FAMOUS UNDERGROUND frontman Nick Walsh has checked in with the following update:

"Here is the theme song for the Japanese cartoon Beywarriors: BeyRaiderz which I had the pleasure of lending my voice to. They even used my signature scream!"
Walsh also recorded with THE SPOADS on the song 'Happy New Year 2014', also featuring Sean Kelly (NELLY FURTADO, Metal On Ice), Brent Doerner (HELIX) and Brian Doerner. Check out the video below:

The track is available for purchase via CDBaby.com here.
In 2013 Famous Underground released a new video for the track ‘Dead Weight‘, featured on their new self-titled debut album out now via Dust On The Tracks Records.

"The new single ‘Dead Weight‘ is a melodic romp that takes you on a trip with an anthemic message that pertains to everyone. Sonically this represents the light and shade that is F.U., the song is a wakeup call for people to realize that they have the power to help create a more positive world."

Watch the video below:
The official epic concept video to support the single ‘Dead Weight‘ takes you on a journey through evolution with beauty and destruction showing the realities and changes from Mother Earth’s point of view.

Famous Underground’s self-titled studio release produced by Nick Walsh and mixed by Darius Szczepaniak (THE BLACK CROWES, SACRIFICE) at Rouge Valley Studio in Toronto. The new recording takes Walsh’s writing to a more defined state where the lyrics delve more into the complexities of the real world.
These musicians have independently garnered critical acclaim supporting such acts as MÖTLEY CRÜE, DEF LEPPARD, KID ROCK, BLACK SABBATH, BILLY TALENT, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, APRIL WINE and many other international acts.

Famous Underground are:
Nicholas Walsh – vocals/guitars
Laurie-Anne Green – bass/vocals
Rick Corvese – guitars
Darren Boyd – guitars
Desche Sparboom – drums

For more details visit FamousUnderground.tv.

EVANESCENCE frontwoman Amy Lee tells MTV News that she has just recorded her first score with composer Dave Eggar for the indie film "War Story", which will premiere later this month at Sundance.

"It's going to surprise my fans. It's not what you'd expect; the film is very dark, very introspective. There's not even a lot of dialogue, which is great, because to me it makes this beautiful, sad platform for music," Lee says. "There's a lot of blending of sounds, a lot of ominous tones. I play a lot of keyboard, and a lot of Taurus pedal. There's a lot of low drones.

"There are moments of playing, and it's musical, but there are a lot of moments where Dave and I just built walls of sounds, out of blaring cellos and trombones and synthesizers and harp, all on top of each other," she continues. "Sort of creating new sounds. It's not, like, a soundtrack. it's an atmosphere."

Lee also says that the experience of scoring a film is one she hopes to replicate again very soon.

"I've been talking about wanting to score forever, and this was my first opportunity to explore that," she says. "Dave and I were already talking about taking a meeting for another film, and I definitely want to work with him again. I'm open-minded. I really like to be in a free place where I'm not boxing myself in; I say that all the time, but that's the goal right now."

Lee is reportedly suing her longtime label, Wind-Up Records, for at least $1.5 million over unpaid royalties and other alleged misdeeds, according to TMZ.com. Lee has also alleged in her lawsuit that the company attempted to sabotage the band's career by assigning them to under-qualified promotion executives who lacked fresh ideas on how to market and promote the group. Asked by MTV News about the lawsuit, Lee said: "I can't say a word, I'm sorry. It's really for the best right now."

TMZ.com did not cite its sources for the report, nor did it obtain any official statements from either the label or Lee, who is seeking over $1.5 million in back royalties.

EVANESCENCE is actually no longer part of the Wind-Up roster. Back in November, Wind-Up sold most of its back catalog to the Bicycle Music Company and Concord Music Group, including the entire catalogs of EVANESCENCE, CREED, SEETHER and others.

EVANESCENCE, whose third, self-titled album debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 when it came out in 2011, has sold 25 million records worldwide.

That last disc came out after a five-year hiatus and Lee told The Pulse Of Radio at the time that she wasn't even sure if she wanted to keep on making rock music. "For me, it had really been such a long time for us coming back after, you know, five years or four years of not doing it, living normal life and not even thinking about EVANESCENCE for a lot of that time, it starts to feel like, is this really still me?" she said. "You know, have I outgrown this thing? Is this going to work anymore? You know. Who am I? [laughs]"

The band toured through mid-2012 in support of the CD, but has been inactive since then.

Norwegian rockers KVELERTAK were honored in the "Metal" category at the 42nd annual Spellemann awards (the Norwegian equivalent to the Grammy Awards). The largest and oldest Norwegian music awards show was held last night (Saturday, January 18) at Konserthus in Stavanger, Norway and was broadcast live on the Norwegian channel NRK1.

The nominees in the "Metal" category were as follows:

* KVELERTAK - "Meir"* OBLITERATION - "Black Death Horizon"* SATYRICON - "Satyricon"* SHINING - "One One One"

Last year's Spellemann award in the "Metal" category went to NEKROMANTHEON for the band's "Rise, Vulcan Spectre" album.

KVELERTAK's sophomore album, "Meir", topped the official chart in Norway. The CD, which sold 1,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release, was issued on March 26, 2013 via Roadrunner Records. It was produced by CONVERGE's Kurt Ballou and features cover artwork by John Dyer Baizley.

