Paragon News

Slipknot Releases Official Video for "The Negative One"

2014-08-05T11:05:00.001-07:00

After a long wait, Slipknot has unveiled the video for the first single of their upcoming album.

The video, which was directed by Shawn "Clown" Crahan, was produced by The Uprising Creative and edited by Dan O’Sullivan.

The new track, "The Negative One" was recently revealed to the public via the band's official website. Many fans feel the band has gone back to their roots for this track. It's also the first official recording released without Paul Gray or Joey Jordison.

You can view the video below:

Happy Holidays from Paragon!

2013-12-17T09:02:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from Paragon Music Webzine and DIGImmortal Photo!

Enjoy this simple, fun video e-card we made for everyone and have a great holiday and a Happy New Year!

KILLING JOKE: New Video Single Unveiled

2013-05-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

In celebration of their astounding thirty-fifth anniversary, KILLING JOKE today unveils their latest video single in the form of “Corporate Elect.” The tune comes by way of the band’s critically-lauded MMXII full-length released last year via Spinefarm Records and serves as a taster of the band’s three-CD anthology — The Singles Collection 1979-2012.

Conceived, filmed and directed by Mikee Goodman, the video is only the fourth official clip sanctioned by the band in the past few years, following “In Excelsis, the animated “European Super State” and the “In Cythera” clips in which the band have barely appeared. Notes Goodman, former frontman of UK outfit SikTh, one half of Primal Rock Rebellion (along with Iron Maiden guitarist, Adrian Smith), and now recording with new project, Outpatients: "This video has been my biggest creative challenge yet. I had never previously met Jaz Coleman, but was blown away by the powerful and passionate performance he delivered. I did not sleep properly for five weeks. Now I have, I have looked at it again with fresh eyes. And smiled. I was honored to be asked to make a music video for KILLING JOKE, and so pleased to hear they liked it."

Check out the video at THIS LOCATION.

The Singles Collection 1979-2012 captures KILLING JOKE’s ever-evolving legacy with a series of dark, apocalyptic songs that have successfully combined disco, funk and shamanic wisdom with the dark side of punk rock. Called “a timely reminder why KILLING JOKE continue to be held in such high esteem,” by Drowned In Sound, The Singles Collection 1979-2012 delivers thirty-three career-spanning singles over two CDs with an additional third disc of rarities which includes previously unreleased studio tracks. The three-CD version will be limited in number, reverting to two CDs containing the singles tracks. Notes BrooklynVegan, “KILLING JOKE is, like many of the great bands of our time, unique and generally unclassifiable. Punk in both ethos and origin, the UK band has dipped its toe in industrial, metal, funk and dance music in their close-to-35-year career, carving out their own niche and more importantly their own sound.”

If you missed it, you can still check out a stream of “Four Stations Of The Sun,” a remix of which appeared on the 1998 LP Wardance – The Remixes and included on disc three of The Singles Collection courtesy of BrookynVegan at THIS LOCATION. You can also hear the band’s “Timewave” demo, brought to you by Decibel Magazine HERE. Previously unreleased, the track was recorded during the Absolute Dissent studio sessions and is included on the third rarities disc.

The digital version of The Singles Collection 1979-2012 is out now! The three-disc deluxe and regular two-CD version is set for release via Spinefarm on the new date of June 4, 2013. Pre-order your copy HERE.

BOMBUS posts new video for "Apparatus" online

2013-05-06T10:22:00.001-07:00

Gothenburg's metal heavyweights, BOMBUS, are currently on the road supporting the great DANKO JONES! To commemorate this tour, BOMBUS has just released the first single of their upcoming Century Media debut, The Poet and the Parrot. "Apparatus" gives fans a sneak peek into the full-length that is scheduled to drop worldwide in August 2013. To watch the video for "Apparatus," click here.

BOMBUS tour dates feat. DANKO JONES

5.7--NURNBERG Hirsch (DE)

5.8--2013 LINZ Posthof (AT)

5.9--2013 DORNBIRN Conrad Sohm (AT)

5.10--MILANO Factory (Area 3) (IT)

5.11--SAN ALBERTO DI ZERO BRANCO Parco Altroquando - Maximum Festival VI (IT)

5.12--MARSEILLE Le Moulin (FR)

5.14--BARCELONA Music Hall Barcelona (ES)

5.15--MADRID Sala Arena (ES)

5.16--PORTO Hard Club (PT)

5.17--LISBON TMN ao vivo (PT)

5.18--SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Sala Capitol (ES)

5.19--GIJON Sala Acapulco (ES)

HIRAX Releases More Information on New Album

2013-05-06T10:12:00.002-07:00

Legendary Thrash Metal band HIRAX entered the studio to record their new studio album called Immortal Legacy.

Singer and mastermind Katon W. De Pena says: "We record the new album with legendary producer Bill Metoyer (Slayer, W.A.S.P., Armored Saint, Cirith Ungol and many others). This is our most epic sounding record to date, sonically powerful and over-the-top. 14 new raging thrash metal songs that will make you bang your head!!!"

The album will be released in Germany on September 20th, in Europe on September 23rd and in the US/Canada on September 24th worldwide through SPV/Steamhammer as CD, gatefold colored LP and download. The album art will be created by Philip Lawvere.

