"Hearts Of Cold", the new video from Swedish female-fronted heavy rockers SISTER SIN, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Eric Richter in Chicago, Illinois and "packs a ferocious punch in a span of four minutes and sixteen seconds that will have your adrenaline rushing with your fist held high," according to a press release. The song is loosely based on characters Mikey and Mallory from the 1994 movie "Natural Born Killers" and mirrors the Finnish, real-life version of them — Juha Veikko Valjakkala and Marita Routalammi — who crossed the border over to Sweden and killed a family of three.

"Hearts Of Cold" comes off SISTER SIN's third album, "Now And Forever", which entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 44. Released on October 23, 2012 via Victory Records, the CD was recorded at Standstraight Studios in Stockholm with producer Chris Snyder and was mixed by Cameron Webb (MOTÖRHEAD, SOCIAL DISTORTION, DANZIG).

SISTER SIN singer Liv Jagrell underwent surgery in November to remove nodules on her vocal cords. As a result, the band was forced to cancel all of its previously announced shows for the remainder of 2012.

Madrid, Spain-based metallers DARK MOOR have entered New Sin Studio in Italy with producer Luigi Stefanini to begin recording their new album. The CD will feature a guest appearance by singer Berenice Musa of TEARS OF MARTYR. DARK MOOR states: "She has just recorded her vocals and it's sounding amazing!"

DARK MOOR's eighth album, "Ancestral Romance", was released in November 2010 via Scarlet Records.The follow-up to 2009's "Autumnal" was recorded at New Sin Studios in Italy with producer Luigi Stefanini and features cover artwork by artist Samuel Araya (CRADLE OF FILTH, ELVENKING).

"Sky Is Falling Down", the new video from British melodic metallers CODE OF SILENCE — who are fronted by Brazilian vocalist Gus Monsanto (REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, ADAGIO, SYMBOLICA, LORD OF MUSHROOMS) — can be seen below. Filmed in the derelict Lansdowne Parish Church in Glasgow, Scotland, on a freezing cold December day, the clip was captured by director MJ Dixon of Mycho Pictures.

CODE OF SILENCE recently signed with Mausoleum Records and Rubicon Music.

Produced by Paul Logue (EDEN'S CURSE) and mixed and mastered by Italian producer Alessandro Del Vecchio (EDEN'S CURSE, HARDLINE, LIONVILLE) CODE OF SILENCE's full-length debut, "Dark Skies Over Babylon", is described in a press release as "a grandiose thematic album based upon the tales of the legendary Knights Templar during the period of the Crusades." The CD is scheduled for release on January 23 in Japan, February 25 in Europe and April 9 in North America.

Alongside the experienced Monsanto, CODE OF SILENCE features young virtuoso guitarist Ben Randall (POWER QUEST) who turned heads when he won "The Most Promising Young Guitarist" award at the 2008 inaugural Guitar Idol competition in London at just 17 years old. With a field of over 750 international entrants, Randall wowed judges who praised "his level of technical virtuosity at such a young age, coupled with a level of phrasing beyond his years," a hallmark of his playing throughout the CODE OF SILENCE debut. The rest of CODE OF SILENCE consists of keyboardist Scott McLean (FALLOCH, CONCEPT OF TIME), drummer John Clelland (THE CROWS, THE JACK, KARMA, THE TROUBLESHOOTERS), and bassist and band leader James Murray.

"Dark Skies Over Babylon" track listing:

01. Omertà
02. Bitter Sweet Paradise
03. Sky Is Falling Down
04. Tame The Tempest
05. Dark Skies Over Babylon
06. Seventh Seal
07. Witches Of November
08. Black Abyss
09. Knights Of The Crimson Cross
10. Midnight Cathedral (Veritas)
11. Here To Heaven

Finnish melodic death metallers CODE FOR SILENCE have announced they will release their full discography on one double-CD featuring Eyes World Shut and World D.ecaying M.atter/O. rganic N.emesis on February 22nd via Inverse Records.

Founded in 2006, Code For Silence is a seven-piece from Jyväskylä, Finland. The band's line-up consists of battle-hardened musicians from various other groups such as STRATOVARIUS, BEYOND THE DREAM, NO SIGN OF LIFE, SOLUTION .45, DARK DAYS AHEAD and SONS OF AEON.

According to a press release, "Eyes World Shut is darker and more progressive than its predecessor, 2009's D.M.O.N. and offers its listener a selection of groovy riffs, catchy choruses, crazy carnival-esque sequences and industrial sounds. Add Stratovarius drummer Rolf Pilve's relentless drumming and you have a winning combination."



