Kanadski black/death metal metalci Fractal Generator so obelodanili komad Askesis s tretjega studijskega albuma Convergence, ki ga bodo 7. junija izdali pri Everlasting Spew Records. Tracklista:

Cryogenian
Convergence
Askesis
Ancient Civilizations
Obelisk
Ciphertext
Xiphoid
Algorithmic Pathways
Encephalon

Kvlt ov Seitan Booking po zimskem spanju znova pripravljajo nov ritual. Spring Ritvall se bo tako zgodil 10. maja v klubu Gromka na Metelkovi, nastopili pa bodo Unviar in Solfar iz Italije ter domači Ways Of A Heretic.

Več o samem dogodku najdete v našem Napovedniku.

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.«

Sporočamo, da je umrl Dennis Cornelius, vokalist in kitarist doom metalcev Memory Driven. Naj počiva v miru. Izjava banda:

»It is with indescribable melancholy that words cannot express in which I make this announcement. Dennis Cornelius, our long time musical brother, in this band, and in life, has passed away. We cannot begin to process this immense loss, as we just send love and prayers to his family and loved ones. Thank you for so many years of such passionate and inspirational music. It has been such an honor to be a part of this journey with you. Thank you sooooo much for sharing that with us all, Dennis. You and Jyme are together again. We love you, Dennis, our brother.«

Potem ko smo lahko pred kratkim Američane Wayfarer spremljali na odru skupaj z veljaki Enslaved, band sporoča, da se junija vrača v Evropo. Med izbranimi datumi se bodo gospodje z »divjega zahoda« 21. junija ustavili pri naših južnih sosedih na festivalu Heretic Feast Fest, kjer jim bodo družbo delali tudi domači Dickless Tracy. Več informacij pa najdete tukaj.

Nemški heavy metalci Inner Axis sporočajo, da je pri založbi Fastball Music izšel njihov najnovejši album Midnight Forces. Tracklista:

I am the Storm
Strike of the Cobra
Midnight Hunter
This is the Way
Evil Dead
Spartan War-Cry
Steelbladed Avenger
Master & Commander
Burn with Me
Blade of Glory

Čeprav bo ukrajinski enočlanski ambientalno atmosferični black metal band Severoth izdal album By the Way of Light šele 22. marca, mu lahko premierno prisluhnete že zdaj.

Po nekaj nastopih na Otoku Enslaved nadaljujejo svoje romanje po Evropi. Čez natanko teden dni bodo svoj glas širili v dunajskem klubu ((szene)) v družbi Svalbard in Wayfarer.

Kalifornijski tehnični death metalci The Last of Lucy so posneli videospot za komad Empyreal Banisher s tretjega studijskega albuma Godform, ki ga bo 17. maja izdala založba Transcending Obscurity Records. Album obsega naslednje naslove:

Wormhole
Empyreal Banisher
Twin Flame
Shedim Seance
Sanguinary Solace
Sentinel Codex
Darkest Night of the Soul
Angelic Gateway
Anima Flux
Godform

Lombardijski black/death metal band Hadit, ki se mu je lani pridružil Gabriele Gramaglia (Cosmic Putrefaction, Turris Eburnea, Vertebra Atlantis, The Clearing Path), predstavlja svež komad Screaming from the Throat of a Reversed Light Being z drugega albuma Metaphysical Engines Approaching the Event Horizon. Ta bo izšel 15. marca pri založbi I, Voidhanger Records, prinaša pa te komade:

Becoming the Light Eternally Driving on the Photon Sphere
Interstellar Medium's Rhapsody
Three Ways of Death After Gravitational Collapse
Screaming from the Throat of a Reversed Light Being
Find Your Death, Cosmic Wreckage
Blood and Gods Know Where Weakness Is
The Eternals' Dream Out of Time and Frames
Del tramonto sul nulla, dove fuoco diventa Cielo

Ameriški melodični blackened death metalci Volcandra so prejšnji petek pri Prosthetic Records izdali drugi album The Way of Ancients, hkrati pa objavili video za komad Seven Tombs.

Švedska sludge metal/hardcore zasedba Horndal bo 5. aprila pri Prosthetic Records izdala tretji dolgometražec z naslovom Head Hammer Man. S tega albuma pa ponujajo že video za komad Blacklisted.

Nemški heavy metalci Vulture so s komadom Unhallowed & Forgotten napovedali Sentinels, četrti dolgometražni album, ki bo izšel 12. aprila pri Metal Blade Records. Tracklista:

Screams from the Abattoir
Unhallowed & Forgotten
Transylvania
Realm of the Impaler
Draw Your Blades
Where There's a Whip (There Is a Way)
Der Tod Trägt Schwarzes Leder
Death Row
Gargoyles
Oathbreaker
Sentinels (Heavier Than Time)

Iz tabora finskih metal čelistov Apocalyptica je odjeknila vest, da se je band razšel z dolgoletnim bobnarjem Mikkom Sirénom. Spodaj lahko preberete celotno izjavo banda:

»Some of you may have already seen us playing without our drummer Mikko Siren in Brasil and Mexico earlier this year...or have heard rumors to this effect. We are very sorry to have to inform you that we have amicably parted ways with Mikko after 20 years. Recording our forthcoming album was our last collective achievement. Also, we want to reassure all of you that we – Eicca, Perttu and Paavo – will continue as APOCALYPTICA. We wish Mikko happiness and success in everything he aims for in all his future endeavors!!«

Pred dnevi pa smo tudi poročali, da se Apocalyptica septembra odpravljajo na turnejo po Evropi.

Avtorica fotografije je Saša Krajnc.