German death/thrash metal outfit BLEEDING RED have released a video for the Evolution’s Crown album track, 'Wasted Screams'.

Vocalist/guitarist Timo states: "“We are excited to present our first video clip! Most of all because we have found an awesome team with Oliver and Maren, who have made it possible for us to make our own ideas come true. In addition to that, they have contributed their own ideas. The result is a raw and cold video which really captured the song's atmosphere. Simply awesome!”

The video is streaming below:
Evolution's Crown was released in March 2012 via Black Bards. The album was produced, engineered and mixed by Roger Grüninger and Bleeding Red, while Achim Köhler handled mastering duties.
Evolution's Crown tracklisting:

'Bloodforce'
'The Running Man'
'Nameless'
'Wasted Screams'
'Thoughtcrime'
'Unmaster'
'Involution'
'Calm Before The Storm'
'Tritoxine'
'Frequencies'
'Goddess Of Black'
'Calling For Your Downfall'

A promo clip for the album track 'Frequencies' can be seen below:
More on Bleeding Red here.

France's LOADING DATA have unveiled details about their upcoming new album Double Disco Animal Style.

The band's third opus has been recorded, mixed and mastered by legendary musician/record producer Alain Johannes (THEM CROOKED VULTURES, CHRIS CORNELL, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE) and includes 14 songs featuring guest appearances by Nick Oliveri (MONDO GENERATOR, ex-KYUSS, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE) and Hoss Wright (ROCK CITY ANGELS).
The album artwork was conceived by French artist Aude Beaufort.

Double Disco Animal Style will be released on March 13th on CD via French label Deadlight Entertainment (PETER DOLVING, FREYA, NEW RISING SON).

For more details on Loading Data visit Facebook.

Anthony Morgan of Metal Forces recently conducted an interview with KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On the Tommy Thayer "Spaceman" Les Paul Standard Outfit guitar:

Tommy: "A year or two ago I contacted Epiphone, which is really a part of Gibson, the same company. I met and talked to Jim Rosenberg, the president, and told him I would love to do a Tommy Thayer limited-edition Les Paul signature guitar. He loved the idea. The reason I went to Epiphone and not Gibson is because I wanted to make a signature guitar that was high quality, had great playability, was well made, had great performance, but was also something that was completely affordable for everyone. That's why we've done an Epiphone, and that was my preference from the beginning.

"Jim and I just deal directly with each other; we don't have any intermediaries. We just talk on the phone, and email. I just sent him the exact specs for that original silver sparkle top that the Custom Shop had done for me in '06. Jim made the point that it was important we replicated the guitar exactly right down to the detail of the same tuners, the exact same pickups, the same parts, bridge, all the details being exactly the same as the original guitar. He said that fans really scrutinize that, and want replica guitars exactly like the originals. That's what we did; we made an exact replica of the original one, and it turned out great. We actually ended up using Gibson 498 pick-ups, Grover Deluxe tuners, all the exact same parts."

On KISS no longer using outside writers:

Tommy: "In the '80s with the beginnings of MTV and the video revolution, I think that bands and artists began to take a slightly different approach to writing. It was about creating something that was going to work well and sell well on video, on MTV and on radio. Therefore, the idea of bringing in outside writers was popular then because you wanted to write songs that were more single-oriented and more hit-oriented. The success of a band depended on that; being on MTV and on the radio, you had to have hit songs one way or another if you wanted to succeed. I think it's evolved now where bands and artists don't find that to be the most important thing anymore, and it's not what drives the process like it used to in the '80s. Now it's more organic again, where we just write songs because we love the music. We love the raw, rock 'n' roll, rootsy songs that we're writing. That approach was just simpler and more honest, actually. It's more real, more what we really are. In that regard, I like that better."

On writing with Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons:

Tommy: "It's interesting writing with Paul and Gene, but I think I wrote more with Paul for whatever reason. Paul and I would get together quite often, and work out song ideas. It's really inspirational for me, because Paul is a guy that has been doing this for a long time. He's very experienced and very smart about his approach to songwriting, and just influences in general. People don't realize it, but Paul and Gene are huge rock fans as well. They love the rock music that they grew up with, and that's still very much a part of what influences them when they're writing. I've learnt a lot from them because a lot of the stuff that they're influenced by was a little before my time. They've turned me on to a lot of great bands from the late '60s that I wasn't privy to because it was before I was aware of what was going on. [laughs] I came into music more in the early to mid-'70s because I'm a little younger. Learning from them and enjoying a lot of the things that they love has been a great experience. It's just phenomenal."

Read the entire interview at Metal Forces.

Swedish thrash metal/hardcore band DAYS OF ANGER has signed a deal with Coroner Records for the release of the forthcoming album entitled Rise Above It All scheduled for release in May/June.
Rise Above It All, Days Of Anger's second album after their debut Deathpath was released by Massacre Records, was recorded and engineered by Elias Lindman, mixed by Philip "Philty" Crusner at Studio Crusner and mastered by Mats "Limpan" Lindfors at Cutting Room Studios.

For more information about Days Of Anger click here.

