British doom legends CATHEDRAL are putting the finishing touches on what will be their last-ever album. Produced by Lee Dorrian and Garry Jennings, with assistance from Jaime Gomez Arellano, "The Last Spire" is scheduled for an April 20013 release via Rise Above Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Entrance To Hell
02. Pallbearer
03. Cathedral Of The Damned
04. Tower Of Silence
05. Infestation Of Grey Death
06. An Observation
07. This Body, Thy Tomb

Non-album track "Vengeance Of The Blind Dead will appear as a flexi disc on the front cover of Decibel magazine in their March issue (on sale February 7). The band also recently shot a promotional video for the track "Tower Of Silence", which will be available to view some time in January. A photo from the shoot can be seen below. The song will appear on an exclusive Rise Above Records CD sampler to be given away with Classic Rock magazine towards the end of the same month.

In related news, SEPTIC TANK, a band featuring CATHEDRAL members Scott Carlson, Garry Jennings and Lee Dorrian, will make its live debut at The Garage, Highbury & Islington on Friday, May 3. They will be openning for Carlson's legendary institution of grind, REPULSION, which will be performing its first U.K. headlining show. Special guests are NECROPHAGIA.

SEPTIC TANK will release a very limited vinyl-only EP titled "The Slaughter" via Japan's MCR Records to coincide with the show. They will have a limited number of colour copies on sale exclusively at the event.

"The Slaughter" track listing:

Side A

01. Fatal Eclipse
02. Forest of Bones

Side B

01. Gotesque Cavalry of Mankind
02. The Slaughter

Influences for SEPTIC TANK range from CRUCIFIX to SEIGE to SLAUGHTER (Canada).

THIN LIZZY recently announced its decision not to release their upcoming studio under the THIN LIZZY name out of respect to late LIZZY frontman Phil Lynott and the legacy Phil created. The band's new name, as well as the details of the new CD, will be revealed over the Christmas period.

Says THIN LIZZY frontman Ricky Warwick via Facebook: "A massive thanks to all fans who have supported THIN LIZZY for the last two years. It's been the biggest honor and privilege of my life to be part of this.

"Stay tuned for big announcements on Christmas on the album and new band name. 2013 is gonna be a very busy year!"

THIN LIZZY guitarist Damon Johnson told Metal Express Radio during a recent interview about the name change: "There's other bands out there that are established with new lead singers and different members of the band. They've made new music without their most famous lineup. We thought for a while that's exactly what we were going to do, and the songs were written under that umbrella: 'We've got to make a THIN LIZZY record.' That raised the bar incredibly high. It was a question for Brian [Downey, drums] and Scott [Gorham, guitar] all along."

He continued: "We're grateful for the massive support we've got from Phil's family, his widow and his daughters. They've been very supportive of everything that THIN LIZZY has done, particularly since Ricky joined. But I know they expressed some concern about the concept of brand-new original material. I get it, man, I totally get it.

"Once we made that decision, it took a lot of pressure off. It took a lot of pressure off Ricky."

Regarding the sound of the new THIN LIZZY material, Johnson said: "Phil's such a part of these new songs. We felt, 'Let's make the record, put it out under a different name — and let the fans know this is THIN LIZZY 2013 under a different name.'

"People who are passionate about the sound that THIN LIZZY has, they're gonna get a lot of that classic sound with this new record."

THIN LIZZY's current lineup features Phil Lynott-era LIZZY members Scott Gorham, Brian Downey and Darren Wharton (keyboards), as well as Damon Johnson, formerly of BROTHER CANE and Alice Cooper's band, former THE ALMIGHTY singer/guitarist Ricky Warwick, and bassist Marco Mendoza.

Quality fan-filmed video footage of THIN LIZZY's December 13 concert at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland can be seen below.

Southern Lord will unleash hell with the new full-length from Midwestern death squad WARTORN.

Since 2004, this Appleton, Wisconsin-based brigade has protested political tyranny and societal injustices with a devastating brew of metallic crustpunk. WARTORN has assaulted live audiences across thirteen countries across North America and Europe in support of releases on renowned crust/punk labels, including Profane Existence and Crimes Against Humanity, while its members also take part in other active and notable acts like DRESDEN, REMISSION and WORDS THAT BURN.

Taking their attack to the next level, the energy and production of their newest full-length, "Iconic Nightmare", elevates WARTORN's powerful songwriting and execution to new levels, surging with nine crushing anthems in barely twenty-five minutes.

Southern Lord will drop "Iconic Nightmare" on CD this January 22; diehards of WOLFBRIGADE, FROM ASHES RISE, TRAGEDY and the like should not pass this one by.

