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Mastodon - Album Cover Artwork Unveiled

Atlanta progressive metallers Mastodon will release their new upcoming album, The Hunter, this October through Reprise Records. You can find the album cover artwork below.

The artwork was created by AJ Fosik, a wood carver who is also responsible for the backdrop the band uses live. This marks the first time Mastodon has not used acclaimed artist Paul Romano, who was responsible for all of the group's previous artwork.

Mastodon recently revealed more song titles for The Hunter. Tracks to appear on the band's follow-up to 2009's Crack The Skye include: "The Hunter: All The Heavy Lifting", "Dry Bone Valley", "Blasteroids", "The Octopus Has No Friends", "Stargasm", and "Curl Of The Burl".

The Hunter was recorded at Doppler Studios in the band's hometown of Atlanta as well as in Los Angeles with producer Mike Elizondo. As with all of their albums, Mastodon decided to take a completely different tack and musical approach to the music on this album. The band feels confident that fans will be excited and fulfilled by what they will hear.

Adultswim.com still has an unreleased Mastodon song, called "Deathbound", available as free download.

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Source: mastodonrocks.com
Band profile: Mastodon
Posted: 07.07.2011 by Thryce | Comments (40)


Obscura - Bassist Leaves The Band

Bassist Jeroen Paul Thesseling (Pestilence, ex-Mayan) has left German progressive death metallers Obscura.

In a statement released to Blabbermouth, Thesseling explained: "Due to repetitive conflicting schedules with job related obligations I have decided to depart Obscura. Beside the limited availability that kept me away from touring during the last months, I feel like taking new directions in my musical development.

Looking back, the cooperation with Obscura has been positive and successful. However, it's time to move on and find new challenges and opportunities for my musical career.

I would like to thank all the fans who supported us and wish Obscura all the best with their future work."

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Source: roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile: Obscura
Posted: 07.07.2011 by Thryce | Comments (17)


Fleshgod Apocalypse - Reveal Album Cover Art

Italy's brutal horde, Fleshgod Apocalypse, has revealed the cover art for the band's Nuclear Blast Records debut Agony, due on August 9th.

Marco Hasmann, who worked with the band on the previous releases, Mafia and Oracles, crafted the record's intricate cover design.

The band comments: "The album cover is about the eternal struggle of mankind; we're condemned to live facing our evil side, which dwells in every one of us. We are like tied to the ground, forced in chains that can't be broken, so the man in the cover is representing all humanity and its eternal agony, knowing that it's almost impossible to liberate ourselves from the obscurity of our nature. Unless we decide to admit to ourselves who we are and face our doom, that would be the only way to free our kind and rise to an higher conscience, someday."

Agony tracklist:

01. Temptation
02. The Hypocrisy
03. The Imposition
04. The Deceit
05. The Violation
06. The Egoism
07. The Betrayal
08. The Forsaking
09. The Oppression
10. Agony

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Source: facebook.com
Band profile: Fleshgod Apocalypse
Posted: 24.06.2011 by Thryce | Comments (28)


Generation Kill - Debut Album In September

Generation Kill, the crossover outfit featuring Exodus frontman Rob Dukes, have named their debut album Red, White and Blood and will unleash this thrashing beast on next September 16th in Europe and on September 27th in North America through Season Of Mist.

Prior to this, a digital single including the title track of the album and a cover of Nine Inch Nails's classic "Wish" will be released worldwide on July 4th.

A two-minute sample of "Red White And Blood" is available for streaming over at Facebook.

Red White And Blood was recorded at J. Rod Production Studios in New City, New York (where the vocal tracks for Exodus' Let There Be Blood and Overkill's Ironbound were previously laid down).

According to a press release, "The original concept of the band was to break away from the current formula by embracing their roots and incorporating them into the project.

Generation Kill is a true crossover band. Each song has its own identity, and mood, which gives the band its original sound without abandoning their influences."

Generation Kill line-up:

Rob Dukes (Exodus) - vocals
Rob Moschetti (ex-Pro-Pain, Method Of Destruction) - bass/backing vocals
Lou Lehman - lead guitar
Jason Trenczer - lead guitar
Sam Inzerra (Mortician) - drums

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Source: season-of-mist.com
Band profile: Exodus
Posted: 23.06.2011 by Thryce | Comments (3)


Devian - Calling It Quits

Swedish black/death metal band Devian think it's "time to break the silence... with eternal silence."

The band released the following lengthy statement: "We have decided to put Devian to rest. After the tour with Unleashed in 2009 we started to focus on the third Devian opus. After a few months of hard work on the album vocalist Legion (Witchery, ex-Marduk) announced that he'd leave the band. About that time we also parted ways with the label that released our two first albums, Century Media.

Some months later we started to negotiate with various labels but never did found anything that would meet even our budget for recording.
During this period of time we started to feel that we had lost the glow we once had for the band and the music.

We recorded a demo with a new direction to more ordinary metal with lots of clean vocals, you can still hear it on MySpace. This gave a new spark to the band, but it was only temporary.

At this time guitarist/vocalist Joinus (ex-Nominon) decided to leave the band. He was "tired" of the music Devian was playing. After all, 20 years playing death/thrash metal in various acts is a long time. And the step to the direction he (and some other members) was trying to reach was a step to far and would only disappoint all of you who listened to what Devian once started out as, a Death Metal act.

And after Joinus left drummer Emil (The Legion, ex-Marduk), so remaining guitarist Tomas and bassist Carl decided to put Devian to sleep, forever..."

But to give up music would be to give up life. Nowadays you can find the members in the following acts:

Joinus plays '60s and '70s rock'n'roll in the luciferian-themed Year Of The Goat (just released a mini-LP / mini-CD through VÁN Records) and garage-smelling, denim-action rock in The Horsehead Union (album released during autumn 2011 with artwork from Skrymer / Finntroll).

Tomas has teamed up with Roberth Karlsson (ex-Devian, ex-Edge Of Sanity, Facebreaker, Scar Symmetry) and released a few hardcore-oriented albums on the hardcore Swedish label Halvfabrikat Records. This project is called Aktiv Dödshjälp. Some time ago a well-known extreme metal band offered him the bass duties in their band. He accepted the offer and is right now sweating his guts out in a rehearsal room in Stockholm; preparing to get out on tour again asap!

He added: "Devian has been a good run and really cool experience for me that I'll never forget!"

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Source: devian.se
Band profile: Devian
Posted: 23.06.2011 by Thryce | Comments (1)


Machine Head - New Album Title Revealed

San Francisco Bay Area groove metallers Machine Head have set Unto The Locust as the title of their upcoming new album. The CD is scheduled for a September 27th release through Roadrunner Records.

Unto The Locust was recorded at Green Day's Jingletown Studios in Oakland, California, with frontman Robb Flynn producing.

You can find more info about Locust, the first single off the record, at this location.

Machine Head will be part of Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival this summer and will embark on a European Tour later this year.

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Source: machinehead1.com
Band profile: Machine Head
Posted: 23.06.2011 by Thryce | Comments (5)


Machine Head - Euro Tour With BMTH, DevilDriver, Darkest Hour

San Francisco Bay Area metallers Machine Head will embark on a European headlining tour later this fall, titled The Eighth Plague Tour.

Support on the trek will come from Bring Me The Horizon, DevilDriver and Darkest Hour.

Get a list of all confirmed shows so far below.

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Source: takemyscars.com
Band profile: Machine Head
Event: Machine Head: The Eighth Plague Tour
Posted: 22.06.2011 by Thryce | Comments (11)


In Flames - Entire New Album Streaming Online

Sounds Of A Playground Fading, the new upcoming album from Gothenburg metal veterans In Flames, is now available for streaming in its entirety over at AOL Music.


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Sounds Of A Playground Fading will be released in June worldwide through Century Media Records (get a list of dates below). More album details were previously reported over here.

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Source: music.aol.com
Band profile: In Flames
Posted: 21.06.2011 by Thryce | Comments (3)


Testament - Recording New Album With Drummer Gene Hoglan

Due to a "serious injury" being suffered by drummer Paul Bostaph, Testament have enlisted the services of Gene Hoglan (Fear Factory, ex-Strapping Young Lad) to handle the studio drumming for their new album. The group recently entered the studio to begin tracking the new album with producer Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Opeth). A late 2011/early 2012 release is expected.

In addition to Hoglan, Lamb Of God drummer Chris Adler will appear on "a couple of bonus tracks." According to the band's management, Bostaph will rejoin Testament at a later date for touring duties.

Hoglan previously played drums on Testament's 1997 effort, Demonic, but didn't stick around long enough to do any touring with the band.

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Source: theprp.com
Band profile: Testament
Posted: 21.06.2011 by Thryce | Comments (8)


Gama Bomb - Working On New Album

Irish thrashers Gama Bomb are currently writing new material for their as-yet untitled new album.

The follow-up to 2009's Tales From The Grave In Space will be Gama Bomb's fourth album and is tentatively due to be released early next year.

Gama Bomb frontman Philly Byrne comments: "We're about to enter a studio in central Dublin to work on demos for our new album, which we're hoping to release in early 2012. In terms of songwriting, we're writing much 'tougher' or meaner songs now. We want to make music that street gangs could listen to before a fight, songs you can sharpen a switchblade to. I've been looking a lot to Phil Lynott for inspiration, which can never be a bad thing. He's always been a big inspiration for us, even if you can't always hear it.

Mind you, we're also about everything from our history of underage drinking and theoretical physics to drag racing and (of course) cannibalism, so there's no knowing where this one is going to take us. We're hopefully going to record here in Ireland and we'll pull no punches on either the speed of the riffs or the attitude of the songwriting. That's the only plan right now."

Gama Bomb are also gearing up for a string of summer festival dates, but have had to bring in a temporary stand-in for lead guitarist Domo Dixon for the live shows due to a hand injury.

The band have released the following statement: "As you may have heard, our guitarist Domo Dixon has suffered a tendon injury to his left hand and will be unable to play with us for the coming period. Domo severed a tendon in a bizarre trouser accident - that's not a joke - so will have to sit out gigs for the next three months. We're all very perplexed and upset about it, but are ploughing on with our upcoming European festival appearances. Playing guitar is Domo's passion and his life, and we're sure all our fans will join us in wishing him a full and speedy recovery. Until he's back up to shredding speed, we'll be joined on the road by our good friend Kevy Canavan on lead guitar."

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Source: earachenews.blogspot.com
Band profile: Gama Bomb
Posted: 18.06.2011 by Thryce | Comments (4)


Obscura - Japanese Bonus Song Online

"Concerto", a new track from German technical death metallers Obscura, has been made available for streaming over at Facebook (you'll have to "like" the band to access the stream).

"Concerto" is a cover track from Marty Friedman and Jason Becker's Cacophony Speed Metal Symphony album.

"Concerto" was included as the Japanese bonus track and on the iTunes digital deluxe album of the band's latest album, entitled Omnivium, which was released on March 29th in North America and early April in Europe through Relapse Records. More album details were previously reported over here.

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Source: facebook.com
Band profile: Obscura
Posted: 18.06.2011 by Thryce | Comments (3)


Eternal Tears Of Sorrow - Working On New Album

Finnish extreme power metal band Eternal Tears Of Sorrow are busy working on their new studio album, tentatively due for a 2012 release.

Guitarist Jarmo Puolakanaho checked in with the following update: "As we already told on our Facebook page, we have finished our first recording session at Tico-Tico Studios. We are recording this album in two main sessions + some extra sessions throughout this year. This way has proven to be the best for us and our timetables and we've been using the same 'take it slowly, make it good' method ever since our comeback in 2005.

What we did during the past weeks was recording the basic tracks for six songs. Now, it's time for a short summer holiday after which we're going to do the vocals and the keyboard tracks, and, of course, to write more new songs for the second main recording session, which is going to take place at the end of this year.

Trying to verbally describe the new songs is like trying to draw how they sound like. And even if we somehow managed to describe how the new songs sound like, they only represent one half of the forthcoming album.

Anyway, it has been announced that we're going to play our second (and last) gig in 2011 at Jyrkka Festival in Pudasjärvi. Which is nice, as this band was formed in the very same town and as a matter of fact, we played our very first gig on the same stage fourteen years ago. And now, after eleven years, we're coming back to our original home town. Nice."

Some photos from Eternal Tears of Sorrow at the studio can be found on Facebook.

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Source: metalunderground.com
Band profile: Eternal Tears Of Sorrow
Posted: 17.06.2011 by Thryce | Comments (13)


Yob - New Album Details, New Song Online

Atma, the upcoming new album of Oregon doom trio Yob will be released on August 16th in North America and on August 22nd in the UK through Profound Lore Records.

One of the new tracks, called "Prepare The Ground", has been made available for streaming over at Stereogum.

The follow-up to 2009's The Great Cessation is described in a press release as "dirtier and sludgier than ever before."

Atma features guest appearances by Neurosis frontman Scott Kelly on the tracks "Before We Dreamed Of Two" and "Adrift In The Ocean".

Atma tracklist:

01. Prepare The Ground
02. Atma
03. Before We Dreamed Of Two
04. Upon The Sight Of The Other Shore
05. Adrift In The Ocean

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Source: stereogum.com
Band profile: Yob
Posted: 17.06.2011 by Thryce | Comments (0)


Adrenaline Mob - New Project Of Mike Portnoy, Russell Allen

Back in February we told you about the collaboration project between former Avenged Sevenfold drummer Mike Portnoy and Symphony X vocalist Russell Allen. Well, the project is called Adrenaline Mob.

The rest of the line-up features guitar virtuoso Mike Orlando (Sonic Stomp), bassist Paul DiLeo and Stuck Mojo/Fozzy axeman Rich Ward.

The band will make its live debut on Friday, June 24 at The Hiro Ballroom in New York City. The group will play songs from its upcoming debut album as well as a few classic covers.

In a March 2011 interview, Russell described Adrenaline Mob as "a straight-up rock band with just rock songs ? kind of like an edgy, modern kind of sound. It's not progressive or trying to be too metal or anything ? it's just good, old crunchy rock stuff."

Speaking to MetalSymphony.com, Mike Orlando said the following about Adrenaline Mob: "This band is not in the vein of Symphony X or Dream Theater. It's more along the lines of, say, Rob Zombie, Godsmack, Disturbed, Black Label Society, Shinedown... with Russell's absolute pipes from hell and Mike just outright killing it on the kit. The guitar is really rocking and has some pretty insane moments, but it's a song-oriented band and that's the most important aspect before anything."

He continued: "Russell and I have an amazing writing chemistry together and he is one of my closest and dearest friends. It's an absolute pleasure to work with such a great talent as Russell on every level."

He added: "Mike is just unbelievable. His playing is beyond words at times. He's the utmost professional musician but also one of the nicest and coolest guys I have ever met and played with. It's an honor to call him my bandmate, to say the least, and I look forward to ripping it up every night out there with Mike and Russ and the guys!"

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Source: facebook.com
Posted: 16.06.2011 by Thryce | Comments (15)


Vader - New Album Details

Welcome To The Morbid Reich, the new upcoming album of Polish death metallers Vader will be released on August 12th through Nuclear Blast Records.

Welcome To The Morbid Reich was recorded at Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland and features the cover artwork of Zbigniew Bielak (Deströyer 666, Watain). The band laid down a total of 12 songs for the album, which was mixed and mastered in May.

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Source: vader.pl
Band profile: Vader
Posted: 16.06.2011 by Thryce | Comments (10)