Judas Priest and King Diamond happen to be touring North America at the same time this fall, a rare coincidence that pits two of metal’s classic, veteran, venerable, yet aging acts against one another. Being that we are well past the point of seeing either of these bands in their respective primes (hats off to you if you saw Priest circa Painkiller; KD circa Them), it’s advised to take every opportunity to see both bands, as well as some of their contemporaries. You may never know if they’ll be back around again. However, a lot of these bands can’t seem to hang it up, so chances are they’ll be around again, and again, and again… – David E. Gehlke
General housekeeping
Matt Coe caught the ever-lovely Sharon den Adel and Within Temptation in action at their Worcester. And of course, he came away impressed. (Kudos to them for playing “Ice Queen,” too.)
Don’t forget about our Fornicus CD + t-shirt giveaway.
Features
Underrated Norwegian black metallers Khold return with their first album in six years, Til Endes. Read what drummer Sarke had to say about the band’s reemergence, and much more here.
Boston thrash hot-shots Revocation have released their first album on Metal Blade, Deathless. Vocalist/guitarist/founding member Dave Davidson checked in with our own Matt Coe with the scoop.
One of the brighter new melodic death metal bands hailing from America, Chicago’s Starkill have expanded their range with Virus of the Mind. Parker Jameson rung DR to give the low-down.
Reviews
Anaal Nathrakth do what they do best on Desideratum, which essentially is destroying everything in their path.
Leaves’ Eyes songbird Liv Kristine hits another high note (pun intended!) with Vervain.
Trouble alums reunite in the suitably Trouble-oriented The Skull. Their For Those Which Are Asleep debut gets the job done.
Cradle of Filth main dude Dani Filth has been pimping his new side band Devilment hard of late. Josh Overbey tells the pint-sized vocalist to pimp on, based on the strength of the The Great and Secret Show.
South America’s Korzus are a thrash diamond in the rough, as heard on Legion.
British melodic death metal crew Bloodshot Dawn employ a host of guest spots on Demons, and it pays off.
Masters of weird, yet melodic and enthralling black metal, Blut Aus Nord impress yet again with Memoria Vetusta III: Saturnian Poetry.
Don’t look now: Shoegaze is creeping up on ya. Last Leaf Down and their Fake Lights opus are the latest example.
The news in ten
1. Sodom to release Sacred Warpath EP.
2. At the Gates release the first video off of At War With Reality, “Death and the Labyrinth.”
3. The Dan Swano-fronted Nightingale stream a new, fantastic jam, “Forevermore.”
4. Goatwhore posts video for “Nocturnal Conjuration of the Accursed.”
5. Battlecross announce North American tour dates.
6. Enslaved, hard at work in the studio.
7. Cannibal Corpse, having all sorts of trouble playing in Russia.
8. Hate Eternal signs with Season of Mist Records.
9. Obituary streams the title track from their new album, Inked in Blood.
10. Carcass releases the video for “The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills.”