"Iconic Nightmare" track listing:

01. The Iconic Nightmare
02. Unfinished Blueprint
03. Permanent Blackout
04. No Sanctuary No Salvation
05. Six Feet Under
06. Knee Deep In Blood
07. All Flags Still Burn
08. Betrayal
09. Burial Ground

Swedish hard rockers celebrated the 30th anniversary of their appearance at the Swedish rock talent contest Rock-SM this past Thursday, December 13 by performing the song "In The Future To Come" at Hovet in Stockholm during the Scandianvian leg of their "Bag Of Bones" tour. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

In 1982, EUROPE singer Joey Tempest's then-girlfriend entered FORCE (as EUROPE was originally known prior to changing its name) in the Rock-SM contest. Competing against 4000 bands, they performed two songs, "In The Future To Come" and "The King Will Return", and won the contest which resulted in a record deal with Hot Records. Tempest also won the individual award for "Best Lead Singer" while EUROPE guitarist John Norum was honored in the "Best Guitarist" category.

EUROPE's ninth studio album, "Bag Of Bones", was recently certified gold in the group's home country for sales in excess of 20,000 copies. According to the band, the CD entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 2 and "has since then continued to sell steadily." The group added, "'Bag Of Bones' is fast becoming the most successful record since the reunion."

Note: The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in Sweden has revised the sales requirements for albums to reach gold status in the country twice in the last seven years — from the pre-2002 level of 40,000 to the current 20,000.

"Bag Of Bones" was released in Europe on April 27 via earMusic/Edel. The CD, which features a guest appearance by blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION), was produced by Kevin Shirley, who has previously worked with IRON MAIDEN, JOE BONAMASSA, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, BLACK STONE CHERRY and JOURNEY, among others.

MEGADETH has resumed work on its fourteenth studio album with producer Johnny K (full name: John Karkazis), who has previously worked with DISTURBED, SEVENDUST, MACHINE HEAD and STAIND. The CD is tentatively due in early 2013 via an as-yet-undisclosed label following MEGADETH's recent split with Roadrunner Records.

Mustaine previously told NME about the direction of MEGADETH's new material, "Some of it's a little darker, some of it's a little faster. Being in this position right now, not knowing where we're gonna go or what we're gonna do, it's kind of like the world's ours to do what we want. Are we gonna go back to the speed and thrash metal roots that made us who we are? Are we gonna experiment and rely on the melody that we've discovered in MEGADETH songs?"

Mustaine also spoke about how he likes to keep MEGADETH's music more melodic than that of most thrash bands. "We've tried to do that in MEGADETH, have a little melody so that it's not just the same old grinding music like everybody else has," he said. "We're just happy to get going and get to the studio."

Johnny K produced MEGADETH's last album, 2011's "TH1RT3EN", which was recorded at Mustaine's Vic's Garage studio in San Marcos, California. Mustaine previously stated about the recording process for "TH1RT3EN", "We've got a great new partner with Johnny K. I mean, I was satisfied with our last co-producer, with Andy Sneap, and Andy really took us — and he even admits — as far as he could take us, and it was great because we wanted to go back to the big leagues where we were, and we feel that Johnny is, obviously, a big-league producer; not that Andy isn't — don't get me wrong. But we feel that this record is definitely one of our best. It's a great feeling, because, you know, finishing some of the last record, I can honestly say, in my heart I knew that it wouldn't contend with some of the great records in the past, just because of the timing, the label that we were on and stuff like that. Lineup changes and stuff… But I really think that everything just lined up for this record."

"TH1RT3EN", sold 42,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 11 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The CD marked the recorded return of bassist David Ellefson who was part of the band's classic lineup from 1983 to 2002. In a move that delighted the band's legion of diehards, Ellefson returned to performing live with MEGADETH in early 2010 and has remained a fixture on the stage ever since. This was the first time Ellefson has played on a MEGADETH record since 2002's "Rude Awakening".

Los Angeles underground black metallers LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH will release their third full-length album, "Baphometic Chaosium", on January 22 via Metal Blade Records. The band has appropriately become a five-piece (completing the pentacle) with the recruitment of lead guitarist "Inverted" Chris Velez, before it began developing what is described as "devotional work", dedicated to their patron god — a mind-altering experience compelled by the embodiment of chaos, death and ecstasy. To record the psychedelic devilry, they returned to Trench Studios, with John Haddad again seeing to the engineering, with Roskva producing, no doubt to the delight of the tributed horned deity.

"Baphometic Chaosium" track listing:

01. Baphometic Chaosium
02. Acid Gate
03. Psychic Waters
04. Cloven Shields
05. Chained To Decay
06. R'Lyeh Wuurm
07. Epicyclarium
08. Oaken Chrysalis

On Tuesday, February 5, 2013, The End Records will release "Conduit", the highly anticipated sixth studio album from U.K. post-hardcore veterans FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND.

