DJEVEL, from Oslo, Norway, will release their sophomore album, Besatt Av Maane Og Natt, on May 31st via Aftermath Music. Listen to the new track 'Stjernesluker' now:
The tracklisting and cover art are as follows:

'Besatt Av Maane Og Natt'
'Tornekroner Og Geitehorn'
'Og Englene Dinglet Fra Galgene...'
'Stjernesluker'
'Marefar'
'Aapne Kister Og Tomme Graver'
'Saa Tok Alt Slutt'

Romanian progressive death metallers ILLUMINATI have made available for streaming a new song featuring Patrick Mameli from PESTILENCE. The song 'Please Lose' can be heard below:
Illuminati will release the self-titled album on April 30th. Mixing and mastering have been done by Tymon Kruidenier (EXIVIOUS, ex-CYNIC) and drum parts were recorded with the producer Marius Costache (WHITE WALLS, AVATAR, MEDIOCRACY).
Illuminati line-up is:
Andrei Popa (ex-NEGURA BUNGET, CYBORG, MY SHADOW) - vocals, guitar, synthesizer
Peter Ifitimie (SPECTRAL, ex-Cyborg, SHADOW RISING) - guitar
Matthew Tibacu-Blend (LOST SOCIETY, Cyborg) - drums, bass, percussion, vocals, other instruments

For more details visit Facebook.

Sweden's FATAL SMILE wants to use video footage filmed by the real fans of DIO in the video for their next single titled 'For The Last In Line', a ballad about Ronnie James Dio and the legacy he left behind.

Fatal Smile did a brief tour with Dio in Europe 2009. "We all fell in love with Ronnie, he was the sweetest and most gentle man you could ever imagine,"says singer Blade. "Mr Y (guitarist) left the room in silence, and later revealed the first piano piece we've ever heard him play. It was a sad little tune and the lyrics came to me right away. I recorded it with tears in my eyes the same night and sent it to Diana Deville of Dios management. She thought it should be released, so it was released the very next day digitally. The recording belongs to Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, and the revenues from it goes uncut the the foundations fight against cancer."

The song is available below:
The song was later rerecorded as a full on power ballad and is included on Fatal Smile's latest Gold album, 21st Century Freaks, that was released last May.

The video 'For The Last In Line' will be released on the day of Dio's passing due to cancer three years ago: May 16.

If you want to see your clip of Dio in the tribute video, send a link to your clip on YouTube or any other outlet to: info@fatalsmile.com.

Finnish melodic heavy rockers SOULHEALER have released their first-ever official video for the song 'The Deception', taken from their new album, Chasing The Dream, due out on May 10th via Pure Legend Records. . Check out the clip written, directed, shot and edited by Niko Saarela and Arttu Hypén, both students at the Kainuu Vocational College, below:
Soulhealer will hold a pre-release party in their hometown Kajaani on May 4th at Bio Rex. The event takes place at the Bio Rex movie theatre. The band will be there to present the whole album to the public for the first time. The event is free of charge, there will be free drinks and small snacks, but invitations are limited. For all who want to come to the pre-listening but are not able to get the invitation locally can contact the band at info@soulhealermusic.com. Later on the Saturday, Soulhealer will play a pre-release gig in Rock House Kulma.
Janne Tolsa from Note-On Studio is responsible for the sound, he mixed and mastered the whole album. The cover artwork is from Timo Wuerz, and can be seen below:
Tracklisting:

'Wicked Moon'
'Don’t Look Back'
'The Deception'
'Chasing A Dream'
'Done For Good'
'Ties Of Time'
'Never Turn My Back On You'
'Finally Free'
'Into The Fire'
'Smoke & Mirrors'

'Don't Look Back' is available for streaming/download below:
Soulhealer lineup:

Pasi Laakkonen - bass
Jani Nyman - drums
Sami Mikkonen - guitars
Teemu Kuosmanen - guitars, backing vocals
Jori Kärki - vocals
More on Soulhealer at this location.

Italian tech/prog metallers GARDENJIA have signed a deal with Memorial Records for the release of their debut album, entitled EPO, which will be available from May 23rd on all digital stores.
Good songs and an excellent instrumental technique, Gardenjia present their debut album: “We are extremely honored and happy for our deal with Memorial Records, a young and dynamic label putting quality and originality in the first place. We recorded, mixed and mastered EPO, our first album, completely by ourselves and finally our creation will be a worthy support. EPO is our manifesto. The inclusion of the melody, in a context of sound violence, apocalyptic scenarios, traveling within our dark side, and then the ascent... ('Ascension').”
EPO tracklisting:

'Epica'
'Ante rem'
'In Blue'
'Shapes Of Greys'
'Touch Of Glory'
'Fire Walk With Me'
'Giada'
'In Dusk'
'Epo'
'Ascension'

Check out an album trailer below:
More on Gardenjia at this location.

