[Classic_Rock_Forever] Queen, Anthrax, Pantera and tons more hard rock and heavy metal news

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According to Billboard.com, QUEEN's Roger Taylor and Brian May will play four shows with "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert in June and early July. On tap is a June 30 show in Moscow, a concert with Elton John in Kiev as well as two early July shows at the Hammersmith Apollo in London to provide "some alternative... for some of the people who had bought tickets" to the recently canceled Sonisphere festival, where QUEEN was supposed to be one of the headliners.

"We're really excited about it," Taylor tells Billboard.com. "Adam... of course he has this unbelievable range, like Freddie (Mercury) had range. Adam can really cover it. He's an extraordinary singer and a real talent. I feel he fits into our sort of theatricality." Regarding the possibility of further activity with Lambert, Taylor says that "we're just going to see what happens, how well it goes, how we get on." He does acknowledge, however, that he and May have been approached to be part of the Summer Olympics closing ceremonies in London but adds that "I don't think we're meant to say too much about it yet."
ANTHRAX's sold-out March 15 concert at O2 Islington Academy in London, England was filmed for an upcoming DVD.

When asked by Decibel magazine what made the band decide to film the London show, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian said, "It was a total last-minute thing. We'd been working with the company that does the 360 stuff for a while so to shoot this just made sense."

Regarding the setlist for the London show and whether fans would hear more of the "Persistence Of Time" material during the concert, Ian said, "We rehearsed 'Belly Of The Beast' [the day before the London show], so that, 'Got The Time' and maybe one more. We've rehearsed 'Keep It In The Family' and we've rehearsed 'In My World'. It's just a case of we came up with a set for the first leg of this tour, and we'd been out on tour in the States for two months already and the set was working so well with the balance of new material and old material; it was acutally this guy Warren, who is one of the guitar techs for Jeff Hanneman [SLAYER] and Gary Holt [EXODUS, SLAYER touring guitarist], and is out with LAMB OF GOD right now, on one of those legs he was like, 'You guys gotta play 'In My World', you gotta!' So we played it at soundcheck for him one day. But the song is so long that we just couldn't figure out where to put it in the set, and at that time it came down to the fact we were only playing an hour on that tour with SLAYER and MEGADETH so there was no way to fit in a six-and-a-half minute song into the set. The only way would be by taking something else out. Now, we're on the headline shows it gives us a little bit more leeway to play longer, so we're just trying to figure out a way to get more 'Persistence…' in because I feel that that album was kind of lacking as far as being represented live and there are a lot of great songs on it."

On the topic of whether it has gotten any easier putting together an ANTHRAX live show nowadays, Ian said, "Easier? You would think it would get easier, but it doesn't! We still deal with the same shit whether we're playing here or Sonisphere, or playing Yankee Stadium with the Big Four. It doesn't matter; the bigger the show or the smaller the show, I swear to god, it is the same crap on a daily basis. We've had a few lucky streaks, but when you're doing one-off shows, it just sucks because you can't ever get into a groove. But, y'know, we've just been out in the States for a month-and-a-half, headlining, and it was a week into the tour before things started working smoothly. It takes a week for everything to run smoothly, to get all the bugs out, and then it runs like clockwork. That's the way I should have answered it; it's always the first week, the first week of any tour sucks. So we're only doing three shows here, then one show in Moscow, then we go back home and then go to Asia, so by the time we get to the Russian show, things will probably be running smooth, then we'll go home, have a week off and then go to Asia and start off again. It takes a week of shows before everything runs smoothly, so you just walk in there and everything's just right and you're crew is just running around like mad trying to fix crap."

ANTHRAX's setlist for the London concert was as follows:

01. Earth On Hell
02. Fight 'Em Till You Can't
03. Caught In A Mosh
04. Antisocial
05. The Devil You Know
06. I'm Alive
07. Indians
08. In The End
09. Deathrider
10. Belly Of The Beast
11. Medusa
12. Among The Living

Encore:

13. Be All, End All
14. Madhouse
15. Metal Thrashing Mad
16. I'm The Man
17. I Am The Law
While combing the PANTERA vaults for the 20th anniversary reissue of "Vulgar Display Of Power", drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott made an astounding discovery: "Piss", an incendiary blast of vintage PANTERA from the original recording sessions that had long been forgotten. After 20 years, "Piss" will finally make its debut this Wednesday, April 11, when the newly created video for the song will premiere at the Revolver Golden Gods awards in Los Angeles, which will be broadcast live on Xbox Live, as well as on the Xbox and Revolver Facebook pages. The video will make its worldwide premiere right before the show starts at approximately 10:55 p.m. ET / 7:55 p.m. PT. The song will then be released to radio outlets and all digital music retailers the following day. PANTERA are also the subject of a Revolver special issue, which hits newsstands everywhere on April 15.

