Ogden, Utah-based thrash metallers DEATHEAD have been in Old Fence Studio in Ogden recording the follow-up to the 2013 Deathead/EYE LICKER split CD.

An update from the band states: "We have picked a few old songs to update and give a proper recording. We are positive you will find them 100% improved. Also while keeping the album cover a secret until later we have decided to give you a teaser and it is here! As it stands we are looking at a late April release!"
Blessed In Blasphemy will include the following 10 tracks:

'Funeral Hymn'
'In Fear, Reborn'
'Blessed In Blasphemy'
'World Of Hate'
'The Thing In The Dark'
'Brutality Complete'
'Controlled By Chaos'
'Awakening'
'Hurt... Bleed... Die!'
'Pleasure In Pain'

Argonauta Records has made available the official album teaser for Tummo, the new opus of the ritual drone doom band, SHABDA.
Formed in 2012 in Northern Italy by Anna Airoldi, Marco Castagnetto and Riccardo Fassone, who had previously worked together in THEE MALDOROR KOLLECTIVE, Shabda has started crafting meditative, repetitive sounds, with the aim to fuse Indian music, doom metal and minimalist exploration into a trance inducing, often somber droning ritual.

The new album Tummo focuses on kundalini alchemy by means of deep guitar tunes, microtonal intervals and ritual documents recorded in Varanasi, Sarnath and Amber.
Tummo will be released on February 3rd on the typical Argonauta Records format, noble cd digi-sleeve glossy lacquer limited edition.

Tummo tracklisting:

‘Kamakhya’
‘619 – 626’
‘Aurora Consurgens’

For more info visit Facebook.

Italian old-school thrashers BRAIN DEAD have released a new video, for the track 'Final Truth', featured on their new studio album, Menace From The Sickness, available via Punishment 18 Records.

The CD was recorded at Carlo Girardi's One Black Sock studio and includes a guest appearance from drummer Andy Verga of Italian speed metallers BROKENGLAZZ, on a cover of that band's track 'Total Despair'. The cover artwork was created by Marco Hasmann (BEYOND CREATION, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE), who worked on the previous Brain Dead full-length.
Tracklisting:

'The Fallout'
'Land Of Cunning'
'Eye Of The Cyclone'
'Another Way'
'Evil Dead'
'Razor's Edge'
'The Mission'
'Pay For A Better Life'
'Menace From The Sickness'
'Final Truth'
'Total Despair' (BrokenGlazz cover)

'Final Truth' video:
'Pay For A Better Life':
Brain Dead lineup:

Felix Liuni - Lead and Backing Vocals
Daniele Vitello - Lead and Rhythm Guitar
Davide Ricca- Lead and Rhythm Guitar
Alberto Rossetti- Bass
Daniel Giovanetto - Drums

Canberra, Australia-based progressive metal outfit AEON OF HORUS will release their sophomore effort, Existence, on March 3rd. To coincide with the announcement, the band has released a two-minute teaser video containing a selection of tracks from the new album.
Existence features 50 minutes of progressive death metal and sees the band explore their vast array of influences in an epic sensory experience. The effort was recorded over the course of 2012/2013 and features engineering by Clayton Segelov of the Brain Studios in Sydney, Australia, mixing and mastering by Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES, THE RED SHORE) at Split Second Sound in Amsterdam, Netherlands and artwork by long-time collaborator Jon Hocking.
Existence tracklisting:

'Refraction'
'Radiate'
'Symbiosis'
'Exude'
'Release'
'Emanate/Parallax'
'Dissipate'
'Thesis'
'Antithesis'
'Resolve'

Existence teaser:
For the past few years, Aeon Of Horus have been honing their sound relentlessly - the culmination of this process results in the bands second full length Existence. Not content to remain sonically stagnant; the sophomore release sees Aeon Of Horus push their own boundaries, exploring their vast array of influences including 70's progressive, electronic, ambient, and jazz against a backdrop of well-crafted death metal. Existence is a grand sensory experience – intense and technical; yet texturally rich, dynamic, focused and thought-provoking in ways sure to appeal to fans outside of the metal genre.

