Las Vegas, NV based brutal death metal act Cordyceps have signed with Unique Leader Records. The group, who blend the crushing heaviness of slam with jaw dropping technicality, has been described by Black Dahlia Murder vocalist Trevor Strnad in his Obituarist column as "the new sound of terror" and "one of brutal death's most exciting new forces" will release their highly anticipated debut full length early next year. Having rapidly become one of the most highly regarded upcoming bands in the genre, Cordyceps are a very exciting addition to Unique Leader's legendary roster.

Cordyceps live:

May
10 – Las Vegas, NV – Las Vegas Deathfest

July
21 – Millvale, PA – Steel City Slam Fest
20-28 – New Standard Elite USA Domination Tour
26-28 – Chicago Domination Fest

Lineup:

Jose Lopez - Guitar
Rafael Gonzalez - Drums
Clayton Meade - Vocals
Robert Jarman - Bass
Adrian Cole - Guitar

CORE 10, the band featuring original KORN drummer David Silveria, has released a new single, titled "Introspection". The song was co-produced by Grammy-nominated producer Ulrich Wild (PANTERA, STATIC- X, DEFTONES, SLIPKNOT) and Argentina's Alejandro Taranto (A.N.I.M.A.L., LOS FABULOSOS CADILLACS), mixed by Wild and mastered by Gene Grimaldi at Oasis Mastering (DANZIG, PENNYWISE, AVENGED SEVENFOLD).


Says CORE 10 about the track: "The song speaks to the need to step outside yourself and take a minute for some self-reflection. Have you been able to achieve your goals, and if so, at what cost?"


Joining Silveria in CORE 10's current lineup are the vocal duo of Duncan Nisbet and Sean Michael Lenhoff, guitarists Liljoe Taback and Bobby Thomas, bassist Chris Dorame and keyboard player Ronnie King.


CORE 10 has been honing its chops for the past year, playing more than an album's worth of new music during live West Coast showcases.

They will be recording their first full-length album this summer and hope to have it available for release by the end of the year.

Lenhoff told BackStage360 that CORE 10 opted to have two singers instead of one in order "to create [its] own sound, something original."

Describing CORE 10's sound as a fusion of metal, rock and punk, Lenhoff said: "We never wanted to pigeonhole ourselves into one genre. It's so hard to make a living as a band and a musician now, you just take your influences and you just run with it. Why not create something for everybody but having continuity still in what you're doing?"

Asked how he first got involved with CORE 10, Silveria said: "I've known Sean for about… probably fifteen, twenty years from downtown Huntington Beach days. And he kept sending me MP3s of songs, and the more I listened to it, it was kind of, like, you either love it or hate it. I was kind of conflicted when I first heard it. And I would show it to my wife and said, 'What do you think about this?' 'Cause I didn't really understand it at first. And the more I listened to it, the more I liked it. Now they come over and play, and I come out and my wife is all giddy and excited going, 'I love that song. It's one of the best songs you guys have ever done.' And now I'm just in love with the music. So I'm all in now."

Dimmu Borgir have unveiled their long-awaited new studio album Eonian. This tenth full-length record combines symphonic epicness with the spirit of the Norwegian black metal scene of the nineties and celebrate the band's 25th anniversary. Check out an unboxing video for the mailorder edition of the album:

Order the new album on digipak, 180g double vinyl, box set or digitally, here.

Eonian tracklisting:

"The Unveiling"
"Interdimensional Summit"
"Ætheric"
"Council Of Wolves And Snakes"
"The Empyrean Phoenix"
"Lightbringer"
"I Am Sovereign"
"Archaic Correspondence"
"Alpha Aeon Omega"
"Rite Of Passage"

"Interdimensional Summit" video:

"Council Of Wolves And Snakes" video:

Being one of the successful extreme metal forges on the planet, Dimmu Borgir have been dominating the symphonic black metal genre for 25 years. The songwriting core of the band furthermore consists of charismatic vocalist Shagrath, as well as the string wizards Silenoz and Galder, but other familiar faces also emerge from the darkness: Drummer Daray and keyboarder Gerlioz are still part of the team, and Gaute Storaas helped with the choral arrangements for the majestic voices of the Schola Cantrum Choir. As the title Eonian indicates, the band's 10th full-length release is dealing with the illusion of time and marks a tribute to both the band's own past as well as the Norwegian black metal history.

Dimmu Borgir's live itinerary can be found here.

(Photo - Per Heimly)

Southern California metal band, Leatherwolf, have announced three shows in Germany starting next week; their only European live appearances for 2018. The lineup for these shows will include long-time Leatherwolf members: Michael Olivieri (vocals, guitar), Dean Roberts (drums), and Patrick Guyton (bass), guitarist Luke Man, who joined the band last summer, and Man’s Railgun bandmate, Cole Jones, who is filling in for Rob Math on guitar. 

The band has posted the followng message on thier Facebook page: “Hey everyone!  Counting down the days to our upcoming overseas trip. In case you’re out of the loop: We’re doing two festivals and a headline club gig in Germany starting Saturday, May 12th at the Metalheadz Open Air in Oberndorf, Bavaria, followed by our Friday, May 18th show at the Live Music Hall Weiher in Mörlenbach near Mannheim, and, finally, rockin’ the Rock Hard Festival in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday afternoon, May 19th (look for a live broadcast streaming link the day of).

Unfortunately, our guitar player Rob (Math) had other commitments so we’re doing these shows with Mr. Colton Jones filling in on guitar. Some of you in the SoCal area may be familiar with Cole as he plays in Railgun with our other guitar player, Luke Man. Lots of natural chemistry there since they play together all the time so it just made sense to bring in Cole for the occasion. Rehearsals have been going well so rest assured that the Triple Axe Attack will be ‘delivering the goods’ in Germany. We are really looking forward to be back over there once again – see you headbangers very soon!  For more info and ticket links, click here." 

The band has also posted a video of their 1984 classic, “Kill And Kill Again”, shot at the Keep It True festival in 2015. The audio was mixed by the late, great Chris Tsangarides (Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, Y&T) who passed away earlier this year. 

Manchester, England's Ingested have released a video for "Better Off Dead". The video consists of live footage filmed during the sold out London stop of their Level Above Human headlining tour in the UK and shows the band absolutely dominating the energetic crowd. "Better Off Dead" comes from the band's new album The Level Above Human, out now.

The group commented on the video, "Today we bring you the release of our brand new video for 'Better Off Dead'. This banger is a clear favourite in the Ingested camp, it has everything you want in an Ingested tune, epic riffs, sick blast beats and disgusting heaviness. Expect to hear this live on The Level Above Human Tour and Devastation On The Nation Tour."

The Level Above Human was engineered by Stu McKay (Arcania, Dyscarnate) and mixed and mastered by Christian Donaldson (Cryptopsy, Despised Icon), shows the band at the absolute zenith of their 12 year career. Physical bundles are available here, and digital orders are available here.

Tracklisting:

"Sovereign"
"Invidious"
"Misery Leech"
"Purveyors Of Truth"
"Transcendence Of Gods"
"Better Off Dead"
"Last Rites"
"The Crimson Oath"
"Purge The Parasite"
"Obsolescent"

Album stream:

"Purveyors Of Truth" lyric video:

Find the band's tour itinerary here.

Former QUEENSRŸCHE and current OPERATION: MINDCRIME singer Geoff Tate has revealed that he will make a guest appearance on "Moonglow", the next album from EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA project. The disc, which is currently being recorded in Germany, will arrive in January 2019 via Nuclear Blast. A world tour in support of the disc will launch at the end of March in Germany.

Tate previously guested on AVANTASIA's seventh album, "Ghostlights", which was released in 2016. Geoff could be heard in the song "Seduction Of Decay", which was described at the time by Sammet as "a seven-and-a-half minute-monster." Tate was also one of the guest vocalists for AVANTASIA at several European shows last summer, including Rock Fest Barcelona, where QUEENSRŸCHE also appeared on the bill.

During a brand new interview with Metal Underground, Geoff described the experience of working with AVANTASIA as "incredible. [They are] a really talented group of musicians and [there is] a wonderful kind of family vibe that they have," he said. "And Tobi is an incredible leader of that whole… 'madness camp,' I'll call it. [Laughs] And he's just a pleasure to work with.

"I'm going to Germany after this [OPERATION: MINDCRIME European] tour to work on the next record with him," Tate continued. "So that'll be fun. He's very excited about it. He hasn't played me anything yet. He said, 'I'm waiting for you to get here, and then I will spring it on you.' [Laughs] So I'm on pins and needles in anticipation, waiting."

Tate said that he was confident AVANTASIA's new album would live up to people's expectations, but he added that he was curious as to what the record would sound like. "It'll be good, yeah — I have no doubt about that — but what's it gonna be?" he said.

Geoff went on to say that he "really enjoyed working with" Tobias at last year's AVANTASIA shows. "It was really wonderful to step into that, 'cause I didn't really have any rehearsal with him — just did soundcheck with him and did the ['Seduction Of Decay'] song [live]," he said. "And then Tobi asked me to do some other parts of the show. So I was backstage learning what to do and the lyrics, writing them on my hand, you know. And that was kind of unnerving, but very fun and challenging.

"For years and years and years, I never ever sat in with any band or played any other music other than my own," he revealed. "So it was very difficult for me to just… I'd be out somewhere and somebody would go, 'Hey, come up and sing a song with us.' 'What? I can't possibly do that.' I had to actually force myself to do it in order to get comfortable with it, 'cause it kept happening to me so much. And then I've had a lot of wonderful experiences and invitations from really great bands and musicians to sit in with them and do songs and things like that, so I'm much more comfortable with that now. But before, it was just, like, 'Oh my God!' I would feel myself getting sick from nerves. But not anymore — I'm used to it now."

Sammet recently said that "Moonglow" would be "the most lavish album of my career, the biggest, most colorful thing and the best and most unreasonable luxury I have ever created in my life."

AC/DC drummer Chris Slade says that his "lips are sealed" when it comes to answering questions about the possibility of the band making a new studio album with Axl Rose on vocals.

Ever since AC/DC completed the tour cycle for its 2014 album "Rock Or Bust" nearly two years ago — a turbulent trek that weathered the forced retirement and eventual death of co-founder Malcolm Young, plus the departures of longtime singer Brian Johnson, drummer Phil Rudd and bassist Cliff Williams — fans have wondered whether sole founding member Angus Young would keep the band going or decide it was time for AC/DC to pack it in.

Singer Angry Anderson of the veteran Australian act ROSE TATTOO said in an interview with The Rockpit that Angus told him he is at work on new AC/DC music and intends to have GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose — who took Johnson's place on the road in 2016 — sing on the LP.

Asked by Duke TV if there are plans for AC/DC to record a new album with Axl, Slade laughed and said (see video below): "My lips are sealed. And if I knew, I couldn't say a word anyway. What I usually say is if I tell you, I have to kill you." He laughed again and continued: "Which, perhaps, is not in good taste. I couldn't even start to answer that, I'm afraid."

With Axl on vocals, AC/DC broke out a number of somewhat more rare cuts during the band's European and American shows two years ago, including "Given The Dog A Bone", "Rock 'N' Roll Damnation", "Riff Raff", "Touch Too Much" and "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" .

"Axl, he actually asked… I was standing right next to him when he asked Angus, 'Can we do these songs?'" Slade said. "And I love playing 'Riff Raff', and I always have. In fact, we do it with [my solo band] TIMELINE. All those songs were great, and the fans loved them — absolutely loved it. Because they'd like to hear those songs too. Axl is a big fan, you see, and still is, of AC/DC. Those are songs that he would like AC/DC to play — those newer… Of course, they're old songs, but new for the band playing onstage. I don't think they played 'Riff Raff' on stage for about 25 years, maybe even 30. I know they used to open with it, didn't they? But they hadn't played it since then."

Chris also spoke about Malcolm Young, who was diagnosed with dementia several years ago and bowed out before the sessions for "Rock Or Bust" began. The guitarist died this past November.

"He was a genius — genius rhythm player," Slade told Duke TV. "Probably, I always, the greatest rhythm player ever born. Just tremendous. Wonderful timing. Just absolutely brilliant. He made my job so easy. The only time he ever said anything to me was I had an energy massage. I remember it was in New Mexico, on the road, and the gig was the next day. So I had this massage of this American Indian lady. And she said, 'Tomorrow, you'll have so much energy, you won't know how to deal with it.' And I went, 'Yeah. Okay.' And I got to the show that night, and I really was wound up. 'Cause I've never done drugs, by the way, so it's not an analogy. I've never done drugs in my life. And there was one time we were playing half way through the show, and Malcolm leans over to me and he goes, 'You're pushing. You're rushing ahead.' And I was. And I never do that — I don't rush or drag. And that was the only time he ever sort of said, 'Maybe you're doing it wrong.'"

Chris continued: "[Malcolm] was a great guy and a genius songwriter — him and Angus — and a genius guitarist. He's greatly missed. Stevie did a great job — there's no doubt about that," referring to Stevie Young, Angus and Malcolm's nephew, who took Malcolm's place in the band prior to the recording of "Rock Or Bust". "It's a hard act to follow, to follow Malcolm — one of the most difficult, I would say, in the music business. There aren't many people who could do that, and Stevie did a great job."

Johnson was forced to leave AC/DC mid-tour due to a dangerous level of hearing loss, while Rudd was dismissed following a drug arrest and Williams decided to retire at the end of the cycle.

Angus has not said publicly what he has planned for the future of AC/DC. Axl is still touring with GUNS N' ROSES but has indicated a willingness to work with AC/DC again. It is also unknown whether Angus will keep the other members of the last touring lineup — including Stevie Young and Chris Slade — or revamp the roster again.

Chris returned to AC/DC in early 2015 in time to perform with the band at the 57th annual Grammy Awards.

Slade followed Simon Wright in AC/DC's lineup, joining in time to play on 1990's "The Razor's Edge" album. When Phil Rudd came back in 1995, Slade was shown the door and harbored some bad feelings about that for a while.

Greek classic heavy metal thrashers Sense Of Fear have posted a new lyric video for their track "Torture Of Mind" in support of their debut album As The Ages Passing By… released on April 20th via Rockshots Records.Order the album here.

Years in the making, As The Ages Passing By… has an old school heavy metal feel with a modern pounding anvil. Each track was carefully selected for a good old headbanging time along with telling a unique story.

The band comments: "Each song has its own gravity to the album, and all together create Sense Of Fear’s presentation to the world as a band and as musicians. All the lyrics come from personal experiences and emotions. This is our way to express ourselves and fight the personal demons."

As The Ages Passing By… was recorded at Valve Studio in Thessaloniki, Greece by Stratos "Strutter" Karagiannidis (Gus G , Wardrum) with mixing and mastering done at Music Factory and Prophecy Studios in Kempten-ALLGÄU, Germany by R.D. Liapakis (Mystic Prophecy, Devil's Train) & C. Schmid. Album artwork designed and edited by Colin Marks (Nevermore, Exodus, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Kataklysm, Jeff Loomis, Xerath, Sylosis).

Tracklisting:

“Molten Core”
“Slaughter Of Innocence”
“Black Hole”
“Angel Of Steel”
“The Song Of A Nightingale”
“Torture Of Mind”
“Lord Of The World”
“Unbreached Walls”
“Sense Of Fear”
“As The Ages Passing By, Time Still Runs Against Us”

"Torture Of Mind" lyric video:

“Unbreached Walls” lyric video:

"Molten Core" lyric video:

“Sense Of Fear” lyric video:

Yoshiki of Japanese superstars X JAPAN has revealed to Consequence Of Sound that the band's first album in 22 years will include a collaboration with Marilyn Manson.

The as-yet-untitled follow-up to 1996's "Dahlia" was recorded at Yoshiki's private Los Angeles studio and apparently has been in the works for almost 10 years. "I know it's a long time, but when you listen to the sound, you'll understand why it took that long," Yoshiki said. "Ninety-nine percent of the songs are in English and it's our first record targeting a worldwide audience."

The new X JAPAN disc is tentatively due "late summer or early fall" and is described by Yoshiki as "pretty edgy. It's eclectic," he said. "Even though people want to say X JAPAN's heavy metal or hard rock, the album is very eclectic and a wide range is covered. I hope this album can contribute in bringing rock to the mainstream. I think I'm pretty confident."

According to Yoshiki, X JAPAN's upcoming effort is "sentimental" because it marks the band's first album since the deaths of two of its members: in 1998, X JAPAN fans were rocked by the news of the passing of the band's guitarist, Hideto "Hide" Matsumoto, while Taiji, the bassist of the band, died in 2011.

"I have been influenced by so many types of music, hardcore punk rock to classical, and everything in between, but I try to focus on the rock side, which is my strength," Yoshiki said. "I also try not to think about what people and X JAPAN fans want.

"Today, artists can speak to fans directly through social media. Don't get me wrong — their opinions are extremely important — but to create art, sometimes you have to be selfish in your own way."

Manson made a guest appearance with X JAPAN at last month's Coachella festival. The shock-rocker joined Yoshiki during X JAPAN's second set of the festival for a performance of EURYTHMICS' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)", a song which Manson covered back in 1994 on his "Smells Like Children" album.

X JAPAN is the most successful rock group in Japanese history. Led by composer, drummer, and pianist Yoshiki, the band has sold more than 30 million albums, singles, and videos combined, sold out Japan's 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome 18 times. X JAPAN has also headlined major international stages such as London's Wembley Arena and New York City's Madison Square Garden.

GHOST debuted two new songs from its upcoming album, "Prequelle", during the band's concert last night (Friday, May 4) at The Roxy in West Hollywood, California. In addition to the previously released single "Rats", which opened the show, GHOST played "Faith" and "Dance Macabre" during the 45-minute set, which served as the unofficial kick-off to the group's world tour.

The Roxy concert was only announced one day earlier and tickets — priced at $6.66 — were made available starting at noon the day of the show at the "Rats On The Strip Pop-Up" store at the venue.

GHOST's setlist for the concert was as follows:

01. Rats

02. Absolution

03. Ritual

04. Stand By Him

05. Cirice

06. Prime Mover

07. Faith

08. From The Pinnacle To The Pit

09. Dance Macabre

10. Square Hammer

"Prequelle" will be released on June 1 via Loma Vista Recordings. The disc was recorded last year at Artery studios in Stockholm with producer Tom Dalgety (OPETH, ROYAL BLOOD) and was mixed in January at Westlake Studios in West Hollywood, California with Andy Wallace (NIRVANA, SLAYER).

The first "official" concert of GHOST's tour in support of "Prequelle" will take place tonight (Saturday, May 5) in Riverside, California.

GHOST lead singer Tobias Forge, who performs under the names Papa Emeritus and now Cardinal Copia, told The Pulse Of Radio what inspired him to write "Rats". "A few years ago, I decided, like, 'I really want to have a big opening track that just blows people's minds immediately,'" he said. "So I wrote 'Square Hammer' and that went well. But I didn't want 'Square Hammer' to turn into a 'Start Me Up', where that always feels best to play first. I want to be able to mix it up. So we needed another song that works as an opening track. That was basically my intention with 'Rats'."

Forge has hinted that the theme of "Prequelle" has to do in part with the arrival of the Black Plague in Europe, among other events in history.

Forge last year revealed his identity while responding to a lawsuit filed by four former members of GHOST, who accused him of cheating them out of their rightful share of the profits from the group's album releases and world tours.

The official lyric video for STRYPER's new song "Lost" can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's latest album, "God Damn Evil", which was released on April 20 via Frontiers Music Srl. Produced by frontman Michael Sweet, it is STRYPER's most powerful album to date, doubling down on the hard rock/heavy metal sound that earned the group a worldwide fan base.

Asked by All That Shreds what made STRYPER choose such a seemingly provocative title for its follow-up to 2015's "Fallen", Sweet said: "We didn't do it just to shake things up. We have a point to prove in a statement. A few years back we thought about using this title. We didn't go with it because we felt it was a little too much at that time. Now in 2018, with everything that we've seen on the news, the evil we're faced with on a daily basis to new levels and new degrees, it made perfect sense for us to have an album called 'God Damn Evil'. It's a prayer request. It is what it is. It's not a swear, it's not just the shock statement, it's a prayer request, and we're asking God to damn the evil that we see. It should be a prayer for everybody. Some people are freaking out thinking you're taking the Lord's name in vain, and it's not that at all."

In a press release announcing the release of "God Damn Evil", Sweet explained that he and his bandmates "thought long and hard about this title. It was actually considered quite a few years ago and it just didn't feel like the right time. Now, with all the evil in the world that we see around us on a daily basis, it made perfect sense. It's a very bold statement yet a prayer asking God to damn/condemn evil. Nothing more, nothing less.

"We all see and hear the darkness that surrounds us in our society, but with faith and love, we'll always have hope," he continued. "That's what STRYPER is all about: powerful music and a message that builds foundations, not walls. We couldn't be more excited about 'God Damn Evil', as it showcases our undying love for what we do and why we do it."

The follow-up to 2015's "Fallen" marks STRYPER's first effort since the addition of former FIREHOUSE bassist Perry Richardson. Perry joined the band as the replacement for STRYPER's longtime bassist Tim Gaines, who was fired from the group last year.

Perry did not play bass on STRYPER's new album due to scheduling constraints. The bass tracks on "God Damn Evil" were laid down by John O'Boyle, who played bass on Sweet's last two solo albums.

"God Damn Evil" track listing:

01. Take It To The Cross

02. Sorry

03. Lost

04. God Damn Evil

05. You Don't Even Know Me

06. The Valley

07. Sea Of Thieves

08. Beautiful

09. Can't Live Without Your Love

10. Own Up

11. The Devil Doesn't Live Here

GIOELI - CASTRONOVO will release its debut album, "Set The World On Fire", on July 13 via Frontiers Music Srl. The official video for the disc's first single, "Through", can be seen below.

Johnny Gioeli and Deen Castronovo first played together on the debut HARDLINE album, "Double Eclipse", which was released in 1992. 25 years later, the two were reunited in Italy to commence work on "Set The World On Fire".

"It was so great to work with Johnny again," says Castronovo. "I've always loved his voice and it was a pleasure to be a part of this collaboration. It was like we'd never left each other."

"It was like the first day he tried to hold my hand and kiss me in 1992," says Gioeli. "Ha Ha!!! KIDDING! Seriously, I never left Deen. Deen never left me, so reuniting was easy. Counting our blessings were plentiful. Singing together was magical."

Both men have continued on their musical paths since they last saw one another, with Gioeli continuing to lead HARDLINE, while Castronovo spent time with Ozzy Osbourne and had an extended tour of duty with the legendary JOURNEY. Castronovo is currently active with THE DEAD DAISIES and REVOLUTION SAINTS in addition to GIOELI-CASTRONOVO.

Gioeli's vocal talents combined with Deen's superb drumming abilities (and whom is also a fine vocalist in his own right) has made for a stunning album that is driving a driving hard rock record, while also chock full of uplifting melodies and poignant lyrical messages.

"Set The World On Fire" track listing:

01. Set The World On Fire

02. Through

03. Who I Am

04. Fall Like An Angel

05. It's All About You

06. Need You Now

07. Ride Of Your Life

08. Mother

09. Walk With Me

10. Run For Your Life

11. Remember Me

12. Let Me Out

Produced by: Alessandro Del Vecchio

Studio: Ivorytears Music Works Studios, Somma Lombardo, VA, Italy

Recorded by: Alessandro Del Vecchio

Mixed by: Alessandro Del Vecchio

Mastered by: Alessandro Del Vecchio

Recording lineup:

Johnny Gioeli: vocals

Deen Castronovo: vocals, drums

Alessandro Del Vecchio: keyboards, backing vocals

Mario Percudani: guitar

Nik Mazzucconi: bass

"Narcissist", the new video from Montréal, Quebec, Canada-based melodic death metallers KATAKLYSM, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Meditations", which will be released on June 1 via Nuclear Blast. The 10-song disc was produced by the band's guitarist Jean-François Dagenais and drummer Oli Beaudoin, and was mixed by Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STONE SOUR). Mastering duties were handled by Paul Logus (PANTERA).

The "Meditations" cover artwork was created for Ocvlta Designs by Surtsey, who also crafted the artwork for KATAKLYSM's previous record, "Of Ghosts And Gods".

Singer Maurizio Iacono said: "This is a very personal album to me with old wounds being revisited — I felt a big urge to pour my soul into this release. The boys and I were isolated under the same roof during the writing process, just like we did in the early days... with no worries except having fun, being honest and delivering a serious album that represents us today but respects our past. Our new story is coming and we are eager to share it with you!"

"Meditations" track listing:

01. Guillotine

02. Outsider

03. The Last Breath I'll Take Is Yours

04. Narcissist

05. Born To Kill And Destined To Die

06. In Limbic Resonance

07. And Then I Saw Blood

08. What Doesn't Break Doesn't Heal

09. Bend The Arc, Cut The Cord

10. Achilles Heel

Dagenais told That Drummer Guy about KATAKLYSM's decision to work with Ruston: "It was kind of a gamble for us because you never know because our music is so extreme and needs a certain type of process to it, to be able to be delivered right and we weren't sure if going with a guy like Jay Ruston, who is more of a traditional heavy metal/rock producer, that it could work. We all knew that, 'Okay, if this works, it's going to be really awesome. If it doesn't, it could be such a mistake.' No, it wasn't. We got our mixes and we were, like, 'Fuck yeah!' All of us together. We made the right call there and it was perfect. But, we worked really hard on the tracking, me and Oli. We spent months on recording the drums and guitars and the bass tracks and making sure Maurizio delivers the right energy with the vocals. We really polished the thing and we sent it to Jay Ruston and he totally brought it up to another level. So, that's really exciting."

Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of Kissin' Dynamite, one of Germany's most promising rock bands. Sony Music label Columbia will handle affairs and releases of the group in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

First on the agenda is the release of Ecstasy, Kissin' Dynamite's new studio album, on July 6th. It is the follow-up to Generation Goodbye (2016), which reached #14 in the official German album charts.

Produced by Kissin' Dynamite singer Hannes Braun, Ecstasy harks back to the quintet's unpolished, energy-laden early days, while at the same time marking a turning point in their eleven-year history. In autumn, the group will embark on their first concert tour as special guest since changing labels; from October 26th on Kissin' Dynamite will accompany Powerwolf, who are currently breaking all success records, for 16 joint gigs throughout Europe.

Check out a video for the first single "I've Got The Fire" below, and pre-order the album here.

Ecstasy tracklisting:

"I've Got The Fire"
"You're Not Alone"
"Somebody's Gotta Do It"
"Ecstasy"
"Still Around"
"Superhuman"
"Placebo"
"Breaking The Silence"
"Waging War"
"One More Time"
"Heart Of Stone"
"Wild Wind"
"No Time To Wonder"

"I've Got The Fire" video:

Tour dates with Powerwolf:

October
26 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
27 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle
29 - Hamburg, Germany - Große Freiheit 36
31 - Berlin, Germany - Huxleys

November
1 - Warschau, Poland - Progresja
2 - Leipzig, Germany - Haus Auensee
6 - Wien, Austria - Arena
7 - Milan, Italy - Live Club
9 - München, Germany - Tonhalle
10 - Ludwigsburg, Germany - MHP Arena
11 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Effenaar
12 - London, UK - Koko
14 - Lausanne, Switzerland - Les Docks
15 - Zürich, Switzerland - Komplex 457
16 - Geiselwind, Germany - Music Hall
17 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Saarlandhalle

Lineup:

Hannes Braun - vocals
Ande Braun - guitars
Jim Müller - guitars
Steffen Haile - bass
Andi Schnitzer - drums

(Photo - Patrick Schneiderwind)

Missouri-based doom trio Fister will unleash the asphyxiating sounds of their fittingly titled No Spirit Within full-length in the US next month via Listenable Records.

In advance of its release, stream the dejected sounds of "I Am Kuru" via the YouTube clip below:

Fister's No Spirit Within was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Gabe Usery at Encapsulated Studios in St. Louis and was released via Listenable Records on CD, LP, and cassette formats in Europe on April 17th followed by a US street date of May 18th. 

Tracklisting: 

"Frozen Scythe"
"Disgraced Possession"
"Cazador"
"I Am Kuru"
"No Spirit Within"
"Heat Death"
"Star Swallower"

Manifesting a sound so poisonous, polluted, and nihilistic that "sludge," "doom," "funeral," and "death" are the only words close to suitable in description, on No Spirit Within, Fister is overpowering and relentless at a city-leveling volume like a Sisyphean artillery brigade cursed to push two hundred tons of speaker cabinets uphill forever.

If you missed it, check out the band's previously-released video for "Star Swallower" as well as "Disgraced Possession":

Hailing from the confluence of infectious disease, arbitrary violence, and rivers of industrial filth that is St. Louis, Missouri, Fister has been sublimating their brutally toxic environment into a deliberate and belligerent challenge to the eardrums since 2009. Comprised of bassist / vocalist Kenny Snarzyk, drummer Kirk Gatterer, and guitarist / vocalist Marcus Newstead, this trio converts an eclectic swarm of extreme metal influences into the sonic analogue of trench warfare, concussive, bloody, and exhausting. Honed to grisly sharpness through years of performance, they have shared stages with countless musicians, including supporting sludge icons Eyehategod and Crowbar and appearances at the SXSW, Psycho Las Vegas, and Roadburn festivals. Pairing their seismic live offerings with more than a dozen releases, they have literally poured their blood into the work along the way - for their 2012 EP Violence, the band members had blood drawn and mixed with the ink used to print the liner notes.

From the hazy bulldozer bongripping of debut LP Bronsonic to 2015's impossibly dismal IV, a gruesome and lysergic forty-four-minute long single track that tests the limits of adjectives like heavy or bleak, their sound is continually (d)evolving. Consistently finding new ways to hit bottom in a sequence of splits with fellow underground juggernauts Dopethrone, Primitive Man, and Teeth, among others, Fister has emerged as one of the nastiest strains of doom metal, adept at fusing the narcotic tension of drowning in misery with the planet-splitting intensity of devout amplifier worship.

In conjunction with the release of No Spirit Within, Fister will kick off a European tour with Sacramento doom unit Chrch next month. The trek will run from May 2nd through May 16th. See all confirmed dates below. 

May
2 - Bar Loose – Helsinki, Finland
3 - SubScene – Oslo, Norway
4 - Northern Discomfort – Copenhagen, Denmark
5 - Vera – Groningen, Netherlands
6 - Desert Fest – Banury, UK
7 - The Wheatsheaf – Banbury, UK
8 - Nice N Sleazy – Glasgow, UK
9 - Head Of Steam – Newcastle, UK
10 - Temple Of Boom – Leeds, UK
11 - Magasin4 – Brussels, Belgium
12 - Halle Am Rhein – Cologne, Germany
13 - Kafe Kult – Munich, Germany
14 - Freakout Club – Bologna, Italy
15 - L’Usine – Geneva, Switzerland
16 - JuHa West – Stuttgart, Germany

Asheville, NC metal band Lifecurse has released the official music video for "Buzzard Bait", off of their forthcoming album, The Wolf You Feed. Produced by Jamie KIng (Between The Buried And Me, Scale The Summit), The Wolf You Feed is set to release mid-2018.

"'Buzzard Bait' is the first song we have released since 2013's 'Elysium.' The song touches on themes and topics such as society's inherent desire to watch people fail, to rubberneck through life and use other people's failures and faults as a means to lift themselves higher, failing to realize that we are all one in the same. We are all born and we will all die, those are the only two things you are guaranteed in life. The rest is up to you to make the world a better place, or completely destroy it. No one else can make that choice. 'Buzzard Bait' is a song about the constant struggle between light and dark, and the incessant human need for validation from other humans." - Lifecurse

 

Dallas, Texas-based brutal death metal act I AM DESTRUCTION has signed with Unique Leader Records. The band's full-length debut will arrive later in the year.

Formed in 2013 as a one-man project, the band solidified its lineup last year and has quickly become a staple in the Texas extreme metal scene.

After spending much of 2017 playing shows alongside bands such as CATTLE DECAPITATION, ARCHSPIRE and ARKAIK, I AM DESTRUCTION began writing what would become its debut EP, "Violence Devours", which was released in March.

Vocalist and guitarist Stephen Mashburn commented on the signing: "We are very pleased to announce that we've signed to Unique Leader Records. Being on such a reputable label with a magnificent roster is very humbling and we can't wait to release our next album with them. Be on the lookout for bigger and better things from your boys in I AM DESTRUCTION."

Watch I AM DESTRUCTION's music video for the song "Violence Devours" below.

I AM DESTRUCTION is:

Stephen Mashburn - Vocals/Guitars

Paul Dundas - Guitar

Richie Pennington - Bass

Buddy Griffin - Drums

With the world becoming a darker place by the day, there's a need for more metal bands that deal in realistic escapism; that is escapism that draws from events in the real world (see Joseph Campbell’s seminal Hero With A Thousand Faces for more) and helps the listeners cope heroically with their own daily battles. The aural equivalent of the work of George R.R. Martin.

Indeed, Alberta power-influenced progressive death metal band Valyria take their name from the works of the aforementioned Martin.

As the band explains. “Valyria is a ruined city in the world of Essos, the world in which George R.R. Martin’s A Song Of Fire And Ice takes place. Valyria is a city of wonderment, magic and untold power. The aesthetic Martin creates within his novels is a similar atmosphere to that we as a band try to conjure with our music.”

Influenced by Wintersun, The Faceless, Dragonforce, Blind Guardian and Omnium Gatherum, Valyria describes their sound as “dramatic, complex, uplifting, emotional, technical” something their fans will be able to hear on their new EP Into The Dying Of Time, which features "Steel Inquisition", "Tome Of The Shattered Vessels", "Of Sky And Sea", "The Crossing" and "Floating World".

Stoked for their fans to hear their new EP, Valyria have revealed the first single "Steel Inquisition".

The band comments: “We have spent the better part of a year arranging and recording the music and it has been a very long but rewarding process. All four of us combined our influences and styles into something that we are truly proud of. For those about to hear Steel Inquisition, it is a fast technical melodic death metal track with a strong power metal chorus and an epic conclusion designed to get the crowd moving and start things off with a bang. It is also an updated recording of its 2016 demo version. It features entirely new vocal tracks, slight differences in composition, and a new mix and master. The song is a retelling of Brandon Sanderson’s fantasy novel Mistborn, with a particular focus on the character Kelsier and his actions in creating a legend to lead a revolution through sacrifice."

Valyria’s forthcoming EP Into The Dying Of Time will be released on May 18th, and is available for pre-order on Bandcamp.

(Band photo by Graham Gnarles)

 

There is something about Canada when it comes to ballsy metal. Manacle from Toronto started sometime in 2013 as a trio with the intent of being a speed metal band like the first Exciter album, or Agent Steel, but kind of just naturally turned into a more melodic heavy metal band that plays fast. Manacle’s debut album No Fear To Persevere will be one of those releases that will dominate 2018 and also has Olof Wikstrand (Enforcer) recruited for mixing and mastering. “Olof nailed the sound we were going for and I couldn’t be happier with how it sounds”, are the exact words of guitarist and main composer Inti Paredes. 

No Fear To Persevere consists of six songs and the composing procedure can’t be more classic according to Inti, “typically I have a lyric or melody idea come to me and start from there. I have a bunch of riffs in the old riff bank and it’s just a matter of arranging them in a way that sounds good to me. I like trying to jam out song ideas as well. Usually I’ll just play a riff or two and see where it goes from there”.

No Fear To Persevere is highly recommended for fans of Judas Priest, Savage Grace, Agent Steel and early-Omen. Forged in the underground metal scene of Canada, Manacle are all about shackles, chains, studs, leather and pure metal worship that will blow your mind. No Fear To Persevere will be released via No Remorse Records on May 4th on CD format and exactly one month later, on June 4th, a vinyl edition will follow.

“Journey’s End” lyric video:

(Photo by: Kimo Verkindt)

Inverse Records are proud to announce the signing of Italian post-apocalyptic thrashers, Revolutio. The band will be releasing their new album Vagrant in fall 2018.

Revolutio's music is an evolution of thrash/groove metal infused with post-apocalyptic and introspective elements, and describes the decay of modern age and the rise of a new era of man. The album has been recorded, mixed and mastered at Audiocore Studio (The Modern Age Slavery, Raw Power, Dark Lunacy). A clip from the recording sessions can be seen below. The album artwork has been created by the Russian studio Mayhem Project Design.

Revolutio line-up:

Maurizio Di Timoteo – vocals, rhythm guitars
Luca Barbieri – lead guitars
Francesco Querzé – bass
Davide Pulito – drums

For information and updates on Revolutio check out their official Facebook page here.

Infected Dead unleashed their stunning debut EP Archaic Malevolence last December; six tracks of visceral death metal, brutal, catchy, influenced by genre leaders Aborted and The Black Dahlia Murder, as well as a love of the occult and Lovecraftian cosmic horror. Today the band offer up a brand new lyric video for “Resurrectionist”, edited and by Andy Pilkington of Very Metal Art. Vocalist Lou Ede speaks, “The great Nyarlathotep has returned, in ‘Resurrectionist’ he begins the incantations that will wake the old ones from their deathlike sleep and spread insanity throughout the land.”

From the rotten shores of the River Medway in Kent, UK, the 5-piece have honed a razor-sharp sound, underlined by their trademark breakneck speed and intense live shows, which has been quickly turning heads in the UK underground. Guitarist Alex Brown comments on the writing for their debut record, “From the start of the writing process for Archaic Malevolence it was always our intention to push ourselves. We wanted to enter uncharted territory and push the boundaries of what we could do technically and creatively. Inspired by modern day juggernauts such as Aborted, The Faceless, Nile and countless others we feel this release is the perfect balance of unrestrained brutality, infectious hooks and sinister melody from the grandiose title track to the crushing weight of ‘Invocation Of Unspeakable Gods’ this release was designed to grab you.”

Archaic Malevolence was produced, mixed and mastered by Wynter Prior while Luciferium War Graphics was responsible for the epic artwork.

"California Son", the new video from heavy rockers LUCIFER, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Johanna Sadonis and Emil Klinta.

"California Son" is taken from LUCIFER's second studio album, "Lucifer II", which will be released on July 6 via Century Media Records.

Apart from a new label home, the follow-up to 2015's "Lucifer I" also marks the first studio release of the new LUCIFER incarnation now consisting of vocalist Johanna Sadonis, guitarist Robin Tidebrink, and multi-instrumentalist Nicke Andersson, who plays drums and also took over bass and guitar when recording "Lucifer II". The band's live lineup also features Martin Nordin (DEAD LORD) on guitar and bass player Alexander Mayr.


"Lucifer II" was recorded at the Honk Palace in Stockholm. It was mixed by Ola Ersfjord (DEAD LORD, TRIBULATION, PRIMORDIAL) at Cuervo Recording Service in Madrid.


Sadonis comments: "We are beyond thrilled to roll our heavy rock tank to the monster fortress of Century Media. What better place to kick off the new chapter! This should go together like Buck Dharma and his mustache. Here's to an unholy union!"


Jens Prüter, head of A&R at Century Media in Europe, adds: "We are very proud to support LUCIFER's next chapters. I met Johanna a couple of times and was always impressed about her strong vision for LUCIFER. The addition of Nicke Andersson makes it even more interesting, because he always contributed the highest level of rock 'n' roll to every band he has been involved in. Looking forward to see LUCIFER rising!"


Originally, LUCIFER formed in Berlin back in 2014 consisting of Sadonis and members of CATHEDRAL, ANGEL WITCH and LADYTRON. The first seven-inch single, "Anubis", and debut album, "Lucifer I", were released by British label Rise Above Records, quickly establishing the group as a promising new act offering excellent 1970s hard rock with a good dose of proto metal and doom added to the mix. Citing BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, LUCIFER'S FRIEND, STEPPENWOLF, 70's HEART and FLEETWOOD MAC as inspiration, LUCIFER corrupted the souls of many and achieved international recognition on tours through Europe, USA, Canada and Japan.


With a shift of constellation within the band in 2016 and Sadonis moving from Berlin to Stockholm, LUCIFER is now ready for an exciting new chapter in its career. With Nicke Andersson, Sadonis found a congenial new songwriting partner, and "Lucifer II" turns out to be a strong sonic statement.


As a first glimpse at what is to come, the doomy single "Faux Pharaoh" was released in December 2017 and can be heard below.

Next up is the launch of the album's opening track and first video, "California Son". The song will be released as a seven-inch via U.S. label Electric Assault and digital single via Century Media Records on May 4.

LUCIFER is already booked for a number of international festivals and concerts, like Psycho Las Vegas, Hellfest, Desertfest and Germany's cult TV show "Rockpalast".

The official lyric video for "The Aftermath", the title track of the new album from MIDNATTSOL, can be seen below. The disc will be released on May 25 via Napalm Records. The band's current lineup includes former LEAVES' EYES and THEATRE OF TRAGEDY frontwoman Liv Kristine Espenæs alongside Liv's younger sister, Carmen Elise Espenaes.

"The Aftermath" relies much more heavily on folk influences lending atmospheric density to the melancholic symphonic metal compositions. It is a sumptuous and sensual affair and a shimmering highlight in the discography of this German/Norwegian team.


"The Aftermath" track listing:

01. The Purple Sky

02. Syns Sang

03. Vem Kan Segla

04. Ikje Glem Meg

05. Herr Mannelig

06. The Aftermath

07. The Unveiled Truth

08. Evaluation Of Time

09. Forsaken

10. Eitrdropar (bonus track)

MIDNATTSOL released its promising debut album, "Where Twilight Dwells", back in 2005. The band quickly gained fans around the gothic, metal and rock scenes and played numerous shows and summer festivals like Summer Breeze, Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Mera Luna, as well as opening for IN EXTREMO. Their second studio album, "Nordlys", was released in 2008, followed up by "The Metamorphosis Melody" in 2011. After that, the band decided to take a creative break.

MIDNATTSOL announced Liv's addition to the band last December. The group said in a statement: "Some time ago, we discussed with Liv that she would support us on our upcoming album as a special guest. Working together, we found out that not only the result is awesome — we also have a lot of fun together. The logical consequence was that we pick up Liv as a permanent member of the band. So she is now the official second singer in MIDNATTSOL.

"As Liv is now a permanent band member, we plan to play upcoming concerts together with her. We are very happy and it means a lot to us to have such an amazing singer and fantastic person in our MIDNATTSOL family."

More recently, Carmen was involved in a project called SAVN, also featuring two members of THE SINS OF THY BELOVED.

Liv was fired from LEAVES' EYES in early 2016 and was replaced by Elina Siirala. Liv was previously married to LEAVES' EYES' co-vocalist Alexander Krull.

MIDNATTSOL 2018 is:


Carmen Elise Espenæs - Vocals

Liv Kristine Espenæs - Vocals

Alex Kautz - Guitar

Daniel Fischer - Keyboard

Stephan Adolph - Guitar

"Feast Of Flesh", the new video from EXMORTUS, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's upcoming album, "The Sound Of Steel", which will be released on June 8 via Prosthetic.

EXMORTUS founder, vocalist and guitarist Jadren "Conan" Gonzalez said: "As some may have noticed on my personal page, I don't just post guitar or band stuff, but a lot of food pictures, and I'm no vegan.

"'Feast of Flesh' is a celebration of our carnal needs and desires. I'm not trying to make any political/environmental statements, but I feel this song expresses the ugly and brutal nature of humans and other animals. It ain't pretty, so we thought it would be fun to shoot the band chowing down on actual raw flesh fresh from the meat market. My girlfriend was willing to play the hapless victim of the carnage, which made the whole experience quite fun and yet funny since we were all trying to act and not laugh at the whole idea. The song itself is more of a caveman stompy headbanger so the music works beautifully with the lyrics and visuals in bloody harmony. So, sit back and enjoy the 'Feast Of Flesh'! Cheers!"

Produced by Zack Ohren (MACHINE HEAD, FALLUJAH, SUFFOCATION) at Sharkbite Studio, "The Sound Of Steel" delivers a visceral call to arms in a maelstrom of thrashing, neo-classical, blackened death as EXMORTUS tears fresh wounds into its ever-pioneering discography. Soaring to unprecedented heights, the ineffable kings of California thrash effortlessly mix sonic precision with raw, bloody savagery.

"The Sound Of Steel" will be released by Prosthetic worldwide except Japan, where it will be overseen by Marquee Inc. The effort will be available on all digital outlets, compact disc and LP, with 1,000 records being pressed initially in the follow colors:

* 250 battle axe blood splatter (Prosthetic webshop and sold by the band on tour)

* 250 blue and black marble (Prosthetic webshop and sold by the band on tour)

* 400 clear with blue and orange splatter (available in retail stores worldwide)

* 100 white vinyl (Cargo Germany only)

"The Sound Of Steel" track listing:

01. Make Haste

02. Feast Of Flesh

03. Into The Maw Of Hell

04. To The Ends Of The Earth

05. A Minor Instrumental

06. Strength And Honor

07. Turn The Tide

08. Tempest

09. Riders Of Doom

10. Victory Or Death!

EXMORTUS is:

Jadran "Conan" Gonzalez - Vocals/Guitar

Chase Becker - Guitar

Phillip Cody Nuñez - Bass

Carlos Cruz - Drums

Photo credit: Alex Solca

The official video for the explicit version of the song "Naked In My Cellar" from Finnish heavy metal monsters LORDI can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's ninth studio album, "Sexorcism", which will be released on May 25 via AFM. The disc is described in a press release as "a full-on and uncensored shot of LORDI brand hard rock and roll" and "possibly [the band's] most controversial record to date."

"Sexorcism" was recorded and mixed at Finnvox studios by Mikko Karmila.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Sexorcism

02. Your Tongue's Got The Cat

03. Romeo Ate Juliet

04. Naked In My Cellar

05. The Beast Is Yet To Cum

06. Polterchrist

07. SCG9: The Documented Phenomenon

08. Slashion Model Girls

09. Rimskin Assassin

10. Hell Has Room

11. Hot & Satanned

12. Sodomesticated Animal

13. Haunting Season

LORDI's most recent album, "Monstereophonic: Theaterror Vs. Demonarchy", was released in September 2016 via AFM. The first half of the follow-up to 2014's "Scare Force One" contained classic LORDI standalone songs while the second half was said to be "a mini-concept album."

LORDI is:

Mr. Lordi (vocals)

Mr. Amen (guitars)

Mr. Ox (bass)

Mr. Mana (drums)

Ms. Hella (keyboards)

Progressive metal pioneers FATES WARNING will release a new live album, "Live Over Europe", on June 29 via InsideOut Music.

Captured during the most recent European headlining run for FATES WARNING's acclaimed latest studio album, "Theories Of Flight", in January 2018, "Live Over Europe" includes recordings from eight different cities (Aschaffenburg, Germany; Belgrade, Serbia; Thessaloniki and Athens, Greece; Rome and Milan, Italy; Budapest, Hungary and Ljubljana, Slovenia) and a total of 23 songs in over 138 minutes of playing time, spanning 30 years of the group's seminal career.

A performance clip of the song "Firefly", which was recorded in Rome, Italy on January 21, 2018, can be seen below.

"Live Over Europe" was mixed by Jens Bogren (OPETH, KREATOR, SYMPHONY X) and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden and will be available as limited 2CD mediabook, gatefold 3LP + bonus-2CD or as digital album.

FATES WARNING vocalist Ray Alder stated: "We would like to thank each and every one of our fans that helped us make 'Live Over Europe'. We had a great time making this album and we hope that you enjoyed the shows as much as we did playing them."

"Live Over Europe" track listing:

CD 1:

01. From The Rooftops

02. Life In Still Water

03. One

04. Pale Fire

05. Seven Stars

06. SOS

07. Pieces Of Me

08. Firefly

09. The Light And Shade Of Things

10. Wish

11. Another Perfect Day

12. Silent Cries

13. And Yet It Moves

CD 2:

01. Still Remains

02. Nothing Left To Say

03. Acquiescence

04. The Eleventh Hour

05. Point Of View

06. Falling

07. A Pleasant Shade Of Gray, Pt. IX

08. Through Different Eyes

09. Monument

10. Eye To Eye

FATES WARNING 2018 is:

Bobby Jarzombek - Drums

Joey Vera - Bass and Vocals

Ray Alder - Vocals

Jim Matheos - Guitars

Mike Abdow - Guitars and Vocals

Asked how he feels being attached to the "progressive" tag, Matheos told Goldmine in a 2016 interview: "I understand the need for labels. We all use labels. I use them if I have to describe something I'm listening to… I'll use whatever label comes to mind. That's the one that fits in general. It doesn't bother me. I just think that whole term doesn't mean that much anymore. The stuff that people give to me to listen to all the time — 'Oh, this is great prog stuff. You're gonna love it.' But, to me, if I even bother to listen to it, it sounds like something I've heard a hundred times before."


Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral

Legendary Florida death metallers Killing Addiction have released a lyric video for the title track from Xtreem Music's recent reissue of the band's classic 1993 debut album.

The Omega Factor reissue was released March 9th through Xtreem Music. It was also on March 9th, but from 1993, when this masterpiece was originally released. The reissue comes with the original artwork revamped, enhanced sound, and as bonus, their Legacies Of Terror [Demo '90] and Necrosphere [7" EP '91].  Omega Factor will be released on CD format with a vinyl version to arrive later.

Originating in Florida at the end of ‘80s, Killing Addiction developed their heavy and crushing brand of death metal, different from any other band from Florida, through their debut demo and 7 " EP until their first album came out in '93 and another EP in '94.The band then split up, then reformed 10 years later, after which they released three new EPs during the period 2010 - 2015. Blending influences from bands like Carcass, Rottrevore, Morbid Angel, Death, Possessed, Napalm Death, this classic debut album is a must-have in every self-respecting death metal fan's collection.

Tracklisting:

“Omega Factor”
“Equating The Trinity”
“Nothing Remains”
“Dehumanized”
“Altered At Birth”
“Necrosphere”
“Global Freezing”
“Impaled”
“Necrosphere” (7” EP)
“Covenant Of Pain” (7” EP)
“Impaled” (7” EP)
“Nothing Remains” (Demo)
“Well Of Souls” (Demo)
“Condemned” (Demo)
“Necrosphere” (Demo)

While much of the modern era of death metal is chided for not having a signature sound, groups like Dischordia have continued to thrive by building their own mold bit by bit since their inception in 2010. Drawing inspiration from such forward-thinking metal heavyweights as Decapitated, Gorguts, Meshuggah, and The Dillinger Escape Plan, Oklahoma City's Dischordia brings a fresh perspective to the progressive metal scene by combining tried-and-true US death metal brutality with far-flung ideas from a multitude of global influences. After reaching new heights on their 2016 album Thanatopsis, the group set out eager as usual to craft something different yet even stronger moving forward. 

Which leads to today's announcement of Binge/Purge, an ambitious two-song effort clocking in at just over 24-minutes between two multi-part songs that stretch the band’s writing and playing to a whole new level. The EP will see release on Friday, June 15th.

Between its skull-crushing density, a keen grasp of dynamics, and turn-on-a-dime versatility on display throughout Binge/Purge, the release calls to mind recent complex EP efforts by fellow dissonant death metal acts such as Gorguts and Coma Cluster Void. Esteemed scene veteran Colin Marston (Gorguts, Krallice) was tapped to work his magic on Binge/Purge and expertly handled the releases mixing and mastering.

Dischordia guitarist Keeno comments on Binge/Purge:

"Binge/Purge is a modern take on Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy within our own political-cultural system. We enjoy telling stories with our music. Thanatopsis was a new level for us stylistically in searching for our sound. Binge/Purge builds on that progress and allows us to stretch our skills within a concept EP. "

Tracklisting:

“Binge”
“Purge”

Extended teaser:

Wolvhammer are streaming their fourth album The Monuments Of Ash & Bone ahead of it's official release tommorw, Friday, May 4th via Blood Music. Listen below.

The Monuments Of Ash & Bone was recorded and mixed by Jarrett Pritchard (Goatwhore, Exhumed) at his own New Constellation Studios in Orlando, Florida, and mastered by Ken Sorceron (Abigail Williams, The Faceless) - both of whom provide additional guitar tracks to the album - and completed with artwork by Brian Sheehan.

Blood Music will release the album on CD, LP, and digital formats; find pre-order options here.

Tracklisting:

“Eternal Rotting Misery”
“Call Me Death”
“Law Of The Rope”
“Bathed In Moonblood And Wolflight”
“The Failure King”
“Dead Rat Rotting Raven”
“Solace Eclipsed”

Album stream:

"Law Of The Rope" video:

Wolvhammer has announced new summer tour dates in support of The Monuments Of Ash & Bone. Leading with a performance at Stygian Rites Festival in Rapid City South Dakota, Wolvhammer will tour throughout the Western US and Canada from June 22nd through July 16th, supporting Uada alongside The Black Moriah. Directly after, Wolvhammer will headline shows in Indianapolis and Chicago July 20th and 21st with support from Doomsday, containing members of Wolvhammer. The band's performance at Psycho Las Vegas following in August will also be joined by additional tour dates. Stand by for more updates in the weeks ahead.

(Photo - Margaret McMakin)

Stormwitch's new album Bound To The Witch will be released on June 29th via Massacre Records.

The album will be available as a jewel case CD as well as strictly limited vinyl LP with 11 songs each, as a limited edition CD Digipak with exclusive bonus tracks with a total of 14 songs and as digital download and stream.

The cover artwork was created by Michael Vetter, Marc Ayerle took care of the album's mix and mastering at the klangMAnufaktur.

Tracklisting:

“Songs Of Steel”
“Odins Ravens”
“The Choir Of The Dead”
“Bound To The Witch”
“Arya”
“Stormwitch”
“Life Is Not A Dream”
“King George”
“Ancient Times”
“The Ghost Of Mansfield Park”
“Nightingale”
“Stronger Than Heaven” (Digipak only)
“Rats In The Attic” (Digipak only)
“Priest Of Evil” (Digipak only)

“Songs Of Steel” lyric video: