Relapse Records: Ring in the New Year with Free Music

Relapse Records is offering listeners the chance to ring in the New Year with a few free tracks. The metal label is now offering a 26-track sampler that features an array of bands from the labels own roster. Artists featured on the freebie include: Death, Dying Fetus, Revocation, Kingdom of Sorrow, Misery Index, and Cephalic Carnage (as well as newer acts like Cough, Titan, and Mose Giganticus).

To get the free sample, all one has to do is click "like" on the Relapse Records Facebook page. 26 free tracks for the simple click of a mouse makes for a pretty decent New Year's offering!

Tomorrow's Outlook Releases Update on Forthcoming Album

Norwegian metallers Tomorrow's Outlook have issued an update regarding their forthcoming album, 34613:

"We have now been listening through the Master a couple of times and there is nothing we would like to change. It all sounds killer! We would like to thank our engineer for being patient with us and for doing such a great job. We didn't expect the recordings to turn out as great as they did. Colin Davis is a true magician, and I have been wondering lately why he ain't up there with the best metal/hard rock producers of today!

"Well, a few days ago I started to shop for labels. I shipped out 13 promo packs. 7 of them to Germany: Century Media Records, Limb Music, Nuclear Blast, Massacre Records, Pure Steel Records, Avenue Of Allies and Rock N Growl. The rest to: Lion Music (Finland), Spinefarm Records (Finland), Mascot Records (Holland), Inferno Records (France) and last but not least Rockadrome Records (USA).

"The more interest the better! And if we still can't secure a good deal we will release the album ourselves. This way we'll get more money and there's a bigger chance for a follow-up sometime soon. Wish us luck, friends... and have a great remaining Christmas and forthcoming new year. All the best from Sörvik 'Rock' City and Northern Norway." (Read More)

Will of the Ancients Issues Album Update

Melodic death metallers Will of the Ancients recently checked in with an announcement concerning the band's upcoming album:

"Hi All. Its been a while since we last had an update, so I figure, this is a pretty good time to take a look at what we've been doing in the WotA camp for the past little while. This past August we started re-recording the new album, To Our Glorious Dead. I know a lot of you have been bugging us to get it out soon, but we wanted to (and still do!) want to release a real ass-kicker of an album, and the stuff we had done previously was not up to that standard.

"Dave [Black] finished tracking the drums in October, and then we went on an Ontario mini-tour with our good friends in Battlesoul, Bolero and Strings of Ares. It was sorta like the sequel to Get Folked (if you remember that from last year). When we got back we started working on the guitar parts. Right now we're about a third of the way done those, and we are hoping to be done early in 2011." (Read More)

Fear Factory Postpone Fear Campaign Tour

Fear Factory's latest tour - the Fear Campaign Tour - was originally slated to kick off today, December 29, and run until January 8, 2011. However, for the time being, the industrialized cyber metal act has pulled the plug on the tour.

The band didn't go unnoticed in 2010, a fact mostly due to the release of their seventh studio album, Mechanize. The success of the album has been attributed to the reconciliation between original guitarist (and founding member) Dino Cazares and vocalist Burton C. Bell. (Read More)

The Breakups of 2010: A Retrospect

2010 proved to be a rough year for metal bands. The number of incidents involving illnesses, crimes, accidents, and even deaths could easily be detailed in an article all to itself. However, Metal Insider has decided to focus on what it deems "some of the most tangible and immediate consequences in the metal world - the breakup and hiatus announcements and completions of the past year." (Read More)

The Top Albums of 2010 (As Decided By Metal Injection Readers)

Metal Injection has posted a list of the top metal albums of 2010. The list was compiled after the website asked its readers to submit their own top ten lists. Those lists were then combined to create a single definitive list.

1. Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis : 133 votes
2. Cephalic Carnage - Misled by Certainty : 114 votes
3. Ihsahn - After : 94 votes
4. Decrepit Birth - Polarity : 86 votes
5. Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier : 85 votes (Read More)

Suidakra Posts Studio Footage

German melodic death metal act Suidakra has posted an in-studio video clip online. The clip was filmed during the band's recording of the new album, Book of Dowth, and can be streamed via MetalUnderground.com. In addition, the band has issued a comment on the footage:

"It’s time for the last update of 2010! We’re back home from the Gernhart Studio where the recordings for Book Of Dowth went even better than expected. We shit you not! Never before have recordings gone as smooth as this time, because all people involved were well prepared and very focused. Check out a clip from the studio with some background information below. Do not forget to leave a comment." (Read More)

Hatebreed Set to Play Summer Breeze Open Air 2011

American hardcore/metalcore act Hatebreed has now been confirmed as one of the participating acts at the 2011 edition of Summer Breeze Open Air in Dinkelsbühl, Germany. The festival is scheduled to take place from August 18th - 20th and more details can be found on the festival's official website. Festival organizers issued the following comment:

"Summer Breeze has already survived a few tremors over the last few years, but the most severe eruption of them all is yet to come. Hatebreed are gearing up to utterly destroy Dinkelsbühl in 2011 with their killer songs. No other band out there combines the attitude and aggression of hardcore and the uncompromising heaviness of metal in such a perfect way. Scene icon Jamey Jasta and his wrecking crew are the epitome of unleashed energy, the embodiment of credibility, the essence of groove, the purest form of brutality, the rulers of all pits and the blueprint for a whole generation, all rolled into one. Please welcome one of the most important and influential bands of the last decade for the first time at Summer Breeze! Hard, harder, Hatebreed!"