Tracklisting for Eyes World Shut is as follows:
‘Rose Blooms In Bloodred’
‘Flashbacking One Night Stand’
‘Death Bringer’
‘Brothers’
‘Art of Being A Coward’
‘Eye For An Eye’
‘Neo-Synchronized Capone Dance’
‘Release the Hounds’
‘Deathrace’
‘On The Streets Of A Sleeping City’



D.ecaying M.atter/O.rganic N.emesis tracklisting is as follows:

‘...For I Am A Demon’
‘Worst Case Scenario’
‘Lady Delmore’
‘Deathmatch’
‘The Day’
‘New Form Of Therapy’
‘Havoc’
‘Fields Of Nomore’
‘Giant Man’

The band recently released the music video for the track ‘The Art Of Being A Coward’. Check it out below:

Finnish doomy dark metal band 0XÍST has parted ways with guitarist Henrik Hajanti. The group, which will embark on its first European tour in March, has yet to announce a replacement.

0XÍST's debut album, "Nil", was released last year as a joint effort by French labels Ostra Records and Cold Void Emanations. The CD was recorded and mixed at D-Studio in Klaukkala. The cover art and the booklet layout were designed by French artist YhN.

"Nil" track listing:

01. Old World Vanished
02. Nil
03. Cold Dark Matter
04. Arrival
05. Anemone Patens MCCXLIX
06. Of Wood, Stone And Bone
07. Shrivel

The song "Shrivel" can be streamed below.

"Nil" was the first 0XÍST release to feature Mikael Ahlstén (ex-SAATTUE) on drums.

0XÍST, which stands for "zero exist," "performs metal that is slow, heavy, menacing and stands truthfully for what it is being described to be — dark metal," according to a press release.

Video footage of the mysterious Swedish buzz band GHOST performing its new single, "Secular Haze" this past Saturday, January 19 at "P3 Guld" — Swedish radio station P3's annual music awards ceremony — at Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden can be seen below.

The studio recording of GHOST's cover version of ABBA's "I'm A Marionette" has been released on Spotify. The track, which reportedly features none other than Dave Grohl (FOO FIGHTERS, NIRVANA) handling production duties and sitting behind the drum kit, serves as the B-side of GHOST's strictly limited 10-inch clear vinyl version of "Secular Haze". You can now pre-order a copy from the Swedish webshop Bengans.se.

In a recent interview with Decibel magazine, one of the Nameless Ghouls stated about GHOST's decision to record an ABBA' cover: "We are Swedish, and ABBA has always been a very, very strong part of our modern musical heritage. We all grew up with their music very present. Not only that — ABBA basically took a few hundred years of traditional Swedish music and made it into pop songs. I'm talking about folk music from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Anybody outside Scandinavia probably isn't familiar with those tones or musical language. But one of the reasons ABBA broke through so enormously first in Sweden was probably because of their folk music influences. I think anyone from Scandinavia is easily infatuated with that sort of music, so ABBA has a deeper meaning to us, I think."

GHOST will release its sophomore album, "Infestissumam", in the spring via Loma Vista Recordings, the new record label founded by Tom Whalley in partnership with Republic Records, a division of Universal Music Group. Frontman Papa Emeritus and his Nameless Ghouls summoned Nashville-based Grammy Award-winning Nick Raskulinecz (DEATH ANGEL, DEFTONES, FOO FIGHTERS, RUSH) to produce this offering.

"Infestissumam" track listing:

01. Infestissumam
02. Per Aspera Ad Inferi
03. Secular Haze
04. Jigolo Har Megiddo
05. Ghuleh / Zombie Queen
06. Year Zero
07. Idolatrine
08. Body And Blood
09. Depth Of Satans Eyes
10. Monstrance Clock

The band's debut album, "Opus Eponymous", was released in late 2010 in Europe and in early 2011 in North America via Rise Above Records.

Portland's bleak metal connoisseurs CHASMA have completed work on their noir-masterpiece "Codex Constellatia". The band's second full-length is set for a February release on Moribound Records. Produced at Toadhouse Studios with Adam Pike, this five-song propitiation is sure to lay waste to the nonbelievers.

Formed in 2008, CHASMA is an unassailable black metal trio from the Pacific Northwest whose self-described seeking of "transcendence through ragged fury, shape-shifting dynamics, and frequently beautiful excursions, recasting classic black metal into otherworldly shapes and a plausibly modern contour" is merely the tip of the iceberg. Intense, powerful, and unflinching, CHASMA unleashes both the cold fury and undeniable beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

CHASMA is Ryan Whyte, Aaron Schomaker and Brandon Gordon.

The official video for the song "Mesmerized By Fire" from Swedish metallers ENFORCER can be seen below. The clip was filmed with director, and the band's longtime friend, Gustav Öhman Spjuth. The group states: "We really feel we have something special to show this time, and it's definitely not just any other video."

The "Mesmerized By Fire" seven-inch single was released on January 18.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

Side A: "Mesmerized By Fire"
Side B: "You Can Be" (non-album track)

In addition to the limited-edition vinyl, there was also be a digital release.

Commented ENFORCER guitarist/vocalist Olof Wikstrand: "'Mesmerized By Fire' is more or less the title track from the 'Death By Fire' album. I think within four minutes it captures pretty much everything about ENFORCER: intensity and power mixed with a touch of melody and melancholy. The B-side is a cover of NAGAZAKI's 'You Can Be'. It is a track with mega potential from a band that unfortunately never made it in the '80s."