It is no secret that Montreal is a hotbed of metal innovation, encompassing a wide spectrum of brutality, technical innovation and avant-garde ideas that many scenes do well to envy. Still, genre conventions being what they are, many musicians are left with that nagging question in the back of their minds... “what if we just went all out, no boundaries?” Enter: TERAMOBIL.

Comprised of Dominic 'Forest' Lapointe (AUGURY, BEYOND CREATION, etc) on 6-string bass, Mathieu Bérubé (UNHUMAN) on guitar and Alexandre Dupras (Unhuman, THE PLASMARIFLE) on drums, Teramobil is an uncompromising amalgam of technical metal, progressive rock, jazz fusion, psychedelic trips and... pretty much anything else you can think of.
Jokingly dubbing their instrumental style “InYourFaceExtremeDoomCountryMathTechniCore”, Teramobil have, since beginning writing in the fall of 2010, come up with a full serving of challenging music that above all remains clear, concise and listenable despite its extreme level of complexity. The band's first offering, in the form of the 6-song EP Multispectral Supercontinuum, saw the light of day in March 2013. It will be followed by a full-length album in the near future.

Teramobil have managed to generate an immediate buzz about their live show by earning opening slots for such acts as BENEATH THE MASSACRE and BEHOLD THE ARCTOPUS, all the while showing they can go toe-to-toe with these established acts without breaking a sweat.

Fans of the aforementioned Behold The Arctopus, as well as ANIMALS AS LEADERS, BLOTTED SCIENCE, CONVERGE and more: you have been notified, a new wave of exploration is here, and it's called Teramobil.
Multispectral Supercontinuum EP tracklisting:

'Terawatt'
'Temporaly Recompressed Pulse'
'Molecular Spectrometry'
'Multispectrum supercontinuum'
'Lightbeam Diverge'
'Regulator Prism'

The EP is streaming below:

Multispectral Supercontinuum by Teramobil

Check out a teaser video below:
More on Teramobil at this location.

A discovery has been made in the vault of melodic mathcore band LOOK WHAT I DID - a high quality, HD-enabled version of the band's 2005 music video for the title track of the Koch/Combat release Minuteman For The Moment has been uncovered. Previously, only a butchered, distorted, low quality version, dated back to '05, was available on YouTube. Now, fans can watch the video as it looked when it played on MTV 2's Headbanger's Ball back in the olden days when music videos still played on television. The video was directed by ROBOSHOBO, who later went on to direct videos for MASTODON and METALLICA.

Check it out below:
Look What I Did is hard at work in the studio finishing up an upcoming spring/summer rock opera vinyl release entitled Zanzibar III: Analog Prison.

The sixth full-length album from progressive/avant-garde metal band EPHEL DUATH will be released later this year via Agonia Records. The follow up to On Death and Cosmos (EP, 2012) will introduce a line-up change in the rhythmic section. All bass parts have already been recorded by Bryan Beller (MIKE KENEALLY, STEVE VAI, DETHKLOK, THE ARISTOCRATS, JAMES LA BRIE, DWEEZIL ZAPPA) in replacement of Steve Di Giorgio (SADUS, TESTAMENT, DEATH, ICED EARTH) . Marco Minnemann returns playing drums for Ephel Duath bringing the creative relationship between drums and guitars to a dynamism never reached before by the band.
According to a recent press release, "the album itself can easily be described as a new mountain-sized challenge in Ephel Duath's career, that Davide Tiso (founder/guitarist) - along with the support of vocalist Karyn Crisis - is taking step by step in order to reach the zenith."

According to a new update from the band: "Ephel Duath's new album will feature the best artwork this band have ever had. Ephel Duath's visual artist Dehn Sora in collaboration with the obscure Aeron Alfrey put together something very, very special this time around. The cover art and the images included in the booklet complete the music in such a magic way and a very well defined vibe has been reached this time around: my vibe. Most album born with the intention of freeze a specific moment in time. Most musician are excited to share their albums to show to the world where they are at. Now. I'm excited to give you this new Ephel Duath album because it represents me. With this new album I'm giving you the key to the place in my head where I hide, not just a representation of "who I am today as a musician."

BABYMETAL, the heavy metal offshoot of the Japanese pop idol group SAKURA GAKUIN that performs a distinctly Japanese mix of schoolgirl J-pop and death metal, will release a new single, "Megitsune", on June 19. The song is said to combine traditional Japanese instruments with metal overtones and an enka ballad to create a festive sound. The theme of the track is "women are born actresses." Four different versions will be made available for fans to purchase: a limited "Tsu", limited "Ki", and a limited "Ne" edition, as well as a less expensive regular edition. The limited versions will come with bonus videos from the BABYMETAL live events that were held from 2012 to early 2013.

