French industrial/ambient/black metal band SPEKTR is to release a new album, entitled Cypher, on February 5th in Europe, February 19th in North America, via Agonia Records. The album track, 'Teratology', is streaming below:
Cypher is an experimental black metal album, recorded entirely without vocals except sampling. The album introduces industrial and ambient elements and as a whole should be considered as a strongly psychedelic release; it produces a feeling, as if the mind of the listener, dragged into the music, were unable of concentrate itself or were experiencing a powerful hallucinogen effect.

The album will be made available on CD, vinyl and digital download.
Cypher tracklisting:

'Hermetism'
'Teratology'
'The Singularity'
'Solitude'
'Antimatter'
'Solve Et Coagula'
'Cypher'
'Decorporation'
'Le Vitriol du Philosophe'

Check out an album preview below:

Swedish death metallers ENTRAILS have completed the recordings for their upcoming third album, Raging Death. The album was recorded in different studios: the drum recordings took place at the Racetrack studios while the basis recordings were done at Jimmy Lundqvist's own The Crypt recording studios. The album was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound.

The band comments on the album:"This is the perfect next step for Entrails. A massive stench of death, right in your face! Raging Death as a title suited the album as a whole, since it's pure death metal without mercy!"
Raging Death will be released on May 10th/13th via Metal Blade Records in Europe on vinyl, as a limited Digi-CD with bonus-cd and as a jewelcase CD. In North America, the album will be available on May 14th. More details on the content will be revealed shortly.

Entrails formed in the '90s, but split up before they were able to release a demo or even an album. It took them until 2008 to come back when guitarist Jimmy Lundqvist rediscovered some old tapes. In a moment of nostalgia, he decided that they deserved to be released as they should have been originally. With modern recording technology, the first Entrails demo could finally take shape. After releasing another demo in 2009, Entrails recorded and released their debut album, Tales From The Morgue, in 2010. Just a year later, The Tomb Awaits was released, an album that gained worldwide attention of music fans of the extreme and was considered by many as the best death metal release of 2011. Entrails has played numerous prestigious festivals in 2012 including gigs at Party.San Open Air, Summer Breeze Open Air and Hell Inside festival.

Entrails is:

Joakim Svensson - Vocals/Bass
Jimmy Lundqvist - Guitar
Mathias Nilsson – Guitar
Adde Mitroulis – Drums

More on Entrails at this location.

As an appetizer for their upcoming album, The Mouths Of Madness, San Francisco-based doom rockers ORCHID will release the Wizard Of War EP on 10" vinyl, February 22nd via Nuclear Blast.
The EP will contain the following tracks:

'Wizard Of War'
'Demon"s Eyes'
'Albatros'

A lyric video for 'Wizard Of War' can be seen below:
Wizard Of War will also appear on the upcoming full-length album, The Mouths Of Madness, which will be released on April 26th. The cover art for The Mouths Of Madness was created by singer and tattoo artist extraordinaire, Theo Mindell.

Mindell comments on the cover: "I wanted the cover of the album to be really classic and strong, like one of the records from my childhood where when you'd see the colors and shapes on it from across the room, you'd immediately recognize it. A classic "icon"... so it's very simple really. But then I did a really elaborate painting for the inside that is totally ornate... I wanted people to open this kind of sparse, plain thing and be drawn into another world that kind of visually told the story of some of the emotions of the record. Kind of like peeling a weird fruit open... the inner painting was really inspired by some of the Latino psychedelic murals that were done around San Francisco in the late 60's-early 70's.... like the cover of Abraxsis by SANTANA which is a record I grew up on and always loved. So, it's the "Orchid version" of those murals."
Guitarist Mark Thomas Baker on the extensive production process: "Most of the tracks on Mouths Of Madness were cut in early June 2012. We were pretty fresh off of our European tour and full of confidence. The basics done at that time were the best recording experience that we've had so far. Everybody got along great and did great work. We did this album with a completely different guitar sound than Capricorn. I think it sounds much heavier in that regard. We take a lot of time to get things right. I hope people enjoy it and let it sink in. I think it's miles above our past efforts.“

Producer Richard Whittaker, who also took care of the latest BLACK SABBATH and THIN LIZZY rereleases/analogue transfers, comments: "I've been a huge fan of Orchid since I first heard their debut EP back in 2009, and they've certainly come a long way since then. So, as you can imagine, to be asked to work with Orchid on their records was an honour and a pleasure, they're a great bunch of guys and a stellar band to be involved with. The Mouths Of Madness is such a well crafted and awe inspiring album. Sonically, its 1974 meets 2013 which, for me, takes the Sabbath/PENTAGRAM vibe to whole new level.“
WITCHCRAFT and Orchid will embark on a tour together in April and May. Dates include:

April
26 - Lichtenfels, Germany - Paunchy Cats
27 - Berlin, Germany - Desertfest
28 - Warschau, Poland - tbc
29 - Krakau, Poland - Lizard King
30 - Wien, Austria - Szene