"Conduit", the follow-up to 2011's critically acclaimed "Welcome Home Armageddon", an album which saw the band approach their music with renewed vigor following the addition of new members Gavin Burrough and Richard Boucher, belts out a tightly wound collection of tracks, bursting with emotion and personal conflict but also full of commentary on the inner workings and experiences of an established band. It's the sound of a band growing and progressing both as a unit and individually.

Again with producer Romesh Dodangoda (MOTÖRHEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, LOSTPROPHETS) at the helm, the album's opening track "Spine", a song handling the issue of intense pressure and overcoming tough obstacles in your life to achieve a sense of personal fulfillment, hope and love, will go for radio adds beginning December 17.

Earlier this year the group tapped director Ryan Mackfall of Team Crashburn (FOUR YEAR STRONG, SHARKS, FOXY SHAZAM) to direct the video for "Best Friends And Hospital Beds". Set in a bleak and derelict landscape, the song revolves around themes of friendship and death.

The End Records has assembled the ultimate FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND fan package! The exclusive limited edition boxset contains the new album "Conduit", an exclusive second disc "Live From The Roundhouse", FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND t-shirt, signed poster, cassette version of the album and booklet featuring handwritten notes from all the band about the album. Additionally, the label is taking pre-orders for a limited edition run of 12-inch gatefold splatter color vinyl. All orders will come signed and numbered, strictly limited to 500 copies. Also includes digital download card.

"Conduit" track listing:

01. Spine
02. Conduit
03. The Distance
04. Best Friends And Hospital Beds
05. Nails
06. Death Comes To Us All
07. Travelled
08. Grey
09. Sun-Less
10. Elements
11. High Castles

Fan-filmed video footage of PIG DESTROYER's entire December 15 performance at Churchill's Pub in Miami, Florida can be seen below.

PIG DESTROYER recently re-signed with its longtime record label Relapse.

The band's fifth-full length and first album in over five years, "Book Burner", sold more than 4,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 102 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 2 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Book Burner" was recorded at guitarist Scott Hull's Visceral Sound Studios. Released on October 22 via Relapse Records, the CD features 19 tracks with a return to the band's raw, misanthropic sound. The effort was made available on multiple formats, including CD, deluxe 2xCD, LP, deluxe 2xLP, cassette, digital and an extremely limited ultimate edition dubbed "The Order Of The Godless Swine."

Las Vegas, Nevada-based rockers ESCAPE THE FATE have inked a deal with Eleven Seven Music. The band's new album will be released in the spring. The CD was co-produced by John Feldman, Monte Money and Brandon Saller (ATREYU) and was mixed by Josh Wilbur.

A 25-second teaser for the new ESCAPE THE FATE song "Ungrateful" is available below.

Comments ESCAPE THE FATE frontman Craig Mabbitt: "We are excited to be working with Allen and all the people at Eleven Seven Music and having Monster partner with us in 2013! We are stoked to get shit rolling again and we are thankful for all our fans that have stuck with us during this down time. We hope everyone is ready to go hard with us in 2013."

Adds Eleven Seven Music EVP Joe McFadden: "We are extremely excited to have signed ESCAPE THE FATE. We've been watching them for some time now and we look forward to working with them as they define the future of rock and roll."

As part of a new partnership with Monster Energy Drink, ESCAPE THE FATE will take over the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles for the day on January 6, culminating in a free show at The Roxy Theatre. A limited quantity of wristbands for the show will be available at SoundCheck Hollywood beginning Friday, December 21. Festivities throughout the day with the band will include an ESCAPE THE FATE store takeover at SoundCheck Hollywood with an autograph signing, a VIP pizza party at the Rainbow, a party in the Green Room, an after party at On The Rox, many contests and more.

Says Arms Division Management's Danny Wimmer: "We are excited to have ESCAPE THE FATE join and partner with these two great companies. We could not have asked for better partners who continue to support rock and roll like Eleven Seven Music and Monster Energy."

Australian black/death metal band DENOUNCEMENT PYRE will release its second album, "Almighty Alcanum", on January 22, 2013 via Hells Headbangers on both CD and LP formats. The follow-up to 2010's "World Cremation" is described in a press release as "a veritable abyss of fiery, blackened death metal, but now sharper and more focused than ever." The effort was mastered at Endarker Studio in Östergötland, Sweden.

"Almighty Alcanum" track listing:

01. Intro: Breath Of Tehom
02. An Extension Of The Void
03. Almighty Arcanum
04. He Who Conquers All
05. The Deceiver
06. Drakon: All Is One
07. Circle Of Serpents
08. Darkness Manifest
09. The Redeemer

A two-and-a-half-minute teaser for "Almighty Alcanum" is available below.

