A video trailer for The Monochromatic Era, the highly anticipated debut album from Swiss modern metallers Breach The Void, can be seen below. The Monochromatic Era will be released by Coroner Records on 11th October 2010.

Breach The Void born from the genial mind of the drummer Alex Anxionna (former Sybreed), who presents the forthcoming album as a glacial modern metal platter featuring a strong impact and dreaming melodies. The Monochromatic Era was mastered at Antfarm Studio by Tue Madsen (Dark Tranquillity, Mnemic, The Haunted).

Two preview tracks "Subversive Mind" and "Falling" are streaming at the band's MySpace page.

The Monochromatic Era cover art] tracklist:

01. Propagate
02. Subversive Mind
03. Retribution Engine
04. Customized Genotype
05. Falling
06. Digital Structure
07. EC-10
08. Ruins
09. Spirals
10. System Failure

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Source:

blogs.myspace.com

After the tragic passing of co-founding Quiet Riot singer Kevin DuBrow in 2007, many figured that the band was over. But while going through the vaults of vintage video material for an upcoming documentary of the band's history, the spark was reignited once more for drummer Frankie Banali to kick Quiet Riot back in gear. The easy part was filling the guitar and bass slots ? as former members Chuck Wright (bass) and Alex Grossi (guitar) promptly signed on. However, having to fill DuBrow's large shoes was no small task.

A longtime fan of heavy metal, singer Mark Huff came to Banali's attention while fronting a California-based Van Halen tribute band (that focused on the "Sammy Hagar era"). A true Cinderella story, Huff auditioned via a cattle call audition, promptly blew Banali away, and got the gig. After getting the blessing from DuBrow's mother to carry on with Quiet Riot (and to celebrate her son's music), the group was ready to rock once more.

Quiet Riot is currently firming up plans for a full U.S. tour ? their first in three years. And with the aforementioned documentary on the horizon, and the band's music being used in hit films ("The Wrestler", "Tropic Thunder"), video games ("Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks The '80s"), and even musicals ("Rock of Ages") Quiet Riot remains a major force in heavy metal. And soon, you will get a chance to bang your head once more to Quiet Riot, at a concert venue near you.

Click here to check out a sample track featuring recorded versions of "Cum On Feel The Noize", "Metal Health" and "Slick Black Cadillac" with Mark Huff on vocals.

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Source:

officialquietriot.com

Metal Mind Records press release

Jon Nödtveidt was best known for being the founding member of the Swedish black/death metal group Dissection, which was strongly associated with Anti-Cosmic Satanism and the Occult. The group disbanded in 2006 after Nödtveidt's sudden death. Not many people know that Jon was involved in a number of musical projects, such as The Black, Nifelheim, Ophthalamia, Siren's Yell and Terror (with members of At The Gates). De Infernali was also one of those projects but this time the music ventured into an entirely different dimension of brutality...

De Infernali was an extremely short-lived affair, lasting only two years in total. It started in 1996, when Nödtveidt begun experimenting with dark ambient sounds, writing music for no particular purpose. It wasn't until his roommate Damien Midvinter was let into this project that De Infernali became a more serious creation (which it was never intended to be in the first place). Nödtveidt wrote the core of the material, while Midvinter contributed the songs "Ave Satan" and "Sign of the Dark", and helped with some of the other compositions. Soon the duo had enough tracks for a full-length album. They decided to record it with the famous Swedish producer and musician Dan Swäno (known from working with Therion, Opeth, Katatonia, Marduk, Bloodbath and others) who also did the vocals on "Sign of the Dark".

The album was released by Nuclear Blast in 1997. The musical content of Symphonia De Infernali left a lot of listeners familiar with Nödtveidt's previous works (especially Dissection) genuinely puzzled. The songs were completely deprived of any guitar sounds, focusing on dark ambience and haunting electronics. Some of the tracks were purely piano-driven (like the opening "Into The Labyrinths of Desolation", as well as "Orcus Lursus" and "Revival/Paroxysmal Winds/Forever Gone"), other were more mechanical ("Atomic Age", "Liberation"), taking a slightly more industrial direction. Although not really associated with metal music in general, the album showcased a unique black metal atmosphere. The lyrics were strongly connected to Nödtveidt's beliefs, dealing with themes of Satanism, Anti-Christianity and death. De Infernali disbanded shortly after releasing their debut offering.

Symphonia De Infernali remains an obscure, yet fascinating release, revealing a side of Nödtveidt that not many of his fans knew before. This exclusive reissue brings back a true dark ambient gem in all its despicable glory. The new digipak edition of the album is limited to 2000 copies. Remastered using tube technology, digitally edited on a golden disc. Metal Mind Productions set the release date for 7th October in Europe and 7th December in USA (via MVD).

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Source:	metalmind.com.pl
Band profile:	Dissection

Wolfgang Teske, founding member and former guitarist of German technical brutal death metal outfit Defeated Sanity, has passed away yesterday, September 12th. This was confirmed by his son, Defeated Sanity's drummer, Lille Gruber, on MySpace. Teske was 57 years old.

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Defeated Sanity

Agony & Opium - the debut release from Olympia, Washington-based traditionale heavy metal act Christian Mistress - is now streaming in its entirety on Decibel Magazine's website.

Still a fairly new act, Christian Mistress have created a massive stir in recent weeks, building up to and following the recent arrival of Agony & Opium, which was released on August 24th via Olympia's 20 Buck Spin label. Jacking tons of fresh and unique energy into a classic style, the band are quickly becoming known internationally via incredible media and fan response to the album.

"Unapologetic, un-produced and ready to rock the local bar or backyard party like the world is ending." Tune in now to check out these six tracks of thunderous, purely infectious, classic heavy metal.

Agony & Opium cover art] tracklist:

01. Riding on the Edges
02. Desert Rose
03. Home in the Sun
04. Poison Path
05. Black Vigil
06. Omega Stone

Read more ››

Source:

decibelmagazine.com

Extreme sludge doom metal trio Salome have completed work on their highly anticipated new album that has been christened Terminal. The album will hit the streets on November 9th through Profound Lore Records. An MP3 of the track "Master Failure" can be heard here.

Known as one of the most prominent bands within sludge/doom metal circles today, Salome have build up quite a reputation within said scene over the years since their eponymous 2008 debut, and with the split LP they did last year with their peers Thou. Most notably, it has been through Salome's intense and brutal live shows where the trio comprised of vocalist Kat (Agoraphobic Nosebleed), drummer Aaron Deal (Nitro Tokyo), and guitarist Rob Moore, have been building their reputation as one of doom metal's most devastating bands today.

With a presence unlike any other band in doom metal, Salome's brand of crawling time-stretching amplifier abusing doom builds the fine line between a stripped down, claustrophobic, tight introverted torturous audial assault and an expansive cinematic earth crumbling soundscape of pure devastation. This of course all conjured by the use of Kat's inhuman brutal vocal assault (a female vocalist who is easily considered as one of the most intense vocalists and performers in extreme metal today), Aaron Deal's thunderous and ritualistic methodical drum pounding and noise manipulating, and Rob Moore's brutally glacial guitar grooves and crawling chord progressions.

In what will easily come across as Salome's most accomplished and epic work to date, Terminal is an intense 70-plus minute sonic jaunt of punishing sludge doom metal reverence.

Terminal cover art] tracklist:

01. The Message
02. Terminal
03. Master Failure MP3]
04. Epidemic
05. An Accident Of History
06. The Witness
07. The Unbelievers

Read more ››

Source:

profoundlorerecords.com

System Divide's new album, The Conscious Sedation, is set for release on September 14th, 2010 through Metal Blade Records. The album was mixed by the legendary James Murphy (Testament, Obituary, Death, etc.)

System Divide has members hailing from Israel, Belgium and the United States, featuring Sven De Caluwe (Aborted) and Miri Milman (ex-Distorted) on vocals, Cole Martinez (ex-Years Of Fire, Antenora) and Joseph Spiller (ex-The Binary Code) on guitars, Andrew Lenthe (Antenora) on bass, and Mike Heller (Malignancy) on drums.

From now until its release, you can stream The Conscious Sedation in its entirety exclusively on Metalunderground.com.

The Conscious Sedation cover art] tracklist:

01. Vagaries Of Perception
02. An Intoxicating Affair
03. Echoes
04. The Apex Doctrine
05. Lethargy
06. (N)Ether
07. Hollow
08. Purity In Imperfection
09. Repent/Forget
10. The Conscious Sedation
11. Stagnant Progression

Read more ››

Source:

metalunderground.com

Later this month, Iced Earth will be doing a four city mini-tour in the US. The show is promised to be a special night with a fan-selected Iced Earth set list, and the live debut of Sons Of Libery, the brainchild of Jon Schaffer featuring Schaffer on lead vocals. Here's the official press release:

"When Jon Schaffer does something, he does it right. Like creating an eclectic, fan-favorite set list for Iced Earth's upcoming limited-engagement U.S. tour.

"I wanted to give fans something really special," Schaffer said. "So I put together songs that include some we've rarely played live before, and at least one that reaches back to our first album. Even long-time fans of Iced Earth are going to be surprised."

Iced Earth kicks off its four-city U.S. tour on September 10 in Washington DC, followed by Chicago (September 21), New York (September 23), and West Hollywood (September 25).

But the set list isn't the only treat in store for fans of Iced Earth. Schaffer's Sons Of Liberty band, featuring Schaffer on lead vocals, makes its live debut on this tour.

"Sons of Liberty is a project that is near and dear to my heart," Schaffer said. "I'm very passionate about it. This is an opportunity for me to speak directly to the people. Hopefully, I can inspire them to look into the message and wake up to what is going on around them. This isn't about me thinking I'm a great singer or front man. In fact, through the rehearsing process my respect has only grown for Matt Barlow. Doing lead vocals presents a whole new set of challenges for me."

According to Schaffer, the response to his Sons of Liberty album Brush-Fires of the Mind has been overwhelming. It was only officially released on July 13, but already tens of thousands of copies have been sold and given away on his web site. Hundreds more are downloaded every week.

But as popular as Sons of Liberty has become, it's Iced Earth that takes center stage this month. "We haven't been this energized and passionate in a long time," Schaffer said. "We are definitely going to kick ass, and have a lot of fun doing it."

Preparing for the four-city tour isn't all that's been keeping Schaffer busy these days. He's also working on a new Iced Earth album (scheduled for release Spring, 2011), a live DVD (scheduled for release before the end of this year), and a special project he will only say fans will "freakin' love."

Read more ››

Source:	icedearth.com
Band profile:	Iced Earth

Turns out that Dark Funeral is more like a sinking ship than a thriving black metal band these days. After vocalist Emperor Magus Caligula (his mommy calls him Magnus Bromberg) announced his departure in July, followed by bassist B-Force only a month later, also drummer Nils Fjellström is now leaving the group. You may remember Nils Fjellström from the Monday news report where he announced his split from his other band Aeon.

Here's the official word from founding member Lord Ahriman (his driver's licence says Micke Svanberg): "Recently, you could read about Nils "Dominator" Fjellstrom's departure from Aeon due to personal/private reasons. Today we can confirm that he'll no longer be part of Dark Funeral either. And just like Aeon, we won't comment on this subject any further.

With that being said, I/we see no reason to waste any time here. Besides a new vocalist, we are currently looking for a new drummer too. If you do believe that you have what it takes for the job, please send us a brief introduction and some audio/video files/links of your performance to: vocalist darkfuneral se

With the recent departures from the band I/we understand if this may cause some worries and/or confusion amongst you all, but you can be rest assured that everything is under total control! It's not like anyone have left the band on bad terms, but unfortunately, sometimes things like this is inventible, and needs to happen to secure the survival of a band. And there is absolutely no doubt in my/our mind that once the new line-up is complete. We will be a stronger and better band than ever.

Musically we will continue in the same paths. I'm still main responsible for all the song writings, incl. the drums. So you have nothing to worry about there. However, a new line-up will naturally color the sound in some ways, but I'm totally confident that it will only be for the better.

I've recently started writing and demoing new stuff in my home studio. And just like I - and guitarist Chaq Mol (his supermarket loyalty card says Bo Karlsson) - did when I/we worked on the pre-production for Angelus Exuro pro Eternus, I'm not only nailing down the guitar parts, I'm also programming the drums. So far it sounds totally fucking killer (of course!). However, at this point it's obviously still too early to say in what direction we'll be heading with the new material/album. We'll keep everything "wide open" until the new line-up is complete. And once complete, we'll continue to work on the new album as a full band. And this time I hope that everyone will be able to contribute with some killer material to make this to the best and strongest Dark Funeral album to date!"

Read more ››

Source:	darkfuneral.se
Band profile:	Dark Funeral

French Symphonic/Progressive Power metal act Auspex are all set to release their sophomore album, Heliopause. The new album will be released on October 10 through via Pervade Production. A short album teaser is available below, and the album will be available for streaming in its entirety on the band's website on the 1st of October! Don't miss it.

Heliopause cover art] tracklist:

01. Electric Sheep
02. Silence
03. I Walked Awoken On Titan
04. In Through The Looking Glass
05. The Pulse Of Emptiness
06. Setsunaki Tabi
07. 0-1-0-1 (And So On...)
08. Ad Astra Per Aspera
09. Resolutio


Read more ››

Source:	auspexmusic.com
Band profile:	Auspex

Lithuanian metal music festival Devilstone Open Air 2010 - which took place last July in the little town of Anyksciai - has gained a serious amount of criticism from the religious community. The Prosecution Service even started a pre-investigation whether or not the festival has provoked religious disunion.

According to an official press release, the festival has been highly acclaimed by its target fans and the broad society... except for the religious community of the town. Recently a group of local Catholics and the Dean of the local church publicly expressed their opponent attitude towards the festival. These people even initiated a pre-trial investigation accusing the festival and/or one of the festival's headliners Mayhem of provoking religious disunion.

Local Catholics and the Dean declare their religious feelings have been insulted as they witnessed the photos of the band's performance where Mayhem front-man Attila Csihar wore something similar to a cassock, had an inverted cross, bloody mask and a gallows loop.

The Dean applied to the Ministry of Justice which in turn forwarded the case back to the local Prosecution Service of Anyksciai. The pre-trial investigation is in the process and the organizers of the festival are scheduled to express their statement next week.

In the meanwhile such unprecedented case has been highlighted by Lithuanian media and is being hastily discussed by the society. The majority express their negative reaction to the initiators of the case, comparing the present situation with the middle ages. On the other side a minority defends the Dean and the religious community, stating that the festival and its content are harmful for people's moral.

The organizer of the festival - ALT events - justifies the festival, the band and the festival's nature, as the aim of it is not to provoke disunity among religious, national, racial, ethnic or any other groups of people. The organizer stands for the viewpoint that even the most extreme and radical shows on stage should be considered as art of performance; the freedom of artistic expression should not be restrained, was it black metal music or a piece of contemporary art.

It is expected that such unwanted confrontation between the festival and religious institution would not determine the end of festival's existence. The relation with local authorities of the church has been complicated since the debut of the festival in 2009, when the Dean aimed to ban the festival for its title "Devilstone" and for its last year's headliner Sepultura, which, according to the Dean, was a Satanic band.

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Source:	devilstone.net
Band profile:	Mayhem
Event:	Devilstone Open Air

Original news, published on 18.08.2010

Atheist are gradually revealing more and more details about the new album Jupiter, the band's first studio release in 17 years. The album is tentatively due in November, under the heading of Season Of Mist, with a world tour to follow. Album recordings took place in July at LedBelly recording studios in Atlanta, GA with Matt Washburn. Jason Suecof (Chimaira, Trivium) was responsible for the mixing.

As reported last week, the bass tracks were not recorded by Tony Choy but by guitarist Jonathan Thompson, who is also the bassist in Gnostic.

Before entering the studio, vocalist Kelly Shaeferstated: "It's ferocious, intelligent, and dead balls heavy as shit! When people hear this they're going to say, 'It's Atheist!'". More reactions of the band can be found on this page.

Jupiter cover art] tracklist:

01. Second To Sun
02. Fictitious Glide
03. Fraudulent Cloth
04. Live And Live Again
05. Faux King Christ
06. Tortoise The Titan
07. When The Beast
08. Third Person

UPDATE

Atheist have revealed the cover artwork for the upcoming Jupiter album. The artwork was created by Eliran Kantor. The album will be released on November 8 via Season Of Mist.


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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Atheist

Original news, published on 08.07.2010

Therion touring/session vocalist Snowy Shaw (his birth certificate reads Tommie Helgesson) has quit the band after four years, two studio albums, live DVD's and numerous tours around the world.

In a message to Blabbermouth.net, Snowy Shaw states: "I've had a terrific and great time touring and working with Therion and I do wish them nothing but the best in the future, but I've felt for some time that it's time for me to move on. I also wanna take the opportunity to show my gratitude and thank all the loyal fans for their support, love and understanding."

Shaw ? who has previously toured and/or recorded with Dream Evil, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate and Memento Mori, among other acts ? was forced to sit out this weekend's show with Therion at the Rock Harz Festival in Germany due to sickness. This would have been Snowy's last appearance with the band.

Snowy has written and co-written songs for the forthcoming Therion album, Sitra Ahra, which is scheduled for release in September through Nuclear Blast Records.

Shaw's departure from Therion will not affect the group's upcoming live appearances, as singer Thomas Vikström will handle Snowy's parts at the Rock Harz Festival and on the upcoming tours in South/Central America, Mexico and Europe.

UPDATE (thanks to Zmaj Ognjeni Vuk)

Swedish metallers Therion have announced that Snowy Shaw has rejoined the band and will perform on their upcoming tour.

Christofer Johnsson (guitar) stated: "We are very happy to announce that Snowy has rejoined Therion. We welcomed him back with open arms, and we will now be making a mix between the new show we had planned, and the last one which involved Snowy. We think the merger between the two concepts will be incredible, and we look forward to taking the band's live performance to the next level."

Therion will release their forthcoming album, Sitra Ahra, on September in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records.

Read more ››

Source:	megatherion.com
Band profile:	Therion

Original news, published on 03.08.2010

While I could have sworn the upcoming Cradle Of Filth album would be called All Hallows Eve, the band now revealed it will be Darkly Darkly Venus Aversa instead.

Darkly Darkly Venus Aversa will be released in North America on November 9 via Nuclear Blast Records. The record will be available in European stores on October 22 through Peaceville Records on the band's own AbraCadaver.

In an April press release, Darkly Darkly Venus Aversa was described as "a full-blown concept album, based on Adam's first wife, the lascivious Demoness Lilith; throwing Medieval nuns, Knights Templars, Greek mythology and lashings of sex, occult lore and violent bloodshed into the smelting pot, to create a darkly erotic nightmare set to their unique scope of supreme vampyric metal."

UPDATE

Cradle Of Filth have revealed the cover artwork for the upcoming Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa album.

In other news, you can click here to go to the new Cradle Of Filth microsite and sign up to the mailing list to receive your free MP3 download of the new song "Lilith Immaculate".

Read more ››

Source:	peaceville.com
Band profile:	Cradle Of Filth

A brand new Dagoba ditty, called "Waves Of Doom" is now streaming on the band's MySpace page. Another track of the new album Poseidon, "Black Smokers (752 Farenheit)", was already made available earlier.

Poseidon was recorded at Hyperion Studio in Marseille, France with "Brew" Varea and mixed by Dave Chang at Philia Studio, UK. The album will be released on August 30 through XIII Bis Records. Check out the cover artwork in more detail here.

Poseidon cover art] tracklist:

01. 43 17'n / 5 22'e
02. Dead Lion Reef
03. Columnae
04. The Devil's Triangle
05. Degree Zero
06. The Horn Cape
07. Black Smokers (752 Farenheit)
08. Ha Long
09. Shen Lung
10. I Sea Red
11. Theres Blood Offshore
12. Waves Of Doom

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Dagoba