Death doom masters Ophis are currently working hard on new studio album, the follow-up to 2017's The Dismal Circle. The German four-piece will soon enter the studio, where they will start recording new music.

Full statement from the band: "So... a heavy new year to all of you. Most bands these days send some preview of what's to come the following year, and/or look back at the past one... We would too, but there simply isn't much to say. It is no use complaining about how much COVID-19 fucked the music world - first of all, we all know this, and second of all: we can't change it. It is what it is. At least we had the chance to play a real live show during lock-down at Barther Metal Open Air - and we really are thankful for that.

"As for 2021: yes, we are working on live dates. Yes, we did book studio time for recording the new album. BUT since the pandemic is not over yet, we decided to keep rather calm about it and just wait and see. Sure, we hope to pull things through as we plan them, but we take nothing for granted this year, and thus we will remain careful with any announcements and promises. No full blown optimism - remember, this is DOOM METAL!

"That's why there are only few postings going on. However, we hope to see you all back on the road very soon, so Olly can give you the finger again while ripping on his bass - hopefully with the new album in our backpacks!! Thanks for sticking with Ophis - we appreciate your support!"

In their last official 2020 statement, doom metal masters Monolithe revealed that in 2021 they will focus mainly on studio work. They are planning to release their ninth album in 2022.

Statement from Sylvain Bégot: ''On behalf of Monolithe I would like to wish you all a happy new year. 2020 has been an inept year for the reasons you already know, but we tried to make the best of it by composing a new album and arranging a bunch of cover songs. All of them are now finished and waiting to be transposed on tape.

"2021 doesn't seem to show much hope gig-wise (even though we'll be ready if unexpected opportunities arise) so the band is going to spend this coming year recording the new material. In my opinion the next album is going to be phenomenal, but perhaps I'm not exactly objective about it?

"Anyway, after completing the "Great Clockmaker" and the "Tame Stars" sagas, this new record is going to open a new chapter in the artistic life of this band. We are really eager to share the 9th Monolithe full-length album (which is NOT going to be made of 9 minutes songs!) as well as our reading of the 6 chosen songs we're going to cover. But we still have to go through a lot of work for that. Let's expect a 2022 release!"

After parting ways with Lars Nachtbraecker one month ago, Dutch folk metal band Heidevolk are in the search for a new vocalist. Despite this setback, the band spent the last couple of months working on new songs and plan to record new full length sometime later this year.

Heidevolk's massage: "Brothers and sisters, the last day of 2020. A year that started off with some nice shows, the initiation of Mat as official band member and loads of exciting stuff planned for later on...until it all came to a crashing halt in March. For Heidevolk the rest of 2020 has been a journey while standing still. Surviving the inactive COVID months while keeping a clear head and staying positive about the future. Man, did we curse 2020! Sadly our singer Lars left the band and we even had to cancel a live stream due to the strict lockdown. But we survived and we bent back, we spent the last months rehearsing and working on new songs as a team.

"So now we enter 2021, recovered and ready to rock! Our quest for a singer will start shortly and the progress of the new album quickens. It is unclear when live-shows are back on the menu but we await the promises 2021 holds. We wish you all the best for 2021 and hope to see you soon!"

Wolvennest are proud to announce the release of their new studio record, entitled Temple. It is going to be released on the 5th of March, 2021 as a double vinyl record, digipack CD and via the known digital channels. "Disappear" is the first official song from the upcoming effort, available for listening below.

Wolvennest commented: "Comrades, our third full length, named Temple, will be released the 5th of March via Ván Records. As always, it has been mixed at Opus Magnum Studios and benefits from the beautiful artwork made by Art of Maquenda.

"With such a long effort (double album), you can expect the typical, aetheric vibe we enjoy creating and some surprises, which is the case with the song "Disappear", featuring Déhà as lead singer, reinforced by Shazzula's choirs. "

SynlakrosS has released a new single called "The Last Day Of Eris", taken from their new album 0K4M1, which will be released internationally very soon.

The title of this new album is formed by the acronym 0M4K1, whose pronunciation in English is Zero Em Four Kei One.

"The Last Day Of Eris" is the third song on the album and talks about the last day of the planet Eris.

It’s a suicide mission to which 0K4M1 has been assigned to try to save the planet from destruction…but the mission failed and 0K4M1 felt all the pain, the suffering, all the destruction and the deaths as if they were his own. The video has been created by Patricia Pons, vocalist of the band, and the music by Facundo Novo at Novo Studios.

The band states:

“The album is a message sent by creature 0K4M1, and you are the one who receives this message to millions of light years away. Like a message in a bottle. At the end of the listening, you should choose if you want to keep it a secret, or if you want to share it with others. And who is 0K4M1? 0K4M1 is a creature created by humans from a synthetic embryo and alien DNA. Created to be a lethal weapon, the new antichrist. Before dying, he decides to record his experience vital and share it with everyone who receives this message. Because maybe your experience can alleviate the existential pain and suffering of the listener."

They have also released new merchandising targeting fans who are isolated or quarantined at home, including items such as blankets in their store. They also have advanced some elements of the presale of the album. Check out the store here.

Cuban black metal pioneers Mephisto have left their sign in the Cuban metal scene with their unique style and sound and now they are back once again to announce their new album Pentafixion that will be released via Wormholedeath Records. While waiting for the full-length album, the band will unleash the title track as first single.

A statement from Mephisto:

“On behalf of all members of Mephisto, we wish to announce that we have been offered a contract with the long established and well respected Italian label WormHoleDeath Records. 
It is our pleasure to announce that after some discussion, Mephisto have accepted the offer and now enthusiastically join the label. We can’t wait to start working with the team at WormHoleDeath after following their label and their artists for many years. To now be considered part of this family is a long awaited dream come true. We are excited to be bringing our style of Cuban black metal to the world thanks to the relationships WormHoleDeath has with its partners including Warner / Chappell Music Holland BV and The Orchard Inc. (Sony Music Ent). We look forward to our first release with Worm Hole Death which is our full-length album Pentafixion, an album that we have been working on for the best part of 2 years. Who knows, maybe the back catalogue will be released sometime on WHD too! 

“We’d like to officially thank Carlo from WHD for being so passionate about securing us to the label. The work and dedication shown by him is incredible! From finding us in Subtle Death Magazine, to reaching out to its editor (Omar Vega) to contact us, to the late night calls to our management (in Australia), all the way through to walking us through the deal. We couldn’t be happier knowing that our music and our career are in great hands with WHD. 
                                         
“So what can you expect from us now? Well just because you can see the mountain doesn’t mean the climb has finished. Now the hard work begins to reward our fans for their patience waiting on our new album and to show WHD that the new kids on the block came to kick heads and take names. 

“Look out world…. Mephisto the pioneers of black metal in Cuba have just been unleashed on the world and it’s all thanks to WormHoleDeath Records!” 

Tracklisting:

“Intro – Enter The Storm”
“Storming War Anthems”
“Pentafixion”
“The Birth”
“Rebellion”
“The Falling”
“Curse Of The Pharaoh”
“The Mighty Ring”
“From Hobbiton Toward The Mountains Of Gorgoroth”
“The Last Battle”
“The Undivine Blessing”
“Yavhe Sabbaoth (King Of Nobody)”
“Burning Fantoft”

On January 15, Atlanta-based metallers Hallows Eve will release LP and Digipak CD reissues of their classic 1985 debut album, Tales Of Terror, via Metal Blade Records. Pre-order your copies here.

Bassist Tommy Stewart checked in with the following comment about the album: "Tales Of Terror launched Hallows Eve with a bang! We were a small tribe of street kids full of passion, anger, joy, and the unbridled frustrations of youth at the same time. We wanted to channel all that energy by screaming at the world and that was Tales Of Terror."

Tales Of Terror comes newly mastered / fully restored by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony for this reissue and also features new liner notes by Hallows Eve bassist Tommy Stewart. Additionally, the LP format includes a double-sided poster and the 4-panel Digipak CD includes an expanded 16-page booklet as well as four obscure rehearsal tracks as bonus.

Available formats:

- 180g black vinyl
- "Plunging" blue / black marbled vinyl (limited to 300 copies)
- "Hangman's Private Stock" red marbled vinyl (limited to 200 copies)
- "No Rules Bloody Spiked" red / black dust vinyl (limited to 100 copies, MB webshop)
- "Metal Merchant Leaded" gray marbled vinyl (US exclusive)
- Digipak CD

Tracklisting:

"Plunging To Megadeath"
"Outer Limits"
"Horrorshow"
"The Mansion"
"There Are No Rules"
"Valley Of The Dolls"
"Metal Merchants"
"Hallows Eve (Including Routine)"

CD bonus tracks:
"Scream in the Night" (Exciter Cover - Rehearsal May 1984)
"The Mansion" (Rehearsal June 1984)
"Eighteen" (Alice Cooper Cover - Rehearsal May 1984)
"Hallows Eve (Including Routine)" (Rehearsal May 1984)

Formed in 1983, Hallows Eve were one of the first thrash bands in metal history, alongside heavyweights such as Metallica, Slayer (whom they supported on their Hell Awaits tour), Exodus and Anthrax. They mixed Black Sabbath, Motörhead and Iron Maiden riffs with the energy of punk-like Dead Kennedys and added a touch of Alice Cooper's image.

Their first two-track demo caused a big buzz on the tape-trading scene and secured them a spot on the legendary Metal Massacre VI compilation (besides Possessed, Nasty Savage, Hirax, Dark Angel, etc.), released by Brian Slagel. As a natural progress, they signed to his label Metal Blade Records later on.

1985 saw the release of the genre defining thrash classic Tales Of Terror. It featured the original versions of the aforementioned demo tracks and five new shredding songs, which took the underground by storm and gained raving reviews.

Long out of print in its original version, Tales Of Terror was last reissued in 2006 as part of the History Of Terror 3CD+DVD-Boxset - which also included the following Metal Blade albums: Death & Insanity (1986) and Monument (1988), as well as rare live and rehearsal recordings - and is now finally available again in re-mastered editions on vinyl as well as in the Digipak CD format (with four rehearsal tracks as bonus). Stay tuned for further Hallows Eve reissue news coming soon.

Hallows Eve - Tales Of Terror lineup:

Stacy Anderson - Vocals
Skellator - Guitars
Tommy Stewart - Bass
David Stuart - Guitars
Ronny Appoldt - Drums
Tym Helton - Drums *

* On the songs "Metal Merchants" and "Hallows Eve (Including Routine)"

Guitarist Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra) has checked in with some new old music:

"Lost track late night music post! 'Last Time' is a lost track from the Faces recording session! Jeff Plate on drums, David Z on bass. It’s just a rough mix but a pretty cool tune. I forgot all about it! Found it in a folder on an old hard drive tonite when I was looking for another session I couldn’t find!"

Caffery released the his solo debut album, Faces, in 2005. It was later released as a double CD package featuring an albums's worth of "bonus" material.

CD 1
"Alas" 
"Faces" 
"Fade Into The X" 
"Pisses Me Off" 
"Remember" 
"Fall" 
"Music Man" 
"Life Crazy Life" 
"The Mold" 
"Bag O' Bones" 
"Evil Is As Evil Does" 
"Never" 
"So Far Today" 
"Jealousy" 
"Preludio" 
"Abandoned" 

CD 2

"God Damn War" 
"Fool, Fool!" 
"Edge of Darkness"
"Saddamize" 
"I" 
"W.A.R.P.E.D."
"Fright Knights" 
"Amazing Grace"
"Piece Be with You"
"Beat Me, You'll Never Beat Me" 
"Curtains" 

Photo by Bob Carey

Spanish technical death metal masters Wormed are now streaming a brand new playthrough video for the song "Bionic Relic," which is taken from 2019's sci-fi EP, Metaportal.

Wormed comment: "We're not fans of playthroughs, but since this world is changing and we haven't played anywhere for a year (!!!) we thought you would like to enjoy a display of a Metaportal track, 'Bionic Relic' with the full band. This was recorded on different planets. We live light years from each other and it's quite hard to be all together for recording any footage. Become a 'Bionic Relic' with us!"

Metaportal was released on July 19, 2019 and can be streamed, downloaded, and ordered here.

"Cryptoubiquity" lyric video:

"Remote Void":

Lineup:

Phlegeton: vocals
Migueloud: guitars
Guillemoth: bass
V-Kazar: drums

Veteran Arizona thrashers FLOTSAM AND JETSAM are putting the finishing touches on their new album for a tentative late spring/early summer release. Over the weekend, guitarist Michael Gilbert told The Metal Voice about the upcoming follow-up to "The End Of Chaos" (see video below): "It was supposed to come out in January [2021]; that was what the plan was. It's done — everything's done except for the artwork at this point, because we knew we weren't gonna be able to do a January release, and it got pushed back to June. So we stopped doing the white-knuckle recording and just kind of started taking our time with the mixes and stuff like that. It's completed, except for a couple of artwork things that we're gonna do. I think we're gonna be releasing a video here pretty soon — a lyric video for the first single. So, maybe February — look for that in February, or maybe March."

Asked about the musical direction of the new FLOTSAM AND JETSAM material, Gilbert said: "Well, this is the absolute perfect follow-up to 'Chaos'. We couldn't have planned it any better. We all basically put on our work boots, or whatever, and we started writing, and it ended up coming out… It's like 'The End Of Chaos' on steroids, basically. I think you guys are gonna love it, man."

Last November, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM announced Bill Bodily (CONTRARIAN, ex-INHUMATUS, ex-TOXIK) as the band's new bass player. Before joining FLOTSAM AND JETSAM on a permanent basis, Bodily filled in for former bassist Michael Spencer during many shows of the group's "Tour Of Chaos" in 2019.

Commented Bodily: "Joining FLOTSAM AND JETSAM is an honor as well as a huge step up in my musical journey. I've been friends with the guys for many years, and I'm a lifelong FLOTSAM fan. I look forward to the many adventures ahead and getting more acquainted with the legendary Flotzilla fans!"

The band added: "First and foremost, we would like to thank Michael Spencer for his time in FLOTSAM AND JETSAM. He joined us back in 2014, and we have accomplished so much together. We sincerely wish him the best in his future endeavors!

"A new chapter for FLOTSAM AND JETSAM beckons; Bill Bodily embodies a new focus and hunger within FLOTSAM AND JETSAM and we're extremely excited to have him as part of the Flotzilla family. He's not only a brilliant musician who has established himself in the thrash and death metal scene, but also a great human being, which made the decision to have him join the band a very natural one. Bill brings an amazing work ethic and a fervent desire to continue to learn, grow and develop his musical voice. He knows music talent alone isn't enough, and that hard work, perseverance and a sense of humor goes a long way to sustaining a successful musical career. We welcome him with open arms!

"We've been working very hard on the follow‐up for 'The End Of Chaos'. The new material is very heavy, and we've taken the sound and approach that we've had for the last two studio albums and amped up the aggressiveness without toning down any other elements. Everyone has done a superb job in the studio — even more so considering the unprecedented circumstances we are living in at this time. We are very excited about the music, and we hope and believe the new album will live up to everyone's expectations."

"The End Of Chaos" was released in January 2019 via AFM Records.

DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen was recently interviewed for "The French Connection: The Music Business And Beyond", the new podcast hosted by TWISTED SISTER guitarist Jay Jay French. You can now listen to the chat below.

Asked to name the best piece of advice he ever got, Collen said: "I get great advice all the time. Ian Hunter… When Mick Ronson died, we had a benefit at Hammersmith Odeon. And it was Roger Taylor from QUEEN, it was a bunch of guys. Mick Jones from THE CLASH — lots of different bands. Me and Joe [Elliott, DEF LEPPARD] had a band called the CYBERNAUTS, which was [David] Bowie's Trevor Bolder, Woody Woodmansey on drums, and we'd done all these Bowie songs. When we did that, I was rehearsing with Ian, and Ian said, 'When you're at 55, you stop caring, you stop worrying about things as a man.' I said, 'What do you mean?' He said, 'You don't worry if you're being judged by a 16- or a 20-year-old, no matter how hip they are. You really don't care.' And I said, 'Oh, really? Okay.' And around 50, or whenever it was, absolutely, you stop worrying about it, and it's such a brilliant thing. I wish I would have known earlier, because you're worried, you're concerned about things that are not really worth worrying about. Obviously, the band's gotta be great, you've gotta keep writing songs, you've gotta keep this level of excellence, but I'm talking about things that put you off, that you'd go, 'I don't feel good about it.' If someone thought it was uncool, fuck them — it really doesn't matter. And I thought it was a great bit of advice."

The last DEF LEPPARD studio album, a self-titled affair, came out in 2015.

DEF LEPPARD released a box set, "The Early Years 79-81", on March 20 via UMC/Virgin. "The Early Years 79-81" box set represents the band's first two albums, "On Through The Night" (1980) and "High 'N' Dry" (1981), and was prepared in conjunction with Elliott who acted as executive producer on the set. The mastering was done by the band's long-serving sound engineer Ronan McHugh.

Eagle Rock Entertainment released DEF LEPPARD's "London To Vegas" on May 29. This limited edition 2Blu-ray+4CD, 2DVD+4CD, DVD/Blu-ray+2CD and digital format release features two concert films: "Hysteria At The O2" and "Hits Vegas, Live At Planet Hollywood".

DEF LEPPARD's latest greatest-hits collection, titled "The Story So Far - The Best Of", was released in November 2018.

Oakland-Bay Area based metal/heavy rock outfit DRESS THE DEAD has released "Knives Out", its first single on Blood Blast, a digital subsidiary of Nuclear Blast Records.

DRESS THE DEAD first announced the signing in December, along with a plan to release one new track per month for the first eight months of 2021. After the eight tracks are all released, they will become available in full album format as well.

DRESS THE DEAD said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be part of the Blood Blast family. The time has finally come to release a plethora of new music to the world and we wouldn’t want to do it any other way.

"Blood Blast is the perfect home for us in these uncertain times in the music industry because we can control the flow of our content. This appeals to us more than the other way around in 2021."

DRESS THE DEAD was formed in 2016 and has been playing live since the end of that year — first with vocalist Peter Dolving (THE HAUNTED), and then with Kayla Dixon fronting the band since 2018.

DRESS THE DEAD features Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN, MANMADE GOD, SPIRALARMS) on guitar, alongside Mark Hernandez (FORBIDDEN, VIO-LENCE, RE:IGNITION) on drums, Mikey Rowan (INSOLENCE) on guitar, and James Walker (MANMADE GOD) on bass — all seasoned musicians with independent and major label experiences.

Dixon is not only an enigmatic front woman with a powerful presence, she's an accomplished theatrical singer and actor. Her vocal qualities help give DRESS THE DEAD a unique sound that no other band possesses. Together they all complete the musical unit that cannot fall under any one category or genre.

DRESS THE DEAD will make its European live debut at the Dynamo Metal Fest in Eindhoven in the summer of 2021. This will be followed up by a full tour — COVID-19 permitting.

BLACK SABBATH drumming legend, poet and artist Bill Ward will unveil his first art piece in nearly five years, "Lays The Burden, Dead", on January 25.

A gripping and multi-faceted work crafted during an unprecedented year, "Lays The Burden, Dead" is more than a massive offering of visual art. It is a unique and highly limited package that features a complementary poem printed on an archival paper stock complete with the SceneFour chop. All canvases are numbered and individually signed by Ward. Each ships with a certificate of authenticity.

Sign up today for details and to receive pre-release access.

2015's "The Absence Of Corners" art collection was a career first for Bill. Ward was one of the pioneers in bringing the new medium of rhythm-on-canvas to the world. Three years later, he offered a comprehensive look at the collection and expanding on each of the pieces with poetry, both in writing and spoken word.

Following the creation, release, and various exhibitions of the collection, Ward began crafting poetry to bring readers into the work in a much more personal way. The result was 19 works, each associated with his entire fine art debut collection. To add a new dimension to the experience of reading and viewing the art within the book, Ward recorded an album of spoken-word poetry to round out this experience.

Working with SceneFour, Ward utilized a sophisticated formula to create the collection's visuals, using an array of drumsticks and rhythmic accessories that produce light, much like a painter utilizing brushes and oils. The movements featured within the captured rhythms are then studied and developed into abstract artwork that showcases a dimension not normally seen by the human eye.

Based in Los Angeles, SceneFour specializes in working with music visionaries on the creation of fine artwork. SceneFour's previous art collaborations have included releases with including Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), Rick Allen (DEF LEPPARD), Mike Mangini (DREAM THEATER), Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), Mikkey Dee (MOTÖRHEAD, SCORPIONS, Nick Menza (MEGADETH) and Gene Hoglan (TESTAMENT)..

Ward stated about the project: "When I'm working on new ideas, musically much of what's played is guided by a visual appearance or shape. Since my early childhood, I've played drums in visuals as well as sound. When I write, there's always an image, sometimes a color attached to what's being created... I am delighted with the captured expressions — from my head and my heart. Their arrival onto canvas is beautiful."