D.I.S. – New Band on POWER IT UP !

A Message From Power It Up Team:
We can announce our next CD release, we are really happy that we can annouce the CD issue from D.I.S. – Critical Failure CD is coming sometime in may on POWER IT UP.
here are some more information

D.I.S. BIO:

A crushing powerhouse of Swedish influenced D-Beat mixed with ripping metal and thrash, backed by traditionally aggressive punk vocals. This is D.I.S. Bringing together a combined total of over 75 years experience and dedication to the underground through various bands, DIS is an unstoppable bulldozer of heaviness and ferocity.

Mike Fisher – Vocals Bruce Reeves – Guitar Leon del Muerte – Guitar Kent Elmore – Bass Sean Vahle – Drums
DIS Started to take form in 2008 as a new undertaking from Bruce Reeves, a founding member of Grindcore legends Phobia and heavy sludge masters Mange. Parting ways with Phobia after 15 years of grinding, it was time to move in another direction. Enlisting the help of Sean Vahle (Eat The Living) on drums and Mike Fisher (ex-No Warning) on Vocals, song writing began. D.I.S. then invited Kent Elmore, formerly of Mange to join the band on Bass and put the finishing touches on what would become their 2008 demo. Shortly after the demo, long time friend and underground legend Leon del Muerte whose entirely-too-long list of bands include such acts as Exhumed, Intronaut, Phobia, Impaled and Murder Construct was recruited to play guitar. With the line up now secure, D.I.S. were ready to hit the stage in full force. Playing with the likes of The Accused, Naked Aggression, General Surgery, Phobia, Cattle Decapitation, Litmus Green, Lack Of Interest, Bastard Noise, War cry, and Gravehill, D.I.S established themselves as a brutal band that appeals to both the heaviest of metal and punk crowds. Cementing the line up and their unique sound, the end of 2009 brought D.I.S. back into the studio to record their first full length “Critical Failure”. With a release in Spring 2010 through Deep Six (US) and Power It Up (EUR), D.I.S. will be heading across the U.S. in support of their new record. In the works are a few split releases and future plans for a new record in 2011, with a European tour to follow along with other various world dominating activities.

http://www.warlordclothing.com/dis/music/01_Speak_Of_Hate.mp3

Related posts:

1. NASHGUL THE DAY AFTER THE END OF HUMANITY (EL DIA DESPUES AL FIN DE LA HUMANIDAD) (POWER-IT-UP RECORDS, 2009)
   1. Watch Out! DECREPIDEMIC
      1. POWER QUEST Demoing Three New Songs

http://dwz.eu5.org/blog/

VADER Line-Up Update on “Killfest 2010″ North American tour

Marco Martell (AGAINST THE PLAGUES, MALEVOLENT CREATION) will play second guitarist for Polish death metallers VADER during the band’s “Killfest 2010″ North American tour, which kicks off tomorrow night (Thursday, April 1) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Headlining the trek are veteran New Jersey thrashers OVERKILL, with additional support coming from GOD DETHRONED, WARBRINGER, EVILE and WOE OF TYRANTS.

VADER’s new album, “Necropolis”, sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 19 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

“Necropolis” was recorded at Hertz studios in Bialystok, Poland with the Wieslawski Bros.. Tue Madsen, who previously worked with such bands as MOONSPELL, CATARACT, HEAVEN SHALL BURN and many more, mixed the CD at his Antfarm Studios in Denmark.

“Never Say My Name”, the new video from VADER, was inspired by Patrick Graham’s bestselling book “L’Évangile Selon Satan” (translation: “The Gospel According to Satan”). The clip tells an alternate story of the death of a messiah who curses humanity before his death on the cross and chooses life in Hell instead of Heaven. Perhaps because of its “controversial” title and content, this book is not available in the U.S. in English, but a French version can be ordered from Canada.

Related posts:

1. AMERICAN DOG, featuring former SALTY DOG bassist Michael Hannon, has issued the following update
   1. OMEGA LITHIUM’s ‘Dreams In Formaline’ To Receive North American Release In April
      1. Joey Belladonna will embark on a South American tour at the end of May

http://dwz.eu5.org/blog/

DEATH ANGEL In Studio

San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans DEATH ANGEL recently entered Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER) to begin recording their new album for a tentative September release via Nuclear Blast Records.

DEATH ANGEL vocalist Mark Osegueda recently stated about the band’s decision to work with Suecof, “The new material is the most aggressive and technical music we have written in years. So we needed a producer that was capable of unleashing the tones that match and complement the overall vibe of the songs. With Jason’s experience in producing some of the most brutal contemporary metal artists and albums of today, I know we made the right choice! I think the collaboration between the two of us will prove to be venomous and infectious!”

DEATH ANGEL debuted two brand new songs — “River” and “Into The Arms Of Righteous Anger” — during its appearance at last year’s Speedfest, which was held November 28, 2009 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The concert marked the group’s first appearance with bassist Damien Sisson (SCARECROW, POTENTIAL THREAT) following the departure of Sammy Diosdado (THE SICK, ALL TIME HIGHS).

DEATH ANGEL’s longtime drummer and original member Andrew Galeon left the band in April 2009 and has since been replaced by Will Carroll, formerly of SCARECROW, OLD GRANDAD and VICIOUS RUMORS.

DEATH ANGEL will team up with Godfathers of Swedish modern metal SOILWORK , Quebec’s tech-death masters AUGURY, Roadrunner Records recording artists MUTINY WITHIN, and pirate-themed thrashers SWASHBUCKLE for a North American tour in July/August.

Related posts:

1. DEATH ANGEL работают над новым альбомом
   1. Italian Horror Metal band CADAVERIA have entered the studio to begin recording their new album
      1. Обратите внимание — VERMIN Death Metal Progressive

http://dwz.eu5.org/blog/

Regain Records has announced the signing of NECRONAUT

Regain Records has announced the signing of NECRONAUT, the solo project of former DISMEMBER/CARNAGE drummer Fred Estby.

After more than 20 years in the death metal scene, Estby wanted to express his passion for different kinds of extreme music he’s bore since his youth. In 2008, Estby started to write and record material with the intention of having one unique vocalist for each song. Dubbed NECRONAUT, the project would become a reality one year later when Estby began contacting the many talented metal musicians he had in mind to complete the album of his diabolic dreams. In short, NECRONAUT is a raw slab of old-school metal and while the term “old-school” alone goes a long way in accurately describing the sound that one should expect from Estby and co, NECRONAUT is so much more. The band’s approach is crude and dead simple, a la early BATHORY and VENOM mutated with BLACK SABBATH and IRON MAIDEN, but with an unorthodox bass-heavy production that allows the album to stand out amongst its peers. The goal was primitive brute force, but because of the manner in which Estby chose to achieve it, he also managed to create an aura of pure malevolence that, prior to this album’s creation, was likely difficult to imagine.

Estby is currently finalizing the self-titled album for a late 2010 release. The cover artwork for the CD was designed by Chat Zar, who was reponsible for creating the prosthetic effects for such movies as “The Ring”, “Planet of the Apes” and “Darkman”.

Commented Estby: “The work of this album has been possessing me for the last 12 months and it is turning out exactly as raw, heavy and dirty as I hoped!”

NECRONAUT guest musicians:

Vocalists:

* Chris Reifert (ABSCESS, AUTOPSY)
* Hellbutcher (NIFELHEIM)
* Tompa Lindberg (DISFEAR, LOCK UP)
* Nicke Andersson (IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC)

Solo guitarists:

* Tyrant (NIFELHEIM, DAGGER)
* Uffe Cederlund (DISFEAR, ex-ENTOMBED, PRINCIPALS OF EXISTENCE)
* Robert Pehrsson (DEATH BREATH, DUNDERTÅGET)
* Robert “Strings” Dahlqvist (DUNDERTÅGET)
* David Blomqvist (DISMEMBER, DAGGER)

The song “Infecting Madness”, featuring Chris Reifert on vocals, is available for streaming at http://www.myspace.com/necronaut666

Related posts:

1. MEGADETH Mainman Reveals New Songtitle
   1. OZZY OSBOURNE: New Album Title
      1. Relapse Records – Culted, Rotten Sound and Cephalic Carnage – Out Now!

http://dwz.eu5.org/blog/

WHITECHAPEL have set “A New Era Of Corruption” as the title of their third album

Knoxville, Tennessee death metallers WHITECHAPEL have set “A New Era Of Corruption” as the title of their third album, due on June 8 via Metal Blade Records. A song from the CD will make its online debut on April 12,

“A New Era Of Corruption” was recorded at Audiohammer studios in Sanford, Florida with acclaimed producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER).