BABYMETAL will embark on the "Death Match Tour 2013" in May and will be accompanied by a "full metal band."

BABYMETAL released its first major single, "Ijime, Dame, Zettai", on January 9. The video for the track can be seen below.

BABY METAL is:

Su-Metal - Vocals and Dance
Moametal - Screamer and Dance
Yuimetal - Screamer and Dance

"Death Match Tour 2013" trailer:

Progressive rockers URIAH HEEP will be rejoined by an old friend for a limited run of dates in May 2013 when they tour The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. John Lawton, who was lead vocalist between 1976 and 1979, will reunite with the group to cover for Bernie Shaw, who requires some time off for a routine medical procedure. John had already been confirmed to perform as a one-off guest at an outdoor amphitheatre HEEP show in Spain on July 12. This show at San Javier will now feature both singers and will serve as an occasion for the band to thank John. As the shows will be recorded for official bootlegs, it promises to be a real treat for the fans. The sets will be skewed to songs reflecting John's original tenure with the band, a celebration of classic 1970s URIAH HEEP. this will be a unique chance to catch such a nostalgic performance, fronted by an ex-URIAH HEEP legend, always a friend of the band, who has returned while Bernie Shaw recuperates.

Commented Bernie (pictured below): "To all the lifelong fans and followers of URIAH HEEP, I'm afraid I'm being forced to step back from position of lead singer of one of the best damn rock and roll bands on the live circuit today, albeit for just a couple of weeks rehabilitation, due to medical reasons.

"In order to fulfil contractual obligations, we came up with the idea of contacting John Lawton to ask if he would do the legacy proud, so to speak and do the shows that I won't be able to do. He's got the history, and by God, he still has the voice! John and I will be sharing the same stage and singing together in San Javier, Spain later on this summer. 'Till then, I feel I'm leaving you in very capable hands, and a rare chance to see John singing songs from his era in this present lineup. I am most indebted to John and salute his passion."

In true HEEP style, the gig schedule is as busy as ever. The "Nail On The Head" tour has already seen the band perform 10 acclaimed shows across the U.K. and the band will have performed across much of Europe by the time they take the Download stage — helping to kick things off in style with an appearance on the opening date, June 14.

Originally founded by Mick Box in 1969, URIAH HEEP is truly one of the pivotal classic acts that helped define the rock sound and an era. Part of the fabled "Big Four" alongside LED ZEPPELIN, BLACK SABBATH and DEEP PURPLE, the HEEP story still has a long way to go. With classic songs like "Lady In Black", "Gypsy", "Easy Livin'" and "Stealin'" full of ambition, sophisticated writing, memorable tunes and, of course, the vocals — the five-part harmonies were a clear influence on the operatics of QUEEN.

URIAH HEEP was the first Western rock band to perform in Russia, they have headlined at stadiums worldwide: truly they've ensured their place at rock's top table. With Mick Box always at the helm, URIAH HEEP tours all over the world and is one of music's most exciting and reliable live acts.

In a more-than-40-year career, URIAH HEEP has released 23 studio albums and sold more than 40 million units; the most recent release was 2011's "Into The Wild".

While the band is thrilled to welcome back an old friend in John Lawton, the HEEP story rolls on, and more new music is to come soon.

"Resurrect Me", the new album from female vocalist Pamela Moore, who is best known for her performance as Sister Mary on QUEENSRŸCHE's 1988 epic release "Operation: Mindcrime" and 2006's sequel "Operation: Mindcrime II", will be released on May 14 via Rat Pak Records.

"Resurrect Me" is described in a press release as "an album written in timeless fashion that explores a creative landscape missed by the music industry. [It] is a masterpiece in collaborative effort showcasing powerful, yet intimate vocal imagery, paired with monstrous power metal grooves, and uncompromising musicianship. The album explores the compelling, the infectious and the dramatic. It connects with the listener on a personal level from the first listen."

"Resurrect Me" is collaboration between Moore and Michael Posch, one of Chicago's favorite power metal guitar players who made noise as a founding member of Century Media artists RADAKKA, and was hand-picked by Moore while living in Chicago. While doing shows with the Pamela Moore band, discussions about the direction of Pamela's next work were tossed about. As discussions continued, so many of the traits and concepts were so purely engrained in Posch's own style, it seemed a divine movement was at hand. Early demo work showed a collective vision and energy that was impossible to ignore.

Even after deciding to return to Seattle as a permanent base, and what seemed to be the end of a chapter, Moore requested to continue focus work with Posch, in hopes of letting the addictive collection of songs continue to develop. Both were reluctant to close the book on the collective focus that was manifesting. Magic was being made and something pushed the pair onward. The album survived location changes, loss of financial support due to the economic times, personal highs and lows, and sheer distance… to finally overcome... and achieve a polish, and brightness, that goes beyond any hardship endured in the crafting … and the character that was built thru the labor, is deeply present in the recordings.

"Resurrect Me" represents a power metal album that will ring in your head for days after listening. Song after song take you down paths of atmospheric, dark, but passionate and blood pumping metal. It's sure to satisfy Moore's QUEENSRŸCHE contingent of fans, but this moves beyond.. into a level of energy all its own. It even boasts a heavyweight guest list, including a solo from shred royalty Jeff Loomis (ex-NEVERMORE) and a duet with master vocalist Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR, GAMMA RAY).

"Resurrect Me" track listing:

01. Acquiescent
02. Melt Into You
03. Paranoia
04. We Are Damaged
05. Resurrect Me
06. The Sky Is Falling
07. Awakening
08. Breaking Down
09. Desperate By Design
10. Wide Awake (Phoenix Rising)

The song "The Sky Is Falling" can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

For pre-order bundles and sound samples, go to this location.

French metallers DAGOBA will release their fifth album, "Post Mortem Nihil Est", in Europe on May 27 via Verycords and in North America on June 14 through earMUSIC. 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

A trailer for the album can be seen below.

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.

Century Media Records has announced the signing of Swedish singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer extraordinaire Dan Swanö to a long-term worldwide deal.

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.

Dan Swanö comments on the signing: "It's been 23 years since I signed my first-ever record-deal, but never before have I been this excited... I have now signed with Century Media Records!

"I bought the first release from Century Media back in 1989, and it is amazing to see how much the label has grown over the years.

"After working with Century Media for a few compilation CDs and for two and a half albums with BLOODBATH, I knew it would be the perfect home for me whenever I felt like returning to the recording-industry as a performer again. And now...I am back! With a vengeance!!!"

The first result of the new cooperation between Dan Swanö and Century Media will be the release of his newly founded metal outfit WITHERSCAPE, which sees Dan teaming with another talented multi-instrumentalist, Ragnar Widerberg, to create an intense concept album — which should not only musically please fans of earlier Swanö works like "Moontower" and EDGE OF SANITY, but also attract fans of contemporary progressively atmospheric metal in the vein of OPETH, BARREN EARTH and AMORPHIS.

Swanö comments on the upcoming WITHERSCAPE album: "I have just completed the final mixes of the first album from my new project WITHERSCAPE. Fans of my 'Moontower' album and the catchier parts of EDGE OF SANITY won't be disappointed! I sing, both clean and growl, play drums and keyboards. Ragnar Widerberg plays all guitars & bass and has co-written almost all the tracks with me."

Look forward to a late July 2013 release for WITHERSCAPE's "The Inheritance" via Century Media.

Photo credit: Erik Ohlsson

Pioneers of Finnish black metal BLACK CRUCIFIXION have released the first video from their new album, Coronation Of King Darkness, which is out now via Spinefarm Records on vinyl, CD and digital versions. Check out 'Millions of Twigs Guide Your Way Through the Forest' below:
Coronation Of King Darkness entered the official Finnish album charts at #40.
Coronation Of King Darkness features the following tracks:

'Coronation of King Darkness'
'What the Night Birds Sang'
'Heroes End Up on Gallows'
'Millions of Twigs Guide Your Way Through the Forest'
'Threefold'
'In the Bright Light of Night I Await the Turning Tide'
'Lodestar'
'Thieves'

Check out the track 'What the Night Birds Sang' below:
For more details on Black Crucifixion visit Facebook here.

Puerto Rico’s death metal machine SEVERE MUTILATION has posted a lyric video for the song 'I Kill For God' off their new album Spawn Of Hatred, due out on May 5th.

Spawn Of Hatred will be distributed worldwide by Khaosmaster productions. Artwork was done by Greek artist Gianni Nakos from Remedy Art (ZAFAKON, MORTAL TORMENT, REINCARNATION).

Tracklist for Spawn Of Hatred:

'God Is Not Here Today (Intro)'
'Practice What You Preach'
'Unholy Inquisition'
'Spawn Of Hatred'
'All Respect For Life Is Lost'
' The Faceless Horde'
'I Kill For God'
'Fuck The World And Bring On The Hate'
'How The Few Ruled The Many'
'My Misery Shall Be Your Tragedy'

Listen to the track 'All Respect For Life Is Lost' below:

The official video for "Live It Up", a brand new song from Australian hard rockers AIRBOURNE, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's third album, "Black Dog Barking", which will be released on May 21 via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to 2010's "No Guts. No Glory." was produced by Brian Howes, who has previously worked with HINDER, DAUGHTRY and PUDDLE OF MUDD.

