While “Deflategate” has taken hold of the American media (sorry to our own Matt Coe, who by admission, is a big Patriots fan), the metal world kept-on-a-moving, with the first month of the year in full swing. Such a time of year is generally greeted with new tour and album announcements, the type of happenings that makes our calendar year always voluminous. And with big albums coming by way of Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Megadeth (possibly), Metallica, and Slayer, (and more), 2015 promises to be a year jam-packed with high-profile bands putting out high-profile albums. Who knows if they’ll be worth a salt, but that’s why we keep coming back… – David E. Gehlke
General housekeeping
Our Destroying Divinity giveaway wraps today, so enter before 11:59 p.m. EST for your chance to win!
Features
American metal weirdos Subterranean Masquerade returned in late-2014 after a prolonged layoff with The Great Bazaar. Mainman Tomer Pink was all too kind to catch up with Kyle McGinn for the scoop.
Our good friends at Century Media are celebrating Swedish metal’s glorious history with a special sale via their webstore. Hear what luminaries from At the Gates, Bloodbath, Dark Tranquillity, and Wolf had to say about their country’s unbeatable metal lineage.
Speaking of Swedish metal, former Arch Enemy lead guitarist Chris Amott has reactivated his Armageddon outfit with this year’s fantastic Captivity and Devourment. Get the good word from Amott by clicking here.
Reviews
Venerable old U.D.O. will probably outlive us all, as evidenced by his newest album, Decadent.
The U.K.’s Voices have quite the adventurous sophomore album on their hands with London.
Current classic metal hotshots Night Demon are off to a sterling start with Curse of the Damned.
The unbeatable Napalm Death show no signs of age or wear-and-tear with Apex Predator: Easy Meat.
A throwback to the 90s, Diablo Blvd. prove that song-first groove metal may never go out of style on Follow the Deadlights.
A new doom band to watch: Philadelphia’s Crypt Sermon, whose Out of the Garden effort is a gem.
“Slam” death metal fiends Ingested hover around the middle with The Architect of Extinction.
Yet another classic metal band to keep an eye on: Utah’s Visigoth, whose The Revenant King made Matt Coe all kinds of happy.
The news in ten
1. Napalm Death releases video for “Smash a Single Digit.”
2. Want some Slayer shoes?
3. Steve Harris’s house costs a pretty penny.
4. Enslaved releases the first trailer for their upcoming In Times album.
5. Deathcore mavens Oceano to release new platter in March.
6. Dio gets his own musical. Look out!
7. Mastodon and Clutch team up for North American tour.
8. Fallujuh gets a much-deserved deal with Nuclear Blast Entertainment.
9. Former Iced Earth and Visions of Atlantis members team up in Jaded Star.
10. Marduk releases video for “Frontschwein.”