"Leave Me Bleeding", the new Rasmus Tirzitis-directed video from Stockholm, Sweden-based metallers DEFUELD, can be seen below. The song, which was released as a single on December 21, 2012, comes off the band's sophomore album, "Rorschach", which will be made available in April. According to a press release, "metalheads as well as general music lovers will find a lot to enjoy [on the CD] and will surely play it again and again. The vocals stretch from aggressive growls to angelic falsettos and the heavy guitar riffs ensure that it's always the melody, not the heaviness itself, that drives the songs forward. Add to that ingeniously synth melodies with a well-thought-through heavy metal mix and you've got yourself an album of the year."

DEFUELD's 2009 self-titled debut entered the Swedish metal chart at position No. 4.

DEFUELD is:

Christoffer Wetterström - Lead vocals, Guitar
Alex Ånfalk - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Emil Bygde - Bass, Backing Vocals
Fredrik Hedberg - Keyboards, Backing vocals
Johannes Ohlsson - Drums, Backing vocals

German thrash metal veterans SODOM will release their new studio album, "Epitome Of Torture", on April 29 in Europe and May 7 in North America via SPV/Steamhammer. Vocalist/bassist Thomas "Angelripper" Such, guitarist Bernd "Bernemann" Kost and new drummer Markus "Makka" Freiwald recorded a total of twelve new tracks (plus a MOTÖRHEAD cover) which "present SODOM as more diverse and multi-faceted than ever," according to a press release.

"'Epitome Of Torture' features not only your typical SODOM fare, but also two or three numbers which are slightly more moderate and melodic than what people have come to expect from us," says Angelripper, "so wait and see!"

"Epitome Of Torture" track listing:

Limited-edition digipak:

01. My Final Bullet (04:40)
02. S.O.D.O.M. (03:46)
03. Epitome Of Torture (03:31)
04. Stigmatized (02:56)
05. Cannibal (04:19)
06. Shoot Today - Kill Tomorrow (04:01)
07. Invocating The Demons (04:25)
08. Katjuscha (03:43)
09. Into The Skies Of War (03:51)
10. Tracing The Victim (04:46)
11. Waterboarding (05:06) (bonus track)
12. Splitting The Atom (04:28) (bonus track)

Jewel Case:

01. My Final Bullet (04:40)
02. S.O.D.O.M. (03:46)
03. Epitome Of Torture (03:31)
04. Stigmatized (02:56)
05. Cannibal (04:19)
06. Shoot Today - Kill Tomorrow (04:01)
07. Invocating The Demons (04:25)
08. Katjuscha (03:43)
09. Into The Skies Of War (03:51)
10. Tracing The Victim (04:46)

2LP (colored vinyl):

LP 1

Side 1

01. My Final Bullet (04:40)
02. S.O.D.O.M. (03:46)
03. Epitome Of Torture (03:31)

Side 2

01. Stigmatized (02:56)
02. Cannibal (04:19)
03. Shoot Today - Kill Tomorrow (04:01)

LP 2

Side 1

01. Invocating The Demons (04:25)
02. Katjuscha (03:43)
03. Into The Skies Of War (03:51)

Side 2

01. Tracing The Victim (04:46)
02. Waterboarding (05:06) (bonus track)
03. Splitting The Atom (04:28) (bonus track)
04. Ace Of Spades (02:36) (bonus track)

"Katjuscha" has little to do with the same-named folk song by Mikhail Isakovsky, but is about the Russian rocket launcher which has been responsible for death and destruction thousandfold.

"The Katjuscha has been produced since World War II and is still used today," the SODOM frontman explains. "It's been responsible for the death of more people than Stalin's organ. To name such a deadly weapon after a girl is as grotesque as giving the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima the code name 'Little Boy'."

It's obvious that SODOM hasn't changed its scornful view of the world, presenting an album in "Epitome Of Torture" that is as uncompromising as ever in musical as well as lyrical terms.

"Unfortunately, there's still plenty of inspiration for angry lyrics around," says Angelripper. The bitter thrash metal attack "Waterboarding", which deals with torture methods, fits perfectly into this context.

"It always surprises me how inventive — in the most negative sense of the word — people can be when it comes to torturing others," states the vocalist. "At the same time, 'Epitome Of Torture' features not only typical SODOM numbers, like the title track, our new hit 'S.O.D.O.M.' and 'Stigmatized', the toughest SODOM number in ages, but also two or three recordings which are slightly more moderate and melodic than what people have come to expect from us." Angelripper is referring to songs such as "Cannibal" and "Tracing The Victim", which allow Bernemann to present his impressive musical skills, as well as "Into The Skies Of War", on which Angelripper allowed himself to be inspired by icons such as MOTÖRHEAD and TANK. "Luckily, it's impossible to hide my influences," he says.

"Epitome Of Torture" was produced by Waldemar Sorychta (GRIP INC., ENEMY OF THE SUN), whose expertise as a sound engineer and audio magician thoroughly enhanced SODOM's previous CD, 2010's "In War And Pieces". Angelripper says: "Waldemar is a true authority. He doesn't let you get away with anything, he knows all our weak spots. Which occasionally makes working at the studio a little demanding, but at the end of the day, it's all worthwhile, as the result shows." The SODOM frontman describes the sound on "Epitome Of Torture" as "hard as nails and contemporary, without ignoring our tried-and-tested old-school attitude."