Hells Headbangers recently released a DENOUNCEMENT PYRE seven-inch EP titled "Darkness Manifest". The effort featured one track from the forthcoming album plus an additional song that is exclusive to this release. Both cuts were recorded during different sessions to those for the album, so they are unique to this release.

STATUS QUO drummer Matt Letley has decided to leave the band after 12 years. He will make his final live appearance with Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Andy Bown and John "Rhino" Edwards on Wednesday, December 19, at the O2 Arena in London.

Says Letley: "It's been a fantastic journey over the past twelve years or so, but I have decided that now is the right time for me to leave QUO and move on to something new.

"No doubt there will be much conjecture that this is somehow related to the upcoming reunion gigs, but I'd like to assure everyone that it has no bearing on my decision. Indeed, I wish the guys every success with this tour and certainly hope to come along to see one of the shows!

"I should like to take this opportunity to thank the guys in the band, our fantastic crew and Simon and the girls in the office for their friendship and professionalism. Most of all I thank the fans without whom I should not have had the chance to play with one of the best rock and roll bands in the world."

Adds QUO manager Simon Porter: "The band would like to thank Matt for a dozen years of loyal service. He's a true pro and it's been a pleasure to work with him. We're delighted that his last hurrah with the band will be at such a prestigious London show and we wish him all the best for the future."

The original STATUS QUO lineup — Rossi, Parfitt, Alan Lancaster and John Coghlan — will reunite for a one-off, never-to-be-repeated series of U.K. dates in March 2013.

Australia's PORTAL have announced they will release their new album Vexovoid on February 19th via Profound Lore Records.

Artwork for the album was created by Reverend Kriss Hades. Check it out below:

Tracklisting is as follows:
‘Kilter’
‘The Back Wards’
‘Curtain’
‘Plasm’
‘Awryeon’
‘Orbmorphia’
‘Oblotten’

The track ‘Curtain’ can be heard below:

"Spectrum Of Eternity", a brand new song from Swedish metallers SOILWORK, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track, which was premiered earlier tonight (Monday, December 17) on the on the Stockholm, Sweden-based radio station Bandit Rock, comes off the band's ninth studio album and first dual-disc release, "The Living Infinite", which will be unleashed on February 27 in Asia (via license to Marquee Records), in Europe on March 1, and in North America on March 5 through Nuclear Blast Records. Produced by Jens Bogren (OPETH, AMON AMARTH, BLOODBATH), the CD features artwork by MNEMIC's Mircea Eftemie Gabrie.

Commented SOILWORK: "After commissioning some pretty elaborate covers for the last couple of records, we decided to try something more sober and design-oriented for 'The Living Infinite'. Who better to call than the man who created the iconic 'Stabbing The Drama' cover? Mircea Gabriel Eftemie is not only a close friend but also an incredible graphic designer. We're all stoked about his work which is different from anything SOILWORK has ever done and perfectly suits the elegant oceanic concept of 'The Living Infinite'. Enjoy, folks!"

Added Mircea: "Seven years ago, I created the artwork for the 'Stabbing The Drama' album and I can't believe how time flies! Here we are, with sexy gray hairs, working with my friends in SOILWORK again. This time, we built the cover around a maritime concept, aiming for something direct and symbolic. I believe we achieved that quite well. From my creative deck, I salute you and say: 'Long Live The Living Infinite.'"

"The Living Infinite" is as follows:

CD 1

01. Spectrum Of Eternity
02. Memories Confined
03. This Momentary Bliss
04. Tongue
05. The Living Infinite I
06. Let The First Wave Rise
07. Vesta
08. Realm Of The Wasted
09. The Windswept Mercy
10. Whispers And Lights

CD 2

01. Entering Aeons
02. Long Live The Misanthrope
03. Drowning With Silence
04. Antidotes In Passing
05. Leech
06. The Living Infinite II
07. Loyal Shadow
08. Rise Above The Sentiment
09. Parasite Blues
10. Owls Predict, Oracles Stand Guard

"The Living Infinite" features Justin Sullivan — lead singer of the English band NEW MODEL ARMY — as a guest vocalist on the track "The Windswept Mercy" and also marks the recording debut of longtime SOILWORK touring guitarist David Andersson (also of THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA).

SOILWORK's world tour launches with a 55-show headlining trek through the U.S. and Canada this March. Support will come from JEFF LOOMIS, BLACKGUARD, THE BROWNING and WRETCHED.

Superskum.com conducted an interview with guitarist Scott Hedrick of Ohio's SKELETONWITCH on November 9 at Marquis Theatre in Denver, Colorado. You can now watch the chat below. Also available is quality footage of the Denver concert.

