Prague, Czech Republic's High Court upheld LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe's "not guilty" verdict earlier today (Wednesday, June 5) in connection with the death of a fan three years ago. The court's decision is final.

A three-judge panel on March 5 acquitted Blythe of manslaughter in the death of 19-year-old Daniel Nosek.

Following the judges' announcement three months ago, the State Attorney immediately appealed the verdict.

"I have been found not guilty and acquitted of all charges against me. I am a free man," Blythe posted on his Instagram account following the March 5 verdict. "Please remember the family of Daniel Nosek in your thoughts and prayers in this difficult time. I only wish for them peace. Thank you for your support."

Blythe was facing the possibility of conviction and a long-term jail sentence after a May 2010 incident in which Nosek, who attended a LAMB OF GOD performance in Prague, died almost a month later, allegedly from injuries sustained when he was thrown off the stage.

Though Blythe faced up to 10 years in prison, during the closing argument, prosecutors only asked the judge for the minimum sentence of five years.

TESLA is getting together to record a brand new song tomorrow (Wednesday, June 5). Guitarist Frank Hannon writes on Facebook, "[TESLA singer] Jeff Keith and I made a demo in [the] studio, it's called 'Taste My Pain' and it rocks hard! This will be the first real original song recording session for the band since 'Forever More' or 'Twisted Wires'. We are pumped to put it out this summer!"

TESLA's latest album, "Twisted Wires And The Acoustic Sessions", was released in July 2011 via Scarlet Records. The CD featured six songs that were recorded back in 2005 at bassist Brian Wheat's J Street Recorders studio — which also serve as the last recordings with original member Tommy Skeoch — and six newly recorded tracks, including acoustic remakes of songs from TESLA's entire catalog and two brand new songs, "Second Street" and "Better Off Without You".

TESLA released a live album, "Alive In Europe!", in Europe on April 23, 2010 via Frontiers Records.

TESLA's latest studio album, "Forever More", sold more than 16,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 33 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on October 7, 2008 on Tesla Electric Company Recordings. The European version of the album, which was made available on November 7 via Frontiers Records, contains two bonus tracks not found on the American version.

SIRENS & SAILORS has inked a deal with Artery Recordings, the joint venture between The Artery Foundation and Razor & Tie. The band will release a new album later this year.

Formed in 2005, SIRENS & SAILORS is a five-piece progressive metal outfit from Rochester, New York. The band has released two EPs and one full-length album.

SIRENS & SAILORS has toured extensively with such bands as AFFIANCE, DR. ACULA, KNIGHTS OF THE ABYSS, THE AIR I BREATHE, and KING CONQUER as well as on the Vans Warped Tour. The band has quickly become one of the most exciting groups rising out of the East Coast with its jaw-dropping live performances and catchy lyrics.

SIRENS & SAILORS is Kyle Bihrle (vocals), Todd Golder (guitar/vocals), Jimm Lindsley (guitar), Steve Goupil (bass), and Doug Court (drums). The band is managed by Ben Leubitz of BravoArtist and Cory Hajde of The Artery Foundation.

DEATH RAY VISION, the project featuring SHADOWS FALL frontman Brian Fair, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE bassist Mike D'Antonio and former OVERCAST/SEEMLESS guitarist Pete Cortese, will release its debut 12-song album, "We Ain't Leavin' Till You're Bleedin'", on September 10 via Bullet Tooth. These veterans of the Boston metal scene play a raw brand of metallic hardcore that recaptures the energy of their old-school hardcore roots infused with all they have learned and experienced as musicians over the past decade. Produced by legendary hardcore guru Dean Baltulonis, who has helmed albums for SICK OF IT ALL, AGNOSTIC FRONT, MADBALL and MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, these new songs are short blasts of energy and intensity built on thrash metal rhythms and chugging guitar riffs.

"It's a swift 30-minute kick to the nuts. No fucking around and right to the point," says Fair.

You say you like circle pits? You say you like punk and hardcore? You say you hate your parents? Well this is the band for you! Pissed off and abrasive, DEATH RAY VISION is dedicated to that old-school passion and aggression you still crave.

If you're a fan of CRO-MAGS, LEEWAY, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES or BAD BRAINS, then look no further. Without fail, DEATH RAY VISION delivers uppercuts straight to your gullet, then repeatedly peppers your forehead with sledgehammer fists. That's right, the beatings are swift and pummeling on this record, with two-minute anthems of ruckus chaos, party jams. The perfect soundtrack to set the city a blaze, or discreetly create a mosh pit in your bedroom.

"We Ain't Leavin' Till You're Bleedin'" track listing:

01. We Ain't Leavin' Till You're Bleedin'
02. Over My Dead Body
03. Barfly
04. Condemned When You Were Born
05. Fuck Compromise
06. Live Fast… Never Die
07. Break Every Chain
08. This Is Progress
09. Choke
10. Your Shallow Grave
11. False Prophet
12. A Forest (Of Kegs)

Fans can hear a sample of the new song "Barfly" on the Bullet Tooth summer 2013 video update below.

DEATH RAY VISION made its live debut on April 8, 2011 at the Vegas Lounge in Lunenburg, Massachusetts.

Regarding how the band came together, Fair said, "When Mike and I first met, we went to see LEEWAY and BREAKDOWN play in Boston. My love for raw, metallic hardcore began that day and the energy and insanity in that club is something that has stayed with me forever."

"We started the band to have fun, there is really no other reason to do DEATH RAY VISION," stated Mike. "Apparently we were having so much fun when we started writing for the first EP that we just kept writing and writing. All of a sudden, we had a crapload of tunes."

