Ameriški sludge metalci Black Tusk bodo 26. aprila izdali The Way Forward, svoj šesti studijski album. Tracklista:

Out of Grasp
Brushfire
Harness (The Alchemist)
Lessons Through Deception
Breath of Life
Dance on Your Grave
Against the Undertow
Lift Yourself
Ocean of Obsidian
Flee from Dawn
The Way Forward

Kanadski heavy metalci Thunderor se maja vračajo v Evropo. Znova so bodo odpravili na turnejo z italijanskimi kolegi Tytus, skupaj pa bodo med drugim obiskali tudi mariborsko dvorano Gustaf, in sicer 11. maja. Vse datume turneje najdete na sliki.

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

Francoski black metal veterani Merrimack predstavljajo Under The Aimless Spheres, tretji single s prihajajočega albuma Of Grace and Gravity, ki izide 8. marca pri Season Of Mist.

Avtor fotofrafije je Vagus Nox.

Portugalski heavy metalci Toxikull predstavljajo nov video za naslovni komad prihajajoče plošče Under The Southern Light. Album izide 23. februarja pri založbi Dying Victims Productions.

Švedske hard rockerke Thundermother so objavile video za komad Speaking of the Devil.

Znani so še zadnji nastopajoči na letošnji izvedbi festivala Tolminator, ki se bo odvijal med 24. in 28. julijem v Tolminu. Kot četrti in zadnji headliner so potrjeni Electric Wizard! Na glavnem odru bodo nastopili Jungle Rot in Dödsrit, na underground odru pa Stillbirth, Dust Bolt, Monochromatic Black, Mezzrow, Nemesis, Infest, Dusk in Dezaztre.

Poleg že omenjenih na festivalu igrajo še zasedbe Natural, Battlesword, Public Grave, False Crown, Carrion, Patroness, Behind Bars, Astral Paralysis, Chronic Hate, Nekrodeus, Total Annihilation, Contractkiller, Slave To Sirens, Thy Legion in Eternal Struggle, od domačih bandov pa Kamra, Samperium, Dethrone The Corrupted in Sovrag.

Znan je tudi že razpored nastopajočih po dnevih in naslednji teden gre v prodajo omejeno število dnevnih vstopnic. Festivalske vstopnice so na voljo na tej povezavi.

Power metalci Bloodorn bodo kmalu izdali prvenec Let The Fury Rise. Izšel naj bi 24. maja pri založbi Reaper Entertainment in se bo bohotil s temi komadi:

Overture χιϛ
Fear the Coming Wave
Under the Secret Sign
Rise Up Again
Tonight We Fight!
God Won't Come
Forging the Future (With Our Blades)
Let the Fury Rise
Six Wounded Wolves
Bloodorn
Square Hammer (Ghost cover)

Samael so objavili besedilni video za skladbo Moonskin s koncertnega albuma Passage – Live, ki ga bodo 16. februarja izdali pri Napalm Records. Tracklista:

Passage
Rain
Shining Kingdom
Angel's Decay
My Saviour
Jupiterian Vibe
The Ones Who Came Before
Liquid Soul Dimension
Moonskin
Born Under Saturn
Chosen Race
A Man in Your Head

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«

Bavarski gothic metal dvojec The Vision Bleak predstavlja besedilni video za skladbo Weird Tales Chapter IV & V s svojega sedmega albuma Weird Tales, ki ga bo izdal 12. aprila pri založbi Prophecy Productions. Album obsega te naslove:

Chapter I: Introduction
Chapter II: In Rue d'Auseil
Chapter III: In Gardens Red, Satanical
Chapter IV: Once I Was a Flower
Chapter V: The Premature Burial
Chapter VI: Mother of Toads
Chapter VII: The Graveyard by Nyght in a Thunderstorm
Chapter VIII: The Undying One
Chapter IX: Evil Dreams Run Deep
Chapter X: The Witch with Eyes of Amber
Chapter XI: Canticle
Chapter XII: To Drink from Lethe

Norveški Gothminister so posneli videospot za pesem We Come Alive s prihajajočega albuma Pandemonium II: The Battle of the Underworlds, ki izide 3. maja.

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!«

Death/thrash metal veterani Master predstavljajo komad Minds Under Pressure s svojega petnajstega albuma Saints Dispelled, ki ga bodo 19. januarja izdali pri Hammerheart Records. Album obsega naslednje naslove:

Destruction in June
Walk in the Footsteps of Doom
Saints Dispelled
Minds Under Pressure
Find Your Life
Marred and Diseased
The Wiseman
The Wizard of Evil
Nomads*
Alienation of Insanity*

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