Friday July 31st 2009

For the last five years it has been quite silent around Blindside. But the Swedish rockers haven't dissolved from the face of the earth. Since their last full length album The Great Depression they played on five different continents of the world. They've toured with Linkin Park and AFI. Due to a label dispute Blindside wasn't able to release the album they had planned for 2007. But now the band is getting ready for 2010. Expect a new album in the first half of next year. The recording will take place in Los Angeles with Howard Benson. And there are plans for a full world tour to support the album.

August Burns Red published their video for Meddler. The song is from their new album Constellations.

Thousand Foot Krutch posted their new song Fire It Up on myspace. The track comes from Welcome To The Masquerade, out on September 8th.

Pillar will release their new album Confessions on September 22nd. This is their 6th studio release.

The Swedish company Ulterium Records signed the German power metal band Sinbreed. This band is currently working on their debut album which will be released in early 2010. Sinbreed consists of singer Herbie Langhans (Seventh Avenue), drummer Frederik Ehmke (Blind Guardian), bassist Alexander Schulz and guitarist/keyboardist Flo Laurin. Check out this video of the song Newborn Tomorrow:

Rivel Records will now go on under the moniker of Christian Music Sweden (CM Sweden). First release for this label is the next Audiovision album, tentatively titled Focus. Expect this one out in spring 2010. The band is currently in the writing mode. Two songs have so far been written: Invitation and The Gate. Audiovision will enter the studio in September. The current line-up is: Christian Liljegren (vocals), Simeon Liljegren (bass & vocals), Torbjörn Weinesjö (guitars & vocals), Thomas Weinesjö (drums) and Olov Andersson (keyboards & vocals).

You can now download the 2008 Kekal album Audible Minority for free in the 256 kbps format (mp3). Go here or here. It's still uncertain whether the album will ever be available on CD. Right now Kekal is looking for another record label to release it.

Take It Back! will have their Rumors Of Revolt EP out on August 18th. This EP contains the following songs: New Empires, What We Are Fighting For, American Fantasy, Rise Above (Black Flag cover) and To Burn Again (No Innocent Victim cover). The band is also busy writing their next full length album.

Zao did a show on July 24th. Now they put a few videos on internet, including this one of the song The Rising End:

12 Stones is currently writing new material for the next album.

And also Norma Jean is in the writing mode.

Friday July 24th 2009

The Awakening have a new album out in the USA. It's their eighth full length album and it's called Tales Of Absolution + Obsoletion. The CD will be released in South Africa on August 3rd. A date for Europe and the rest of the world is to be announced. You can listen to the first two singles from the album on myspace.

The new album from Sacrificium is Prey For Your Gods. This is also the title for one of the songs on the record. More updates will follow.

Hmmagazine.com reports that One Bad Pig will celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2010. The band is currently discussing the possibility of doing shows to mark the occasion. A trip overseas is one of the options.

Hands released their first album through Facedown Records. The CD is called Creator. Hands is currently on tour with The Showdown. Check out Hands on myspace.com.

Three days ago it was exactly 25 years since the release of Stryper's first EP, The Yellow And Black Attack. On that day, July 21st, they released their new album Murder By Pride. You can hear the title track plus two other songs from the CD on myspace.

The Finnish band Sotahuuto will release a new disc on August 5th. It's called Vastarintaan.

And August 11th is the release day for Dark Circus from Templar. Check out this video for the title song:

The new album Constellations from August Burns Red debuted in the Billboard 200 list at #24.

Friday July 17th 2009

Silence The Foe is in a generous mood. They're giving away all their songs for free. This giveaway includes their three official releases, plus a never before released demo with four songs. This demo was recorded in 2001 as a follow-up to the When Summer Turns To Sand EP. Only one of those four songs, My Heart Of Stone, was eventually released as part of the Te Hælvete Me Aill Sammen! punk/hardcore compilation, released by Dead Letter Records in 2005. You can download these songs, and more, from this site.

Youngside Records is partnering with the Australian band Templar for the release of their second full-length album Dark Circus. This is the follow-up to Preaching To The Perverted (2008). Dark Circus will be available in late August through Youngside Records. This month (July) the album will also come out through Rotting Corpse Records.

