Is Jewish Nu metal - aka Ju Metal (pun courtesy of Promonex - Ed.) - going to be the next big thing in the metal scene? We sure believe so!
Atzmus - the quite peculiar metal band from Argentina - just released their new album Ciudad De Luz (Eng. City Of Light) this weekend through Dont Pay Music Records. If you register on the website for free, you can download the album for free. Samples of all the tracks can be found here. Check out the video below (no seriously, check it out).
Vocalist Eliezer explains the meaning behind Ciudad de Luz: "This world is like a game full of doors that confuse people, but at the same time they train us in the discernment of truth. Thus "the waves of steel in a thirsty field" take our souls to a higher place, even higher than it was before its decline. But your soul is not alone in this journey, his mother called Shejina departs with it. When the two meet, it's redeemed like if it was born again. By experiencing this reality, the melodies emerge and begin to sing and "children's songs begin to sound". These are nothing but the unspeakable words of higher souls who assist us, from times even before the foundation of the world. When we surrender to these melodies, our soul's light breaks the darkness of the world, the same way a child breaks out of the womb. This is where there is unity and purpose. Make this world a "City of Light", an eternal house, a house of refuge, comfort, and meeting that transcends all boundaries that make us different."
Saxon bassist Tim "Nibbs" Carter has been forced to take a step back from the band's upcoming tour due to his wife's illness. Here's the statement issued by the band:
"Sadly we are forced to announce that Nibbs won't be able to join us on the upcoming tour. Due to health problems of his wife we all decided that it will be the best for all if he stays with his wife and family to make sure that she will get well soon. We still want to do the tour and looking really forward to meeting all the Saxon fans out there - it wouldn't be fair to you to postpone the tour again. Gladly our friend Yenz Leonhardt (Kingdom Come, Lacrimosa etc.) will jump in for this part of the tour and try to replace Nibbs part as best he can, although Nibbs is irreplaceable to us."
German metallers Disbelief are looking for a new guitarist - after Jonas Khalil (Sacred Steel) left the band last year. In the meantime, Alex Hagenauer of Soul Demise continues to perform for the Disbelief on upcoming live shows. Though, the band has decided it is time to look out for a permanent guitar player. All persons who fit the profile are encouraged to audition.
Century Media Records has set a June 8 North American release date for The Obsidian Conspiracy, the long-awaited new album from Seattle metallers Nevermore.
The drum tracks for The Obsidian Conspiracy were completed in the group's hometown of Seattle with Soilwork guitarist Peter Wichers, who previously worked with Dane on the singer's solo debut, Praises To The War Machine. Longtime friend and collaborator Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Arch Enemy, Exodus, Machine Head) once again handled mixing duties.
The following songs (among others) were laid down during the recording sessions for the follow-up to 2005's This Godless Endeavor:
Destruction and drummer Marc Reign will go separate ways in the future. Reign sat behind the drum kit for nine years. Here's the word from the band:
"Now it's official, the DVD A Savage Symphony, is the farewell gift from drummer Marc Reign for the Destruction fans. Tour-stress caused personal and musical differences, so both parties decided to go separate ways in the future.
Marc will concentrate on his rock-project Volcano and wants to keep himself open for other musical styles. He wants to thank all the Destruction maniacs worldwide and the band for all the great fun and support over all those years. Mike and Schmier wish him all the best and much success for his future projects.
Neverland, the prog/power metal band which features Turkey's Dreamtone and Greece's Iris Mavraki, will see an official TV premier of their debut video, "This Voice Inside", on MTV GREECE's "Headbangers Ball", on Tuesday March 16th. MTV GREECE's "Headbangers Ball" is hosted by Orpheus Spiliotopoulos & Vanessa Christodoulou and airs every Tuesday at midnight.
The band's first-ever official video, directed by Turkish award winning director Sila Unlu, comes off its sophomore album, Ophidia which is due for release on March 26th via AFM Records. The band's follow up to 2008's Reversing Time features special guest appearances by Jon Oliva (Savatage, Jon Oliva's Pain), Edu Falaschi (Angra, Almah) and Urban Breed (Pyramaze, ex-Tad Morose).
Denial Machine - the band featuring former Ditchwater and Ashes From Within members - have put the video for the song "This Burden (Tortured)" online. The track is taken from the self-titled debut release of the band. Denial Machine formed in February of 2009 and released its debut album on December 15th of the same year.
The video was produced and directed by Brian Byrd for Reel Twisted Productions. The footage was shot at Reggies Rock Club in Chicago ealier this year.
Romanian folk metal outfit Bucium is proud to present the new video for the song "Maria Doamna (Raresoaia)". The song comes off Bucium's debut album Voievozii, released in 2008 at A&A Records (Warner Music). Bucium is currently recording the band's second album, called Miorita.
Swedish black metallers Misericordia have recorded a new demo at Pure Dechristianizing Productions. The promo contains four pre-recorded songs that will be part of the forthcoming Misericordia album when the band finds an interested record label to work with. Two of the new songs "The Art of Perfection" and "Bleak" can be heard at this location.
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), 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.
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.
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).
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.
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
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.
09:15 - Illuminate By the way to any Jimi Hendrix's fans out there Valleys Of Neptune is by far the best album of this coming year. Can't believe it's been 40 years just sitting away from people. Thanks to all who put this album out (genuine)!
09:11 - Illuminate Disbelief, Destruction and Dragonfuckingblowsforce all loosing members? WTF!