May
1 - Darmstadt, Germany - Steinbruch Theater
2 - München, Germany - Backstage Halle
3 - Siegen, Germany - Vortex
4 - Paris, France - Trabendo
6 - Tilburg, Netherlands - O13
7 - Aarau, Switzerland - Kiff
9 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz 3
10 - Madrid Spain - El Sol
11 - San Sebastian Spain - C.C. Intxaurrondo
12 - Toulouse, France - Le Saint des Sains
13 - Milano, Italy - Lo Fi Club
14 - Rome, Italy - Traffic Live Club
15 - Bologna, Italy - Freak Out Club
16 - Dornbirn, Austria - Schlachthaus
17 - Stuttgart, Germany - Universum
18 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
19 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Rock Hard Festival (Orchid only)

Tampa, Florida-based metallers DARK SERMON have have revealed details on their upcoming debut full-length, In Tongues, due for release on March 26th via eOne / Good Fight Music.

Says the band, "We have worked tirelessly for the better part of two years to bring you our debut full length. If you're looking for something fast, dark, ominous and heavy as hell itself, this record is for you."

The record was recorded at Audio Hammer Studios with world renowned artist Eeiran Kantor (HATEBREED, TESTAMENT) being tapped to create Dark Sermon's first official record cover.
The band will be touring with AEGAEON for the next several weeks leading up to the release of In Tongues with an appearance on this year's New England Metal And Hardcore Fest. Dates can be seen below:

February
11 Fayetteville, NC - The Drunk Horse Pub
12 Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern
13 Douglasville, GA - The 7 Venue
14 Daytona Beach, FL - Cornado Civic Center
15 Boynton Beach, FL - Limitless Studios
16 Tampa, FL - Epic Problem
17 Jacksonville, FL - The Phoenix Taproom
19 Decatur, AL - Excalibur
20 Evansville, IN - The Hatch
21 St Louis, MO - Fubar
22 Wichita, KS - Below The Mainstream
23 Omaha, NE - The Commons
24 Milwaukee, WI - Miramar Theatre
25 Joliet, IL - Mojoes
26 La Porte, IN - Game Emporium
27 Whitesburg, KY - Letcher County Tourism Building
28 Toledo, OH - Frankies

March
1 Bufflo, NY - Broadway Joes
2 Manchester, NH - The Jam Factory
3 Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
4 Deerk Park, NY - 1 Stop Media
5 Poughkeepsie, NY - The Loft
6 Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar
8 Toronto, ON - Hard Luck
9 Hamilton, ON - Club Absinthe
10 London, ON - APK Live
12 Clinton Twp, MI - The Detroit Pub
13 Riverview, MI - The Crimson Lounge
14 Indianapolis, IN - Hoosier Dome
15 Louisville, KY - The Ram
16 Ringgold, GA - Cloud Sprins Deli
17 Albany, GA - Knights of Columbus

April
21 Worcester, MA - NEMF @ The Palladium
Dark Sermon was formed in 2009 and has been making their mark on the Florida scene in spades. The band uses their fast, thrashy riffs, bone-crushing blast beats, and throaty vocals to bring something fresh and new to the table.

Dark Sermon arrives in the worldwide metal community determined to stand apart from the cookie-cutter garbage and trend-following cretins who have overcrowded the scene. They don’t care about what’s marketable or what sells. The band has nothing less than total domination on their minds, armed with a new kind of heavy. The suffocating stomp of BEHEMOTH, the brash experimentalism of GOJIRA and the all-out ferocity of American heroes like JOB FOR A COWBOY and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER all have a home in the Dark Sermon cookbook, which slices and dices its way through the most exciting elements of metal’s subgenres with relentless aggression.
Dark Sermon lineup:

Johnny Crowder - Vocals
Austin Good - Guitar
Neal Minor - Guitar
Austin Chandler - Bass
Bryson St. Angelo - Drums

More on Dark Sermon at this location.

Turkey's PITCH BLACK PROCESS have released a lyric video for the track, 'To The Villain', to be featured on the band's upcoming album, Hand Of God? The lyric video can be found below:
The new album was recorded at Dugout Studios in Uppsala, Sweden, produced by Daniel Bergstrand (IN FLAMES, MESHUGGAH, SOILWORK) and Pitch Black Process, and mastered by Thomas Eberger at Stockholm Mastering.

Further details to follow.
Pitch Black Process lineup:

Emrah Demirel - Vocals, Guitars
Kerem Inci - Guitars
Fikri Yargici - Drums
Emre Demirel - Bass

More on Pitch Black Process at this location.

Polish doom metallers EVANGELIST are streaming a rough mix of the track, 'Pain and Rapture', off their upcoming sophomore effort, entitled Doominicanes.
Listen to the track below:
Doominicanes will include the following tracks:

‘Blood Curse’
‘Pain and Rapture’
‘Martyr’s Commandment’
‘To Praise To Bless To Preach’
‘Militis Fidelis Deus’
Stay tuned for updates. More on Evangelist at this location.

