Swedish melodic metallers BLOODBOUND have inked a deal with Germany's AFM Records. The band's fourth album, "Unholy Cross", will be released in March.

Commented the group: "We are very thrilled to join the AFM family and we are looking forward to the release of our fourth album, 'Unholy Cross', on the 18th of March. This is a new chapter for the band, introducing Patrik Johansson on vocals, and a return to the band's classic metal roots."

Bassist Johan Sohlberg recently left BLOODBOUND in order to "focus on his career and family" and was replaced by Anders Broman.

Commented the band: "We are sad to see Johan leave the band; he has been a great member of our family and a strong character always keeping the spirit high. We wish him the best of luck in the future with his career and family.

"We're very excited to have Anders in the band and we are looking forward to working with him. He is adding his own flavor to the band as well as being a very powerful player and live performer."

BLOODBOUND last year parted ways with lead vocalist Urban Breed due to "musical and personal differences" and replaced him with Patrik "Pata" Johansson (DAWN OF SILENCE) from Finspång, Sweden.

BLOODBOUND's third full-length album, "Tabula Rasa", was released in April 2009 via Blistering Records.

Veteran death metallers SADISTIC INTENT have reportedly recruited legendary British extreme-metal drummer Nick Barker (CRADLE OF FILTH, BRUJERIA, DIMMU BORGIR, LOCK UP) to replace the recently departed Emilio Marquez. The band has also ended its stint as the backing band for Jeff Becerra's resurrected '80s death metallers POSSESSED. "We wish them all the best and we are moving on," guitarist Rick Cortez said in a statement. "We are excited about Nick Barker joining SADISTIC INTENT and we are now motivated to focus solely on recording and releasing new material for 2011."

SADISTIC INTENT's career spans two decades, earning the band a respected place in the local Los Angeles thrash/death/black metal community as well as in the international underground scene.

"Blood Magick Necromance", the ninth full-length album from Austrian blackened death metal outfit BELPHEGOR, is scheduled for release on January 14, 2011 in Europe and on February 8, 2011 in the U.S. via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was produced by Peter Tägtgren (IMMORTAL, CELTIC FROST, HYPOCRISY, DIMMU BORGIR) at his Abyss Studios in Pärlby, Sweden and mastered by Jonas Kjellgren.

"Blood Magick Necromance"will be made available in four formats: a limited edition in black slipcase with metallic effect; a strictly limited Nuclear Blast mailorder edition box set, including a bondage necklace and chain (only 500 hand-numbered copies available); a limited picture gatefold LP on blood-red vinyl; LP on black vinyl; and a standard jewel case CD.
BELPHEGOR has tapped two artists from Austria for artwork purposes: Helmut Wolech (a fetish photographer and former mortician) and Joachim Luetke for the magickal graphics and cover artwork.

"Batteries & Rust", a brand new song from THE NEW BLACK — the German band featuring members of SINNER, RUNAMOK, ABANDONED and MCF — is available for free download from U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine. The track comes off the group's sophomore album, "II: Better In Black", which will be released on January 21 in Europe via AFM Records.

"II: Better In Black" track listing:

01. Better In Black
02. The King I Was
03. Batteries & Rust
04. Downgrade
05. Into Modesty
06. Altar Boys
07. Happy Zombies
08. My Favorite Disease
09. Fading Me Out
10. When It All Ends
11. Last Chance To Throw Dirt
12. Sun Cries Moon

U.K. progressive metal hopefuls TESSERACT will release their debut album, "One", on March 22 via Century Media Records. The follow-up to last year's "Concealing Fate" EP includes a bonus DVD that features "Concealing Fate" being performed live in the studio — no overdubs, no re-recording, just pure and raw; the way music was meant to be. The audio for the DVD will be available in stereo and a 5.1 Surround Sound mix. The DVD also features interviews and footage from the band's recent U.S. tour.

