Witches Mark’s 2009 debut album “A Grim Apparition” was a hard hitting release, quickly gaining popularity, and the attention of fans all over the U.S, and overseas. Now, a new, and extremely anticipated album is on the horizon…”Witching Metal Ritual” is due to release on July 15th, 2013 after four years without a new album, and the tension is rising. This is going to be no ordinary album, but a fuckfull of dark, fast, and even doom filled songs. You don’t think that’s enough? Ok, try having Ross The Boss Friedman, Martin Debourge, Jack Starr, and Jason McMaster all in one album…that’s right, they all made guest appearances on this upcoming Witches Mark release. Bottomline, these guys do not disappoint, on stage, or in the studio. I had the great pleasure of doing an in-person interview with the whole band, after a well played gig here in Austin, Texas. So grab a beer, sit your ass down, and watch the video interview and some added live footage.
“Ok, the new album has been recorded and now the mixing process begins!! This could be the best MC record of the Metal Church MK3 era!! Woohooo!!”
Metal Church are working on their 10th studio album and fourth with singer Ronny Munroe. The band had formally announced in 2009 that they were calling it quits but reunited last fall for the aforementioned cruise 70000 Tons Of Metal. Metal Church’s last album was 2008′s This Present Wasteland.
The original Dio guitarist posted an announcement saying that the surgical biopsy we underwent in March confirmed that he has Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, Campbell is determined not to let the cancer and chemotherapy get in the way of his career, as he will still embark on a summer tour with the band.
Heavy Metal weights RAVEN LORD announce their second UK show this summer to happen on 19th June 2013 at THE HAIRY DOG in Derby. The band states: “Derby, UK has been very good to RAVEN LORD so we decided to place a free and promotional show at The Hairy Dog in the heart of the city! Come on over and see us play June 19., 2013 at 20:30 or 8:30 PM“.
Some gratuitous shred footage from the RAVEN LORD rehearsals by JOE STUMP can be viewed below: http://youtu.be/fz1J4XlGHtI
Candlelight Records has premiered a special pre-release lyric video for HAVOK‘s latest single, “Give Me Liberty… Or Give Me Death,” taken from their forthcoming new album Unnatural Selection. The video is available now at the label’s official Facebook page.
The official trailer for MASTERPLAN’s brand new album „Novum Initium“ (released on June 14th in Europe / June 18th USA) is available now. It includes excerpts of all regular album tracks.
The 2013 installment of the The Power Of The Riff festival in Los Angeles is right around the corner, this being the fourth annual occurrence of the massive event.
Curated and organized by Greg Anderson and Sam James Velde, The Power Of The Riff honors fans and musicians of all ages from within all walks and lifestyles under the umbrella of the heavy music underground. Tapping into a lineup that represents forefathers, milestones and current touring acts, while shedding light on up and coming bands and local acts, The Power Of The Riff festival is an all-day, all-ages event. The festival also includes an on-location record swap-meet of local stores and features pop-up stores by independent record labels and vendors, DJ sets between performances, a gourmet food truck court with some of Los Angeles’ best purveyors of street food dining, and more.
The fourth annual The Power Of The Riff is spreading it’s wings a bit more this time around, this year adding a pre-party on Friday, August 9th at The Echo. The massive full-day lineup the next day, Saturday, August 10th, at both The Echo and Echoplex, offers another stellar lineup of classic heavyweights, and crushing newcomers. The combined events offer 26 bands in total. Read the rest of this entry »
The line up for ROCKAGEDDON is now complete. The show takes place on November 17th at Lucys Hednesford. We are proud to announced the addition of Swedish sensations Bai Bang to complete the days line up.
Swedish behemoths Amon Amarth will unleash their ninth studio album Deceiver Of The Gods June 25, just a few days before they invade American shores again to be part of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, where they will be first death metal act to be featured on the main stage lineup.
Amon Amarth have enjoyed a steady rise in popularity in the states since 2006′s With Oden On Our Side, cracking the Billboard Top 200 for the first time with 2008′s Twilight Of The Thunder God and the Top 40 with 2011′s Surtur Rising. And there’s no reason to see why that trend won’t continue.
Deceiver is the band’s most relentlessly aggressive album since 2002′s Versus The World, and continues their long tradition of draping the material in the violent, vivid lore of Norse mythology – all of which is driven home by the throaty roar of frontman Johan Hegg.
On the phone from Sweden, Hegg spoke of Amon Amarth’s signature, yet never static, sound, their gradual conquest of the American market and, of all things, half-term Alaska Governor/failed vice presidential candidate and professional – if often ill-informed – provocateur Sarah Palin.
Altus, Rabid Bitch of the North, Warcrux, Triggerman, Stormzone
@Limelight 2, Belfast
June 1st 2013
Reviewed by Melanie Brehaut
Photographed by Paul Verner
Aint cooperation a beautiful thing? It is, according to Mark Ashby; one of the organisers of today’s event. “This is what happens when the local scene works together”, he declared. ‘This’ is the inaugural Helfast ’13 (see what they did there?); an all day music festival staged in Belfast’s Limelight, hosted by Blink Management (Steve Simms), in association Paradise City and the Distortion Project (James Loveday).
Five different local bands were showcased, and there was even a merch stall (Heimdall Records) providing the relevant goodies! Read the rest of this entry »
German thrash overlords KREATOR have revealed the zombiefied artwork for their upcoming Dying Alive DVD on their official Facebook page.
The live DVD will be released in North America on September 3rd and features the band’s sold-out, hometown, December 22nd, 2012 performance in Oberhausen, Germany shot by 24 cameras plus guitar and mosh-pit POV cams.
In support of their thirteenth studio album Phantom Antichrist, KREATOR will co-headline the “Legends Of Thrash” tour this fall through the U.S. & Canada with New York thrashers Overkill. Opening each night will be California’s Warbringer.
The new band of the ex-Sabaton members Mullback, Myhr, Sundén and Montelius with ace vocalist Nils Patrik Johansson (Astral Doors) and Stefan “Pizza” Eriksson (Volturyon), called Civil War will be the headliner at MetalWar Fest 2013 in Budapest, Hungary.
This week the band will come out with their debut album, called The Killer Angels, but some songs from their EP have prior evidence that some really fantastic things have been made. The Hungarian fans can say the same, since Civil War, after Sweden Rock and a few Swedish and Belgian festivals will have a world wide debut concert as headliners on the first day at MetalWar Fest 2013 in Budapest. They will present to the Hungarian fans an amazing and powerful show with visual elements.
Before the concert the band members will meet the fans and they will present their new full collection of merchandise and the new album.