Currently, the Summer Breeze lineup consists of the following confirmed acts:

Arch Enemy
Tyr
Kvelertak
Suicidal Tendencies
Bolt Thrower
J.B.O.
Witchery
Farmer Boys
Kalmah
Hail of Bullets
Corvus Corax
Hammerfall
Skeletonwitch
Excrementory Grindfuckers
Kampfar
Hayseed Dixie
Turisas
Marduk
Sonic Syndicate
Decapitated
Moonsorrow
Sodom
Hatebreed

Eufobia Recording New Album

Bulgarian metallers Eufobia have issued the following announcement regarding the recording of a second album:

"We're almost ready with the recording of our second official album, which is expected to be released in the first half of 2011. This release would be a successor of our 2010 official debut album Insemination, released by the Romanian label Axa Valaha. The layout artwork would be done once again by the same artist who did the shocking and provocative artwork for Insemination, Mr. Costin Chioreanu from Twilight 13 Media, known for his work for such artists as Ulver, Mayhem, Absu, Grave, Destroyer666 and more." (Read More)

Blood Mortilized Issues Band Update

Swedish death metal act Blood Mortilized has checked in with the following update about releasing a new EP and working on a new album:

"So the new MySpace design is driving us all maaaaad. Probably it will take some while until it improves. Meanwhile you should join us on our new Facebook profile. Some info about what is going on in the Blood Mortized camp?

"Well we have signed a contract for a cassette release of the all new Bestial EP. It will feature an arse kicking cover created for us by Daniel Devilish. The tape will be released in a strict 100 copies only, so be fast or cry like a baby later! We are talking to some labels and especially one, can't say which one. But hopefully this will lead to a CD release of the new EP AND a bit later it might get released on vinyl also. The cover for the CD version was created by our favorite Dutch artist Thomas Kynst." (Read More)

Paul Gilbert Interviewed by Switzerland's Stringworks

Michael Herb of Switzerland's Stringworks.ch web site recently conducted an interview with Mr. Big guitarist Paul Gilbert. The chat can now be streamed at this location. (Click on player to launch audio.)

What If..., the latest studio effort from the now-reunited Mr. Big, is set to be released in Europe on January 21, 2011 via Frontiers Records. The North American release, also on Frontiers Records, will follow on February 8.

What If... marks the band's first "all-original" album since the 2009 reunion of the band's four original members: Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan, and Pat Torpey. Sixteen years after the release of Hey Man, the latest album will likely bring Mr. Big back into the spotlight. (Read More)

Gwar Checks in from the Road

Gwar are back from the No Sleep Til... festival in Austrailia and New Zealand after having rocked the outback with acts such as Megadeth and NOFX. Now the band is set to finish 2010 with a string of east coast U.S. shows.

Speaking from a garbage dumpster behind a popular Battle Creek nightspot, Oderus Urungus commented, "We did a Christmas special for Break.com, we tested the new Microsoft Kinnect for Game Informer, and my human slave even wrote a book about some good friends of ours. The only thing I regret is that I apparently can't tell a Bantha from a Wampa!" (Read More)

Shadowside to Enter the Studio

Brazilian power metal act Shadowside has issued a recap of recent tour dates as well as an announcement regarding entering the recording studio:

"After touring all over Europe, Shadowside are back home! The band currently consisting of Dani Nolden (vocals), Raphael Mattos (guitarist), Ricardo Piccoli (bass) and Fabio Buitvidas (drums) performed a series of concerts as W.A.S.P.'s special guests in the Old Continent. The tour, that lasted nearly two months, went through several countries such as Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, North Ireland, Hungary, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, ending in Finland.

"During the whole time on the road, the band had a great time on stage and that was made obvious by their aggressive, fun, energetic and spontaneous performances, that secured both crowd's and media's attention." (Read More)

Shining Comments on Album Delay

After previously discussing the delay of the band's new album, Shining's Niklas Kvarforth has issued an official statement clarifying the situation:

"We have spoken to our producer regarding Shining VII and have come to realize that he is also not to blame for the delay in finishing the album, but rather that it has been caused by a lack of communication between all the parties concerned – these being the label, the producer and ourselves.

"We are happy with the outcome of our discussions, and expect that the album will be fully mixed and mastered by the second week in January, after which time we will hopefully be able to get more information regarding a release date. In the meantime, we would like to thank all the fans for their patience and for all the messages we have been receiving over the past months." (Read More)

Anger as Art Issues End-of-Year Update

Anger as Art has checked in with an end-of-year band update:

"Hey everyone - I want to take this time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Or Happy Hannukah, or Kwanzaa, or whatever your reason for celebrating the season. To anyone who doesn't appreciate why we celebrate it - oh well. Denny's will be open. Go celebrate alone with the other bittermen. You know who you are.

"Speaking of bitter - I wanted to let you all know that beginning in 2011, Anger as Art will begin de-emphasizing our MySpace page - and begin to build our Facebook page. It is online over there right now - go look for Anger As Art on Facebook. Simple reason? Not necessarily that FB has taken over the market share so strongly. The best example I can give is that it took me 44 minutes from the time I logged in to be able to get to the blog to type a new one. MySpace's servers are too slow. That, and the fact that they allow so many people who do not understand html (myself included) to make their pages so individual that the average 5 to 7 year old computer cannot handle the upgrades." (Read More)

Nocra Finishes New Album

Russian female-fronted black metal act Nocra has issued an announcement about finishing their latest album:

"Hails! Well, after 1.5 months since we entered [the] studio I'm proud to say that the album is ready! Here is a very different sound than Enlightened by Death. More aggressive, raw, cruel and, cold. Sure there is no reason to SPEAK about music, just listen!

"The album titled The Haunting will be released on new Czech label Agni Productions. The label is owned by Nebulah from [the] band Detonator666. The planned release date is 01.02.2011. Now I am working with [the] album artwork, so every time when I will have a chance I will post news. That's all for now." (Read More)

Megadeth Bassist Thinks Fans Won't be Disappointed with New Material

Recently, Megadeth bassist David Ellefson spoke to Ultimate-Guitar.com's Robert Gray about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's next studio album which is tentatively due out in late 2011 via Roadrunner Records. A few excerpts from the chat can be found below.

Concerning the amount of new material that has been accumulated at this point in the writing process:

Ellefson: There's some ideas that we're now starting to individually compose. We're starting to put some things together, but the actual getting together in the studio to really get things started for the next record as far as all of us being in a room with a producer and all that, that is something we're gonna start [in January].

Regarding the new songs and how they're sounding:

Ellefson: We're at a stage where we're just compiling ideas - riffs, lyrics, things like that. Those early ideas often turn many corners and take many new twists before they're finalized on the final album. The seeds of the ideas I think are great, and I think they're really heavy and they're powerful. I don't think Megadeth fans will be disappointed at all. If the final outcome of what I'm hearing at this point with these seeds of ideas, if these come to fruition like they should, I think we're gonna have ourselves a smoking record ... I think, more than the actual material, though... because again, at this point everybody has some individual ideas or some collective ideas that are at least established... More than anything though, I think we're excited about it because we've had such a great year of reconnecting. There've been some huge successes with the 'Rust In Peace' tour and the |Big Four DVD, and just coming off of that, it's an exciting time for us to start and carve out the next chapter of Megadeth. (Read More)

Warbringer Announces Show with Halford

American thrash metal act Warbringer is set to kick off a 3-date trek supporting Halford, which serves as Halford's follow-up to a recent tour with Ozzy Osbourne. Warbringer guitarist John Laux said the following:

"Seasons Slayings and Greetings everyone! It's been quite a turbulent sleigh ride since we released Waking into Nightmares last year. We are very excited to wrap up the year with 3 killer Halford gigs in Southern California! Judas Priest has long been a staple of our late night tour van mp3 selection, so we are very excited and honored to share the stage with the the Metal God and Painkiller himself!

"These shows will also mark the end of 2 years of touring in support of the album. We had a great time visiting many countries and meeting a lot of great fans and bands." (Read More)

Joe Satriani Interviewed by WDHA-FM 105.5 FM

Guitar legend Joe Satriani took part in an interview and live performance on December 14 whilst in the studios of WDHA-FM 105.5 FM (Dover and Morristown, New Jersey). The chat is available for streaming via Blabbermouth.net and the performance footage can be viewed here.

Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards, Satriani's 14th studio album, sold 10,000 copies in the U.S. during its first week of release. The album debuted at the No. 45 position on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the highest opening chart position ever for the Grammy-nominated guitarist.

Satriani kicked off his North American tour dates on December 1 in Atlanta, Georgia. Other scheduled tour stops included Chicago, New York, and Boston. The second leg of the Black Swans tour begins on January 4, 2011, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with confirmed dates to follow in Seattle, Portland, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Reno, Las vegas, and Texas. (Read More)

Sonata Arctica Comments on Upcoming Live DVD

Finnish melodic metal act Sonata Arctica has released an official statement concerning the filming of its forthcoming live DVD:

"We're writing this in order to clear up some confusions about where, when and how we're going to film our next DVD.

"When the original DVD show in Milan was postponed when Elias [Sonata guitarist] broke his hand, we put off the preparations for the time being. Some days ago as we were starting to finish the preparation for the show, we realized that we've been misled about some of the costs for doing the DVD shoot. Mainly we're talking about the pyrotechnics permits, which would have cost roughly 10 times more than anywhere else. This, along with some other unexpected expenses, came as a total surprise to the band. In order to make things work we had to pull the plug on the shoot in Milan and move it to Finland where we can afford to do a proper DVD shoot. Our management jumped the gun here and told our webmaster to change the info on the website, without us knowing about it and without an explanation." (Read More)

The Soulless Begins Recording New Album

British melodic death metallers The Soulless (who recently changed their name from Ignominious Incarceration) are set to enter the studio on Wednesday, December 15, in order to begin recording a new album. The band will be heading into Outhouse Studios in Reading, England, accompanied by producer John Mitchell. They are set to record until the middle of January 2011. The currently untitled new album is set for an April 2011 release via Earache Records. (Read More)

King Diamond Undergoes Triple Bypass Surgery

Danish heavy metal legend King Diamond recently underwent an open heart triple bypass surgery. Reports have confirmed that he is recovering and doing well. A message issued by his wife reads as follows:

"Let me catch you all up on the past couple of weeks' happenings, because it affects many things. On Monday, November 29th, King had to be transported to the nearby hospital by ambulance. After several different tests were done and the EKG machine showing abnormalities, the doctors recommended that he get a cardiac catheterization.

"Cardiac catheterization is a procedure where the doctors lead a very thin tube up from the leg and into the heart, where it injects dye into the bloodstream. Then a camera at the end of the tube takes many pictures of the heart's arteries, looking for blockages. After this was done, they determined that King had several heart attacks, and three of his heart's arteries were the cause: one was completely blocked, the second was 90% blocked, and the third was 65% blocked.

"The only solution to this was an open heart triple bypass surgery." (Read More)

Disbelief Comments on Tour Cancellation

Recently, it was announced that Christmas Metal Meeting 2010 with Disbelief and Six Feet Under has been cancelled. Now, Disbelief has issued an official statement concerning the cancellation:

"Concerning the Christmas Metal tour with Six Feet Under, Disbelief would like to let you know that we are very sorry about the fact that this tour was canceled in the last minute. From the booking agency of the tour we got the message that the tour was canceled two days before tour start! Disbelief contacted Six Feet Under and they sent us their point of view. We cannot tell any details, but we have now two oppositional statements which we have to live with. Those who suffered the most are the fans, who already bought their tickets and the bands as well as the venues, who had efforts and costs! This fact is unacceptable and leaves a foul taste of disappointment for all participators!

"However, the fact of this cancellation (after overcoming the shock) cannot stop the path of Disbelief. With this statement we want to show our fans why we can't come to your city to play for you. And by the way, we also want to let you know what ugly things are sometimes going on in this business."(Read More)

Samael to Reveal New Album Title Later This Month

Swiss industrial black metallers Samael are set to reveal the title of their up-coming album on December 21.

The band entered the studio on August 10, 2010, to being recording their new album which would be released via Nuclear Blast Records in April 2011. The recording sessions began only three weeks after the band returned from Germany (where they had been reviewing their new material with long-time collaborator Waldemar Sorychta).

Samael's latest EP, Antigod, was released on November 19 in Europe, North America, and Switzerland. (Read More)

Decadence Splits with Guitarist

Swedish melodic thrash metal act Decadence has issued an official update concerning their parting ways with guitarist Niklas Skogqvist. The band also gave an update about their plans to enter the studio:

"It's been a while since you last heard from us. We have an announcement to make before we can move on with more news. Niklas Skogqvist on 2nd guitar decided to leave the band last month. We have not yet decided if we will continue as a quartet. In fact, our music is more technically suited for two guitarists and we might therefore need a second guitarist again. Decadence is down to its solid quartet and we'll see which turn we take after that. Nicke felt that he had too many things going on in his life. He said Decadence needs a guitarist that gives 100% which he says he was not able to do.

"Some of his own words: 'I want you all to know that I've had an awesome experience with you. I have had so much fun during these two years and I really wish I could go on with it. I've always enjoyed being with you, both as musicians by my side and as four best buddies. Missing you already, and of course, this decision consists of many emotions. But as I said, it's been a blast being with you and you're awesome at what you do. So a big tribute to you, I know you will go far with this, and knowing you, you will never give up. I wish the best for you because you are the best.' - Nicke" (Read More)

Judas Priest Announces Retirement

Judas Priest, perhaps one of the most influential and most popular heavy metal bands of all time, has announced that they will perform one more world tour before retiring as a band. The British metal legends will perform at several festivals in Europe next year - including Wacken, Graspop, and High Voltage - and will hit major cities all over the globe with their Epitaph tour. Further tour dates and statements from the band will be released shortly.

A list of tour dates (so far) has been made available. (Read More)

Kampfar Guitarist Leaves Band

Norweign folk/death metallers Kampfar have lost their guitarist, Thomas. The single-named axeman posted an online statement detailing his departure from the band:

"After playing guitar in Kampfar for quite a few years, I have now decided to leave the band.

"I cannot even begin to sum up all the good times I've had together with my bandmates, and our close friendship will surely continue outside of the context of the band.

"I sincerely hope the guys will find another guitarist to play in the band (the riffs are not that hard to play and there are no solos, which could be seen as a plus or a minus depending on perspective.)" (Read More)

Sorrows Path Announces New Guitarist

After a number of live performances, Greek doom metallers Sorrows Path have announced that Giannis Tziligkakis has been officially recruited as the band's new second guitarist.

On October 29, Sorrows Path released its debut album, The Rough Path of Nihilism, via Rock It Up Records. The album was recorded at Fragile Studios in Athens with producer Vangelis Yalamas (who also played synthesizer). Album artwork and photography was handled by Seth Siro Anton, who has worked with the likes of Kamelot, Exodus, Paradise Lost, and Moonspell.

The track listing for The Rough Path of Nihilism is as follows:


01. All Love is Lost
i) Lost Innocence
ii) Lost Youth
02. The Beast (S.P.R.)
03. Honestly...
04. Fetish
05. Dirty Game
06. Mr. Holy
07. Getting Closer
08. Queen of Doom
09. Prostitute
10. Hymn of Differentiation
11. Empty Eyes and Blackened Hearts
12. Nihilism

The album also features a guest appearance by vocal teacher Eleni Danielson. (Read More)

Arch Enemy Issues U.K. Tour Recap

Arch Enemy has issued a recap of their recent U.K. tour dates. The band also offered an update concerning work on a new album:

"We want to thank everybody who came out to the shows on our recent U.K. tour, despite the freezing temperatures! You made this tour a fantastic ending to our 2010 touring cycle and we will cherish these memories whilst being locked up in the studio now for a couple of months, creating the new Arch Enemy album..." (Read More)

Max Cavalera Interviewed by Revolver Magazine

Revolver Magazine's Cody Thomas recently conducted an interview with guitarist Max Cavalera (Sepultura, Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy). Some excerpts from the interview can be viewed below:

Revolver: A few years ago, you reunited with [your brother and former Sepultura bandmate] Igor to form the Cavalera Conspiracy. You two have a new album, Blunt Force Trauma, coming out in March. Is it as straightforward as the last album?

Cavalera: Yeah, it's even more. Marc [Rizzo, guitar] was saying, "Some of this shit sounds like Cannibal Corpse." Igor's playing really good. His playing reminds me of when he was in Sepultura, top form. Like in Arise or Beneath the Remains, and he was going super-fast and just killer energy from the drums. We wanted to make shorter songs, so a lot of the songs are a-minute-and-a-half or two-minutes long and kind of feel like "Raining Blood" a little bit when you listen to them, which is also different for us. We had one guest song with Roger [Miret] from Agnostic Front. He sings in a song called "Lynch Mob." I think he's probably my favorite vocalist out of the whole New York hardcore era.

Revolver: Since we're talking about Sepultura, what influenced the beginning of that band?

Cavalera: There was a band in Brazil that made us really want to get serious about starting a band. They were called Dorsal Atlântica and they were like the Brazilian Venom. Really heavy, super-Satanic, painted faces, inverted crosses in their forehead and shit. Just crazy shit live. And we were like, "Dude, we've got to get like those guys. Those guys are brutal." That was one of the inspirations that made me go, "If they are Brazilian and they are doing it, then we can do it." (Read More)

Rainbow to Reissue Down to Earth

Legendary heavy metal act Rainbow, featuring Ritchie Blackmore, is set to release an expanded, two-disc deluxe edition of the classic album, Down to Earth (1979).

The reissue is slated to for release on January 24, 2011 via Universal Music. It will include two non-album single B-sides ("Bad Girl" and "Weiss Heim") as well as a second disc which will consist of unreleased studio out-takes and alternate versions. (Read More)

Amorphis to Stream New DVD Online

Finland's Amorphis has issued an update regarding the streaming of their new DVD, Forging the Land of the Thousand Lakes, via Nuclear Blast Records on Friday, December 3:

"Nuclear Blast Records invites you all to the brand new online streaming room! The first concert stream on the new service will be Amorphis' Forging the Land of Thousand Lakes, to be this Friday, December 3, and the location is here.

"1st Streaming Time: 5:00pm (Central European Time) for Europe, 2nd Streaming Time: 3:30pm (Pacific) / 6:30pm (Eastern) for North America." (Read More)

Amalgama Posts Band Update

Amalgama recently issued an update concerning the band's current activity:

"Just a quick update from what's happening here in Amalgama as we look towards 2011 and prepare to bury 2010. A couple big shows coming up for us, starting with December 12th here in Albany at Bogies as we open up for Taproot. The show kicks off at 7:00pm and you can get tickets by responding directly to this email or picking them up day of show at the door. Don' forget to RSVP if you're in the area and plan on coming! This promises to be a badass show.

"Additionally, we'll be on another show here at the Washington Avenue Armory in downtown Albany on January 15th. Ourselves along with 9 other great regional groups will be performing on the FYE Theater stage. This particular show is just the second in a series of concerts being organized by Ralph Renna, local hero and someone who is thoroughly intertwined in Amalgama-lore (he gave us our first shot onstage back in 2006). Tickets are available at all FYE locations as well as the Armory box office. The opportunities keep coming as we build steam heading into 2011 as a real live force once again." (Read More)

Trivium to Begin Recording New Album in 2011

Florida metallers Trivium are set to enter Sanford, Florida's Audio Hammer Studios on January 2, 2011 to begin recording their new album. The band will be joined by a production/mixing team consisting of Martin "Ginge" Ford and Colin Richardson. The album is slated for an early 2011 release via Roadrunner Records.

During an interview with the WMHB 89.7 FM metal radio show Metal Mutilation on July 18, 2010, Trivium guitarist Corey Beaulieu discussed the songwriting process for the follow-up to 2008's Shogun:

"We got done [touring in support of Shogun] at the end of March [2010], and we weren't planning on the [new] record coming out until February or March of next year, so we had the rest of the year to just work on it. And it's worked out really good for us — we didn't feel rushed and we were able to take the time to make sure everything is right." He added, "We did more work on this record than we've done on any other record. The stuff is sounding really awesome and we're having a lot of fun doing this."

In reference to the addition of drummer Nick Augusto and his influence on Trivium's sound, Beaulieu said:

"I think he fits more of our writing style, 'cause we play a lot of fast, heavier stuff and his drumming is kind of really on the heavier, aggressive side, so, really, just writing the Trivium songs we [normally] do it, his drumming style adds a lot of energy and intensity to the music - he adds a lot of really cool, creative stuff that makes it really interesting and brings the music to the next level. And just working with him, everything is moving pretty fast. He's like a sponge, like the rest of us - he can grasp new songs really fast. If we have a new song, we can start jamming it really quick and kind of move forward and get to the point where we can just focus on the details of the song instead of just trying to get the song down in the first place. It's really helping propel the songwriting to another level where we can move along quicker and get a lot more work done in a shorter amount of time.

"When people actually get a chance to hear the record, I think they'll be pretty impressed with what's going on, 'cause he's doing some really cool stuff and adding a new flavor to what we do and giving it a new twist. Compared to the last couple of records, the intensity and the energy has really gone up a lot."

Beaulieu was later asked if the new tracks will be as "shred happy" as Trivium's more recent material. Beaulieu replied:

"We've been concentrating more on [making] more to-the-point, catchier songs without going off too much — there's no seven- or eight-minute songs on this one. There's a lot of really cool riffs and a lot of really cool parts, and, obviously, there's guitar solos all over the place. It doesn't sound like Shogun, but it sounds like Trivium. It's a got a different feel than Shogun - it's a lot more in your face and heavier and faster. It kind of balances out everything - we've got four or five songs that are all screaming, we've got a couple of songs that are all singing, and huge songs that are kind of a mix - kind of Acendancy [2005] kind of vocal style, [with both] screaming and singing, so there's a good variety, which makes it really interesting to listen to, because each song has its own thing going on, so they all stand out really well and fit together, too. It's got a good balance of everything, but the energy and the intensity is just a lot more up there. I guess if you compare it to anything as far as being aggressive, it's probably more towards Ascendancy than anything else."

Reagrding the new Trivium lyrics and their direction, Beaulieu went on to say:

"Everything is not finished, but [guitarist/vocalist Matt Heafy is] further along in the lyrics than he has been on the last few records. I think there are six or seven songs where the lyrics are pretty much there and then there's some of the newer songs that we've put together that he's still piecing together and figuring out what the songs are. All the lyrics are really cohesive and really kind of all fit together, have the same kind of vibe. It makes the whole record one cohesive piece instead of each song being just randomly about something else."

The song "Shattering the Skies Above" was featured on the EP soundtrack for the popular PlayStation3 game, God of War III. God of War: Blood & Metal was released on March 2, 2010 via Roadrunner Records as part of the God of War III Ultimate Edition. The EP also featured unreleased tracks from other Roadrunner artists, including Dream Theatre, Taking Dawn, Opeth, and Killswitch Engage.

Paragon Issues Band Update

German power metallers Paragon have issued an official update regarding the band's future plans. The update was made through bassist Jan Bunning:

"We are very proud to announce that the producer of our next album will be none other than Piet Sielck. We already worked with him on four of our previous albums (Steelbound [2001], Law of the Blade [2002], The Dark Legacy [2003], and Revenge [2005]) and it will for sure be like a coming home for us. Piet worked with bands like Saxon and Blind Guardian and knows best what we have to sound like.

"At present we are gathering ideas and riffs and already have completed some rough versions of two songs and ideas for about four others. I can already tell you that the stuff sounds very old school and back to the our roots!" (Read More)

Hemoptysis Streaming New Song

Hemoptysis is currently streaming a new song online. "Misanthropic Slaughter" can now be heard via the band's MySpace page.

In addition, the band has checked in with the following update:

"It is time to share some updates! We are proud to say that we received the Metal Band of the Year from 2010 LA/Phoenix Music Awards this past Thursday, November 18, at The Paramount Theater in Hollywood, CA! We are very honored to have received this special award for two consecutive years now and we want thank you for your support and encouragement!

"Also, we need to tell you that our debut, full length record Misanthropic Slaughter will be out in Spring, 2011. More details will be announced soon, so don't forget to check our websites regularly." (Read More)

As You Drown Comments on Upcoming Album

Swedish death metallers As You Drown have started writing new material for their currently untitled sophomore album, due to be released via Metal Blade Records in 2011. The new album, which will be a follow-up to 2009's Reflection, is set to be recorded at the band's own AYD Studio in Borås Sweden.

As You Drown recently commented on their work on the new album:

"Since coming home from our tour with Vader and Divine Chaos earlier this year, we've been working hard on some new material. Right now we've got our sights set on recording some time in the spring, which means the record will hopefully be out in the early fall." (Read More)

Dimmu Borgir Guitarist Interviewed on Finland's Kaaos TV

Arto Mäenpää of Kaaos TV recently conducted an interview with guitarist Silenoz (real name: Sven Atle Kopperud) of the Norwegian symphonic black metal act Dimmu Borgir. The interview was recorded when the band played a show at Pakkahuone in Tampere, Finland on October 14, 2010. The chat can be streamed below.

According to Blabbermouth.net, the current tour lineup for Dimmu Borgir includes bassist Terje Andersen and keyboardist Geir Bratland. However, this has yet to be confirmed by the band itself.

During its first week of release, Abrahadabra, Dimmu Borgir's ninth album, sold 9,400 copies in the U.S. The album subsequently landed at the No. 42 position on the Billboard 200 chart. In Sorte Diaboli, the band's previous 2007 release, sold 14,000 units in its opening week and debuted at No. 43, more than doubling the 6,400 first-week numbers recorded in 2003 with the release of Death Cult Armageddon.

Abrahadabra was released on September 24 in Germany. The album was released to the rest of Europe on September 27 and was available in North America on October 12 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Ghoul Patrol Issues Band Update

Finland's Ghoul Patrol has issued the following update concerning the recording of new material and upcoming tour dates:

"Hell Yeah! So, the Dimebag Beyond Forever tour starts tomorrow and we can't wait to get on the road! We hope to see a lot of people at the shows especially, because this is the last time the tour will be held.

"In other news, we recorded some new songs last month and one of them (Louisiana Pit) can be listened to, at our MySpace. Also, the compilation album is in the prints! (finally...) So anyone who has been asking about CDs, now is the time to get one! The album will be also available at the DBF tour shows." (Read More)

Woods of Desolation Reveals New Album Release Date

Australian metal act Woods of Desolation has issued the following update:

"I have received news that the official release date for the new Woods of Desolation album, Torn Beyond Reason, will be February 25th via Northern Silence Productions. I have been assured that this date is final and will not change anymore. I know the wait has been long for this new album, but I assure you if you like what you have heard thus far, the wait will be definitely worth it!" (Read More)

Municipal Waste Announces European Tour Dates

Richmond, Virginia thrash metallers Municipal Waste will return to Europe next week to embark on a headlining tour. The band recently wrapped up a short US tour and will kick off their European tour on Friday, December 3, in Belfast, UK. Saviours and Ramming Speed will be the supporting acts. Municipal Waste drummer Dave Witte commented on the tour, saying:

"We are ready to return to the UK/EU with Saviours and Ramming Speed to celebrate our last tour of the year. It's gonna be awesome! Get there early, this is a great bill that you won't wanna miss!"

Front man Tony Foresta added:

"I'm really looking forward to getting back over there. It feels like it's been forever since we've been. It seems like each time we come back the crowds get bigger and crazier." (Read More)

Amalgama Issues Band Update

Amalgama has released an official update concerning the band's recent and upcoming activities:

"Winter arrived here in upstate New York a few weeks ago. While technically the season doesn't start until just before Christmas you wouldn't know it had you been looking out the window at any point during that particular day. John has been immersed in StarCraft 2 for the last month after playing catch-up with everything following this year's election cycle (Watch the video until the end... gotta love politics!). Blizzard has created a soul-sucking machine with WoW and SC2. If you encounter either of these games, run away. If you value your free time you'll heed our warnings.

"In other exciting non-weather related news, Amalgama performed 'Forsaken Soldiers' on After Hours with Joe Bonilla, a local program here in the Capital Region. The taping was last Friday afternoon and will probably be the most metal thing that local access has ever seen (it premiered locally last night at 11pm and will be up on the interwebs shortly). The whole afternoon was quite the experience: the actual studio was deep in the bowels of super complex of a building on a local college campus literally in a 'sub-basement.' We felt like we were in some kind of Resident Evil style facility where some monster was going to pop out and rip us apart. Once we arrived on location the stage was set and there was much bullshitting around while we waited for the audience to file in. Joe Bonilla is a personal friend of John and was very gracious to interview him before our performance. TV studios are hot places as we discovered rather quickly during that afternoon deep underground. All those goddamn lights." (Read More)

Anvil Anthology to Be Released; Album Details Revealed

Canadian metal legends Anvil have signed on with The End Records. Currently, the band is recording its new album, Juggernaut of Justice, at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Northridge, California with producer Bob Marlette (Alice Cooper, Filter, Black Sabbath). The album is slated for a spring 2011 release.

Before the release of Juggernaut of Justice, The End Records will release a definitive Anvil anthology. The collection will include old and new material as well as a few surprises and will showcase the band's entire career from 1978.

Singer/guitarist Steve "Lips" Kudlow commented on the band's latest studio venture: "I must say that this is by far the best Anvil ever. There will be a few new surprises including [bassist] Glenn 5's first lead vocals in Anvil's history. The production that Bob Marlette has done far surpasses anything we've done in the past. The excitement within the band is over the top and we can't wait to unleash this amazing CD to the fans."

Added drummer Robb Reiner: "The new album is pure Anvil with a new fresh kick, very exciting ... Looking to rocking with The End, putting the music where it belongs - in everybody's ears and face!"

During an interview with Suite101.com in 2009, Reiner spoke about Anvil's up-coming album, saying it would be "...the best album we've ever done. We've invented a new genre; we've invented metal-jazz ... We've pioneered something that I believe is going to be revolutionary. I'm a jazz drummer: the world knows that I just happen to be in a metal band. And Lips listens to a lot of old-time swing jazz these days." Lips added, "I've been getting into Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa, really fast swing. It's really similar to speed metal, it's just that it's done with horns." Reiner continued, "We play this stuff live right now, and it blows people away beyond anything I've ever seen. We've innocently created something that's never been done before."

A tour to support the release of Juggernaut of Justice is currently in the works. Details regarding dates and locations will be announced shortly.

Evile Guitarist Interviewed by Metal Assault Radio

Metal Assault Radio's DJ Shredder recently sat down with Ol Drake - guitarist for British thrash band Evile. The interview was conducted in Sayreville, New Jersey when the band made a scheduled stop for a performance with Overkill. The chat can be streamed via Blabbermouth.net.

Evile is currently in North America as part of a three-month tour with Overkill, Forbidden, Gama Bomb, and Bonded by Blood. The trek will wrap on December 18 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The band will then return to the U.K. for a break over the holiday period before hitting the road again in the New Year. (Read More)

Asking Alexandria to Release Remix Album

English metalcore band Asking Alexandria recently completed a North American tour with All That Remains. The band will now spend the remainder of the year touring the U.K. on a series of headlining shows. The band has also announced the release of a remix album titled Stepped Up and Scratched (Stand Up and Scream Remix) in January 2011. The album will be a remixed, electro/dubstep version of the band's debut album Stand Up and Scream. it will also include all new artwork and packaging.

Guitarist Ben Bruce recently checked in with an update following the band's most recent tour:

"I can't really think of many words to sum up the All That Remains tour. The only words that really come to mind are fucking awesome. It was a great tour. We made some great friends during this five week trek across America and had some really amazing times. The crowds at every show were great. We had our loyal and dedicated fans come out to see us, and I feel like we won a lot of new fans on this tour as well." (Read More)

Angertea Comments on Upcoming EP

Hungarian progressive metallers Angertea have issued an official update regarding the release of a new three-song EP:

"These days we have received the first mixes of the new songs from Neil Kernon, and they really kick ass! They are soon being sent to have it mastered to a mastering engineer called Alan Douches, who made albums of such bands as The Dillinger Escape Plan, Sepultura, Deicide, Madball, Mastodon, Misfits, etc. We'll soon be done with the 3 songs!" (Read More)

Kataklysm Updates Live Show Schedule

Canadian death metal act Kataklysm has made some updates to the band's forthcoming tour schedule for North America, south America, Europe, and South Africa.

"In just about a month we will embark on Katakalysm's longest one way headlining stretch crossing four continents in nearly 20 years," commented vocalist Maurizio Iacono. "Heaven's Venom has been welcomed with open arms by fans and critics alike across the globe. As I mentioned before in interviews, Heaven's Venomis a very personal, aggressive and dark Kataklysm album that hits home. We love this album and want to share its anger with our fans! We want to play places we have never been before and also revisit our loyal supporters while creating some new fans along the way. One thing we know, is that this will be the only time you will be able to see the band on this record or for a long time. So don't say 'I'll catch them the next time' because there might not be a next time. We are thinking of taking along break after this massive trek and who knows what will happen next. So if you are a fan of Kataklysm you have been called to duty!" (Read More)

Bobby Liebling Discusses New Pentagram Album in Recent Interview

In a recent interview with MetalSucks.Net, Pentagram front man Bobby Liebling revealed some news regarding the band's forthcoming album. Below are some excerpts from that interview:

MS: You're off to record the Last Rites album soon, I believe?

Bobby: I leave Wednesday morning and we start recording the album this coming Sunday night [November 21].

MS: I'm sure you’re pretty excited about it. Can you tell me a bit about the new record?

Bobby: Actually, the songs on Last Rites are predominantly, I'd say two-thirds [of them are] songs I wrote in 1970, and if you're familiar with any Pentagram stuff at all... you know each album is usually a sixty-forty split. Sixty percent is stuff that I did in the early '70s, and forty percent is collaborations and new stuff. The upcoming album is slated to have thirteen songs, but we don't know if we're going to be able to record all of them. We're going to try to get it all in. It's going to be a shorter album, but it'll be part of a double-disc set with an hour-long live DVD from last year’s Maryland Deathfest.

MS: Is there a definite release date for it?

Bobby: No, not a definite date, but it's scheduled to be released in early April. I was told by my superiors [laughs], as it were, that I shouldn't talk about the record label, but I will say that we've got a multi-album deal and it's with a significant, well, let's say the largest label I've ever been on.

MS: That's great, congratulations!

Bobby: Thank you, it's been long enough coming. 2011 marks Pentagram's fortieth anniversary.

MS: Wow, that's a good, long run. Hopefully with many more years to come.

Bobby: We'll see! That's why I'm calling it Last Rites, just in case! But there are four songs that are brand-new, and the other nine consist of several I wrote on my own, and a few I wrote with my original drummer, Geof O'Keefe. Those are the ones scheduled to be on there. But one of the old ones might go, as well as a new one. We're doing a cram course, you might call it. All the other Pentagram albums that have been done were recorded over a three-month period. This album is going to be done in three weeks. We're rehearsing it five days, that's it, and these songs have never been played by anyone in the band [currently]. (Read More)

Stratovarius Drummer Diagnosed with Cancer

Swedish keyboardist Jens Johansson of multi-national melodic metallers Stratovarius has issued the following update:

"Dear Stratovarius fans, I am afraid we have some quite terrible news. News of the worst imaginable kind. It's about our friend and drummer Jörg Michael.

"Jörg has cancer.

"He recently discovered a lump on his neck, went to the doctor, they decided to operate, and found what they call 'a malignant thyroid neoplasm.' They took out his whole thyroid just to have the best chance to get everything out. He will also have to undergo a regimen of radiotherapy.

"He is a fighter. We have all talked to him and it's clear that this guy is not down for the count. He and his team of German doctors are pissed off and ready to kick ass, and I would not want to be a little cancer cell on these guys' shit list.. believe me.

"Jörg and his family (and us guys in the band) found this out only last week, after the operation. Naturally we are all going between a lot of emotions, sadness, worry, shock, confusion, even anger." (Read More)

Dixie Deathwish Issues Update

Dixie Deathwish has issued the following update regarding their recent decision to disband:

"We have decided to keep the name Dixie Deathwish. We have made this decision for a couple of reasons. The first being that we really like the name. The second is that despite the fact that we might not have had the best relationships with some venues or bands in the past we are determined to change all of that. Third let's face it some bands and other people in the area would have loved to see us drop the name and kind of admit defeat, but that is just not our style. We are determined to come back with a ferocity on stage on rivaled by few in this area and we look forward to sharing the stage with those bands and i think they know who they are." (Read More)