Commented TESSERACT bassist Amos Williams: "Ever since we first started performing and recording, we've always wanted to explore the idea of surround sound. The density and layers of TESSERACT's music lends itself perfectly to multichannel sound. So, we came up with the idea of filming and recording 'Concealing Fate' in 5.1 Surround Sound for a special DVD that would come as standard with the album release.

"It's really great for us to show you guys the evolution of the songs as they've grown slightly since we've started touring them.

"There is absolutely nothing better than the energy and euphoria of live music and hopefully with this DVD we've helped represent that. We enjoyed the experience and the result so much that we may just do the next album like this, too!"

TESSERACT has also teamed with leading Djent site Got-Djent.com to open the official TESSERACT question-and-answer forum. Fans can log on to Got-Djent.com and talk to the band about anything they want. The entire group will be online periodically to answer questions and talk to fans.

"One" track listing:

01. Lament
02. Nascent
03. Acceptance - Concealing Fate Part One
04. Deception - Concealing Fate Part Two
05. The Impossible - Concealing Fate Part Three
06. Perfection - Concealing Fate Part Four
07. Epiphany - Concealing Fate Part Five
08. Origin - Concealing Fate Part Six
09. Sunrise
10. April
11. Eden

Bonus DVD track listing:

01. "Concealing Fate" Parts I-VI recorded live, Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound mix
02. Band interviews
03. Footage from North American tour

Die holländischen Female-Fronted Thrasher haben im Oktober 2010 einen Plattenvertrag mit Listenable Reords unterschrieben. Das neue Album "Code of Consequences" kommt im Februar 2011 in den Handel. Jetzt wurde das Cover Artwork und die Track List enthüllt.

"Code of Consequences" Track List:

01. Victim of Honor
02. My Secret Society
03. Incommunicado
04. Center of Momentum
05. Deathstrip
06. Final Farewell
07. Fade Into Obscurity
08. Psychopathic Mind
09. Population Zero
10. Code of Consequences

For Oakland, California's NEUROSIS, their entire catalog can be considered brilliant not only for its sonic merit but also for its need to wander from the beaten path. Rare is it that a band can make you feel the cold and hard texture of concrete while allowing you to smell the growing vine in the confines of one song. Perhaps this is the reason why so many have looked to and borrowed from their table.

NEUROSIS is pure emotion, in every positive or negative form. "Souls At Zero" is NEUROSIS' first flash of true brilliance. Never before were they able to show their passions and exploratory needs so eloquently, while still keeping their musical hearth concussive and visceral. Synthesizers, acoustic guitars and other non-traditional instruments came into play, as did tribal chants and an ethereal smokescreen which enabled the band to shapeshift from one musical being to another. NEUROSIS' expansion into the uncompromising and groundbreaking act that they are now began here, making the importance of "Souls At Zero" larger than even the band could ever know at the time. This album is the glint that never leaves your aural vision, no matter how hard you try to escape it. A catastrophic tinnitus that you hope won't go away.

Neurot Recordings is proud to reissue this perpetual flame of a release while celebrating the band's 25 years of brilliance. With demo version additions of "Zero" and the title track along with a bonus live cut "Cleanse III", this updated release is the perfect portal to witness the development of underground music's titan force. Artwork by the revered Josh Graham completes an awesome package worthy of timeless worship, which Neurot will officially release on February 15.

"Souls At Zero" reissue track listing:

01. To Crawl Under One's Skin
02. Souls At Zero
03. Zero
04. Flight
05. The Web
06. Sterile Vision
07. A Chronology For Survival
08. Stripped
09. Takeahnase
10. Empty
11. Souls (demo version)
12. Zero (demo version)
13. Cleanse III (live in London)

Following NEUROSIS' live appearances in the U.K. in early December, as well as their year-end double-header in Seattle last week, the band will invade the Bay Area next week for two shows in San Francisco; their first shows in their native stomping grounds since 2008! NEUROSIS will also headline the first night of this year's installment of the Maryland Deathfest in May, with support from CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, EXHUMED, AURA NOIR, MARDUK, GOATSNAKE and countless more that night.

