place Has Been Passed'
'Manisolas From Misandria'
'In Melancholy Moonless Acheron'

Opium Warlords on this album were: Sami Albert Hynninen, with Erkki Virta (PROTECTED ILLUSION, L.A.M.F., The Puritan) and Laura Länsimäki (MARIA, ARMANENSCHAFT). It was recorded and co-produced by Jouni Leppikangas and mastered by Joona Lukala, both of whom also worked on We Meditate Under The Pussy In The Sky and the MARCH 15 album Our Love Becomes A Funeral Pyre (Svart, 2014).

Warsaw, Poland-based stoner rock act CORRUPTION have announced the release of the seventh studio album, entitled Devil’s Share. With this album, the band return to Metal Mind Productions’ roster.

Piotr “Aniol” Wacisz, the band’s leader and bass player, comments: “During our previous co-operation with Metal Mind, we recorded three studio albums and a live DVD and played an amazing show next to DEEP PURPLE. I am very glad we got an opportunity to work again with the label that is responsible for Corruption’s existence and evolution. I hope the release of our brand new album, Devil's Share, will be a huge success. For me personally, it’s a very important event because it proves that Corruption, which I manage, keeps evolving, now with new excellent musicians in the lineup: Dani, Rutkos and Vincent. Thank you!"

In fall 2013, Corruption started to work on their new album. It was recorded at Sound Division Studio in Warsaw, Poland, in March 2014, with Filip Heinrich Haluchy (VESANIA, DECAPITATED) from Heinrich House Studio handling the mix and mastering. The band’s seventh studio release features 11 tracks full of catchy stoner rock guitars and good old stoner energy.

Devil's Share is scheduled for release on June 9th in Europe and July 8th in North America.

Corruption lineup:

Piotr "Anio?" W?cisz – bass, backing vocals
Daniel "Dani" Lechma?ski – guitars, lead vocals
Piotr "Rutko?" Rutkowski – guitars, lead vocals
Bartek "Vincent" Gamracy – drums

(Photo: Oskar Szramka)

Swedish bashers ASTRAL DOORS are in the process of recording their seventh album, currently under the working title Notes From The Shadowsm with pre-production being done at Joachim Nordlund's Big Turn Studio. Keyboards, vocals and bass are being recorded at homes of the respective musicians and then integrated later, with an eye on accommodating peoples' busy schedules and to meet production deadlines. The album is tentatively scheduled to be released in August via Metalville Records.

Check out guitarist Joachim Nordlund video blog from the studio below:
For information and updates on Astral Doors go to this location.

(Thanks: John Francis)

Nordvis Records has announced the signing of DRÅPSNATT. The duo from northern Sweden have three albums to their name before signing on with Nordvis; 2009?s I Denna Skog, 2010?s Hymner Till Undergången and the 2012 release Skelepht with all three having atmospheric, somber black metal that pays homage to the nature and grim folklore of their Scandinavian roots. With the band and Nordvis sharing close geographical ties, this deal is a natural step forward for both parties.

Besides procuring the rights for two upcoming albums, the first of which is planned to be recorded in the summer, the deal also means that their 2010 album Hymner Till Undergången will be re-released by Nordvis in the coming months. Stay tuned for more news regarding this in the near future.
Dråpsnatt has made the following statement:

“Some time has passed since we really felt that we had anything to share with all of you. The plans to record a fourth album became postponed due to us finding ourselves in some strange state of not knowing if we had a label or not. As you know, we are no longer bound to Frostscald Records and even though we – needless to say – were annoyed with the situation, there is no bad blood or hard feelings between us, atleast not for our part.

So, what’s the news, you might ask?! Well, brace yourselves. We are proud to say that we are from here on signed by Nordvis Produktion. We have known about these guys for some time, partly because they also reside in the woodlands of our hometown Skelepht, but also because they have made quite a reputation for themselves by having high quality (rather than high quantity) bands.

We are thus proud and honored to join the same ranks as STILLA, LUSTRE, SKOGEN, LÖNNDOM, GRIFT, BERGRAVEN and LIK.”
For more info visit Facebook.

Boston technical death metal strategists, PILLORY, will release their sophomore full-length, Evolutionary Miscarriage, on June 10th via Unique Leader Records.

The follow-up to the pile driving, No Lifeguard At The Gene Pool, released in 2005, Evolutionary Miscarriage finds Pillory expanding upon their signature intricacies. Written, recorded and produced by founding drummer Darren Cesca (ARSIS, BURN IN SILENCE) at his newly-launched House Of Grind Studios in Connecticut during 2013, Evolutionary Miscarriage is centered thematically around the de-evolution of mankind. A physically and mentally demanding listen, Evolutionary Miscarriage brandishes deranged rhythms, maniacal riff torrents, subtle white noise nuances and multi-layered vocals all executed together with near surgical meticulousness, the record's sharp production allowing each lacerating note to shine while retaining the blunt brutality of its predecessor.
Evolutionary Miscarriage tracklisting:

'And The Defeated Emerge'
'Mass Enmity'
'Evolutionary Miscarriage'
'Imbeciles In Defiance'
'Phantasmagorical Beasts'
'Purify The Commonwealth'
'The Mental Defective'
'Nihilarian'
'Distorted Axiom'
'Lixiviated'
'Bipedal Prosecution'

Comments the band in a collective statement: "Evolutionary Miscarriage encompasses in totality what the Pillory sound is by using different textures and an unbiased perspective to take listeners on a journey. It's impossible to catch everything on the first listen as the complexity will become more familiar with each new visit. Pillory's sound will suck you in and not let go as it travels through your veins and contaminates your mind."

Check out an Evolutionary Miscarriage album teaser as well as a three-track album play-through video from drummer Darren Cesca: