Avstralsko-finska dark metal zasedba The Eternal je objavila video za skladbo Deathlike Silence s prihajajočega albuma Skinwalker, ki naj bi izšel 28. junija pri založbi Reigning Phoenix Music.

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.«

V okviru promocijske turneje lanskega albuma Godlike se v Ljubljano vračajo Thy Art Is Murder. 3. julija bodo obiskali Kino Šiška, s seboj pa pripeljejo death metal veterane Dying Fetus, metalcorovce Fit for a King, avstralske Alpha Wolf in japonske Knosis.

Sobotni koncert zasedb Relentless Youth, Gründ, The Kripless v idrijskem Swenaku je odpovedan. Tako pravi organizator: »Due to unfortunate circumstances we are being forced to cancel the Relentless Youth release party!! We'd like to extend an apology to the bands and to all of you that were planning on coming this Saturday.«

Letošnji Brutal Assault bo poseben še zaradi enega velikega dogodka, in sicer se bodo ob 200. obletnici rojstva znamenitega poljskega skladatelja Bedřicha Smetane na odru združili domači black metal velikani Cult Of Fire in praški simfonični orkester Bohemian Symphony Orchestra pod vodstvom Martina Šande. Skupaj bodo odigrali poseben set, posvečen prej omenjenemu skladatelju. Dirigent Martin Šanda je namreč napisal aranžmaje določenih komadov Cult Of Fire in vanje vpletel Smetanovo glasbo. Vsekakor gre za edinstven koncert, vreden ogleda in posluha.

Avstralsko-finska dark metal zasedba The Eternal napoveduje izid sedmega albuma, ki bo nosil ime Skinwalker. Album naj bi izšel konec junija, že zdaj pa se lahko predhodno naročite na izid prvega singla Death Like Silence, ki bo vsem na voljo 12. aprila.

Grški ekstremneži Rotting Christ, ki so nedavno napovedali izid novega albuma Pro Xristou, predstavljajo prvi single Like Father, Like Son. Za dotični komad je band posnel tudi video, prihajajoči album pa naj bi izšel 24. maja pri Season Of Mist. Prednaročite ga lahko tukaj.

Stoner pankerji Mondo Generator se bodo konec aprila odpravili na evropsko turnejo. V okviru te turneje naj bi odigrali prek 30 koncertov, kakor lahko razberete s slike, dva za nas najbolj zanimiva pa sta verjetno 3. maja v Trstu in 8. maja v Mariboru.

Italijanski heavy metalci Crying Steel so napovedali live album Live and Thunder, ki bo izšel 28. februarja pri Underground Symphony. Tracklista:

Hammerfall
Crank it Up
Defender
Shut Down
Killer Inside
Raptor
Hell Ain’t a Bad Place
Born in the Fire
Rockin’ Train
Heavens of Rock
Running’ Like a Wolf
Thundergods

Nemški hard rockerji/heavy power metalci Dominum so pri Napalm Records izdali single Rock You Like a Hurricane, za katerega so posneli tudi video. Komad je priredba legendarnih Scorpions.

Grški (black) metal velikani Rotting Christ so razkrili, da bo njihov novi album nosil naslov Pro Xristou, da bo izšel 24. maja in bo prinesel dvanajst komadov:

Pro Xristou (Προ Χριστού)
The Apostate
Like Father, Like Son
The Sixth Day
La Lettera Del Diavolo
The Farewell
Pix Lax Dax
Pretty World, Pretty Dies
Yggdrasil
Saoirse
Primal Resurrection (bonus)
All For One (bonus)

Pri snemanju albnuma so kot gostujoči glasbeniki sodelovali:

Amdroniki Skoula – vokal (za pesem La Letra Del Diavolo)
Nikos Kerkiras – klaviature
Christina Alexiou – zbor
Maria Tsironi – zbor
Alexandros Loyziotis – zbor
Vasilis Karatzas – zbor

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«

Misteriozne heavy/power metalke Dogma sporočajo, da bodo od letošnjega leta dalje pod okriljem IDL Entertainment, ki pa ima z njimi za letos velike načrte.

Zaradi velikega povpraševanja bodo W.A.S.P. znova izdali zbirko z naslovom The 7 Savage 1984–1992, ki vsega skupaj obsega osem vinilnih plošč iz zgodnjega obdobja bandovega delovanja.

Ob praznovanju 20. obletnice delovanja so TrollfesT, pionirji »True Norwegian Balkan« metala, napovedali izid nove kompilacijske plošče z naslovom 20 Years in The Wrong Lane. Ta vsebuje mešanico starih demo posnetkov, jam sessionov, neobjavljenih skladb, bonus materiala in nekaj remiksov, ki povzemajo divje in veselo potovanje skupine skozi svet metala. Tracklista:

Stran A
Atlantis
...Skogfest
Smoldering Failure
A Shot of Trolljoy
Drinking Beer
Happy Little Boozer (Korpiklaani cover)
Dance Like a Remix

Stran B
Der JegerMeister
Drinking Song From Hell
Gigantic Cave (live)
Flamongous (live)
Kjetteren Afterski