For the "Piss" video, PANTERA put out a call through their Facebook page for fans to submit home videos of them rocking out to the band or attend a video shoot in Los Angeles. The resulting video is an amazing collection of fans of all ages, from around the world, moshing, jumping, punching, kicking, and just plain rocking out to PANTERA. The video, directed by Zach Merck, also features some amazing slow-motion shots that recreate the face punch from the iconic cover of "Vulgar Display Of Power".

"'Piss' is the only unheard complete PANTERA track in existence, "said Vinnie. "It was recorded at the same time as 'Vulgar Display Of Power' and it's 100 percent PANTERA with attitude and our signature groove! After mixing it, I can't believe it didn't make the record! So it's 2012 and 20 years later and new PANTERA music has been delivered."

In anticipation of the reissue of one of the greatest metal albums of all time, PANTERA's 1992 masterpiece "Vulgar Display Of Power", Revolver magazine has created a PANTERA special issue, which includes the whole story of the band, an in-depth look at the making of "Vulgar", fallen guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott's final interview, and more.

Revolver will host a release party for the issue on April 12 at the Key Club in West Hollywood, California. Plus, cover illustrator Tim Bradstreet will be on hand to sign copies of the issue. Providing the soundtrack for the evening will be members of SLAYER, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX, ADRENALINE MOB, and some very special guests, who will all be putting on the "Metal Masters 3" clinic for musicians, presented by Samson, Zoom, and Hartke.

February 25 marked the 20-year anniversary for PANTERA's "Vulgar Display Of Power", a landmark album widely acknowledged as one of metal's most enduring and influential masterworks. Recorded by singer Philip Anselmo, guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, bassist Rex Brown and drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, the album has been certified double platinum by the RIAA and features several of the group's most iconic songs including "Walk", "Mouth For War", "This Love" and "Fucking Hostile".

To celebrate, Rhino channels the album's relentless blitzkrieg of musical aggression onto a two-disc Deluxe Edition. The CD includes the original album remastered and "Piss", a recently discovered unreleased track from the recording sessions. The DVD contains an unreleased live performance filmed in Italy in September of 1992 plus the three official music videos from the album.

Due out May 15, 2012 from Rhino, the CD/DVD set will be available at retail outlets, including Pantera.com and Rhino.com, for a suggested list price of $19.98. A version of the release will also be available digitally.

Along with the unreleased song, "Vulgar Display Of Power (Deluxe Edition)" also features unreleased video of the quartet performing six songs at the Monsters Of Rock show in Reggio Emilia, Italy on September 12, 1992. The set list draws almost exclusively from "Vulgar" ("This Love", "Rise", "Mouth For War"), but also includes the title track from their previous album, "Cowboys From Hell", and a melding of "Vulgar"'s "Hollow" and "Cowboys"' "Domination", which was a live staple of the band. Video of PANTERA performing live during this era is extremely rare, making the DVD one of the few ways to see them in their prime.

"Vulgar Display Of Power (Deluxe Edition)" track listing:

CD

* "Mouth For War"
* "A New Level"
* "Walk"
* "Fucking Hostile"
* "This Love"
* "Rise"
* "No Good (Attack The Radical)"
* "Live In A Hole"
* "Regular People (Conceit)"
* "By Demons Be Driven"
* "Hollow"
* "Piss" - Previously Unreleased

DVD

* "Mouth For War" - Live In Italy
* "Domination/Hollow" - Live In Italy
* "Rise" - Live In Italy
* "This Love" - Live In Italy
* "Cowboys From Hell" - Live In Italy
* "Mouth For War" - Video
* "This Love" - Video
* "Walk" - Video

Dimebag Darrell was co-founder and lead guitarist for PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, Dimebag and his brother Vinnie Paul formed DAMAGEPLAN. On Dec. 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by Nathan Gale. He was 38 years old.
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Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON will release a split seven-inch single with Canadian singer-songwriter Feist to celebrate Record Store Day on April 21. This very exclusive and highly anticipated pressing features MASTODON covering the Feist song "A Commotion", while Feist covers MASTODON's "Black Tongue".

In a recent interview with Sweden's Metalshrine, MASTODON drummer Brann Dailor explained how the single idea came about. "We did [the BBC television show 'Later... With Jools Holland'], and right after we got off stage, we went backstage and and we were in the hallway with [Feist], and she was talking to [MASTODON vocalist/guitarist] Brent [Hinds]. They were involved in a conversation and were just like, 'Yeah, let's do that! We should do it for Record Store Day!' Something out of left field and something we'd like to be involved with more of."

He added, "It's fun for us. I mean, most times we end up doing covers of bands that are already sort of heavy or that is already in that vein, like the MELVINS, THIN LIZZY, METALLICA, you know what I mean? What are you gonna do to those songs to make them your own? It's kinda difficult and especially with stuff like METALLICA or the MELVINS where we're so kinda familiar and in love with the versions that METALLICA and the MELVINS and THIN LIZZY have created, you wanna make it sound like theirs because that's what you're so used to hearing. You don't really wanna mess with it. With Feist, it's something that we could really play with and do something different with."

The cover artwork for the MASTODON and Feist split seven-inch single can be seen below.

About Record Store Day: Record Store Day is managed by the Music Monitor Network and is organized in partnership with the Alliance Of Independent Media Stores (AIMS), the Coalition Of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) and celebrates the culture of independent record stores by playing host to in-store events/performances, signings and special product releases on a global scale.

Record Store Day takes place annually on the third Saturday of April.

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Texas-based hard rock singer Jason McMaster's (DANGEROUS TOYS, WATCHTOWER, IGNITOR, BROKEN TEETH) lady, Katie, finally made an honest man of him, and on his birthday, no less! They were married last month in Los Angeles, visited the set of VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show", and came home with a couple of very pretty rings.

McMaster was inducted into the South Texas Music Walk Of Fame in June 2011 in his hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas. McMaster made Texas history as the first metal artist honored by the South Texas Music Walk Of Fame.

A vocalist, bassist, guitarist, and songwriter with two gold-certified records under his belt, McMaster is notorious for being one of the busiest musicians in rock and roll. His rock and roll resume dates back to 1982 when he fronted influential progressive metal band WATCHTOWER, later moving on to make headlines with the southern sleaze rock act DANGEROUS TOYS. In recent years, Jason has been channeling his talent into the Austin-based hard rock act BROKEN TEETH, having released five albums since the band's formation in 1999; along with two albums from his NWOHB-influenced band IGNITOR, and various tribute bands. His impact on the Texas rock and metal scene was previously recognized in 1998, with an induction into the Texas Music Hall Of Fame.
 
 
ATTACKER has recruited Bobby "Leatherlungs" Lucas (SEVEN WITCHES, OVERLORDE, MORBID SIN) as its new vocalist. Lucas is still a member of OVERLORDE, which is currently working on a new album.

According to ATTACKER drummer Mike Sabatini, the band will focus on writing and recording material for its as-yet-untitled next album which it expects to release by year's end. He states, "We are extremely excited to have Bobby in the ranks bringing his talent to the table, we couldn't have asked for a better addition to the band."

He adds, "We've had a long but well-needed break and are looking forward to playing shows again. We do what we do for the love of it and for the fans
that do appreciate it and for no other reason than that. This stuff is in our blood!"

Comments Lucas: "I am very happy and excited to be a part of the amazing ATTACKER! This is a band I have been a fan of since first hearing them on 'Metal Massacre V' back in '86! I was hoping the right gig would eventually come along...I have been out of the original scene far too long, and here we are! It all seemed to fall into place. This band is right up my alley, classic true power metal!"

In other news, ATTACKER has been confirmed for the Metal Assault III festival, set to take place in January 2013 at Posthalle in Würzburg, Germany.
 
Swedish metallers SABATON have been forced to cancel the first three shows of their previously announced North American tour — which was scheduled to start tomorrow (April 10) in Tampa, Florida — due to delays in obtaining visas over the Easter weekend for the band's four new members. The tour will now commence on April 15 in San Antonio, Texas.

A two-minute video message from SABATON announcing the changes in the band's tour schedule can be seen below.

SABATON recently parted ways with guitarists Oskar Montelius and Rikard Sundén, drummer Daniel Mulback and keyboardist Daniel Mÿhr. The band's new touring lineup is as follows:

Joakim Brodén - Vocals
Pär Sundström - Bass
Chris Rörland (NOCTURNAL RITES) - Guitar
Thobbe Englund (WINTERLONG, RAUBTIER) - Guitar
Robban Bäck (BALTIMOORE, PREY) - Drums

SABATON's new album, "Carolus Rex", will be released in Europe on May 25 via Nuclear Blast Records. The lyrics for the CD, which will be made available in both English and Swedish, deal with the Swedish Empire (referring to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721).

The band previously stated about "Carolus Rex": "For the first time ever we have had an expert to help us out with the theme, the well-known Swedish historian Bengt Liljegren. We have also added some extra time in the studio to find the absolute right sound on 'Carolus Rex', and our producer, Peter Tägtgren, says that this album will mark a brand new standard for how a heavy metal album should sound like!"

Liljegren's published works include acclaimed biographies of Adolf Hitler and Karl XII. He also appeared in the popular Swedish TV series "Boston Tea Party".
 
Las Vegas' favorite band SIN CITY SINNERS has announced its newest addition, actor/musician Zach Throne. Zach joins original SINNERS Todd Kerns (SLASH), Brent Muscat (FASTER PUSSYCAT) and Rob Cournoyer (RAGING SLAB).

As a musician, Zach has recorded, performed and/or toured with Susanna Hoffs of THE BANGLES, Jerry Cantrell of ALICE IN CHAINS, ANTHRAX, BARENAKED LADIES, Lemmy from MOTÖRHEAD, CHEAP TRICK, Meat Loaf and Jamie Walters. As a session vocalist for television and film, Zach has performed on many commercial jingles as well as sung the Greg Brady vocals for the films "The Brady Bunch Movie" and "A Very Brady Sequel". He also sang the theme song for the ABC television series "Grace Under Fire". As an actor, Zach starred in the Fox television series "The Heights", and performed on the show's hit song, "How Do You Talk To An Angel?", which reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart in 1992. Other acting credits include "Beverly Hills 90210", "Party Of Five", "ER", and "CSI". He is the voice for the online video game sensations "Bejeweled" and "Bejeweled Blitz".

SIN CITY SINNERS released its third album, "A Sinners' Christmas" late last year. It was recorded, mixed and mastered at Hit Track Studios in Las Vegas and produced by Brent Muscat and Tom Parham, and executive-produced by Jason Green.

In 2010, SIN CITY SINNERS released two CDs of original music, "Exile on Fremont Street" and the all-acoustic "Broken Record". The SINNERS' music video, "Goin' To Vegas", received the 32nd annual Telly Award and the track "Numb" was nominated for an AVN award for "Best Original Song".
 
Female rockers VIXEN have canceled their Kickstarter campaign, which they launched in order to raise capital for the recording of a new album on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the release of their first LP.

The band in late February set out to collect $35,000 towards recording a brand new CD, but ended up receiving less than 5% of their goal ($1,370).

Said VIXEN in a statement, "We are very happy to report that we recently received an offer that was too good to refuse, as they say, so we thought it was appropriate to cancel this project and focus on other opportunities. The good news is, as we have promised before, we will be recording a new album this year and we expect to release it in honor of the 25th anniversary of the release of the first Vixen album."

VIXEN's self-titled debut was released in 1988, and fueled by heavy radio and MTV rotation of the single, "Edge of a Broken Heart", the album surpassed the gold sales mark in the U.S. and went on to sell over one million copies around the world. VIXEN's follow-up album, "Rev It Up", was released in 1990, and the singles "How Much Love" and "Love Is A Killer" spent some time on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart.

VIXEN's original members, Janet Gardner (vocals), Jan Kuehnemund (guitar), Share Pedersen (bass) and Roxy Petrucci (drums) appeared together on VH1's "Bands Reunited" in October 2004 to reminisce about their start on L.A.'s Sunset Strip and their rise to fame in the late 1980s, before the onset of grunge in the early 1990s displaced metal at the top of the charts. They also took part in a short performance for the program.
 
Taking a break from their current U.S. tour, Los Angeles glam metal jokesters STEEL PANTHER will appear on tonight's (Monday, April 9) episode of ABC's top-rated program "Dancing With The Stars". The producers of the show were looking for some help in teaching Cuban-born actor WilliamLevy some style essentials for the show's Rock Week theme and STEEL PANTHER were more than happy to help out. The band offered William and partner Cheryl Burke some advice on everything from fashion tips, most comfortable spandex and best brands of hair spray. The boys will also be attending tonight's show to witness the final product first hand and to cheer on newfound PANTHER fans, Levy and Burke.

"Dancing With The Stars" airs on ABC at 8:00 p.m. and is one of the highest rated shows on TV.

STEEL PANTHER's sophomore album, "Balls Out", sold nearly 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 40 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on November 1 via Universal Republic Records, the follow-up to 2009's "Feel The Steel" contains 14 soon-to-be classics such as "Just Like Tiger Woods", "Gold Digging Whore" and "Weenie Ride". The album also features cameos by Dane Cook on the album opener "In The Future" and NICKELBACK frontman Chad Kroeger and EXTREME axeman Nuno Bettencourt show up on an instant classic "It Won't Suck Itself". "Balls Out" was produced by Grammy-nominated producer/mixer Jay Ruston who produced the band's "Feel The Steel" debut and is known for his work with ANTHRAX, MEAT LOAF, THE DONNAS and MORRISSEY, to name a few.

