Legendarni Mercyful Fate so se razšli z basistom Joeyjem Vero. Zamenjava zanj še ni znana. Spodaj si lahko preberete izjavo Kinga Diamonda:

»Our friendship and respect for each other will always remain the same, and we all sincerely wish each other the absolut best for the future.«

Nemški heavy metalci The Night Eternal sporočajo, da je band iz osebnih razlogov zapustil Jones Nühlen.

»Unfortunately we have to inform you that Jones decided to part ways with The Night Eternal due to personal reasons. We‘re still good friends, so there‘s no bad blood and we respect his decision. Being a founding member, Jones was notorious for his catchy bass lines through all of our releases so far and we want to thank him sincerely for the great times we had.
There‘s a last chance to catch The Night Eternal with its original line-up on stage at Endzeit Festival on January 27th, so give Jones the honor and get your tickets!
For THE SATANIC PANIC TOUR starting on February 1st, our good friend Jannik will take over the bass duties.«

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«

Nemški progresivci Voyager-X, ki so intenzivno delovali med letoma 1987 in 1997 v Nemčiji in nato poniknili, bodo 22. marca izdali album z naslovom Magic. S tega albuma so nedavno v obliki besedilnega videospota predstavili single Hypnotize You, še pred tem pa single Janus Face. Seznam pesmi:

Janus Face
Hypnotize You
Magic
You Crossed My Way
I Recognize You
Don’t Lose The Path
C’mon Live Your Dreams Together
Walk On The Dead Line
Crime Of The Century

Nizozemska enočlanska black metal zasedba Helleruin, ki smo jo lani decembra ujeli v Eindhovnu, se je odpravila v studio in že pripravlja material za nov dolgometražec, ki naj bi izšel že letos:

»2024 has officially started with a new studio session.

Upped the game with more cymbals, more toms and more microphones. Going from 6 to 14 channels to record. As I’m trying different ways to challenge myself, I’m recording for the first time to a Clicktrack. So yes, obviously new music coming this year.«

Avtor fotografije je Žiga Grubelnik.

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!«

Poslušate lahko The Fate of The Antagonist, prvenec madžarske metalcore/HC punk zasedbe The Way We Are.

Norveški death/thrash metalci Sovereign so le nekaj dni po objavi komada Counter Tech objavili še naslovni komad svojega prihajajočega prvenca Altered Realities. Album izide 19. januarja pri Dark Descent Records.

Death/thrash metalci Sovereign iz Norveške predstavljajo še en komad s prihajajočega prvenca Altered Realities. Tokrat band v posluh ponuja komad Counter Tech, album pa naj bi izšel 19. januarja pri Dark Descent Records.

Finski temačneži Counting Hours bodo 23. februarja pri Ardua Music izdali svoj drugi studijski album The Wishing Tomb. Komadu Timeless Ones lahko prisluhnete tukaj, sicer pa bodo na ploščku ti komadi:

Unsung, Forlorn
Timeless Ones
Away I Flow
All That Blooms (Needs To Die)
Starlit / Lifeless
The Wishing Tomb
No Closure
A Mercy Fall
This Well Of Failures

Belgijski skladatelj, kitarist in producent Nikolaas Van Riet in španska pevka Celica Soldream sta združila moči in ustanovila cinematic/symphonic metal band Malevolent. S pomočjo Necktwister naj bi naslednji teden v četrtek izšel njun debitantski samonaslovljen plošček, pri katerem sta sodelovala še bobnar Koen Herfst in lead kitarist Jan Verschueren. Tracklista:

Gaze
Ways
Light
Creations
The Awakening (bonus)

Black metal dvojec Inquisition se naslednje leto vrača z novim dolgometražcem. Album z naslovom Veneration Of Medieval Mysticism And Cosmological Violence naj bi izšel 26. januarja in bo zajemal naslednje komade:

Witchcraft Within A Gothic Tomb
Crown Of Light And Constellations
A Hidden Ceremony Of Blood And Flesh
Force Of Death Is The Force Of Life
Memories Within An Empty Castle In Ruins
Primordial Philosophy And Pure Spirit
Infinity Is The Aeon of Satan
Pathway Of Light Is A Pathway To Fire
Light Of My Dark Essence
Secrets From The Wizard Forest Of Forbidden Knowledge
Sorcery Through Crystal Eyes In Search Of The Devil
Veneration Of Medieval Mysticism And Cosmological Violence
Lord Of Absolute Darkness And Infinite Light

Exit Eden so posnele videospot za priredbo skladbe Separate Ways, ki jo je leta 1983 kot single izdala ameriška zasedba Journey. Po singlu Run! je to že druga skladba, ki so jo razkrile s prihajajočega albuma Femmes Fatales, ki ga bo 12. januarja izdala založba Napalm Records.

Witherfall iz Los Angelesa po nedavno objavljenem komadu Insidious zdaj predstavljajo že drugi single Ceremony Of Fire s prihajajočega albuma Sounds Of The Forgotten. Izšel bo 31. maja, tracklista pa je sledeča:

They Will Let You Down
Where Do I Begin
A Lonely Path
Insidious
Ceremony Of Fire
Sounds Of The Forgotten
Aftermath
When It All Falls Away
Opulent
What Have You Done?

Poslušate lahko tudi Brand New Way, četrti dolgometražec brazilskih power metalcev Armored Dawn.