Details of the third album from Norwerian prog rockers D’ACCORD have been released by Karisma Records. Simply titled D'AccorD III, the nine track album was recorded at the fully analog Cowshed Studio in London. The mastering, once again in analogue format, was done at Fluid Mastering (DEEP PURPLE, ELVIS and JETHRO TULL), also in London. The album will be released on March 10th.
Tracklisting:

'These Last Todays'
'Here Lies Greed'
'Lady Faboulus'
'Mr. Moonlight'
'Ibliss In Bliss'
'Song For Jethro'
'Mon – Sat: Part I'
'Mon – Sat: Part II'
'The Doom That Came To Sarnath' (bonus track)

Whilst D'AccorD's 2011 sophomore album Helike was a massive conceptual piece, this time the band has gone for much shorter and more varied tracks. D'AccorD's signature 70's progressive influences and musical complexity are still present, but so too is a more rock 'n roll feel and a harder edge to the songs.

As Karisma Records explained: "The choice of analogue studios for both recording and mastering may seem unusual in this digital day and age, but the band wanted the album to have a more authentic '70's sound, so not only was analogue used, but each individual track was recorded on the first take. The band's decision has certainly paid off and with D'AccorD III they have produced a classic rock album filled with adventurous and progressive sounds."

Inspired by the great bands from the '70's such as GENESIS, KING CRIMSON, PINK FLOYD and JETHRO TULL, D'AccorD was formed in Stord, Norway in 2008. With their self-released debut album getting a nomination for best 2009 Debut Album by Prog Awards, D'AccorD have played extensively both at home and abroad, and have, over the years, honed their sound, taking the best of 70's prog rock and bringing to it a fresh approach.

Today's lineup is comprised of charismatic frontman Daniel Maage (Vocals, Flute & various instruments), Årstein "Yearstone" Tislevoll (Keyboards, Violin, Guitar, Mandolin), Fredrik Errol Horn (Keyboards & Saxophone), Martin Sjøen (Bass), Bjarte Rossehaug (Drums) and Stig Are S(o)und (Guitar).

A video teaser for D'AccorD III can be seen below

Portuguese death metal duo HUMAN HATE, led by guitarist and producer Tiago Alves and vocalist Nelson Leal, have just released the video for 'Agony Rose', shot during their live debut show last December in Azores islands.

'Agony Rose' is taken from Human Hate's debut EP, Chapter 13 - We Came For Blood, which was released on May 25th, 2013, for free download.

The band is supported live by guitarist Ruben Barbosa (EYES FOR THE BLIND), bassist Freddy Duarte (PALHA D'ACO) and drummer Nuno Costa (STAMPKASE, SANCTUS NOSFERATU).
Tiago Alves and Nelson Leal are both members of the groundbreaking Azorean death/gothic metal band ANOMALLY. They created this side project to explore their "most aggressive and extreme" thoughts. Human Hate displays the dark malevolence of BEHEMOTH but also the groove and straightforwardness of modern acts like JOB FOR A COWBOY or BLACK DAHLIA MURDER.

BLACKWATER have announced that their debut album will be released on May 30th. In addition to their first tour dates of 2014 supporting STEEL PANTHER, Blackwater will be hosting an album release party on June 14th, in their home town of Örnsköldsvik, at the Fjällräven Center arena. The show will by flying under the Rock On The Docks flag organised by Blackwater’s very own Per Karlsson and will feature a packed bill of six hard hitting acts such as SMASH INTO PIECES, HEAT and of course Blackwater.

“We are very excited to be heading towards the release of our first record! We will have been working together across two different countries for a year this February and we have reached a total of 20 songs that are going to cut down to 11 for the album! We can’t wait to get back out on the road, especially to Göteborg and our release party is stacking up to be great summer party, to which we have invited bands that are our friends and we are also big fans of too” - Per Karlsson, Blackwater.
Blackwater will be releasing four more singles before their May 30th album release and will be showcasing every one of them on their tour with Steel Panther in Scandinavia this February, including their #1 hit single, 'High Coast Heroes', in honour of their local SHL team Modo Hockey.

Tour dates:

February
14 - Amager Bio - København, Denmark
15 - Trädgår'n - Göteborg, Sweden
16 - Münchenbryggeriet - Stockholm, Sweden
17 - Sentrum Scene - Oslo, Norway
19 - Pakkahuone - Tampere, Finland

June
14 - Fjällräven Center Arena - Örnsköldsvik, Sweden

Poland-based industrial groove metallers THY DISEASE will release their new 10-track album, Costumes Of Technocracy, on February 14th.
The track 'Slave State' is the first single to be taken from the album. The video accompanying it was produced in cooperation with Red Pig Production (DECAPITATED, HATE):
Costumes Of Technocracy was recorded in Creative Music Studios and mixed and mastered by Tomasz “Zed” Zalewski. Piotr “Szafa” Szafraniec created the cover art (above).