SKELETONWITCH has just completed the "U.S. Abomination" headlining tour with support from MUTILATION RITES and HAVOK.

SKELETONWITCH's latest album, "Forever Abomination", was released last year via Prosthetic Records. The follow-up to 2009's "Breathing The Fire" was recorded at a Los Angeles studio with producer Matt Hyde (SLAYER, MACHINE HEAD, KREATOR). The effort includes the track "The Infernal Resurrection", the demo version of which appears as the B-side on the final seven-inch of a limited-edition vinyl trilogy. This marked SKELETONWITCH's first recording with the group's new drummer, former DEMIRICOUS skin-pounder Dustin Boltjes.

The vinyl reissues of the SKELETONWITCH's breakthrough releases "Breathing The Fire" and "Beyond The Permafrost" are now available from the Prosthetic store. Both are available in three variants — splatter, half-and-half and 180-gram black wax — and feature gatefold Stoughton "tip-on" record jackets. The black vinyl versions of both albums were made available in select retail stores in April.

Interview:

ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist Jerry Cantrell joined WALKING PAPERS, the new Seattle band featuring former SCREAMING TREES drummer Barrett Martin, longtime Seattle musician Jeff Angell and ex-GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER bass player Duff McKagan, on stage this past Saturday (December 15) at the sold-out Crocodile in Seattle to perform the songs "Your Secret's Safe With Me" and "Two Tickets". Check out video footage of Cantrell's appearance below. Photos can be found at this location.

McKagan plays bass on WALKING PAPERS' entire debut disc, while PEARL JAM guitarist Mike McCready contributes lead guitar solos. Mixed by Jack Endino, the record was released on October 16 via Boredom Killing Business/Sunyata Records and the first single, "Your Secret's Safe With Me", is streaming at the band's Facebook page.

Commented Martin: "Jeff Angell, our singer and guitarist, is a natural storyteller, and Ben Anderson plays keyboards like a classic soul man session player. With Duff and I as the rhythm section, let's just say we are the seasoned veterans. We play old-school, gritty, bluesy American rock and roll, and as a quartet, that's as real as it gets."

Martin and McCready previously played together in MAD SEASON, alongside late ALICE IN CHAINS singer Layne Staley. The band is currently being reactivated with new vocals being recorded over tracks originally laid down for an abandoned second MAD SEASON album.

McKagan was born and raised in Seattle and played in a punk band there called 10 MINUTE WARNING before migrating to Los Angeles and joining GUNS.

The Hellish Rock Tour in 2007/2008 featured HELLOWEEN and their very special guests GAMMA RAY, which played 95 shows in 34 countries and left ecstatic metal fans in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America in their wake. Hellish Rock Tour Part II has been announced and will start in February 2013 in Europe and go around the globe, once again featuring Gamma Ray.
Photo by 3gramy.pl

Dates for Russia and Japan have now been confirmed. They are as follows:

June
1 - Moscow, Russia - Arena
2 - St Petersburg - Kosmonavt
5 - Tokyo, Japan - ZEPP
6 - Yokohama, Japan - Blitz
7 - Tokyo, Japan - Shibuya AX
9 - Osaka, Japan - IMP Hall
10 - Nagoya, Japan - ZEPP

Previously announced dates for Europe, featuring SHADOWSIDE as support, are as follows:

February
28 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz 1

March
1 - Madrid, Spain - La Riviera
2 - Bilbao, Spain - Santana 27
4 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
5 - Milan, Italy Alcatraz
6 - Bologna, Italy - Estragon
9 - Athens, Greece - t.b.a.
10 - Thessaloniki, Greece - Principal
12 - Istanbul, Turkey - Refresh the Venue
15 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Arena Armeec
16 - Bucharest, Romania - Arenele Romane
18 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Media Park Club
19 - Budapest, Hungary - Pesca Music Hall
21 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Sport Hall
22 - Prague, Czech Republic - Tesla Aréna
23 - Zlín, Czech Republic - Hala Euronics
24 - Brezno, Slovakia - Sport Hall
26 - Krakow, Poland - Studio
27 - Warsaw, Poland - Stodola
29 - Helsinki, Finland - The Circus
30 - Tampere, Finland - Pakkahuone
31 - Oulu, Finland - Teatria
April
2 - Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller
4 - Stockholm, Sweden - Arenan
5 - Karlstad, Sweden - Nöjesfabriken
6 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Lisebergshallen
8 - Paris, France - Olympia
9 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Garage
10 - Langen, Germany - Neue Stadthalle
12 - Kaufbeuren, Germany - Allgäu Event Center
13 - Bochum, Germany - Ruhrcongress
14 - Mons, Belgium - PPM-Fest
16 - London, UK - HMV Forum
18 - Hamburg, Germany - Docks
19 - Geiselwind, Germany - Music Hall
20 - Balingen, Germany - Volksbankmesse
21 - Schwandorf, Germany - Oberpfalzhalle

Norwegian progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED have issued the following update:

"We started the process of making a new live DVD. Or perhaps 'concert movie' would be a more appropriate title for this undergoing. We've gone to some lengths to keep this under wraps for as long as possible; and now we're more or less ready to go.