“The album is finally 100% complete and we couldn’t be more excited. I think this record truly represents where we are as musicians at this point in our career,” comments guitarist and founding member Alex Wade.

“‘A New Era of Corruption’ is the heaviest and most aggressive material we have written to date.

“Some of you may notice that the title of the new record, ‘A New Era of Corruption’, is a line from the song ‘Possession’ off our last album, ‘This Is Exile’.

“We wanted to name the CD this to bring a little flavor from ‘This Is Exile’ into the new CD, as well as I think the name represents this new age of extreme metal that we are currently rising in.

“The album is not a concept record like ‘This Is Exile’ was. It just has its own general theme and each song deals with its own topic track by track.”

“A New Era of Corruption” track listing:

01. Devolver
02. Breeding Violence
03. The Darkest Day of Man
04. Reprogrammed to Hate
05. End of Flesh
06. Unnerving
07. A Future Corrupt
08. Prayer of Mockery
09. Murder Sermon
10. Nercomechanical
11. Single File to Dehumanization
12. Animus (digital and vinyl bonus track)

Handling artwork for “A New Era Of Corruption” was Brent Elliot White, who previously worked with JOB FOR A COWBOY and CARNIFEX. “Brent absolutely nailed it,” states Alex. “The dark and ominous vibe he portrayed with his art fits the mood of the CD perfectly.”

“A New Era Of Corruption” features guest vocals from Vincent of THE ACACIA STRAIN on the track “Murder Sermon” and Chino from the DEFTONES on the track “Reprogrammed to Hate”. Alex explains: “Vincent has been a longtime friend of the band and we have always talked about him doing guest vocals on one of our records, so, naturally, his style of vocals fits our music perfectly and sounds great.

“We’re honored to have DEFTONES vocalist Chino Moreno on our record. All of us are huge DEFTONES fans so it’s pretty surreal for us.

“He absolutely killed his part on the album and it’s everything I envisioned it would be. Plus it’s cool that Chino was so opened-minded to do vocals on something so extreme; I think that it sounds fantastic.”

In support of the upcoming release, WHITECHAPEL is hitting the road to play about 30 dates, most of which are with labelmates JOB FOR A COWBOY and CATTLE DECAPITATION, including stops at the New England Metal And Hardcore Festival and the California Metalfest. Then come the summer, WHITECHAPEL will be on the road as a part of the Vans Warped Tour.

“We have some killer tours coming up in support of the new record, the first one being with JOB FOR A COWBOY and the second one being Vans Warped Tour,” states Alex. “The JOB FOR A COWBOY tour will be cool as it will be in smaller rooms with a more intimate setting with the fans. This is something we haven’t done in a very long time so it will be awesome to go back and do some shows like that. Then we will be doing the complete opposite and playing to thousands of people a day on the Vans Warped Tour so we are very excited and honored to be a part of that.”

Last but certainly not least, WHITECHAPEL is set to film its first music video for the track “The Darkest Day of Man” off “A New Era of Corruption”. The band will once again work with metal video director David Brodsky of MyGoodEye.

In a recent interview with Ultimate-Guitar.com, Alex Wade stated about the band’s forthcoming LP, “The new album will have its own concept and will not be based off ‘This Is Exile’. Though there will still be some slight themes from ‘Exile’, they’ll still be present on the new album just to, kind of allow the fans of ‘Exile’ to connect with the new album and stuff like that. But it kind of has a theme of its own. It is not going to be so much a concept album it just kind of will have its own theme. And the art work kind of ties in with it, but it won’t really tell a story. The theme is going to be about the downfall of man and where man is forced to become a machine. And the album artwork will explain all of that in a physical sense.”

Regarding the band’s decision to work with Suecof on the new album, Wade said, “We chose Jason Suecof because in our eyes he definitely puts some of the cleanest, as well as, the heaviest recordings out. A lot of producers can’t really grasp that concept of making something extremely heavy while at the same time making everything really clear and audible, like with the guitars and stuff like that. We’re really excited to be going into the studio with him and for him to be taking our sound and kind of meshing it with his production.”

WHITECHAPEL is:

Phil Bozeman – Vocals
Ben Savage – Guitar/Leads
Alex Wade – Guitar
Zach Householder – Guitar
Gabe Crisp – Bass
Kevin Lane – Drums

http://dwz.eu5.org/blog/

FLESHLESS (CZ) HYPOTHERMIE (GER) AUTARKIA (GER) – LIVE AT MARKTWIRTSCHAFT Apr 16, 2010

FLESHLESS (CZ) HYPOTHERMIE (GER) AUTARKIA (GER) – LIVE AT MARKTWIRTSCHAFT Apr 16, 2010

5 YEARS BLASTING YOUR EARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, 16 April 2010
Time: 21:00
MARKTWIRTSCHAFT
Am Kaulenberg 5
Halle
Sachsen-Anhalt

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Am%20Kaulenberg%205,Halle,DE

http://dwz.eu5.org/blog/

Forgotten Tomb, Nocturnal Depression, Huldrefolk, Foscor – LIVE

Forgotten Tomb, Nocturnal Depression, Huldrefolk, Foscor

When:
Friday, April 09, 20107:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT
Lineup:
Huldrefolk
Forgotten Tomb
Promoters:
FUCKING BOOKING
Description

09. April 2010

Forgotten Tomb (IT) www.myspace.com/darknessinstereo
Huldrefolk (B) www.myspace.com/huldrefolk
Nocturnal Depression (F) www.myspace.com/nocturnaldepression
Foscor (ES) (first German show) www.myspace.com/foscor

VVK 12 € www.fucking-booking.de/de/shop
AK 15 €

18 uhr Einlass
19 uhr Beginn

Helvete Oberhausen
www.helvete.de

http://dwz.eu5.org/blog/

SPASMODIC signs with Emrinc

Swedish death metallers SPASMODIC have inked a deal with Emrinc. The band’s new four-track EP will be released later this year. The CD will be based on songs from SPASMODIC’s 2009 self-released demo “Carve Perfection”, and it will be mixed and mastered by Lawrence Mackrory (F.K.Ü., SCARVE, ENEMY IS US).

The track listing is as follows:

01. Carve Perfection
02. Cutting Room
03. Snip Snip Sweetheart
04. Self Starvation

SPASMODIC is:

Vocals – Alexander Högbom
Guitar – Johan Haglund
Guitar – Johan Kvastegård
Bass – Tommy Haglund
Drums – Jimmy Holmgren

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/spasmodicsound.

http://dwz.eu5.org/blog/

TOMBS: More Spring Tour Dates

TOMBS has announced more spring tour dates in support of their Winter Hours album. The band is currently on tour working their way to and from South By Southwest in Austin, TX. TOMBS will then join LUDICRA and KRALLICE for a handful of shows in the north east. The Brooklyn trio has also been confirmed for Maryland Deathfest and Ithaca Underground's Big Day In fest. A listing of confirmed tour dates can be found below with more to be announced soon.
Winter Hours is currently streaming in its entirety at this location: WinterHours.info. TOMBS' first video from Winter Hours, for album-opener "Gossamer", is available at this location.
Stay tuned to Relapse.com and the TOMBS MySpace page: MySpace.com/TombsBklyn for additional news / tour information.

TOMBS Tour Dates:
April 17 Allston, MA O'Brien's (2pm show w/ LUDICRA, KRALLICE)
April 18 Burlington, VT 242 Main (w/ GODS & QUEENS)
April 19 Philadelphia, PA The M Room (w/ LUDICRA, KRALLICE)
April 20 Baltimore, MA Hexagon (w/ LUDICRA, KRALLICE)
May 1 Ithaca, NY The Haunt (as part of Ithaca Underground's Big Day In)
May 30 Baltimore, MD Sonar (as part of Maryland Death Fest)

MISERY INDEX as OEF 2010 headliner!!!

We are excited to introduce another headliner of this volume to you. Misery Index is a band that has our deep respect both due to the music they play and the DIY ethic they stick to!!! Misery Index are going to release a new album called Heirs To Thievery in May and this year OEF show will be an exclusive one. You will not see them anywhere else in Europe during the summer fest season!!!

The music of Misery Index combines the most intense elements of metal with a distinct grind approach, added with a touch of hardcore and extreme punk attitude and passion, thus pushing the limits of metal with an insane mix of regressive thrashing rhythms, corrupting breakdowns and energetic ferocity. Misery Index sets no limits in their goal of making metal and grind flow together in boundless punishing assaults designed to modernize the classic death and grind metal of the early 90's, drawing influence from Brutal Truth, Disrupt, Morbid Angel, Napalm Death, Terrorizer, His Hero is Gone, Bolt Thrower, Assuck and Entombed.

The imagery and lyrical concepts are also very critical to the band, and one can expect that in the true nature of the genre, Misery Index will catapult their ideology and anger to the forefront, and shove the sickness and hypocrisy of this planet right back in the face of all who so quietly accept the status quo...and have fun at the same time.

EXODUS - New & Improved MySpace Launches!

Bay Area thrashers EXODUS have uploaded a brand new MySpace layout - Check it out:

http://www.myspace.com/exodus

A new track - HAMMER AND LIFE - has been made available there as well! The album "Exhibit B - The Human Condition" will be released in Europe on May 7!

AMORPHIS - European tour dates

Finnish metallers AMORPHIS have just announced the second part of the so-called „Forging Europe" Tour, dates below.

The current album "Skyforger" was certified GOLD in Finland for sales in excess of 15.000! The album was released in May 2009!

Forging Europe Tour Part II
Presented by Metal Hammer D & Terrorizer UK
05.11. DK Pumpehuset, - Copenhagen
06.11. DK Metal Festival, - Aalborg
07.11. D Markthalle, - Hamburg
09.11. UK Cathouse, - Glasgow
10.11. UK Academy 3, - Manchester
11.11. UK O2 Academy Islington, - London
12.11. NL Tivoli De Helling, - Utrecht
13.11. B Biebob, - Vosselaar
14.11. D Colos-Saal, - Aschaffenburg
16.11. D Hellraiser, - Leipzig
17.11. PL Proxima, - Warsaw
18.11. A Szene, - Vienna
19.11. CZ Kd Serikovka, - Plzen
20.11. SLO Cvetlicrna, - Ljubljana
21.11. H Diesel, - Budapest
23.11. D Backstage, - Munich
24.11. D Rockfabrik, - Ludwigsburg
25.11. CH Transilvania, - Erstfeld
26.11. I Estragon, - Bologna
27.11. D Club Vaudeville, - Lindau
28.11. D Zeche, - Bochum

Metal Blade Records channel now up on Tap Tap Revenge 3!

Metal Blade Records Channel Now Available
Prepare to bang your head like never before with the release of the Metal Blade Records channel in Tap Tap Revenge. Melt your face and shred metal with thirteen headbanging tracks by Amon Amarth, Behemoth, Primordial, Cattle Decapitation and many more. Get Tap Tap Revenge 3 in the iTunes App Store NOW!

ARMORED SAINT hits charts with La Raza!

La Raza hits the charts in the US, Canada, and Germany!

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. - March 24, 2010 - Los Angeles California's ARMORED SAINT has entered the Billboard charts with La Raza, the band's latest and first release since 2001's Revelation. La Raza debuted at #49 on the Hard Music Albums Chart, #18 on the Heatseekers chart, #52 on the Top Independent Albums chart, and #2 on the Hard Music Core Stores chart. ARMORED SAINT´s La Raza also entered the official German album Charts coming in at #96! Congrats to the boys and the first German Chart entry in their career! In addition to hitting charts in both the US and Germany, the band also entered the Canadian charts coming in at #85 on the Independent chart!

La Raza is the band's first album since Revelation in 2000 and their sixth in total. The album's foundation was laid back in 2008 when Joey Vera and John Bush began writing new material for what would become La Raza and the album was completed in December at Tranzformer Studios in Burbank, CA. The album was produced by bassist Joey Vera, and engineered by Bryan Carlstrom and his assistant John Nuss. Recording was mostly done with analog equipment and the final album mix was delivered on 1 inch tape. This gives La Raza the most organic sound as possible.

Joey Vera comments on the packaging and creative aspect of La Raza: "Metal Blade is doing a really cool digi-pack package for us. We felt like the city of Los Angeles is such a big part of our fabric that we wanted to use that in the design of the artwork. So with the help of our good friend and photographer Stephanie Cabral and Brian Ames from the Metal Blade art department, we came up with a really cool package that represents our band and the music on this record. We also wanted to incorporate a green action by leaving out the plastic CD tray and using recycled paper. The result is a classy and poignant package."

La Raza track listing: 1. Loose Cannon
2. Head On
3. Left Hook from Right Field
4. Get Off the Fence
5. Chilled
6. La Raza
7. Black Feet
8. Little Monkey
9. Blues
10. Bandit Country

http://www.myspace.com/armoredsaint1
http://www.armoredsaint.com/
http://twitter.com/thearmoredsaint

ORDER OF ENNEAD OFFER UNIQUE T-SHIRT AND CD COMBO PACK ON RECORD STORE DAY

Floridian extreme metallers ORDER OF ENNEAD are due to offer a unique pack
at this year's Record Store Day in the UK, USA and Sweden, featuring the
band's new album on CD with an exclusively designed t-shirt vacuum-packed to
the back. This will be available to buy exclusively from participating
Record Store Day retailers on April 17th, over a week ahead of the album's
official release.

Record Store Day was founded in 2007 and brings music fans and artists
together with independently owned record stores to celebrate music. Many
bands and artists celebrate Record Store Day with a limited edition release
which is only available in independent music stores. ORDER OF ENNEAD will
be showing their support for this year's Record Store Day on April 17th with
a limited edition CD of their new album, AN EXAMINATION OF BEING, complete
with an exclusive, vacuum-packed t-shirt available in small, medium, large
and extra large sizes.

AN EXAMINATION OF BEING is due to be officially released on April 26th by
Earache Records.

View the exclusive ORDER OF ENNEAD Record Store Day pack at


This exclusive ORDER OF ENNEAD Record Store Day pack is available in limited
quantities, and with the inclusion of the band's new album over a week
before its official release, it's sure to sell quickly.

Music fans of all persuasions, be sure to head down to your local
independent music store early on Saturday, 17th April, and show your support
for indie record stores, indie labels such as Earache, and up and coming
indie metal bands such as ORDER OF ENNEAD - all of whom will greatly
appreciate your custom in this time of decreasing choice and an increasingly
corporatised music industry.

Find your nearest participating independent record store:

UK - http://www.indierecordshop.org/shops
Sweden - http://www.recordstoreday.se/butiker
All countries - http://www.recordstoreday.com/Venues?country=select

For more Record Store Day news and information, head to the official website
at http://www.recordstoreday.com


UK AND EUROPEAN PRESS MANAGER - TALITA
talita@earache.com
London office phone: +44(0)207 240 5002

USA PRESS MANAGER - ANTHONY
usapr@earache.com
NYC office phone: +1(718)786 1707

MANTRIC Announce Debut Album

Pre-order is now available for "The Descent," the debut album from Norway's MANTRIC. The band, formed from the ashes of metal visionaries, EXTOL, have set April 26th as the release date for the album on Prosthetic Records worldwide. CDs are available for $10, T-shirts for $12 and a combo-bundle for $20. Get yours now at PROSTHETIC RECORDS' WEBSTORE.

Mantric's, 'The Descent' fuses a unique, distinctly Scandinavian take on rich, challenging metal and modern punk with a powerful progressive edge. "The Descent" was recorded in Norway, and had the legendary Tue Madsen (The Haunted / Dark Tranquillity / Himsa) handling mixing and mastering duties.

MANTRIC's vocalist and guitarist Ole Sveen commented, "Our first album using the Mantric-name does to our ears deserve to get out to lovers of hard music all over the world. Our music embraces creativity and originality outside the limits of narrow genres...This is a release that is both accessible and original, catchy and complex at the same time, and we can't wait to get it out!".

Download festival took things to the next level this week by announcing a whopping 22 new bands for this year's line-up!

Last night, Download announced a whopping 22 band that we ran a fine tooth-comb over so that we could bring you this definitive guide to what you can expect at this year’s Download festival!

Steel Panther – After a sold-out tour of the UK, Steel Panther will be bringing their fun-filled set to Download for the second year running. We hope they’ve got some new jokes by June. It’s all starting to get a bit Bo Selecta, innit?

HIM – Having graced the cover of a recent issue of Metal Hammer and released their best album since ‘Love Metal’ (yes, it is, because we say so), HIM are a welcome addition to the Download bill. It’s been a while since Ville graced Donington with his presence and now that he’s cut out all of the off-stage debauchery, he’ll actually be able to sing properly. Hurrah!

Saxon – Valiant defenders of the faith and giving the tr00 metal contingent something to wave their swords in the air about. They also played the very first Donington Monsters Of Rock festival 30 years ago. Respect is due. They’ll be playing their Wheels Of Steel album in its entirety.

Airbourne – Yeahbourne! One of the greatest live bands on the circuit and with a kick-ass new album, the Aussie hellraisers will be the ultimate band to down a pint to and lose your fucking mind! One of the top 10 bands you could book on a festival today, no doubt.

Coheed & Cambria – When you need a presence onstage to capture the hearts and minds of tens of thousands of people, there’s only one thing that can do the trick – a massive barnet. Oh and loads of awesome prog-tinged rock anthems to go completely nuts to. That’ll do nicely.

36 Crazyfists – A massive welcome back to one of our favourite bands in the whole wide world. 36 Crazyfists are guaranteed to slam out 45 minutes of non-stop anthems to get the pit bouncing like Tigger on disco biscuits. Let’s fucking do this!

Dillinger Escape Plan – Option Paralysis is one of the best albums of 2010 and their shows at the Camden Barfly were two sets that reaffirmed your love for inventive, forward-thinking music. This isn’t opinion, it’s fact. The Dillinger Escape Plan are coming to Download 2010. you’d better bring a tin helmet.

Dommin – Rock music that’s in touch with it’s emotion. Slayer fans have just vomited blood but it’s actually pretty decent. Fans of HIM will have just caught them on their UK tour and it was allegedly pretty killer. You can see it for yourselves on the main stage on Download Sunday.

Taking Dawn – 80’s hair metal revivalists Taking Dawn may not be bringing anything new or revolutionary to the table, but what they lack in originality, they make up for in big tunes. They’re yet to make their UK live debut but we’ll be casting our beady eyes on them on the upcoming Airbourne tour.

Unearth – Showcasing some of the best beatdowns to ever grace heavy music, Unearth are not only one of the best live bands to have ever come from metalcore, they’re one of the best bands in live music. Miss these guys at your peril.

Cinderella – Having just played their first live show in 3 years, 80’s bluesy-rockers Cinderella will be looking to continue the classic rock vibes that worked so well at Download 2009. It’s also their first UK show since 1903. Well, it’s been ages. You know what we mean.

A Day to Remember – One of the biggest success stories of the past 24 months, ADTR have seen their star rise and rise down to an ability to combine some of the catchiest choruses around with brutal beatdowns. These guys are going to go supernova in the next 12 months, catch them while you can.

Lawnmower Deth – Nottingham’s veteran thrashers and owners of the greatest band name in the history of all time. If they bring their cover of the Osmand’s ‘Crazy Horses’ to the party, shit is going to go off.

Whitechapel – Fresh from the road supporting Trivium, Whitechapel’s metallic assault is a hybrid of metalcore and deathcore that’s won them a lot of new admirers as of late. They’re also named after the London borough that’s the 2nd cheapest on the monopoly board. You’re welcome.

August Burns Red – One of those cult bands that have a serious amount of credibility more than a fanbase in numbers. They slayed it with Lamb Of God earlier this year and BMTH last year. One more time won’t hurt us, will it?

Ratt – 80’s hair metallers will turn up, sport massive hair and play ‘Round And Round’. What more do you want? FYI Gill says that their new album is pretty good too.

The Blackout – They’re nice guys. They’re actually really funny when you get to know them. We’re not convincing you, are we? It’s that pink streak he had in his hair and the photos of him biting his bottom lip that did it, isn’t it? When you put it like that, we can’t argue with you.

We Are the Fallen – The Irish girl from the year before last’s American Idol and that bloke who used to be in Evanescence’s new band. The Idol girl’s pretty hot and her husband has got tattoos on his face. That’s pretty metal, right?

HellYeah – Vinnie Paul rides his hard rockers into Donington for the second time. Their second album is coming up this summer and we can’t wait for that sucker to drop! Hell yeah? Hell fucking yeah!

Y&T – Formed in 1974, Y&T specialize in hard rock/heavy metal. They’ve released 11 studio albums and 3 live albums. We definitely haven’t just taken this from their Wikipedia page.

Rise to Remain – Rising British metalcore crew that continue to garner more attention and praise as each month passes. Big response at hammerfest and on their recent run with Trivium. We almost got through this without mentioning that Austin is Bruce Dickinson’s son, didn’t we? Dammit.

Job For A Cowboy – Regulars at Download, Job For A Cowboy still rank amongst the most influential bands within deathcore. Their ‘Genesis’ album blew the doors open for the likes of The Black Dahlia Murder and Trigger the Bloodshed to reach new sets of eyes and ears.

Bands confirmed for this year’s Download festival thus far: AC/DC, Aerosmith, Rage Against The Machine, Them Crooked Vultures, Deftones, Stone Temple Pilots, Bullet For My Valentine, Stone Sour, Megadeth, Motorhead, HIM, Airbourne, Steel Panther, Billy Idol, Lamb Of God, Volbeat, Five Finger Death Punch and many, many more to still be announced

Saltatio Mortis: Manufactum II EPK online

Saltatio Mortis: Manufactum II EPK online
Right on time for the start of the medieval festival circuit, the medieval chartbreakers ("Wer Wind SДt" made it to pos. 10 in the German Media Control Charts) present their fans with a brand-new album: "Manufactum II - Live at the Medieval Market"! All details about this one-of-a-kind live record can be found in the EPK! Fans may watch PART 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NGwimJtWgo and PART 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrfd-qcWAXU of the EPK on YouTube!
"Manufactum II" will hit the streets on April 30!

Florida-based hardcore/metal veterans PRO-PAIN will release their new album

Florida-based hardcore/metal veterans PRO-PAIN will release their new album, "Absolute Power", in Europe on May 7. The CD was recorded at Little Creek studios in Gelterkinden (Baselland), Switzerland.

"Absolute Power" track listing:

01. Unrestrained
02. Destroy The Enemy
03. Stand My Ground (feat. Schmier of DESTRUCTION)
04. Road To Nowhere
05. AWOL
06. Hell On Earth
07. Divided We Stand
08. Gone Rogue (I Apologize)
09. Rise Of The Antichrist
10. Hate Coalition

Check out the cover artwork below. Also available is video footage from the studio.

PRO-PAIN in December 2008 announced the addition of drummer Rick Halverson to the group's ranks. Rick is best known for his work with Omaha thrashers NARCOTIC SELF, STEPHEN PEARCY (RATT) and the power metal band CELLADOR.

PRO-PAIN's 11th album, "No End In Sight", in 2008 entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 98.

The band signed a deal with Regain Records for the release of "No End In Sight" in North America.

Together for 19 years, the Florida-based band has developed a niche in the hardcore/metal scene with a sound distinctly its own.

Carrying that sound through the years, PRO-PAIN has also taken liberties to grow and expand, and "No End in Sight" has been described as the band's most melodic offering to date.

SALEM - "Playing God And Other Short Stories"

(Available in Super Jewel Box)
Release Date: TBA


The illustrious history of the unrivaled legends SALEM had always been a dauntless path but despite of all the obstacles throughout their 25-year existence, the band seemed to be an even more formidable and well-oiled resilient machine.

The seventh full-length album "Playing God And Other Short Stories" is a different twist to the quintessential SALEM conceptual songwriting structure. Based loosely on the concept of superheroes, "Playing God And Other Short Stories" proves the band's diversity to be able to move away from the political issues and still retain the unaffected integrity of the band!

Featuring the now-defunct Death Metal darlings At The Gates's frontman Tomas Lindberg appearing as guest vocals on two tracks and also utilising the services of the famed Sterling Sound mastering engineer UE Nastasi (Biohazard, Clutch, Devin Townsend, Sepultura, etc), "Playing God And Other Short Stories" is clearly a milestone in the band's intense and long enduring career.

“Salem's Playing God and Other Short Stories is one of those albums that keeps you guessing from stem to stern. It's thrashy, doomy and always one hundred percent metallic. It's also a smart album, throwing comic book themes and ancient Biblical scriptures into the mix. Who does that and does it seamlessly? Only a band with the chops to unify several disparate things into one cohesive album. That's Salem and Playing God and Other Short Stories” - Amy Sciarretto / AOL Noisecreep (USA)