Asked how the band came up with the concept for the "Bruane Brenn" music video, vocalist Erlend Hjelvik told About.com Heavy Metal: "It was Vidar [Landa, guitar] and Marvin's [Nygaard, bass] idea. I guess we didn't have time to be in the video ourselves, so they came up with an idea of having a bunch of kids in the video. A friend of ours, who's a Norwegian movie director, Stian Kristiansen, then kind of developed the idea and made a small story out of it. It turned into a fun and great looking video that fits really well with the lyrics."

Regarding the recording process for "Meir", Erlend said: "I thought it was even more fun than last time. Mostly because we've all gotten more confident and experienced from all the touring we've done on our first album. Also Kurt is an awesome guy to work with; he's professional and has a great ear for what things should sound like."

KVELERTAK is Erlend Hjelvik (vocals), Vidar Landa (guitar), Bjarte Lund Rolland (guitar), Maciek Ofstad (guitars), Marvin Nygaard (bass) and Kjetil Gjermundrød (drums).

Melodic rock singer Dennis Hardy "Fergie" Frederiksen passed away yesterday (January 18) after a lengthy battle with liver cancer. He was 62 years old.

Frederiksen was best known as the former vocalist of TOTO (on the "Isolation" album, released in 1984), as well as his involvement involved in a lot of other outstanding musical projects: TRILLION, LEROUX, FREDERIKSEN/PHILIPS, MECCA, FREDERIKSEN/DENANDER and DAVID LONDON (solo album, under pseudonym). In 1999 he debuted as a solo artist with "Equilibrium", an album which garnered great reviews in Europe and Japan and since then he has been offering quality melodic rock music to his legion of fans.

Frederiksen's last solo album, "Any Given Moment", was released in August 2013 via Frontiers Records.

In June 2010, Frederiksen announced he had been diagnosed with liver cancer. The following months were obviously very difficult for the singer who used music and the recording sessions for the 2011 album "Happiness Is The Road" as a therapy to regain confidence in himself and his strengths.

Fergie said back in 2011: "It was hard doing the sessions [for 'Happiness Is The Road']. I had side effects of the drugs, after the operations and then with the pills I'm taking. I had to stop many days and just go home to bed to try and do it again the next day.

"When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I wanted to stop recording. It didn't feel like I could do it. But my friend Alex Ligertwood said I need to finish it. He was right, of course, and I thank him for the tough love. I am proud that I did."

About one year later, in the summer 2011, Fergie revealed that the cancer was close to being defeated. "I am feeling great right now," Fergie said at the time. "I am close to cancer free. Not what all the doctors thought would happen and they are almost as excited about it as I am. I seem to be an exception to the rule. I am very glad to be, because the alternative sucks big time."

Fergie Frederiksen was also involved in raising awareness of Hepatitis C, a disease he has been struggling with himself. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States. Fergie had arranged benefit shows for the American Liver Foundation, with the cause of fighting Hep C. He went through a successful treatment in 2005, which he was fighting for other patients to receive too.

Members of METALLICA, SLAYER, MACHINE HEAD, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, SUICIDE SILENCE, FORBIDDEN and HIGH ON FIRE performed classic songs by BLACK SABBATH as part of an all-star tribute band that headlined the "Robb Flynn & Friends" benefit concert this past Friday, January 17 at the Oakland Metro Operahouse in Oakland, California. Fan-filmed video footage of the show can be seen below.

FORBIDDEN and SPIRALARMS guitarist Craig Locicero, who co-organized, and also took part in, the event, had the following to say about how the idea for the concert came about: "A good friend of ours and all around great person, Nikki Davis, was in a motorcycle accident with her husband Jeff. Sadly, Jeff died at the scene. Fortunately, Nikki survived but she was unconscious for a few days. She awoke to the daunting reality that her husband, soulmate and best friend had passed away. It was heartbreaking to all of us in the Bay Area scene.

"[MACHINE HEAD guitarist/vocalist] Robb Flynn and I have known Nikki for at least 25 years and she is a huge supporter of the Bay Area's metal and punk scene.

"I wanted to help Nikki out a year ago, but most every band was busy on tour and unavailable. A few weeks ago, I had approached Robb about doing a benefit for Nikki and he thought it was a great idea.

"Robb has gone above and beyond to help bring together something very special and memorable to help Nikki on January 17th. He's been the catalyst for getting this thing off the ground so quickly and Nikki is very thankful.

"We hope to raise enough money to help Nikki continue to get back on her feet because the healing is not finished. She still has medical bills to pay and we want to do anything we can to help our old friend."

For those who could not attend the concert, donations can be made to Nikki's PayPal account at [email protected]
/* */

Norwegian/American hard rockers TNT played their first official reunion show with singer Tony Harnell this past Friday, January at Gregers Live in Hamar, Norway. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Harnell confirmed his reunion with TNT in October 2013, explaining in a statement: "After much discussion and lots of soul searching, I'm happy to officially announce that I'll be back behind the microphone with TNT.

"I'm very proud of all we accomplished over the years and proud to have written and recorded all those great songs with my brother from another mother, Ronni Le Tekrø.

"Sometimes it's just time to give the fans what they're asking for.

"2014 is the 25th anniversary of the successful 'Intuition' album and we thought it would be a good time to get out and relaunch this little machine for you guys!

"Can't wait to see you all on tour!"

In August 2013, TNT parted ways with its frontman of the past seven years, British vocalist Tony Mills (ex-SHY). He explained in a statement: "Maybe we did 500 shows or something like that, but not many out of Norway.