"We will record two full sets containing material from all our releases. There will be a total of 24 songs (matching the number of the Futhark, by the way-ish), including some very special and long asked-for treats for our fans. There will be glimpses into the world of ENSLAVED between the songs that will help create a unique musical experience caught on film.

"The site of the recording is ABC Studios in Etne, appropriately located in the house of the old school..."

ENSLAVED will return to the U.S. and Canada in early 2013 for a 20-date headlining "Winter Rite" tour with support from U.S. doom metallers PALLBEARER and occult rockers ANCIENT VVISDOM. Kick-off is in Philadelphia on January 30, with the tour closing in New York City on February 22.

ENSLAVED's twelfth studio album, "RIITIIR", sold around 2,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 8 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

The band's previous album, "Axioma Ethica Odini", opened with 1,400 units back in September 2010 to debut at No. 16 on the Top New Artist Albums chart.

ENSLAVED will headline Scion AV's Label Showcase, featuring Roadburn Records, with additional appearances by WHITE HILLS, Scott Kelly of NEUROSIS, EARTHLESS and ASTRA. The event takes place on November 10 at the Roxy in West Hollywood, California. The concert is free with RSVP at www.scionav.com/metalshow.

FDA Rekotz is set to release the debut album from Germany's SULPHUR AEON, entitled Swallowed By The Ocean's Tide, on CD on December 28th.
With their widely-praised 2011 demo, Sulphur Psalms, and the 2-song EP, Deep Down They Sleep, the German slaughter brigade hammered a sign in the international death metal scene. Be prepared for 11 tracks of pure classic brutal but melodic death metal carnage in the vein of DISSECTION, CHARON, HATESPAWN and BEHEMOTH. The LP version will be released by Imperium Productions on the same day.
Swallowed By The Ocean's Tide tracklisting:

'Cthulhu Rites'
'Incantation'
'Inexorable Spirits'
'The Devil's Gorge'
'Where Black Ships Sail'
'Swallowed By The Ocean's Tide'
'Monolithic'
'From The Stars To The Sea'
'Those Who Dwell In Stellar Void'
'Beneath. Below. Beyond. Above'
'Zombi'

Listen to 'Inexorable Spirits' below:
More on Sulphur Aeon here.

Grande Prairie, AB-based power thrash five-piece EDGE Of ATTACK have announced the official release of their debut self-titled album, via Halifax based label Spread The Metal Records, on Tuesday, February 19th, 2013.

The album is available for pre-order at this location, along with the first single, 'Forever', which can be heard in the video below:
Produced by EAO guitarist/vocalist Jurekk Whipple, the debut features ten tracks of haunting vocals, shredding guitars, complex bass lines, furious drumming plus choral and symphonic arrangements along with guest artists by solo artist Ivan Gianinni, Ryan Boivard (HALLOWS DIE) and Pellek (DAMNATION ANGELS).

Vocalist Roxanne Gordey comments: "We have been looking forward to this for so long! For us, this album represents our dedication to our fans. They have shown the utmost loyalty and patience, so we hope that our efforts have an opportunity to shine with this release. Our journey through these songs has spurred a creative evolution of Edge of Attack, and with that we hope our self-titled LP will mark our place in the metal community."
Edge Of Attack tracklisting:

'In Hell'
'The Haunting'
'Demon (Of The Northern Seas)' feat. Ivan Giannini
'Take Me Alive'
'In The Night'
'Edge Of Attack'
'Rise Above'
'Forever'
'The Damned' feat. Ryan Bovaird
'Set The World Aflame' feat. Pellek
More on Edge Of Attack at this location.

Working in studio and adding new bassist Bruno Goyer, aka GOYY, to their lineup, Montreal-based brass metallers FALLSTAF have unleashed their latest music video and new single, 'Miller's Crossing'. Check it out below:
The new single follows last year's debut album, Bastard Sons of A Pure Breed, which features 11 tracks of fury; self-produced by Fallstaf, and mixed and mastered by Kevin Jardine (SLAVES ON DOPE) of Uplift Studios, and was the follow up their 2009 EP The Hitman Plays Trombone. Blending aggressive trombone with heavy rock, thrash and hardcore influences, Fallstaf are excited to unleash a new sound to the metal family tree, which was born out of their other more soften music collective North East Bistro.
Show dates:

February
21 - Cafe Chaos - Montreal, QC (Buckfest with Konkreat, Under Aspect)

March
9 - Le Barock - Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC (with La Corriveau)

More on Fallstaf at this location.