The Full Throttle edition of "Live It Up" will be made available for the opening of Full Throttle at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, the tallest, fastest looping roller coaster in the world. The track will be released to rock radio in late spring, followed by its in-park debut at Six Flags Magic Mountain with the ride opening. The Full Throttle edition of "Live It Up" will be featured throughout the newly themed five-acre section of the park where guests will experience high-energy action through fast-paced imagery, sound and lights, with additional music featuring various Roadrunner artists. The launch will be further supported nationally in all theme parks, Roadrunner and Six Flags online and social media channels, live events and press outreach.

AIRBOURNE's infectious music has been used in more than 20 video games, countless films, trailers and more.

AIRBOURNE is Joel O'Keeffe (vocals/lead guitar), Ryan O'Keeffe (drums), David Roads (guitar) and Justin Street (bass).

"Live It Up" video:

Spanish modern metallers NODRAMA have released a new video, for the track 'Untouchable Treasure', taken from their album, The Patient, available via Coroner Records. See the new clip below:
The Patient includes 11 tracks, and was mastered at Cutting Room Studios, Sweden.

Tracklisting is as follows:

‘The Bite’
‘Tail Nailed Fish’
‘Visions
‘One More Step’
‘Power Of Lavishness’
‘Waiting’
‘Undefined’
‘The Patient’
‘All Behind’
‘Believer’
‘Untouchable Treasure’

The video for ‘Power Of Lavishness’ can be seen below:
Upcoming live dates include:

April
20 - Haro, Spain - Sala Brutal Zone

May (with VICIOUS RUMORS, THE ORDER OF CHAOS)
7 - Osabrück, Germany - Bastard Club
8 - Hamburg, Germany - Bambi Balore
9 - Keblenz, Germany - Florinsmarkt
10 - Duisburg, Germany - Glückaufhalle
11 - Milan, Italy - Black Rose Saloon
12 - Obermarchtal, Germany - Kreuz

May
18 - Bilbao, Spain - Bilbao Ablaze Fest
25 - Donostia (Herriko Burdina), Spain - Doka Kafe Antzokia (with Elbereth, Hilotz)
More on NoDrama at this location.

"Whispers Of Heresy", a brand new song from the Chicagoland-based band STARKILL, can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. Featuring a unique blend of symphonic black metal, power metal, and melodic death metal, the track comes off the group's full-length album, "Fires Of Life", which is due out April 29 in Europe and April 30 in North America via Century Media Records. The CD artwork was created by renowned metal artist Joshua Belanger and it "properly portrays the epic musical styling of the band," according to a press release.

"Fires of Life" track listing

01. Whispers Of Heresy
02. Fires Of Life
03. Sword, Spear, Blood, Fire
04. Below The Darkest Depths
05. Immortal Hunt
06. New Infernal Rebirth
07. Strength In The Shadow
08. This Is Battle; This Is Our Day
09. Withdrawn From All Humanity
10. Wash Away The Blood With Rain

Right after "Fires of Life" is released, STARKILL will head out on tour with HYPOCRISY, KRISIUN, ABORTED, and ARSIS. The band will also play a few headlining and supporting shows after their stint on the trek.

STARKILL was formed at the tail end of 2008 by Parker Jameson, Spencer Weidner and Charlie Federici. The band makes no qualms about wearing their influences on their sleeves. They combine what they love — melodic death metal, shredding guitars, blasting drum beats and the epic sounds of modern film scores — and make some of the most promising metal music heard this side of the Atlantic in years.

STARKILL is:

Parker Jameson: Lead Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards, Orchestral Programming
Spencer Weidner: Drums
Charlie Federici: Guitar
Mike Buetsch: Bass

"Whispers Of Heresy" audio stream:

German gothic/electro rockers STAHLMANN’s new album Adamant, will be released through AFM records on April 19th. Check out the cover art and tracklisting below.
Adamant tracklisting:

‘Die Welt Verbrennt’
‘Suchtig’
‘Wenn Der Regen Kommt’
‘Schwarz’ (featuring Teufel / Tanzwut)
‘Leuchtfeuer’
‘Adrenalin’
‘Der Schmied’
‘Paradies’
‘Nackt’
‘Tempel Der Lust’
‘Damonin’
‘Traumfrau’ (bonus digipack)
‘Licht’ (bonus digipack)

A new album trailer can be seen below:

For more info on Stahlmann visit this location.

Pennsylvanian rockers HALESTORM took part in an acoustic performance earlier this month at the studios of the 100.3 The X Rocks radio station in Boise, Idaho. You can now watch video footage of the session below.