"It has been the most prolific live period in my career, and when I felt the stagnancy and the lack of desire to grow and develop any further, I knew my time was done with the band.

"I don't think it's sensible to expect new art from the band after thirty years, just a lot of re-living the past and reconstructions of old albums and performances.

"None of us are getting any younger, but I have a great desire to not stop creativity in my life. I hate wasting days and singing songs from the past to satisfy old fans.

"Nostalgia wasn't doing it for me.

"We were never close as friends or anything like that, so there is no great loss, and I have no doubt they will reform the original lineup and just do the whole thing all over again. I wish them good luck on that. I have other releases to come that excite me much more than that."

Harnell rejoined TNT on stage for their 30th-anniversary concert on June 2, 2012 at the Clarion Hotel in Trondheim, Norway. The group performed a special setlist while accompanied by the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra (Trondheim Symfoniorkester). Also making a special appearance with the band was TNT's original singer, Dag Ingebrigtsen.

After leaving TNT in 2006, Harnell was replaced by Mills, who has since appeared on three studio albums from the band: 2007's "The New Territory", 2008's"Atlantis" and 2010's "A Farewell To Arms".

Harnell's final release as a member of TNT was the "Live in Madrid" DVD, which came out in September 2006 via MTM Music. The set, which was filmed on April 1, 2006 in Madrid, Spain, was accompanied by an 82-minute audio CD plus booklet liner notes from Harnell about his work with the group as well as an additional tour documentary by Darren Paltrowitz.

Carnal Records is set to release Death Metal Holocaust from Swedish black/death unit OMNIZIDE on January 31st. Featuring lead vocals from CRAFT throat Mikael Nox and music written by AE from AVSKY, the album follows the EP Pleasure From Death (the tracks from which are included as bonus material), the decibel assault reaches a new level of pain to ensure maximum aural decimation. Death Metal Holocaust was mastered by Joakim from Craft.
Death Metal Holocaust tracklisting:

‘Rotting Flesh Parade’
‘No Remorse’
‘Monolith’
‘The Eternally Damned’
‘Crystals Of Death’
‘Dead Planet’
‘Damnatio Ad Bestias’
‘Nuclear Strike’
‘Pleasure From Death’ (bonus track)
‘Desecration Art’ (bonus track)

‘Rotting Flesh Parade’:
For more info visit Facebook.

Houston, TX extreme music collective OMOTAI will release its sophomore LP Fresh Hell on February 18th via The Treaty Oak Collective / The Path Less Traveled. Fresh Hell features seven frenetic explosions of sound, a deft blend of grindcore, sludge and progressive noise-rock and is the follow up to the band's punishing 2012 full length Terrestrial Grief.

Omotai’s Fresh Hell is available for preorder on Bandcamp. The LP's first pressing is available in black, clear orange (with black haze) and white vinyl and includes an immediate high-quality download of the album.
Fresh Hell tracklisting:

‘Get Your Dead Straight’
‘Back Office’
‘Giant Pygmy’
‘Leglifter’
‘Throats Of Snakes’
‘Laser Addict’
‘We Don’t Have To Be Strangers’

Track ‘Get Your Dead Straight’:

Fresh Hell by Omotai

The Fresh Hell album release show is set for Friday, February 21st at Fitzgerald’s in Houston with LIONS OF TSAVO, BARING TEETH, and TURBOKRIEG.
Additional, just announced dates are as follows:

January
18 – Fort Worth, TX – Lola’s Saloon
20 – Austin, TX – The Infest

February
21 – Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s

March
13 – Austin, TX – The Legendary White Swan

For more info visit Facebook.

Swedish occult rockers GHOST were honored with the P3 Guld award (for their criticially acclaimed "Infestissumam" release) from Swedish radio station P3 in "Best Rock/Metal Album Of The Year" category. The winners were announced earlier tonight (Saturday, January 18) during a live awards ceremony broadcast from the Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden.

"Best Rock/Metal Album Of The Year" nominees were as follows:

* CULT OF LUNA - "Vertikal"* GHOST - "Infestissumam" * WATAIN - "The Wild Hunt"* IN SOLITUDE - "Sister"* TIGER BELL - "Don't Wanna Hear About Your Band"

Last year's P3 Guld award in the "Best Rock/Metal Album Of The Year" category went to MESHUGGAH. Also nominated for the "Rock/Metal" award were CRUCIFIED BARBARA, GRAVEYARD, SPIDERS and SWITCH OPENS.

GHOST's sophomore album, "Infestissumam", sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 28 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The CD topped the official chart in the group's home country after selling nearly five times as many copies as the No. 2 album, MISS LI's "Wolves".

In an interview with ARTISTdirect, a nameless ghoul from GHOST said about "Infestissumam": "It feels way more theatrical and bombastic. In many ways, 'Infestissumam' is thematically a continuation of where [the debut album] 'Opus Eponymous' began. Whereas a lot of the thematic ideas we have in mind for upcoming albums might differ a little bit and will go in another direction. That's not to say we won't sing about the things we do and not have makeup. I'm just saying it will evolve into other things in the future. On this record, I feel like we're doing a lot of things we intended to do on the first naïvely being we could pull off a show like that at that point — which we couldn't. Now, we have a little bit more muscle. The attendance is probably more in accordance with being able to present a show like that."

