VILLAINIZER UNLEASHES "ANNIHILATION OF SELF"

Canadian thrash metal band Villainizer will release their new album "Annihilation of Self" on June 1st. The new album is the band´s third full length release and the follow up to their "Reign in Terror" album released in 2013 and their split with Black Pestilence released in 2014. "Annihilation of Self" is a full concept album with four chapters and was recorded, mixed and mastered by Drew Copland in Edmonton, AB, Canada. "Annihilation of Self" will be released independently and will feature the following tracks:

1. Chalice

2. Death

3. Deliverance

4. Descent

5. Enslavement

6. Failure

7. Fever

8. Genocide

9. Grace

10. Mountain

11. Oblivion

12. Ocean

13. Pacifism

14. Perdition

15. Possession

16. Shaitan

WITCH BLADE RELEASES "OSKULDERNAS ELD"

Swedish heavy metal band Witch Blade will release their new album, entitled "Oskuldernas Eld" on June 1st. The new album is the band´s full length debut and the follow up to their Witch Blade demo released in 2013. "Oskuldernas Eld" will be released through Swords and Chains Records and will feature the following tracks:

1. Ljusets apostel (Apostle of Light)
2. Djävulens svärd (Devil's Sword)
3. Oskuldernas eld (Virgin's Fire)
4. Ondskans mästare (Master of Evil)
5. Fjärrans krig (Distant War)
6. Nattens synder (Sins of the Night)
7. Mörkrets tempel (Temple of Darkness)
8. Witch Blade (Häxsvärd)

VEHEMENCE RETURNS WITH NEW ALBUM

Phoenix death metal veterans Vehemence have returned and they will release a new album, entitled "Forward Without Motion" on July. Below you can check their press statement:

"Following an entire decade without a new album, Phoenix-based melodic death metal kingpins, VEHEMENCE, return to full-time duty in 2015, having reactivated the band and completed their fourth full-length studio full-length, "Forward Without Motion", which is now set for release this Autumn via Battleground Records.

Their first new album since 2004’s Metal Blade Records-released "Helping The World To See", VEHEMENCE returns to the death metal fold with a stunning new album that will surely see the band regaining their traction within the scene after their time off the grid. "Forward Without Motion" is the culmination of years of hard work and the collective desire to write the best songs and capture the best performances. Guitarist and founding member Bjorn Dannov perhaps says it most succinctly when describing the record, “I really believe this is our strongest album to date. With our previous albums, we were so inexperienced in the studio so I was never really happy with the final product, production-wise. This album I feel represents the songs well. We wanted to capture a tight performance, but not overly produced and sound replaced like a lot of modern metal albums. We still wanted to maintain an organic element to the sound, which I believe we achieved.” Working on the songs off and on for several years between 2007 and 2011, VEHEMENCE began a methodical, painstaking tracking process for Forward Without Motion between 2012 and 2014, the album’s guitars, bass, and vocals being recorded at the home studios of Dannov and guitarist Kyle Moeller, with the drums being recorded at Villain Studios in Phoenix. “Kyle did all the mixing, reamping, and mastering,” Says Dannov. “It was really great to have those tools at our disposal, without having to worry about a budget or studio expenses.”

When listening to Forward Without Motion, one will discover the refreshing sounds of a band creatively reborn and seasoned by experience. The album flows with a relentless, throat grabbing energy that never flags and begs for repeated spins. This cohesive power is nowhere more apparent than in the strength of the instrumental and vocal performances, which slash and hammer their way out of the speakers with a passion rarely found in the cold, mostly lifeless corpses that are most modern death metal recordings. When asked about the lyrical themes behind the songs and album title of the album, VEHEMENCE vocalist Nathan Gearhart remarks, “The lyrics of Forward Without Motion each tell a unique story dealing with pain, loss, sadness, and horror. Written over the course of twelve years, each piece stands alone in subject. The consistent theme of the lyrics as a whole denote humanity’s dark side, and summarize our lives and impact on our world during our limited time. Nothing changes. Nothing gets better or worse. It’s all the same. It’s time without a number. We are all going to die leaving this world just as fucked as those before us, and future generations will continue this cycle.” Gearhart also has much to say about the core ethos of the band when reflecting upon both the present and the years past, “Bjorn and I have been jamming together since 1996. Mark and Andy joined in ’97-‘98. VEHEMENCE is a band of brothers with no bigger intent other than getting together and creating together. Kyle is a great compliment to the core of the band, and his involvement along with the material and performance contributed by Jake Green are what helps to take us into our current chapter. "Forward Without Motion" is our life’s work. I am so proud of what we have created, and I hope others enjoy our art as much as I do.”

VEHEMENCE will release "Forward Without Motion" through Battleground Records on October 27th in various formats, including a 2xLP set on 180-gram black vinyl in gatefold packaging, a CD version, and across various digital platforms.

In conjunction with the release of "Forward Without Motion", VEHEMENCE will be performing several shows in support of the album shortly before the street date. Additional information on the album, audio samples, an official video and more will be released throughout the Summer and early Autumn months.

HOPE DRONE STREAMS TRACK FROM NEW ALBUM

Atmopheric blackened sludge band Hope Drone will release their debut Relapse Records album, entitled "Cloak of Ash" and have posted the following press statement:

"Australian atmospheric blackened sludge metal collective, HOPE DRONE, emerges from the depths with their Relapse Records debut, "Cloak Of Ash", set for release this July. A rich, captivating, seven-song stroke of sonic brilliance, "Cloak Of Ash" was captured by Christopher Brownbill (Idylls, Throes, Coffin Birth) at Wavelength Studios and Underground Audio in Brisbane, Australia, mixed by Brownbill and HOPE DRONE at Wavelength Studios, and mastered by Brad Boatright (Yob, High On Fire, Integrity) at Audiosiege in Portland,Oregon. Uniting chest-cavingly poignant atmospheres with the uncompromising heaviness of a thousand tidal waves, "Cloak Of Ash" is dynamic and textured; nihilistic, doomed and earth shattering cloaked in the hopeless dissonance of a world gone rotten. Fans of Altar Of Plagues, Vattnet Viskar, Wolves In The Throne Room, Woods Of Desolation and Cult Of Luna pay heed. "

Cloak Of Ash Track Listing: 

1. Unending Grey

2. Riverbeds Hewn In Marrow

3. The World Inherited

4. The Chords That Thrum Beneath The Earth

5. Every End Is Fated In Its Beginning

6. The Waves Forever Shatter Upon Our Shores

7. Carried Apart By The Ceaseless Tides

HOPE DRONE was forged in 2011 and have since released one demo, From Mimas To Phoebe, in 2012, and their self-titled, Sanford Parker-mixed LP in 2013 which was called, “fresh, invigorating and captivating,” by Cvlt Nation, “a bleak style of black metal strongly indebted to the Cascadian variety and played with surprising maturity and aplomb,” and “a band to watch,” by Teeth Of The Divine, and, “possibly the most devastatingly nihilistic recording I’ve ever heard, both instrumentally andlyrically,” by AngryMetalGuy.

Cloak Of Ash will be available on CD, double LP and digitally via Relapse Records on July 24th, 2015.

DIABOLICUM RELEASES "IA PAZUZU (THE ABYSS OF THE SHADOWS)"

Swedish black metal band Diabolicum will release their new album on July 7th. You can check the press release below:

""Ia Pazuzu (The Abyss Of The Shadows)" is the impending new long player from Swedish industrial black metal misery makers, DIABOLICUM. Now boasting the ill-omened vocal tidings of Shining’s Niklas Kvarforth, the record breaks the band’s fourteen-year slumber and boasts nine harrowing psalms of disease and torment. The record will see release on July 7th, 2015 via Italy’s Code666. In celebration of its official ignition, today No Clean Singing delivers the first taste of plague with fifth cranium-crusher, “Salvation Through Vengeance.”

“DIABOLICUM are known for their skill in integrating the savagery of Swedish black metal and the driving pulse of industrial music,” issues the esteemed music portal, “and ‘Salvation Through Vengeance’ displays that union in striking fashion, significantly augmented by Kvarforth’s crazed howls and roars (which hold nothing back) and Likstrand’s boiling guitar solo. The song erupts like a black metal cyclone dropping without warning from storm clouds overhead. A vocal sample then provides a bridge to a more industrialized, keyboard-driven segment, which is then overtaken by that wild, transfixing guitar solo as the song ramps up again into a whirlwind of knives and blood. It’s a terrorizing adrenaline trigger that leaves us salivating for the rest of the album.”

Initially spawned in 1994 by Sasrof and Thorne under the Imperial moniker, DIABOLICUM stands among the prime instigators of the industrial black metal scene. The collective’s first demo appeared under the title Mori Voluntaria. The tape was recorded in just two days at a mental hospital and included the session vocals of Blackblood (Tommy Dahlström now of Aeon). Following various personnel shifts, Imperial unleashed The Imperial Darkness demo with vocals and lead guitar handled by Thyrfing (Stefan Dhalberg) with third demo, De FÆrdÆmdas Legion, unveiled by Arte De Occulta shortly thereafter. By 1997, members of Imperial formed black metal collective, Helvete, together with Mysteriis and Kraath of Setherial. The project was put on hold when guitarist Sasrof took over bass responsibilities for Setherial.

Two years later, Imperial changed their name to DIABOLICUM. Nathzion (AKA Zeb Nilsson now of Aeon) joined the ranks as lead guitarist and DIABOLICUM’s debut, the annihilating The Grandeur Of Hell, dropped in 1999 via Napalm Records. In the summer of 2000, DIABOLICUM fled Napalm to explore new opportunities and forged a union with Italian imprint, Code666. Wielding a flawless meld of Swedish black metal and industrial ambient noise, 2001’s resulting The Dark Blood Rising full-length is now considered a cult classic among the industrial black metal scene. In the years to follow, the band published a collection of early demos (The Killing Spree 1.5) and two split 7″ EP – one with Watain; the other with Angst – before penning their third diabolic opus with new vocalist Niklas Kvarforth (Shining) and lead guitarist Likstrand. After several setbacks and delays, the band is finally ready to undrape Ia Pazuzu (The Abyss Of The Shadows). Spewing forth nine merciless tracks of sonic scorn, and featuring guest appearances by Malfeitor Fabban (Aborym) and Vargher (Naglfar, Bewitched, Ancient Wisdom), with cryptic artwork by Maxime Taccardi, Ia Pazuzu (The Abyss Of The Shadows) is anguished, devouring and destined to become a new milestone within the industrial black metal community.

Ia Pazuzu (The Abyss Of The Shadows) will be available in special digipack CD format as well as a limited edition, double gatefold LP and deluxe limited leather box on July 7th, 2015 via Code666. 

OMMADON RELEASES "EMPATHY FOR THE WICKED"

Here is the press release for Ommadon´s new album:

"Following the crushing doom of their critically-adored, 2014 double LP, V, which earned a spot on Rolling Stone’s 20 Best Metal Albums Of 2014, UK drone/doom duo, OMMADON, continues their perpetual quest to achieve sonic annihilation of the self through unadulterated heaviness with Empathy For The Wicked. Boasting just one earth-rupturing track broken into two parts, Empathy For The Wicked was recorded live, mixed by OMMADON and mastered by recording legend, Billy Anderson (Neurosis, Zoroaster, Eyehategod, Taurus, Brothers Of The Sonic Cloth etc.), who gave it the final crushing touches it deserves.

Where OMMADON’s previous scores were all recorded in the Highlands of Scotland surrounded by forest, Empathy For The Wicked marks their first release to be recorded on an industrial estate in urban Northumberland surrounded by the dregs of humanity. The first track from Empathy For The Wicked was originally recorded for the cassette split with Horse Latitudes and Coltsblood. During that session, OMMADON decided to continue recording through the night and drone out the riff which became the second side to Empathy For The Wicked.

Empathy For The Wicked will be released on 12″ vinyl via Golden Mantra on July 15th, 2015 with preorders available at: www.goldenmantra.co.uk . Teasers to be unveiled in the coming weeks.

DISTANT SUN RELEASES "DARK MATTER"

Russian power thrash metal band Distant Sun will release their new album, entitled "Dark Matter" on May30th. The album is the debut full length album in the band´s career and the follow up to their "Sunless Citadel" EP released in 2011. "Dark Matter" will be released through Metalism Records and will feature the following tracks:

1. Prophet of the Mean  

2. Kill the Fremen  

3. Dark Matter  

4. Godsdoom  

5. Matrix Hacked  

6. Shattered Empire 

7. Gifts of Journey  

8. Healer of Souls  

9. Apocalypto  

10. Zero to Hero

XUL RELEASES "ORBIT OF NEMESIS" VIDEO

Canadian blackened death metal Xul have just released a video for the track "Orbit of Nemesis" (you can check the video below). The tune is part of the band´s latest release, the EP, entitled "Extinction Necromance" that was released on May 19th. "Extinction Necromance" was released independently and features the following tracks:

1. Frozen, We Drown   

2. Orbit of Nemesis 

3. Chaos Requiem  

4. Summon the Swarm

STORMLORD RE-RELEASES "MARE NOSTRUM"

Italian symphonic black metal band Stormlord will re-release their wlbum "Mare Nostrum" on May 29th. The album, originally released in 2008, was the fourth full length release in the band´s career. "MAre Nostrum" will be re-released through Trollzorn Records and will feature tracks from the band´s 2007 demo and also a live version of the title track. The "MAre Nostrum" re-release features the following tracks:

1. Mare Nostrum

2. Neon Karma

3. Legacy of the Snake

4. Emet

5. The Castaway

6. Scorn

7. And the Wind Shall Scream My Name

8. Dimension: Hate

9. Stormlord

10. Neon Karma (Demo 2007)

11. Mare Nostrum (Demo 2007)  

12. Legacy of the Snake (Demo 2007)  

13. Dimension: Hate (Demo 2007)  

14. Mare Nostrum (Live on Radio 2014) 

VOIDCEREMONY RE-RELEASES "DYSTHEISM" EP ON VINYL

Progressive death black metal band VoidCeremony will release their new album, entitled "Dystheism" on May 29th. The EP is the first release in the band´s career and waw originally released in 2014. The EP will be released in 7" vinyl through Blood Harvest Records and will feature the following tracks:

Side A

1. Ceremony of the Void  

2. Profane Accumulation of Execrable Reverence

 

Side B

3. Dystheism (Anti-Worship of the Demiurge)  

4. Lunar Qliphoth