"Epitome Of Torture" will be available in four different formats: a limited-edition digipak, including two bonus tracks and a poster; regular jewel case; as a double gatefold vinyl, including three bonus tracks; and as a digital download. The cover artwork featuring SODOM's popular "Knarrenheinz" logo was developed by graphic designer Meran Karanitant, who has previously worked with SIX FEET UNDER, HATEBREED and DIMMU BORGIR, among others.

SODOM will film a video for the song "Stigmatized" later this month with Roax Media (SODOM's "Lords Of Depravity" volumes 1 and 2, VOLBEAT, THE MOB RULES) in Berlin.

"SODOM haven't had an official video clip for some time, so it's about time we did one," says Angelripper. "That's why the mini film will be uncompromising, a shocking clip which our fans can look forward to!"

SODOM's latest CD, "In War And Pieces", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 64.

SODOM in 2010 parted ways with drummer Bobby Schottkowski due to "personal and private problems between Tom and Bobby," according to a statement released by the band.

SODOM's current drummer, Markus Freiwald, previously played for the German bands DESPAIR and FLAMING ANGER and was involved with the VOODOOCULT project. In addition, he played percussion as a session musician on the MOONSPELL album "Irreligious" and is featured on the 1996 LP "Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers" by Greek extreme metallers ROTTING CHRIST.

Dr. Mikannibal (saxophone, vocals) of Japan's SIGH has revealed via her Facebook page that she has been forced to terminate her pregnancy at three months after the heart of her unborn child with bandmate Mirai Kawashima (vocals, keyboards) stopped beating. "I'm having a curettage surgery today," she wrote.

Mirai and Dr. Mikannibal became engaged last October.

SIGH released its ninth album, "In Somniphobia", in March 2012 via Candlelight Records.

Founded in 1990 in Tokyo, Japan, SIGH is known for its nontraditional approach to metal and music in general and such is the case with their latest endeavor. Their most musically varied and plainly enthralling recording to date "In Somniphobia" incorporates everything from heavy metal, classical, jazz, traditional Indian music, Stockhausen, and Xenakis. It's a pure, sonic nightmare that lasts more than an hour and an album long time fans are sure to embrace.

Commented Mirai: "This is your sonic nightmare. This is the music that lies somewhere between your reality and imagination. This is the heaviest, scariest, craziest and by far the best album by SIGH in every aspect. Be sure to smoke first then listen to this with headphones. Bad trip guaranteed."

The cover artwork for "In Somniphobia" was created by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, ANACRUSIS and GWAR, among others.

Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON have completed recording the drums for their new album for a tentative September release. Takes are currently being selected and the band will soon be adding more guitars and heading towards the most exciting part of the process.

A couple of photos from the studio can be seen below.

SATYRICON will premier some of its new material during an appearance at this year's edition of the Inferno festival, set to take place March 27-30 at the Rockefeller, John Dee, Rock In, Blå, Unholy, Victoria and Revolver venues in Oslo, Norway.

In a June 2012 interview with MetalSickness.com, SATYRICON frontman Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven stated about the band's decision to take a long break after completing its last extensive tour in 2009, "I felt that the cycle of SATYRICON had become very something different from what I wanted it to be. It became like this: write, rehearse, record, promote, tour, finish. [Then again] write, rehearse, record, promote, tour, finish. And again and again and again. And I came to a point in 2009 where I went, like, 'What's the point of this? Is this why I started [playing music]? Definitely not.' This was never my goal to come in a situation like this. It's not like I dreamt about living on a bus. It was not my goal in life. Or to live my life in a suitcase. Or in a backstage. It was never my plan. My plan was to write music, record music and release music and then do the occasional show and tour, but this became like a clusterfuck of events — all the time something going on and all this pressure all the time, especially from everyone around us. Plus, I also think that when you're working so intensely, there's sort of this tear-and-wear to people on a personal level. And also, as the leader of a company or a sports team or a metal band, you also have a responsibility to make some decisions that might be popular but unnecessary. And for those who just want to go on the road and play all the time, they don't want to have a break, and our agent and record company, they certainly didn't want any break. But for me, it became almost like a choice between quitting as a band or taking a break."

SATYRICON's latest album, "The Age Of Nero" (2008), entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 73. It also landed on the national chart in Norway at position No. 5. This was SATYRICON's lowest chart entry in the band's home country since "Rebel Extravaganza", which premiered at No. 32 in 1999. "Volcano" (2002) entered the chart at No. 4, while 2006's "Now, Diabolical" came in at No. 2.

The official lyric video for the song "Should Have Known Better" from Oklahoma hard rockers HINDER can be seen below. The track comes off the band's fourth album, "Welcome To The Freakshow", which was released on December 4, 2012 via Republic Records. The CD was co-produced by HINDER drummer Cody Hanson and Marshall Dutton.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, HINDER frontman Austin Winkler told Billboard on that a "really dark drug binge" fueled much of his songwriting on "Welcome To The Freakshow". Winkler explained to The Pulse Of Radio what his state of mind was during this tough period. "I was in a very, very, very dark addiction, and you can kind of hear the turmoil in my voice and stuff like that," he said. "And, you know, as soon as we got the record done I went into treatment to get help, and it's interesting to go back and listen to it now."

Winkler told Billboard that he entered rehab as soon as the record was finished. The album follows 2010's "All American Nightmare".

The first single, "Save Me", touches on Winkler's struggle, with him saying, "I had a really nasty attitude in that song, but I had a blast singing and recording it. I think it's our heaviest single yet, and we're getting a pretty good response."

The vocalist called the new disc "really diverse," adding that "it's going to surprise a lot of people."

"Welcome to The Freakshow" track listing:

01. Save Me
02. Ladies Come First
03. Should Have Known Better
04. Freakshow
05. Talk To Me
06. Get Me Away From You
07. Is It Just Me
08. I Don't Wanna Believe
09. See You In Hell
10. Anyone But You
11. Wanna Be Rich

Brazilian symphonic metal band AMAZON - featuring Sabrina Todt (vocal and flute), Renato Angelo (guitar and keyboards), Newton Olivieri (bass) and Marcos Frazão (drums) - are working on their third album which will be produced by Sander Gommans (TRILLIUM, HDK, SOMERVILLE/KISKE, ex-AFTER FOREVER) and Amanda Somerville (AVANTASIA, AINA, After Forever, EPICA, KAMELOT).
Gommans will be the producer for all the guitar parts and Somerville will be the responsible for the production of all vocal lines, besides acting as Sabrina Todt's coach, including some arrangements and lyrics.

Part of the recordings are already in progress in Campinas, Brazil, but in March the band will meet with Sander Gommans and Amanda Somerville at the The Rock Station studios in Holland to continue the work.

"It's been fantastic working with Sander and Amanda", says Amazon's guitarist, Renato Angelo. "We had the opportunity to make a detailed pre-production to make this a key album in our career. Sander is a musician of the highest level and he added an unprecedented quality to the new album. We aligned some ideas and he focused the production just like the way we wanted: a heavy album, with lots of guitars, those that sends the adrenaline up there. And so Amanda came with the voices production, bringing to the music the feeling and technique that we already know from her several works, resulting on an explosive combination."

The new Amazon album will feature ten tracks and is expected to hit stores in the second half of 2013.

For more details visit Amazon.mus.br.

Argentina-based symphonic extreme metallers MORTUORIAL ECLIPSE have released the teaser for the European release of The Aethyrs' Call, where you can hear audio from several tracks on the album. Check out the clip below:
The Aethyrs' Call will be released on March 1st and features the following tracks:
'The Summoner'S Procession'
'Advent Of A Sinister Omen'
'Crepuscular Necromantic Visions'
'Perpetual Covenant'
'At The Gates Of The Marduk's Shrine'
'Brotherhood Of The Serpent'
'Orion's Progeny'
'Submission'

...And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth, the seventh album from AETERNUS, will first appear as a limited edition, which will include the band's classic 1995 debut EP, Dark Sorcery, as a bonus. Dark Essence Records will release the new album on March 18th worldwide (except for Norway, Germany, Austria and Sweden, where the album will appear on March 22nd).

The band have just debuted the new song, 'Ruin And Resurrect', on SoundCloud below:
Formed in Bergen, Norway in 1993 by guitarist and frontman Ares, Aeternus has re-emerged seven years after the release of their last album, Hexaeon, with a new line up that comprises Ares on guitars and vocals, Phobos (GRAVDAL, MALSAIN) on drums and Specter on guitars. One of the pioneers of what the band calls “dark metal”, Aeternus’ sound combines features from both black and death metal with superlative guitar playing and occasional haunting, melodic interludes.
..And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth was produced by Bjornar E. Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES, BLACK HOLE GENERATOR) at the Conclave and Earshot studios in Bergen. All music is by Aeternus, concept and lyrics by HELHEIM’s V’gandr.

Artwork is by Timo Ketola, known for his work with bands such as for DEATHSPELL OMEGA, ASPHYX, DISSECTION MARDUK, WATAIN and OPETH amongst others.

The bonus EP, Dark Sorcery, was recorded, mixed and mastered by Cato Langnes at Hindu Lyd in 1995 and produced by Aeternus. Lineup on Dark Sorcery is Ares on guitars and vocals, Erik (Vrolok) on drums and Ørjan on bass. All music and lyrics by Ares.
...And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth tracklisting:
'There Will Be None'
'...And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth'
'Spurcitias'
'Ruin And Resurrect'
'The Confusion Of Tongues'
'Hubris'
'Reap What You Saw'
'Saligia'
'The Hand That Severs The Bonds Of Creation'
'The Spirit Of Illumination'

Dark Sorcery (Bonus):
'Black Dust'
'Victory'
'Raven And Blood'
'Nordlys' (Instrumental)

More on Aeternus at this location.

