Italian horror-inspired extreme metal act STIGMA will shoot a video for the song "The Undertaker" with director Salvatore Perrone (A DAY TO REMEMBER, EVERGREEN TERRACE, SUICIDE SILENCE) to coincide with the release of a special-edition digital-only EP this Winter via PIVOTAL ROCKORDINGS. The band recently wrapped up a successful European tour supporting TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED.
STIGMA’s Concerto for the Undead was produced at Fear Studio by ex-BLEEDING THROUGH and current BRING ME THE HORIZON guitarist Jona Weinhofen and was mixed & mastered by Scott Atkins (BEHEMOTH, CRADLE OF FILTH, SYLOSIS). This sophomore effort was released on April 30th in Europe, May 3rd in the UK, May 4th in North America, May 7th in Australia/New Zealand and June 30th in Japan. The album features lyrics centered on the cult-classic comic book series Tales From the Crypt and includes guest vocal appearances by Jamie Hope (ex-THE RED SHORE) and Jon Hunt (ex-DEAD TO FALL).
Artwork for the album features stunning comic illustrations of the band’s now-patent horror-themed lyrics and was created by Andrea Berton of Corefolio Design (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WINDS OF PLAGUE).
Polish female fronted traditional heavy metal act CRYSTAL VIPER will release their brand new studio album titled "Legends" on October 22, 2010. As the title suggest, all the lyrics will be based on the original Polish legends from the middle-ages. The album was recorded and mixed at the MP Studio in Poland, with engineer Mariusz Pietka and producer Bart Gabriel. Several specials guests are featured as well: Stefan Kaufmann (U.D.O., ex-ACCEPT), Mat Sinner (PRIMAL FEAR, SINNER), Rhino (the famous ex-MANOWAR drummer), and Sven D'Anna & Dano Boland (WIZARD).
Vancouver progressive folk metal band Scythia have announced their "Exiled Across Canada" tour dates set to kick off in Victoria, BC on Sept 24th. The six man & woman contingent will be echoing their thundering tunes over the following six weeks across Canada.
Blending epic storytelling with modern progressive metal to create an interesting dynamic that includes an oboe of death and classical violin. Scythia's ancient and medieval influenced melodies will bring the past back to the present as they ready to brandish their swords and prepare for tour in support of their upcoming release "...Of War" produced by Shaun Thingvold who has engineered on projects with SYL, Fear Factory, Darkest Hour and many more.
“Folk music is definitely more ambient, pure, and beautiful. Metal is intense, raunchy, and driving. The use of both in songs, combined with dynamic contouring, has the ability to take the listener on the kind of journey that rises to mountain peaks and descends into valleys, in a sonic sort of way,” comments vocalist / guitarist Dave Khan.
Formed in late 2008, Scythia is not your older brother’s metal band. Taking its name from vocalist/guitarist Dave Khan’s infatuation with a painting of Nordic/Russian warriors riding bears while brandishing swords, Scythia not only “gives the painting musical significance,” but it is also “the name of an ancient empire spanning from the Caucasus through Russia, and even into eastern Scandinavia.
While they are cruising North along the Swedish East Coast they got word from one of our scouting parties in Germany. When they made it to the city of Herne, they were greeted by three men that are filled with RAGE! 70000TONS OF METAL: The World's Biggest Floating Heavy Metal Festival! 24 out of 40 on board and counting...
70000TONS OF METAL will sail Monday, January 24, 2011 aboard the Royal Caribbean “Majesty of the Seas” from Miami FL to Cozumel, Mexico and will not return you to the real world for four days until Friday, January 28, 2011.
A brand new video clip of DEATH’s Chuck Schuldiner during a promotional trip in Europe in 1991 has been posted online now, see below. The clip was shot and edited by DEATH manager Eric Greif who was with Schuldiner during the trip. The three-minute video shows highlights from the cross-country trip, culminating with Schuldiner’s interview for MTV’s ‘Headbanger’s Ball’ at the MTV studios in London.