ENFORCER will release its new album, "Death By Fire", on February 1 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD artwork was created by Jonathan Hultèn of Necromantic Art and can be seen below.

"Death By Fire" track listing:

01. Bells Of Hades
02. Death Rides This Night
03. Run For Your Life
04. Mesmerized By Fire
05. Take Me Out Of This Nightmare
06. Crystal Suite
07. Sacrificed
08. Silent Hour / The Conjugation
09. Satan

ENFORCER will hit the road with GRAND MAGUS and the NWOBHM legends ANGEL WITCH in February.

ENFORCER's second album, "Diamonds", was released in May 2010 in Europe by Earache Records and in the rest of the world through Heavy Artillery.

Having released its debut album, "Into the Night", in November 2008, ENFORCER kicked open the floodgates for the return of traditional heavy metal, paving the way for many other young bands to follow. With critical acclaim pouring in from fans and the international music press, ENFORCER wasted no time taking their show to the road for their first European and American tours as well as a litany of appearances at many of Europe's most highly regarded festivals.

Pennsylvania-based black metallers SATHANAS will release a new seven-inch single on Doomentia Records in the next couple months. Titled "Slaying The Masses", it will contain two exclusive tracks, "Antichrist Metal" and "Throne Of Sodom". Doomentia will also release a T-shirt with the single.

SATHANAS has begun writing material for its next full-length album, "Worship The Devil", to be released mid-year via an as-yet-undetermined label. They plan to record at Innertube Studios with Nick Kucel. and send the tracks to Tore Sterjna of Necromorbus studios in Sweden for mix and mastering.

SATHANAS' latest album, "La Hora De Lucifer", was mixed at 905 Studios in Ambridge, Pennsylvania and was released via Pagan in Europe, Astral Holocaust in South America and Evil Dead in Asia. Each version of the effort contains a different cover art from such "masters" as Kris Verwimp, Chris Moyen and Daniel Desecrator.

SATHANAS is:

Paul Tucker – Guitar, Vocals
Bill Davidson - Bass
Jim Strauss - Drums

On February 12th, Ripple Music will give worldwide release to the self-titled debut album from Dallas-born heavy rock trio, MOTHERSHIP.
70's-tinged US hard rock with a sound that satisfies like a steaming hot stew of UFO and IRON MAIDEN, blended with the southern swagger of MOLLY HATCHET and ZZ TOP, Mothership's goal from the beginning has been to carry on the tradition of the classic rock style; updated and amped up for the modern day. Originally self-released in 2012, Mothership and Ripple Music have joined forces to re-release this stunning debut record on CD (includes lyrics) and LP (packages to include an 11" x 17" poster and download cards).
On Saturday, January 19th at 8 AM, PST, Ripple Music will begin selling limited edition copies of Mothership on purple splattered vinyl with signed poster. This will be limited to 100 copies so set your alarm clocks and visit this location to order. This link will not be live until 8 AM, PST on Saturday, January 19th.
Mothership tracklisting:

'Hallucination'
'Cosmic Rain'
'City Nights'
'Angel of Death'
'Win Or Lose'
'Elenin'
'Eagle Soars'
'Lunar Master'

Select tracks from Mothership are streaming here.

The band will be playing two Dallas-area CD release shows next month and are currently putting together a West Coast tour. Confirmed dates are as follows:

February
8 - Curtain Club - Dallas, TX
9 - Lola's Saloon - Ft. Worth, TX

March
8 - Club Red/ Red Owl - Tempe, AZ
29 - Johnny B's - Medford, OR
Mothership lineup:

Kells Juett- Guitars/Vox
Kyle Juett- Bass/Vox
Judge Smith- Drums

More on Mothership at this location.

Massacre Records has announced the signing of the British symphonic metal band DAMNATION ANGELS. The band was formed in late 2006 and has gained a reputation for huge drum beats, monstrous riffing, powerful and expertly performed vocals - all blended with the massive power of the orchestra.

Their Shadow Symphony EP was released in 2009 and got rave reviews. They've perfected their live performance while playing many shows in the UK, sharing the stage with bands such as SABATON. The band is going to make their debut appearance in the US at ProgPower USA this fall.
Damnation Angels' debut album, Bringer Of Light, was mixed and mastered by Scott Atkins at the Grindstone Studio in Ipswich, UK. Jan Yrlund (Darkgrove Design) is responsible for the cover artwork. Bringer Of Light will be released on February 22nd via Massacre Records.

The track 'Pride (The Warrior's Way)' can be heard below:
The following live dates for 2013 are already confirmed:

March
22 - Selby, UK - The Riverside
29 - London, UK - The Unicorn Camden

April
4 - Glasgow, UK - Ivory Blacks
5 - Worksop, UK - The Frog And Nightgown
6 - Leeds, UK - Carpe Diem

September
6 - Atlanta, GA - Center Stage Atlanta (ProgPower USA XIV)
Damnation Angels lineup:

William Graney - Guitars, Orchestration, Backing Vocals
Per Fredrik "PelleK" Asly - Vocals
John Graney - Drums
Stephen Averill - Bass
Dawn Trigg - Piano

More on Damnation Angels at this location.