THRAWSUNBLAT, the blackened folk metal brainchild of former WOODS OF YPRES guitarist Joel Violette, will release the new album Wanderer On The Continent Of Saplings on March 13th. It is now available for pre-order via PayPal: $20 CAD (North America) or $25 CAD (World), shipping included. Send funds to thrawsunblat@gmail.com.
The tracklist for Wanderer On The Continent Of Saplings is as follows:

'Lifelore Revelation'
'Once Fireveined'
'We, The Torchbearers'
'Goose River (Mourners' March)'
'Bones in the Undertow'
'Wanderer on the Continent of Saplings'
'Maritime Shores'
'View of a Million Trees'
'Borea (Pyre of a Thousand Pine)'
'Elegy Across the Silence'
'Song of the Nihilist'
'I Am the Viator'

Violette has reprised his role as songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist for the album, and enlisted Rae Amitay and Brendan Hayter to handle drums and bass respectively. The pair was chosen to complete the Woods of Ypres line-up for the band's European tour in support of Woods 5: Grey Skies And Electric Light. Unfortunately, the tragic passing of David Gold put an end to those plans, but drummer Rae Amitay says, "Thrawsunblat II is an incredibly special way for the three of us to create music together. It's an amazing project, and I'm honoured that Joel has chosen us to be a part of it."

Thrawsunblat II was recorded in July and August, in studios in both Canada and the United States.

The band's first official release - the Canada 2010 "demo" - is still available via BandCamp.com. Go to this location to check out audio samples and to purchase.

The tracklist is as follows:

'Black Sky'
'Set Us Ablaze'
'Misted Shores'
'Slake the Earth'
'Through the Ice'
'Fire Still Burns'
'She, Arboreal'
'Vastland'

Christian metallers TOURNIQUET will release their new album, Antiseptic Bloodbath, on March 1st via Pathogenic Records.
Tourniquet leader Ted Kirkpatrick talks about the album below:

"On March 1st, we are able to do something that fans have been requesting on virtually all the Tourniquet albums. For lack of a better term, due to the “musical” nature of our tunes, people have often asked 'can you also release this as an instrumental album?' With Antiseptic Bloodbath Voiceless – we are doing just that.

The album has been remastered in New York specifically as an instrumental release and it sounds amazing. There are no vocals and no voices – it is 'voiceless.' What remains is the music, including all the awesome guitar solos.

My songwriting, as many of you know, comes in part from a deep passion for classical music, so to release Antiseptic Bloodbath in its entirety as an instrumental piece seems quite natural. The song structures become more transparent and move further to the front – so you will notice and hear things you hadn’t before. Aaron’s two songs add a cool element to the album – recorded on guitars tuned higher in the key of E Flat instead of low C.

The cover, done by renowned metal album artist Travis Smith (OPETH, NEVERMORE, ICED EARTH, OVERKILL), is an alternate version we had of the original – just different enough to be ideal for this digital release. CD release will follow soon after.

If Tourniquet were a 'three chord' band, this would probably not be a good idea. But we think you will find this 'voiceless' version interesting and enjoyable – fully able to stand on its own as a unique listening experience. As always, thank you – the fans – for allowing us to continue doing what we love – making music."

More on Tourniquet at this location.

Brazilian metal outfit EMINENCE has announced more details regarding its forthcoming album. The band has reunited with Danish producer Tue Madsen (MOONSPELL, THE HAUNTED, SICK OF IT ALL), who also produced their well-received 2008 album The God Of All Mistakes. Recording has begun at Minerio de Ferro Studios in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, with the album slated for a late 2013 release.
As previously reported, bassist Paulo Xisto Pinto, Jr. of SEPULTURA fame will make a guest appearance on the record.

“It was a great pleasure to once again work with my dear friend,” says Eminence’s guitarist/founding member Alan Wallace about being joined in the studio by Paulo Jr. The two also perform together in Brazilian metal project The Unabomber Files. Video footage of Wallace, Madsen and singer Bruno Paraguay recording with the Sepultura bassist can be seen below:
Following the recording sessions, Eminence will be heading to Austin, Texas, to perform at this year’s SXSW on March 15 at The Jr. (603 Red River St.). These shows will mark West Coast metal fans’ first chance to witness the group’s face-melting brutality onstage. The group made its live US debut this past fall during New York’s CMJ Music Marathon, performing aboard the Star of Palm Beach while sailing the Hudson River with PRONG.

Eminence is:
Alan Wallace (guitars)
Bruno Paraguay (vocals)
Andre Marcio (drums)
Thiago Correa (bass)

For more details visit Eminence.com.br.

Scottish metal force BLEED FROM WITHIN will release their new album, Uprising, on March 25th in Europe and April 2nd in North America via Century Media. The video for the album's title track can be seen below:
Uprising tracklisting:

'III'
'Colony'
'It Lives in Me'
'Nothing. No One. Nowhere.'
'Escape Yourself'
'Strive'
'I Am Oblivion'
'Speechless'
'Our Divide'
'Uprising'
'The War Around Us'
'Leech'
'Devotion'
The band are offering a new preview of Uprising via The Uprising Diaries - Episode 2 (Guitars), which can be seen below:
Check out a previously posted artwork trailer below:
'It Lives In Me', the first track and video launched off Uprising, can be seen below:
If you like what you hear you can still download 'It Lives In Me' at no cost here.

Upon its release Bleed From Within will support metal titans TESTAMENT as well as SHADOWS FALL on the European mainland. Tour dates with Testament, Shadows Fall include:

March
16 - Reggio Emilia, Italy - Tempo Rock Club
17 - Nürnberg, Germany - Rockfabrik
18 - Dresden, Germany - Schlachthof
20 - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA Longhorn
21 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
22 - Hamburg, Germany - Docks
23 - Cologne, Germany - Live Music Hall
25 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
26 - Prague, Czech Republic - Nová Chmelnice
27 - Krakow, Poland - Studio Klub
28 - Berlin, Germany - Huxleys Neue Welt
UK headlining tour dates:

April
16 - Southampton, UK - Joiners
17 - Cardiff, UK - Clwb Ifor Bach
18 - London, UK - Underworld
19 - Plymouth, UK - White Rabbit
20 - Bristol, UK - Hit The Deck Festival
21 - Nottingham, UK - Hit The Deck Festival
23 - Birmingham, UK - O2 Academy 3
24 - Manchester, UK - Academy 3
25 - Leeds, UK - The Cockpit
26 - Glasgow, UK - Cathouse

More on Bleed From Within at this location.

SOEN, the progressive metal supergroup featuring drummer Martin Lopez (ex-OPETH, AMON AMARTH) and bassist Steve DiGiorgio (TESTAMENT, DEATH, SADUS), vocalist Joel Ekelöf (WILLOWTREE), and guitarist Kim Platbarzdis, will bring their Cognitive debut Stateside this Summer; an exact release date is still pending.

Initially released digitally via Spinefarm Records last Winter, Cognitive was mixed by David Bottrill (TOOL, COHEED AND CAMBRIA), mastered by João Carvalho, and features ten tracks of what Lopez describes as "melodic, heavy, intricate and different." View the band’s video for 'Delenda' below:
Check out the Cognitive artwork and tracklisting:
'Fraktal'
'Fraccions'
'Delenda'
'Last Light'
'Oscillation'
'Canvas'
'Ideate'
'Purpose'
'Slithering'
'Savia'

When Lopez joined forces with DiGiorgio, Ekelöf, and Platbarzdis, it was obvious that this collaboration would not be another name-dropping, substance-deprived “super project.” The foursome paint their musical canvas with broad strokes that on first listen may appear gray and sullen, but the true power of the music lies clandestine, just a little below the monochrome surface. More than just a sum of its rather esteemed parts, SOEN weave an intricate network of melody and melancholy. While SOEN may sound Opethian at times, it features none of the guttural vocals and full-on death metal wall of sound of Lopez' former group. Nothing more is needed however when Ekelöf's somber voice, Platbarzdis's transcendent guitar work, Lopez's trademark drum beats and DiGiorgio's exquisite bass lines collaborate to build a pensive tide waiting to wash over you.

Cognitive isn't an instantaneously accessible album but with a bit of listening patience, can prove to be one of the most rewarding pieces of “thinking man's metal” you will ever come across. In a world full of super-compressed albums waging the loudness war, Cognitive breathes with ease thanks to the warmth of Platbarzdis/Lopez production and the masterful mixing work of. Like rain on a windowpane, translucent and free of form, Cognitive breathes like a living entity. The colors are there, lingering within the grays. It's just up to you to find them.

It's been two years since the release of "Beyond The Fall Of Time", the sophomore album from Southern California's EXMORTUS, but the activity level has remained high throughout with the band continually playing shows. However, the wait for new material is finally coming to an end.

EXMORTUS has just entered Castle Ultimate Studios in Oakland to begin recording its third album with producer Zack Ohren (SUFFOCATION, DECREPIT BIRTH, WARBRINGER).

"We're very excited to start 2013 by recording a new album and getting the opportunity to work alongside Zack Ohren," states EXMORTUS drummer Mario Mortus. "His resume is outstanding and we can't think of anyone better to help put out the best EXMORTUS album possible. We put a lot of work into writing songs that any metalhead would love, they're fast, heavy and full of shred! This album is going to cave your skull in!"

He added: "We're also hitting the road with our good friends WITCHAVEN for a tour that will begin mid-March for three weeks and cover the West Coast.

"It's been awhile since we've done a series of shows that's lasted longer than a week, but we've never been more ready!"

On March 30th, the new AVANTASIA album, The Mystery Of Time, will hit stores. In April, Avantasia will set off on their European leg of the Mystery World Tour and another vocalist has been confirmed...

He hasn't been on stage for years, but he has shown his abilities as one of Germany‘s finest vocalists in the backing choirs on countless album productions. Now he will hit the road with Avantasia. Many of you may remember the legendary German band HEAVENS GATE. No less a singer than Heavens Gate vocalist Thomas Rettke will join the flying opera on the road.

Avantasia's complete live itinerary can be viewed at this location.

The cover artwork for The Mystery Of Time, hand-painted by world famous British fantasy painter Rodney Matthews, and the tracklisting can be seen below:
'Spectres'
'The Watchmakers' Dream'
'Black Orchid'
'Where Clock Hands Freeze'
'Sleepwalking'
'Savior In The Clockwork'
'Invoke The Machine'
'What's Left Of Me'
'Dweller In A Dream'
'The Great Mystery'

The Mystery Of Time features a plethora of guest stars including: Biff Byford (SAXON), Michael Kiske (UNISONIC, ex-HELLOWEEN), Joe Lynn Turner (ex-RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE), Eric Martin (MR. BIG), Ronnie Atkins (PRETTY MAIDS), Bruce Kulick (ex-KISS), Arjen Lucassen (AYREON), Russell Gilbrook (URIAH HEEP), Bob Catley (MAGNUM) and more.

Finnish morbid death metallers LANTERN have completed work on their debut album, Below, which will be released this spring through Dark Descent Records on CD and vinyl formats.

Since forming in 2007, Lantern have continued to evolve their unique take on ancient death and Below is a definitive statement by a band in top form. Thirty-eight minutes of pure stench, Below is an album that demonstrates that death's not dead.
A promo video for the song 'Revenant' can be seen below:
Lantern lineup:

Cruciatus - guitar, bass, drums
Necrophilos - vocals

Live musicians:

J. Noisehunter - bass
St. Belial - rhythm guitar
J. Poussu - drums
More on Lantern at this location.

"Portals To Canaan", the ninth album from California extreme metallers DEEDS OF FLESH, will be released on June 25 via Unique Leader Records. The CD features "amazing artwork and numerous conceptual pieces" by Raymond Swanland.

"Portals To Canaan" track listing:

01. Amidst The Ruins
02. Entranced In Decades Of Psychedelic Sleep
03. Rise Of The Virvum Juggernaut
04. Celestial Serpents
05. Caelum Hirundines Terra/The Sky Swallows The Earth
06. Xeno-Virus
07. Hollow Human Husks
08. Portals To Canaan
09. Orphans Of Sickness (GORGUTS cover)

The song "Rise Of The Virvum Juggernaut" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Commented DEEDS OF FLESH founding member Erik Lindmark: "We are very excited to get this release out there amoung the masses.

"The album combines new and old elements of the band and we think the fans will really enjoy it. Zack from Castle Ultimate has done a great job in putting the final touches to the production and 'Portals To Canaan' is most definitely our best production to date.

"The new members, Craig Peters (lead guitar) and Ivan Munguia (bass), fit the band perfectly and really did a great job on the release.

"All in all, we are extremely pleased with the final product and believe the fans will be stoked."

DEEDS OF FLESH's last CD, "Of What's to Come", came out in November 2008 via Unique Leader.

Finnish thrash metal act MY FUNERAL will release their sophomore album, Thrash Destruction, on April 19th via Violent Journey Records.

Thrash Destruction was recorded in the band's new rehearsal space in Jyväskylä. Producing, mixing and engineering was Tero Kangasmaa. Studio57 did the mastering. The album artwork can be seen below:
Thrash Destruction tracklisting:

'Into The Fire'
'Thrash Winter'
'Manhunting Season'
'Thrashman Standing'
'Alcoholic Madness'
'Satanic Black Magic'
'Deathrash Till Death'
'Killing Spree'
'Slay Them All'
'Thrash Destruction'

Pre-Order worldwide at this location.

Listen to 'Into The Fire' and 'Alcoholic Madness' below:





Vocalist/bassist Ilkka Sepponen states: "After the debut our second guitarist left the band. Once the new one was found our bass player decided to depart. Well, for a while we just had fun and trained the new songs. Pretty soon it was clear that I should take the bass. With the four of us the band emerged anew and I really feel that this is our real debut. It reeks of beer and havoc as does our rehearsals and gigs!"

My Funeral lineup:

Ilkka Sepponen - Vocals/Bass
Joonas Kiviniemi - Guitars
Aku Korhonen - Guitars
Hannu Sivusuo - Drums

More on My Funeral at this location.

The official lyric video for the song "Through Treacherous Flames" from German extreme metallers NEAERA can be seen below. The track comes off the band's sixth full-length album, "Ours Is The Storm", which will be releasd on March 1 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, March 4 in the rest of Europe, and March 5 in North America via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Alexander Dietz's Chemical Burn studio in Bed Kosen, Germany.

Commented the band: "We are very proud of this record and the hard work we put into making it. We hope that you will be as excited about it as we are.

"Once again, we trusted our good friend Alexander Dietz of Chemical Burn studio with the production as well as the mixing process. The mastering was handled by Tue Madsen at Antfarm studio.

"We want to thank Alex for his sheer will and tireless work on this record, and Tue for bringing out the details and making them shine.

"This record is one of the most open-sounding and versatile we have done so far. We want to challenge ourselves and give you guys something new everytime we step up to the plate. There will be some surprises on this one. We are confident you will enjoy the result of our approach.

"The artwork for the album was done by our friend Markus Ruf, who did an excellent job in creating the cover and visualizing the title. Terje Johnsen did the packaging for the limited edtition and created a simple-yet-exclusive look for it. Thanks very much to both guys."

"Ours Is The Storm" track listing:

01. The Deafening
02. Ours Is The Storm
03. Decolonize The Mind
04. Through Treacherous Flames
05. Ascend To Chaos
06. Walk With Fire
07. My Night Is Starless
08. Black Tomb
09. Between Us And Annihilation
10. Slaying The Wolf Within
11. Back To The Soul
12. Guardian Of Ashes

There will be a limited EMP-exclusive edition (Europe only) featuring the limited edition digipak and an additional song, making it three bonus tracks in total.

NEAERA comments on the bonus tracks: "In addition to the bonus track 'Skeleton World', the limited digi version of 'Ours Is The Storm' will also feature 'Repressed Hate', one of the very first songs we ever wrote. 'Repressed Hate' was on our very first demo, and we decided to re-record it as a treat for all the die-hard NEAERA fans out there who have been supporting us from day one. And for everyone else as well, of course, haha! Furthermore, there will be an additional bonus song featured exclusively on the version of the digipak available at EMP. We chose to cover 'Shadows' by grindcore juggernauts NASUM, simply because it is a killer track and NASUM was one of the most influential grind bands ever and one of our all-time faves. This track is our homage to them. Remember, you can get the version with this additional track only and exclusively at EMP, so be quick to preorder!"

The title track, "Ours Is The Storm", is available for streaming in the YouTube clip below.

NEAERA's last album, "Forging The Eclipse", came out in October 2010.

"Through Treacherous Flames" lyric video:

"Teeth Swallower", the new video from Australian metallers KUNVUK, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's second album, "Consume Rapture", which was released in June 2012. The CD was recorded, engineered and mixed by the band's guitarist and singer David Hart and mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (DEATH, SWANS, MASTODON, CONVERGE, BARONESS, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, CLUTCH) in New Windsor, New York.

The nine tracks that form "Consume Rapture" contain the band’s most diverse material yet; demonstrating KUNVUK's complex and contrasting sound scapes. Whether it be through hyperventilating thrash crashing into back-breaking breakdowns ("Become Monster"), agitated structures interbred with downright hostility ("Rapture Pt. 1") or colossal rhythmic structures scarred with angular discord ("Teeth Swallower", "Taped") the album pumps and breathes in some of the most unexpected, energetic and captivating ways.

KUNVUK donated 50% of all profits from its recent "Become Monster" tour to the Save The Tassie Devil foundation, which works to help the endangered Tasmanian Devils through breeding programs and research into devil facial tumor disease.

To spread the stomping noise of "Consume Rapture", KUNVUK will taking its fierce live show to the furthest flung areas of Australia and internationally. No stranger to long jaunts across the earth, KUNVUK is sharpening its teeth in anticipation of the supporting tours for the new record.

"We live for playing this music live," the band says. "Many bands say that but we actually mean it. We get sick when we don't play. We get weak when we don't scream. A KUNVUK live show is a physical and mental exorcism. We load in, sweat, bleed, howl and then load out for the next show. We aren't here to fix our hair and pat each other on the back. We are here to explode and that is all we are interested in."

Frontiers Records last month announced the signing of iconic Christian rockers STRYPER to a multi-album deal. The first CD to be made available the agreement will be a collection of re-recorded versions of the band's classic songs, due in North America on March 26. Entitled "Second Coming" and produced by frontman Michael Sweet, the CD will contain a total of 16 cuts — two from "The Yellow And Black Attack", six from "Soldiers Under Command", six from "To Hell With The Devil", as well as two new tracks, "Bleeding From Inside Out" and "Blackened".

Commented Sweet: "We're really excited about this record. The re-recorded songs are sounding awesome... better than the originals in many ways! One word to describe the record? Heavier."

He added: "Why did we re-record old songs? That's a multiple-answer question.

"First, because we wanted to cut out the middle men and have a little more control over our own songs.

"Second, we wanted to 'fix' some things that have annoyed the 'hell' out of us for the past 30 years such as: no bass in the mix of 'The Yellow And Black Attack' or 'Soldiers Under Command', and no Tim [Gaines, bass] on the mix of 'To Hell With The Devil'. The fact that I sound a little more like a man instead of a helium-induced kid at Disneyland. :-) The sheer joy of still loving these songs and still being able to perform these songs (well, we'll let the experts be the judge of that). And last but not certainly least? We did it just because we wanted to :-)

"So there you go, the mystery is over and the reasons have been revealed.

"Seriously, we're really excited about this record. It's one of the few re-records that I believe will stand against any of the originals if not surpass them.

"If you liked 'The Covering', you'll love 'Second Coming'!"

"Second Coming" track listing:

01. Loud N' Clear
02. Loving You
03. Soldiers Under Command
04. Makes Me Wanna Sing
05. First Love
06. The Rock That Makes Me Roll
07. Reach Out
08. Surrender
09. To Hell With The Devil
10. Calling On You
11. Free
12. The Way
13. Sing Along Song
14. More Than A Man
15. Bleeding From Inside Out (new track)
16. Blackened (new track)

Check out the "Second Coming" EPK (Electronic Press Kit) below.

"Bleeding From the Inside Out", the first digital single off "Second Coming", is now available via iTunes, Amazon and other digital music provdiers.

STRYPER's "Live In Indonesia At Java Rockin' Land" DVD was released in October 2012 via MVD Visual. The set was recorded in front of an enthusiastic crowd in 2010.

STRYPER's covers album, "The Covering", was unlike any previous STRYPER recording in that it was a collection of cover songs from bands that inspired them and helped to shape their sound and musical identity, including hits from JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, LED ZEPPELIN, KANSAS and many others. "The Covering" also included "God", a new original recording from STRYPER.