So, Metallica is prepping to record a new album, Judas Priest is not a death metal band, Dave Mustaine feels Megadeth is as big as they were during their Countdown to Extinction era, Overkill has pushed their album back to July, Behemoth has announced a full North American tour, and Black Sabbath has gotten around to putting their classic albums on iTunes. Just a sampling of the week that was. Here’s more: – David E. Gehlke
General Housekeeping
We are currently running a giveaway for New Jersey NWOBHM/thrash upstarts Midnite Hellion. Check it out here.
A band you might have missed? New Jersey epic/melodic death metallers Helcaraxe.
Features
Ralf Scheepers of Primal Fear checked in with Matt Coe to discuss the band’s new Delivering the Black album, his thoughts on the industry, and much more.
Costa Rican melodic death metal outfit Sight of Emptiness have the professional look (and songs to boot) to warrant them being singed. Alas, the band remains unsigned, with their new album Instincts receiving international release this month.
Long-running Colorado occult metal act Satan’s Host have enjoyed a resurgence thanks to returning singer Harry Conklin (ex-Jag Panzer). Read about it right here.
Noted author D.X. Ferris has quite the Slayer tome on his hands via Slayer 66 2/3: The Jeff & Dave Years. He explains the book in detail with us, here.
Reviews
An unsigned band you should watch: Cimmerian, whose Hollowing album combines the best elements of Insomnium and Omnium Gatherum. Not a bad pair.
An Eluveitie/Manes combination results in Lethe, whose When Dreams Become Nightmares debut is worthy, according to Daniel Keating.
Orange County, CA hardcore metallers Throwdown are back with a new album in the form of Intolerance.
British sludge/doomsters The Wounded Kings sprout off the beaten path with their respectable Consolamentum effort.
Unbeatable Swedish metal kings Grand Magus keep it simple and glorious with their new album, Triumph and Power.
Perhaps the next “guilty pleasure” band in metal: Finland’s Battle Beast.
London death metal outfit Lvcifyre may throw folks for a loop with their spelling endeavors, but their Svn Eater album gets the job done.
Epica off-shoot Mayan get down to business with their second album, Antagonise.
Australian symphonic death doom crew Rise of Avernus show promise on L’Appel du Vide.
Culted’s Oblique to All Paths is a miss, according to Matthew Bowling.
The news in ten
1. Throwdown streams new album Intolerance in full.
2. Frost of Satyricon unable to join the band for its 70,000 Tons of Metal appearance.
3. Wormed signs with Season of Mist Records.
4. Carnifex announces U.S. headlining dates.
5. Vallenfyre (featuring Gregor Mackintosh of Paradise Lost) set to release Splinters in April.
6. Black metal all-star ensemble Twilight to release new album, then call it a day.
7. Cynic posts the title track to their new album, Kindly Bent to Free Us.
8. Black Sabbath puts entire seminal 70’s discography on iTunes.
9. New Overkill album pushed back to the summer. Band says it will be “Worth the wait.”
10. Behemoth, 1349, Inquisition and more set to take part in this spring’s Metal Alliance tour.