Masters Of Metal Productions has announced that their next release will be from visionary Florida-based progressive metal act STEAMFORGED. Prepare to hear just how much a virtuoso keyboardist can destroy your universe on February 5th, when Fractured Singularity will be released.
The first single, 'Death Of A Dormant Mind', is streaming below:

Death of a Dormant Mind by Steamforged

Steamforged is a progressive metal project that was founded by keyboardist and programmer Tyler Sherrill in 2010. The project itself emerged from a long rooted love for music, and a desire to introduce his unique style to the world. He uses his songs to paint a mental picture, and wants the listeners to understand what he is trying to convey, but with their individual perspective.

Tyler has been playing keyboard for upwards of 22 years, and has developed his style into a sound that has become something of it’s own. Each song and instrument is entirely performed/programmed by him. He is influenced by a myriad of musicians, some of which include: SYMPHONY X, TYR, AYREON, DALI’S DILEMMA, DARKWATER, DEVIN TOWNSEND, CIRCUS MAXIMUS, SHADOW GALLERY, SILENT FORCE, ROYAL HUNT, SAGA, STRATOVARIUS, CLUODKICKER, ELYSIAN, and GRU.

He hopes the music speaks to you, and that you’ll find yourself immersed in a sonic world of synchronous cacophony.
More on Steamforged at this location.

Danish female-fronted death metal band ILLNATH will release their fourth album, "4 Shades Of Me", on March 12 via Pitch Black Records. According to a press release, the follow-up to 2011's "Third Act In The Theatre Of Madness" contains 11 songs that showcase the band's progression … leaving completely aside keyboards and other symphonic elements. This is pure, hard-pounding aggressive metal!"

A new tour is being planned, details of which will be announced soon.

ILLNATH is also confirmed to appear at this year's Asia Metal Festival on March 30 in Korea.

"4 Shades Of Me" track listing:

01. Blood Warrior
02. Gallow Hill
03. King Of Your Mind
04. Pieces
05. No Salvation
06. Captain Of The Seven Seas
07. Unleashed
08. Shade Of Me
09. Not My God
10. It's On Me
11. Angelic Voices Calling (2012)

The song "Pieces" is now available for streaming and free download below.

ILLNATH is:

Mona Beck - Vocals
Pete Falk - Guitar
Kenneth Frandsen - Bass
Dennis Stockmarr - Drums

Italian experimental metallers THE CIRCLE ENDS HERE have signed a deal with Memorial Records for the release of their debut album, The Division Ahead, which will be available February 21st on all digital platforms.
The Division Ahead tracklisting:

'Remiss'
'Rift'
'Porcelain'
'Frail'
'Transcend'
'Nescience'
'Lakes'
'Monument'

Says the band: "The Division Ahead is our first full-length album and it represents a really particular period of the band's life. Bringing it to light has been a rough struggle, we've encountered several personal problems that have caused a great deal of stress throughout the writing process. Despite all the obstacles, the result met our expectations and we firmly believe that it is much more authentic and a step ahead of our first EP released in 2011.

We are very pleased that Memorial Records noticed this and we are very confident in the success of this collaboration. The album is meant to represent the freedom of the mind as opposed to the physical limits in life, and it does so through a deep analysis of emotions and obstacles that revolve around human relationships. Musically, our work presents a wide variety of colors; what emerges are melancholic atmospheres alternated with more aggressive moments, which which stand to represent or emphasize the separation and contrast between grief and fear.

The Division Ahead is a journey that goes through the saddest and most initimate sphere that composes life”.

A trailer for The Division Ahead can be seen below:
The Circle Ends Here band lineup:

Johnny Lonack - Vocals
Marco Giannini - Guitar
Francesco Murtas - Guitar
Francesco Lizzi - Bass
More on The Circle Ends Here at this location.

After three years of silence and much speculation, Norwegian black metallers SLAGMAUR are back in the studio and are currently putting the finishing touches to the follow up to 2009’s Von Rov Shelter.

The new six-track full-length album, which the band has been working on for three years, will have the title of Thill Smitts Terror, and is expected to be completed in the spring for release later this year. A label is currently being sought.

A pre-production version of 'Drummer Of Tedworth', a track from the album can be heard below:
Thill Smitts Terror will continue where Von Rov Shelter left off, delving more and more deeply into the disturbing world that Slagmaur conjures up by combining modern and classical instruments with children’s nursery rhymes and fairy tales. It is a world where classically constructed melodies blend seamlessly with aggressive black metal to create a nightmare scenario straight from the pit of hell.