Palermo, Italy-based melodic death metallers DER GEIST have released their debut album, entitled The Pain We Don't Feel. The album artwork can be seen below:
The Pain We Don't Feel tracklisting:

'Intro'
'A Moment'
'Desert'
'Another Cutting Weapon'
'Cornfields'
'Magic Box'
'The Court Of Guilty Ones'
'Animals'
'My Revenge'
'The Struggle Within'

More on Der Geist at this location.

Chicago-based doom legends TROUBLE have issued the following update:

"Hey Trouble fans! We are still in the process of putting together a brand new Trouble website! This will coincide with the new Trouble release this spring.

During our 25 years in the music business we’ve seen so many amazing Trouble pictures, paintings and digital art works that we feel it’s time for your loyalty and hard work to be seen!"

Back in November 2012, Trouble guitarist Rick Wartell posted what could be the artwork for the band's forthcoming new album, possibly titled The Dark Riff, and due for a 2013 release. Check it out below:
An update prior to that read as follows: "Things are starting to pick up in our camp so we decided to put up a quick page to fill you guys in on what's happening with us. Look for the new site to coincide with our upcoming release this spring.

We just would like to give you a quick update on what's going on in Trouble world. The songs are coming along just great! We have some final guitar stuff to finish up and the vocals aren't far behind. We are very impressed with the talent Kyle (Wartell, guitar) has brought to Trouble and those are just the demos! Trouble fans will be pleased to say the least!

We are all very excited about this new album and look forward to seeing you all in the spring / summer of 2013. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all the latest news! Thank you for your patience and loyalty over the years!"

Trouble lineup:

Kyle Thomas - vocals
Bruce Franklin - guitar
Rick Wartell - guitar
Shane Pasqualla - bass
Mark Lira - drums
More on Trouble at this location.

SINGLE BULLET THEORY frontman Matt DiFabio recently checked in with the following update:

"So, after a six month search and literally 36 submissions later, I am beyond thrilled to announce that Single Bullet Theory has found a permanent drummer. I would like to introduce Jeff Willet to everyone... this guy will blow your mind!
When I assembled SBT version 7.0 (maybe 8.0) back in the fall of 2011, it seemed pretty evident that we had a group of musicians together that were capable of total domination on the stage front. This proved to be 100% true and we became not only the best version of Single Bullet Theory but also a live act that was second to none. With the departure of Joe Brannigan and Nick Bunczk after our August tour with INTO ETERNITY, I really felt defeated and had no idea how we were going to get back to that level.

Now, I am absolutely ready to get back out there and do what we do best.

Most of you know that Harry Lannon is our new guitarist. Man, the talent this kid has is completely insane. Twenty-four years old and can play like Andy Larocque. Now with the addition of Jeff, I have to say we have officially created the 'coup de grâce' in SBTs 13 year history.

Please take a moment and head on over to Jeffs website. There is also a fair amount of videos on Jeff @ his youtube page. Links to everything can be found at JeffWilletMusic.com

We shall see you all soon."

The band recently posted a sample of the new track, 'Damnation', to be featured on the band's forthcoming album, The Arena. Listen below:

Italy's MESMERIZE has revealed the complete cover to their fifth album, Paintropy, due out April 29th via Punishment 18 Records, marking the 25th anniversary of the band. The artwork was created by the finnish artist Jan Yrlund of Darkgrove Design (MANOWAR, STRATOVARIUS, KORPIKLAANI).

"We're really satisfied with the result," says bass player Andrea Tito. "It really captures the feeling of the album itself: the combination of Pain and Entropy, translating negative events or emotions into a chaotic and painful state of mind. Furthermore, we really have to thank Jan for his help: besides being very professional all the way, he's been very patient with us, and our requests of changes and fine-tuning (yes, we can be a real pain in the ass sometimes!)"
Paintropy will include 11 original tracks, plus a cover version of the CRANBERRIES classic Promises, revisited in a power/thrash metal style.

Paintropy 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)

"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."

A studio preview of Paintropy can be viewed below:

Denmark-based death metal act CROCELL have checked in with the following update:
"Hi everybody,

Today we entered Death Island Studio in Nykøbing Mors to record the third, as yet untitled Crocell album. So far the drums for a couple tracks are done, and the guitar sound is also more or less ready.

All recordings will take place during the next 14 days and then the album will be mixed and mastered here as well. We will put up some photos and video on our Facebook page so remember to check in and see what is happening.

The album will be out through our new American partner, Metal Hell Records, who has shown to be a very serious and hard working label and we expect the album out in the early summer.

The new album will be darker and a bit more blackened, so expect nothing but a brutal Scandinavian death metal album."

In 2012, Crocell parted ways with lead singer Magnus Jørgensen, who was replaced by Asbjørn Steffensen (also in MORDAX).
Crocell made two new songs available for streaming recently. The two songs, 'Come Forth Plague' and 'Perfidious Ceremony', are produced by Jacob Olsen at JBO Sound, and are the first recordings with Asbjørn handling the vocal duties.