While gathering material for a full-length release, DEATH RAY VISION caught the attention of Bullet Tooth, a label that has a staff with very similar backgrounds and history in the heavy music scene as the band. Having a label that embraces the same DIY ethic as the band was a necessity. Joining forces with Bullet Tooth was the perfect way for DEATH RAY VISION to reach a wider audience without having to sacrifice the independent spirit of the band.

"Josh Grabelle and Bullet Tooth have the capacity to get our record out to more people then we can reach on our own," explained D'Antonio. "It also doesn't hurt that he is an old friend and is really excited about DEATH RAY VISION. What more could you want?"

Grabelle is as enthusiastic about the signing as the band is. He's known the members for years, having almost signed KILLSWITCH ENGAGE in 2000.

"I'm a huge fan of SHADOWS FALL, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and OVERCAST," he said.

"I first met Brian Fair in 1995 at an OVERCAST show in Erie, Pennsylvania. I've been friends with Mike D for years as well. Mike D told me he had started a new band and I already knew it was gonna be awesome, and it was! I was honored they thought of me and Bullet Tooth and I know we will knock it out of the park together."

According to D'Antonio, the DEATH RAY VISION songs "are much easier to write than KILLSWITCH ENGAGE songs for me, and I can be a bit more old-school in my approach. This style comes very natural to me because I grew up on CRO-MAGS, AGNOSTIC FRONT, MADBALL, LEEWAY and BAD BRAINS. When I want to write, I throw these inspirations on and get to it."

DEATH RAY VISION is:

Brian Fair - Vocals
Mike D'Antonio - Bass
Pete Cortese - Guitar
Zack Wells - Guitar
Colin Conway - Drums

Canada's MISANTHROPY have been in the studio for the past year writing and recording two new horror movie inspired EP's. Part V: A New Beginning and Camp Arawak were inspired by the movies Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning and Sleepaway Camp.

Listen to the Camp Arawak tracks ‘The Walk-In’ and ‘Playin’ With Half A Deck’ and to the Part V: A New Beginning tracks ‘Demon’ and ‘Axe To The Bald Spot’:

Learn how to get your music heard at ReverbNation.com

Pittsburgh rockers CAROUSEL have signed with New York City's Tee Pee Records. Conceived in 2010 by guitarist / vocalist Dave Wheeler and drummer Jake Leger, the band's music incorporates many elements which a press release describes as “the harmonized guitar lines of THIN LIZZY, the bombast of MOUNTAIN and the rhythmic propulsion of DIAMOND HEAD, MOTORHEAD and other bands whose names include the word "head"”. The dual guitar-driven four-piece will drop its debut LP Jeweler's Daughter on August 20th.

Teasing the advance of the debut, Carousel has unveiled the title track ‘Jeweler's Daughter’.

"We couldn't be more excited to share our new LP, and Tee Pee is the perfect label to help us make that happen," comments Wheeler. "Our style of raw, uncompromising rock and roll has always had a home on Tee Pee and we are ecstatic to be working with other like-minded artists and individuals."

Jeweler’s Daughter tracklisting:

‘Jeweler’s Daughter’
‘Long Time’
‘Crippler’
‘On My Way’
‘Waste Of Time’
‘Light Of Day’
‘Nightfall’
‘Contrition’
‘Penance’

Rogue Records America has announced Project 19, the next release from Oklahoma City's own DISCHORDIA.

The album is a big step for the death metal trio, expanding on their already punishing sound and giving the music additional depth and layers. Nine tracks fill the full length release and features the new single ‘Madhouse’.

Project 19 drops July 23rd worldwide both in digital and CD format. Those fortunate enough to see the band on tour will be able to buy the album early at the venues.

The band is currently out on the Speaking Ring Tour to help promote the new album. The remaining dates are listed below:

June
6 – Raleigh, NC – The Maywood
7 – Newark, DE – Mojo Main
8 – Secaucus, NJ – The Blue Room
10 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Shop
11 – Indianapolis, IN – Beale Street Live
12 – Chicago, IL – The Mutiny
13 – Chicago, IL – Grandbar
15 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The Chameleon Room

Greek/Danish metallers CRYSTAL TEARS have set "Hellmade" as the title of their third album, due later in the year via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded with producer Roberto Dimitri Liapakis (MYSTIC PROPHECY, SUICIDAL ANGELS, DEVIL'S TRAIN) and was mixed and mastered at Prophecy & Music Factory Studios in Germany. The cover artwork was designed by Siege Ind, who has previously worked with SCAR SYMMETRY, SUICIDE SILENCE and BLEED FROM WITHIN.

CRYSTAL TEARS was formed in the late '90s in Greece and issued several demos before the arrival of the band's debut album, "Choirs Of Immortal", in 2006 via Pure Steel Records. It didn't take long until they shared stages with bands such as W.A.S.P., RIOT and JAG PANZER.

CRYSTAL TEARS has left its mark as one of Greece's best heavy metal acts and has proven to be a persistent, innovative and unstoppable force. Their musical roots can be traced back to the good ol' heavy metal of the '80s up to modern metal.

CRYSTAL TEARS recently announced the addition of Danish singer Søren Adamsen (ex-ARTILLERY) and Hungarian guitarist Matt Nagy to the group's ranks.

New CRYSTAL TEARS lineup:

Søren Adamsen - Vocals
Kostas Sotos - Guitar
Mate Nagy - Guitar
Alex Hamalidis - Bass
Chrisafis Tantanozis - Drums

CRYSTAL TEARS is working on the first of two videos in support of the new album.

The band's last CD, "Generation X", was released in June 2010 via 7Hard.