All artwork for the album is by the band’s founder, General Gribbsphiiser (guitars, bass, cello, keys) and, according to the band’s manager, art, as well as music, is an integral part of the whole that is Slagmaur. Each individual part of the artwork that will be used on the album will also be available separately as limited editions stand-alone pieces of art, samples of which can be seen at this location.
Mysterious and secretive, Slagmaur was formed in the remote reaches of North Western Norway, in 2006. The band have never revealed their true identities, always appearing heavily costumed and disguised. Nor have they ever revealed how they create the sinister music that invades the listeners mind with layer upon layer of sound, revealing a different facet each time depending on the listener’s current mood.

Thill Smitts Terror sees Gribbsphiiser himself take on vocal vocal duties following the death of Steingrim and the departure of Åtselgribb. Wardr (drums, keys) has also left the band to pursue other projects, but remains an honorary member, and is replaced by Dominaus Kracker who hails from the band’s home island of Fosen, and had previously contributed to Von Rov Shelter and worked on the production side of Mare. Guest appearances by musicians from Fosen and Nidaros will also be featured.
The band's official video for the track 'Klokker Tramp', from Von Rov Shelter, which includes an especially composed tribute to Steingrim, can be seen below:
More on Slagmaur at this location.

My Kingdom Music welcome Palermo, Italy-based avantgarde prog power band RADIANCE to their ever-growing family

Commented the band: "We believe that the deal Radiance makes today with My Kingdom Music will be a significant step towards our quest to present people a different way to play heavy metal through originality, avantgardish elements and class!"

The bands debut album, Undying Diabolyca is scheduled for a March 18th release.
Undying Diabolyca tracklisting:

'Towards Doom'
'Another Way'
'Behind The Light'
'Storm'
'Reasonance'
'Whirl's Criterion'
'Le Poison à la Mode'
'Undying Diabolyca'
'Pulse Of Awakening'
Radiance is:

Vocals: Karin Baldanza
Guitars: Federica Viola
Bass Guitars: Fabio Accardo
Drums: Elio Lao

More on Radiance at this location.

DENIED, the Swedish metal band featuring vocalist Johan Fahlberg (JADED HEART) and bassist Fredrik Isaksson (formerly of THERION and GRAVE), will release its third album, "Let Them Burn", on January 26 via Sliptrick Records. The CD was recorded with producer Fredrik Folkare (UNLEASHED) and was mastered at Dugout Productions. The artwork was created by Alexander Lifbom.

DENIED was formed in Upplands Väsby, Stockholm, Sweden in 2003 by Andreas Carlsson. Devoted to heavy-yet-melodic metal, he wanted to expand his vision beyond a simple dream. The band recorded its first album, "Seven Times Your Sin", in 2005 and supported it with local gigs.

In September 2005, DENIED underwent its first lineup change when bassist Robert Stellmar and drummer Pete Dolls were recruited. The group's second album, "New Army For The Old Revolution", saw the light of day in late 2008.

In 2009, DENIED enlisted longtime friend Fahlberg as their new vocalist and in November of that same year, guitarist Chris Vowden joined the group. In May 2011 the band parted ways with Stellmar and recruited Isaksson.

DENIED has "earned a reputation as a great live act from their performances in various rock clubs in the Stockholm area," according to a press release." Through the years, DENIED has supported such acts as DREAM EVIL, SISTER SIN and ENTOMBED. Their ability to work the crowd and drive them into a frenzy has become a trademark for DENIED."

DEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan has issued a statement regarding the passing of Claude Nobs, who founded the world-renowned Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. The 76-year-old suffered a fall while practising cross-country skiing during the Christmas holidays. He died on January 10th.

Nobs even earned himself a mention as "funky Claude" who rescues children in Deep Purple's 1973 classic 'Smoke On The Water'. The song is about a fire that burned down the Montreux Casino, where the festival was held, during a FRANK ZAPPAa concert in 1971.
Gillan's statement reads:

"I had just checked in to The Palace Hotel in Montreux prior to our appearance at the Jazz Festival. The elevator doors opened and out whooshed Claude on a scooter; had it been anyone else I would have been surprised. Flying by, he waved over his shoulder and called out ‘Hi Ian, see you later’ – then he was gone.

No doubt on his way to move things along in the right direction, because the Montreux Jazz Festival was his baby. He mothered it from infancy to what it has grown into…Internationally, the most highly respected and enjoyable annual event of its kind.
After the fire at the casino in 1971, Claude became a good friend to Deep Purple. The lunches at his house were memorable; he was always the perfect host.

He became known as Funky Claude after his bravery when the blaze took hold; he went down into the basement to lead out the frightened kids trapped there. ‘Funky Claude was running in and out, pulling kids out the ground’ as it says in the lyrics of 'Smoke On The Water'. The words are a biographical outline of the making of our album Machine Head. The project could never have been completed had it not been for the brilliant efforts of the man who made things happen.

We shall miss him terribly. Thank you Claude for all you’ve done."

