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King Of Asgard - Ink Deal With Metal Blade

Metal Blade Records is proud to announce the signing of Swedish Viking Folk/Death metal band King Of Asgard for the European territory.

King Of Asgard was formed in 2008 by Karl Beckman (ex-Mithotyn) after dissolving his latest musical projects. Teaming up with long time absent fellow worker, Karsten Larsson (Falconer, ex-Mithotyn), once accomplice in the defunct vikinghorde Mithotyn. As a result, after years apart, the decision was made to go back to their roots both musically as well as heading for their Norse heritage in lyrical approach.

With creativity flowing, numerous songs were written and King Of Asgard recorded their 7-track demo Prince Of Märing at Lotang Studio that finally led to the deal with Metal Blade Records. In late 2009 Jonas Albrektsson joined the ranks on bass to strengthen the line-up further.

As we speak, King Of Asgard are busy recording their yet untitled debut album at Sonic Train Studio with Andy La Rocque (King Diamond) at the helm. The scheme is to leave the studio with twelve dirty folk-stinking songs mould in extreme metal, reminding of times of old. The debut album of King Of Asgard will be released later on this year.

Comments King Of Asgard on the record deal with Metal Blade Records: "King of Asgard are very proud being signed under the banners of Metal Blade Records. Releasing records under such influential label will be an honour and we feel our future collaboration will be nothing but grandiose. We are very keen on seeing what this can bring us. So teaming up with Brian, Andreas and the rest of the Blade-staff is something we're easily throwing ourselves into and we're eagerly devoted on getting our debut out and heads rolling. Lets see if we can create a winter of three!"

King Of Asgard line-up:

Karl Beckman - guitar, vocals (ex-Mithotyn)
Jonas Albrektsson - bass (ex-Ceremonial Execution, ex-Thy Primordial)
Karsten Larsson - drums (Falconer, ex-Mithotyn)

More info about the band at http://www.myspace.com/kingofasgardsweden.

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Source: metalblade.com
Band profile: Mithotyn
Posted: 10.03.2010 by Thryce | Comments (1)


Metal Storm Awards 2009 - Staff Picks Revealed!

Well, it is one week after your winners of the 2009 Metal Storm Awards were unveiled? you know what that means. It's time that we, the Metal Storm Staff, post up our winners.

We'd like to thank all the nominated bands for their efforts last year. There was a lot of good metal that we were able to enjoy. We spent the month of February listening to the nominees again and conducting our own polls. Some were runaway favorites whereas other genres had such tight competition that we required run-offs to determine a winner.

So we cordially invite you to tell us just how little we know about metal, how much our picks suck (or don't, if your tastes are similarly aligned)? you can do so here.

Category Pick
Alternative Mastodon - Crack The Skye
Atmospheric/Symphonic Madder Mortem - Eight Ways
Black Deströyer 666 - Defiance
Death Asphyx - Death... The Brutal Way
Doom Process Of Guilt - Erosion
Extreme Doom Colosseum - Numquam
Gothic Paradise Lost - Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us
Grindcore Brutal Truth - Evolution Through Revolution
Hard Rock Hardcore Superstar - Beg For It
Heavy 3 Inches Of Blood - Here Waits Thy Doom
Melodeath/Gothenburg Insomnium - Across The Dark
Metalcore Converge - Axe To Fall
Pagan/Viking/Folk Finsterforst - ...Zum Tode Hin
Post-Metal/Avantgarde Sólstafir - Köld
Power Sonata Arctica - The Days Of Grays
Progressive Between The Buried And Me - The Great Misdirect
Sludge Ghost Brigade - Isolation Songs
Thrash Warbringer - Waking Into Nightmares
Cover song Leaves' Eyes - Scarborough Fair (Traditional English song)
Debut album Oranssi Pazuzu - Muukalainen Puhuu


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Posted: 09.03.2010 by BitterCOld | Comments (44)


Behemoth - Frontman Formally Charged For Bible Destruction

According to Interia.pl and GazetaPrawna.pl, vocalist/guitarist Adam "Nergal" Darski of Behemoth was formally charged on Monday (March 8) for insulting Roman Catholics.

As reported by Blabbermouth, Darski made headlines in his native country in September 2007 when he reportedly called the Catholic Church "the most murderous cult on the planet" during a Behemoth performance in Gdynia and tore up a copy of the Bible onstage (see video footage here).

After the incident, Ryszard Nowak, head of the All-Polish Committee for Defense Against Sects sued Behemoth for promoting Satanism. Although a court expert witness on religious matters said that the act of destroying the Holy Bible could offend somebody's religious feelings (a criminal offense under Polish law), the case was discontinued because no one except Nowak accused Behemoth of insulting their religious beliefs. (Under Polish law, there must be at least two formal complaints before a charge is laid. The previous complaint was made in 2008, and recently an unspecified number of other complaints had been filed.)

Nergal is pleading not guilty to the charge.

According to Metal As Fuck, in the first hearing, under cross examination, Darski stated what he does on stage is part of artistic license and it wasn't supposed to offend religious feelings. However, an expert on religious history and studies from Jagellonian University in Krakow stated that every copy of a bible could be considered a religious icon.

There was no judgment ruled against Darski in the first hearing, but now that a second complaint has been filed, the matter will be heard by the courts.

IF(!) found guilty, Darski faces up to 2 years in prison.

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Source: roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile: Behemoth
Posted: 09.03.2010 by Thryce | Comments (144)


Life Of Agony - New Label, Belgium Show To Be Filmed For Live CD/DVD

I Scream Records is very excited and proud to welcome Life Of Agony to the family.

On Saturday April 3rd 2010, I Scream Records will be recording and filming Life Of Agony's performance at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium - the second show of their exclusive European "20 Years Strong" tour. In late 2009 the band performed their debut album River Runs Red in its entirety during a few exclusive, sold out, US shows and now, after popular demand, they're also heading over to Europe to perform a set built around this amazing, legendary album.

The release of this 20 Years Strong live album, which will also include a free bonus DVD of the complete show at the Ancienne Belgique, exclusive footage and much more, is set for early this Summer.

"We're really excited to capture this moment in time," LOA bassist, Alan Robert, said in a statement. "Twenty years, man, that's no joke! If you would've asked us when we were kids growin' up in Brooklyn if we thought that we'd ever make something this important to people around the world, we probably would've laughed in your face. But here we are, still selling out shows after all this time and turning people's tragedy into hope. Somehow, through the music, we've helped a lot of folks out there. And that's what's always been most important to us."

I Scream's Laurens Kusters adds: "We're very excited about this collaboration. This will be an amazing release, recorded at the Ancienne Belgique, one of the most exclusive European clubs, in Brussels Belgium, the city where I Scream Records was founded in 1994."

Life Of Agony "20 Years Strong" - European Tour 2010:

April 2nd - Effenaar in Eindhoven, The Netherlands (sold out)
April 3rd - Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium
April 4th - Matrix in Bochum, Germany

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Source: iscreamrecords.com
Band profile: Life Of Agony
Event: Life Of Agony Plays River Runs Red
Posted: 09.03.2010 by Thryce | Comments (1)


Cult Of Luna - Entire Concert Available Online

Quality video footage of Cult Of Luna performing in Estonia has been made available online. The full concert is streaming at Tyronehood.tv. Cult Of Luna played at Club Tapper in Tallinn, Estonia on Sunday, February 28th, 2010. The setlist was as follows:

Dark City, Dead Man
Owlwood
Dim
Eternal Kingdom
Inside Fort Meade
Receiver
Österbotten
Finland,
Leave Me Here
Ghost Trail

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Source: tyronehood.tv
Band profile: Cult Of Luna
Event: Cult Of Luna
Posted: 09.03.2010 by Thryce | Comments (4)


Alcest - New Song Online

In response to fevered anticipation over the new Alcest album Écailles De Lune, German label Prophecy Productions has released a .m3u stream of the new song "Écailles De Lune (Part I)". The link for the stream can be found here.

The album will be released on March 29, 2010.

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Source: blogs.myspace.com
Band profile: Alcest
Posted: 09.03.2010 by Bleak_Advent | Comments (2)


Pestilence - N. American Tour With Warbringer, Vital Remains

Pestilence will embark on a North American tour, supported by Warbringer, Vital Remains, Enfold Darkness and Sacrificial Slaughter. This will be Pestilence's first US tour in over 16 years. Dates run as follows:

05/30 - Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest (Pestilence only)

05/31 - Chattanooga, TN @ Club Mosaic (no Warbringer)
06/01 - New Orleans, LA @ The Bar (no Warbringer)
06/02 - Austin, TX @ Emo's
06/03 - Ft. Worth, TX @ Ridglea Theater
06/04 - Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
06/05 - Tempe, AZ @ Club Red
06/06 - Ramona, CA @ Ramona Mainstage
06/07 - Los Angeles, CA @ Ultra Violet
06/08 - San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge
06/09 - Portland, OR @ Satyricon
06/10 - Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
06/13 - St. Paul, MN @ Station 4
06/14 - Chicago, IL @ Reggie's
06/15 - Toronto, ON @ Mod Club Theater (no Warbringer)
06/16 - Montreal, QC @ Les Foufounes Electriques (no Warbringer)
06/17 - New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater

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Source: lambgoat.com
Band profile: Pestilence
Event: Pestilence + Vital Remains
Posted: 09.03.2010 by Thryce | Comments (0)


DragonForce - Part Ways With Vocalist

DragonForce has split with vocalist ZP "Zippy" Theart. The following message was posted on the band's website:

"It is with great regret that DragonForce announce a parting of the ways with singer ZP Theart. This is due to insurmountable differences of musical opinion but the rest of the band sincerely wish ZP great success with his future projects.

While the creative core members have begun writing the fifth album, they have also started a worldwide search for a new vocalist. "We are looking for a powerful melodic singer, to write a new chapter of DragonForce with us." said guitarist Herman Li.

Anyone wishing to audition for the vacant position should apply following the instructions at this web address."

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Source: dragonforce.com
Band profile: DragonForce
Posted: 09.03.2010 by BudDa | Comments (42)


Darksun - Album Details Revealed

Darksun's upcoming album will be titled Touching the Sun. The record is scheduled for a April 5th release. The cover art was done by Dani Alonso (WarCry, Sauze).

Touching the Sun cover art] tracklist:

01. The Dream Of Shiva
02. The Inner Light
03. Road To The Stars
04. Touch The Sun
05. Anima
06. When Dreams Die
07. Resurrection
08. Fragile
09. Awakening
10. Salt Sculptures
11. The End Of Eternity
12. Anima (Victor Garcia)

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Source: blogs.myspace.com
Band profile: Darksun
Posted: 09.03.2010 by BudDa | Comments (1)


Alestorm - Drummer Abandoned Ship

Alestorm drummer Ian Wilson bailed out his band... again. Here is Wilson's final statement:

"So aye, I quit Alestorm earlier this week because I'd basically just had enough of all the bullshit that goes with being in that band. I'm not going to divulge much information because I'm totally done with it. But I will say that for me I had nothing more to give to the band and had no time left for some of the people in Alestorm. So that was what my final decision was based on.

The positive from this is I can now focus all my attention on music I want to play! I've been writing material for my new band The Bloodless which I've formed with some old band mates from Catharist, and I've also been able to recruit my boy Pat Henry (Swashbuckle) on vocals which I'm excited about. We're playing some old school death metal inspired by shit like Hypocrisy, Entombed and Death Breath and I'm quite sure it's gonna be a success judging by the material we've got already!"

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Source: blogs.myspace.com
Band profile: Alestorm
Posted: 09.03.2010 by Sjuk | Comments (13)


Detonation - New Album Finished

Dutch melodic death metallers Detonation have issued the following great news:

"Finally! The new album is finished. We have set Reprisal as the title for our 4th full length album. We're very pleased with the outcome of this CD, it's heavier than anything we've done in the past, and the songs also feel more personal and in your face. Our new band mates Michiel and Danny also put their mark on it, and both did an excellent job on Reprisal. We have uploaded the song "There is no turning Back" for you guys to check out. But as always, it's difficult to capture the whole albums' vibe with just 1 song. But anyway, check it out and let us know what you think!"

The artwork has been done by Kevin Storm. The band is currently still in search for a label to release the effort.

Reprisal cover art] tracklist:

01. Enslavement
02. There Is No Turning Back
03. Feeding On The Madness
04. Ruptured
05. Absentia Mentis
06. Washing Away The Blood
07. Falling Prey
08. Insults To My Heritage

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Source: blogs.myspace.com
Band profile: Detonation
Posted: 08.03.2010 by Thryce | Comments (9)


Perpetual Fire - New Album Available For Free Download

Italian Power metal band Perpetual Fire will release their second album Invisible through IceWarrior Records/Rock It Up Records. The album is described as "a new hilight for fans of melodic power metal á la Freedom Call, Heavenly, Gamma Ray or Seven Gates". The album will also be released in a limited IceWarrior-Edition. The complete album is available for free download at this location.

Invisible cover art] tracklist:

01. Invisible
02. Kissing shadow
03. April's blood
04. Walking on your fire
05. In the cage
06. Lost forever
07. Winter's night
08. Velvet rope
09. Eternity
10. My ship is burning
11. Secrets
12. Time machine
13. Who We Are

Bonus tracks:
14. Say goodbye
15. Cold rain
16. Alien

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Source: blogs.myspace.com
Band profile: Perpetual Fire
Posted: 08.03.2010 by ArtiA | Comments (1)


Greatest Metal Video Ever... So Far

It's Sunday morning and there is traditionally no news to report at this time. So let's get back to that certain Metal Storm feature in which we look for the greatest metal video in the history of awesome. Just like in last week's issue we prefer to do it the hilarious/eccentric/ludicrous way.

This week's heavyweight champion defending his belt is Children - Power Spirit.

For some inexplicable reason, recording your video in the middle of the woods in some ridiculous outfit has always been considered "cool" in the worldwide metal community (am I right Trollech?). But this video... oh my god, this video. This video... oh my god.

Who would've thought that running and hopping around with a guitar, sunglasses and what seems to be purple one-piece pajamas in the deepest, darkest woods of upstate New York could be so metal? Certainly not me. I don't know what drugs these guys are on (have you seen that drum kit? Or the weird dance move before the guitar solo?), but the long johns-wearing tree-hugger in me will have what they're having.

Or I'm missing the point of some crucial metaphor here, or this may well be the best video in like, ever. Still, this thing keeps freaking me out every time I watch it. These are the kind of fruitcakes I'm sure not even the Blair Witch would come near to.

Children's debut album Hard Times Hanging At The End Of The World was released in May 2009 through Kemado Records.

Thryce with your suggestions for next time's edition (coming anytime soon). Videos preferably as recent as possible!]

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Posted: 07.03.2010 by Thryce | Comments (48)


Demon Hunter - New Album Streaming Online

Head over to Demon Hunter's MySpace to listen to the entire new album The World Is A Thorn. The band's fifth studio effort will be released on March 9 via Solid State Records.

The World Is A Thorn was produced by Aaron Sprinkle (Acceptance, Anberlin, The Almost) and mixed by producer Jason Suecof (All That Remains, Trivium). All album details are gathered here.

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Source: myspace.com
Band profile: Demon Hunter
Posted: 07.03.2010 by Thryce | Comments (2)


Preternatural - New EP Available For Free Download

Latvian melodic death metalers Preternatural's brand new EP Cryophobia is up for FREE download.

In October 2009 the band already released their debut video "Cryophobia" (watch it here). Now, the self-titled audio follower is available online. You can either download the entire EP here or stream it over at the band's MySpace.

The EP was recorded and mixed with the help of sound engineer Gint Lundberg at Pentagon Music studio in Latvia. It contains two new songs from the upcoming album, one re-recorded and re-arranged song from the band's first demo record Presence, and 2 live tracks performed in Riga, Latvia in 2009.

Vocalist Serg comments: "Currently, we're busy with the new album making process, so this is a gift to all of you in order not to be bored, while waiting for the new album."

Cryophobia cover art] tracklist:

01. Cryophobia
02. Reptile wings
03. Paranormal Phenomena 2010
04. Reflections (live)
05. Statical (live)

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Source: myspace.com
Posted: 06.03.2010 by Thryce | Comments (5)