Williamsport, Pennsylvania metallers MY HEART TO FEAR will release their debut full-length, "Algorithm", on July 9 via Solid State Records. Now the industrious band is sharing a first taste of the CD with the world in the form of a lyric video standout track "The Witching Hour Pt. II".

"'The Witching Hour Pt. II' carries on in the vein of an older song, 'The Witching Hour'," explains vocalist Trevor Pool. "The song was purposefully written as a sequel because we felt the original song was too metaphorical and could be difficult to grasp. With 'Pt. II', there is a plainly told story about the study and experimentation of the theological duality between demons/the Devil and angels/God."

With the video for the original "Witching Hour" having garnered 110,000+ plays, "The Witching Hour Pt. II" provides a common thread to connect old fans to new. Similarly, building off the band's debut EP, "Lost Between Brilliance And Insanity", "Algorithm" reinforces to a wider audience what the band's carefully cultivated fanbase had previously known — that MY HEART TO FEAR's uncompromising metal attack couldn't be kept a secret for long.

The 11-track album was recorded at Atrium Audio with Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland (AUGUST BURNS RED) and features notable guest appearances such as Ricky Armellino of THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE.

"On 'Algorithm', the breakdowns are catchier, the vocals are better and are beyond appropriate for the music," explains Pool. "No single part, instrument or effect is overused. There's no filler. Everything is exactly where it needs to be. Nowhere was there something added just for the sake of adding something. Most importantly, we made the decision to write what we felt needed to be in the songs — nothing was written under the shadow of 'what will please the most amount of ears.'"

WITHERSCAPE, the stunning new dark metal outfit formed by Swedish singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer extraordinaire Dan Swanö together with fellow Swedish multi-instrumentalist Ragnar Widerberg, will release its debut album, "The Inheritance", on July 29 in Europe and August 6 in North America via Century Media Records.

"The Inheritance" track listing:

01. Mother Of The Soul
02. Astrid Falls
03. Dead For A Day
04. Dying For The Sun
05. To The Calling Of Blood And Dreams
06 .The Math Of The Myth
07. Crawling From Validity
08 .The Wedlock Observation
09. The Inheritance

"The Inheritance" is a pretty thick concept album split into different episodes and very briefly, the WITHERSCAPE story takes place in a remote village in northern Sweden in the late 1800's. The central character lives in Stockholm and comes from wealth, and upon the death of his family he's informed by the family lawyer that he has inherited a large estate up north. Having been oblivious to the estate's existence, he decides to investigate, and once he's there "all kinds of weird shit happens," according to Dan Swanö.

The hauntingly beautiful cover artwork for "The Inheritance", which can be seen above, was created by Travis Smith of Seempieces, who has previously worked with such bands as OPETH, NEVERMORE, DEATH and KATATONIA.

Swanö staes: "Both me and Ragnar are fascinated by old, abandoned buildings and it was pretty clear from the start that we would have the estate our main character inherits on the albumcover. We used Travis Smith as a 'medium' for our visual ideas and he did a spectacular job transforming our written wishes into a real image."

WITHERSCAPE marks the long overdue return as active composer and recording artist for Dan Swanö in the world of extreme metal, after having mostly been involved on the studio mixing end of things in these past years. Granted, "The Inheritance" is not purely a death metal release, but it smoothly showcases both the heavier and the mellow sides of Swanö's creativity and should consequently not only please fans of his earlier efforts like "Moontower" or the EDGE OF SANITY catalogue, but also attract friends of progressively atmospheric contemporary metal in the vein of OPET, KATATONIA and AMORPHIS.

According to Swanö, WITHERSCAPE has been in planning for a long time, spawned as a result of his working relationship with Widerberg, which began at a Swedish music store. The two multi-instrumentalists discovered that they had so much in common musically that brainstorming for a full-on metal project of their own was the next logical step. Widerberg cites acts like early JUDAS PRIEST, RUSH, KING CRIMSON and MERCYFUL FATE as far as his inspirations in regards to WITHERSCAPE and Swanö elaborates his list to also include JUDAS PRIEST (1975-1989), VOIVOD, QUEENSRŸCHE, RUSH, MARILLION and MERCYFUL FATE.

Most dedicated metalheads will not only be able to call themselves owners of certain releases by one Dan's many outstanding bands/projects (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE), but also the work at his own Unisound studio will surely have left a mark in everyone's record collection at some point: OPETH, KATATONIA, DISSECTION, MERCILESS, 59 TIMES THE PAIN, DARK FUNERAL, HAIL OF BULLETS, MARDUK, MILLENCOLIN and NASUM, to name but a few.

Swanö has been no stranger to Century Media Records: He was originally involved with the death metal supergroup BLOODBATH (also featuring members of OPETH and KATATONIA), who released the "Breeding Death" EP as well as the amazing first two albums, "Resurrection Through Carnage" and "Nightmares Made Flesh", via Century Media. Most recently, Swanö has been heavily working again as producer and mixer of albums, including releases by Century Media artists such as ASPHYX, GRAND SUPREME BLOOD COURT, ODDLAND and MORGOTH.

London progressive metallers THE SAFETY FIRE will release their second album, "Mouth Of Swords", on September 3 in North America via InsideOut Music. Tommy Rogers from touring partners BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME has provided guest vocals on one track.

Commented vocalist Sean McWeeney: "Since our first album, we've all concentrated more on having awesome haircuts and facial hair. Does that go some way to explaining why 'Mouth Of Swords' is shit-hot? Some may suggest so. But all I know is I'm on it and that's enough for most people. This album is pure gold, and will be priced accordingly."