The members of HALESTORM told Swedish web site Metalshrine that the band has finished recording its second covers EP. The follow-up to 2011's "ReAnimate" will be out sometime in the next few months, "probably summer," according to singer Lzzy Hale. While she and guitarist Joe Hottinger did not reveal the track list, Hale said that the EP will feature "a few things that I didn't think we'd pull off, but I think we did." The band recorded seven songs, with six likely to make the final release.

Hale said about covering the songs, "We're definitely building each one in our own way. Sometimes that's hard, but we learned a lot as musicians by doing that. You can take the 'Oh, is this a good song?' thing out of it because it's already a proven song, so you just have fun and experiment."

Hale told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago why she thinks so many bands enjoy playing cover songs. "It's a reminiscent thing of when you're trying to make it and coming up in the club scene and also maybe it's kind of nostalgic, like when you're first learning how to play guitar, some of the songs that you used to jam to with your bandmates, and it's really cool," she said."

The "ReAnimate" EP featured remakes of songs by SKID ROW, GUNS N' ROSES, LADY GAGA and THE BEATLES.

HALESTORM, which won the Grammy in February for "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance", is currently on the road in the U.S. as part of "HardDrive Live Tour" with BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE.

"Shallow Grave", a brand new song from A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH, the band featuring Brooklyn, New York native Sal Abruscato — who played drums on three TYPE O NEGATIVE albums ("Slow, Deep & Hard", "Origin Of The Feces", "Bloody Kisses"), as well as four LIFE OF AGONY releases ("River Runs Red", "Ugly", "River Runs Again", "Broken Valley") — on guitar and vocals, can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. The track comes off A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH's sophomore album, "Lay My Soul To Waste", which will be released on May 21 in North America, May 24 in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and May 27 in the rest of Europe via Steamhammer/SPV. The group has once again commissioned famed artist Sam Shearon (a.k.a. Mister-Sam; ROB ZOMBIE, FEAR FACTORY, RAMMSTEIN) to create the artwork for the CD, which was mastered on January 17 by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York City.

According to a press release, "Lay My Soul To Waste" "keeps A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH's patented signature formula of slow, deliberate sludge and head-down doom intact and as flawlessly executed as ever. Think ALICE IN CHAINS, only harder, angrier and with a more perverse view of the world, as if they were reared in a row house in Bensonhurst, as opposed to the rainy landscape of Seattle, all the while feasting on a steady diet of BLACK SABBATH records."

Abruscato is open about the fantasy that dominates his lyrical point of view. He admits that all songs "have a line to reality…things that could and do happen every day." But like any skilled storyteller, Abruscato likes pushing buttons. His lyrics are no different than the narratives of the horror movie playing at your local multiplex. It's largely fiction, with some nuggets or kernels of truth embedded within.

Musically, the record matches that pallor and "will hit you in the gut." There are more harmonies this time out, and the piano is a bit more front and center, while guitarist Eddie Heedles contributed some leads. But for the most part, the formula remained largely untouched. "If it's not broken, don't fix it,'" Abruscato said, matter-of-factly. "We wanted to display the advancements, musically and artistically, and retain the core element."

"Lay My Soul To Waste" track listing:

01. Lay My Soul To Waste
02. Shallow Grave
03. The Needle In You
04. In The Sleeping Death
05. Killer By Night
06. Growing Old
07. Dead Of Winter
08. Devil Came With A Smile
09. Day Of The Storm
10. DMSLT
11. Cold Dark Mourning

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH's debut album, "And Hell Will Follow Me", came out in 2011.

The band made its live debut on February 20, 2011 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey as the support act for MONSTER MAGNET and SEVENTH VOID.

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH is:

Sal Abruscato - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Matt Brown – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Johnny Kelly - Drums
Eric Morgan - Bass
Eddie Heedles - Guitar

For more information, visit www.apalehorsenameddeath.com.

Rachel McArthur of GulfNews.com's Tabloid! in United Arab Emirates recently conducted an interview with METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On METALLICA's first performance of 2013, which took place in Brisbane, Australia as part of the Soundwave festival:

Hammett: "I really enjoy playing live shows; anyone that asks me what the best aspect of being a musician is, I tell them it's playing live. It is enormously satisfying writing songs, and not so fun for me in the studio, because I am bit ADD. But playing live is where I thrive.

"I get the most satisfaction playing in front of the audience; really locking in with the power and energy of the band. Looking back at one of the last shows we played in 2012, I wasn't in a really good head space, and I don't think I delivered the type of show that I wanted to deliver — but I wanted to prove to myself that I still had it in me in 2013. So I put 120 per cent into the performance, and it was a great. I had a great time and the Brisbane audience was fantastic."