Guitarist TIMO TOLKKI, who officially left STRATOVARIUS in 2008 following four years of in-fighting and general chaos within the band's ranks, has checked in with some unexpected praise for his former bandmates:

"Just heard two new clips, 'Unbreakable' and 'Halcyon Days', from my ex-bandmates. I am actually floored. These are really cool songs. The production is fresh and modern. Way to go!"

EarMUSIC will release the long-awaited new studio album by Stratovarius called Nemesis, as standard 11-track edition as well as 13-track special edition on February 22nd. Check out a sample of the title track below:
Nemesis will include the following tracklisting:

'Abandon'
'Unbreakable'
'Stand My Ground'
'Halcyon Days'
'Fantasy'
'Out Of The Fog'
'Castles In The Air'
'Dragons'
'One Must Fall'
'If The Story Is Over'
'Nemesis'

Another sample of the track 'Unbreakable' can be heard below:
To shorten the waiting period for the album, January 25th finds the release of the limited edition EP, Unbreakable. It features five songs: the new album leading track 'Unbreakable' and a selection of four songs from previous albums, remastered by Mika Jussila. Songs like 'Falling Star' (taken from Polaris) and 'Freedom' (taken from Infinite) show a different, catchy side of Stratovarius and guide the way to the new masterpiece Nemesis.

Matias Kupiainen about the new song: "’Unbreakable’ is a very important song to me and the lyrics have a lot of personal meaning. Sometimes you can snap out of your day to day fog and see what is important. And when you are in that special moment, when you have that special feeling, you are invincible, unbreakable; you should really stop and enjoy the feeling. Even, if the whole world falls apart tomorrow."

Timo Kotipelto adds: “This album has a darker and more modern sound. We, as a band, have gone through a lot and we have matured as songwriters. The making of this album was easier than before, because we could give it as much time as needed."

Unbreakable tracklisting:

'Unbreakable' (taken from the brand new studio album Nemesis)
'Falling Star' (taken from Polaris)
'The Game Never Ends' (taken from Elysium)
'Freedom' (taken from Infinite)
'Why Are We Here' (taken from Intermission)

(Songs 2-5 remastered by Mika Jussila in 2012)

Stratovarius and AMARANTHE are teaming up in a double headline bill next spring. The Nordic Nexus Of Nemesis Tour 2013 will kick off in Munich, Germany on March 20th.

Confirmed dates include:

March
20 - Backstagehalle - Munich, Germany
21 - Stadtgarten - Erfurt, Germany
22 - Masters Of Rock Cafe - Zlin, Czech Republic
23 - Club 202 - Budapest, Hungary
24 - Majestic Club - Bratislava, Slovakia
26 - Szene - Vienna, Austria
27 - Hirsch - Nürnberg, Germany
28 - Matrix - Bochum, Germany
29 - Grünspan - Hamburg, Germany
30 - De Pul - Uden, Netherlands
31 - La Cigale - Paris, France

April
2 - La Laiterie - Strasbourg, France
3 - Le Kao - Lyon, France
5 - Razzmatazz 2 - Barcelona, Spain
6 - Arena - Madrid, Spain
7 - Rock Star - Bilbao, Spain
9 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland
10 - Alcatrazz - Milan, Italia
11 - Rockfabrik - Ludwigsburg, Germany
13 - PPM Fest (Festival) - Mons, Belgium

Savannah, GA's Hyperrealist Records announces a collaboration between longtime friends and metal/punk scene stalwarts BLACK TUSK and DEAD YET? Featuring two songs apiece - an original and a cover of one of their brother band's joints - the 7" split is limited to a thousand copies and comes entombed on translucent swamp fog green. Both sides were recorded and mixed at Jam Room Studios in Columbia, SC, and the record's official release came via Hyperrrealist Records.
Black Tusk and Dead Yet? played a handful of Southern gigs to celebrate the release of this limited edition split, and the small batch run of special diehard versions that were pressed for and available exclusively at these shows is already sold out. Don't sleep on this one!
Black Tusk have made a name for themselves through relentless touring and an unstoppable live show that's taken them from Georgia to the Great Lakes to Germany, and damn near everywhere in between. Formed in 2005, on a solitary street in the heat of Savannah, GA, Black Tusk is a ferocious heavy metal trio comprised of Andrew Fidler, Jonathan Athon, and James May. Their mutual residence in Savannah was not the only immediate connection between these musicians – they soon found that the colossal noise they created together was a raucous and innovative addition to the south’s esteemed legacy of head-banging, jaw-dropping, blood-boiling heavy metal. Their "HIGH ON FIRE meets MOTÖRHEAD in a barfight" sound and aesthetic comes across in full force on this new release, which unveils a brand-new song.
Dead Yet? were formed in the hot and humid summer months of 2009 in Savannah, GA, and made it their mission to speed up the already heavy Savannah sound to a breakneck speed, gathering influences from d-beat punk and seminal Southern bands like AVAIL and ASG. The raucous quartet, consisting of Kyle (Vocals), Scary (Guitar/Vocals), Ben (Bass/Vocals), and Mike (Drums), brings you fast, aggressive punk rock that makes you to raise your fist in the air and sing along. Dead Yet? self-released their first album Dissent The End in 2010, which was mastered by FROM ASHES RISE’s own Brad Boatright (Audiosiege). Dead Yet? delivers punk rock at a reckless but calculated speed with thunderous bass tones, sonically overdriven guitars, insanely fast drum fills, visceral vocals, and thought-provoking lyrics. With the recent split 7” with their Savannah brethren Black Tusk, Dead Yet? continue to spread the lethal virus that is Southern punk and hardcore. Beware!

(Band photos: Geoff L Johnson)

Swedish black metallers MÖRKER have released the following update:

“As mentioned earlier, we were looking for a new drummer for our third full-length album. The search is now over, our friend Tomas Bergström a.k.a Korgath from MYHRDING will record the drums for this album. The recording session is set for February 15th - 17th.

And for the EP, Grimner will record the keyboards for the A-side, since Larssa won't be able to record anything in the coming months, and we don't want to delay the release just because of that. The keyboards for the B-side has been recorded by Larssa ealier this year.”
The band recently announced they will be releasing a 7" EP with two songs in place of an album release.

The band stated: “So meanwhile you're waiting for the full-length album to be released, you'll have a chance to pick up this very limited EP. Only 250 copies will be made, so make sure to pre-order it, because I think it will be sold out really fast! More info about the EP, pre-orders etc. will come later. No pre-orders can be done yet!

B-side is exclusive for this release and won't be released anywhere else. The B-side is already recorded earlier, and today we will start recording the A-side, which we hope will be ready in a couple of days.”

Brazilian thrash Crossover band CURSED SLAUGHTER have released the music video for the track ‘Metal Moshing Thrash Machine’, off their debut album of the same name which will be rerelease in the coming months via Pecúlio Discos.

The video was recorded at The Night of the Living Thrashers festival at Hangar 110 in São Paulo, Brazil in September 2012. Cinematography and editing were done by the Tacobery Videos, by Estevam Romera and Caio Augusttus.

Daniel Pacheco commented: "Our vision was to bring some of that atmosphere found in the 80s, when the band and audience were one, and the energy emanating from it all transcended the song ... hope everyone enjoy it and take their surf boards for our upcoming shows!"

Watch the video below:

Milan, Italy-based symphonic power metallers DERDIAN, featuring new vocalist Ivan Giannini, will release their new album, entitled Limbo, on March 13th.

A pre-order has been launched at this location.
Limbo tracklisting:

'Carpe Diem'
'Dragon's Life'
'Forever In The Dark'
'Heal My Soul'
'Light Of Hate'
'Terror'
'Limbo'
'Kingdom Of Your Heart'
'Strange Journey'
'Hymn Of Liberty'
'Silent Hope'

The band will soon announce a limited edition for Japan, containing a bonus track. More information will follow.

Derdian band lineup:

Ivan Giannini (Vocals)
Henry Pistolese (Guitar, Backing Vocals)
Marco Garau (Keyboards)
Dario Radaelli (Guitar)
Salvatore Giordano (Drums)
Luciano Severgnini (Bass)

More on Derdian at this location.

Italian death metal masters THE MODERN AGE SLAVERY will release their new album, entitled Requiem For Us All, on March 19th via Pavement Entertainment. The title track off the album can be heard below:
The artwork for Requiem For Us All was created by Stefano Mattioni (AKA Viron). Check it out below:
The Modern Age Slavery band lineup:

Giovanni Berselli - Vocals
Luca Cocconi - Guitar
Simone Bertozzi - Guitar
Mirco Bennati - Bass
Stefano Brognoli - Drums
More on The Modern Age Slavery at this location.

Frontiers Records will release DIAMOND DAWN's debut album, Overdrive, on February 22nd in Europe and February 26th in North America. The new digital, 'Take Me Higher', is out today - January 17th.
The new official video for 'Take Me Higher' can be seen below:
Hailing from Goteborg, Sweden, Diamond Dawn are easily one of the most promising melodic rock bands to come out from the Scandinavian underground scene. They came to the attention of the fans thanks to the digital release of the song 'Standing As One', which created a very nice buzz around the band’s abilities.
In a world where rock n roll seems to lack a certain positive nerve, the band stands for a vision of conveying energy and excitement through their pompous and melodic, yet hard rocking songs. With a clear vision of how melodic rock is supposed to be delivered, Diamond Dawn is ready to bring back the excitement to the music!

“Our intention is to have a good time, and make people wanna have a good time!” says guitarist Olle Lindahl. “We wanted to write some great music and release a rockin’ debut album; we definitely think that we managed to capture the positive energy that Diamond Dawn is all about. Overdrive is the album that we would want to go out and buy and tell the world about!”