Added guitarist and producer Derya "Dez" Nagle: "I must have said 'there is no topping WINGER's 1988 classic 'Winger' on a daily basis during the recording process. I've never been wrong about anything in my whole life, so it was a rather humbling experience to realise that what we were creating was in fact better than WINGER's 1988 classic, 'Winger'. I felt like a bozo deluxe. After awhile, I came to accept that we had created the best album of all time, ever, in the history of known time. The burden of holding such musical gold was too much for us to handle and the band agreed to release it through InsideOut Music, on September 3rd. I'd like to think the music can speak for itself, but music can't speak, so I'll speak on its behalf. Hello. I hope you enjoy me."

"Mouth Of Swords" track listing

01. Mouth Of Swords
02. Glass Crush
03. Yellowism
04. Beware The Leopard (Jagwar) feat. Tommy Rogers
05. Red Hatchet
06. Wise Hands
07. The Ghosts That Wait For Spring
08. I Am Time, The Destroyer
09. Old Souls

Chicago heavy rokers SOIL will release their sixth studio album, "Whole", on August 20 via Pavement Entertainment. It's the band's first 100% independent release.

"We wanted to call all the shots on this album and, for the first time ever, hold our future in our own hands," explains bassist Tim King.

"Shine On", the album's first single, will be released to radio June 18 and will be available digitally June 25. A video has been completed and will be released soon.

"Whole" is the first SOIL album with original frontman Ryan McCombs since 2004's "Re.De.Fine" (after which he joined DROWNING POOL). It sees SOIL returning to its classic sound that fans have come to admire, with a pres release calling it the CD "that could have come directly after the 'Scars' album in 2001.”

Following the 2012 release of its first-ever live DVD, "Re-LIVE-ing The Scars", SOIL began writing new material and entered the studio in February 2013 with producer Ulrich Wild (PANTERA, BREAKING BENJAMIN) to begin recording.

"This was by far the most comfortable and natural recording process we have ever experienced," says guitarist Adam Zadel. "From the writing, pre-production, and through the main tracking and mixing, everything was smooth and fluid."

Songs featured on "Whole" include "The Hate Song", "Loaded Gun", "Way Gone" and "Shine On", which is dedicated to the SOIL fans for standing by the band throughout the years. Another track, "Amalgamation", sees McCombs taking songtitles from both the SOIL and DROWNING POOL releases he was a part of and weaving them into verses of the song.

"I think, lyrically speaking, those that are familiar with the work I've done are going to get the next chapter that they would expect," McCombs says about the lyrical process. "Words from a heart and mind that has lived them.

"One of the greatest things I experience as a lyricist is when people come up and share with me how a song, or a specific verse or line from a song, got them through a hard time or times in their lives. It reminds me of the times music did that for me and how powerful music and/or a lyric can be in a person's life."

Drums and percussion on "Whole" were performed by Will Hunt (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, EVANESCENCE, DEVICE).

"Will added a whole new dimension to the songs," states King. "He added a monstrous and aggressive vibe to the album."

A guest guitar solo on "Wake Up" was performed by longtime friend Mike Mushok of the band STAIND.

In touring news, SOIL will hitting the road on June 19 for a show in Bowling Green, Kentucky at The Rustic Room along with POP EVIL. The band is currently lining up shows for the entire summer, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

"Whole" track listing:

01. Loaded Gun
02. The Hate Song
03. Ugly
04. Way Gone
05. Psychopath
06. Shine On
07. Wake Up
08. Amalgamation
09. My Time
10. Little Liar
11. One Love

"Shine On" audio stream:



"My Time" (new song) performance:

Italian metallers HOLLOW HAZE, who feature in their ranks acclaimed vocalist Fabio Lione (VISION DIVINE, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, KAMELOT), have inked a deal with Scarlet Records. The band's new album, "Countdown To Revenge", will be released on August 27. The CD was recorded at Remaster Studio in Vicenza, Italy and was mixed by Sascha Paeth (AVANTASIA, EDGUY, ANGRA, RHAPSODY OF FIRE) at Gate Studios in Wolfsburg, Germany. The effort also features collaborations with DARKEND's keyboardist Antarktica and his NIGHTBREEDER & THE WINTERMOON ORCHESTRA side-project, making it grandiose and epic as never before.

Lione, who joined HOLLOW HAZE in February, delivers his "unique high-pitched-yet-warm vocals and deep, intensive choruses," according to a press release.

"Thanks to their passion and hard work, HOLLOW HAZE are not afraid to confront themselves with every music style, getting their inspiration both from the past and the modern heavy metal scene."

Formed in 2003, HOLLOW HAZE has released four albums and toured the world with such acts as TARJA, DRAGONFORCE and ACCEPT, to name a few.

Reformed U.K. crossover metallers ONE MINUTE SILENCE will release a brand new EP, "Fragmented Armageddon", on June 17.

Consisting of three brand new tracks, an acoustic rendition and two remixes, the effort serves as an exciting taster of the impending musical onslaught vocalist Brian "Yap" Barry, guitarist Massimo "Massy" Fiocco, bassist Glen Diani and new drummer Martin Davies are creating.

The recording of the EP was made possible by the unending support of ONE MINUTE SILENCE fans through PledgeMusic.

The hiatus saw the band’s members explore many musical styles in various projects, ranging from folk to electronica and jazz to beat poetry, and they have been inspired by a wealth of new influences along the way. Bringing their fresh ideas and new perspectives together, they have created the next generation ONE MINUTE SILENCE that is still fuelled by the raging fire for which they are famous.

Says Yap: "Initially I wasn't sure if the energy and punch that we had would still be there, but when we got in the rehearsal room together, there was no denying it — in fact it's stronger than it ever was."

"Fragmented Armageddon" track listing:

01. Fruit From The Lie
02. Pandemic Schizophrenia
03. You So Much As Move
04. Fruit From The Lie (Ben Hurd remix)
05. You So Much As Move (remix)
06. Early Morning (acoustic)

ONE MINUTE SILENCE has written 10 new tracks towards a new album which they hope to record this year for release in 2014, with live dates to follow.

SLAYER played its first show yesterday (Tuesday, June 4) since the passing of guitarist Jeff Hanneman and return of drummer Paul Bostaph at the Impact Fest in Warsaw, Poland.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. World Painted Blood
02. Hallowed Point
03. War Ensemble
04. Hate Worldwide
05. At Dawn They Sleep
06. Stain Of Mind
07. Disciple
08. Bloodline
09. Mandatory Suicide
10. Chemical Warfare
11. Seasons In The Abyss
12. Dead Skin Mask
13. Raining Blood

Encore:

14. South Of Heaven
15. Angel Of Death

Fan-filmed video footage can be seen below.

It was announced on May 30 by SLAYER's Tom Araya (bass, vocals) and Kerry King (guitar) that Bostaph would be behind the drum kit for the first leg of the band's 2013 international tour. EXODUS' Gary Holt is continuing to fill in for fallen guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who died on May 2 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver.

Bostaph was SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001 and recorded four albums with the band — the gold-certified "Divine Intervention" (1994), the 1996 punk covers album "Undisputed Attitude", "Diabolus In Musica" (1998), "God Hates Us All" (2001) that received a Grammy nomination for "Best Metal Performance", as well as the DVD "War At The Warfield" (2001), also certified gold. In addition to SLAYER, Bostaph has been a member of FORBIDDEN, EXODUS, SYSTEMATIC and TESTAMENT.

SLAYER's 2013 itinerary will have the band playing 35 dates that will include headline shows as well as a number of major summer festivals in Europe, Eastern Europe and South America between June and October.

"Paul's a great drummer and a good friend, and we're very happy that he's decided to rejoin the band," said Araya. "We're still pretty numb from the loss of Jeff, but we don't want to disappoint our European and South American fans, and we need to begin moving forward... Having Paul back in the band makes that a whole lot easier."

Original SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo sat out the band's recent Australian tour due to a contract dispute with the other members of the group. Filling in for him was Jon Dette (TESTAMENT, ANTHRAX).

CRADLE OF FILTH's new video for the song "For Your Vulgar Delectation", taken from the British extreme metal band's latest album, "The Manticore And Other Horrors", can be seen below. The clip is available exclusively on iTunes as part of "The Manticore & Other Horrors - Extended Claws". This new release also features 12 unreleased demos and another three videos.

"The Manticore & Other Horrors - Extended Claws" track listing:

01. The Unveiling Of O
02. The Abhorrent
03. For Your Vulgar Delectation
04. Illicitus
05. Manticore
06. Frost On Her Pillow
07. Huge Onyx Wings Behind Despair
08. Pallid Reflection
09. Siding With The Titans
10. Succumb To This
11. Nightmares Of An Ether Drinker
12. Death, The Great Adventure
13. Sinfonia
14. The Unveiling Of O (Demo)
15. Manticore (Demo)
16. Siding With The Titans (Demo)
17. Death, The Great Adventure (Demo)
18. Succumb To This (Demo)
19. Huge Onyx Wings Behind Despair (Demo)
20. Illicitus (Demo)
21. Pallid Reflection (Demo)
22. The Abhorrent (Demo)
23. For Your Vulgar Delectation (Demo)
24. Frost On Her Pillow (Demo)
25. Sinfonia (Demo)

A trailer for "The Manticore & Other Horrors - Extended Claws" can be seen below.

Check out audio samples at Amazon.de.

"For Your Vulgar Delectation" comes off CRADLE OF FILTH's tenth studio album, "The Manticore And Other Horrors", which sold 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous full-length effort, "Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa", opened with 5,800 units in November 2010 to land at No. 99.

CRADLE OF FILTH's 2008 CD, "Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder", premiered with a little over 11,000 copies to enter the chart at No. 48. This was slightly less than the first-week tally registered by 2006's "Thornography", which shifted nearly 13,000 copies the first week out to enter The Billboard chart at No. 66, and "Nymphetamine", which premiered with almost 14,000 copies back in October 2004.

"The Manticore And Other Horrors" was released in North America on October 30, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Recorded in eight weeks at both Springvale and Grindstone studios (where it was also mixed by Scott Atkins), Suffolk, "The Manticore And Other Horrors" is a testament to the longevity of the 'FILTH, as not only does it reek of CRADLE's (feared or revered) brand of delicious metal vamperotica, but this thoroughly modern album places the band firmly in fresh killing fields anew.

"The Manticore And Other Horrors" itself possesses an altogether new atmosphere for the band, incorporating a heavier, faster NWOBBM punk vibe that is both current and cruel, blended with ornate orchestration and the quirky immediateness of 2000's "Midian" opus.

The album's title can be likened to a bestiary, a collection of stories on monsters - personal demons, Chimeras, literary fiends and world-enslaving entities to blame but a few. "Manticore", the ravening title track, is a song about a beautiful mythological horror that comes to be feared as the disfigurehead of foreign occupation in the Indian provinces.

The songs "Illicitus" and "Pallid Reflection" bear the sweet ingredients of vampirism and lycanthropy; the wicked "For Your Vulgar Delectation" and "Frost On Her Pillow" are woven perversely into grim fairy tales, whilst classic, monumental tracks like "The Abhorrent And Siding With The Titans" both extol tentacular Lovecraftian values.

"For Your Vulgar Delectation" video:

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's fourth studio effort will be a double album that the band will release in two installments. The first volume, "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1", will now arrive on July 30 (one week later than previously announced), with the second half, "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2", to surface sometime later this fall. The deluxe edition of "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1" will come with a bonus 15-track live CD, "Purgatory [Tales From The Pit]", alongside the 14 songs featured on the album. The release will be accompanied by a redeemable limited-edition t-shirt with the physical pressing only. On June 18, a collectible limited-edition box set featuring a FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH lunch box, the deluxe version of the album with the bonus live CD, an early free download of an exclusive new track from "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1" and assorted collectible items will be available for pre-sale exclusively through the band's webstore.

"The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1" features guest appearances by JUDAS PRIEST vocalist Rob Halford, SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera, HATEBREED singer Jamey Jasta, IN THIS MOMENT frontwoman Maria Brink and rapper Tech N9ne (on a cover version of LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out").

The imagery for both "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell" albums was created by legendary comic book artist and illustrator Greg Capullo ("Batman", "Spawn").

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will co-headline the 2013 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival this summer alongside ROB ZOMBIE, with the tour kicking off in San Bernardino, California on June 29.

The new double disc follows up 2011's "American Capitalist", the group's third studio album and its third consecutive release to reach gold status for sales of half a million copies or more.

"Lift Me Up" (studio version) lyric video:

Santa Cruz metallers ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS will independently release their fifth full-length album, "Listen To The Color", this summer. The 15-song effort was recorded with Zach Ohren (ANIMOSITY, ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH, LIGHT THIS CITY) and features the return of original vocalist Remi Rodberg. Remi's vocals can be heard on early ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS releases like "Hits From The Bow" and "The Game Of Life", which were defining albums for the band and the genre itself. With the new material, look out for a faster, heavier, crazier, yet extremely focused ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS as the band looks to return to its roots, with Rodberg adding a key piece.

A video for the song "Beast Fist" can be seen below.

"Listen To The Color" track listing:

01. Setting Course For Disaster
02. When I Was Your Age Pluto Was Still A Planet
03. Bottle City
04. MK-ULTRA: Psychotropic Puppets
05. MK-DELTA: Glorified Killers (feat. ex- ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS vocalist/keyboardist Cameron Reed)
06. Disease Test The Best
07. Balloon Battle
08. Listen To The Color (feat. Robby Bancroft of FIVE CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN EXIT)
09. Beast Fist
10. Bardonis Chonies
11. Play The Sheep
12. My Newest Vision (feat. Rob Smith of HEAVY HEAVY LOW LOW/DOWNSTARIIS)
13. Ride The Wave (feat. Garin Rosen)
14. Watchers (feat. Kevin McCaughey of ION DISSONANCE)
15. Sunny Places For Shady People

"Motherland", the fourth album from ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS, was released in May 2011 via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at Castle Ultimate studios in Fremont, California with producer Zack Ohren (AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK, ALL SHALL PERISH).

GARTH ARUM, the side-project of Nightmarer, vocalist and guitarist of Spanish avant-garde black metallers AS LIGHT DIES will release their first full-length album, The Dawn Of A New Creation”, on June 24th through Satanath Records.

The versatile 11 tracks of this debut album were composed throughout the last fifteen years and feature some magnificent contributions from various vocalists. Cecilia Tallo from ON3RIC4 offers her angelic voice to both the opening and closing song, ‘A New Creation’ and ‘Trip (Part II)’ respectively, Lady Carrot from AEGRI SOMNIA lends her soprano vocals to ‘The Path To Oblivion’ and ‘Trip (Part I)’. Slo from SMOHALLA sings on ‘Rusty Hands’, while Camille Giraudeau also from Smohalla and STAGNANT WATERS contributes to ‘Yearned Freedom’.

The Dawn Of A New Creation tracklisting:

‘A New Creation’ (feat. Cecilia Tallo)
‘Shadows Of The Past’
‘A Barrage Of Hate’
‘The Path To Oblivion’ (feat. Lady Carrot)
‘Labyrinth Of Lies’
‘Rusty Hands’ (feat. Slo)
‘Trip (Part I)’ (feat. Lady Carrot)
‘Lucid Dreams’
‘Like An Angel’
‘Yearned Freedom’ (feat. Camille)
‘Trip (Part II)’ (feat. Cecilia Tallo)

Garth Arum has unveiled a new song ‘A Barrage Of Hate’ and is streaming on Bandcamp.

The Mighty Z of Capital Chaos TV conducted an interview with drummer Max Kolesne of Brazilian death metal veterans KRISIUN when the band played at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco, California on May 16. You can now watch the chat in two parts below. Also available is footage of the San Francisco concert.

KRISIUN's latest album, "The Great Execution", was released on October 31, 2011 in Europe and November 1, 2011 in North America via Century Media Records. The band's eighth studio CD "musically expands KRISIUN trademark high-speed death metal violence with a heavily increased amount of diversity ranging from extreme tempo variations over distinct rhythm patterns to clean guitars and even Flamenco parts!" according to a press release.

KRISIUN only used analog gear and instruments this time to avoid the compressed sound that so many musicians produce today. This wise decision resulted in a more organic sound, with the songs on "The Great Execution" possessing both warmth and rawness, which are so often lost through digital production. The low end is deeper, with drums that pound instead of bounce and guitar tones that sear rather than hiss.