DEATH has recently seen the bulk of the band’s catalog made available for the first time digitally. It’s legendary albums ‘Scream Bloody Gore’, ‘Leprosy’, ‘Spiritual Healing’, ‘Human’, ‘Individual Thought Patterns’, and ‘The Sound Of Perseverance’ are available now at this location.
Blind Guardian is: Hansi Kürsch - Vocals André Olbrich - Lead Guitar Marcus Siepen - Rhythm Guitar Frederik Ehmke - Drums
Track Listing:
1.Sacred Worlds 2.Tanelorn (Into The Void) 3.Road Of No Release 4.Ride Into Obsession 5.Curse My Name 6.Valkyries 7.Control The Divine 8.War Of The Thrones 9.A Voice In The Dark 10.Wheel Of Time
My children, this may very well be the hardest review for me to write. Blind Guardian was one of the first metal bands I ever heard (I heard Iron Maiden at about the same time, so I can’t really tell who was truly the first). The first metal album I ever bought was A Twist in the Myth and the first metal show I ever attended was in support of that album. As I’ve gotten more into the genre, it’s been interesting to hear BG’s discography and their sonic progression.
I would call At the Edge of Time a return to classic Blind Guardian form. It recalls the sounds of Night At the Opera, a bit of Nightfall in Middle Earth, there’s an orchestra, there’s folky breakdowns, and you will not find a single song less than four minutes and thirty seconds. It’s less thrashy than A Twist in the Myth, less heavy perhaps, but it’s epic and a terrific album. To me, a band like Blind Guardian has only varying levels of good.
Before I get too caught up in gushing (if I haven’t reached that level yet), let me say that the album does have a few songs that don’t particularly grab me. Ride Into Obsession and Curse my Name give the album a bit of a lull. The Lull returns with War of the Thrones and A Voice in the Dark.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 September 2010 08:20
The following is taken directly from the official Behemoth Facebook page
Singer's main goal is to raise awareness and get people involved by registering to be a bone marrow donor
Since news on Nergal's recent health issues has been released, the band, management, and label has received an overwhelming response from fans and bands all over the world asking how they can directly help Nergal. In response to everyone offering his or her help in terms of setting up benefits and shows to raise money for the frontman of the Polish blackened death metal band BEHEMOTH, Nergal has issued the following statement:
"I haven't intended to manifest myself in any way and, especially at this stage, to share my feelings or any other news with the world for obvious reasons. It is simply too early for it. But it was YOU who provoked me to say a few words. Regarding my personal low opinion of humankind, I'm shocked by the reaction to my illness. I actually expected NOTHING yet received feedback which surpassed all expectations. I want to ensure you I read EACH mail I receive, although I'm unable to reply to all of them. The power of your words is pure magic and I thank you all for it. You are a gigantic indestructible army that truly inspires me in this difficult time. The fact is that a fight with this illness is going to last for many months. Most of this time I will spend in hospital and I will go through various psychophysical states. If you know the history of Behemoth you also know we achieved everything by hard work and a steely determination. The same goes for my private life. I happen to be a strong son of a bitch. I have no faith but rely on a 100% victory and I am sure I will get out of it stronger than ever. Sun Tzu in his 'Art of War' said that if you know your enemy and yourself the result of a thousand battles will not surprise you… I enter the ring with this Nietzschean attitude and I will leave it as a winner, as usual. Just watch and see!
Time to feast your ears for the first time on the upcoming live DVD: Get a FREE MP3 of Opeth's "Dirge For November (Live)" taken from ´In Live Concert At The Royal Albert Hall´ exclusively at Roadrunner Records
Also dont forget to pre-order your copy of the highly limited vinyl box set or the 2DVD/3CD box.
North American buyers can pre-order here and anyone outside North America or if you like a bundle deal with the Ltd ed. concert t-shirt can pre-order here