Regarding the lyrical themes covered "Infestissumam", the nameless ghoul said: "Thematically we knew the major difference between the first and the second albums as much as we do between the second and the third. It's a bit ironic now. Jumping up to the contemporary controversy with our album artwork and the refusal of printers to print the art is funny because the whole record is about the presence of the devil. Obviously, it's about how mankind relate to the presence of the devil. Historically, it's always been the female body that has taken the fall for that, which is what happened in this case. The problem was a vagina in the art not the inverted crosses."

GHOST was forced to modify its name in the U.S. to GHOST B.C. for "legal reasons."

Sweden’s MORBUS CHRON will release their second full-length album, Sweven, on February 24th in Europe and on March 4th in North America via Century Media Records.

After the release of their debut album, Sleepers In The Rift (2011), Morbus Chron conquered new grounds with their A Saunter Through The Shroud MLP in 2012. This 3-track release showed a development that only a few bands dare to achieve. While still being heavily influenced by AUTOPSY, MORBUS CHRON embedded progressive elements in their music, opening up their sound to other musical influences.

With Sweven, Morbus Chron continue to develop their sound, intertwining dark death metal with progressive song structures and melodies that are reminiscent of bands such as ATHEIST, VOIVOD, CORONER and late-DEATH. The end result is still, without a doubt, an extreme metal album, but it’s much more than that. The (often scarcely used) tormented voice of Morbus Chron’s mastermind Robert Andersson, the warm, yet gripping production of Fred Estby (ex-DISMEMBER, DAGGER), the psychedelic harmonies, and the overall complexity of Sweven will set the band apart from the rest. This is not your regular dose of death metal.
Sweven will be released in the following formats:

· Standard CD Jewelcase with 24-page booklet
· Deluxe LP with 180 g vinyl, matte-laminated cover and 12-page booklet in LP size
· Digital download

A limited version on white vinyl will be available at CMdistro.com.

Morbus Chron lineup:

Robert Andersson – guitars, vocals
Edvin Aftonfalk – lead guitars
Dag Landin – bass
Adam Lindmark – drums

Blood Harvest Records has set March 10th as the international release date for the vinyl release of SHROUD OF THE HERETIC’s debut album, Revelations In Alchemy.

A press release states “A churning, cavernous rumble of occult metal of death, Shroud Of The Heretic's Revelations In Alchemy revels in the otherworldly and the ghastly, the horrific and the sublime. Always pulsing and pounding ever forward, ever toward terrible visions, the trio's sound is as spiritual as it is physical.”

Cover and tracklisting below:
‘The Arrival’
‘Heretical Screams’
‘Chaotic Astral Ascension’
‘Illuminism’
‘The Adversary’
‘Revelations In Alchemy’
‘Blasphemous Rebirth’

Shroud Of The Heretic formed in 2009 in Portland, Oregon. After releasing the Boiled To Death demo and some changes in lineup, the band matured into its current incarnation: vocalist/bassist Thom, drummer Lauren, and guitarist JT.

Title track below:

Revelations in Alchemy by Shroud of the Heretic

For more info visit Facebook.

Bay Area technical deathcore band, RINGS OF SATURN, recently parted ways with drummer Jesse Beahler. Despite the setback, the band has tapped BLACK TONGUE/INFANT ANNIHILATOR drummer Aaron Kitcher to play on their upcoming new full-length. In an official statement, the band elaborates:
“Our drummer, Jesse Beahler, has made the decision to leave Rings Of Saturn in order to put all his concentration into his other band, BLACK CROWN INITIATE. It was awesome touring with him, and we wish him the best of luck in his future musical endeavors! Despite this unfortunate news, we want to announce that we are officially working on a new record! Because of our drum situation, Aaron Kitcher from Black Tongue and Infant Annihilator has agreed to play drums on our third album. We are super excited about this and feel that his input will really blow people’s minds on our new material. Aaron will not be joining the band because he is already committed to two very active bands. So, we are looking for a touring drummer who can play material from Embryonic Anomaly, Dingir, and will also be down to learn songs from the new record so we can hit the road on tours to support the upcoming release. If you are an epic drummer who is up for this, send some play through videos our way!”

For more info visit Facebook.

Swedish death metallers AMON AMARTH premiered their stunning production video for the track "Father Of The Wolf" last night (Friday, January 17) at the first show of their U.S. tour in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fans who did not attend this show are now able to view this epic music video, which is more like a mini movie, below.

Catch AMON AMARTH live as the band headlines the U.S. in support of their newly released album, "Deceiver of The Gods". Very special guest on the dates are ENSLAVED, with additional support from SKELETONWITCH.

Tickets are available at this location.

Quality fan-filmed video footage of AMON AMARTH's December 3, 2013 performance at Trädgår'n in Gothenburg, Sweden can be seen below.

AMON AMARTH's ninth studio album, "Deceiver Of The Gods", sold around 17,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 19 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 25 via Metal Blade Records.