ARTIZAN New Album Ancestral Energy Streaming in Full on GuitarWorld.com

2013-05-06T10:09:00.001-07:00

Jacksonville Florida's melodic metal quartet ARTIZAN will release theier sophomore effort Ancestral Energy May 10th via Pure Steel Records.Founded in 2008 by drummer Ty Tammeus, ARTIZAN have established themselves as one of the premier acts in their genre.

Today the band has teamed up with GuitarWorld.com the online home of Guitar World Magazine for an exclusive full album stream of Ancestral Energy. Check out the album in its entirety HERE.

Although they have created a truly unique sound for themselves, many comparisons to classic Iron Maiden, Queensryche and Fates Warning have been made. Clean, multi-octave vocals, classic riffing, spirited melodies and a touch of progressive elements are woven into the seven tracks on the new album. Matt Barlow (Ex-Iced Earth) is a special guest on the epic 10 minute title track. The album illustration was created by Berlin based artist Eliran Kantor (Testament,Evile,Hatebreed,Atheist,Sigh)

Ancestral Energy will be released on May 10th via Pure Steel Records.
Pre-order in North America here.
European orders are availble here.

VREID: Norwegian Black ‘N’ Roll Legion To Return To North America

2013-05-06T10:04:00.003-07:00

Norwegian black ‘n’ roll legion VREID will take their hell hymns to the streets this June on a North American tour alongside headliners Melechesh. Set to commence June 16 in Los Angeles, California, the long-awaited trek includes two weeks of live assaults and will come to a close in New York City on June 30th. .Additional support will come from Lightning Swords Of Death and Reign Of Lies.

VREID will be touring in support of their mammoth Welcome Farewell full-length released in North American via Indie Recordings on March 5, 2013. Commended by Decibel Magazine for “expanding their battleground, refining their attacks, and planting their flag square in the skulls of weaker genre purists,” and appropriately crowned “energetic, infectious, virulently catchy, and furiously, belligerently aggressive,” by No Clean Singing, Welcome Farewell was recorded at bassist Hváll’s own Studio 1184 and is easily the band’s most potent work to date.

Ave Noctum notes, “Welcome Farewell is one more step along a road that will help cast VREID’s legacy in the darkest stone,” Last Rites opines “VREID is more than melodeath, beyond black and roll, and forging a route to greatness. Welcome Farewell is honest and sincere, fun and adventurous, daring and disciplined…,” Joedaly.net calls Welcome Farewell, “a black metal time bomb packed with fearsome riffage, punishing grooves and masterful fretwork,” adding that the record, “effortlessly claims a spot among the best to date in 2013,” while MeatMeadMetal notes, “VREID have done it again, coming up with a great record that keeps you tied into the storyline and once again refining their style of black metal.”

VREID
w/ Melechesh, Lightning Swords Of Death, Reign Of Lies

6/16/2013 The Joint - Los Angeles, CA
6/17/2013 DNA Lounge - San Francisco, CA
6/18/2013 Hawthorne - Portland, OR
6/19/2013 Studio Seven - Seattle, WA
6/20/2013 TBA - Vancouver, BC
6/21/2013 Pawn Shop - Edmonton, AB
6/22/2013 The Exchange - Regina, SK
6/23/2013 TBA - Winnipeg, MB
6/24/2013 Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
6/25/2013 Mojoe’s - Joliet, IL
6/27/2013 Wreck Room - Toronto, ON
6/28/2013 Foufounes Electriques - Montreal, QC
6/29/2013 Railroad Tavern - Keene, NH
6/30/2013 Gramercy Theater - New York, NY

Formed in 2004 following the demise of ‘’Sognametal” legends Windir and described by Metal Hammer UK as a “unique time-travel in metal,” VREID seamlessly merge the prime tenets of ‘70s rock, ‘80s classic metal and Norwegian black metal into a difficult-to-pinpoint, expertly arranged sound implosion. Notorious for their well-researched, historically-inspired lyrics, the band’s third and fourth offerings, I Krig and Milorg, were both concept albums based around the liberation work in Norway during World War II. Liberation was also the keyword on VREID’s last offering, V, but placed in a broader historical/philosophic perspective. The lyrics on Welcome Farewell describe a lifecycle through a series of short stories, seen from an existential point of view and, inspired by Hváll’s own local community with its nature, architecture and historical artists such as Arne Garborg and Otto Valstad, are more personal than ever before.

TESSERACT Release New Video Trailer for Altered State

2013-04-17T10:56:00.001-07:00

UK's progressive rock band TESSERACT has released another video featuring new music from their upcoming album 'Altered State' which will be released on May 28, 2013 in North America via Century Media Records. Divided into four movements: Of Matter, Of Mind, Of Reality and Of Energy, 'Altered State' represents the transformations that TESSERACT has gone through over the past few years. The Law of Conservation of Energy states that: In a closed system energy is conserved, nothing is lost. It merely changes from one state to another.

The new video trailer can be seen here

The band's first trailer release can be view here

Their second trailer here

'Altered State' was produced, mixed, mastered and engineered by TESSERACT guitarist, Acle Kahney, assisted by bassist, Amos Williams at Acle's 4D Sounds studio, and marks the first full release with new vocalist, Ashe O'Hara.

The band is set to head out with longtime friends, PERIPHERY, throughout mainland Europe and then headline dates throughout the UK just prior to album release. Worldwide touring will follow throughout the year.

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH Debut New Song on RevolverMag.com

2013-04-17T10:52:00.002-07:00

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH will release their sophomore album Lay My Soul to Waste May 21st in North America on Steamhammer/SPV. Once again the artwork was commissioned by Sam Shearon, who is also responsible for artwork on the band's first release And Hell Will Follow Me.

Today the band has teamed up with RevolverMag.com the online home of Revolver Magazine to premiere the first single from Lay My Soul to Waste entitled "Shallow Grave". Get a first listen to the song HERE.

On the surface, A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATHare impressive. But you'll want to dig deeper and immerse yourself in all the sonic and lyrical layers, because the band isn't afraid to plume the depths of darkness that humanity is capable of. It's murky stuff, but someone has to do it.

Sal Abruscato and Matt Brown have followed 2011's incredible introduction And Hell Will Follow Mewith Lay My Soul to Waste, which keeps the band's patented signature formula of slow, deliberate sludge and head-down doom intact and as flawlessly executed as ever.

Think Alice in Chains, only harder, angrier and with a more perverse view of the world, as if they were reared in a row house in Bensonhurst, as opposed to the rainy landscape of Seattle, all the while feasting on a steady diet of Black Sabbath records.

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH arrived with And Hell Will Follow Me. They have firmly implanted their roots in the metal scene with Lay My Soul to Waste. It's a metal album that headbangers who enjoy a walk on the darker side of life will end up revering and responding to.

Lay My Soul to Waste can be pre-ordered on Amazon on both CD and LP.

Lay My Soul to Waste Tracklisting:

1) Lay My Soul to Waste

2) Shallow Grave

3) The Needle in You

4) In the Sleeping Death

5) Killer by Night

6) Growing Old

7) Dead of Winter

8) Devil Came With a Smile

9) Day of the Storm

10) DMSLT

11) Cold Dark Mourning

Philip Anselmo Announces Career-First Solo Project

2013-04-17T10:43:00.003-07:00

Philip Anselmo, legendary frontman of Pantera and Down, will release his career-first solo album, Walk Through Exits Only, on July 16 via his own Housecore Records (MRI/Megaforce). Walk Through Exits Only will be available digitally, on CD and on vinyl.

Produced by Philip Anselmo and Michael Thompson, and recorded over the past couple of years at his New Orleans studio, Nodferatu's Lair, with his band The Illegals - Marzi Montazeri/guitar, and drummer Jose Manuel "Blue" Gonzales, Walk Through Exits Only is abrasive, aggressive, anthemic and 100% Anselmo. The album's eight songs are as unstrained as it gets, from "Battalion of Zero" to "Usurper's Bastard Rant," to the album's title track that goes against the grain and right through the exits. Brash, brutal guitars cut through punishing percussion as Anselmo screams with uncompromising ferocity and uncontainable fire.

"It wasn't about doing a paint-by-numbers thrash or heavy metal record," Anselmo explained about the project. "It's an angry album that only I could do. I don't see anybody else out there screaming about the same shit I'm screaming about. On this album, there isn't any wordplay, there isn't any hidden message, it's all right there in front of you."

Anselmo and the Illegals will support the new album with a major North American tour planned for this summer. Anselmo, who is up for Best Vocalist at this year's Revolver Golden Gods awards, will make a special appearance at that event.

On Walk Through Exits Only and over his entire career, Anselmo hasn't just paved his own path, he's bulldozed it with his bare hands.

CEREMONIAL OATH releases deluxe re-issue of 'The Book Of Truth' in North America

2013-04-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

CEREMONIAL OATH - Sweden's pioneers of twisted melodic death metal - have released their legendary debut album, The Book Of Truth, as a digital download in North America! To purchase the deluxe re-issue of The Book Of Truth, please visit iTunes or Amazon for a digital download.

Besides the album tracks found on The Book Of Truth, this download also includes all tracks from the super rare demos, Wake The Dead and Black Sermon (on which CEREMONIAL OATH was still performing under the band's previous moniker DESECRATOR), as well as the two tracks from the legendary Lost Name Of God 7" (originally released on Corpse Grinder Records in 1992).

The Book Of Truth doesn't follow the usual melodic approach that many bands from the Gothenburg scene established during the heyday of the scene from 1994-1999. Being neither pure Gothenburg melodic death metal nor typical old school Swedish death metal in the Stockholm vein, but more a fine mélange of both worlds, spiced-up with some technical finesse a la MORBID ANGEL and NOCTURNUS, The Book Of Truth has justly become a classic death metal album. To this day, the sound of CEREMONIAL OATH has remained surprisingly fresh and unique.

The Book Of Truth deluxe re-issue track-listing:

The Album

Prologue: Sworn To Avenge

Chapter I: The Invocator

Chapter II: For I Have Sinned / The Praise

Chapter III: Enthroned

Chapter IV: Only Evil Prevails

Chapter V: Thunderworld (Welcome To Forever)

Chapter VI: Lords Of Twilight

Chapter VII: Ceremonial Oath

Chapter VIII: The Lost Name Of God

Chapter IX: The Book Of Truth

Chapter X: Hellbound (instrumental)

The Demos (Bonus Tracks)

Intro: The Hour Between Darkness And Dawn

Remains Of Death

Force Of Habit

A Nocturnal Predator

Into The Abyss Of Hell

The Invocator

Necrosis

The Lost Name Of God

For I Have Sinned / The Praise

The Demos (Bonus Tracks) info

Tracks 1 - 4 taken from the Wake The Dead demo (1990, performing as DESECRATOR)

Tracks 5 - 7 taken from the Black Sermon demo (1990, performing as DESECRATOR)

Tracks 8 & 9 taken from the Lost Name Of God 7" (1992)

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS releases new album 'Earth Blues' in North America

2013-04-17T10:34:00.003-07:00

Sweden's classic rock heavyweights SPIRITUAL BEGGARS have released their new album, Earth Blues, in North America! To purchase Earth Blues, please head over to iTunes for a digital copy or CM Distro for various physical formats.

Earth Blues is the band's 8th studio release and marks SPIRITUAL BEGGARS' 20th anniversary as a band. The band's lineup includes current and past members of metal heavyweights ARCH ENEMY, CARCASS, OPETH, FIREWIND and WITCHERY. For previews of Earth Blues, please check out the previously released album tracks below:

"Kingmaker"

"Turn the Tide"

"Wise As A Serpent"

Earth Blues track-listing

1. Wise As A Serpent

2. Turn The Tide

3. Sweet Magic Pain

4. Hello Sorrow

5. One Man's Curse

6. Dreamer

7. Too Old To Die Young

8. Kingmaker

9. Road To Madness

10. Dead End Town

11. Freedom Song

12. Legends Collapse

In order to promote this upcoming release as well as the band's anniversary, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS have confirmed a European tour for April with support by German rockers ZODIAC, in addition to some summer festivals around the world. See below for all upcoming tour dates:

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS - "Earth Blues Tour" w. special guest ZODIAC + more

Presented in G/S/A by Metal Hammer, Guitar, Eclipsed & powermetal.de

4.16.2013 - Köln (Germany) - Underground
4.17.2013 - Ludwigsburg (Germany) - Rockfabrik
4.18.2013 - München (Germany) - Backstage
4.19.2013 - Pratteln (Switzerland) - Galery
4.20.2013 - Nürnberg (Germany) - Rockfabrik / Rock'n'Roll Overdose Festival
4.21.2013 - Tilburg (The Netherlands) - 013 / Roadburn Festival
4.22.2013 - Paris (France) - La Scene Bastille
4.25.2013 - Madrid (Spain) - Caracol
4.26.2013 - Barcelona (Spain) - Sala Music Hall
4.27.2013 - Erandio / Bilbao (Spain) - Sonora
4.28.2013 - Toulouse (France) - Le Saint Des Seins

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS @ Festivals 2013:

4.20.2013 - Nürnberg (Germany) - Rockfabrik / Rock'n'Roll Overdose Festival
4.21.2013 - Tilburg (The Netherlands) - 013 / Roadburn Festival / www.roadburn.com

5.25.2013 - Mexico City (Mexico) - Circo Volador

6.23.2013 - Clisson (France) - Hellfest / www.hellfest.fr

Earth Blues is the follow-up to 2010's critically acclaimed Return To Zero, and it promises to be another milestone in the band's fertile and challenging musical evolution.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS discography:

Spiritual Beggars - CD 1994

Another Way To Shine - CD 1996
Violet Karma - 10" EP 1998
Mantra III - CD 1998
Ad Astra - CD/2LP 2000
It's Over - Split 7" EP with GRAND MAGUS 2001
On Fire - CD 2002
Demons - CD 2005
Live Fire! - DVD 2006
Return To Zero - CD/LP 2010
Earth Blues - CD/LP 2013

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS line-up:
Michael Amott (Guitars | ARCH ENEMY, ex CARCASS)
Ludwig Witt (Drums | GRAND MAGUS, ex FIREBIRD)
Per Wiberg (Keys | ex OPETH)
Sharlee D'Angelo (Bass | ARCH ENEMY, WITCHERY)
Apollo Papathanasio (Vocals | ex FIREWIND)

Dan Swano signs long-term worldwide deal with Century Media Records; WITHERSCAPE album completed

2013-04-17T10:31:00.002-07:00

It's with great pride and joy that Century Media Records can announce the signing of a long-term worldwide deal with Swedish singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer extraordinaire Dan Swanö.

Most dedicated metalheads will not only be able to call themselves owners of certain releases by one Dan's many outstanding bands/projects (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, etc.), but also the work at his own Unisound studio will surely have left a mark in everyone's record collection at some point: OPETH, KATATONIA, DISSECTION, MERCILESS, 59 TIMES THE PAIN, DARK FUNERAL, HAIL OF BULLETS, MARDUK, MILLENCOLIN and NASUM, to name but a few.

Swanö has been no stranger to Century Media Records: He was originally involved with the death metal supergroup BLOODBATH (also featuring members of OPETH and KATATONIA), who released the Breeding Death EP as well as the amazing first two albums, Resurrection Through Carnage and Nightmares Made Flesh, via Century Media. Most recently, Swanö has been heavily working again as producer and mixer of albums, including releases by Century Media artists such as ASPHYX, GRAND SUPREME BLOOD COURT, ODDLAND and MORGOTH.

Dan Swanö comments about the signing:

"It's been 23 years since I signed my first ever record-deal, but never before have I been this excited...I have now signed with Century Media Records!

I bought the first release from Century Media back in 1989, and it is amazing to see how much the label has grown over the years.

After working with CM for a few compilation CDs and for two and a half albums with BLOODBATH, I knew it would be the perfect home for me whenever I felt like returning to the recording-industry as a performer again.

And now...I am back! With a vengeance!!!"

The first result of the new cooperation between Dan Swanö and Century Media will be the release of his newly founded metal outfit WITHERSCAPE, which sees Dan teaming with another talented multi-instrumentalist, Ragnar Widerberg, to create an intense concept album-- which should not only musically please fans of earlier Swanö-works like Moontower or EDGE OF SANITY, but also attract fans of contemporary progressively atmospheric metal in the vein of OPETH, BARREN EARTH and AMORPHIS.

Swanö comments about the upcoming WITHERSCAPE album:

"I have just completed the final mixes of the first album from my new project WITHERSCAPE.

Fans of my 'Moontower' album and the catchier parts of EDGE OF SANITY won't be disappointed!

I sing, both clean and growl, play drums and keyboards. Ragnar Widerberg plays all guitars & bass and has co-written almost all the tracks with me."

Look forward to a late July 2013 release for WITHERSCAPE's The Inheritance via Century Media.

Here are some online links to past works involving Dan Swanö:

BLOODBATH - "Eaten": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBfoMgllphs
HEAVEN SHALL BURN - "Black Tears" (EDGE OF SANITY cover): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PtfyRjkn40
EDGE OF SANITY - "Crimson" (feat. Mikael Akerfeldt of OPETH): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St6lJaiHYIc

Selected Dan Swanö discography:

EDGE OF SANITY - Unorthodox / Purgatory Afterglow / Crimson I & II

Dan Swanö - Moontower

BLOODBATH - Breeding Death / Resurrection Through Carnage / Nightmares Made Flesh

ODYSSEY - Re-Inventing the Past

NIGHTINGALE - Nightfall Overture / White Darkness

Dan Swanö will have a new website ready for a summer launch, but in the meantime, you can visit his studio site as reference for his works: http://www.unisound.se

Stay tuned for more details about WITHERSCAPE and The Inheritance to be revealed soon!

DARK TRANQUILLITY premieres new track, "For Broken Words"

2013-04-16T06:37:00.003-07:00

Melodic death metal pioneers DARK TRANQUILLITY will release their much-anticipated 10th studio album, Construct, on May 27th in Europe and on May 28th in North America via Century Media Records. To get your first preview of Construct, click the link below to hear the album track, "For Broken Words."

DARK TRANQUILLITY comments about "For Broken Words": "This is one of the heaviest and most brooding tracks from 'Construct', so it's a good candidate for the online premiere song position. More music from the album will be presented shortly."

Decades after their inception, Gothenburg's DARK TRANQUILLITY remains at the forefront of the scene that they helped to define as one of the longest-standing melodic death metal bands. Their 10th studio album, Construct, continues in the tradition of their past records by not straying from the band's roots, while also putting a fresh spin on their trademark sound. After over 20 years together, DARK TRANQUILLITY yet again proves that they are more vital than ever.

Some European summer festival appearances have already been announced, and the band is currently working on an EU/UK tour for this upcoming November/December. North American fans can look forward to a full tour being planned for September 2013. Stay tuned for more tour dates coming soon!

DARK TRANQUILLITY live:

5.1.2013--Tunesia, Tunis--Le Plug

5.3.2013--Romania, Bucharest--Arenele Romane

5.4.2013--Turkey, Istanbul--Refresh The Venue

6.1.2013--Germany, Geiselwind--Beastival Festival

6.7.2013--United Arab Emirates, Dubai--Rock Fest

6.28.2013--Czech Republic, Spalene Porici--Basinfire Festival

8.23.2013--Germany, Wörrstedt--Neuborn Open Air

ICED EARTH releases new live video for "Anthem" from 'Live In Ancient Kourion'; new CD/DVD hits stores today

2013-04-16T06:35:00.003-07:00

ICED EARTH's first officially recorded DVD/Blu-Ray, Live In Ancient Kourion, will hit stores today, April 16, in North America! For this live release, the band recorded an epic 2.5 hour show in a 6,000 year old amphitheatre on the island of Cyprus.

In celebration of tomorrow's release, ICED EARTH has uploaded the live video for the song "Anthem," which offers fans yet another preview of this stunning live release here.

For more previews of Live In Ancient Kourion, click the links below:

"Stormrider" live video

"I Died For You" live audio

"Dystopia" live video

"Damien" live audio

Live In Ancient Kourion official DVD trailer

Live In Ancient Kourion is now available for pre-order in various formats here.

ICED EARTH live:

6.8.2013 - Burning Sea Festival - Croatia

6.20.2013 - Metalfest - Germany

6.21.2013 - Dokk'em Open Air Festival - Netherlands

6.22.2013 - Rock am Härtsfeldsee - Germany

7.12.2013 - Rock Harz Open Air - Germany

7.13.2013 - Bang Your Head Festival - Germany

8.8.2013 - Getaway Rock Festival - Sweden

Purson's "Well Spoiled Machine" Streaming via Pitchfork; Debut Album "The Circle and The Blue Door" out April 30

2013-04-15T09:04:00.002-07:00

Purson, the female-fronted UK band that Kerrang has described as having “the best bits of ‘60s and ‘70s rock – think Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Cream… brought to 2013 in a sweet-smelling musical haze,” premiere the song “Well Spoiled Machine” today via Pitchfork.

The London-based band’s debut album, The Circle and The Blue Door, is set for an April 30 release via Metal Blade/Rise Above Records. Decibel Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Albert Mudrian dubbed the album the “best debut of 2013” and overseas outlets like the BBC (“a modern demonic sound”), Terrorizer (“their brand of gothic psychedelia is set to take 2013 by storm”) and Subterranea/Metal Hammer (“Purson are the UK’s new ambassadors for the otherworldly”) are all championing the young English band.

“Spiderwood Farm,” a song singer Rosalie Cunningham penned after flipping through a copy of Sounds from 1972, is streaming via Decibel. A video for “Leaning On A Bear” debuted last month and is viewable here. Directed by Chris Martin, Rosalie said of the video's setting: “We found this great place in Brixton, South London called Café Cairo that look as though it has been transplanted there from the souk in Marrakesh.” The clip gives a perfect visual to the band’s trippy psychedelia, or as they call it “vaudeville carny psych.”

The Circle and The Blue Door will be streaming in its entirety next week via Spin. Pre-orders of The Circle and The Blue Door are available via Metal Blade at this link: www.metalblade.com/purson. Purson will make their debut U.S. performances this fall with tour dates forthcoming.

THE AGONIST to kick off North American tour this week with DANZIG and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY

2013-04-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

Extreme metallers THE AGONIST will be hitting the road this week with DANZIG, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, and more in support of their recently released new album, Prisoners! Check the dates below to see when THE AGONIST will be coming to a city near you.

THE AGONIST tour dates

4/13--The Level--Kelowna, BC
4/14--Studio Seven--Seattle, WA
4/17--House of Blues--Las Vegas, NV **
4/19--Ogden Theater--Denver, CO **
4/20--Sunshine Theater--Albuquerque, NM **
4/22--Stubbs BBQ--Austin, TX **
4/23--Concrete Street--Corpus Christi, TX **
4/24--Palladium--Dallas, TX **
4/26--Marquee Theater--Phoenix, AZ **
4/27--Fox Theater--Pomona, CA **
4/28--Ventura Theater--Ventura, CA **
5/1--Chameleon Room--Oklahoma City, OK
5/2--The Riot Room--Kansas City, MO
5/3--Smith's Downtown--Mishawaka, IN
5/4--Club Envy--Muskegon, MI

5/5--Mojoe's--Joliet, IL
5/6--Broadway Joe's--Buffalo, NY
5/7--WreckRoom--Toronto, ON
5/17--Resto-Bar Le Top Shot--Lachute, QC
5/18--K-Baret (Maison des Musiciens)--Jonquiere, QC
7/13--A2 Fest--Ann Harbor, MI
7/15--Vaudeville Mews--Des Moines, IA
7/16--RSR Stage--Madison, WI
7/17--Diamond Pub & Billiards--Louisville, KY
7/18--Headliners Middle Room--Toledo, OH
7/19--Rock the Farm Fest--St. Paris, OH
7/20--Tammany Hall--New York, NY
7/21--Upland Theatre--Utica, NY
7/22--Montage Music Hall--Rochester, NY

**=with DANZIG and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY

If you still haven't heard Prisoners, watch the video for the album track "Panophobia."

The album is available for purchase at iTunes here and CM Distro here.

Killswitch Engage Summer Tour In Support Of Disarm The Descent

2013-04-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

Grammy-nominated, Massachusetts-based hard rockers Killswitch Engage –singer Jesse Leach, guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarist Joel Stroetzel and drummer Justin Foley- have announced their first headline tour in support of their just-released new album Disarm the Descent, which enjoyed an astounding first week in stores, debuting at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 and at #1 on both the Rock Albums Chart and the Hard Music Chart.

Joining Killswitch Engage on this tour will be their longtime friends from San Diego in As I Lay Dying. Ohio will also be well-represented on this tour, with Miss May I and Affiance rounding out the bill.

Tickets go on sale on April 12 or April 13, depending on the market.

"Everyone in the Killswitch family is excited to get out on our first U.S. headlining tour in support of our new record," Leach said. "We are hitting some great cities and have a great mix of songs from every era of Killswitch as well as of course a handful of new ones."

Leach continued, "We look forward to sharing this tour with our old friends and brothers in metal As I Lay Dying. I personally have never had the chance to tour with them and I am looking forward to having such a quality band out with us to give this tour even more fire! We will also be joined by a talented and up-and-coming band Miss May I and a new band we're all excited to see live called Affiance. Thanks to all the U.S. fans for your support! Our live show will be full-on energy with all of us ready to take this to a whole new level."

Bassist Mike D. concurred, saying, "We are super excited to be back out with our good buds in As I Lay Dying! They are some of our favorite dudes to hang with on the road, so assumptions are high that utter chaos shall ensue. There will be so much metal riffage -- you could build your own Carnival Cruse Ship. That's right, 'CHUGGA CHUGGA Paralysis' is surely imminent."
With that kind of enthusiasm and excitement, you'd be ill-advised to miss this tour!

TOUR DATES:

May 30 Oklahoma City | Diamond Ballroom
May 31 Austin, TX | Stubbs BBQ
June 1 Houston, TX | | House of Blues
June 3 Orlando, FL | House of Blues
June 4 Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution

June 6 Richmond, VA | The National
June 7 Syracuse, NY | F Shed at The Market
June 8 Hampton Beach, NH | Hampton Beach Casino
June 9 Philadelphia, PA | Trocadero

June 11 New York, NY | Best Buy Theater
June 12 Silver Spring, MD | Fillmore

June 20 Denver, CO | Summit

July 1 Fargo, ND | The Venue
July 2 Omaha, NE | Sokol Auditorium
July 3 Wichita, KS | Cottilion

July 5 Milwaukee, WI | Rave
July 6 Cleveland, OH | House of Blues
July 7 Detroit, MI | Crofoot
July 8 Joliet, IL | Mojoes

Watch the video for first single "In Due Time"

Prosthetic to release Record Store Day edition of LAMB OF GOD debut

2013-04-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Record Store Day on April 20th, Prosthetic Records will release a special gray marble vinyl re-pressing of LAMB OF GOD's groundbreaking 2000 release, "New American Gospel." Limited to 500 copies, the Record Store Day edition will feature the remastered "2006 versions" of the album's original track listing. All proceeds will go toward the Justice Now defense fund for vocalist Randy Blythe, who -- despite being exonerated earlier this year -- still faces substantial legal bills in the wake of his recent trial in the Czech Republic. You can also make a donation to Justice Now directly by clicking here.

Produced and engineered by Steve Austin (Today Is The Day), "New American Gospel" -- the band's Prosthetic debut, and their first release under the LAMB OF GOD moniker -- is a "groove metal" landmark, and an important step in the band's ascent to the top of the "New Wave of American Heavy Metal" scene. Praised by Revolver as one of the "69 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time" and by MetalSucks as one of the "21 Best Metal Albums of the 21st Century...So Far," the album has sold more than 100,000 copies in the U.S. alone.
For a list of participating retail outlets, visit www.recordstoreday.com.

Purson Premiere "Spiderwood Farm" via Decibel Magazine; Debut Album Out April 30

2013-04-10T09:35:00.004-07:00

Purson, the female-fronted UK band that the BBC has said are “channeling the power of the psychedelic ‘70s,” premiere the song “Spiderwood Farm” today via Decibel.

The London-based band, having already made a name quite a splash overseas with their glam-influenced psych-rock, release The Circle and The Blue Door on Apr. 30 via (Metal Blade/Rise Above Records). Kerrang said singer/guitar player Rosalie Cunningham “will have you spellbound” and added that Purson’s music is “like the best bits of ‘60s and ‘70s rock – think Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Cream and loads of other classic rock cats – brought to 2013 in a sweet-smelling musical haze.”

“Spiderwood Farm is about ghosts,” explains Rosalie (who is also known for her previous stint as the front woman in the all-girl goth outfit Ipso Facto). “I was looking through a copy of Sounds from 1972 when I saw a band mentioned called Spiderwood Farm. From there I thought of a song about ex-dwellers, who are, of course dead. The council is trying to evict them, but they’re not doing anything wrong.”

A video for “Leaning On A Bear” debuted last month and is viewable here . Directed by Chris Martin, Rosalie said of the setting: “We found this great place in Brixton, South London called Café Cairo that look as though it has been transplanted there from the souk in Marrakesh.” The clip gives a perfect visual to the band’s trippy psychedelia, or as they call it “vaudeville carny psych.”

Decibel has been an early champion of the band with Editor-in-Chief Albert Mudrian calling The Circle and The Blue Door “the best debut of 2013” and featuring the band in their May issue.

Pre-orders of The Circle and The Blue Door are available via Metal Blade here. Purson will make their debut U.S. performances this fall with tour dates forthcoming.

Kylesa Premiere "Vulture's Landing" Via Loudwire; Spring Tour Tickets On-Sale

2013-04-09T10:19:00.002-07:00

Kylesa stream new song, “Vulture’s Landing,” via Loudwire.

The song comes from the Savannah band’s forthcoming album, Ultraviolet, which is available for pre-order via Season of Mist’s e-shop. Release date is May 28 via Season of Mist.

Kylesa recently announced a Spring tour, which kicks off on May 10 in Gainesville, Fla. at The High Dive. Openers are Bloody Ceremony, White Hills and Lazer/Wulf. Tickets are on-sale now.

“Vulture’s Landing” is the third track to be previewed from the forthcoming album. Spin previously premiered “Quicksand” saying the song “joins the melodies of ‘90s shoegaze with the churn of modern sludge.” Season of Mist unveiled “Unspoken” via the label’s Soundcloud player upon news of an Ultraviolet release date. Pitchfork called the track “a heaving, goth-metal juggernaut.”

Tour dates:

April 19 Savannah, GA The Dollhouse (Free show)

May 10 Gainesville, FL High Dive

May 11 Orlando, FL Backbooth

May 12 Miami, FL Churchhill’s

May 13 Tampa, FL The Orpheum

May 15 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jack’s

May 16 Houston, TX Walters

May 17 Dallas, TX Trees

May 18 Austin, TX Mohawk

May 20 Albuquerque, NM Blackwater

May 21 Denver, CO Marquis Theater

May 22 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge

May 24 Santa Cruz, CA Catalyst

May 25 San Francisco, CA Slim’s

May 27 Portland, OR Star Theater

May 28 Seattle, WA Chop Suey

May 29 Vancouver, BC Electric Owl

May 31 Calgary, AB Dickens

Dickens

June 1 Regina, SK The Exchange

June 2 Winnipeg, MB The Pyramid

June 3 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock Social Club

June 4 Iowa City, IA Gabe’s Oasis

June 5 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge

June 6 Grand Rapids, MI Pyramid Scheme

June 7 St. Louis, MO The Firebird

June 8 Columbus, OH Ace of Cups

June 9 Lexington, KY Cosmic Charlies

June 11 Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace

June 12 Ottawa, ON Maverick’s

June 13 Montreal, QC Il Motore

June 14 Brooklyn NY Northside Fest (Music Hall of Williamsburg)

June 15 Albany, NY Bogie’s

June 16 Boston, MA Middle East Downstairs

June 18 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts

June 19 Washington, DC Rock & Roll Hotel

June 20 Asheville, NC Asheville Music Hall

June 21 Atlanta, GA The Earl

June 22 Savannah, GA The Jinx

SKELETONWITCH BEGIN RECORDING NEW ALBUM

2013-04-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

Metal heathens SKELETONWITCH recently began recording their fifth album with Kurt Ballou (Converge, Kvelertak, Black Breath) at GodCity Studio in Salem, Mass. Tentatively set for a fall release, the as-yet-untitled recording is the follow-up to 2011's "masterclass in modern metal" (Terrorizer) "Forever Abomination," the group's second consecutive album to crack the Billboard Top 200. More details will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Last month, SKELETONWITCH headlined Pitchfork's "Show No Mercy" showcase at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, where they debuted a brand new song. You can view their entire performance, which starts around the 1:40 mark, HERE. The band, who spent most of 2012 touring (including a rigorous 10-week headlining run during which they played 63 shows in 65 days), will headline the Calgary Metal Fest in June. Further information and tickets can be found at c algarymetalfest.com.

Stay tuned to the band's Facebook (facebook.com/skeletonwitchmetal) for behind-the-scenes info and a tour announcement in the coming days.

CEREMONIAL OATH to digitally release deluxe re-issue of 'The Book Of Truth' on April 16th

2013-04-09T09:58:00.001-07:00

CEREMONIAL OATH - Sweden's pioneers of twisted melodic death metal - will release their legendary debut album, The Book Of Truth, as a digital download in North America on April 16th via Century Media Records. Besides the album tracks found on The Book Of Truth, this download will also include all tracks from the super rare demos, Wake The Dead and Black Sermon (on which CEREMONIAL OATH was still performing under the band's previous moniker DESECRATOR), as well as the two tracks from the legendary Lost Name Of God 7" (originally released on Corpse Grinder Records in 1992).

The Book Of Truth deluxe re-issue track-listing:

The Album

Prologue: Sworn To Avenge

Chapter I: The Invocator

Chapter II: For I Have Sinned / The Praise

Chapter III: Enthroned

Chapter IV: Only Evil Prevails

Chapter V: Thunderworld (Welcome To Forever)

Chapter VI: Lords Of Twilight

Chapter VII: Ceremonial Oath

Chapter VIII: The Lost Name Of God

Chapter IX: The Book Of Truth

Chapter X: Hellbound (instrumental)

The Demos (Bonus Tracks)

Intro: The Hour Between Darkness And Dawn

Remains Of Death

Force Of Habit

A Nocturnal Predator

Into The Abyss Of Hell

The Invocator

Necrosis

The Lost Name Of God

For I Have Sinned / The Praise

The Demos (Bonus Tracks) info

Tracks 1 - 4 taken from the Wake The Dead demo (1990, performing as DESECRATOR)

Tracks 5 - 7 taken from the Black Sermon demo (1990, performing as DESECRATOR)

Tracks 8 & 9 taken from the Lost Name Of God 7" (1992)

ICED EARTH premieres live video for "Stormrider" from 'Live In Ancient Kourion' release on RevolverMagazine.com

2013-04-09T09:55:00.003-07:00

ICED EARTH's first officially recorded DVD/Blu-Ray, Live In Ancient Kourion, will hit stores April 16 in North America (and April 15 in Europe)! For this live release, the band recorded an epic 2.5 hour show in a 6,000 year old amphitheatre with an incredible, unique atmosphere. To give fans a preview of this must-have DVD, ICED EARTH has now teamed up with Revolver Magazine to premiere the live video for "Stormrider."

For more previews of Live In Ancient Kourion, click the links below:

"I Died For You" live audio

"Dystopia" live video

"Damien" live audio

Live In Ancient Kourion official DVD trailer

Live In Ancient Kourion is now available for pre-order in various stunning formats here.

ICED EARTH live:

08.06.2013 - Burning Sea Festival - Croatia

20.06.2013 - Metalfest - Germany

21.06.2013 - Dokk'em Open Air Festival - Netherlands

22.06.2013 - Rock am Härtsfeldsee - Germany

12.07.2013 - Rock Harz Open Air - Germany

13.07.2013 - Bang Your Head Festival - Germany

08.08.2013 - Getaway Rock Festival - Sweden

SEPTICFLESH CONFIRMED FOR 2014's '70000 TONS OF METAL' CRUISE

2013-04-03T12:49:00.000-07:00

Greek symphonic metal quartet SEPTICFLESH are confirmed to appear on next year's 70000 Tons of Metal cruise, which departs from Miami on Jan. 27, 2014 and will sail to an as-yet-undetermined location in the Caribbean before returning to shore four days later. Along with SEPTICFLESH, the first set of announced bands includes Symphony X, Death Angel, Soilwork, Dark Tranquility and Overkill; many more will be announced in the coming months. Tickets for the cruise go on sale on Monday (April 8) at 5 p.m. EST. For more information on the cruise, please visit 70000Tons.com.

SEPTICFLESH signed with Prosthetic in 2012, and soon after, headlined the first "Conquerers of the World" tour across North America with Krisiun, Melechesh, Ex Deo and Inquisition. The band will begin recording their Prosthetic debut later this year; they will also headline a three-week European tour (which features Fleshgod Apocalypse as direct support) next month. For tour dates and more information on the band, please visit their Facebook (www.facebook.com/septicfleshband) or website (www.septicflesh.com).