Going back to Stage One Studio in Germany and working with producer Andy Classen again was the right choice: the album came out with a very distinctive and natural sound, shattering the boundaries of the style once more.

The cover artwork was created by Japanese artist Toshihiro Egawa who has been doing tons of great designs for acts like SUICIDE SILENCE, HEAVEN SHALL BURN, DEVOURMENT and DYING FETUS, among others.

"The Great Execution" was made available as a limited-edition digipack including a re-recorded version of the classic KRISIUN song "Black Force Domain" as a bonus track, as a 180-gram gatefold vinyl and as a digital download.

Classen previously worked with KRISIUN on the "Conquerors Of Armageddon" (1999), "AssasiNation" (2005) and "Southern Storm" (2008) releases.

Interview part 1:

Hungarian doomy-death-black combo VERILUN recently signed with Sliptrick Records.

Born in 2010 in Szombathely, Hungary, Verilun (whose name is taken from the Hunnic language and means "Blood moon", the Hunnish name of planet Mars) was formed by members of other well-known Hungarian bands.

Following few line-up adjustments and the Blood Moon EP, Verilun will enter the studio in July to start recording the new album. Drums will be recorded at Q Studio in Szombathely, Hungary, followed by different sessions in other recording facilities.

Verilun is:
Zoltan Sconberger (drums) ex-SEART BLISS
Krisztian Varga (guitar) ex-MONASTERY / HAYSEED
Gyorgy Varga (bass / vocal) ex-DALRIADA

For more info visit Facebook.

THE DOOMSAYER have inked a worldwide deal with Candlelight Records. The group, featuring ex-STIGMA members Stefano ‘Vlad’ Ghersi, Andrea Bailo, Flavio Magnaldi and Stefano Ghigliano, formed in 2012 and recorded their forthcoming, yet untitled, debut album between Ridgeway Studio, Oxfordshire, and Lambesis Studios in San Marcos, California.

Frontman Stefano "Vlad" Ghersi commented on the chance to sign with Candlelight Records saying: "Candlelight to us has always represented The Tradition in extreme music, having the chance to say we are now part of such a respected and hard working label is mind blowing. When we heard about Earth Crisis being signed to Candlelight and heard the label plans for us we couldn't hesitate a single moment. We're extremely proud of being where we are after one year we started this band, expect a lot more from us! See you on the road!"
More on The Doomsayer at this location.

ELECTRIC HELLRIDE is a band with deep roots in the Copenhagen underground environment and in their short lifespan they already played on the world's biggest metal festival, Wacken Open Air 2012.
The 2010 EP Charged is now being re-released by popular demand, under the title Recharged, with live-tracks from Wacken. Recharged comes with an extended booklet and the full Wacken Open Air 2012 show (audio only).
Recharged EP tracklisting:

'Obsessive Aggression'
'Installing The Virus'
'Unleash'
'Fighting Alone'
'Adiabatic Wrath' (live WOA 2012)
'Hatred Propaganda' (live WOA 2012)
'Exhaling Chaos' (live WOA 2012)
'Flesh Into Ash' (live WOA 2012)
Check out 'Exhaling Chaos' live from Wacken:

A preview of the whole Self Conscious Insanity album by Italian horror rockers/metallers Zombie Sam out on June 4th via Coroner Records has been released.

The album has been mixed and mastered by Ettore Rigotti at The Metal House Studio (DISARMONIA MUNDI, BLOOD STAIN CHILD, SLOWMOTION APOCALYPSE, DESTRAGE), produced, recorded and arranged by Alessio Neroargento at AExeron Media Studio. Sophia (former Blood Stain Child) and Alessio Neroargento appear as guest vocals on some tracks.

Self Conscious Insanity tracklisting:

‘A Hallow Tale’
‘Woman In White’
‘Never Betray’
‘Family Portrait’
‘Through The Looking Glass’
‘Retry’
‘The Awake’
‘Brake The Fate’
‘A Beautiful Zombie’
‘Stay Away From Me’
‘Unreal’
‘The End, For Now…’
‘A Hallow Tale’ (orchestral version, exclusive digipak bonus track)
A trailer of ‘A Hallow Tale’ video can be seen below:

French death/black metallers TEMPLE OF BAAL are currently giving the final touches to their fourth album. The recording sessions are taking place in Hybreed Studios with Andrew Guillotin (GLORIOR BELLI).
The new recording will consist of ten tracks with a running time of about one hour, and will be released by Agonia Records in the fall of 2013. The band describes the effort as "a blend between Lightslaying Rituals' (sophomore release) aggression, and the last split CD The Vision Of Fading Mankind's epic atmospheres."

A track off band's latest split CD, 'Ordeals Of The Void', is streaming below:
More on Temple Of Baal, including the band's live itinerary, at this location.

Former KITTIE bassist Ivy Vujic Jenkins has resurfaced in a brand new Lansing, Michigan-based metal band called SPEEDGOD.

SPEEDGOD is a heavy metal band created and established by Sean Von Tersch (ex-DEEPFIELD) on guitar, Ivy Vujic Jenkins on bass, Miles Green (ex-BETWEEN YOU AND ME, MYTHS AND LEGENDS) on drums, and Geoff Jenkins (ex-GWEN STACY, ONCE NOTHING) on vocals.

SPEEDGOD will make its live debut this coming Friday, June 7 at Uli's Haus Of Rock in Lansing. The band will be giving away its three-song demo, simply entitled "The 2013 Demos", for free to anyone who wants it. Physical copies of the demo will also be available for free on the SPEEDGOD web site (you pay shipping) beginning Thursday, June 6 at 6 p.m.

"The 2013 Demos" contains the following tracks:

* Liberation
* Hypocrisy (And Its Traitor)
* Duat

SPEEDGOD is currently in the process of booking appearances at several summer and fall music festivals as well as neighboring state event venues.

SPEEDGOD is:

Sean Von Tersch - Guitar
Ivy Jenkins - Bass
Miles Green - Drums
Geoff Jenkins - Vocals

"The Great Wonder", the new video from French metallers DAGOBA, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's fifth album, "Post Mortem Nihil Est", which was released in Europe on May 27 via Verycords and will be made available in North America on June 18 through eOne Music. The cover artwork for the CD was created by Seth Siro Anton and can be seen below.

Produced by former MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader in Los Angeles, "Post Mortem Nihil Est"s two grand opening tracks, "When Winter..." and "The Realm Black", raise the bar for the rest of the album yet the remaining songs are definitely able to match the high standard. "Kiss Me Kraken", with its strong, harmonious chorus, blends perfectly with the hard black metal, whereas the single, "The Great Wonder", confirms that "Post Mortem Nihil Est" contains a whole arsenal of heavy weapons ready to destroy everything in its path.

"Post Mortem Nihil Est" track listing:

01. When Winter...
02. The Realm Black
03. I, Reptile
04. Yes We Die
05. Kiss Me Kraken
06. Nevada
07. The Great Wonder
08. The Day After The Apocalypse
09. Son Of A Ghost
10. Oblivion Is For The Living
11. By The Sword

Guitarist Izakar announced his departure from DAGOBA in July 2012 due to "irreconcilable differences with one of the [other] bandmembers."

DAGOBA's fourth album, "Poseidon", entered the official chart in France at position No. 41. Released on August 30, 2010 via the French label XIII Bis Records, the CD was recorded at Hyperion Studio in Marseille, France with "Brew" Varea and was mixed by Dave Chang at Philia Studio in the U.K.

Brazilian metallers ALMAH, featuring ex-ANGRA singer Edu Falaschi, officially announces start of the recordings for their fourth full-length CD, the follow-up to Motion (2011).

Last weekend Almah’s drummer, Marcelo Moreira, entered the studio AML in his home city Florianopolis, Brazil to record drum parts for the new studio album of the band, as-yet-untitled. The drums are being recorded with experienced sound engineer and producer Alexei Leão (also the vocalist of STOMENTAL).

According to Moreira: "We have chosen AML studio due to various reasons. First of all, we have taken into account the quality of its equipment and a very good choice of instruments, besides the professionalism of Alexei. Also, the studio has a very good location: inside an hotel in 800m from the beach (don’t forget, we stay in Florianopolis, a very nice city on the seashore with 42 beaches!). The place is easy to access and it has everything for the work and for the rest.

"Well, this time we’ve assembled a drum kit in an exotic way to have an opportunity to create different grooves. Besides the special character, the kit is really giant!", continues Moreira. "It has 4 snares, (10”, 12”, 13” and 14”), 3 toms (8”, 10” and 12”), 3 floor toms (14”, 16” and 18”), 2 bass drums (2 - 20”), 1 gong bass (22”), 1 timbales (12”) and 1 cowbell. We use drumheads by Brazilian company RMV and cymbals by Turkish brand Murat Diril, series Black Sea. I’m using 3 crashes (16”, 17” e 18”), 2 chinas (2 de 18”), 1 ride (20”), 2 hi hats (12” e 14”) and 1 Orbit Stacks (10”).

"So, I’m seeking to work with different grooves more and more, mixing the toms and floor toms during the grooves. All this helps to create good and different grooves mixed with fast and technical parts."

After the drums are finished Almah will continue working in Do It! Studio in São Paulo (a new studio established by Edu and Tito Falaschi) later in June. The new CD is planned to be released in the second half of 2013. On September 19th Almah will play at one of the most influential music festivals worldwide, Rock In Rio.

In the meantime, pre-production videos with some snippets of the new material can be seen below:

After almost a year without any updates, ex-RIOT frontman Mike DiMeo's MIDAS FATE has announced their new line-up, which now includes ex-ANGRA drummer Aquiles Priester. Check out the clip below of Priester playing the new Midas Fate track, 'Stillborn Reason'. The clip is taken from his forthcoming DVD, Aquiles Priester's 100 Top Drum Fills.

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Midas Fate is:

Mike DiMeo - vocals
Aquiles Priester - drums
Vitor Campos - guitars
Renato Videira - bass

More on Midas Fate at this location.

Danish metal quintet PSY:CODE will release their second album, entitled Cause And Neglect, on June 10th via Mighty Music.
Cause And Neglect has been three years underway since their debut album, Delusion, in 2010. Since the debut album, Psy:code has been sharpening their tools to deliver 12 new tracks. The album was pre-recorded in Psy:code’s headquarters - an old wartime bunker a little outside of Copenhagen. Drum tracking was done in Hansen studios and as on Delusion, the process of mixing and mastering was put in the trusted hands of Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, RAUNCHY, MERCENARY, etc.).

Musically, Cause And Neglect blends technical riffing, atmospheric passages, progressive structures and hardcore metal. Lyrically the album gives the listener an inside look at the deranged thoughts of five individuals.
Cause And Neglect tracklisting:

'No:100'
'My Sick Redemption'
'Creator/Destroyer'
'Open For The Taking'
'First In Line'
'Trapped In Time: Stretched'
'The Sky Is The Limit'
'Hellish Tensions'
'Speak Up'
'Above'
'Senseless Patterns'
'The Source Of Light'

'Trapped In Time: Stretched' video:
More on Psy:code at this location.