Spanish power metallers VHÄLDEMAR have signed with MDD Records and will release the follow-up to their 2020 album “Straight to Hell”, which has already found its way into stores in Germany, Austria and Switzerland via MDD, before the summer! Due to the good experience with the cooperation on the predecessor, the band and label quickly came together for the new deal.
Vhäldemar were founded in 1999 and have since released 6 albums and various singles/EPs and are considered one of the biggest heavy metal bands in the country. Work on the new album, which will contain 11 tracks, is almost complete. Be prepared! More info soon.
Darkness, I Command, is the third pre-album single from FALL OF SERENITY’s upcoming new album Open Wide, O Hell, which is set to be released on March 22nd!
The single is accompanied by a brand new video clip directed and produced by Willi Schaup from Drei Visionen.
Good things come to those who wait. FALL OF SERENITY are back with a new album ten years after their reunion. Their split lasted from 2009 to 2012. For the last five-four, the quintet has been preparing the release of “Open Wide, O Hell”. Were the musicians inspired by their former bassist Linus Klausenitzer (ALKALOID, OBSIDIOUS, OBSCURA/FALL OF SERENITY 2008-2009), who released his solo debut “Tulpa” in the fall of 2023? Maybe!
“Open Wide, O Hell” is also variably written and comes up with a good dose of surprises. The basis of the album still lies in melodic death metal, which is associated with the East German band founded in 1998. But a black metal impact is also to be attributed to the new song material and changes the musical face decisively. Besides, impressive melodies continue to lead FALL OF SERENITY through their songs. Quite a few of the tracks are true headbangers.
This has been the case since the times of the unforgotten, legendary split with HEAVEN SHALL BURN from 1999. The band around frontman John Gahlert enjoys cult status in the European melo-death underground.
With the new record, the musicians continue where they left off in 2009. “Open Wide, O Hell” – after “Bloodred Salvation” (2006) and “The Crossfire” (2007) the third album of the group for LIFEFORCE RECORDS – convinces with raw aggression and threatening darkness. FALL OF SERENITY succeeds not only to meet expectations surrounding their comeback, but to exceed them!
ALBUM TRACK LIST: Thy Pathway Darkness, I Command I Don’t Expect I Shall Return Wastelands I Chaos Reign A Winter Song To Tear the Flesh … But Grim Will Follow II I Am the End
or almost three decades, the US/French Canadian-based melodic death metal syndicate KATAKLYSM has delivered unapologetic waves of powerful sound across the entire globe.
The band’s fifteenth full-length studio album, Goliath, was released last August via Nuclear Blast Records. Today, the band releases the music video for the title track.
KATAKLYSM‘S Maurizio Iacono states, “As we enter a new year we cannot forget about the struggles the world is in and the darkness that engulfs it, however as the story tells of ancient bravery. No enemy is too big and no enemy is too strong … we are living through a modern-day Davis vs Goliath situation, it’s time to rise up together and bond that energy as one against the machine! Enjoy this video we shot for the title track GOLIATH as we prepare to embark on a world mission in the name of metal and freedom!”
Watch the music video for ‘Goliath’ directed and edited by Chris Kells Productions, here:
This spring, Death Metal fans will be treated to an epic night of music on the ‘Cancer Culture Over North America 2024‘ tour. KATAKLYSM will be direct support to labelmates DECAPITATED and SEPTICFLESH on their 30-day co-billing trek. The tour will commence on April 16th in Santa Ana and will make stops in Atlanta, Toronto, and Minneapolis before concluding in Los Angeles on May 19th. Joining the bands as openers are technical melodic death metal band ALLEGAEON.
General admission tickets go on sale on Monday, January 29th at 7 AM PST | 10 AM EST. Purchase your tickets, here: https://bnds.us/o9xda1
Confirmed dates for KATAKLYSM as direct support to DECAPITATED and SEPTICFLESH co-billing ‘Cancer Culture Over North America 2024‘ tour with openers ALLEGAEON are: 04/16 U.S. Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory Apr- 04/17 U.S. Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater 04/18 U.S. Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater 04/19 U.S. Dallas, TX – Granada Theater 04/20 U.S. Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall 04/21 U.S. Austin, TX – Come and Take it Live 04/23 U.S. Tampa, FL – The Orpheum 04/24 U.S. Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Hell) 04/25 U.S. Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819 04/26 U.S. Wilmington, DE – The Queen 04/27 U.S. Hartford, CT – The Webster 04/28 U.S. Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw 04/29 U.S. Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall 05/01 CAN Quebec City, QC – Imperial Bell 05/02 CAN Montreal, QC – Beanfield Theater 05/03 CAN Toronto, ON – The Phoenix 05/04 U.S. Pittsburgh, PA – Preserving Underground 05/05 U.S. Fort Wayne, IN – Piere’s Entertainment Center 05/06 U.S. Detroit, MI – St. Andrews Hall 05/07 U.S. Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall 05/08 U.S. Joliet, IL – The Forge 05/10 U.S. Minneapolis, MN – Green Room 05/11 CAN Winnipeg, MB – Park Theater 05/12 CAN Saskatoon, SK – Louis (USSU) 05/13 CAN Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room 05/14 CAN Calgary, AB – The Back Alley 05/16 CAN Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theater 05/17 U.S. Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater 05/18 CAN San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge 05/19 U.S. Los Angeles, CA – 1720
Goliath was recorded at JFD Studios in Dallas, TX and Studio City, CA as well as The Cabin in Orlando, FL by J-F Dagenais, who also produced and engineered the album. For the mixing and mastering, the band returned to Chris Clancy with assistance from Colin Richardson. The cover artwork required an image that captured the iconic battle of David versus Goliath theme that is echoed throughout the album while matching the power of the music. The band enlisted renowned Berlin metal illustrator Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE) to create the artwork which took the KATAKLYSM look and gave it a macabre filter that compliments the brooding sense of uneasiness that was felt during the writing and recording of the album.