French metallers MAGOA have released a new video, for ‘A Thousand Lives’. Directed by Benjamin Cappelletti and produced by Stenope Productions, the track comes from the band’s EP, Animal, recently released through Klonosphere Records.

Check out the video below:
Recorded at the Hobby Shop Studios in Los Angeles with their long-time producer Charles "Kallaghan" Massabo (who has produced bands from all over the world like HEWITT, SIKH and CENSURA), and mastered by Andrew "Mudrock" Murdock (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ALICE COOPER, GODSMACK) the Animal EP is pure rock 'n' roll energy, chock full of mosh moments and delivers a message of true freedom through metal music.
Magoa are:

Cyd Chassagne - Vocals
Vincent Alvarez - Guitar
David Teixeira - Guitar
Vincent "Swhammer" Blondel - Bass guitar
Martin Montergnole - Drums

More on Magoa here.

Dijon, France-based metallers ECLECTIKA have released their third album, Lure Of Ephemeral Beauty, via Asylum Ruins Records.
The album tracklisting:

'Through the Supernova Remnant '
'Lure of Ephemeral Beauty'
'Cyclic Anagnorisis'
'Room Nineteen'
'Sophist’s Death: Legacy and Bitter Tears'
'Trauma 835'
'Sweet Melancholia'
'Les Sept Vertus Capitales'
'Handicapped Sex in a Mental Orgy'
'Aokigahara'

The album is available for purchase as well as streaming via Deezer at this location.

More on Eclectika here.

U.K. black metallers HECATE ENTHRONED have parted ways with longtime drummer Robert Kendrick and vocalist Dean Seddon. The group states: "This was a difficult decision made by the majority of the band and on a purely band level. They are both great friends as well as great performers and we know you will all join us in appreciation of there talents and in wishing them every success in all future endeavours."

The band adds: "The replacement drummer will be announced soon and we take this opportunity to receive applications for a vocalist through our messages on Facebook."

HECATE ENTHRONED has set "Virulent Rapture" as the title of its new album, tentatively due next year. The band's bassist, Dylan Hughes, previously stated about the follow-up to 2004's "Redimus": "We had a more hands-on approach with the recording process of the last album 'Redimus' and after that, felt it was the way to go for us. We all have a lot of years experience behind us and know exactly how the band should sound and be able to create that on a release.

"The new material is very much guitar-driven, lots of heavy and fast riffs (tuned to C#), giving a relentless feeling to the tracks which we have tempered with a big orchestral sound. The choirs and orchestras have always been a big part of the sound with HECATE and that is very true with this material. In some parts, it recaptures some of the moods from the very early releases. Because of the fact we are recording ourselves, we aren't pressured too much by time constraints and can spend more time on getting the right sound and mix as we feel in the past we have had to sacrifice certain things to reach a recording deadline. Due to this, we will be taking longer than we have in the past but feel it will be worth it. And [we] also feel due to the strength of this material it deserves the time spent on it."

A new interview with Hughes, conducted by Colombia's El Santuario Del Rock, can be streamed using the audio player below.

Interview (audio):

France progressive death metallers SUPURATION will release their new album, "Cube 3", on February 25, 2013 in Europe via Listenable Records. The artwork for the CD was created by the band's longtime collaborator and designer Matthieu Carton. The effort was mastered by Sweden's Dan Swanö.

According to a press release, "Cube 3" "represents the end of the lyrical theme , a decade after the previous album, and 20 years after the band's debut initiating the beginning of the story."

Commented the band: "'Cu3e' (2013): The end of the enigmatic trilogy started twenty years ago, after 'The Cube' (1993) and 'Incubation' (2003), 'Cu3e': out of time, in outer space, machines take care of the reincarnated soul, an amazing journey with an unexpected ending to this metaphysical concept which started in 1993."

SUPURATION will celebrate the release of the new album at the Splendid in Lille (north of France) on February 24 with DYLAH TEEN and OUTCAST.

"Cube 3" track listing:

01. Sinergy Awakes
02. Introversion
03. The Disenthrall
04. Consummate
05. The Incongruents
06. The Delegation
07. Datadance
08. The Flight
09. The Climax

Don't be fooled by the band monicker, SUPURATION do not specialize in unleashing short grind-gore blasts but deliver more of measured yet muscular balanced metal through a more profound, subtile and enigmatic musical world.