In Germany, "Deceiver Of The Gods" entered the Top 100 chart at No. 3, the official Media Market/Saturn chart at #3 and the German Media Control Weekend Trend chart at No. 2. "Deceiver Of The Gods" came in at No. 9 on Canada's Top 200 chart, No. 2 on the Hard Music chart and No. 21 on the Digital Music chart. Additionally, the record came in at No. 2 on the iTunes Metal chart, No. 2 on the iTunes Rock chart and No. 7 on the iTunes Top 200. In the U.K., the record entered the official album chart at No. 67, the Rock/Metal chart at No. 4 and the Independent chart at No. 14, marking the highest U.K. chart placements for the band yet. Elsewhere, "Deceiver Of The Gods" came in at No. 9 on the Top 100 album chart in Switzerland, No. 7 on the Austrian Top 100, No. 9 in Sweden, No. 27 in Denmark, No. 51 in France, No. 34 in Czech Republic and No. 51 in Hungary. Recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, United Kingdom, and produced, mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap (OPETH, MEGADETH, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE), "Deceiver Of The Gods" delivers ten fiery battle hymns made of buzzsaw riffs and epic harmonies all driven by vocalist Johan Hegg's commanding Viking roar and absorbing accounts of Norse crusades and treachery.

"Deceiver Of The Gods" comes adorned with another outstanding Tom Thiel-created cover portraying a mythical battle between the Norse Gods Loki and Thor. As an added bonus, Messiah Marcolin (CANDLEMASS) makes an appearance as guest vocalist on eighth track, "Hel".

Swedish dark rock/metal pioneers LAKE OF TEARS finally fulfill the wish of many fans and release their first-ever live album on January 31.

"By The Black Sea" includes a full concert with 16 songs recorded last year in Bucharest, Romania and will be available as DVD/CD set. Bonus material on the DVD is a "making-of" footage, an interview, and the band's latest video clips, "Illwill" and "House Of The Setting Sun".

"By The Black Sea" track listing:

01. To Die Is To Wake02. Taste Of Hell03. Illwill04. The Greymen05. Boogie Bubble06. Cosmic Weed07. As Daylight Yields08. The Shadowshires09. Raven Land10. Sweetwater11. Demon You / Lily Anne12. House Of The Setting Sun13. Making Evenings14. Crazyman15. So Fell Autumn Rain16. Forever Autumn

The "Taste Of Hell" performance clip from "By The Black Sea" can be seen below.

LAKE Of TEARS' latest album, "Illwill", was released in April 2011 via AFM Records. It was made available on CD, limited-edition digipak and limited 180-gram vinyl (with different cover artwork).

LAKE OF TEARS' previous CD, "Moons and Mushrooms", came out in April 2007 via Dockyard 1.

Christian metal veterans BARREN CROSS commemorate their 30th anniversary by releasing their first new album in 18 years, "Birth Pangs". Recorded live at the 2012 Elements Of Rock festival in Switzerland, it captures the entire BARREN CROSS performance in encompassing 18 songs and over an hour and a half of music. The album, which reunites the original lineup of vocalist Michael Drive, guitarist Ray Parris, bassist Jim LaVerde and drummer Steve Whitaker, saw a digital download release on December 21, 2013. The group plans a CD release for February of this year, and is selling the CDs as pre-order from its web site BarrenCross.com. Commented Drive: "I personally have never been as excited over an album in its performance as I am with 'Birth Pangs'.

"I would like for every BARREN CROSS fan to own this; they must hear it.

"I feel stronger about this concerning 'Birth Pangs' than any other album we have ever released!" "Birth Pangs" draws its material from each of the four BARREN CROSS studio albums, in addition to including two new songs and a third which was previously unreleased. "Birth Pangs" track listing:

01. Living Dead02. Stage Of Intensity03. Close To The Edge04. The Unsuspecting05. Two Thousand Years06. Return Of The Light07. Believe08. Light The Flame09. He Loves You10. Dying Day11. Bigotry Man12. Here I Am13. A Walk With God14. Whitewashed Love15. Rattle Your Cage16. Deadlock17. Cultic Regimes18. Killers

Check out audio samples at this location. BARREN CROSS represents one of the foundation bands to have emerged out of the early Eighties and played a pioneering role in the "white metal scene" that followed. The group independently released its six-song debut EP, "Believe", in 1985 prior to signing with Star Song Records for its first full-length album from 1986, "Rock For The King". A contract with mainstream label Engima Records ensued, which resulted in follow-up full-length releases "Atomic Arena" (1988) and "State Of Control" (1989). BARREN CROSS remained productive into the Nineties, releasing its first live album on Medusa Records in 1990, "Hotter Than Hell! Live", in addition to its 1994 Rugged Records swan song effort "Rattle Your Cage", which some say is their best studio album to date.

Deepsend Records will release AGIEL's Dark Pantheons on February 18th. The album is a re-introduction to the metal masses of the unique blend of brutal death metal and symphonic black metal of Agiel.

A press release states: “Imbued with chaotic energy and aggression, Dark Pantheons transcends the familiar like an occultist stepping beyond the boundaries of existence. A new sound saturated in complexity and power marks their return. To that end, material from Agiel's 2002 full length release Dark Pantheons Again Will Reign was revisited and re-imagined for a new era. This would serve as a touchstone in the Agiel anthology and for the new material scheduled for production in 2014 by redefining and re-imagining their sound and style.”
Dark Pantheons tracklisting:

‘Dark Pantheons’
‘Deeds Rendered Upon The Flesh’
‘The Awakening’
‘Serpent Masquerade’
‘Andromeda’

Title track below:

Dark Pantheons by Agiel

For more info visit Facebook.