Darkness descends over Europe this summer as black metal kings BEHEMOTH announce their ‘O Father, O Satan, O Svmmer 2024 Tour. A monstrous voyage through the continent to perform upon huge outdoor festival stages and selected club shows, accompanied by a wickedly curated line-up of bands. Truly a spectacle not to be missed!
Tour Dates:
11.07. DE Neukirchen-Vluyn – Dong Open Air 13.07. AT Leoben – Area 53 Festival 15.07. SE Malmö – Slagthuset* 16.07. SE Uppsala – Parksnäckan* 18.07. FI Laukaa – John Smith Rock Festival 19.07. ET Tallinn, Noblessner Foundry* 21.07. PL Warsaw – Progresja Summer Stage° 23.07. SK Kosice – Kulturpark° 25.07. SI Tolmin – Tolminator Festival 27.07. BG Sofia – Arena Sofia^ 28.07. GR Athens – Release Festival* 30.07. RO Rasnov – Rockstadt Extreme Fest 01.08. NO Bergen – Beyond The Gates 03.08. DE Wacken – Wacken Open Air 04.08. FR Saint-Maurice-de-Gourdans – Sylak Open Air 07.08. ES Villena – Leyendas Del Rock 09.08. DE Schlotheim – Party San Open Air 10.08. CZ Jaromer – Brutal Assault 11.08. DE Heidelberg – Halle 2 w/UADA, IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT 13.08. IT Fontaneta D’Agogna – Phenomen w/UNTO OTHERS, IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT 15.08. DE Dinkelsbühl – Summer Breeze 16.08. CH Vallamand – Rock The Lakes 17.08. DE Sulingen – Reload Festival
*with TESTAMENT °with TESTAMENT and GAEREA ^with TESTAMENT and PESTILENCE
The tour will feature special guests TESTAMENT, GAEREA, PESTILENCE, UADA, IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT, UNTO OTHERS, on selected dates and promises to be a treat for European fans of extreme metal! BEHEMOTH frontman Nergal shared his thoughts on the upcoming tour, stating: “Wow! What a summer we have planned! We cannot wait to get back out into Europe, and celebrate our 33 years of Behemoth. There will be surprises and spoils galore!”
With a reputation for delivering intense and captivating live performances, BEHEMOTH‘s O Father O Satan O Svmmer 2024 Tour is set to be one of the most unforgettable metal events of the year. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.behemoth.pl/
BEHEMOTH released their last album Opvs Contra Natvram on September 16th 2022 via Nuclear Blast Records. The band’s 12th studio album is a stark reminder of the rebellion, individuality and unflinching self-expression that BEHEMOTH‘s phenomenal work inbues, shaped by a literary worldview. It also reflects a musical evolution, as there’s little doubt that Opvs Contra Natvram is BEHEMOTH’s strongest and most sophisticated musical collection to date. Order the album here: https://behemoth.bfan.link/opvs-contra-natvram
About BEHEMOTH: In the annals of metal there is no band more synonymous with an unswerving commitment to the single-minded defiance of expectation than BEHEMOTH. Over the course of their remarkable 31-year career, these Polish hellraisers – spearheaded by Adam Darski, aka Nergal – are more than just the architects of their country’s legendary extreme metal scene. Over the course of three decades and previous eleven albums, Nergal’s singular vision has forged BEHEMOTH into something far more than a mere blackened death metal band. Beyond any confines of genre, they have grown to become no less than the personification of rebellion, individuality and unflinching self-expression informed by a literate worldview and worldliness that’s resulted in a locking of horns with everything from the mainstream press to the Polish Catholic church – most notably manifesting in Nergal’s trial for blasphemy in 2010 that only served to expose the deep-seated hypocrisies that his music seeks to challenge. It also highlighted the distinct lack of fucks that he has to give. Now world-renowned and yet exuberantly underground in their convictions, BEHEMOTH are perhaps the unlikeliest of success stories, but if their stratospheric ascent and hard-won commercial achievement can be attributed to anything, it’s a cast iron unwillingness to compromise.
BEHEMOTH are: Adam ‘Nergal’ Darski – Lead vocals, Guitar Zbigniew ‘Inferno’ Promiński – Drums, Percussion Tomasz ‘Orion’ Wróblewski – Bass, Backing vocals † † † Patryk ‘Seth’ Sztyber – Guitar, Backing vocals
Japan’s electrifying Alt Rock sensations, THE UNDERTAKER, are set to ignite Tokyo with a groundbreaking performance alongside the fierce US doom punk legends, MY WALL! This monumental event is scheduled to erupt on February 8th at the iconic Shinjuku Antiknock, marking a new chapter in Japan’s rock history.
Nemo, the dynamic force of THE UNDERTAKER, shares his exhilaration: “This is more than a concert, it’s a cultural fusion! For the first time since our inception, we’re joining forces with MY WALL, the powerhouse from the USA. It’s a testament to how music demolishes boundaries and unites us. This is the true essence of rock’n’roll – raw, unbridled, and universal. Tokyo, get ready for an unforgettable night where melodies transcend borders and rock reigns supreme!”
Show details: Thursday February 8th 2024.2/8 Shinjuku Antiknock presents [My Wall Japan Tour 2024] ● ACT: My Wall (USA) / Wombscape / 9991 / The Undertaker / PERF / Hundora ● OPEN 18:00 /START18:20 ● ADV ¥2,500 + 1D(¥600) /DOOR¥3,000 + 1D(¥600)
On November 23rd 2023, THE UNDERTAKER played a blasting show @shinjuku antiknock, in case you missed, check out their rocking live footage for ‘Green Hell’ from the show.
Also watch the official music video ‘Green Hell’ at https://youtu.be/sm9OOYoWG9o for a thrilling and dark first official look at The world of Undertaker!
THE UNDERTAKER are currently busy in the studio working on their debut full-length album, coming out in 2024.
The band shared on the upcoming album: “We are currently writing songs for our first album, furthermore we continue to be active and hold live events in Tokyo every month. In the future, songs from our debut album will be released live as soon as possible. Check out our latest music video and look forward to our upcoming live shows and tours.”
More details TBA.
THE UNDERTAKER’s sound is unique, drawing influences from rock, blues, country, hardcore and punk.
Formed in 2021 as a “big old rookie band” including members of veteran bands such as SURVIVE and AGGRESSIVE DOGS a.k.a. UZI-ONE that are active in Japan and abroad. The band’s first EP, “The Undertaker,” was released in 2022 and ranked in the top 20 on the iTunes store, an unprecedented accomplishment for an underground heavy band. The band’s worldview is truly one-of-a-kind, ranging from old-school Japanese hardcore, which has long been respected in the international scene, to extreme metal, and lyrics that incorporate Japanese poetry. Their unparalleled sound is sure to take the scene by storm.
MISTRA call themselves “The most unlikely duo to come out of Norway”. Here, two extremes in the Norwegian music industry collide: pop and metal.
Benedicte Adrian should be a familiar name to most people who follow MGP/ESC. With “Lenge Leve Livet” (“Life was made for Living”) she and Ingrid Bjørnov (Dollie de Luxe) won the national final and represented Norway in ESC 1984. They followed up the success with Rock vs Opera and later the two musicals “Which Witch” and “Henriette VIII – and her six men”. As a solo artist Benedicte has, among other things, played the role of The Queen of the Night in “The Magic Flute” at The Norwegian Opera House, released the solo album “Desember” and appeared in various productions both as a pop artist and a classical singer.
Anders Odden has a life behind him as a pioneer in Norwegian metal. His musical journey began in 1986 when he attended a rehearsal with black metal leading pioneers Mayhem and decided to create his own universe of dark musical landscapes. In 1990, his band Cadaver released Norway’s first ever death metal LP “Hallucinating Anxiety” on Earache Records (UK). Since then, Cadaver has released 6 albums and gained cult status worldwide. Anders has also toured the world as a musician with other bands such as Celtic Frost etc. He has also collaborated with musicians like Ronni Le Tekrø, Ledfoot, Hank Von Hell and Tony Harnell to name a few.
The album Waltz of Death was written and recorded through 2023 after Benedicte Adrian and Anders Odden found their common ground, mixing extreme metal guitars with lush melodies and alternative instrumentation. All the songs on the album represent a unique trip through this new musical landscape they found together, and the inspiration and intensity is easy to hear. The album is produced and mixed by the renowned US-based producer Adair Daufembach in Studio Tomb, Norway.
“The sound of extreme metal usually repels many who otherwise might have liked it, with its ultra-fast drums and vocals that alienate people with “normal ears”. If we keep the guitars and use different musical elements, a new sound is created that works well on telephone speakers. I have long had the idea of creating something completely new together with an artist I admire from a different genre. When Benedicte Adrian was ready to explore completely new musical landscapes with me, our creativity just exploded.” Anders Odden says in a comment. Benedicte Adrian comments: “I love the way the heavy guitar sounds calm me down and get my creativity going.”
The album Waltz of Death will be released digitally on February 26th 2023 – the day before participating in the Norwegian Eurovision Song Contest – and on CD & LP in April. The title track will also be released as a limited edition 7″ single on March 1st, with a demo version as an exclusive B-side.
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 