When asked what lessons STEEL PANTHER learned from its 2009 debut, "Feel The Steel", that he and his bandmates applied to this new album, guitarist Satchel told Guitar International, "It's funny because we haven't learned any lessons from our first record. We don't even think of it as our sophomore album, we think of it as our second debut release. Many bands will try to make a different-sounding record for their second release, but we couldn't really get any better than our first record. Our first record was awesome, so we decided to go in and make the same record for our second album, just better. We didn't really grow as writers. We didn't grow as musicians. In fact, I think I got a little bit worse . . . But because of that it's much better. It's kind of like a fine wine. If you let it sit there and let it get moldy, that's what they do with wine, right? Then you let the mold fester in the bottom of the bottle, that's what our music is like on this record. We're like a moldy cheese that's been left out in the sun all summer. You wouldn't think that it would taste good at the end of the summer, but surprisingly, it does. That's us in a nutshell."

STEEL PANTHER is Michael Starr (vocals), Satchel (guitar), Lexxi Foxx (bass) and Stix Zadinia (drums).
 
German hard rockers BONFIRE have parted ways with Dominik Hülshorst. According to the band, "The drum duties for the near future, and possibly the far future as well, will be handled by Harry 'Fireworks' Reischmann, who already played with the band in the Ukraine in March 2012."

BONFIRE's original drummer, Hülshorst rejoined the band in time for the recording of their twelfth album, "Branded", which came out in January 2011 via LZ Records/Sony Music.
 
Canadian singer Jon Howard (THREAT SIGNAL, ARKAEA) has recorded a guest appearance on the forthcoming sophomore album from the French melodic death metal band T.A.N.K. (THINK OF A NEW KIND).

A teaser for the track "Inhaled" featuring Howard can be seen below.

Howard joined T.A.N.K. on stage on March 24 in Paris, France to perform "Inhaled". Check out pictures of his appearance at this location.

T.A.N.K.'s debut album, "The Burden Of Will", was released in June 2010 via Symbol Musik (with distribution through Season Of Mist). The CD featured guest appearances by Guillaume Bideau (MNEMIC, ONE-WAY MIRROR, SCARVE) and Steve "Zuul" Petit (ZUUL FX).

T.A.N.K. is:

Raf Pener: Vocals
Symheris: Lead guitar
Eddy Chaumulot: Rhythm Guitar
Clément Rouxel: Drums
Olivier d'Aries: Bass
German female-fronted symphonic metallers XANDRIA have issued the following update:

"Bad luck for our bass guitar player Nils [Middelahauve]. Whilst we were playing the most recent shows with EPICA, Nils severely hurt his right forefinger on stage which eventually led to a serious blood poisoning after the last show. Due to this sepsis, he had to undergo surgery twice in the course of the past week, which will now disable him to tour for the upcoming 4-6 weeks. Nils surely is extremely disappointed to not hit the road again in April, but feels comfortable in knowing there is a well-known substitute: XANDRIA's European tour with EPICA and STREAM OF PASSION in April will now be played with SERENITY's Fabio D'Amore, who is happy to fill in on bass guitar for the tour. So, no worries, we won't miss a single show. Please come out and support Fabio on his spontaneous new endeavor and wish Nils all the best for a return very soon!"

XANDRIA's new album, "Neverworld's End", was released in North America on March 6 via Napalm Records.

XANDRIA last year took part in the "Out Of The Dark" European tour with VAN CANTO, TRISTANIA, SERENITY and AMBERIAN DAWN.

XANDRIA in December 2010 announced the addition of singer Manuela Kraller to the group's ranks.

Commented Manuela: "My musical life started very late, at the age of 23. In a choir in Finland I discovered singing for me and since then it became my passion. I began to take classical singing lessons, sang in church and gospel choirs and soon I was asked to be a solo singer in choirs, at churchly and also at private occasions. But as I have grown up with metal and rock music I soon wanted to combine it with my classical background. So I started singing rock and metal songs with a friend and also wrote own songs for the first time. Soon after that I joined a metal band called NAGOR MAR (Switzerland) and I also became a singer in the German band HAGGARD, where I had great experiences on stage and on tour. And now a 'new age' has begun for me and I am very pleased to be the new singer of XANDRIA!"

XANDRIA performed several concerts in 2009 with the band's former frontwoman, Lisa Middelhauve, filling in.

XANDRIA in February 2011 parted ways with its singer of one year, Kerstin Bischof. The group stated at the time, "Due to occupational and private reasons, [Kerstin] wants to concentrate on her non-musical career in the future and cannot support XANDRIA the way it would be necessary."

Bischof joined XANDRIA in February 2009 as the replacement for Middelhauve, who left the band in May 2008 for "personal reasons." Lisa stated at the time, "My exit has nothing to do with dispute or controversy within the band. It was just time to split."
 
Swedish extreme metal veterans HYPOCRISY are writing material for their 13th studio album, which they plan to record later this year for an eary 2013 release via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented the band: "We're now focusing on writing new songs for the next album. We've already some new material and it sounds killer! The plan is to record the new album in the autumn this year and release it in the first half of 2013. So far everything is working out as planned and we're really excited to bring out the new release. Between the writing process we're also doing some festival shows and we hope to see you all there!"

HYPOCRISY guitarist Mikael Hedlund told Metal Shock Finland late last year about the material for the band's next CD, "It's too early to say what it's going to sounds like, but all I can say is that it's not gonna be any change of style. It will be a classic HYPOCRISY album without [any] compromises.'

HYPOCRISY's latest DVD/CD, "Hell Over Sofia - 20 Years Of Chaos And Confusion", was released in October via Nuclear Blast. The disc contains footage of the band's February 27, 2010 concert at the Blue Box club in Sofia, Bulgaria.

HYPOCRISY's latest album, "A Taste Of Extreme Divinity", sold 1,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 23 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
 
Swedish melodic gloom lords OCTOBER TIDE have inked a worldwide deal with Pulverised Records. The band is preparing to enter Black Lounge Studio (SCAR SYMMETRY, CARNAL FORGE, IN MOURNING, CENTINEX) in Avesta, Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgren to begin recording its new album, for a late 2012 release.

Commented OCTOBER TIDE drummer Robin Bergh: "We are extremely pleased to sign with Pulverised Records for the next album and beyond.

"During the negotiations for the new deal we noticed that Roy, Calvin and the entire Pulverised crew were seriously thrilled about the band and the art we create, hence we are confident that this doomish union will bring OCTOBER TIDE to the next level.

"Our new strong lineup feels utterly satisfying and we are more than ready for the future to come. We are currently finishing up the writing process for the yet-untitled fourth full-length which will be recorded during May and June at Black Lounge Studio with Mr. Jonas Kjellgren behind the knobs. This upcoming OCTOBER TIDE recording will surely be a deadly doom metal masterpiece, you mark my words!"

Added Pulverised Records label manager Roy Yeo: "Having been a personal long-time fan of the band, there was no way we would let this chance slip past us to sign them for the new album! With their brand of despondent and mind-numbing modus operandi that is truly unique to OCTOBER TIDE, it is clearly evident that the band had already found their sound as heard on 'A Thin Shell'. Now that the album deal is signed, sealed and delivered, we now wait in anticipation on how the brand new opus will mould itself into yet another benchmark masterpiece!"

Vocalist Tobias Netzell and bassist Pierre Stam recently left OCTOBER TIDE in order to focus on their family lives and other projects and have since been replaced by Mattias Norrman (ex-KATATONIA) and Alexander Högbom (VOLTURYON, SPASMODIC), respectively.

OCTOBER TIDE's current lineup:

Fredrik Norrman (KATATONIA, UNCANNY) - Guitar
Mattias Norrman (KATATONIA, DELLAMORTE) - Bass
Alexander Högbom (VOLTURYON, SPASMODIC) - Vocals
Robin Bergh (AMARAN, GOREMENT) - Drums
Emil Alstermark (MANDYLON) - Guitar

OCTOBER TIDE's latest album, "A Thin Shell", was released in North America in September 2010 via Candlelight Records. The band's first CD in ten years followed the 2009 reissue of its debut, "Rain Without End" (Candlelight).

Formed in 1995 by then-KATATONIA guitarist Norrman and KATATONIA/BLOODBATH vocalist Jonas Renkse, OCTOBER TIDE quickly made a mark with two albums recorded and released during the years 1997 and 1999 ("Rain Without End" and "Grey Dawn", respectively). Much of the band's music was written during a short break up of KATATONIA which later proved only temporary as the band would reform and continues today. OCTOBER TIDE would not perform live during this short period of activity and few interviews with the members were granted despite praise from both media and fans. The band, until reforming in late 2009, would maintain a cult status throughout the doom/metal community.
 
Swedish metal project MAD ARCHITECT will release a three-song EP, "Dreamworld", featuring mukti-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (THERION, KING DIAMOND, DREAM EVIL, DIMMU BORGIR) on vocals. According to a press release, the EP contains "20 minutes of brutally beautiful melodic metal" and will be made available on April 10 at iTunes and Spotify.

"Dreamworld" track listing:

01. Dreamworld
02. Altered States
03. Strange Machine

The "Dreamworld" title track is available for streaming below.

Vocals: Snowy Shaw
Guitars: Magnus Daun
Bass: Dennis Forsberg
Drums: Sven Lindsten
Keyboards: Jorgen Oscarsson
Bass on "Altered States": Tomas Reinerson

The EP was mixed at Grand Recordings in Gothenburg and was mastered at The Mastering Room by Goran Finnberg (IN FLAMES, MESHUGGAH).
 
 
Swedish black metallers WATAIN will make an in-store appearance on April 25 at Dark Realm Records in Downey, California between 3:00 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

WATAIN will release a new DVD, "Opus Diaboli", in North America on June 5. The production commemorates the band's 13 years of chaos by providing a visual and audio documentation of their ceremonial anniversary concert performance in Stockholm and the long years of physical, intellectual and spiritual work leading up to it. "Opus Diaboli" is an epic 90-minute journey into the forbidden realms of wild-hearted Satanic metal and the manifestation of a unique band that has truly chosen a path few have ever dared to tread upon.

Comments the band in a collective statement: "This movie was first meant to be the recording of our 13-year anniversary concert, but as everything with WATAIN, it took on a life of its own and become one of our most ambitious projects to date. It is a very personal and emotional piece of work and is certainly not for the faint of heart. But for those who wish to explore the glimmering abyss of WATAIN further, this will be a rewarding release for sure. The box version of 'Opus Diaboli' [available exclusively through the band's own Wolfwear.net] contains an exclusive photobook. It was an overwhelming experience going through the massive archives in search of photos that best sum up the storm of passionate turmoil that has marked the WATAIN journey, especially since we wanted to stay away from live photos and focus more on moments off stage. The results were however very satisfying and offer a rare and spicy mixture of photos of which most have never been published previously. We are also proud to announce that this will be the first release on our own label His Master's Noise, a name originating from BATHORY who had it in mind for their own label back in the early 1980s. Just like with our merch store Wolfwear.net, from which the limited box set will be available, this time we have chosen to stand by our own and do things our way."

"Opus Diaboli" DVD: A four-panel digipack including the DVD, two audio CDs featuring the full concert plus a 16-page booklet with historical photos and flyers.

"Opus Diaboli" box: Limited 12-inch box including the DVD, two audio CDs and two LPs featuring the full concert plus an exclusive 64-page booklet with historical photos and flyers.

As previously announced, WATAIN will take part in the inaugural Decibel Magazine Tour alongside BEHEMOTH, THE DEVIL'S BLOOD and IN SOLITUDE. The live ceremonies will commence next week on April 11 in Ohio and bloody 26 stages, including a stop in Oklahoma City, where the trek will merge with the U.S. Torture Tour featuring CANNIBAL CORPSE, EXHUMED, ABYSMAL DAWN, and ARKAIK for an evening of audio devastation.
 
 
Florida death metal veterans SIX FEET UNDER will release their new studio album, "Undead" in North America on May 22 via Metal Blade Records. The 12-track CD was produced by Mark Lewis (DEICIDE, DEVILDRIVER) and mixed by Jason Suecof (WHITECHAPEL, JOB FOR A COWBOY), at AudioHammer Studios in Sanford, Florida.

Led by the inimitable Chris Barnes, possessor of one of the most dominant and instantly recognizable voices of the death metal genre, "Undead" offers up an overhauled lineup. Now featuring Barnes alongside new guitarist Rob Arnold (ex-CHIMAIRA), longtime guitarist Steve Swanson, new bassist Jeff Hughell, and drummer Kevin Talley, whose history blasting for DYING FETUS, MISERY INDEX, and CHIMAIRA speaks for itself, SIX FEET UNDER 2012 finds the band reinvigorated and churning out some of the most visceral, in-your-face, and downright horrifying tunes in their renowned discography of brutality both, lyrically and musically.

Comments Barnes: "I'm in pretty much the best headspace I've been in since myself and [former guitarist] Allen West started this band in 1993. I'm super excited about the new record. It's a rejuvenation; it's a rebirth of SIX FEET UNDER, and fans will definitely latch on to my excitement and how focused I am in the lyrics I've written… The hypocrisies of daily life, things that affect us that spawn aggression, loneliness, sadness, there's a lot of emotions going on across the record, and I guess that the dark horror that humans cause is my niche."

"Undead" track listing:

01. Frozen At The Moment Of Death
02. Formaldehyde
03. 18 Days
04. Molest Dead
05. Blood On My Hands
06. Missing Victims
07. Reckless
08. Near Death Experience
09. The Scar
10. Delayed Combustion Device
11. Vampire Apocalypse
12. The Depths Of Depravity

The song "Formaldehyde" is available for streaming below.

In conjunction with the release of "Undead", SIX FEET UNDER will embark upon a near three-week run of live rituals this June. Dubbed the "18 Nights Of Blood Tour", the beatings will begin in Atlanta, Georgia on June 8 and ravage its way across the country before coming to a close on June 29 in Tampa, Florida. Support will be provided by DYING FETUS and REVOCATION.

SIX FEET UNDER's European tour will kick off on August 11 in Jaromer, Czech Republic and will conclude on August 18 in Hamburg, Germany. Support on the trek will come from DEW-SCENTED.

SIX FEET UNDER recently parted ways with bassist Matt DeVries and replaced him with Jeff Hughell, formerly of the Santa Cruz, California technical death metal band BRAIN DRILL and Concord, California death metal group VILE, and currently of RECIPROCAL.

Bassist Terry Butler and drummer Greg Gall announced their departures from SIX FEET UNDER in January 2011. Butler has since joined OBITUARY as a permanent member.

SIX FEET UNDER is:

* Rob Arnold (CHIMAIRA) - Guitar
* Kevin Talley (DAATH, MISERY INDEX, CHIMAIRA) - Drums
* Chris Barnes (CANNIBAL CORPSE) - Vocals
* Steve Swanson - Guitar
* Jeff Hughell (RECIPROCAL, BRAIN DRILL, VILE) - Bass
 
Norwegian black metal deconstructivist cell FURZE has completed the fifth chapter in the band's curious discography, and is prepared to release its most psychedelically-inclined blackened rock spectacle to date in the form of "Psych Minus Space Control".

Those who have studied previous releases cultivated by the Furzement are aware how each album this rogue outfit unleash steadily dumbfounds and intrigues, the more adventurous musical deviants immediately come back for more. The songs of FURZE are almost completely cultivated by the infamous Woe J. Reaper — who metaphysically cultures these hymns, from inception, through execution, all the way into production of the final product including the cultivation cover artwork and overall aesthetics of each release's delivery.

A plethora of FURZE releases have infiltrated the masses over the past fourteen or so, years including several EPs and a slew of scattered demos, amidst four LPs. "Trident Autocrat" (2000) and "Necromanzee Cogent" (2003) were initially released on Apocalyptic Empire Records and later reissued by Candlelight Records directly after releasing the UTD full-length worldwide in 2007, followed by the 2010-released "Reaper Subconscious Guide" via Agonia Records.

The newest opus in this lineage of experimentalism, "Psych Minus Space Control", defies even the unconventional practices of past FURZE albums, more rock/jam/broken-prog-oriented than ever, yet not without the usual oddities evenly mixing up the entire production. Recorded in three different studios, with sessions dating over ten years, the album contains material dating back to 1992. With over ninety percent of the LP lying in the vocal-free realms, the overall odd-yet-infectious qualities of the 43 minutes "Psych Minus Space Control" bears let the music do the preaching, and transport the listener to questionable, otherworldly realms, whether you wanted to be taken there or not... FURZE transgress the borders of black metal and classic psychedelic rock, evoking a mystic sensation of terror and elevation, suggesting a musical archetype where the powers of SUN RA, HELLHAMMER and BLACK SABBATH come into one.

"Psych Minus Space Control" track listing:

01. Occult Soul, With Mind
02. Psych Mooz Space Control
03. Reaper Subconscious Guide
04. Triad of Lucifer
05. When Always Ready

"Psych Minus Space Control" will see release under the banner of Fysisk Format, a Norwegian label responsible for releases by OBLITERATION, ARABROT, OKKULTOKRATI and more, and will be available to the North American public on May 15, under distribution of RedEye USA.
 
 
 
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions has announced the first-ever vinyl pressing of the ABSCESS collection "Urine Junkies", set for release on May 8. This will be a deluxe edition limited to 500 copies pressed on heavy picture disc vinyl and will include a unique double-sided air freshener, set of two name tags and a vile-urine filled syringe pen. Below is the official description.

Formed out of the ashes of AUTOPSY, ABSCESS continued the direction of "Shitfun" with their debut collection originally released on Relapse Records back in 1995. Further developing and incorporating elements of punk rock, hardcore and twisted grindcore, this is cameltoed fuck metal! "Urine Junkies" is a compilation of their first three studio demos, in reverse-chronological order: "Crawled Up From The Sewer" (1995), "Raw, Sick And Brutal Noize" (1994) and "Abscess" (1994)... 18 instantly classic, pornofreakographic anthems suitable only for those with a fetish for the sickest extreme metal. Diabolically clever black humor combined with purulent puke-punk, "Urine Junkies" shows ABSCESS in their prime as an utterly depraved four man musical freakshow generating scary, sing-a-long anthems. This deluxe edition is pressed on heavy 12-inch picture disc vinyl and includes a double-sided air freshener, set of two name tags and a disgusting urine filled syringe pen. Strictly limited to 500 copies so don't miss out on this!

You can reserve your copy for only $22 including shipping at this location.
 
 
 

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