Reunited hardcore legends EARTH CRISIS have entered the studio with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris to begin recording their sixth full-length album for a summer release via Century Media Records. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Neutralize The Threat", "Counterstrike" and "100 Kiloton Blast".

Commented guitarist Scott Crouse, "We are really excited to work with Zeuss on this one, we have no doubt he will do this recording sonic justice! Hmm, maybe that's what we'll call the record? Stay tuned for some videos of the recording process!"

EARTH CRISIS' chugging riffs and barked declarations served as the mouthpiece of America's militant vegan, straight-edge movement throughout the '90s, detailing the ideas of animal and human liberation, drug-free living and personal empowerment through hardcore music. The group has continued along this path of breaking new ground, constantly working and reaching more people spreading their message to the masses.

After a lengthy hiatus, the band reformed in 2008 to the delight of the hardcore genre. They soon produced the vicious offering "To The Death" that undoubtedly proved that they have never been stronger from both songwriting and musicianship perspectives.

"To The Death" was released on May 5, 2009 via Century Media Records (April 20 in Europe). The self-produced CD was recorded at Castle Recording Studios in Utica, New York and was mixed by Tue Madsen (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, DARK TRANQUILLITY, MOONSPELL, THE HAUNTED). Artwork for the effort was handled by Paul Romano (MASTODON, GODFLESH).

Bassist Johan Sohlberg has left Swedish melodic metallers BLOODBOUND in order to "focus on his career and family" and has been replaced by Anders Broman (pictured below).

Commented the band: "We are sad to see Johan leave the band; he has been a great member of our family and a strong character always keeping the spirit high. We wish him the best of luck in the future with his career and family.

"We're very excited to have Anders in the band and we are looking forward to working with him. He is adding his own flavor to the band as well as being a very powerful player and live performer."

BLOODBOUND last year parted ways with lead vocalist Urban Breed due to "musical and personal differences" and replaced him with Patrik "Pata" Johansson (DAWN OF SILENCE) from Finspång, Sweden.

BLOODBOUND's third full-length album, "Tabula Rasa", was released in April 2009 via Blistering Records.

German power metallers SOLAR FRAGMENT have inked a deal with Italy's Scarlet Records. The band's new album, "In Our Hands", will be released in April. The CD features a guest appearance by BLIND GUARDIAN's Hansi Kürsch, who "wanted to join forces with the boys on the epic anthem 'Inside The Circle', adding an extra flavor to the band's own Robert Leger's extraordinary voice," according to a press release.

Formed in 2004, SOLAR FRAGMENT quickly became a substantial part of the German power metal underground, gaining remarkable feedback with its debut release, "A Spark Of Deity".

"In Our Hands" "holds on to the band's trademark of keeping things fast, melodic, traditional but fresh, mixing powerful grooves and emotional melodies in 10 brand-new catchy and diversified songs that every heavy metal fan will better not miss," according to a press release.

Las Vegas, Nevada-based post-hardcore band ESCAPE THE FATE has just released the "Issues Remix EP" via DGC/Interscope. The EP boasts hot remixes of "Issues", the first single from the group's recently released self-titled album.

"Issues" cracked the Top 25 at Active Rock and continues to climb both the Active Rock and Alternative Rock radio charts. The "Issues Remix EP" features remixes by Jakwob (YEAH YEAH YEAHS, LILY ALLEN), LA Riots (TIESTO, THE TING TINGS), Wolves At The Gate (THE CURE) and Does It Offend You, Yeah? (MUSE, THE RACONTEURS, BLOC PARTY). Fans have the unique opportunity to create their own remix of the hit song via Indaba.com for a chance to win $1,000 and be featured on EscapeTheFate.com. The contest runs January 11 through February 8, and the winner will be announced on March 8.

ESCAPE THE FATE has scheduled a massive amount of North American headlining tour dates that begin on January 20 in Tucson, Arizona and extend all the way into March, finishing on the 12 of that month in San Diego.

ESCAPE THE FATE's self-titled album sold 18,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 25 on The Billboard 200 chart. The video for the CD's first single, "Issues", was directed by Paul R. Brown, who has previously worked with STONE SOUR, SLIPKNOT, MÖTLEY CRÜE, KORN, GODSMACK and AVENGED SEVENFOLD.

German death metallers DEAD EYED SLEEPER will release their third album, "Observing Oblivion", on February 26. According to a press release, the CD "contains eight tracks with a clear focus on emotional brutality, massive grooves and aggressive intensity."

"Observing Oblivion" track listing:

01. Annihilation Of Opposites
02. Internal Subjugation
03. Narcistic Panopticum
04. The Soothing Intrusion
05. Sullen Eyed Reternity
06. Efficiency In Conceit
07. Abysm
08. The Dead Eyed Sleeper / Pt. II ~ The Ethereal Lake

MOTÖRHEAD singer and bassist Lemmy Kilmister has admitted to Q magazine that money was the sole reason behind him allowing the band's classic track "Ace of Spades" to be used in a TV commercial.

Heineken U.K. brought Kronenbourg 1664 back to the small screens with the first TV support for the premium lager brand since 2006 with the launch of "Slow the Pace", a new integrated advertising campaign which broke last fall.

The first execution in the new campaign showed MOTÖRHEAD performing a slowed down version of "Ace of Spades".

30 years to the month since it was first written, the track was specially re-written by the band for a Kronenbourg 1664 campaign that encompassed TV, press and digital advertising, a short-film documentary and a social media activity.

"It's a sign that we got paid a lot of money by a beer company. They asked us to do it and I said yes," Lemmy said. "How much? None of your business."

"Slow the Pace" is rooted in the idea that Kronenbourg 1664 is a beer with a lingering complexity that deserves to be savoured slowly. The concept will be brought to life over the next year in a series of executions based on unique musical collaborations with leading artists commissioned to re-write and record a slowed down, chilled out version of one of their most famous fast tracks.

The ad, which launched as a 60-second TV execution, was shot in a French bar and shows patrons relaxing and chatting while MOTÖRHEAD play the new version of the song, with founder member and lead singer Lemmy on harmonica rather than his familiar electric bass guitar.

The film documentary charts the process of the band re-writing the track in the studio through to the ad shoot.

Lucas Bergmans, Senior Brand Manager - Kronenbourg 1664 at Heineken U.K., said, "Showing MOTÖRHEAD performing a memorably different version of their legendary 'Ace of Spades' track as they enjoy Kronenbourg 1664 is a powerful and innovative way to deliver the consumer message that Kronenbourg 1664 is a beer that is brewed to be enjoyed slowly — in any circumstances."

U.K-based metallers POWER QUEST will release their new album, "Blood Alliance", via Napalm Records on the following dates:

Japan, Southeast Asia: January 26 (through Marquee/Avalon)
Spain, Finland, Sweden: March 23
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Italy: March 25
Rest of Europe: March 28
USA, Canada: April 5

"Blood Alliance" was recorded at Foel Studios (PAUL RODGERS, NAPALM DEATH, THE WILDHEARTS) in Wales next . Eleven songs were laid down for the follow-up to 2008's "Master Of Illusion", including one bonus track. The CD cover artwork was once again designed by Felipe Machado (BLIND GUARDIAN, SILENT FORCE) and can be viewed below.

Commented keyboardist Steve Williams: "Well, it has been a long time coming but finally the fifth POWER QUEST album is done and I don't think I have ever been so excited about releasing an album. All the guys have given 110% to this record and I'm proud of them all. It's without doubt the heaviest POWER QUEST album yet but without sacrificing the POWER QUEST melodic tradition. I just can't wait for you all to hear it!"

"Blood Alliance" track listing:

01. Battle Stations
02. Rising Anew
03. Glorious
04. Sacrifice
05. Survive
06. Better Days
07. Crunching The Numbers
08. Only In My Dreams
09. Blood Alliance
10. City Of Lies
11. Time To Burn (Japanese bonus track)