Two vocalists can be heard on the record: Psycho, frontman of Thy Disease and Adrian “Covan” Kowanek, whose vocals were rocorded in 2005-2006 during his work with ATROPHIA RED SUN.

MILLENNIAL REIGN, the project led by ASKA bassist Dave Harvey, is putting the finishing touches on the songwriting process for its sophomore album, titled The God Particle.

Whether Millennial Reign will seek label support or release independently is still yet to be decided.

Three rough demo versions of songs that will appear on the upcoming disc, ‘Forever Changed’, ‘Not On My Own’ and now ‘Save Me’ the final of the three song demos has been uploaded for streaming.

Learn how to get your music noticed at ReverbNation.com

Formed as Harvey's solo project, Millennial Reign released its debut album in January 2012. All guitar, bass and keyboard tracks for the CD were written and recorded by Harvey. Also performing on the effort were vocalist Trae Doss and drummer Bryan Diffee.

After seeing the interest in Millennial Reign's first album, Dave is expanding the project into a full-fledged band. Joining him in the group's current lineup so far are lead vocalist James Guest (EDEN'S REALM) and drummer Michael Feighan, who is well known for his work in "white" metal bands WHITECROSS and KING JAMES.
Aska, fronted by vocalist/guitarist George Call (ex-OMEN, BANSHEE, VIOLENT STORM), has been together more than 20 years, has played in over 40 countries and is signed to Pure Steel Records, based in Schwarzenberg, Germany.

For more info visit Facebook.

Word came down recently that a TWISTED SISTER documentary entitled We Are Twisted F*cking Sister is currently in the works at the hands of one Andrew Horn. The film is being financed through a crowdfunding effort via IndieGoGo.com (found here). Frontman Dee Snider has posted a personal message to the diehard Twisted Sister fans in support of Horn's efforts:
Horn has posted a test clip from the production online:

"Twisted's greatest strength is arguably their direct engagement with their audiences. One of the ways they did this was to bring the crowd into the song through call and response and creating exciting imagery through the telling of a story. Here is a prime example of Twisted conjuring up hot nights, the company of friends and bombing down the highway in your car. If the picture they paint includes the then prerequisite pot and beer, it ends with the most important element - the music. And, if you will, the ecstacy of being young. The musical question that Dee asks is, 'Do you know what boogie means?' but what sticks with me is Jay at the end warning us that if we don't join in, we will be doomed to look back in our dotage and regretfully ask, 'Why didn't I party with Twisted Sister...?!' This clip was just a test, and was not stylistically appropriate for the movie, but definitely something not to be missed on the DVD!"

UK progressive death outfit AGELESS OBLIVION has unveiled their brand new full-length Penthos, set for release on March 17th through SOAR/Century Media. Produced by Chris Fielding (NAPALM DEATH, ELECTRIC WIZARD) and mixed by Hertz Studios (BEHEMOTH, DECAPITATED), Penthos is a devastating blend of MORBID ANGEL death metal, AKERCOCKE style blackened heaviness and NEUROSIS inspired soundscapes.
The result is an effort which takes the unique template of their debut album, Temples Of Transcendent Evolution, to the next level, cementing the band’s sound. The band has a static video uploaded of first offering 'Glacial Blood':
Penthos tracklisting:

‘Wolf’s Head’
‘The Midas Throat’
‘Glacial Blood’
‘Where Wasps Now Nest’
‘Submergence’
‘Furnace’
‘Those Who Fed Of Light’
‘A Crawling Ingression’
‘Penthos: Lament’
‘Penthos: Omnipresent’

For more info visit Facebook.

HYDROGYN will issue their new release, Break The Chains, on January 28th. Head over to the band's Reverbnation page to check out some new audio samples

A pre-order is currently available at this location which will include a bonus DVD of the 'Rock Me' video, as well as interviews with vocalist Julie Westlake and guitarist Jeff Westlake.

Julie announces that 2014 is a comeback year of sorts for the band: "The past couple of years have been full of health issues, losing two children and just re-grouping on a personal level. We have not been doing anything because of that and now it is time to fire back up; which we are doing. We have the new EP coming out end of this month and then we have a DVD in production right now as well."

The band is planning on some shows in 2014 as well. For now they are shooting a new video which will be released in late February and also just released a video performing AC/DC classic 'Back In Black' during their 2006 Strip'em Blind Tour.

“Thank you to everyone who has stayed with us and look for something cool in almost every month of this year to come your way”, states Westlake.
About the upcoming new release, Julie recently said: “As always this goes in a bit of a different direction once again,” says Julie. “I love to keep it all fresh and not the same thing with different song titles. I think everyone will dig it.”
'Rock Me' was recorded at Wireworld Studio in Nashville, TN with producer Michael Wagener (METALLICA, POISON, DOKKEN) and features special guest Angel from ANGELS REVENGE.

Mumbai, India-based experimental thrash metallers SYSTEMHOUSE 33 have released their new album, Depths Of Despair.
Tracklisting:

'Abstraction'
'Depths of Despair'
'Death Wish'
'Stark Revelations'
'Courtesy and Protocol'
'Resistance'
'Armistice'

Depths of Despair by SystemHouse33

Systemhouse 33 is doing something different from the hordes of thrash and modern bands out there - it's adding an atmosphere of its own and a wicked rollicking groove which is hard to infuse in music that's as extreme as death metal. The band has visceral song structures, effortless ease of playing and varied in its expression and delivery.
Lineup:

Samron Jude - Vocals
Daniel DSouza - Guitars
Leon Quadros - Bass
Amogh Sharma - Drums

Swedish death metal brutes OVERTORTURE check in with the following band lineup news:

"After a long time of uncertainty regarding the drummer position, we are happy to announce that we've finally found the right guy for the job. Ladies and gents, please welcome Oscar Krumlinde into the Overtorture ranks!
We met Oscar a while back, and he quickly convinced us he had the chops to help take the band to the next level and beyond going forward into 2014. With the drummer situation resolved, we are more eager than ever to churn out some skull pounding death metal."

Stay tuned for further updates.

Brazilian power/progressive metal act SUPREMA has been demonstrating to be one of the bands with the highest activity in Brazil and after the release of the new album, Traumatic Scenes, in Brazil, Europe, USA (via Power Prog) and receiving high scores in reviews around the world, the band announces officially the production of their new video.

The chosen song is 'Fury And Rage' and the production, screenplay, shooting, edition and post production are being done by renowed film producing company Nevasca Filmes, who have worked and had some of their members involved with some of the biggest productions and artists in Brazil such as Naldo Benny ('Caipifruta' official video), João Neto & Frederico (DVD), Cine, girlband Girls (Fábrica de Estrelas, Rick Bonadio), Micael Borges, Manu Gavassi, The Vampire Diaries (RTA Global) and "Pânico na TV" TV show (RedeTV and Band).

Filming took place during the months of June and November 2013 in two emblematic Brazilian cities called Joanopolis and Paranapiacaba.
For the shooting producers used all the same technological devices used in cinema productions from crane to 5D lenses Carl Zeiss 28mm which made the new SupreMa's video clip turn into a real film production in the form of a short film.

"I'm still enjoying this new video from SupreMa. On 'Nightmare' video we wanted closed frames and show the band most of the time to present our new sound and style, but on 'Fury And Rage' the proposal is totally different. The lyrics are really strong and the screenplay written by Nevasca Filmes at first shocked me, the character in this video suffers a possession and there are some scenes really outstanding and intense. We did everything calmly from the selection of the actress, make up, scenario and every scene of this video, and the locations that are amazing cities with enigmatic landscapes. This was the biggest SupreMa's production ever done and the story is a short film inserted inside of a band video", says guitarist Douglas Jen.

On the screenplay, Serena, performed by actress Mayra Moura, is a regular young woman that is tormented all the time by something that she doesn't know what it is. In the middle of the story after trying to escape, she falls down inside a surreal world and she is possessed by the being who plays with her body, feelings and torments her. Inside this fight "Serena" wants to end this insane game of fury between these two worlds.

The 'Fury And Rage' video has no release date scheduled yet and is in the process of editing and post production.

Updates to follow.

NORDIC BEAST, the new band featuring Mikkey Dee (MOTÖRHEAD), John Norum (EUROPE), Åge Sten Nilsen (WIG WAM), Hal Patino (KING DIAMOND) and Mic Michaeli (EUROPE), made its live debut this past Friday, January 31 at Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo, Norway. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

The members of NORDIC BEAST insist that their newly formed band will not interfere with their main bands' activities. But they don't rule out that NORDIC BEAST will write original material at some point. Until then the band will offer a kick-ass live set containing the very best from their individual careers with MOTÖRHEAD, EUROPE, WIG WAM, DOKKEN, John Norum solo, KING DIAMOND and a lot more.

NORDIC BEAST is:

* Mikkey Dee (MOTÖRHEAD) - Drums* John Norum (EUROPE) - Guitars* Hal Patino (KING DIAMOND) - Bass* Åge Sten Nilsen (WIG WAM) - Vocals* Mic Michaeli (EUROPE) - Keyboards

In a mutual decision, co-founder Jacob Ziemba (guitar), Neil Salmon (bass) and Andy Midgley (guitar) have decided to leave I AM I, the band led by former DRAGONFORCE singer ZP Theart. Ziemba, Salmon and Midgley explain in a statement: "Due to internal struggles and ongoing issues within the band, we feel it is our time to move on.

"This was not an easy decision, but a very necessary one at this point.

"We would like to thank all of our fans around the world for their support and enthusiasm.

"We ask you to respect our decision and look forward to seeing you all on the road somewhere in the future!"

I AM I's "See You Again" video can be seen below. The song was released as a single on November 11, 2013 (distributed by Plastichead).

A founding member of DRAGONFORCE, Theart made four studio albums and a live record with the band and toured the world for a decade, eventually performing to audiences of up to 85,000 people. His time with the group also saw him nominated for a Grammy in 2009. After his departure from DRAGONFORCE in 2010, ZP worked tirelessly to put together his own group and, after catefully handpicking a set of expert musicians, the result was one of the most exciting new rock bands of 2012, I AM I. A promotional single entitled "Silent Genocide" in the summer was followed by the release of a debut album, "Event Horizon", in September 2012. Written and produced by ZP and Polish-born guitarist Jacob Ziemba and mixed and mastered by Roland Grapow (HELLOWEEN, MASTERPLAN), its stunning blend of melody-filled metal and riff-based rock topped off by ZP's soaring vocal performances completed a package that was acclaimed worldwide by critics and audiences alike.

Released shortly after their first festival performance at Bloodstock Open Air, I AM I supported the album with a set of U.K. dates. Tours with UGLY KID JOE and SKID ROW ensued, while the band also performed electric and acoustic sets at both Hard Rock Hell 2012 and Download 2013. Generating positive reactions wherever they have played, the band are an absolute must see live, while ZP performs honestly and effortlessly, epitomizing everything a real rock frontman should be.

"Pave The Way" acoustic performance:

Video footage of guitarist Steve Morse (DEEP PURPLE, DIXIE DREGS, FLYING COLORS) and bassist Dave LaRue (DIXIE DREGS, FLYING COLORS) performing at this year's NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show — which took place January 23-26 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California — can be seen below.

FLYING COLORS — the band featuring Morse, LaRue, Mike Portnoy (drums, vocals), Neal Morse (keyboards, vocals) and Casey McPherson (vocals, guitars) — has completed writing material for its second album, to be released before the end of 2014.

Mascot Label Group released FLYING COLORS "Live In Europe" on October 14, 2013 via the Music Theories Recordings label on Blu-ray, DVD, 2CD, limited-edition 3LP Vinyl and digital download (iTunes, mastered for iTunes, Amazon MP3).

The concert release captures the band live in Tilburg, Netherlands at 013 on September 20, 2012. Directed and edited by Bernhard Baran (GUNS 'N' ROSES, THE CURE, PORCUPINE TREE) with Bill Evans as executive producer, the concert presents the entire studio album, alongside popular favorites performed by the individual members of the band.

The self-titled debut album from FLYING COLORS sold 6,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 81 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Steve Morse and Dave LaRue have developed magical music chemistry over the years that began early in their careers as partners in DIXIE DREGS. In 1995, Morse subsequently became a member of DEEP PURPLE, while LaRue's ongoing musical adventures include Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, Steve Vai, and the aforementioned Portnoy.