Northern California's death metal juggernauts EMBRYONIC DEVOURMENT are back with their latest slab of progressive technical death metal, which will be released February 18th on Deepsend Records. Reptilian Agenda has forged a whole new level of brutality for the band and continues to push the boundaries of death on their third album. Mixed and mastered by Colin Davis (VILE).
Embryonic Devourment tracklisting:

‘Challenging All Forms Of Hope’
‘Masonic Angeldust’
‘Reptiliphiliac’
‘Experimental Deformation’
‘Suffer The Seas Of Gore’
‘Sealed With Resin’
‘Whilst The Rich Dine’
‘Bloodgift’

Track ‘Sealed With Resin’:

Reptilian Agenda by Embryonic Devourment

For more info visit Facebook.

Germany's VAN CANTO are gearing up for the release of Dawn Of The Brave, recorded with Charlie Bauerfeind (BLIND GUARDIAN, HELLOWEEN, HAMMERFALL) and Ronald Prent (MANOWAR, RAMMSTEIN, WITHIN TEMPTATION), and due on February 7th via Napalm Records.
The bands has checked in with the following update:

"We want to give you some information on the Bonus CD (included in the mediabook and earbook editions). The first three songs are orchestral versions of our songs 'If I Die In Battle', 'Take To The Sky' and 'My voice'. The songs were arranged and produced by Armin Haas, who is also guitarist in the band WINTERSTORM that will support us on our upcoming European tour.

He did a really great job, especially when you think of the fact that these versions are completely instrumental, so all melodies you know from our original versions are 'translated' into the orchestra. We truly felt like heroes when we listened to the final result for the first time. We hope you will like it too. Orchestral a cappella for the brave!"

Dawn Of The Brave tracklisting (standard edition):

'Dawn Of The Brave'
'Fight For Your Life'
'To The Mountains'
'Badaboom'
'The Final Countdown' (EUROPE cover)
'Steel Breaker'
'The Awakening'
'The Other Ones'
'Holding Out For A Hero' (BONNIE TYLER cover)
'Unholy'
'My Utopia'
'Into The West' (Lord Of The Rings Soundtrack cover)
'Paranoid' (BLACK SABBATH cover)

A recent update states: "Dawn Of The Brave is our fifth studio album and it was important for us to go a little bit further than before. From the drum sound of Charlie Bauerfeind through to the choir recordings with over 200 Van Canto fans up to the mixing of Ronald Prent, who made the whole thing shine, as we always wanted to. The album will be bigger, fatter and more powerful-voiced than ever. We are thrilled to look forward to the release of the album and to play the songs live on tour. Rakkatakka Motherfuckers!"
To promote their new album, Van Canto will be on tour next year. Confirmed Tour Of The Brave dates with Winterstorm and special guests (TBA) include:

February
14 - St. Petersburg, Russia - Zal Ozhidaniya
15 - Moskau, Russia - Klub Volta
21 - Strassbourg, France - La Laiterie *
22 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Gallery *
23 - Nürnberg, Germany - RoFa *

March
6 - Milano, Italy - Factory *
7 - München, Germany - Backstage *
8 - Prague, Czech Republic - Nova Chmelnice *
9 - Ludwigsburg, Germany - ROFA *
21 - Aschaffenburg, Germany - ColosSaal *
22 - Hamburg, Germany - Grünspan *
23 - Hameln, Germany - Sumpfblume *

April
2 - London, England - Underworld *
3 - Tilburg, Netherlands - O13 *
4 - Bremen, Germany - Aladin *
5 - Köln, Germany - Live Music Hall *
10 - Berlin, Germany - Lido *
11 - Glauchau, Germany - Alte Spinnerei *
12 - Düsseldorf, Germany - Pitcher *
13 - Dortmund, Germany - FZW *

* - with Winterstorm

Updates to follow

"Loco Motive", the new video from Austrian modern melodic death metallers LOST DREAMS, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's fifth album, "Blinded By Rage", which was released on November 4, 2011 via Twilight Zone Records.

LOST DREAMS last year announced the addition of singer Sebastian Brandauer to the group's ranks.

Commented LOST DREAMS guitarist Andreas Maierhofer: "Sebastian sings and performs with a lot of attitude and really likes the LOST DREAMS music style. He will contribute with his own style, but he can sing the classic LOST DREAMS songs very close to the original singer and also deliver the hard-hitting vocals like Stefan [Traunig] did."

Added LOST DREAM guitarist Herbert Sopracolle: "We are extremely excited to announce and welcome Sebastian Brandauer into the band as vocalist. Sebastian has really been a breath of fresh air for us. Sebastian's voice add new dimensions to our sound."

LOST DREAMS is:

Sebastian Brandauer - VocalsHerbert Sopracolle - GuitarAndreas Maierhofer - GuitarDominik Hormann - BassRafael Peychär - Drums

"Drugs & Alcohol", the new video from SPIRALARMS, the San Francisco Bay Area-based heavy rock band featuring Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN, ex-MANMADEGOD) on guitar, Tim Narducci (ex-SYSTEMATIC) on vocals, Chris "Cornbread" Lombardo on bass, Brad Barth on keyboards, Anthony Traslavina on rhythm guitar and Ron Redeen (THE ESSENESS PROJECT) on drums, can be seen below. The song is taken from SPIRALARMS's second album, "Freedom", which was released on October 22, 2013 via Steamhammer/SPV.

SPIRALARMS rose from the ashes of millennial bands SYSTEMATIC, FORBIDDEN and MANMADE GOD.

Friends since the age of 15, Narducci and Locicero bonded over their love of heavy metal and hard rock music. Looking back at that time period, Craig said, "[We were] probably the youngest kids in the East Bay metal scene that were drinking beer out in the parking lot after seeing bands like TESTAMENT and EXODUS play."

Although the two remained friends throughout the years, they both went their separate ways and started bands of their own.

After years of playing with their respective groups, the two friends contacted each other and decided it was time to start playing music together again, and in 2004 SPIRALARMS was born.

"Freedom"'s down-to-earth and very dynamic production deserves a mention. The album oozes a liveliness, which many other bands tend to lose in the studio. "We always work at the studio as a full band," says Locicero. "The basic tracks of the new album were recorded in just about 16 hours, the rest was recorded by and by, but always in the same spirit. From the beginning, we never lost sight of our vision and that special flair which our new songs have."

"Freedom" track listing:

01. Dropping Like Flies02. Hold Me To The Sky03. Exit 6304. Blackmoon Morning05. Drugs & Alcohol06. Dealer07. Lovers Leap08. Tomorrow's Dream09. Freedom10. I Lay Low (digipack bonus track)

SPIRALARMS is:

Tim Narducci - Vocals/GuitarCraig Locicero - GuitarAnthony Traslavina - GuitarChris "Cornbread" Lombardo - Bass/VocalsBrad Barth - KeyboardsRon Redeen - Drums

Guitarist Kristian Kangasniemi has left reactivated Finnish death metallers CONVULSE "due to personal reasons." The band states: "We wish all the best for Kristian and thank him for his services and great live performances during last two years. Now we will go on threesome as long as we find a second guitarist who is fitting in our band. [We] don't know [if] it [will] take weeks or years, but one thing is for sure: we will go on and we are starting to write and rehearse new material next week for the fourth CONVULSE album."

CONVULSE's current lineup features the band's original vocalist, guitarist and bass player, and their brand of classic old-school death metal still sounds like it's 1991.

The band latest album, "Evil Prevails", was released last November via Svart Records. Available on CD, LP, and digital formats, it follows CONVULSE's critically acclaimed comeback EP, "Inner Evil", released last year by Svart.

One of the most memorable pioneers of the first wave of Finnish death metal, CONVULSE was there in 1990 with bands such as XYSMA, DISGRACE and ABHORRENCE to create the scene which was to become legendary.

Formed in 1988 under the name S.D.S., CONVULSE's first release was the "Resuscitation Of Evilness" demo cassette in 1990. The success of the demo led to a deal with the French record label Thrash Records, which released the band's first full-length album, "World Without God". A CD-single, "Lost Equilibrium", followed in 1993 via Relapse Records, after which CONVULSE prepared to record its second album, "Reflections". The group travelled to Sunlight Studios in Sweden and laid down the effort in a one-week period. The following year (1993) was dedicated to CONVULSE members performing their mandatory military service in Finland, which delayed the release of "Reflections" until the summer of 1994 (also through Relapse). An attempt to regroup in support of the CD ended "with poor results," and after serious discussions, a decision was made to put CONVULSE to rest.

After an 18-year break, CONVULSE returned in 2012 and played a few comeback shows in Finland.

CONVULSE 2014 is:

Rami Jämsä: Guitar, Growls Juha Telenius: BassRolle Markos: Drums

"Intolerance", the new album from the Southern California metal act THROWDOWN, can be streamed in its entirety using the SoundCloud widget below. Due on January 21 via eOne Music, the follow-up to 2009's "Deathless" was recorded at Hurley Recordings in Costa Mesa, California with rising producer Davey Warsop and mixed at Planet Z.

"Intolerance" features guitar solo contributions from Dave Nassie (BLEEDING THROUGH, NO USE FOR A NAME, INFECTIOUS GROOVES), who joined THROWDOWN's recent touring lineup alongside DEMON HUNTER drummer Tim "Yogi" Watts and "Deathless"-era bassist Mark Mitchell.

Comments THROWDOWN frontman Dave Peters: "Completing this record felt great in so many respects, most important of which was the opportunity to finally give longtime supporters of the band this music that I've had swirling around in my head over the past four years.

"The variety of people from different places and scenes who have found the band through vastly different avenues over the past 15 or so years will each get into it for their own unique reasons, I think. And for those who think it’s junk, it's only about 28 minutes they have to regret."

"Intolerance" combines the massive production punch of the moody, sludgy and powerfully diverse masterpiece "Deathless" (which spawned the Sirius XM staples "This Continuum" and "The Scythe") with the focused resolve of the band's genre-classic-filled back catalog.

The big sound that developed on "Deathless" works magic upon the brutal missives found all over "Intolerance", nearly all of which clock in around two minutes.

"Deathless" and "Vendetta" collaborator Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, CROWBAR, DEMON HUNTER) returned to mix the new record.

Drummer Jarrod Alexander (AMERICAN NIGHTMARE, SUICIDE FILE, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE) made his first recorded appearance with THROWDOWN on "Haymaker", returning as a session player again for "Deathless" and the brand new album, "Intolerance".

"Intolerance" track listing:

01. Fight Or Die02. Borrowed Time03. Avow04. Hardened By Consequence05. Defend With Violence06. Suffer, Conquer07. Cut Away08. Intolerance09. Without Weakness10. Born And Buried Alone11. Condemned To Live

New Jersey-based metalcore band NEGATIVE SKY has signed with RockArmy Records for the worldwide release of its new five-song EP, "Death Of The Sun".