Musically the band has not changed the coordinates that were possible to envision in 'Standing As One' (a re-recorded version of the song will also appear on the new album), however, as Olle tells, “We’re not doing what we do or sound like we do for the purpose of keeping something old alive. We’re a bunch of guys that love to play together and when we do, the sound and output comes naturally. Our music is very melodic and pompous rock with a strong positive nerve. Each band member comes from a different musical background and that is what definitely makes the sound what it is. There is no way to control that as long as you do what you feel like!”

Overdrive's final tracklisting will include the following eleven tracks:

'Into Overdrive'
'Take Me Higher'
'Crying'
'Standing As One'
'California Rush'
'Indestructible'
'Turn It Up'
'The Hunter'
'Give It All'
'Don't Walk Away'
'Powergames'

More on Diamond Dawn at this location.

France-based metallers LONEWOLF have finished the recordings for their new album, entitled The Fourth And Final Horseman.

The new metal hymns are currently being mixed by Charles Greywolf (POWERWOLF) at the Studio Greywolf. The new longplayer will be unleashed in summer via Napalm Records. Updates are forthcoming.

Lonewolf lineup:

Jens Börner - vocals and rhythm guitar
Alex Hilbert - lead guitar and backing vocals
Rikki Mannhard - bass guitar and backing vocals
Antoine Bussiere - drums
More on Lonewolf here.

Los Angeles, California-based progressive metal band TRIBE has just released it's debut EP, Through The Veil.
The group's debut is available exclusively for free download at TribeOfficial.com and includes the following three tracks:

'Anatomize'
'Stitches'
'Catatonic'

The artwork, created by Denner Vieira, can be seen below:
"All the three songs featured on the album explore the various levels of control and repression we have living in this society...", says Brazilian guitarist Denner Vieira.

The EP was recorded by Rick Pivetta and Phillip Miller at Tribe's studio in North Hollywood, mixed by Erik Reichers and mastered by Bob Horn at Echobar Recording Studios, in North Hollywood.

"Anatomize shows a confrontation with your personal demons and facing your fears. Stitches explores the battle of people, finding freedom from oppression and control. Catatonic is about society and the vicious cycles that affect us everyday", explains British singer and bassist Jamie Waite.

"Some of our influences are TOOL, DEFTONES, MUSE, CHICO SCIENCE, MESHUGGAH and RAMMSTEIN", says Brazilian drummer Rick Pivetta.

Check out the promo video for 'Stitches', which was directed by frontman Jamie Waite and Jesus Contreras, and filmed at Echobar Recording Studios by Wachanos Films:
On the road since 2010, Tribe is currently in studio writing new material for a future release.
Tribe lineup:

Jamie Waite – Vocals, bass
Denner Vieira – Guitars
Rick Pivetta – Drums

More on Tribe at this location.

(Photos: Robert Sebree)

Germany's A MILLION MILES recently signed with Abandon Records for their long awaited debut album What's Left Behind, scheduled to hit stores on April 5th via New Music Distribution. The cover art for the album has been unveiled and can be viewed below:
Vocalist Mona Miluski recently issued the following statement:

"It's been a long hard road for us as a band and we're excited about this chapter of A Million Miles with our new album which we've poured our hearts and souls into making. After having played these songs for the last few years on tour, we are looking forward to sharing them on record with all our friends and fans of our band who, like us, have been anxiously awaiting our release. Finding the right home and producer was important for us and it was worth the wait. We're pleased to have signed with Abandon and working with Eike Freese in the studio was an inspiring experience for all of us. He captured the natural beauty and understood our sound, it allowed us to be ourselves and much like we are on stage without over production."

Check out the album trailer at the bottom of the page.

Following is an excerpt from an interview with Miluski conducted by BW&BK's Carl Begai:

Miluski has had one hell of a time distancing herself from GUANO APES singer and countrywoman Sandra Nasic. She’s been getting the comparisons to the rock veteran almost since Day 1 in spite of the fact Miluski’s delivery is straight out of the PANTERA box a lot of time, and the band’s music is far more volatile than the Apes’ pop rock anthem sensibilities. Miluski does indeed have moments where she sounds like Nasic, however, which is a good thing in the end. Add to this a generous helping of veteran Canadian rocker Sass Jordan‘s smokey blues in her throat and Miluski is in excellent company.

Miluski: “I’ve been compared to Sandra many, many times and to be honest, in the beginning I was a bit annoyed because, like you said, our music has nothing in common with Guano Apes. But I do respect her as a vocalist, and I think they’re a good and very successful band with a lot of influence on heavy female fronted music. It could be worse when you get compared to a band (laughs). Most of the general response by people at our live shows is that we are getting compared with Pantera meets Guano Apes, with a hint of bands like ARCH ENEMY. For me personally, a comparison to people like Phil Anselmo is just amazing, as he is one of my main influences in music. I’ve never listened to many female fronted bands, except MANHOLE, which was the first female fronted band I saw live. Tairrie B Murphy (vocalist) still impresses me with MY RUIN, but I grew up with the male dominated grunge and old school metal scene. In general we don’t care about differences between the gender in music and how we can get compared to other bands. We just do what we do and we are who we are.”

Click here for more.