The prospect of Motorhead hosting their own cruise later this year begs the thought on how bands must come up with alternative ways to make income in this not-so-friendly industry times. Of course, it’s far easier for a band like Motorhead to pull something like this off, but it’s merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to generating some loot. Would it be much of a surprise to see any number underground bands jump to have their music featured in a commercial? In fact, all sorts of “commercial-means” avenues are on the table these days. That’s what happens when no one buys physical product anymore. – David E. Gehlke
General housekeeping
Live shots of doom trio Castle in Toronto can be found here.
Short name, memorable sound: Denver’s Moth is this week’s “Band You May Have Missed.”
Features
Reunited Swedish melodic death metallers The Duskfall still feel they have a lot to prove. Read why in this exclusive interview.
Space-age death metal crew Artificial Brain have a new album in the form of Labyrinth Constellation, which was the point of discussion for this interview.
Omnium Gatherum (a band we may have covered once or twice) are having their 2008 album The Redshift reissued via Candlelight Records. Read about the band’s recollections of the album here.
Former Exodus throat Steve “Zetro” Souza is now on album #2 with his new band, Hatriot. Read what the talkative and very funny frontman had to say.
Reviews
Australian progressive/power metal reigns supreme via Vanishing Point’s Distant is the Sun.
Obscura drummer Hannes Grossman puts his considerable skills on display with his first solo album, The Radial Covenant.
A new British thrash band to watch: Shrapnel, who leave a lasting impression with their The Virus Conspires debut.
Heaps of praise for the new Sunn O)))/Ulver split, Terrestrials.
Swedish sleaze metallers Sister kick it up a notch on their sophomore Disguised Vultures.
Cripple Bastards keep grinding (literally) on their newest, Nero in Metastasi.
Shroud of Despondency’s adventurous tactics play off on the double-disc, Tied to a Dying Animal.
Benighted release one of the year’s more deranged death metal albums in the form of Carnivore Sublime.
Long-running metallic hardcore act Earth Crisis release their best post-reformation album in the form of Salvation of Innocents.
Allochiria’s Omonoia is post-metal done right, according to Matthew Bowling.
The news in ten
1. Katatonia parts ways with guitarist Per “Sodomizer” Eriksson.
2. Autopsy announces new album details.
3. Brazilian all-female thrash trio Nervosa post the video for “Death.”
4. Motorhead is the latest band to take part in the cruise ship craze.
5. Aborted reveal details for their new album, The Necrotic Manifesto.
6. Killswitch Engage announces a run of North American headlining dates.
7. Mayhem releases first new music in seven years with “Psywar.”
8. Ex Deo to go on “indefinite” hiatus.
9. A book about metal cats will be released in May.
10. Chrome Division releases the video for “Lady of Perpetual Sorrow.”