Iz tabora hrvaških doom metalcev Old Night sporočajo, da jih je zapustil vokalist in kitarist Matej Hanžek. Vrzel v zasedbi bo na vokalu tako zapolnil njegov brat Ivan, na kitari pa se je zasedbi pridružil Rafael Cvitković (Nekroza). Spodaj lahko preberete celotno izjavo banda:

»This is a post I write with a heavy heart, yet full of hope and with a bright look on the future. After eight years with us as our lead singer and frontman, earlier this year Matej decided to step down from his duties within Old Night. I know you are hoping for some gossip or a sassy story, but there was no drama involved. He just wants to focus on other things in life and at this point, music is not a priority for him. Having said that, I wish to thank him on our behalf for everything he has done for us, all the great times we shared on stage and backstage, but also for all the long hours he has put in working on our first three records. It was a privilege and you'll always be a part of our family. Obviously, this news has taken us aback and we had to figure out how best to proceed. We took some time to see what our options were, as this is an important role we needed to fill. After much deliberation we figured out we need not look outside our band for a perfect candidate as we have one in our midst. Ivan has been singing all the backing vocals from day one and from now on he will be handling all the lead vocals. No need to worry, he’ll remain our lead guitarist as well.

The only piece of the puzzle left to figure out was who’ll play the rhythm guitars? Without further ado, we welcome Rafael Cvitković, from the Croatian death metal machine Nekroza, as our new guitarist. If you attended our concerts, you might have already seen him filling in on sound checks or working on our merch booth. Nekroza just released their debut album on InsArt Records – you can check them out and show them your support.

With our line-up complete, we will continue working on our new record and we hope we’ll have some news in that regard soon. In a couple of weeks, we’ll have our first concert with the new line-up and we can’t wait to present you the New Old Night.«

Španski death/doom metalci Golgotha bodo 14. junija pri Ardua Music izdali Spreading the Wings of Hope, dolgometražni album številka šest. Ta prinaša osem novih komadov:

For Every Tear
Gilded Cage
A Solitary Soul
Hear Their Cries
Human Vultures
Closed Heart
Spreading Wings of Hope
Hope as Guide

Marca je odjeknila vest, da bodo Nemci Krater, ki ustvarjajo umazani black metal, maja izdali peti studijski album Phrenesis. Band zdaj predstavlja prvi single z naslovom Hopesmoker – Celestial Apex. Točni izid albuma je prek založbe Eisenwald napovedan za 31. maj, seznam komadov pa je tak:

Hopesmoker – Celestial Apex
Schattengeister
Withered Hands
Splitter
Enlightenment’s Grieving
Once – Into the Endless Void
Phrenesis

Deathcorovci Chelsea Grin sporočajo, da je vrzel na bobnarskem stolčku zapolnil Josh Miller. Zasedba se je pred kratkim razšla z bobnarjem Pablom Viverosom in tako je nov polnopravni član zasedbe postal Josh. Izjava banda:

»We hope everyone has been doing well; we have some updates. We have parted ways with our fill-in drummer, Nathan Pearson. We sincerely value his friendship, as well as his devotion to furthering his craft and bringing his all to the stage. We truly look forward to watching his drumming career continue to blossom and advance, and value his time with us.

Furthermore, the band and Pablo have mutually agreed to separate. Pablo is one of our oldest friends, the life of the party, a masterful player, and a powerful creative. After Pablo spent some years away from the band, we all came together and realized that personal visions had diverged through time. We will always wish the very best for him, and seriously value all that he brought not only to the band, but to our lives. Nothing but tremendous love for him, always. We also encourage everyone to show support for him, Jaek and Alex’s new band, Ameonna.

Moving forward, we are proud and excited to announce that Josh Miller will be joining Chelsea Grin. It goes without saying that the future is bright – you will hear it in our music and witness it in our performances.

We keep very much to ourselves at this stage in our lives, but when we check in we want each of you to know that you are deeply and sincerely valued – we are so grateful for the opportunity to do what we love. We cannot wait to bring more of our vision to you all. Thank you for the years of support and love, and we will see you on our current tour supporting Fit For A King.«

Kot smo januarja poročali, je v 78. letu starosti umrl Tony Clarkin, kitarist, ustanovitelj britanskih veteranov Magnum. Že takrat se je šušljalo, da to pomeni tudi konec za zasedbo, ki je to zdaj tudi uradno potrdila. Izjava vokalista Boba Catleyja:

»Hello, everybody. Bob here. All right. I wish I didn't have to tell you this, but I really can't carry on with Tony not here anymore. Please forgive me, and I hope you can understand how I feel. I've been thinking about it a lot lately.
Since we lost Tone, we lost our guiding light, the magnum force behind the band, our songwriter, our producer, our guitar player. He was everything to the band. He was everything to me. For the last 50 years, we never went anywhere without each other. On tour, in the studio, I was at his side constantly, working on stuff with him. I had a wonderful life with Tony. But now it's all too much for me, people. I can't carry on without Tony.
I may pop up in some other shape or form in the near future – you never know – but I can't keep going on like this. It's far too sad; it's all too sad.
So, I hope you understand. You've been fantastic – the best audience ever. You kept this band going year after year, album after album, and we thank you for that.
So, be good. Keep Tony's music in your heart always. I know I will. I will always carry MAGNUM inside me. And I will always have Tony Clarkin beside me wherever I go.
I love you. You've been brilliant. But it's time for me to bow out now. It's my last curtain call, okay? I'll see you sometime. Be good. Cheers. Bye-bye.«

Power metal veljaki Rhapsody Of Fire predstavljajo single A Brave New Hope, ki ga boste našli na prihajajočem albumu Challenge The Wind. Ta izide 31. maja pri AFM Records.

Organizatorji festivala Kaltenbach Open Air 2024, ki se bo zgodil med 22. in 24. avgustom, so objavili razpored nastopajočih po dnevih. Ogledate si ga lahko na sliki.

Gothic/doom metalci Drift Into Black, pri katerih bobna Klemen Markelj, bodo 28. junija izdali peti album Voices Beneath the Rubble. Ta bo izšel pri Black Lion Records in prinesel deset komadov:

The Horns of Despair
In Turmoil
The Great Machine
Voices Beneath the Rubble
Last Hope
Forever King
Blood Storm
What’s Left in the Fire
Turning of the Tide
December

Finski doom/death metalci Swallow The Sun bodo 30. aprila pri Alone Records na vinilu izdali zbirko The Singles Collection (The Spinefarm Years). Kot pove že ime, bo izdaja pokrivala bandovo sodelovanje z založbo Spinefarm Records, natančneje te izdaje:

The Morning Never Came
Ghosts Of Loss
Hope
New Moon
Emerald Forest And The Blackbird
Plague Of Butterflies (EP)

Nemška zasedba Paradox se vrača z napovedjo novega albuma Mysterium. Album naj bi izšel še letos pri založbi AFM Records, točen datum izida pa še ni znan. Spodaj pa si lahko preberete izjavo Charlyja Steinhauerja:

»Friends and fans,
I had a dream. I wanted to start together with AXEL BLAHA, with whom I founded PARADOX in 1981, and end together again at some point. Unfortunately, that is no longer possible because he has said goodbye to this world.
In all these years, AXEL was the only musician who worked with me the way you have to, to achieve a goal. We never danced around at multiple weddings and were always loyal to one band. PARADOX! This was the only way the two classics “PRODUCT OF IMAGINATION” and “HERESY” were possible.
I miss him very much and it is very difficult for me to move on without him, but anyone who knows me knows that giving up is not an option for me.
Not even after 43 years and that's why I can tell you, that I have composed a new PARADOX album, which will hopefully be released worldwide this year via AFM RECORDS. The album will be called “MYSTERIUM” and will contain all the trademarks a Paradox fan wants.
The special thing about “MYSTERIUM” is that I composed all the songs and played all the instruments myself, because I will never again work with project-hungry musician whores who play a few notes on an album but otherwise have nothing to do with PARADOX, or none maintain contact with his colleagues. Unfortunately, this runs like a common thread through the entire career and is the main reason why PARADOX was never able to really get off the ground. To do this you need musicians who work together and pursue a common goal.
It should also be a warning to all young musicians and new bands who want to achieve something with their band. You can find out more about this in the numerous interviews for the new album. You should definitely read this!
I will also be responsible for the mix and the entire production.
The lyrics are written by ACHIM “DAXX” HOEMERLEIN (ex-Vendetta), who also wrote the lyrics for “TALES OF THE WEIRD” and “PANGEA”.
TRAVIS SMITH (Opeth/Nevermore etc) is currently working on the artwork.
“MYSTERIUM” is a very heavy album and contains 10 songs with a playing time of 51 minutes. Dedicated to AXEL BLAHA, my best friend and co-founder of PARADOX!
Cheerz!
Charly«

Progresivni death metal duet Iapetus sporoča, da je podpisal pogodbo z založbo Willowtip Records. Band je trenutno v fazi priprave materiala za tretji album, spodaj pa lahko preberete izjavo banda ob začetku sodelovanja z novo založbo:

»We are honored, humbled, and thrilled to announce our partnership with Willowtip Records - to join their incomparable roster, both past and present, and to stand alongside so many incredible bands that we have long admired both as fans and peers.Willowtip is and has always been dedicated to pushing the boundaries of metal - to championing the off-beat and the unfamiliar - and so we feel resolutely at home beneath their legendary, ever-innovative banner. This partnership is, for us - and in so many ways - a perfect fit. We could not be more excited for the endeavors ahead.

Writing for our next album has been ongoing for years, and is still well underway - while it's still too far-off for specific details, we can promise that it will be our darkest record yet - an 80+ minute conceptual rumination on hopelessness, mortality, and meaning in an uncaring cosmos. More news will become available as the album progresses.

And, as always, our unending gratitude for the continual support of our fans across the globe - if you haven't already, check out some of our new, outstanding labelmates - An Abstract Illusion, Countless Skies, Hath, Slugdge, The Anchoret, and more!

Cheers, and Happy New Year!«

Nemški groove thrasherji Smorrah, ki so oktobra podpisali za založbo Sick Taste Records, so nedavno razkrili nekaj podrobnosti svojega prihajajočega prvenca. Ta bo nosil naslov Welcome to Your Nightmare, izšel bo 23. februarja in prinesel devet komadov:

Welcome To Your Nightmare
Dead Snake Eyes
Age Of Decay
Killing Spree
Hope Dies Last
Buried Underneath
Death Awaits
Evil Betrayal
When The Tide Comes In

Ponovno nas organizatorji kultnega festivala Kaltenbach Open Air razveseljujejo z novimi potrditvami za naslednje leto. Tokrat so se naboru bandov pridružile grindcore legende Napalm Death in death metal veljaki Malevolent Creation. Manjkali pa tudi ne bodo avstrijski black metalci Asmodeus.

Festival bo potekal med 22. in 24. avgustom. Vstopnice so že na voljo.

Nizozemski melodični death thrasherji Insurrection predstavljajo prve podrobnosti svojega prihajajočega EP-ja Exiled to Earth, ki bo izšel 22. decembra pri Tunnelgeur Records na CD-ju. Poleg omenjenih informacij so znani še naslovnica, en komad in tracklista:

Hopeless World Below
The End Of Honesty
In Terram Extorres
Crimson Skies

Nemški thrasherji Breed so napovedali dolgometražni prvenec z naslovom History Of Tomorrow. Plošček prinaša osem komadov:

In Your Face
Of Hope And Despair
Refuse To Reality
Dimension Downside
Pro Evolution Sucker
Out Of Control
Better Hater
History Of Tomorrow