Roxx Records will release Mirrors Within Mirrors. This is the first solo CD from Michael Phillips (formerly of Deliverance and Fasedown). According to Roxx Records, Mirrors Within Mirrors is an eccentric piece of work, an epic journey containing both progressive elements as acoustic pieces with slight touches of metal and thrash. Michael Phillips recruited the help from his friends, including Jim Chaffin (The Crucified, Fasedown), Mark Solomon (The Crucified, Stavesacre), Jimmy Brown (Deliverance, Jupiter VI), Devin Shaeffer (Fasedown, Once Dead), Matt Davis (Oh Sleeper), Bill Bachman (Neil Morse) and Scott Waters (Ultimatum).This limited edition release will come out on October 13th.

Roxx Records will also re-release the second album from Ultimatum, entitled Puppet Of Destruction. This album was originally released over ten years ago via Rowe Productions/Diamante and has long since been out of print. The CD will have three bonus tracks: an alternative mix of Never, a newly re-recorded version of Mortal Stomp and the Testament cover Sins Of Omission. Pre-orders will also receive a bonus disc of the entire Fatal Delay demo. Expect this release on October 13th as well.

On August 25th the album Sons Of The Morning will appear. This is the new disc from Oh, Sleeper.

The Complete Collection from The Crucified is out now. This three-disc set features every album The Crucified made, including all the early demo recordings. Also included is a DVD with almost two hours of never before seen footage, taken from 1987 to 1992.

On September 11th Stryper will embark on their 25th Anniversary Tour through the USA. In mid January the band will visit Europe, including shows in Spain, Switzerland, Czech Republic and The Netherlands (Tivoli, Utrecht). For the dates, visit the Stryper website.

Friday July 10th 2009

Wondered what happened with the line-up Evanescence had at the time of their most successful album Fallen (15 million copies sold)? Ben Moody, Rocky Gray and John LeCompt, along with Marty O'Brien joined forces with American Idol finalist Carly Smithson to form We Are The Fallen. In the coming months We Are The Fallen will release new recordings frequently. On myspace you can listen to the track Bury Me Alive. Check out this live video of the song:

hmmagazine.com reports that Ultimatum will release Lex Metalis on July 21st. The album has thirteen cover songs, including Creeping Death (Metallica), Denim And Leather (Saxon), Can't Get Out (Vengeance Rising) and Wrathchild (Iron Maiden).

August Burns Red is now streaming the entire Constellations album on their myspace. By the way, want to see the Meddler video being shot? Check out this video blog:

Take It Back! has a new song on their myspace profile. It's called New Empires. You can also view a couple of tour videos from their recent tour to the Cornerstone Festival.

The latest signing to the Tooth & Nail roster is The Letter Black (formerly known as Breaking The Silence). The group was in the studio last spring with producer Toby Wright (Korn, Alice In Chains, 3 Doors Down) to record their first Tooth and Nail record. On September 22nd the Breaking The Silence EP will come out, followed by a full length in early 2010. As Breaking The Silence they released the album Stand (produced by Travis Wyrick). Here's the video for Stand:

Random Eyes put three demo samples on their myspace.com site.

According the Austrian Death Machine the recording of their new album Double Brutal is going fantastic. Rusty Cooley recorded a guitar solo for the band.

Friday July 3rd 2009

Ever wondered what happened with the German metalcore band Saphena? Well, they are moving to a new chapter of the band. In September they will enter the studio to record ten tracks. The new stuff is harder, faster and better. Bassist Silvia is temporarily replaced by Joki (Semtex). He will also produce the new album.

Exhale delays the release of the second album Blind. It was supposed to come out on June 1st.

August Burns Red has a new song on myspace called Ocean Of Apathy. This track is from the Constellations album (out on July 14th).

Friday June 26th 2009

The Galactic Cowboys will get together once again to perform three shows in August. This will happen in Texas, USA. The first show is on Augustus 13th in Dallas, the second the following day in Austin and the final gig on August 15th in Houston. The band Galea will be opening for them.

Project 86 will release a new album on July 14th. This record will be called Picket Fence Cartel and on myspace you can hear some new tracks. Tooth & Nail Records will release this album. After the album has come out, Project 86 will go out on tour.

Megadeth is working on the follow-up to United Abominations (2007). The record will be called Endgame and will come out in September through Roadrunner Records. The CD is produced by Andy Sneap and Dave Mustaine.

Narnia uploaded a sound clip of Sail Around The World. This is a song from their new album Course Of A Generation. Narnia bassist Andreas Passmark also joined the Danish band Royal Hunt.

The British hard rock/metal band Stairway has opened a channel on YouTube. You can see live videos like this one (poor quality):

Thy Bleeding Skies is taking their time recording their next album. The drum tracks were recorded in February. Rhythm guitars were done in May. Currently the bass recordings take place, followed by lead guitar in late July. Have patience!

