Category Archives: News

Arcturus Releasing Arcturian May 8th

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Arcturus has signed with Prophecy Productions and will release their fifth full length studio album Arcturian on May 8, 2015.

According to a press release:

Arcturus are legend. Unparalleled in creativity, musicianship and artistic approach since their foundation days, mastermind Steinar “Sverd” Johnsen and his cosmic crew consisting of past and present members of bands like Ulver, Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir, Borknagar and Ved Buens Ende have been dancing their very own tightrope between genius and madness ever since. With each of their releases being an interstellar journey of its own, and always ahead of their time, Arcturus can justifiably be labelled as the epitome of avant-garde metal.

Prophecy Productions feel honoured and are excited to welcome Arcturus to its artist roster and to accompany this milestone act on its upcoming enterprises. The first mutual work will be Arcturus’ fifth full-length studio album, “Arcturian“, which is scheduled for release on May 8th, 2015.

Pre-order for all physical products (ltd. Artbook 2CD, ltd. Gatefold LP, ltd. box sets, Digipak CD) is available now at http://en.prophecy.de/shop/arcturus-arcturian.html.

ICS Vortex on behalf of Arcturus says: “A new chapter, and a new prophetic partner…We are star tripping psyched to be releasing ‘Arcturian’ soon!”

Arcturus line-up 2015:
Simen “ICS Vortex” Hestnæs – vocals
Steinar “Sverd” Johnsen – keyboards
Knut Magne Valle – guitar
Hugh “Skoll” Mingay – bass
Jan Axel “Hellhammer” Blomberg – drums

Arcturus plan to make a short tour of European venues between 2nd – 10th May 2015. All dates will be announced next week via www.prophecy.de. Further European club shows and festivals will be announced later in the year and the band will also perform at Maryland Deathfest, Maryland, USA on 23rd of May 2015 , with extra South American dates to be announced shortly.”


Record Store Day – The Hard Music Selections

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Warner Bros. Records is an official sponsor of Record Store Day and has announced its annual participation featuring a series of vinyl albums and singles exclusively available on Saturday, April 18, 2015. Ghost Cult has weeded through the list of titles and highlighted ones that may attract your interest. As always, we are excited to reveal our very special, limited-edition, Record Store Day exclusives. Descriptions of our highly coveted sonic delights are as follows:

Built To Spill: Untethered Moon – Album on Transparent Blue or Black Vinyl.
Transparent Blue Limited to 500 copies
Untethered Moon is the first Built To Spill album recorded with new band members Steve Gere (drums) and Jason Albertini (bass), who join guitarist/vocalist Doug Martsch. BTS’s creative process continues to ebb, flow and evolve in its own orbit, reemerging on record for the first time since 2009’s There Is No Enemy with ten new songs that fit at once into the band’s resonant catalog while infusing fresh energy into that signature sound. The transparent blue vinyl will be randomly distributed into the initial run of pressings. This is the first chance to buy Untethered Moon just for RSD as the CD and digital editions will be released on April 21st.

Mastodon: Atlanta – 12″ Vinyl Picture Disc
Limited to 3500 copies
The mighty Mastodon lavishly present “Atlanta”,previously available online only via Adult Swim’s Single Series. Now available on full-sized, eye-popping picture disc featuring the stunning artwork by Mastodon’s Brent Hinds. “Atlanta” features vocals from Gibby Haynes from Butthole Surfers. Side-B is an instrumental version of “Atlanta.” exclusive to this release. As previously announced, Don’t miss Mastodon on tour this spring as part of THE MISSING LINK TOUR with Clutch, Graveyard and Big Business

The Prodigy: Ibiza – Glow In The Dark 7″ Vinyl Single
Limited to 2,000 copies
The Prodigy are back! This limited edition Record Store Day Exclusive package includesa non-album instrumental release of “Ibiza” and the single “Ibiza” feat. Sleaford Mods from The Prodigy’s forthcoming 6th studio album The Day Is My Enemy, to be released in the U.S. on March 30th, 2015 via Three Six Zero Music/Warner Bros. Records.
Tracks: Side A – “Ibiza” feat. Sleaford Mods. Side B – “Ibiza” (non-album exclusive)