Listen to the tracks below:
Crocell lineup:

Asbjørn Steffensen - vocals
Smukke Ken - guitar
Tommy Christensen - guitar
Onkel Kusse - bass
Andreas Posselt - drums
More on Crocell at this location.

ONWARD/GODLESS RISING guitarist TOBY KNAPP has announced the titles of the nine tracks to appear on his forthcoming solo album Static Warfare.

They are as follows:
'Static Warfare'
'Weaponology'
'The Impossibility of Reason'
'X Class Flare'
'Plasma Spheroid'
'Not If But When'
'Trashed Radiation Shield'
'The Arrival Of Polaris'
'The Doomsday Clock'

Knapp recently stated the following about the release: "When I began writing the album the idea I had in mind was a totally uplifting melodic guitar instrumental album, something an Eric Johnson fan would like. As I finished I realized it's probably, unintentionally, going to be one of darkest and most abrasive "instrumental" albums out there. What I write just naturally comes out dark, the happy shred "guitar boy" disappeared long ago".

For more details visit Tobyknappmusic.com.

DEVICE, the new industrial-style project featuring DISTURBED frontman David Draiman and former FILTER guitarist Geno Lenardo, will play a number of shows this spring and summer in support of its debut album, which is due out April 9. The CD will feature guest appearances from AVENGED SEVENFOLD singer M. Shadows, SYSTEM OF A DOWN vocalist Serj Tankian, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello, HALESTORM singer Lzzy Hale, BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler and ex-DEEP PURPLE bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes.

Lenardo will not be part of the DEVICE touring band due to previous commitments.

Other members of the live lineup include EVANESCENCE drummer Will Hunt and DOPE guitarist Virus.

A 44-second teaser for DEVICE's forthcoming album can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Artisan News, Draiman stated about Lenardo's absence from the road: "Geno is tied up in his own projects and doing things on his own and he wants to be able to stay close to home and spend time with his son, so he won't be a part of the live part of this project, which is why I enlisted the services of [Will and Virus] to be partners in this project and to lend me their creative and their playing might."

Draiman was also full of praise for his bandmates, stating: "Will is just a monster behind the kit and he definitely was one on a short, short list of guys that we were looking at. And Virus as well — a very accomplished musician in his own right, has done some amazing work with DOPE, he's worked with a number of tremendously accomplished artists, [he's] a great songwriter in his own right. So I definitely wanted to find the right union of people that we had a good energy together, we had a good camaraderie, and we're ready to just take this monster of a record and unleash it on the world."

Draiman told Noisecreep that DEVICE's touring plans have yet to be finalized, but that he doesn't expect to be headlining the same venues that DISTURBED does. He explained, "I'm ready to open for other artists and I definitely don't have any delusions of grandeur with this. It's like going back to the beginning."

DEVICE is the first non-DISTURBED music that Draiman has created in 16 years and he told The Pulse Of Radio why that was important to him. "This really gave me the opportunity to step outside of my box from a creative aspect and from a musical aspect," he said. "It's still dark, it's still rhythmic, it's still got my characteristic vocal delivery at times, but I definitely go places vocally on this record that I've never gone with DISTURBED."

The first single from the DEVICE album, called "Vilify", arrives at rock radio on February 19. A video is being produced as well.

The official lyric video for "Zombie Blood Curse", a brand new song from death metal behemoths SIX FEET UNDER, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's tenth full-length album, "Unborn", which will be released on March 19 via Metal Blade Records. The follow-to to 2012's "Undead" was mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with SUICIDE SILENCE, ALL THAT REMAINS, SHADOWS FALL and SOULFLY, among others. The cover artwork for the CD can be found below.

Led by the inimitable Chris Barnes, owner of one of the most powerful and instantly recognizable voices in the genre, SIX FEET UNDER are returning with an overhauled lineup that sees them reinvigorated and churning out some of the most visceral music they have ever put their name to.

In November of 2010 when vocalist and founding member Chris Barnes first started to get the idea of working with new writers for SIX FEET UNDER's next release, he contacted Rob Arnold, Jari Laine, and Ben Savage to share in the writing process. After just two years of writing and recording 20 plus tracks, and releasing "Undead" in May of 2012, SIX FEET UNDER are now proud to unveil "Undead"'s demented fraternal twin...

"The journey to create, write, and record 'Undead' and 'Unborn' has been the most challenging and exciting musical endeavor and process I have ever been involved with," says Barnes. "Working with all these amazing writers and musicians like Ben Savage (WHITECHAPEL) on songs like 'Neuro Osmosis' and 'Fragment' are some of the most dynamic, beautiful, and brutal songs I've ever had the pleasure of putting lyrics to." Barnes continues, "I believe Ben is a true innovator of the death metal genre. It was also a lot of fun working Jari Laine from TORTURE KILLER again. We wrote a great album together a few years back called 'Swarm!' — one of my favorite releases I've been involved with — and Jari is someone who I have really wanted to work with again ever since. I wanted to revisit collaborating with Jari because of how well we work together; proof of that on 'Unborn' are the hook heavy sounds of songs like 'Zombie Blood Curse' and 'Incision'."

Barnes concludes, "I can't wait for 'Unborn' to be unleashed upon the death metal masses this spring!! 'Unborn' is gonna make you wish you were never born."

SIX FEET UNDER in May 2012 announced the addition of Swedish rhythm guitarist Ola Englund (FEARED, SCARPOINT) to the group's ranks. Englund, who made his first official appearance with the band on the "18 Nights Of Blood Tour", took the place of Rob Arnold (CHIMAIRA).

"Undead" was released on May 22, 2012 through Metal Blade Records. The 12-track CD was produced by Mark Lewis (DEICIDE, DEVILDRIVER) and mixed by Jason Suecof (WHITECHAPEL, JOB FOR A COWBOY), at AudioHammer Studios in Sanford, Florida.

SIX FEET UNDER last year parted ways with bassist Matt DeVries and replaced him with Jeff Hughell, formerly of the Santa Cruz, California technical death metal band BRAIN DRILL and Concord, California death metal group VILE, and currently of RECIPROCAL.

SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner says that HALESTORM winning a Grammy Award for "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" proves that "shit is rotten in the music business" and is more upsetting than METALLICA losing the nod in the same category to JETHRO TULL more than 20 years ago.

HALESTORM was honored with the "Best Hard Rock/Metal" Grammy for the track "Love Bites (So Do I)" , from the band's 2012 album "The Strange Case Of…"

The band was up against ANTHRAX, IRON MAIDEN, LAMB OF GOD, MARILYN MANSON and MEGADETH in the category.

Writing on his official Facebook page earlier today, Bittner commented: "Well, I know I'm gonna get a lot of shit for this but I just don't care anymore.... How the FUCK does MAIDEN, MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD, and my 'other family' ANTHRAX lose the Grammys to ________ (not gonna say the name)!!!! Shit is rotten in the music business and this proves it!!! And I thought the JETHRO TULL thing in 1989 was bad enough but this beats it hands down!!!" (METALLICA was nominated for the very first "Hard Rock/Metal Performance" Grammy in 1989, but famously lost to JETHRO TULL, a band distinguished mainly by its heavy use of flute.)

Billy Graziadei of BIOHAZARD joined the Southern California hardcore band STRIFE on stage on February 1 at the Key Club in West Hollywood, California to perform the song "Never Look Back". Video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

Graziadei makes a guest appearance on STRIFE's new album, "Witness A Rebirth", which was released on November 6, 2012 via 6131 Records.

Some bands leave such an impression on fans that, even after two decades, their sound still resonates deep and wide. STRIFE is just such a band, having once again tapped into the energy that has kept listeners interested for 21 years.

After touring throughout the world in recent years, STRIFE decided it was time to unleash a new batch of songs and break their 11-year streak of recording silence. The groundwork for what would become their newest album, "Witness A Rebirth", had been laid and their collective efforts began down the road to realization.

With producer Nick Jett (TERROR, ROTTING OUT, BACKTRACK) at the helm, STRIFE recruited friend and previous collaborator Igor Cavalera (founding member of SEPULTURA) to perform drums for the album and traveled to Brazil to start the recording process with him. Soon after, they returned to California and put the rest of the pieces into place, including guest vocals by Graziadei and Scott Vogel (of TERROR), plus a guitar solo by Marc Rizzo (of SOULFLY). The result serves as a testament to their talent, bridging their past (especially the highly acclaimed album "In This Defiance", with which this album shares four-fifths of the members) with a more contemporary hardcore sound. "Witness A Rebirth" is at once both refreshing and evocative.

"Freak Like Me", the new video from Pennsylvania rockers HALESTORM, can be seen below. The montage clip was created by the band's friend Rob Fenn and it centers around HALESTORM's world travels and whirlwind journey last year.

"So many dreams came true for us this past year, and our fans around the world are responsible for that," singer Lzzy Hale tells RollingStone.com. "To all of our HALESTORM freaks, this one's for you! Write your name in gasoline, and set that shit on fire!"

HALESTORM was honored with a Grammy in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 55th annual Grammy Awards, which was held last night (Sunday, February 10) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. HALESTORM was nominated for the track "Love Bites (So Do I)" , from the band's 2012 album "The Strange Case Of…"

Svart Records has set a March 22 release date for HIGH PRIEST OF SATURN's self-titled debut.

Self-described as a psychedelic doom act inspired by classic stoner bands and '60s and '70s psychedelic rock, HIGH PRIEST OF SATURN is a Norwegian three-piece that consists of guitarist Martin Sivertsen and guitarist-drummer Andreas Hagen's slow-pounding riffs and beats and Merethe Heggset's eerie vocals, which seem to resonate from another dimension.

The entire "High Priest Of Saturn" opus is drenched with swirling, menacing vintage organ sounds, played on the album by Ole Kristian Malmedal. Groovy yet epic (none of the four tracks presented here are below the nine-minute mark!), HIGH PRIEST OF SATURN's debut full-length is a trip. Not only does it fulfill the many promises offered by their 2011 demo (whose two songs have been re-recorded here in even heavier and more mesmerizing versions), but it also propels this trio towards the same league as SLEEP and ACID KING, towards the sky and beyond.

"High Priest Of Saturn" track listing:

01. Protean Towers (10:30)
02. Kraken Mare (9:06)
03. Crawling King Snake (9:01)
04. On Mayda Insula (12:49)

Swedish viking/black metallers THYRFING will release their new album, "De Ödeslösa" (English translation: "The Fateless") on March 1 via NoiseArt Records. The band's first CD since 2008's critically acclaimed "Hels Vite" was recorded at Fascination Street studios in Örebro, Sweden with producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, WITCHCRAFT).

"De Ödeslösa" track listing:

01. Mot Helgrind
02. Fordom
03. Veners Förfall
04. Illvilja
05. Kamp
06. Relik
07. Vindöga
08. De Ödeslösa

The song "Veners Förfall" can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

Comments THYRFING guitarist Patrik Lindgren: "'Veners Förfall' is a track we're truly satisfied with and think it showcases the album in a great way. The song was actually written around the rather offbeat middle piano part — which I think is really different from how you usually put your piano in metal music. In the chorus we can also hear Toni Kocmut on choir vocals. Those who have been following the band through the years will surely recognize this as a familiar element of THYRING. So … here we go — hope you'll enjoy the song and appreciate it as a first teaser of 'De Ödeslösa'."

The cover artwork for "De Ödeslösa" was created by Costin Chioreanu of Twilight13Media and can be seen below.

After 17 years in the band, original member and bassist Kimmy Sjölund decided to leave THYRFING. Joakim Kristensson has since taken over the bass duties. The band also welcomed a new drummer, Dennis Ekdahl.

THYRFING 2013 is:

Jens Rydén - Vocals
Patrik Lindgren - Guitar
Fredrik Hernborg - Guitar
Joakim Kristensson - Bass
Peter Löf - Synthesizers
Dennis Ekdahl - Drums

"Hels Vite" was released in October 2008 via Regain Records. The CD was co-produced (with the band) by Jörgen Svensson of Tyroon Production and the cover artwork was created by the Swedish artist Mikael Schelén. The layout and the photos were handled by Jens Rydén.

THYRFING in 2007 announced the addition of Jens Rydén as the band's new vocalist. Jens is best known as founding member and ex-vocalist of NAGLFAR and for his one-man army PROFUNDI.

IN-GRAVED, the new band led by former PENTAGRAM and PLACE OF SKULLS guitarist Victor Griffin, will release its self-titled debut album in Europe on Friday, March 22 via the Finnish label Svart Records and in the U.S. on Tuesday, March 26 through Veritas Records. The CD was recorded at Lakeside Studios in Knoxville, Tennessee with was producers Travis Wyrick (PLACE OF SKULLS) and Griffin and engineers Wyrick and Mike Dearing (PLACE OF SKULLS). The cover art was created by Richard Schouten (PLACE OF SKULLS, MASSACRE).

"In-Graved" will feature a guest appearance by TROUBLE's original drummer Jeff "Oly" Olson, on the Hammond organ alongside drummer Pete Campbell (60 WATT SHAMAN, PLACE OF SKULLS), bassists Guy Pinhas (THE OBSESSED, ACID KING, GOATSNAKE), Ron Holzner (TROUBLE, EARTHEN GRAVE, DEBRIS INC), Greg Turley (PENTAGRAM), Marty Swaney (DEATH ROW, PENTAGRAM), and Dan Lively (SWEET CICADA), as well as keyboardist Mike Puleo (ORODRUIN).

"In-Graved" track listing:

01. Digital Critic
02. What If...
03. Late For An Early Grave
04. Fading Flower
05. Thorn In The Flesh
06. Teacher
07. Love Song For The Dying
08. Never Surrender

The song "Late For An Early Grave" can now be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. Performing on the track are Victor Griffin (guitar, vocals), Pete Campbell (drums), Mike Puleo (keys) and Marty Swaney (bass).

IN-GRAVED will perform at the Roadburn festival on Saturday, April 20 in Tilburg, Holland.

IN-GRAVED touring lineup:

* Victor Griffin (DEATH ROW, PENTAGRAM, PLACE OF SKULLS) - Guitar/Vocals
* Pete Campbell (60 WATT SHAMAN, PLACE OF SKULLS) - Drums
* Guy Pinhas (THE OBSESSED, ACID KING, GOATSNAKE) - Bass
* Jeff "Oly" Olson (TROUBLE, RETRO GRAVE)

Katherine Turman of The Village Voice recently conducted an interview with former METALLICA, VOIVOD and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM bassist and current NEWSTED frontman Jason Newsted. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On NEWSTED's debut EP, "Metal":

Jason: "This was created because of the fans. I went to play the 30th reunion with METALLICA in December 2011, at the Fillmore (in San Francisco), and I got completely lit up by the fans. It was a fan-club operation, about 30 or 35 countries represented, all kinds of languages screaming at me. It made me want to come back to this. I'm doing it for them."

"I've played many different styles. With ECHOBRAIN (the side project that caused a schism within METALLICA), VOIVOD, GOV'T MULE, DJ SHADOW, all those different styles. There'd been mixed reactions as I reached out into those places, so when I come back with what I do best, the old-school metal, that's why it's getting the [positive] reaction it is."

On playing with Ozzy Osbourne in the bass slot once occupied by Robert Trujillo, who replaced Newsted in METALLICA:

Jason: "He called out a song that I hadn't rehearsed ever before, and I'm in front of 22,000 people. Ozzy screams out 'The Wizard'. He looks over at me. . . . But because I learned from BLACK SABBATH when there was only vinyl — needle back, needle back, needle back — it was all the way from my toes. I go: 'OK, how old am I? 16?' And there I was. I have posters still adhered to my bedroom wall in my room at my dad's house in Michigan — BLACK SABBATH. I saw them this Christmas. When the guy that taught you to play metal asks you to be in his band, it's a surreal experience."

On his relationship with the fans while he was in METALLICA:

Jason: "Everybody assumed their roles in METALLICA. James [Hetfield] was the songwriter, Lars was the business guy, Kirk [Hammett] was the artist, and I was the people person. I always was pushed out front — because no one else wanted to do it at the time — with fans and also the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the cancer kids. That was my bag: traveling across the country, across the world, to do some of these things on METALLICA's behalf. Little did [METALLICA] know that they were the ones missing out. But because I was the ambassador for the band, I became [spiritually] rich from it."

On the NEWSTED song "Godsnake", in which he writes about remaining humble and nonjudgmental:

Jason: "In our society now, at least in North America, the encouragement in reality TV is to be judgmental. The biggest loser, the addict, the pregnant teen, judge, judge, judge. It's the exact opposite of what's supposed to happen to make this world go round."

Read the entire interview from The Village Voice.

French deathcore band VIOLENCE FROM WITHIN has inked a deal with Send The Wood Music. The band's new album, "Idiocracy", will be released on February 25. The CD was recorded at Badroom Studio and mastered at 357 Productions (ION DISSONANCE, OBEY THE BRAVE).

A video for the song "The Umbilical Regeneration" can be seen below.

Formed in 2007, VIOLENCE FROM WITHIN's sound draws influences from many different music styles, including deathcore, post-metal and ambient and atmospherics elements.

The band's first album, "Reminiscence", was recorded in September 2008 at Jack Studio in Belgium and was released in October 2009.

Since then, VIOLENCE FROM WITHIN has played across France with such acts as WALLS OF JERICHO, PROTEST THE HERO, TEXAS IN JULY, THE HUMAN ABSTRACT and DARKANE.

Andreas "Vintersorg" Hedlund (VINTERSORG, BORKNAGAR) and Øystein G. Brun (BORKNAGAR mastermind have relaunched CRONIAN and are currently finishing up the production of a new album.

Comments Brun: "Due to different reasons, CRONIAN went into hibernation after the release of 'Enterprise' in 2008. We had a tight time schedule and we had to make some priorities that forced us to keep CRONIAN on ice for some years. But the urge for doing another album has been haunting us ever since.

"Shortly after the release of BORKNAGAR's 'Urd' in February 2012, we decided to gather some musical and lyrical ideas to see where it would take us. So, during the last year we have been working quite intensely with new material and we are just now about to complete the production of the new album.

"The album has evolved to become something vastly greater than we ever dared to hope for; we have outdone our visions and in terms of the music and production it pretty much feels like a leap to a greater division. From our point of view, this album represents both the peak and the culmination of our musical careers combined. The album is grandiose, monumental, diverse, flavored, catchy, heavy, profound, progressive and unique in every aspect. There is simply no better way to put it!

"The cover for the new album is already done by the Brazilian visual artist Marcelo Vasco (also been working for SOULFLY, DIMMU BORGIR, BORKNAGAR, SATYRICON, etc.) and again he has proven to be the master of visual wizardry — no less!

"CRONIAN is currently unsigned but we are in dialogue with a couple of labels and hope settle things in order to get the album out by summer/early autumn 2013. So for the first time in both our — and joint — careers, we have been able to work under 100% autonomic and independent circumstances in our respective studios — and doing absolutely no compromises in terms of budgets, tight release schedules, supervising A&Rs and so forth. In other words, we have been aiming for perfection and we can't wait to get this bastard out! Songtitles, album title and the cover for the new album will be launched soon — so keep tuned!"

Japanese metal veterans OUTRAGE entered Studio Fredman in Västra Frölunda, Sweden on January 11 with producer Fredrik Nordström (AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, SOILWORK, BRING ME THE HORIZON) to begin recording their new album.

Photos from the studio can be found on the band's official blog.

OUTRAGE's last, self-titled CD came out in November 2009. The effort was also recorded with Nordström at Studio Fredman.

OUTRAGE reunited with estranged vocalist Naoki Hashimoto, who had left the band in 1999, for the 20th anniversary tour in 2007. After completing the successful tour, Hashimoto officially rejoined the band in February 2008.

OUTRAGE released the limited-edition double live CD "Awakening 2008" in Japan in June 2008 through JVC Victor. Recorded during the three-night special show of the same name in Tokyo in March 2008, the first disc features the entire "The Final Day" album (1991) in live form and the entire "Life Until Deaf" album (1995) in live form on the second disc.

According to PopCandies TV, HALESTORM drummer Arejay Hale's girlfriend, Jessie Covets — who is the lead singer of the Los Angeles-based all-girl pop/electro band VIOLET — was rushed to the hospital last night following the Grammy Awards after-party in West Hollywood, California.

Video footage of Covets being picked up in an ambulance, with members of HALESTORM in tow, can be seen below.

HALESTORM was honored with a Grammy in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 55th annual Grammy Awards, which was held last night (Sunday, February 10) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. HALESTORM was nominated for the track "Love Bites (So Do I)" , from the band's 2012 album "The Strange Case Of…"

In his acceptance speech, Arejay Hale said: "I've gotta thank my parents — our parents — for turning us on to great music. Most parents want their kids to be doctors and lawyers, and our parents encouraged us to join the circus. So thank you, guys."

"Love Bites" hit No. 1, making HALESTORM the first female-fronted act in history to top the Active Rock chart.

"Jägerbomb", the new video from the Japanese electro metalcore outfit CROSSFAITH, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's "Zion" EP, which was released in the U.K. on February 4 via Sony's Search & Destroy imprint.

Commented CROSSFAITH frontman Kenta Koie: "We're very excited to finally release our 'Zion' EP in the U.K. and Europe! The fans there have made us feel very welcome, and we promise that we'll be back very soon."

Having laid waste to the U.K. last year at the mighty Vans Warped Tour, the band has just been announced as main support for BRING ME THE HORIZON's upcoming U.K. tour in April/May.

"BRING ME THE HORIZON are one of my favourite bands," says Koie. "We are honoured to be on the road and partying with them in the country we love! It's gonna be mental! And please make sure to get your ticket and check out us. SEE YA IN DA PIT!"

On March 30th Avantasia will release their new album "The Mystery Of Time". Several journalists have already made comments that the new epic might mark the best Avantasia album ever, featuring ten tracks and guest stars such as Biff Byford (Saxon), Michael Kiske (Unisonic, ex-Helloween), Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Rainbow, ex-Deep Purple), Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Bruce Kulick (ex-Kiss, ex-Meat Loaf), Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), Russell Gilbrook (Uriah Heep) and more…

Now another vocalist can be confirmed for the album: Bob Catley, legendary frontman of British Epic Rock storytellers Magnum. And Bob will not only be featured on the album, besides Michael Kiske, Amanda Somerville and Eric Martin, Bob has also been confirmed to join Avantasia on their forthcoming world tour. For their own April indoor shows (not festivals), Avantasia have been confirmed to play 3-hours special shows, not only celebrating the release of their forthcoming album, but also embracing all eras of the bands history. Check the tour section for dates!

Atlanta's NORMA JEAN has finished recording its new album for a late spring release. The CD was laid down at Covenant Recording studio in Kansas City, Missouri with producer Joshua Barber (YOUR MEMORIAL, HANDS).

NORMA JEAN frontman Cory Brandan previously stated about the band's new album: "We are looking at an 11- or 12-song track listing with a few left over for other special releases.

"We have been working very closely with producer/engineers Joshua Barber and Aaron Crawford. Awesome dudes with a lot of great ideas. They've definitely helped us push ourselves to do more with the record.

"We really like the idea of talking about the songs and all getting connected to them emotionally/psychologically. It's something we learned while working with Ross Robinson. It's a great way to get all of us on the same page and fused in a common vision, even though we may have different interpretations. We believe that if we all know what every song is about, then we WILL play the songs differently and with more passion.

"We spent almost two years writing this. We have definitely found so many ways to expand on what we've done before and progress into making something new. This is definitely something new, but don't misunderstand. It's heavy! We're metalheads! Born and raised."

NORMA JEAN's last album, "Meridional", sold 9,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 45 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's fourth CD, "The Anti Mother", opened with more than 16,000 copies back in August 2008 to land at No. 29.

"Meridional" was released on July 13, 2010 via Razor & Tie.