Facedown Records released a new record from Sleeping Giant. The album is called Sons Of Thunder.

Also Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster have their new album out. It's entitled III. Guess what, it's their third full-length album!

August Burns Red has a new song up on myspace. It's called Existence.

Stavesacre has finished the Against The Silence EP/DVD.

Death metal band Bloodwork from the United Kingdom is finally working on their first full-length album.

From August 20th through 23rd the Flevo Festival will take place in Recreatieterrein Bussloo near Apeldoorn, Holland. Among the bands booked are: Seventh Angel, Thousand Foot Krutch, Intohimo, The Spirit That Guides Us, Make Up Your Mind, Neal Morse, HB, Flatfoot 56, Newsboys, This Beautiful Mess and more.

Friday June 19th 2009

Sad news comes from the Teramaze camp. Their drummer Julian Percy passed away last Monday. Condolences to his family, friends and band members.

For the upcoming Teramaze shows Jayson Sherlock (InExordium) will fill in the position of drummer.

If you missed the reunion show of The Crucified, you can watch it online. The concert also featured a guest appearance from Sonny (P.O.D.). Here's one song from the show:

Bride has completed all fourteen tracks of Tsar Bomba. It's their goal to release the CD  in August.

Saving Grace from New Zealand are working on tracks with producer Zorran Mendonsa for the follow-up to Behind Enemy Lines. The new album will be darker, bigger and heavier. The recordings will happen throughout September.

August Burns Red put the new song Thirty And Seven on their myspace profile. This track comes from the new album Constellations.

The Dutch rock band Zenith Of Abolition is taking a break from playing shows to focus on writing better songs. They want to perfect their skills before they come back on stage. The band's new EP will be wrapped up at the end of this month. Look for a fall release.

The Norwegian death metal band In Vain has delayed the release of their new record again. Mantra will not be released until early 2010. This has to do with their label restructuring their business.

From late August through the end of September, War Of Ages will tour Europe as part of the Hell On Earth Tour 2009. War Of Ages will be touring with Earth Crisis, Neaera, Sworn Enemy, Waking The Cadaver, War From A Harlots Mouth & Thy Will Be Done.

Speaking of tours, the Brazilian metal band Scelerata was chosen by Paul Di'Anno (Iron Maiden's first lead singer) to be his band in his 2009 Brazilian tour. Paul Di'Anno recorded Iron Maiden’s two first albums, Iron Maiden (1979) and Killers (1980). The first show is on July 3rd.

Friday June 12th 2009

By late summer Joshua Perahia will enter the studio to record a new album. The singer for this new release is Jeff Fenholt. Tentative album title is Resurrection. Now the out of print release Something To Say (2001) is available at CDBaby.com. The album features guest appearances from members of Santana and Chicago. Want to hear the song One Night Is Not Enough? Check out this promotional video.

Melodic metal band Harmony published their video for Prevail. This is a track from the Chapter II: Aftermath album that came out in Europe and North America last year (Ulterium Records) and in Japan in February (King Records). Here's the video:

World To Ashes is about to release their new album In Contemplation Of Death through Whirlwind Records. You can listen to the new songs Beyond The Veil and Riven on myspace. A release show will take place on June 19th at Waldsee in Freiburg, Germany.

Friday June 5th 2009

On July 6th melodicrock.com will release the Writing On The Wall compilation. This disc features the song More Than A Friend, a track from the new Mass album, plus an unreleased Mad Max song and a preview song from the new Liberty n' Justice record. You can pre-order the CD and listen to samples here.

Guitarist CJ Grimmark (Narnia) has joined a new band called Full Force. The rest of the band is made out of members from Hammerfall, Cloudscape, Yngwie's Rising Force and other groups. Mike Andersson is vocalist, Magnus Rosén bassist, Anders Johansson drummer and the other guitarist is Stefan Elmgren.

August Burns Red made a new video for the song Meddler. Expect it out later this month.

Thousand Foot Krutch has a new song called Bring Me To Life. You can purchase it from iTunes. The song comes from their upcoming album Welcome To The Masquerade that'll be out on September 8th.

Soul Embraced cancelled all shows after the departure of guitarist Devin Castle. The band will be gigging again after they've gotten a new guitarist. Next year they will be working on a new album.

The first names were announced of bands playing this year's Nordic Fest in Oslo. This festival takes place from October 29th through November 1st. Booked so far are: The Crucified, Antidemon, Morgenroede, Narnia and Theocracy.