Formed in Valenciennes in the north of France in 1989, SUPURATION, or its more progressive incarnation S.U.P., has issued a number of records over its 20-year career, developing a series of conceptual releases called "The Cube". "The Cube 3" will see the light of day in 2013, exactly 20 years after the debut album release, which launched the story of "The Cube" and 10 years after a conceptually similar release "Incubation" in 2003.

Popular for its massive wall of guitars and tasteful vocal delivery making it sound like an unexpected mixture of a crushing CARCASS and an intimate PINK FLOYD, SUPURATION has become a cult name in the live circuit by not playing out very frequently and delivering mesmerizing and unique performances.

DEVIL'S TRAIN — the band featuring MYSTIC PROPHECY mainman/producer Roberto Dimitri Liapakis, ex-STRATOVARIUS drummer Jörg Michael, guitarist Lakis Ragazas, and ex-SYMFONIA/STRATOVARIUS bassist Jari Kainulainen — has commenced the songwriting process for its sophomore album, to be, once again, recorded at Prophecy & Music Factory Studios in Germany with Liapakis in the producer chair. The CD is expected sometime next year via earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based international rock label which is part of Edel Group.

Commented Liapakis: " Once again, it will be a feast of pure rock 'n' roll, with all the heaviness, and, as always, full of heart and soul. But at the same time, we feel like we are taking everything to the next level in terms of composition, flavor and edge. The four of us have a great chemistry together, and this will show once more, only a lot more."

DEVIL'S TRAIN is already scheduling new concerts for 2013.

The band's self-titled debut album was released in February 17 via earMUSIC.

DEVIL'S TRAIN is a project Liapakis had been working on with Greek guitarist Lakis Ragazas for a year and as soon as Michael heard it, he asked to become part of it as the group's drummer.

Liapakis previously stated about the formation of DEVIL'S TRAIN: "I am rock and roll down to my veins and I always had diverse influences in my music, a great part of which are expressed in the music I write with MYSTIC PROPHECY. However, the style of music I have been preparing for DEVIL'S TRAIN with Lakis Ragazas isn't the style that would fit MYSTIC PROPHECY and this is why I decided to initiate a side band. Luckily, other people with whom I have common musical background share my vice for rock 'n' roll and Jörg, as I found out when we toured together [in] January [2010], is one of them."

BEAUTY IN THE SUFFERING, the newly launched electro-metal studio project from MARAZENE producer Dietrich Thrall, has posted a studio update, including stills of the band's recent recording sessions at Bell Labs Recording in Norman, Oklahoma. The shots feature drummer Chris Emery of AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE and SKINLAB guitarist Provo Provenzano, who engineered the marathon 15-hour session.

Commented Thrall: "[We] managed to get 7 of the 14 BEAUTY IN THE SUFFERING songs we were aiming for. Very pleased we got that far. Was a pretty crazy session overall in terms of how many tracks we were shooting for. We just dove right in and got as many as we could before our ears threw in the towel."

Dietrich is best known for his co-founding and co-visionary role in the industrial-metal band MARAZENE (later called MARAZENE MACHINE). From managing the band during its most active and successful national touring years (2006-2008), to co-producing the band's critically hailed cover of MÖTLEY CRÜE's "Live Wire" in 2011 as well as the band's lone official full-length album ("MachiNation", 2006), to writing fan-favorite tracks such as "Give", to guiding the band's philosophical and edgy lyrical approach ("AnTiThesis", "Infidel Society"), to producing multiple videos for the band, Dietrich's contributions and influence are heavily noted.

FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE has signed a management deal with Hard Impact Management Inc. - who boast ALESTORM, BROKEN HOPE, GLORYHAMMER and SEPTICFLESH on their roster - which is led by Maurizio Iacono. The band has issued the following statement:
"Yes! We are extremely happy to start working with Maurizio and the Hard Impact Management team. We think Hard Impact fits perfectly with what we want and represent. We're going to kick some major asses with our new album, this is a promise! We are more motivated and focused than ever! The future is now. We're ready to bite into it."

Iacono commented: "When I saw Fleshgod Apocalypse the first time live, I was blown away. It's not only the great image they have, but also the musicianship, the originality and the drive behind it. To make yourself heard outside of Italy while playing extreme music is hard. It takes guts, patience and balls-- and in this business, it's a must!! They have done it and succeeded, and now it's time to take the future by the horns. Time to let these boys grow into the global monsters they really are. Stand by 2013!"

Iacono is also the general manager / co-owner of the quickly rising American booking agency Rock The Nation USA.

For more information visit HardImpactMusic.com and RockTheNationUsa.com.

Back on April 28th, 2012, Fleshgod Apocalypse performed in Sacramento, CA. Multi-camera live footage courtesy of Zoran Theodorovic and Kevin Champ at Capital Chaos is available below: