Progressive black metallers, Code, are streaming their upcoming Lost Signal EP,  to be released on January 27th (digital) and February 22nd (physical) via Agonia Records. Listen to the EP below.

In the summer of 2015, Code spent some time in a studio in England to experiment with tracks from their back catalogue of four albums. The idea was to re-visit past works from a different angle and Lost Signal is the result.

The EP features three songs from their most recent album Mut (2015), performed with a strong metallic approach. It also features three further songs, one from each of the first three albums performed in a more subtle and introspective style similar to that seen on the Mut album. The result is a release that alternatively emphasizes the subtlety and heaviness of the band's sound and provides a chance to hear these songs in a completely new way.

The songs featured on the EP are:

"On Blinding Larks" (from Mut)
"Cocoon" (from Mut)
"Affliction" (from Mut)
"The Rattle of Black Teeth" (from Resplendent Grotesque)
"The Lazarus Cord" (from Augur Nox)
"Brass Dogs" (from Nouveau Gloaming)

EP stream:

Trailer:

Produced and mixed by the band themselves, this is the sound of Code exploring the dichotomy within their music and producing a release of rich power, melody and dynamics.

Available formats:

- Transparent 12" LP limited to 389 copies
- Transparent 12" LP with black splatter limited to 111 copies
- Digital

Pre-orders: vinyl / digital

Code lineup:

Aort - Guitars
Andras - Guitars
LORDt - Drums
Syhr - Bass
Wacian - Vocals

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield has admitted that making fans wait eight years for the band's latest album was "a mistake."

Last year's "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" marked METALLICA's first release since their 2011 collaboration with Lou Reed, "Lulu", and their first album of new, original material since 2008's "Death Magnetic". In the meantime, METALLICA toured the world relentlessly, even logging a 2013 Antarctica stop that made them the first band to play all seven continents. They also dropped the artsy concert film "Through The Never", which reportedly cost $32 million and made less than $4 million at the box office.

Speaking to The Straits Times, Hetfield said that perhaps waiting so long to make the new album "was a mistake" and reassured fans that "it won't be" another eight years before a follow-up effort sees the light of day.

The METALLICA frontman also offered his views on remaining relevant — and even being invited to play this year's Grammy Awards — in an industrial climate that is thriving on the past.

"Music comes in trends and what not, but we haven't gone anywhere," he said. "If we're still popular enough to play the Grammys, that's cool.

Hetfield added that he didn't put much thought into how METALLICA managed to stay on top when so many of their peers have fallen by the wayside or lost their mojo.

"I don't want to figure it out," he said. "What we have to offer is honesty and we love what we do. We're writing songs we want to hear and that's important.

"We're not trying to recreate something that worked before or try a different genre or do some other crazy thing that's not us."

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich recently told Apple Music's Beats 1 that making "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" was "such a good experience" that he was willing to predict that it was not going to take another eight years for the next METALLICA record to arrive.

"Hardwired... To Self-Destruct" came out in November. The effort consists of two discs, containing a dozen songs and nearly 80 minutes of music.

METALLICA has shows booked in Denmark, Mexico and South America over the next three months, but has yet to unveil its full 2017 tour plans, including its first North American tour in eight years.

The band's sole North American date so far is May 21 at the Rock On The Range festival in Columbus, Ohio.

Japan's Burrn! magazine has published the first cover story on the reunion of the classic lineup of German power metallers HELLOWEEN. Dubbed "Pumpkins United", the band's upcoming tour will feature seven musicians — including former vocalist Michael Kiske and guitarist Kai Hansen alongside current singer Andi Deris and guitarist Sascha Gerstner — performing material spanning HELLOWEEN's entire three-decade-plus history.

A few translated quotes provided to the Michael Kiske fan site Kiskelized follow below.

On who triggered the reunion:

Michael Weikath (guitar): "Kai has been way ahead of us. It has always been clear to him. The reunion is what Kai had wanted to do and he has been proposing over the years."

Michael Kiske: "It was Kai who gave me the final push to do this. It was me who said, 'Let's do this.' HELLOWEEN members have been making statements to imply a reunion, and the management must have thought about it for a number of years, but they never talked me into this. I brought it up backstage, and [HELLOWEEN/UNISONIC manager] Kosta [Zafiriou], of course, heard it and it started to roll from there. Everyone was waiting for me to say the word."

On Kiske's thoughts on the reunion:

Michael: "It is important to do this under the name of HELLOWEEN. It will be interesting and fun. We are planning many things, but it will be a fun healing process for me. I feel wonderful and relieved. It cannot be done in any other way."

"It's great to be able to do this reunion. I don't want to die leaving a problem unsolved. I feel very relieved now that I don't have any resentment anymore. This is very important for me. The reunion idea was gradually expanded inside of me. One day, I realized that I had no more hard feelings against HELLOWEEN."

On Kiske and Weikath repairing their relationship:

Michael Kiske: "When we met for the first time after a long time, you [Weikath] asked me, 'What did I do to you that you cannot forgive me?' And I said, 'I had forgiven you a long time ago.'"

Michael Weikath: "Honestly, I have been wanting to reach out to Michael for a couple of years. I have his phone number, and I have been thinking, 'Why not just call him?'"

On the possibility of Kiske singing Andi Deris-era HELLOWEEN songs:

Michael: "I think I should sing songs from Andi's era as well. Andi has been singing the old songs, and it's good idea for both of us to sing songs from each other's [eras]."

Kai: "We are thinking about having Andi and Michael sing together, sing in duet, and share vocals. Isn't it more interesting that way? I can do vocals, too. Sing in harmony and duet as well. We have three singers in this seven-member HELLOWEEN. Or, I may rephrase: Two singers and one shouter."

"Pumpkins United" touring lineup:

Michael Kiske - VocalsKai Hansen - GuitarMichael Weikath – GuitarMarkus Grosskopf - BassAndi Deris - VocalsSascha Gerstner - GuitarDaniel Löble – Drums

The super-tour's first confirmed date is October 28 in Sao Paulo, Brazil and takes the full "Pumpkins" entourage across selected cities and venues in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the U.S. An extremely big deal, which, including a few secret surprises, will present almost three hours of the biggest hits from three decades of HELLOWEEN as the band will obviously insist on performing a full-speed trip through the HELLOWEEN repertoire.



Posted by Helloween on Monday, January 2, 2017


Posted by Helloween on Monday, January 2, 2017

Swedish hard rockers EUROPE will enter London, England's legendary Abbey Road studios in early February to begin recording the follow-up to 2015's "War Of Kings" album. "It's gonna be quite exciting because this is gonna be the first album that I'm involved in that we're gonna record in England," EUROPE guitarist John Norum told Italy's Linea Rock (see video below). "So many legendary artists have recorded albums [at Abbey Road], so that's gonna be very exciting."

EUROPE drummer Ian Haugland told FaceCulture last November about the band's songwriting process: "What we try with every new album is to actually not repeat [ourselves], but to look at the back catalog and [go], 'Okay, we did on that album, so maybe we'll go crazy about something else.' So that's good. And it's like having an art gallery with different pictures you can look at, and you get different feelings from different pictures. So I think the next EUROPE album is gonna be probably a bit different from 'War Of Kings', I guess."

Asked what he has noticed about the direction of the material EUROPE has written for the follow-up to "War Of Kings", Haugland said: "I haven't noticed anything, because I haven't heard anything. [Laughs] the thing is, I know that for Joey [Tempest, EUROPE singer], for instance, he creates a lot of music in his mind before it ends up on tape so you can hear it. So I'm sure he has a lot of song ideas in his mind. I also know that John Levén [EUROPE bassist], he has a couple of really cool riffs; he played it to me. And the same with Mic Michaeli [EUROPE keyboardist]; he's got a lot of song ideas."

EUROPE recently completed a short European tour during which the band played "The Final Countdown" album in its entirety to celebrate the LP's 30th anniversary.

"War Of Kings" was released in March 2015 via UDR Music.

Drummer Hannes Van Dahl says that his impending fatherhood won't affect his status with SABATON.

Van Dahl is expecting his first child in a matter of weeks with his partner of the last few years, NIGHTWISH singer Floor Jansen.

Asked by Spain's Metal Journal whether his family situation will have an impact on his ability to tour with SABATON, Hannes said: "Well, you know, as far as I'm concerned, nothing will really change, 'cause this is what I do, an this is… this is what I do to make a living. People have had kids before in this business. So, to stop any worries — 'cause I know a lot of people are worried [about me] quitting the band — I will stay in the band. And as far as I can say, when it's time, I need to go and be there with my family. But when I've done that, I'm going back to touring. So I won't leave. I will be there."

Jansen herself has spoken about the challenges of raising a child while being in a touring band like NIGHTWISH. She told Finland's Radio Rock last fall: "Of course, it's a very challenging combination, and I was very happy that the way [NIGHTWISH is] today — or, actually, have always been — it's a very open group; we can talk about things. And the guys, actually, were curious. A few months ago, we started talking about it, like, 'So, 2017… How about kids? Yeah?' So it's great to think about things together: how can we combine it? Also 'cause my partner is in a successful band, touring a lot. Yeah, then you need the cooperation of the people that you are family with also. So I am not afraid that won't work. It will be a challenge, for sure, but, yeah, a little SABATON or NIGHTWISH daycare program sounds lovely, doesn't it? [Laughs]"

Jansen also dismissed rumors that she will leave the band after welcoming her first child. She told Mariskal Rock TV: "No, I won't [quit NIGHTWISH]. I love this way too much; don't worry. You don't even have negative speculations one way or another. Things are great, and let's keep on doing this forever."

SABATON's eighth album, "The Last Stand", was released last August via Nuclear Blast.

Van Dahl joined SABATON in November 2013 after previously playing with another Swedish band, EVERGREY.

'80s hard rock queen Lita Ford has confirmed that she is about to begin work on a new studio album, to be released later in the year. Helming the project once again is guitarist/producer Gary Hoey, who previously worked with Lita on 2012's "Living Like A Runaway" disc.

Asked by VintageRock.com at this past weekend's NAMM show in Anaheim, California how her new music is shaping up, Lita said: "It's dark, it's riffy — lots of guitar. I'm gonna really let the guitar flow on this one. So that's exciting."

Lita added that she will "take a break" from touring "for a little" while she completes the next record. But she promised that she will be back on the road soon after having "a huge, huge" 2016, which saw her and her solo band play "a hundred shows," including two months' worth of dates with HALESTORM.

Ford's last release was 2016's "Time Capsule", a collection of songs that were recorded by Ford in the past, but never before made available. "Time Capsule" was tracked after her 1988 "Lita" album — a time when, as Ford put it, "we had a break between recordings and it seemed so many of us were always in the same place, at the same time." Some of the album's featured guests: Billy Sheehan (bass), Rodger Carter (drums), Dave Navarro (mandolin), Jeff Scott Soto (vocals), Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander (backing vocals) and Gene Simmons (bass).

On January 18, David "Gus" Griesinger of BackstageAxxess.com conducted an interview with former MOTÖRHEAD and current SCORPIONS drummer Mikkey Dee at the Hall Of Heavy Metal History all-star induction ceremony at the Anaheim Expo Center in Anaheim, California. You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On the fact that it has already been more than a year since the passing of iconic MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister:

Mikkey: "That's really weird. That is weird. And just the other day I was thinking, it's been so long since I've talked to him. Because even if we had a break here and there with MOTÖRHEAD, we always spoke to each other. Maybe not every week — he was in L.A. and I was in Sweden — but every other week at least. He'd call me, or I'd call him, and he'd go, 'What the hell's happening, Mik? Are we getting out there?' You know, we always had something. So it's unbelievable — a full year. Well, he's up there, or down there, or wherever he is. And hopefully he enjoys what I'm doing. I know he loved SCORPIONS. He respected that band tremendously. He kept saying, 'Oh, they played longer than us.' It's a real band. As I said in a lot of interviews, every snare hit I do from now on will be a small tribute to my friend Lemmy. And that's how I feel."

On SCORPIONS' plans for the coming months:

Mikkey: "It's gonna be touring. SCORPIONS, a while back, wanted to have a bit of a break, and that's where we are right now. So it'll be several months now where we're just relaxing. They've been touring so hard, and so did I. So it feels pretty good. But by spring now, we're gonna get together and then we're gonna tour our asses off, really. And then hopefully maybe next year we'll get together and we can produce an album. I don't know. It's a little up to the guys, and we'll see what happens."

Dee joined SCORPIONS last September as a permanent replacement for the band's longtime drummer James Kottak, who was previously said to be on a break while he sought medical attention.

Regarding how playing with SCORPIONS is different from performing with MOTÖRHEAD, Mikkey said: "I played so long with MOTÖRHEAD, we were a three-piece, and that's a tremendous difference. For instance, when Phil [Campbell, MOTÖRHEAD guitarist] was doing his solo, I might have to be a little busier on the kick drum. Here [in the SCORPIONS], I've gotta think the opposite — I've gotta be easier on certain things and step into some other stuff. But it's a great challenge."

Geoff Tate believes that his differences with QUEENSRŸCHE can be worked out and insists that he would "never say never" to a reunion with his former bandmates.

In April 2014, Tate and QUEENSRŸCHE announced that a settlement had been reached after a nearly two-year legal battle where Tate sued over the rights to the QUEENSRŸCHE name after being fired in 2012. Original QUEENSRŸCHE members Michael Wilton (guitar), Scott Rockenfield (drums) and Eddie Jackson (bass) responded with a countersuit. The settlement included an agreement that Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson would continue as QUEENSRŸCHE, while Tate would have the sole right to perform the albums "Operation: Mindcrime" and "Operation: Mindcrime II" in their entirety live.

Speaking to Rock 100.5's Jay Philpott, Tate — who currently fronts a new project called OPERATION: MINDCRIME — was asked if he thinks his issues with QUEENSRŸCHE can one day be resolved. He said (hear audio below): "Oh, yeah. I think anything… any problem, any situation can be resolved, given the amount of focus you wanna place upon it, and how dedicated you are to resolving the issues, really. So, yeah, I would never say never — although I just did twice, didn't I? [Laughs]"

Tate's replacement, Todd La Torre, told Metal Wani last September that QUEENSRŸCHE is "sounding better than it did for over ten years" now that he is fronting the band. He added: "The fans have certainly voiced that opinion. That's my opinion, and that's a lot of opinions we hear every night. And the energy of the other members of the band is way healthier, way happier with [Geoff] gone and me in the band. And that's just the facts. There's no stifled creativity, and there's no kind of leader and followers, if you will, in the band. We all talk and try to make decisions the same, and it's very democratic. I'm never gonna tell Michael Wilton that his guitar riff is too heavy, for example, and that had happened in the past. The band is way happier, and I think that it's evident when you watch a live show — not [a clip on] YouTube, but really go to a show and feel what's happening and see what's happening. These guys are happy again and they feel like it's a rebirth of the band and that those dark clouds are well behind them."

Frontiers Music Srl released "Resurrection", the new album from OPERATION: MINDCRIME, on September 23.

ART OF ANARCHY, the band featuring CREED singer Scott Stapp alongside DISTURBED bassist John Moyer and ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, will release its sophomore album, "The Madness", on March 24.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Echo Of A Scream02. 1,000 Degrees03. No Surrender04. The Madness05. Won't Let You Down06. Changed Man07. A Light In Me08. Somber09. Dancing With The Devil10. Afterburn

Thal said in a recent interview with TeamRock that Stapp is thriving as ART OF ANARCHY's new lead singer, adding that the band is providing a healthy environment for Stapp as he continues his fight to stay sober. Thal explained: "The band, ART OF ANARCHY, is drug free. Me and the Votta brothers [guitarist Jon and drummer Vince] have never even smoked a cigarette, none of us drink, have never done drugs, never smoked pot or anything like that."

Thal continued: "So that's good, because the last thing you need on the road if you're trying to stay clean is a bunch of people doing that around you. Scott is doing well... It's great that he has a strong family and a lot of people that care and support and that were there to help him get out of that situation. Now he's better than ever."

The CREED frontman joined the band last year, following a highly publicized, drug-enhanced meltdown in late 2014, after which he entered rehab program and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Stapp told The Pulse Of Radio he was touring as a solo artist again when he was approached about joining. "I really wasn't looking for a band, but I was definitely curious," he said. "I wanted to see what it was all about. I love writing with talented people and I think that's really what made the decision for me, was to sit in a room with Ron, Jon and Vince and throw out ideas, trade ideas and realize, 'Hey, there's something that could come of this.'"

ART OF ANARCHY made its live debut on October 27, 2016 at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.

ART OF ANARCHY released a self-titled debut album in 2015 that featured former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland.

Weiland, whom STP parted ways with in 2002 and again in 2013, died in December 2015.

Thal joined GUNS N' ROSES in 2006 and stayed in the band for eight years, playing on the 2008 album "Chinese Democracy". He has also released a number of solo CDs.

Photo: Annie Atlasman

It's funny how an offhanded comment can make a dream come true, but that's exactly what happened with thrash icons ANTHRAX.

Last year, the members of the band were hanging out at New York's West Village bar Daddy-O and mentioned to owner Phil Casacelli how they'd love to have their own brand of beer. Casacelli, a longtime fan of upstate New York's Butternuts Beer & Ale Brewery, made a call to Chuck Williamson, owner of Butternuts, a metalhead and a longtime ANTHRAX fan, and everything started to fall into place for what would become ANTHRAX's own craft beer, Wardance. Wardance will be available in stores, bars and restaurants where craft beer is sold in New York State beginning March 27. Plans are in the works to expand the distribution to other states around the country.

Said ANTHRAX's Scott Ian: "I've wanted to do our own beer for a long time, it was just finding the right guy to make that a reality. I am a fan of Butternuts, especially their Porkslap Pale Ale, and when I found out that Chuck was interested in doing a beer with us, I immediately said yes."

"Finding the right taste that all of us loved was really important," ANTHRAX's Charlie Benante explained, "but it was also important that the beer not leave people feeling heavy or filled up afterwards. The other thing I love about our beer is that it goes really well with a burger. It's the one beer to have when you're having a 'Wardance.'"

Working closely with Williamson and his partner on the Wardance project, marketing guru David "Rev" Ciancio (who also counts ANTHRAX as one of his all-time personal favorites), ANTHRAX's Ian, Benante and Frank Bello wanted a distinct flavor for Wardance, one that would fit not only the band members' personal preferences, but that their fans would enjoy as well.

"I spoke to Chuck and we talked about what we like/don't like and what I would want from our beer," added Ian. "It was simple, a beer that would be very drinkable yet still have flavor."

They decided on a pale ale style with a special blend of malts and hops to give it a unique flavor, and a "first batch" was brewed. Williamson and Rev did a tasting with the band on their tour bus parked outside the St. Vitus club the night ANTHRAX headlined a benefit show there last September for Gilda's Club NYC. In addition and unbenownst to the band's fans, a keg of that "first batch" was poured at the St. Vitus show with Williamson and Rev taking feedback from the fans. Taking band and fans comments into consideration, Williamson did a little more tinkering in the beer lab with the ale's recipe, one more ANTHRAX tasting which received a unanimous thumbs up from the band, and Wardance Pale Ale, available in 12 oz. cans, was inaugurated.

Wardance (5.5% abv) is brewed using a blend of both New York State and North American two-row malt barley and a blend of special malts to add color and depth of flavor. The hops are sourced through New York State and West Coast growers. A percent of the hops is added in the boil kettle and a percent post fermentation to create a unique flavor profile that balances the rich flavor and aroma of the specialty malts with the delicate aroma of the select hops. The result is a recognizable beer with a unique character that sets Wardance apart from other beers out in the market today.

ANTHRAX will hit the road beginning March 29, co-headlining a 27-date North American tour — Killthrax — with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA as main support.

Relapse Records has announced the signing of cult U.K. doom/sludge outfit IRON MONKEY. The band has entered Moot Group studios in Nottingham to record a new album with Johnny A. Carter (ex-PITCHSHIFTER). The effort will consist of eight tracks plus a cover song and is tentatively due late summer/early fall.

Heavily influenced by the nihilistic sound of groups like EYEHATEGOD, BUZZOV*EN, FLOOR and GRIEF, IRON MONKEY originally formed in Nottingham, England in 1994 and released two full-lengths (1997's self-titled debut and 1998's "Our Problem"), a live album and a split with CHURCH OF MISERY before splitting in 1999. Now, almost two decades later, the band has decided to reform as a trio with co-founding members S. Watson on bass and J. Rushby on guitar/vocals. They're rounded out by new member S. Briggs (CHAOS U.K.,) who also played with original IRON MONKEY vocalist J.P. Morrow in the short-lived sludge supergroup MY WAR. The band commented on the reformation and new material: "We're older, more cynical, more isolationist. Musically, we're more aggressive, more focused — a direct assault. We intend to take what is rightfully ours, usurp the scene, then crush its skull." Morrow died of a heart attack in June 2002.

New York death metallers IMMOLATION will release their new album, "Atonement", on February 24 via Nuclear Blast.

The fourth trailer for "Atonement", in which guitarist Robert Vigna an bassist/vocalist Ross Dolan discuss who should be in the "Big Four Of Death Metal", can be seen below.

"Atonement" was recorded at Millbrook Sound Studios in Millbrook, New York with longtime producer Paul Orofino, and mixed and mastered once again by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH, SUFFOCATION). Cover art was created by renowned artist Pär Olofsson (IMMORTAL, THE FACELESS, EXODUS, ABYSMAL DAWN), along with additional artwork by the very talented Zbigniew Bielak (GHOST, ENSLAVED, PARADISE LOST, WATAIN).

A 360-degree visualizer video for the first single from the effort, "Destructive Currents", can be seen below.

Comments IMMOLATION vocalist/bassist Ross Dolan: "We are excited that everyone will finally get a preview of what the new record has to offer.

"'Atonement' is a very dark and haunting album, both musically and lyrically, commenting on the darker side of humanity and the world today. Each song on this album is unique in its own way, offering the listener a wide range of dark and sinister passages that I think really hone in on all the elements that make this band what it is.

"The sound of this record is exactly what we were hoping for, and we feel the production really gives these songs that massive sound and dark sinister feel they needed. Zack and Paul really nailed it with this one and made our tenth album our best-sounding record to date. We are all very proud of what we have created here, and we hope everyone else will enjoy these eleven songs as much as we think they will.

"The song 'Atonement' is about that blind fury and destructivnes of religious extremism regardless of where it comes from and under what religious banner it flies. The cover piece was inspired by a passage of lyrics from this song, and Pär managed to create a visual for those four lines that just blew us away. So needless to say, we are very pleased with the overall look and feel of the album, which also includes four amazing pieces of artwork done by the extremely talented Zbigniew Bielak.

"We chose the song 'Destructive Currents' as the first song to leak to the fans because it's a fast and aggressive song that gets right down to business. It's just dark and powerful, and I think it gives everyone a sense of whats in store for them with this release. Lyrically, the song deals with the herd/mob mentality and how it gets fed, manipulated and exploited by outside forces. These are the currents of deception, misinformation and destruction, which are designed to mislead people. So that's really the idea behind the song lyrically."

Pre-order a physical copy of "Atonement" by itself or in various bundles from the Nuclear Blast webshop.

"Destructive Currents" is now available as an instant download when you pre-order "Atonement" from iTunes and Amazon.

"Atonement" track listing:

01. The Distorting Light 02. When The Jackals Come 03. Fostering The Divide 04. Rise The Heretics 05. Thrown To The Fire 06. Destructive Currents 07. Lower08. Atonement09. Above All10. The Power Of Gods 11. Epiphany

Bonus track (CD only):

12. Immolation (re-recorded)

IMMOLATION is:

Ross Dolan - bass/vocalsRobert Vigna - guitarSteve Shalaty - DrumsAlex Bouks - guitar

IMMOLATION will support Max and Igor Cavalera on the second leg of the "Return To Roots" tour in February/March.

CYNIC's "Uroboric Forms - The Complete Demo Collection" will be released on February 10 via Century Media and will come in digipak CD and limited LP+CD (with gatefold sleeve, LP-booklet, 180-gram vinyl and seven-inch single) format. "Uroboric Forms - The Complete Demo Collection" includes the four legendary demos — "Demo 1988", "Refections Of A Dying World" (1989), "Demo 1990" and "Demo 1991", showing CYNIC's development from a raw underground death/thrash metal band to the progressive technical death style the band is known for since the release of the classic "Focus" album. With a total playing time of over 56 minutes, all lyrics, loads of photos, an in-depth interview with CYNIC's musical mastermind Paul Masvidal and a beautiful cover artwork by Manuel Tinnemans as well as remastered sound by Patrick W. Engel, "Uroboric Forms - The Complete Demo Collection" offers everything you can ask for. As a bonus for the diehard fans, the album includes two previously unreleased bonus tracks, the songs "Uroboric Forms" and "The Eagle Nature", from a vocal audition with Brian DeNeffe, the singer of the U.S. death metal band VIOGRESSION. The LP version includes those two tracks on a separate seven-inch single. "Uroboric Forms - The Complete Demo Collection" track listing:

01. Uroboric Forms (03:48)02. The Eagle Nature (03:28)03. Pleading For Preservation (05:03)04. Lifeless Irony (04:07)05. Thinking Being (04:52)06. Cruel Gentility (04:32)07. Denaturalizing Leaders (03:47)08. Extremes (02:30)09. A Life Astray (02:44)10. Agitating Affliction (03:39)11. Once Misguided (03:00)12. Weak Reasoning (03:38)13. Dwellers Of The Threshold (03:59)14. Uroboric Forms (03:46)15. The Eagle Nature (03:34)

Tracks 1-3 taken from "Demo 1991"Tracks 4-6 taken from "Demo 1990"Tracks 7-10 taken from "Reflections Of A Dying World"Tracks 11-13 taken from "Demo 1989"Tracks 14-15 are previously unreleased; vocal audition with Brian DeNeffe (VIOGRESSION) The LP version will be released in the following vinyl colors: * Black vinyl: unlimited* Golden vinyl: limited to 100 copies, exclusively available at CM Distro EU* Clear vinyl: limited to 200 copies, exclusively available at Nuclear Blast* Transparent-red vinyl: limited to 300 copies, exclusively distributed through RED in the USA* White vinyl: limited to 200 copies, exclusively sold through CM Distro US

Frontiers Music Srl will release the brand new PLACE VENDOME album, "Close To The Sun", on February 24, 2017.

The official lyric video for the song "HereAfter", taken from "Close To The Sun", can be seen below. One of the most popular projects put together over the years by Frontiers president Serafino Perugino, PLACE VENDOME was an idea sparked during a phone conversation between Serafino and former HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske, where they discussed their common passion for several melodic rock giants of the '80s. The Hamburg singer agreed to be part of a studio project where he would sing songs written especially for him by various writers with an AOR/melodic rock flavor. The amazing reception of the first PLACE VENDOME album released in 2005 planted the seeds for a second recording, "Streets Of Fire", which was recorded during 2008 and for a third album, "Thunder In The Distance", which was released in 2013. Being a project so close to Kiske's heart, it was agreed during 2016 that work on a new album would start with his UNISONIC bandmate Dennis Ward at the production helm, as usual. Of the album, Ward said: "Upon receiving the demos for the new songs intended for the new PLACE VENDOME record, I was a bit concerned because a few vocal styles seemed to go against what Michael Kiske is known for vocally. After talking together, we agreed to just let the melodies come out naturally, without trying to imitate or 'reproduce' the demos. Michael really stood up to this on the new album. He did 'his' thing, with no compromises. He managed to make the songs his own and brought all the songs to another level. I have a lot of respect for him because of this and now the album is much more than just another AOR album. That being said, I have to pay high respects to the other musicians on the album: Dirk Bruineberg proved again that he is a multi-talented drummer that can literally pull of any groove, any style of any era with the highest of expectations. Günter Werno is also a gem amongst a pile of stones. He really shines on this album and holds all the songs together, true to the PLACE VENDOME sound. Uwe Reitenauer is also a master of his instrument taking over duties that were critical and complicated to say the least. He has the perfect AOR tone and can implement it no matter what type of song you throw at him. The rest of the 'guests' that helped out made this album into a truly interesting compilation and also making this a milestone for PLACE VENDOME. That being said, it's the first PLACE VENDOME album where I feel that we have achieved our trademark sound. This is how we want to be heard and this is how we imagine ourselves to sound." Speaking of other album guests, once again Magnus Karlsson (PRIMAL FEAR) was one of the first to answer the call to participate and offered the awesome song "Falling Star" to the project. Jani Liimatainen (CAIN'S OFFERING, ex-SONATA ARCTICA) was the next contributor with the epic "Welcome To The Edge", the album's tour de force. Following LABYRINTH's reunion, guitarist Olaf Thorsen sat with ETERNAL IDOL, ANGRA and RHAPSODY singer Fabio Lione and offered "Helen" and "Riding The Ghost". Perugino then proposed that his favorite DGM song, "HereAfter", be included. This brought DGM's main composer, Simone Mularoni, into the picture, and he wrote the album's title track and "Across The Times". Alessandro Del Vecchio also offered two new songs, "Strong" and "Yesterday Is Gone", while SECRET SPHERE's guitarist Aldo LoNobile wrote "Distant Skies" and "Breathing". The full picture was finally completed with a new song written by Swedish melodic rock artist Michael Palace (PALACE, SKYLANDER), "Light Before The Dark". Kiske and Ward wanted to make the album a little bit special, so besides the "usual suspects" (including drummer Dirk Bruinenberg, VANDEN PLAS's ivory tinkler Gunter Werno and PINK CREAM 69's Uwe Reineauer on guitars), some guitar heavyweights appear on the recordings. The list includes Alfred Koffler and (of course) Uwe Reineauer of PINK CREAM 69, Magnus Karlsson, Michael Klein, Gus G. (OZZY OSBOURNE, FIREWIND), Simone Mularoni, and UNISONIC guitarists Kai Hansen and Mandy Meyer, among others. Kiske comments: "The production with my buddy Dennis was great, as always, but what I especially like about this album — beside the new microphone I used that Dennis has built me — is the various styles of the songs. It is all a still very AOR-produced album, but we also have progressive or 'wilder' elements here and there. It was (again) interesting to see how much the songs change until you finally reach the mixing stage." In a year that will see Michael Kiske rejoin with his old HELLOWEEN bandmates for a unique world tour, PLACE VENDOME's new album is the icing on the cake of a special and very rewarding period for the German singer. All in all, "Close To The Sun" is probably the most hard-rocking release ever from PLACE VENDOME and an absolute monster of an album! "Close To The Sun" track listing:

01. Close To The Sun02. Welcome To The Edge03. HereAfter04. Strong05. Across The Times06. Riding The Ghost07. Light Before The Dark08. Falling Star09. Breathing10. Yesterday Is Gone11. Helen12. Distant Skies Produced by Dennis Ward * Lead Vocals - Michael Kiske* Backing vocals - Dennis Ward, Michael Kiske // Additional Choirs on "Strong" by Alessandro Del Vecchio* Bass - Dennis Ward* Keyboards - Günter Werno* Drums - Dirk Bruinenberg* All Rhythm Guitars by Dennis Ward, except: "Welcome To The Edge", "Across The Times", "Close To The Sun", "Hearafter" - Rhythm Guitars by Uwe Reitenauer* Guitar solo by Michael Klein on "Yesterday Is Gone", "Distant Skies", "Strong", "Breathing".* Guitar solo by Uwe Reitenauer on "Close To the Sun"* Guitar solo by Alfred Koffler on "Welcome To The Edge"* Guitar solo by Magnus Karlsson on "Falling Star"* Guitar solo by Gus G. on "Light Beyond The Dark"* Guitar solo by Simone Mularoni on "HearAfter"* Guitar solo by Mandy Meyer on "Helen"* Guitar solo by Kai Hansen on "Riding The Ghost" and "Across The Times"

Germany's most putrid death metal act Cryptic Brood, have revealed the cover artwork from their debut full-length album Brain Eater as well as an advance song, the opener "A Box Full Of Bones", to be released March 1st through Xtreem Music.

Born in 2013, Cryptic Brood quickly gained a solid reputation through their debut demo, two split EP's and previous mini CD, also on Xtreem Music, as the most serious European inheritors of Autopsy with their rancid kind of organic-sounding Death Metal absolutely away from today's sound technical facilities. 

Tracklisting:

“A Box Full Of Bones”
“Slurping Reeking Slime”
“Urban Coffin”
“Corroded Remains”
“Maggot-Infested Flesh”
“Ridden With Dementia”
“Gorging Severed Pieces”
“Brain Eater”
“Until It Starts To Rot”

“A Box Full Of Bones”:

The official guitar-playthrough video for "Exploratory Homicide", a brand new song from death metal veterans SIX FEET UNDER, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's twelfth studio album, "Torment", which will be released on February 24 via Metal Blade.

There's plenty of classic SIX FEET UNDER groove to be had on "Torment", but fans will note a much more aggressive approach, and even more modern blast beats throughout. This is a cantankerous SIX FEET UNDER with absolutely nothing to prove. This is SIX FEET UNDER at its most deadly.

"Torment" was brought to life by Chris Barnes with bassist/guitarist Jeff Hughell (BRAIN DRILL) shouldering the load of writing the music, along with heralded drummer Marco Pitruzzella (BRAIN DRILL, ANOMALOUS, SLEEP TERROR). The combination of Barnes's multi-decade death metal experience and the speed and precision of Hughell and Pitruzzella's relative youth go a long way to cementing this as a solid foundation for high-level death metal. This is immediately apparent in the first track "Sacrificial Kill" and expanded further right away in the second track "Exploratory Homicide". Both Hughell and Pitruzzella are allowed to play their style of metal with a unique SIX FEET UNDER flair. That's what makes "Torment" a unique and welcome addition to the band's stories catalog.

Barnes states about "Torment": "I've been lucky to have a lot of standout albums in my career. That's only because I've had a great many talented writing partners and musicians to collaborate with. Our new album, 'Torment', to me, is one of those albums. Jeff Hughell has provided the flammable material for me to write some explosive lyrics and vocal parts to.

"I know people always say, 'This is my best album ever,' and I won't say that, because everyone has their own favorites, but I do enjoy creating new music, and I feel as though with this one we expressed concisely and to the fullest the duality of our music. I have also found it important over the years, going back to the start of my career, that the artwork for our albums gets to express, on some level, what the experience is within. To do that this time around, we were able to incorporate an amazing new artist, Septian Devenum, to take on the task of visually bringing this album to life.

"Every song on the album is depicted with a piece of artwork that explores the lyrical content of each song, similar to what we did for the packaging for our album 'Bringer Of Blood'.

"'Torment' has been a great album to work on and help create, we hope all of our fans appreciate it."

"Torment" track listing:

01. Sacrificial Kill02. Exploratory Homicide03. The Separation Of Flesh From Bone04. Schizomaniac05. Skeleton06. Knife Through The Skull07. Slaughtered As They Slept08. In The Process Of Decomposing09. Funeral Mask10. Obsidian11. Bloody Underwear12. Roots Of Evil

SIX FEET UNDER's new album was mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris and was previously described by Barnes as "the most brutally intense, groove-laden masterpiece we've ever put together!"

SIX FEET UNDER last month completed the "X-Mas in Hell Tour 2016" in Germany where the band celebrated the 21st anniversary of its debut album, "Haunted", by performing the LP in its entirety.

Arjen Lucassen is working on a new Ayreon album titled The Source, scheduled for release in 2017 via Mascot Label Group. The album’s tracklisting has been revealed. Lucassen says in an update: “As many of you requested, here is the track list for the new Ayreon album The Source! Oh, and prepare for a BIG update this Thursday.”

Tracklisting:

CD1

Chronicle 1: The Frame
“The Day That The World Breaks Down”
“Sea Of Machines”
“Everybody Dies”

Chronicle 2: The Aligning Of The Ten
“Star Of Sirrah”
“All That Was”
“Run! Apocalypse! Run!
“Condemned To Live”

CD2

Chronicle 3: The Transmigration
“Aquatic Race”
“The Dream Dissolves”
“Deathcry Of A Race”
“Into The Ocean”

Chronicle 4: The Rebirth
“Bay Of Dreams”
“Planet Y Is Alive!”
“The Source Will Flow”
“Journey To Forever”
“The Human Compulsion”
“March Of The Machines”

DVD

Videos:
“Everybody Dies”
“Star Of Sirrah”
“Run! Apocalypse! Run”
“The Day That The World Breaks Down”
Interviews
Behind The Scenes
5.1 Audio Mix

Lucassen wrote in a previous update:

"This is Planet Alpha! Created by the amazing Yann Souetre for the artwork of the new Ayreon album. We'll be showing you more very soon..."

Vocalists confirmed for the new Ayreon album include:

- James LaBrie (Dream Theater) as The Historian
- Tommy Rogers (Between The Buried And Me) as The Chemist
- Simone Simons (Epica) as The Counselor
- Michael Mills (Toehider) as TH-1
- Floor Jansen (Nightwish) as The Biologist
- Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) as The Astronomer
- Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia) as The Captain
- Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus) as The Diplomat

As they prepare for the release of their debut full-length album Created In The Image Of Suffering, Bay Area CA’s King Woman have unveiled an extremely emotional and powerful music video for “Deny”.  Vocalist and lyricist Kristina Esfandiari commented: 
 
"The video for ‘Deny' is a depiction of the shadow aspect in Jungian psychology.  It's about the inner darkness buried deep within the subconscious. In the video you see this portion of the mind surfacing and coaxing the preacher into his truest form; drawing out the aspects of himself which he loathes because it doesn't fit in with his beliefs.
 
“In church, I saw others being raised with a rod in their backs, trying to fight their own carnality - buried in shame and guilt. The belief was to deny anything inside of themselves that was considered ugly or wrong, and instead attain a pristine image. With this video we aimed to paint a picture of how tormenting and exhausting it is to wrestle with your true self.” 
 
Director Kevin Haus comments, "I wanted the video to be extreme in all emotional directions, and I think we accomplished that."

Due out February 24th, Created In The Image Of Suffering was recorded with engineer Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Wreck & Reference, Oathbreaker) at the Atomic Garden in Palo Alto, CA.  Each song evokes rich, gloomy imagery with crumbling washes of blurred, billowing distortion densely layered atop hazy, psychedelic atmospheres that call to mind a surrealistic Black Sabbath fronted by Mazzy Star. Complete with deeply personal, introspective lyrics that serve as a catharsis for years of religious and mental torment, King Woman truly suffer to create their art. 
 
King Woman will tour throughout 2017 in support of Created in the Image of Suffering; they’ll kick off the run with a string of west coast headline dates and have been tapped as support for part of the Oathbreaker U.S. tour in March. Additionally, King Woman will tour Europe with True Widow and select dates with Chelsea Wolfe.

Preorder the new album at this location.

The band's debut EP Doubt (released on leading SF avant-garde imprint The Flenser in 2014) paired weighty subject matter such as religious abuse with cathartic, brooding, and hypnotic songwriting with a transcendental feel. With Esfandiari's lush and dramatic vocals, King Woman go far beyond mere stoner metal. The band's compositions call to mind rich, detailed imagery and powerful atmospheres that elevate their music beyond classification. King Woman’s mystical sound resonated strongly enough to catch the attention of Relapse Records, who signed King Woman in 2016.

Tracklisting:

“Citios” (Digital Bonus Track)
“Utopia”
“Deny”
“Shame”
“Hierophant”
“Worn”
“Manna”
“Hem”

"Deny" video:

“Utopia”:

Tour dates:

February
17 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club
24 - Sacramento, CA - Starlite Lounge
26 - Los Angeles, CA - Echo

March
14 - New York, NY - St. Vitus

(Photo - Rob Williamson)

Metal Allegiance gathered last Friday (January 20th) at the City National Grove of Anaheim for an unforgettable tribute to our fallen heroes. The night was filled with many special  performances as well as an appearance and early birthday celebration for Ray Burton. Today, the band released an exclusive 360 video of the opening song of the night, "Pledge Of Allegiance”, which can be seen below.

This night marked the first time in a year that the core four, David Ellefson, Alex Skolnick, Mark Menghi, and Mike Portnoy have played together. They shared the stage with Mikkey Dee (Motörhead, Scorpions), Vinny Appice (Dio, Black Sabbath), Richie Faulkner (Judas Priest), Mike Inez (Alice In Chains), Eddie Hermida (Suicide Silence), Arejay Hale (Halestorm), Carla Harvey (Butcher Babies), Chris Jericho (Fozzy), Mark Osegueda (Death Angel) , Phil Demmel (Machine Head), Gary Holt (Slayer, Exodus), Charlie Benante (Antthrax), Chuck Billy (Testament), and Billy Sheehan (The Winery Dogs).

The night began with performances by Marty Friedman, Gus G, and Martyrd.

Check out BraveWords feature on the event at this location.

Minneapolis-based technical/avant-garde death metal outfit, Sunless, has completed the blistering Urraca, the band's proper debut album, for independent release this February.

Formed in 2015, Sunless draws influence from pioneers of extreme, dissonant metal, such as Gorguts, Ulcerate, and Deathspell Omega, reinterpreting the sounds through an abstract lens that is all their own. Comprised of bassist Mitch Schooler (ex-Nerves, Modulus), drummer Ben Iburg (Not From Here, The Eye Unclouded), and guitarist/vocalist Lucas Scott (Australis, Pestifere), the band boasts a prominent rhythm section, a scattered assortment of time signatures, interwoven and complex arrangements, and bellowing death growls, akin to the output of Baring Teeth, Pyrrhon, and Artificial Brain.

Sunless spent most of 2016 performing across the Midwestern US in support of their demo with like-minded bands such as Plebeian Grandstand, Yautja, and Pyrrhon, while writing for their debut album, Urraca. Tracked by Adam Tucker at Signaturetone Recording in their hometown of Minneapolis (Thou, Mutilation Rites, Ambassador Gun), and mixed/mastered by Colin Marston at Menegroth, The Thousand Caves in Queens, New York, Urraca delivers a relentlessly engaging onslaught of complex and dissonant death metal, with nine tracks encompassing a dense forty-four minutes. The artwork was handled by friend, lyricist, and former bandmate Andrew Notsch (ex-Youwretch), appropriately presenting the album in a psychedelic, abstract visual manner.

Stream the album’s opening track, “Wishes Fallen On Deafened Ears”, below.

Urraca will be independently released by Sunless with digital, digipak CD, and cassette formats to be made available on February 24th. Pre-orders for the physical formats are live at Bandcamp here.

Tracklisting:

“Wishes Fallen On Deafened Ears”
“Gathering At The Skull’s Eye”
“Aberrant Clime”
“Born Of Clay”
“Obsidian Wing”
“Windswept Rock”
“The Ancient Ones”
“Magpie”
“Disintegration Of Man”

“Wishes Fallen On Deafened Ears”:

Urraca by Sunless

Sunless will support the release of Urraca with a two-week tour through the central regions of the US alongside Minneapolis cohorts, fungal death-sludge act, Grogus. The tour begins with a hometown record release show the day of the album's release, Friday, February 24th, and runs through Saturday, March 11th, with shows in Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Illinois, and Wisconsin before returning to Minnesota.

Tour dates:

February
24 - Reverie Café And Bar - Minneapolis, MN (record release show with Faces Of The Bog, Aziza)
25 - Bar Bar - Denver, CO
26 - Black Sheep - Colorado Springs, CO
27 - The Underground - Santa Fe, NM
28 - TBA

March
1 - Your Mom's - Oklahoma City, OK
2 - TBA
3 - The Lost Well - Austin, TX
4 - TBA
5 - Siberia - New Orleans, LA
6 - TBA
7 - TBA - Nashville, TN
8 - Buccaneer - Memphis, TN
9 - TBA
10 - Underground Lounge - Chicago, IL
11 - Frank's Powerplant - Milwaukee, WI

Sunless lineup:

Mitch Schooler - bass
Ben Iburg - drums
Lucas Scott - guitar, vocals

Los Angeles, CA based mega rock band, DC4, is the newest addition to the HighVolMusic roster. Formed in 1994 and founded by The Duncan Clan guitarist Jeff Duncan (Armored Saint), drummer Shawn Duncan (Odin), bassist Matt Duncan and completed by guitarist Rowan Robertson (Dio, Bang Tango), DC4 have issued four albums with the fifth to be released early summer 2017.

The new project is being produced by legendary producer Bill Metoyer (Armored Saint, Fates Warning, W.A.S.P., Slayer) with recording sessions on April 16th - 18th in Las Vegas, NV.

"We're very happy and excited to be with HighVol. The label has the same passion and integrity for rock n' roll as we do. DC4 and HighVol are a perfect match!" - Jeff Duncan

"I am very excited to be working with everyone at HighVolMusic!! I am also very stoked to record the new DC4 record with my brothers and Rowan!! This is a double dose of awesomeness!!" - Shawn Duncan

"Shawn and I began dialog in 2016 about working together. We kept in contact throughout the year which really opened the door. Jeff was in town on tour with Armored Saint in December 16'. We met and discussed the possibility of working together again also. We talked about the details, the vision, and how it should be and it was just a very natural and comfortable situation. The decision was easy and I am totally blown away and humbled to be working again with what I feel are rock n roll legends. To say that I am totally stoked about working with DC4 is an understatement. The guys are the ultimate professionals and they just totally kick ass!" - Bill Chavis, HighVolMusic

Studio updates and release details to come.

Since the release of their new album, Proponent For Sentience, this past September, Allegaeon has shared the stage with the likes of Black Sabbath, Disturbed, Megadeth and more at Ozzfest Meets Knotfest, as well as joined label-mates Battlecross and Necromancing the Stone for the annual Winter Warriors Tour.

Today, the group is launching a new video for "Of Mind and Matrix”, the fourth video from Proponent For Sentience. Directed, edited, and animated by Nick Hipa (Wovenwar), "Of Mind And Matrix" can be viewed below:

Next month, Allegaeon will join label-mates Whitechapel, Cattle Decapitation, and Goatwhore for a special US tour that celebrates Metal Blade Records' 35th anniversary. See below for all dates.

February
22 - Brighton Music Hall - Boston, MA
23 - Theatre of Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
24 - The Fillmore - Silver Spring, MD
25 - Irving Plaza - New York, NY
26 - House of Blues - Cleveland, OH
28 - St. Andrew's Hall - Detroit, MI

March
1 - Deluxe @ Old National Centre - Indianapolis, IN
2 - Bogart's - Cincinnati, OH
3 - Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
4 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
5 - Riot Room - Kansas City, MO
6 - Summit Music Hall - Denver, CO
8 - Belasco Theater - Los Angeles, CA
9 - House of Blues - San Diego, CA
10 - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
11 - Ace of Spades - Sacramento, CA
14 - House of Blues - Houston, TX
15 - House of Blues - Dallas, TX
16 - House of Blues - New Orleans, LA

What began as a steadfast expression of the human condition comes Madison, WI atmospheric doom metal outfit Bereft with their unique style of powerful metal unbound to any genre. The group have announced their debut full-length album will be titled Lands and is scheduled for worldwide release via Prosthetic Records on March 31st. 

The album cover artwork, as showcased below, was completed by Sam Alvarez (Bongripper).

Pre-orders, which includes a blood red vinyl variant limited to 300 copies total, will be launched on February 14th via store.prostheticrecords.com as well as all digital providers. In the meantime, listen to a sample of "Lands" in the below video trailer.

Lands tracklisting:

“We Wept”
“The Ritual”
“In Filth”
“Waining Light”

Trailer:

Weaving elements of doom and black metal into exhaustive, dynamic songs, Bereft were eager to bring Lands vision to life and headed to Backroom Studios in Rockaway, NJ to track the album with Kevin Antreassian (Dillinger Escape Plan).

Having recently parted ways with their drummer, founding members Zach Johnson (vocals/guitars), Alex Linden (vocals/guitars) and bassist Cade Gentry enlisted the help of Michael Kadnar (Downfall of Gaia, Black Table, The Number 12 Looks Like You) to record drums for the new album. "The recording sessions couldn't have gone smoother", commented Kadner, "I've been a big Dillinger Escape plan fan for years, so it was pretty surreal to work with Kevin. He's a phenomenal engineer and also the most down to earth, funny and welcoming dude you'll meet.”

Following the completion of recording, Bereft began the  search for a permanent drummer. It didn't last long, however, when long-time friend and gear-head Jerry McDougal joined. “We’ve known Jerry for a few years.” informed Johnson. “He has been nothing but stunning behind the kit. His work as alter ego Satyrnine Amplification has been increasingly helpful for our sound as a band and we're ecstatic about his presence and talent in our collective.”

McDougal adds, “I first met the guys at a rehearsal complex we shared. They caught wind of my gear-headed nature, which struck up some great conversations. One thing lead to another and here we are. I feel extremely honored and grateful to be part of Bereft, and can’t wait to see what crazy adventures await us on the road.”

Having previously been seen across the US with acts such as Agalloch, Gloom, Downfall of Gaia, So Hideous and North, in support of their introductory 2014 EP, Lost Ages (via War Crimes/Silent Pendulum), Bereft are excited to get back on the road and will next appear at The Red Zone Madison in Madison, WI on February 11th. Further dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

German grindcore goats, Milking The Goatmachine, will release their new album, Milking In Blasphemy, on March 31st via NoiseArt Records. Today the band presents the third trailer for the upcoming release. Three trailers can be found below.

Tracklisting:

“Farm Of Northern Darkness”
“Nemesis Bettina”
“Straw Bale Apocalypse”
“Milking In Blasphemy”
“Add The Horn Of Winter”
“Freezing Hoof”
“Goats In A Throne Room”
“Where Fat Angels Cry”
“Milk Churn Funeral”
“GoatEborgian Hunger”
“Sliden Christi”
“Wolves Upon The Cross”
“Goat Mans Child”
“Endzitze”
“G.O.A.T.M.A.C.H.I.N.E
“In The Shedside Eclipsen”

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

Trailer #3:

US hard rock/metal band, Halcyon Way, are set to begin the recording process for the follow-up release to 2014’s Billboard charting album, Conquer.

The band will be heading to Audiohammer Studios in Orlando, Florida on January 27th to complete the drum tracking, with producer Mark Lewis (Devildriver, Death Angel, Whitechapel) at the helm. This is the band’s first recording with new drummer Aaron Baumoel and the record should be released by fall of 2017.

“The band is super hyped about our new material. We wrote about 27 songs, somehow pared it down to 17, and we will choose from that group what makes the final cut. The new songs are very heavy, very catchy, and very thrashy. We’ve spent a lot of time on the road over the last few years and we think they’re going to go over great not only on the album but live as well. Aaron has been killing it in preproduction and we think the fans are going to love what he brings to the table as a drummer,” said guitarist Jon Bodan.

Conquer, the band’s most successful release to date landed on the Billboard Heatseeker charts at #41 upon release, and the first single/video from the album, “Web Of Lies”, spent six weeks in the CMJ radio Hard Music Top Ten.

The band is fresh off of a December tour of Russia with Sabaton, and has also hit the road with bands such as Queensrÿche, Saxon, Fates Warning, Skid Row, and many others, playing to fans across four continents.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia and founded in 2001, Halcyon Way is the ultimate example of blue-collar work ethic, self-reliant bootstrapping, and hard work and perseverance in spite of nearly insurmountable odds. The band has released three albums worldwide through Nightmare Records/Sony RED, and performed in a dozen countries and counting.

Halcyon Way‘s sound cannot be neatly slotted into any sub-category of metal; but it can be described as heavy, catchy, technical, and above all, focused on mature songcraft.

Iron Shield Records has set March 10th as the release date for Satan Worship’s new album, I’m The Devil. The pre-order phase will start on February 24th. The material for I’m The Devil was recorded between 2014 and 2016, eight tracks of pure Satanic metal!

Tracklisting:

“Holy Blasphemy”
“I'm The Devil”
“Azrael's Hand”
“The Girls Of Manson Family”
“Satanik Possession”
“Zodiac Overkill”
“The Black Flame”
“Black Death”
“Under Sign Of The Reaper”
“The Last Days Of Paul John Knowles”

Satan Worship now have a full lineup with Leatherface Perkele (vocals/bass), Max The Nekromancer (guitars) and Marc Reign (drums), and they are already working hard, recording new music for their next album.

Italy’s Aborym are streaming their new album, Shifting.negative, ahead of it’s release on January 25th via Agonia Records. Listen to the full album below.

The follow up to 2013 Dirty was recorded with an all  new line-up consisting of founder Fabban, multi-instrumentalist Dan V, bassist and guitarist RG Narchost, guitarist Davide Tiso (ex-Ephel Duath, Gospel Of The Witches), keyboardist Stefano Angiulli and several guest musicians (including Sin Quirin of Ministry fame).

Shifting.negative was mixed and mastered by Grammy-award winning Marc Urselli at Eastside Sound Studios (Lou Reed, John Zorn, Mike Patton) in New York, who commented on the album: "I've known Fabban and Aborym for over 20 years so it's nice that we finally get to work together on an Aborym record and this is the most forward thinking of all the Aborym records for sure! It's definitely a break from the past and a step forward into the future of a band that has never stood still and never wanted to sound like everything else that's out there. They continue to evolve with every record! This is a great sounding album that blends all of their metal and industrial influences and represents a new milestone in the history of such a well respected and established group. I'm excited to be a part of it".

Guido Elmi (Vasco Rossi's legendary producer and manager) is responsible for the album's post-production. Fabban commented: "We are working with a real professional, a true legend, probably our biggest fan and a great friend. Please join us in welcoming mr. Guido Elmi. No need to say Guido is Vasco Rossi’s producer & manager over the past 30 years and he has worked as producer with dozens of artists including Stadio, Skiantos, Gaznevada, Steve Rogers Band, Clara & Black Cars and many others. Today he's also a singer and songwriter".

Shifting.negative was engineered by Emiliano Natali (Fear No One Studios), Teo Pizzolante (Braingasm Lab) and Luciano Lamanna (Subsound Studios). Its cover artwork was made by French artist David Cragne (Asymetric Entity).

The list of guest musicians involved in the creation of the album includes: guitarist Sin Quirin (Ministry), Ricktor (The Electric Hellfire Club), Pier Marzano (Koza Noztra), drummer Andrea Mazzucca, vocalists Victor Love (Dope Stars Inc., Victor Love), Cain Cressall (The Amenta) and Nicola Favaretto N-ikonoclast. Further there's Greg Watkins (Static of Masses, Order Sixty Six) and Luciano Lamanna on modular synths, Kelly Bogues (Zogthorgven) delivering additional ambient noise, Joel Gilardini (The Land Of The Snow, Mulo Muto, Black Machineries) on additional treated guitars, electronics & (D)ronin, Ben Hall (Silent Eretic) on power-electronics and Tor Helge Skei (Manes) on ambient-electronics. There's also Tokyo based artist Youko Heidy responsible for experimental noise and FX and Leja Siv Harju who wrote the lyrics to "Going New Places".

Tracklisting:

“Unpleasantness”
“Precarious”
“Decadence In A Nutshell”
“10050 Cielo Drive”
“Slipping Throught The Cracks”
“You Can’t Handle The Truth”
“For A Better Past”
“Tragedies For Sales”
“Going New Places”
“Big H”

Album stream:

Artwork documentary:

"Precarious" video:

Available formats:

- Limited Box CD (includes jewelcase CD with two bonus tracks, rounded embroidered patch and wine coaster).
- Limited to 500 numbered copies black vinyl.
- Limited to 100 handnumbered copies brown vinyl.
- T-shirt.
- Digital.

Pre-orders: physical / digital.

Vitja have released a video for “No One As Master No One As Slave”, a track from their sophomore album, Digital Love, which is set for release on March 3rd via Century Media. Watch the new clip, produced by Iconographic, below.

Digital Love was recorded and produced over the course of a year at Sureshot Studios by Vitja, Daniel Keller and Andreas Vieten and mixed/mastered by Aljoscha Sieg at Pitchback Studios.

If you pre-order a digital copy of Digital Love via iTunes or Amazon you get access to “Scum” and “No One As Master No One As Slave” immediately.

Vitja is the Russian equivalent to the first name Viktor which translates to “winner”. After already creating an underground buzz in their native Germany with their album Echos and the Your Kingdom EP, the four-piece from Cologne and Muenster is set out to win over the rest of the world.

Tracklisting:

“Scum”
“D(e)ad”
“No One As Master No One As Slave”
“Roses”
“Digital Love”
“Six Six Sick”
“The Golden Shot”
“Heavy Rain”
“Find What You Love And Kill It”
“In Pieces”
“The Flood”
“I'm Sorry”
“New Breed”

“No One As Master No One As Slave” video:

“Scum” lyric video:

“New Breed” video:

After playing more than 300 shows already, it is time for Vitja to headline their first club tour throughout Germany. Special guests will be Breathe Atlantis, Improvement and Die Heart.

Tour dates:

April
14 - Berlin, Germany - Privatclub
15 - Hannover, Germany - Lux
16 - Cologne, Germany - MTC
20 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
21 - Stuttgart, Germany - Club Zentral
22 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
28 - Hamburg, Germany - Logo
29 - Dresden, Germany - KONK Club
30 - Muenster, Germany - Sputnikhalle

Vitja are:

David Beule - vocals
Mario Metzler - bass
Vladimir Dontschenko - guitar
Daniel Pampuch - drums

NWOBHM band, Sacrilege, have released a video for "Lies". The song will be featured on their upcoming new album, The Court Of The Insane. This version is for the video, a different version of the song will be on the new album.

Sacrilege lineup:

Bill Beadle - vocals, guitars
Jeff Roland - bass, back vocals
Neil Turnbull - drums
Tony Vanner - lead guitar

Vescera recently signed a worldwide deal with Pure Steel Records, and have now released a promotion trailer for the upcoming album, Beyond The Fight.

The US/Italian connection between well-known metal shouter Michael Vescera and ex-Nitehawks members Mike Petrone and Frank Leone, added by drummer Fabio Alessandrini, will release their debut album, Beyond The Fight, in April. More details to follow.

Lineup:

Michael Vescera (Obsession, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, ex-Loudness, Animetal USA, ex-Roland Grapow, ex-Dr Sin) - vocals
Mike Petrone (ex-Nitehawks) - guitars
Frank Leone (ex-Nitehawks) - bass
Fabio Alessandrini (Annihilator) - drums