Robert Plant: More Roar – Black Vinyl 10″ EP
Limited to 10,000 copies
Nonesuch/Warner Bros. Records releases three tracks recorded live during Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters World Tour 2014: Side A is “Turn It Up” / “Arbaden” and side B is “Poor Howard” and “Whole Lotta Love (Medley)”

The Used: Shallow Believer – Royal Blue Colored Vinyl Album
Limited to 3000 copies
Shallow Believer is a compilation of B-sides from the band’s first three studio albums, recorded between 2001-2007. Released digitally in 2008, the album peaked at #13 on the iTunes albums chart. This is the album’s first ever physical release.


The Gentle Storm Streaming “Heart of Amsterdam” Music Video

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Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon, Star One, Guilt Machine) and Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering, Devin Townsend Project) is streaming the music video for “Heart of Amsterdam,” off their debut album The Diary from their new band The Gentle Storm on March 24, 2015 via InsideOutMusic, here.

Anneke had this to say:

“‘Heart Of Amsterdam’ is a tribute to the city of Amsterdam, the home town of the story’s leading character Susanne. Seventeenth-century Amsterdam was a center of shipping, shipbuilding, and trade. Amsterdam flourished, and a wonderful city was the result. We shot the video in the centre of Amsterdam. It was freezing cold and I couldn’t move my fingers anymore during the last shots, but it was all worth it. I love how the video turned out!”

Arjen & Anneke recently launched a series of video updates on the album, and you can check them all out here.

Watch the lyric video for “Endless Sea (Storm version)” here, and “Endless Sea (Gentle version)” here.

the gentle storm the diary

A full all-star band will go out without Arjen in March and April, and the confirmed dates and band line-up can be found below.

Mar 26: Melkweg – Amsterdam (NL)
Mar 28: ROCK ITtervoort Festival – Ittervoort (NL)
Apr 03: Hedon – Zwolle (NL)
Apr 05: Paaspop – Schijndel (NL)
Apr 11: Paard van Troje – Den Haag (NL)
Apr 15: Colos-Saal – Aschaffenburg (DE)
Apr 16: Zentrum Altenberg – Oberhausen (DE)
Apr 22: Divan Du Monde – Paris (FR)
Apr 23: The Garage – London (UK)
Apr 24: The Musician – Leicester (UK)
Apr 25: The Roadhouse – Manchester (UK)
Apr 26: Prog-résiste Convention – Soignies (BE)
Jun 19: Dokk’em Open Air – Dokkum (NL)
Jul 09: Masters of Rock – Vizovice (CZ)
Jul 17: Night of the Prog Festival – Loreley (DE)
Jul 30-Aug 01: – Wacken Open Air – Wacken (DE)
Oct 17: FemME Festival – Eindhoven (NL)

The Gentle Storm live:
Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering) – vocals
Merel Bechtold (Purest of Pain, MaYaN) – guitars
Ferry Duijsens (Anneke van Giersbergen, ex-Dreadlock Pussy) – guitars
Ed Warby (Hail of Bullets, Ayreon, ex-Gorefest) – drums
Johan van Stratum (Stream of Passion) – bass
Joost van den Broek (producer, ex-After Forever) – keyboards
Marcela Bovio (Stream of Passion) – background vocals

The Gentle Storm on Twitter
InsideOutMusic on YouTube
InsideOutMusic on Facebook


The Winter Passing Releasing A Different Space Of Mind on May 26th

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Irish indie punk act The Winter Passing will be releasing their debut full length A Different Space of Mind on May 26, 2015 via 6131 Records in conjunction with UK label FITA Records. Stream “Fruits of Gloom” here.

TheWinterPassing_XXX_Jacket

Formed in 2012, The Winter Passing stemmed from the vital Dublin DIY scene. The band has spent the past three years touring the UK and Ireland multiple times and releasing a handful of 7″s on various labels. At the heart of the group is brother and sister pair Rob and Kate Flynn, who have been playing music together since they were 14 and 12, respectively. Growing up together the two shared a love of bands such as Get Up Kids, The Anniversary, The Replacements, and Sonic Youth, the influences of which are strongly suggested in their songs. “A Different Space of Mind is a record about survival, about saving yourself from yourself and the realization of the world around you,” explains Rob of the forthcoming album. It was recorded with Bob Cooper (Nai Harvest) in Manchester, England and with Aiden Cunningham in Tullymore, Ireland, who also mixed and mastered A Different Space of Mind.

Track Listing:
01) The Fever
02) Penny Chains
03) Flowerpot
04) Nowhere Still
05) Creak
06) Daisy
07) Grazed Knees
08) Fruits of Gloom
09) Bottle Green
10) A Different Space of Mind

The Winter Passing on Facebook
The Winter Passing on Twitter


Choosing Death: the Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore Book Out In April

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choosing death book

Author Albert Mudrian (also editor in chief of Decibel Magazine) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Choosing Death: the Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore with an expanded and revised edition, flaunting 100 additional pages of new content.

This fully redesigned hardcover version is the inaugural release of brand-new imprint Decibel Books, and will be limited to 3,000 hand-numbered copies. It boasts three new chapters (with new material interspersed among the original 10 chapters), over 50 new interviews (for a total of 200) and a new cover painting by legendary death metal artist Dan Seagrave, recalling elements of his classic Entombed and Morbid Angel album covers.

Now out of print, the original Choosing Death has been translated into seven different languages around the world. This exciting history, featuring an introduction by famed DJ John Peel, tells the two-decade-long history of grindcore and death metal through the eyes and ringing ears of the artists, producers and label owners who propelled them. Phil Anselmo (Down, ex-Pantera) called it “something special. This is a must-read for anyone who wants a comprehensive ‘who-did-what-when’ book. Thumbs up.”

The revised and expanded Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore is available for pre-order exclusively HERE. Books will ship the week of April 12th.


Shiran Streaming “Remain” Music Video

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Female fronted Israeli metallers Shiran is streaming the Vadim Mechona directed video for “Remain” off their self released debut EP Warm Winter Day here.

Created by siren songstress Shiran Avayou and Ferium guitarist Elram Boxer in 2012, Shiran delivers a mixture of hard edged riffs and clean melodic vocals in a Djent metal style that also culls from Jazz and Blues.

shiran

Shiran on Twitter
Shiran on Soundcloud


Gruesome Releasing Savageland In April

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Photo Credit: Niuvis Martin

Photo Credit: Niuvis Martin

Death metal supergroup Gruesome will be releasing their debut album Savage Land in North America via Relapse Records on April 21st, 2015, April 17th in Germany, Benelux and Finland and April 20th in the UK, rest of the world on CD and digitally. Featuring within their bestial ranks members of Exhumed, Possessed, Malevolent Creation and Derketa, they are a supergroup of sorts paying homage to the game-changing sounds of Death’s early recordings.

Gruesome was born out of guitarist/vocalist Matt Harvey (Exhumed) and drummer Gus Rios‘ (Malevolent Creation) mutual involvement with the Death To All tours – Harvey serving as frontman for the original nine-member mini-tour and Rios performing “Baptized In Blood” and working with DTA drummer Sean Reinert on the following US tour where Exhumed filled in as support on a several dates. After discarding the idea of putting together another incarnation of DTA to focus exclusively on Death’s first two albums, Harvey half-jokingly suggested writing their own songs in that vein. It wasn’t long before the idea gained traction, and the “band” had five songs written. Rios later recruited Possessed guitarist Daniel Gonzalez and Derketa bassist Robin Mazen to record the material in Florida.

The result is the eight scathing tracks contained on Savage Land. Recorded by Rios and Gonzalez at Riversound Studios in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, mixed by Jarrett Pritchard at Mana Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida and including a guest guitar solo on “Closed Casket” by James Murphy as well as cover art by legendary illustrator Ed Repka (Death, Megadeth, Massacre, Athiest et el), Savage Land is a truly gruesome slab of late-’80s/early-’90s Florida-styled death metal.

Stream “Hideous” here or here.

Relapse Records on Facebook


Sanctuary Touring Europe With Overkill

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The 2014 comeback album, The Year The Sun Died, from the legendary Seattle band Sanctuary took the metal world by storm. The four original band members – Warrel Dane (vocals, ex-Nevermore), Lenny Rutledge (guitars), Jim Sheppard (bass, ex-Nevermore) and Dave Budbill (drums) – proved to be still on top of the game with an album that pleased every old fan without sounding old fashioned. Now they will be touring Europe with Overkill and have announced Nick Cordle will be part of their live lineup.

Lenny Rutledge comments:

“Brad Hull has recently parted ways with SANCTUARY. We are excited to welcome Nick Cordle from ARCH ENEMY and ARSIS to the SANCTUARY team. Nick is an amazing musician and we believe he will bring a fresh energy to the line-up. You can see Nick Cordle with SANCTUARY this March touring Europe on the Killfest tour.”

Nick Cordle adds:

“It’ll be a great pleasure to join SANCTUARY on tour in Europe! I’ve admired the band for a long time and ‘The Year The Sun Died’ is a breath of fresh air. It’s a welcome challenge to work up these songs and I’m excited to get moving!”

SANCTUARY live:
Mar 03: Underworld – London (UK) (supported by METASOMA and MONUMENT)
Mar 04: Meiers Music Hall Braunschweig (DE) (supporting OVERKILL)
Mar 05: Hell Raiser – Leipzig (DE) (supporting OVERKILL)
Mar 06: Kaminwerk – Memmingen (DE) (supporting OVERKILL)
Mar 07: Komma VZ – Worgl (AT) (supporting OVERKILL)
Mar 08: Szene – Vienna (AT) (supporting OVERKILL)
Mar 09: Dom Omladine – Beograd (SRB) (supporting OVERKILL)
Mar 10: Kino Sisak – Ljubljana (SLO) (supporting OVERKILL)
Mar 11: Tvornica – Zagreb (HR) (supporting OVERKILL)
Mar 13: Club 202 – Budapest (HU) (supporting OVERKILL)
Mar 14: Mega Club – Katowice (PL) (supporting OVERKILL)
Mar 15: B90 – Gdansk (PL) (supporting OVERKILL
Mar 17: Hedon – Zwolle (NL) (supporting OVERKILL)
Mar 18: Les Trinitaires – Metz (FR) (supporting OVERKILL)
Mar 20: Eightball Club – Thessaloniki (GR)
Mar 21: Gagarin205 – Athens (GR)
Mar 22 – 24: – Rock Hard Festival – Gelsenkirchen (DE)

Sanctuary on Facebook
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Moonspell, Septicflesh and Deathstars Announce North American Tour

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Portuguese goth metallers Moonspell is releasing their eleventh album Extinct on March 17, 2015 in North America via Napalm Records. In support of this record, they will be touring North America with Septicflesh and Deathstars. Check out the “Road to Extinction” teaser for the Bonus DVD that comes with the Mediabook and vinyl editions of the new album here.

Stream the lyric video for “Breathe (Until We Are No More)” here, and the title track “Extinct” here.

MOONSPELL
Apr 24: Circo Volador – Mexico City (MX)
Apr 25: Dirty Dog – Austin, TX
Apr 26: The Rail Club – Ft. Worth, TX
Apr 28: Joe’s Grotto – Phoenix, AZ
Apr 30: LVCS – Las Vegas, NV
May 02: Metro Opera House – Oakland, CA
May 03: Tonic Lounge – Portland, OR
May 04: Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
May 05: The Pin – Spokane, WA
May 06: Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC (CA)
May 09: Emerson Theater – Indianapolis, IN
May 10: Riot Room – Kansas City, MO
May 11: Reggie’s – Chicago, IL
May 12: The Agora – Cleveland, OH
May 13: The Opera House – Toronto, ON (CA)
May 14: Theatre Corona – Montreal, QC (CA)
May 15: Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY
May 16: The Palladium – Worcester, MA
May 17: Gramercy Theater – New York, NY
May 18: Empire – Springfield, VA
May 19: The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA

Napalm Records on Facebook

septicflesh moonspell deathstars tour


Usnea Supporting Ufomammut North American Tour

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ufomammut usnea tour

Portland, OR sludge/doom rockers Usnea has been confirmed as the sole support act for Ufomammut’s first ever North American tour this Spring. They are touring in support of their Relapse Records debut Random Cosmic Violence, out now.

Recorded and mixed by Jared “Fester” See at Haywire Studios (Nux Vomica, Stoneburner, Rabbits) who supplies additional guitars to the title track, and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege (Yob, High On Fire, Integrity), through their overwhelming black/occult metal-influenced funeral doom, Usnea has created a classic of the new millennium with Random Cosmic Violence.

usnea

USNEA Tour Dates:
Mar 07: Obsidian – Olympia, WA (w/ Eusapia, A God Or An Other, Eye of Nix)
Mar 26: Blackwater Bar – Portland, OR (w/ Deathgrave, Augurs, Shroud of the Heretic)
May 08: High Water Mark – Portland, OR (* tour kick-off w/ Eye of Nix, Hiding, Shine of the Serpent)
May 09: Crazy Horse – Boise, ID
May 10: Metro Bar – Salt Lake City, UT (w/ Odium Totus)
May 11: Lost Lake – Denver, CO (w/ Inter Arma, Yautja, Prison Death)
May 12: TBA – Lawrence, KS
USNEA North America Spring 2015 w/ Ufomammut:
May 13: Reggie’s – Chicago, IL
May 14: Now That’s Class – Cleveland, OH
May 15: Bug Jar – Rochester, NY
May 16: Mod Club – Toronto, ON
May 17: Le Ritz – Montreal, QC
May 18/2015 Middle East Upstairs – Boston, MA [no Ufomammut]
May 19: Saint Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY
May 20: Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA
May 21: Maryland Death Fest – Baltimore, MD [no Usnea]
May 22: King’s – Raleigh, NC
May 23: Drunken Unicorn – Atlanta, GA
May 24: HiTone Café – Memphis, TN [no Ufomammut]
May 25: Siberia – New Orleans, LA
May 26: Walter’s – Houston, TX
May 27: Red 7 – Austin, TX
May 29: Sister – Albuquerque, NM
May 30: Flycatcher – Tucson, AZ
May 31: Complex – Los Angeles, CA
Jun 01: TBA – Los Osos, CA [no Ufomammut]
Jun 02: Catalyst – Santa Cruz, CA
Jun 03: Elbo Room – San Francisco, CA
Jun 04: Press Club – Sacramento, CA
Jun 05: WOW Hall – Eugene, OR [no Usnea]
Jun 06: Rotture – Portland, OR
Jun 07: Chop Suey – Seattle, WA
Jun 08: Neurolux – Boise, ID
Jun 09: Bar Deluxe – Salt Lake City, UT
Jun 10: Hi-Dive – Denver, CO
Jun 11: TBA – Lincoln, NE [no Ufomammut]
Jun 12: Turf Club – St Paul, MN
Jun 13: Metal Grill – Milwaukee, WI

Usnea on Facebook
Usnea on Bandcamp
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