"It is always good to have a few months off and recharge the batteries and spend time with the family and re-prioritise. In my time off, I took a few steps away from the band and from my career and just thought about my priorities. It's important for me to do that from time to time, as I have been guilty of not doing that in the past.

"For us to do the things we set out to do, it's important that we find a balance, so that we do not feel strained or out of balance. It's really important to re-charge that energy, and recharge that fulfilment factor."

On METALLICA's longevity:

Hammett: "With us, chemistry is everything. And there's certain chemistry in the band that allows us to function, at a certain frequency. That frequency is a lot more unique than the frequency a lot of other bands have.

"We're very lucky that we're in a position where we have complete creative control over all of the things that come in and go out of METALLICA. It's a very, very special sort of thing in that other bands do not have what we have. There's a chemistry that allows us to focus on everything as a group; all four of us are expected to input."

On METALLICA's plan to release the follow-up to 2008's "Death Magnetic" in 2014:

Hammett: "That's what we're hoping would happen. Whether that's a reality, we'll see. We're recording stuff here and there, but it's a pretty slow process."

On METALLICA's upcoming full-length 3D movie, "Metallica Through The Never", directed by Nimród Antal:

Hammett: "That's kind of taking precedent over anything else at the moment. We want to make sure that this movie gets our full attention and it turns out the way we want it to turn out.

"There's going to be a point when most movies are going to be released in 3D. The genre is just beginning, and we feel that it's going to be the future. There's very little behind-the-scenes footage, and there are no interviews with the band. It's a concert performance and there's a story narrative that weaves in and out with the footage. It's interconnected in a way. It's very unique in that you don't have duality in it — it's intertwined that it becomes one entity. We're very excited about it, because we feel nothing like it has been done before."

"From the footage we've seen, it looks pretty amazing. It is a trip seeing yourself in 3D, that's for sure! Actually, it's a trip seeing yourself on a 25-feet cinema screen to begin with. The 3D aspect makes it all that much intense."

"Making a movie is such a different journey to making an album. With the movie there are a lot more cooks in the kitchen so to speak. With the music, you can just let in the cooks, close the door, and no one else can come in. With the movie, you cannot lock that door. It's a revolving door; there are people coming in and people going out. So we're adjusting to that."

On Middle Eastern fans' struggle to get their hands on METALLICA's music:

Hammett: "It's important for people to get to the music; whether people pay for the music, or they hear music free on the radio or whatever, it's important to hear our music and hear our art. We're obviously not pleased with a lot of piracy that goes on, because it directly affects us as artists and as musicians. And people would argue with us on that point until the cows come home, but at the end of the day, we are the ones that are directly affected by it.

"No one has the right to tell us that it doesn't affect us. But at the end of the day, it's important for people to listen to our music and experience our art. If they find out that they like what they do, then they'll come see us or spread the word of the METALLICA."

Read the entire interview from GulfNews.com.

Minneapolis, MN-based dark metallers COLD COLOURS will release their self-titled CD via Sleaszy Rider Records on May 31st. A release party/show for the album is planned for June15th at Station 4, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Cold Colours tracklisting:

'Orifice'
'Disgust'
'The Process Of Dying'
'This Devotion'
'Suffering God'
'A Loss Of Faith'
'Of Sand And Tears'
'Silent Speech'
'Cold Colours' (ROTTING CHRIST cover)

Cold Colours' fourth album was recorded at 14:59 Studios in Minneapolis by Will Maravelas and Zach Leteurneau and mastered by the legendary Dan Swanö (ex-EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE) at Unisound in Sweden.

"The new album finds Cold Colour bringing back the dark and doomy roots after many years," according to mainman Brian J. Huebner.

Stream the album below:

Cold Colours by Cold Colours

More on Cold Colours at this location.

Italy's MESMERIZE has released another song from their 25th anniversary album, Paintropy, due out this month via Punishment 18 Records. Check out
'Monkey In Sunday Best' below:
Paintropy features the following tracklisting:

'It Happened Tomorrow'
'2.0.3.6.'
'A Desperate Way Out'
'Monkey In Sunday Best'
'Midnight Oil / Within Without'
'One Door Away'
'Paintropy'
'Shadows At The Edge Of Perception'
'Mrs. Judas'
'You Know I Know'
'Masterplan'
'Promises' (THE CRANBERRIES cover)

The official lyric video for the song '2.0.3.6.' can be viewed below:
"Paintropy is a word that combines the concepts of Pain and Entropy" - says guitarist Piero Paravidino, "and it refers to a chaotic and painful state of mind, coming from the aggregation of negative events or emotions. In turn, this state can cause a reaction of total inertia or the exact opposite, unleashing a downright furious transformation. These concepts will be depicted both in the songs and in the graphics of the album."

On April 10th, Swedish/Danish sextet AMARANTHE performed in Milan, Italy at the Alcatrazz. Fan-filmed video from the show is available below:
The band's 2013 tour schedule is currently as follows:

April
26 - Arctica Club - Saint Petersburg, Russia
27 - Moscow Hall - Moscow, Russia

May
14 - Club Quattro - Tokyo, Japan
15 - Club Quattro - Tokyo, Japan
17 - Club Quattro - Osaka, Japan
24 - Bandit Boat 15 - Stockholm, Sweden

June
7 - Sweden Rock - Solvesborg, Sweden
15 - Nova Rock - Nickelsdorf, Austria
29 - Graspop Metal Meeting - Dessel, Belgium
30 - Tuska Open Air - Helsinki, Finland

July
6 - Metaltown - Gothenburg, Sweden

August
3 - Kuopio Rockcock - Kuopio, Finland
9 - ARTmania Festival - Sibiu, Romania
10 - Getaway Rock Festival - Gävle, Sweden
24 - Falkenbergs Rockfest - Falkenberg, Sweden

Amaranthe released their new album The Nexus in North America on March 26th. The album has hit #1 on the iTunes metal charts in the US.
The Nexus was recorded, mixed and mastered once again by Jacob Hansen in Ribe, Denmark. The tracklisting is as follows:

'Afterlife'
'Invincible'
'The Nexus'
'Theory Of Everything'
'Stardust'
'Burn With Me'
'Mechanical Illusion'
'Razorblade'
'Future On Hold'
'Electroheart'
'Transhuman'
'Infinity'

'The Nexus' single is available on iTunes and the video (directed by Patric Ullaeus ) can be seen below:

To celebrate their first anniversary, Deathbound Records has announced the signing of their fifth act: AVOIDANT. Their crushing new EP Involution will be released digitally on April 23rd and will include their new single 'The Betrayal'.
Avoidant was formed in Lima, Peru in the winter of 2010 by musicians Daniel Ramón Ibárcena Mollyk and Giancarlo Melgar Novoa.

The band is currently hard at work promoting their newest opus Involution. The recording sessions took place last February and incorporated a seven-string guitar and the addition of new bassist Cesar Rios. The result introduced fans to new elements such as: post-hardcore, death core and progressive metal. " Involution" will be released digitally worldwide on April 23rd through Deathbound Records. This digital edition includes the previously unreleased track 'The Betrayal'.
Involution tracklisting:

'Witness'
'Enslaved'
'Interlude'
'Human'
'Animals'
'Archetype'
Bonus Tracks
'The Betrayal'

Band members:
Giancarlo Melgar - vocals
Daniel R. Ibárcena - lead guitar/vocals
Giomar Carrasco Salazar - guitar/vocals
Daniel Y. Ibárcena - drums/vocals
Cesar Rios - bass

For more details visit Avoidant on Facebook.

Portuguese dark metallers HEAVENWOOD have parted ways with longtime guitarist Bruno Silva and have replaced him with Vítor Carvalho, DEMON DAGGER's axeman and guitar-virtuoso (pictured below). Vítor Carvalho will make his live debut with the band next Saturday, April 20th in Benavente. In this very special show that will take place at SIBE B Lounge Live Club, also Daniel Cardoso, who recorded the drums on the Redemption (2008) and Abyss Masterpiece (2011) albums and played with the band during this period will take care again of the drums.

Besides the mentioned show next Saturday, the 20th April at SIDE B Lounge Live Club (Benavente), HEAVENWOOD have announced also 2 more live dates across Portugal:

April
27 - SWR Barroselas Metalfest - Barroselas, Portugal

May
4 - Mercado Negro - Aveiro, Portugal
More shows to be announced soon.

Heavenwood are currently writing and rehearsing material for its fifth album, The Tarot Of The Bohemians - Part. 1, to be released later this year beginning 2014.

The band’s fourth full length CD, Abyss Masterpiece, came out in 2011 via France’s Listenable Records.

In related news, the band is streaming in its entirety the new pre-production (not final version) track called 'Strength' below:
The new album is inspired by Papus aka Gerard Encausse (July 13, 1865 - October 25, 1916), the Spanish-born French physician and hypnotist who popularized occultism and founded the modern Martinist Order.

Multinational metallers RAVEN LORD are seeking a bass player. Players who think can fit the bill, have gear and have the time for festivals and tour in October should contact the management immediately at promo@rockngrowl.com.
Raven Lord's summer show dates in support of their debut album Descent To The Underworld are as follows.

June
22 - Mine Metalfest 2013 - Tongeren, Belgium
28 - P3 - Purmerend, Netherlands
29 - The Mix - Uithoorn, Netherlands