Formed in 2009, NEGATIVE SKY — vocalist Dan Caputo, guitarist J.J. Sammataro, bassist George Pond, and drummer Tom Fitzgibbon — has become a fierce presence in New Jersey's thriving heavy music scene, earning Top Heavy Rock Act nominations at the Asbury Park Music Awards in 2012 and 2013, and being named listener favorites on the nation's top-ranked hard rock/metal broadcast radio station, WSOU 89.5 FM "Pirate Radio."

RockArmy Records — an Austin, Texas-based independent label owned and operated by PODUNK bassist Paul Soroski — features Doug Pinnick (KING'S X), Joseph King (DEADBEAT DARLING), and other artists on its roster, and has a worldwide distribution deal through MVD Entertainment Group.

NEGATIVE SKY is represented by Zenergy Entertainment (Corey Glover, Doug Pinnick). They have supported a who's-who of notable metal and hardcore bands over the past few years, including BIOHAZARD, LIFE OF AGONY, VISION OF DISORDER, CRO-MAGS and MADBALL.

Southern Lord has announced the signing of California punk henchmen OBLITERATIONS. Comprised of Stephen McBean on guitar, Austin Barber on bass, Sam James Velde on vocals and Flo Schanze on drums, OBLITERATIONS unites former and current members of BLACK MOUNTAIN, SAVIOURS, BLUEBIRD, NIGHT HORSE and PINK MOUNTAINTOPS. The band came together in a mere two rehearsals in December 2012. McBean and Barber both individually relocated to Los Angeles, and continued to cross paths with friend Sam James Velde. The three had known each other for years continually intersecting over various tours. Discussing their similar music tastes reaching from the obvious hardcore and punk to obscure psych or even early '80s British shoegaze, the three decided to jam on a whim one Saturday after talking about the idea over beers at divvy watering hole. Two rehearsals later they had four songs completed; they recorded them quickly before their other respective bands left on winter tours, without any real intent, yet the results were inspiring. Velde was introduced to Schanze through the folks in OFF!, in which they implied "We have a good feeling about this guy." Schanze visited Los Angeles with the intent to join a "punk band," jamming with Sam and Stephen on separate occasions. McBean auditioned Schanze for his alter ego side project PINK MOUNTAINTOPS but instead jammed VOID and BLACK FLAG covers for three hours. The next thing they all knew they had the right fit for a new band which they dubbed OBLITERATIONS. Dealing out heavy classic punk and hardcore like every era of BLACK FLAG, DIE KRUEZEN, BORN AGAINST or POISON IDEA yet quick to reference ALICE COOPER, SPACEMEN 3, THE STOOGES or THE LAUGHING HYENAS as inspiration, the blueprint isn't the point here, it's the results. OBLITERATIONS' sound is abrasive and raw, driving and aggressive, yet catchy. The band has no grand scheme other than to play as much as possible, anywhere and everywhere. They've already created a small frenzy within their home region with chaotic live shows, having shared the stage with TRASH TALK, BLACK BREATH, DEATH, MAMMOTH GRINDER and more. OBLITERATIONS released its debut four-song seven-inch EP on Outer Battery Records in October 2013. Hot on its heels, the band has another new four-song EP titled "The Hole" coming out this month via the Volcom Entertainment Vinyl Club (ST. VITUS, HIGH ON FIRE, THE SHRINE). Following that, OBLITERATIONS has etched plans to record their debut full-length for Southern Lord in March at Dave Grohl's Studio 606, preceded by a Southwest tour including multiple performances at this year's SXSW festival.

Austin, Texas heavies DEAD EARTH POLITICS have released the first track from their forthcoming EP unto the masses. The band's first recorded output since 2010's The Weight Of Poseidon, ‘Redneck Dragonslayer’ is a hook-laden and heavy-as-hell tune that shows why Dead Earth Politics was voted Austin's No. 1 Metal Band of 2013.
As the first band in four years to unseat THE SWORD as Austin's Best Metal Band, Dead Earth Politics is back in the running. For details on how to cast your vote for the Austin Chronicle sponsored award, go here.
In other news, Dead Earth Politics have been invited to the official SXSW 2014 lineup. Date and times for Dead Earth Politics official and unofficial SXSW performances will be announced soon.

For more info visit DeadEarthPolitics.com.

Quality fan-filmed video footage of KATAKLYSM's January 11 performance in Essen, Germany can be seen below.

KATAKLYSM's new album, "Waiting For The End To Come", was released on October 29, 2013 in North America via Nuclear Blast. The artwork by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, HATEBREED) was featured on the deluxe digipak and LP versions of the effort. The cover by Peter Sallai (SABATON) was featured on the standard jewel case and limited edition cassette tape versions.

The follow-up to 2010's "Heaven's Venom", "Waiting For The End To Come" was recorded by KATAKLYSM guitarist Jean-François Dagenais, who has previously worked with MALEVOLENT CREATION, MISERY INDEX and DESPISED ICON, among others, and mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (SUFFOCATION, HATEBREED, ARSIS).

As previously reported, KATAKLYSM has recruited ex-NEURAXIS drummer Oli Beaudoin to sit behind the kit during the recording sessions for "Waiting For The End To Come". Beaudoin is also playing all of KATAKLYSM's currenty announced shows. Drummer Max Duhamel announced on April 8, 2013 that he was taking a break from KATAKLYSM to deal with issues related to alcohol abuse.