Iz tabora hrvaških doom metalcev Old Night sporočajo, da jih je zapustil vokalist in kitarist Matej Hanžek. Vrzel v zasedbi bo na vokalu tako zapolnil njegov brat Ivan, na kitari pa se je zasedbi pridružil Rafael Cvitković (Nekroza). Spodaj lahko preberete celotno izjavo banda:

»This is a post I write with a heavy heart, yet full of hope and with a bright look on the future. After eight years with us as our lead singer and frontman, earlier this year Matej decided to step down from his duties within Old Night. I know you are hoping for some gossip or a sassy story, but there was no drama involved. He just wants to focus on other things in life and at this point, music is not a priority for him. Having said that, I wish to thank him on our behalf for everything he has done for us, all the great times we shared on stage and backstage, but also for all the long hours he has put in working on our first three records. It was a privilege and you'll always be a part of our family. Obviously, this news has taken us aback and we had to figure out how best to proceed. We took some time to see what our options were, as this is an important role we needed to fill. After much deliberation we figured out we need not look outside our band for a perfect candidate as we have one in our midst. Ivan has been singing all the backing vocals from day one and from now on he will be handling all the lead vocals. No need to worry, he’ll remain our lead guitarist as well.

The only piece of the puzzle left to figure out was who’ll play the rhythm guitars? Without further ado, we welcome Rafael Cvitković, from the Croatian death metal machine Nekroza, as our new guitarist. If you attended our concerts, you might have already seen him filling in on sound checks or working on our merch booth. Nekroza just released their debut album on InsArt Records – you can check them out and show them your support.

With our line-up complete, we will continue working on our new record and we hope we’ll have some news in that regard soon. In a couple of weeks, we’ll have our first concert with the new line-up and we can’t wait to present you the New Old Night.«

Deathcorovci Chelsea Grin sporočajo, da je vrzel na bobnarskem stolčku zapolnil Josh Miller. Zasedba se je pred kratkim razšla z bobnarjem Pablom Viverosom in tako je nov polnopravni član zasedbe postal Josh. Izjava banda:

»We hope everyone has been doing well; we have some updates. We have parted ways with our fill-in drummer, Nathan Pearson. We sincerely value his friendship, as well as his devotion to furthering his craft and bringing his all to the stage. We truly look forward to watching his drumming career continue to blossom and advance, and value his time with us.

Furthermore, the band and Pablo have mutually agreed to separate. Pablo is one of our oldest friends, the life of the party, a masterful player, and a powerful creative. After Pablo spent some years away from the band, we all came together and realized that personal visions had diverged through time. We will always wish the very best for him, and seriously value all that he brought not only to the band, but to our lives. Nothing but tremendous love for him, always. We also encourage everyone to show support for him, Jaek and Alex’s new band, Ameonna.

Moving forward, we are proud and excited to announce that Josh Miller will be joining Chelsea Grin. It goes without saying that the future is bright – you will hear it in our music and witness it in our performances.

We keep very much to ourselves at this stage in our lives, but when we check in we want each of you to know that you are deeply and sincerely valued – we are so grateful for the opportunity to do what we love. We cannot wait to bring more of our vision to you all. Thank you for the years of support and love, and we will see you on our current tour supporting Fit For A King.«

Kot smo januarja poročali, je v 78. letu starosti umrl Tony Clarkin, kitarist, ustanovitelj britanskih veteranov Magnum. Že takrat se je šušljalo, da to pomeni tudi konec za zasedbo, ki je to zdaj tudi uradno potrdila. Izjava vokalista Boba Catleyja:

»Hello, everybody. Bob here. All right. I wish I didn't have to tell you this, but I really can't carry on with Tony not here anymore. Please forgive me, and I hope you can understand how I feel. I've been thinking about it a lot lately.
Since we lost Tone, we lost our guiding light, the magnum force behind the band, our songwriter, our producer, our guitar player. He was everything to the band. He was everything to me. For the last 50 years, we never went anywhere without each other. On tour, in the studio, I was at his side constantly, working on stuff with him. I had a wonderful life with Tony. But now it's all too much for me, people. I can't carry on without Tony.
I may pop up in some other shape or form in the near future – you never know – but I can't keep going on like this. It's far too sad; it's all too sad.
So, I hope you understand. You've been fantastic – the best audience ever. You kept this band going year after year, album after album, and we thank you for that.
So, be good. Keep Tony's music in your heart always. I know I will. I will always carry MAGNUM inside me. And I will always have Tony Clarkin beside me wherever I go.
I love you. You've been brilliant. But it's time for me to bow out now. It's my last curtain call, okay? I'll see you sometime. Be good. Cheers. Bye-bye.«

Kanadski folk/black metal band SIG:AR:TYR po večletnem zatišju predstavlja svež material. Tukaj lahko prisluhnete novi skladbi Ascending the Stellar Throne s prihajajočega albuma Citadel of Stars, ki ga bo 31. maja izdala založba Hammerheart Records. Album obsega te naslove:

Awaiting the Last Dawn
Beyond the Stars Unknown
The Blood that Came Before You
Citadel of Stars
Ascending the Stellar Throne
I Sail on, Eternal
Who Will Guide Me Now
From the Land of the North
Where the Sun Never Sets

Ukrajinski groove death metalci Arhat so napovedali Secrets of Ancient Gods, svoj drugi album. Ta bo izšel 31. maja in prinesel deset komadov:

Intro
Abyss of Flame
Karnak
Arcana XVI
Nasha khoda nevpynna
Symbols (feat. Oleksii Syrota from Voracity)
Path Eternal
Wheel of Fate
The Great Unknown (feat. Dmytro Moskalenko from Violateress)
Shlyah do prozrinnya

Angleški death thrash metalci Apollyon Rising bodo 5. aprila izdali EP Prepare For War, za katerega so posneli tudi video.

Six Feet Under bodo 10. maja pri Metal Blade Records izdali že 18. studijski album Killing for Revenge. Spodaj že lahko prisluhnete naslovnemu komadu Know-Nothing Ingrate.

Brazilski death thrash metalci Oath of Persistence so objavili video za komad At the Gates of R'lyeh. Komad najdete na prvencu iz letošnjega leta Fear of the Unknown, ki je izšel pri BC Noise Records.

Lombardijski black/death metal band Hadit, ki se mu je lani pridružil Gabriele Gramaglia (Cosmic Putrefaction, Turris Eburnea, Vertebra Atlantis, The Clearing Path), predstavlja svež komad Screaming from the Throat of a Reversed Light Being z drugega albuma Metaphysical Engines Approaching the Event Horizon. Ta bo izšel 15. marca pri založbi I, Voidhanger Records, prinaša pa te komade:

Becoming the Light Eternally Driving on the Photon Sphere
Interstellar Medium's Rhapsody
Three Ways of Death After Gravitational Collapse
Screaming from the Throat of a Reversed Light Being
Find Your Death, Cosmic Wreckage
Blood and Gods Know Where Weakness Is
The Eternals' Dream Out of Time and Frames
Del tramonto sul nulla, dove fuoco diventa Cielo

Švedski multiinstrumentalist Per Wiberg je objavil nov single Follow the Unknown s prihajajočega studijskega albuma The Serpent's Here. Ta bo izšel 15. marca pri Despotz Records.

Ameriški dark metalci Grey Skies Fallen so v obliki animiranega videospota razkrili pesem Cracks in Time, drugi single s prihajajočega ploščka Molded by Broken Hands. Seznam pesmi:

A Twisted Place in Time
Molded by Broken Hands
No Place for Sorrow
I Can Hear Your Voice
Cracks in Time
Save Us
Knowing That You’re There

Lansko leto je enočlanska black metal zasedba Blackbraid, ki svojo inspiracijo išče v zgodbah ameriških staroselcev, izdala album Blackbraid II. Po krajšem premoru pa zdaj idejni vodja Sgah’gahsowáh sporoča, da je že začel delo z novim albumom, ki bo nosil ime Blackbraid III. Podrobnosti za zdaj še ostajajo skrivnost. Celotno izjavo Sgah’gahsowáha pa lahko preberete spodaj:

»I realize it has been several weeks since I posted on this account which is unusual for me. Rest assured the silence is a temporary but necessary one. The solitude of winter has always been an integral part of my writing and this year is no different.

That being said it should not surprise you that I have recently begun work on a third full length, Blackbraid III. The details of this release are still largely unknown and there is much work to be done in the coming months, just know that my lack of social media presence during the writing process is a necessary one.

As the winter wanes on I will make more updates on the new album as the process progresses. As always, thank you all for your endless support, I promise this is only the beginning.«

Bay Area hardcore/thrash/groove metalci Almost Dead so izdali Destruction is All We Know, svoj šesti dolgometražni album, in nov besedilni video, in sicer za pesem Agent of Chaos s tega albuma.

Nemška zasedba Paradox se vrača z napovedjo novega albuma Mysterium. Album naj bi izšel še letos pri založbi AFM Records, točen datum izida pa še ni znan. Spodaj pa si lahko preberete izjavo Charlyja Steinhauerja:

»Friends and fans,
I had a dream. I wanted to start together with AXEL BLAHA, with whom I founded PARADOX in 1981, and end together again at some point. Unfortunately, that is no longer possible because he has said goodbye to this world.
In all these years, AXEL was the only musician who worked with me the way you have to, to achieve a goal. We never danced around at multiple weddings and were always loyal to one band. PARADOX! This was the only way the two classics “PRODUCT OF IMAGINATION” and “HERESY” were possible.
I miss him very much and it is very difficult for me to move on without him, but anyone who knows me knows that giving up is not an option for me.
Not even after 43 years and that's why I can tell you, that I have composed a new PARADOX album, which will hopefully be released worldwide this year via AFM RECORDS. The album will be called “MYSTERIUM” and will contain all the trademarks a Paradox fan wants.
The special thing about “MYSTERIUM” is that I composed all the songs and played all the instruments myself, because I will never again work with project-hungry musician whores who play a few notes on an album but otherwise have nothing to do with PARADOX, or none maintain contact with his colleagues. Unfortunately, this runs like a common thread through the entire career and is the main reason why PARADOX was never able to really get off the ground. To do this you need musicians who work together and pursue a common goal.
It should also be a warning to all young musicians and new bands who want to achieve something with their band. You can find out more about this in the numerous interviews for the new album. You should definitely read this!
I will also be responsible for the mix and the entire production.
The lyrics are written by ACHIM “DAXX” HOEMERLEIN (ex-Vendetta), who also wrote the lyrics for “TALES OF THE WEIRD” and “PANGEA”.
TRAVIS SMITH (Opeth/Nevermore etc) is currently working on the artwork.
“MYSTERIUM” is a very heavy album and contains 10 songs with a playing time of 51 minutes. Dedicated to AXEL BLAHA, my best friend and co-founder of PARADOX!
Cheerz!
Charly«

Black metal dvojec Inquisition se naslednje leto vrača z novim dolgometražcem. Album z naslovom Veneration Of Medieval Mysticism And Cosmological Violence naj bi izšel 26. januarja in bo zajemal naslednje komade:

Witchcraft Within A Gothic Tomb
Crown Of Light And Constellations
A Hidden Ceremony Of Blood And Flesh
Force Of Death Is The Force Of Life
Memories Within An Empty Castle In Ruins
Primordial Philosophy And Pure Spirit
Infinity Is The Aeon of Satan
Pathway Of Light Is A Pathway To Fire
Light Of My Dark Essence
Secrets From The Wizard Forest Of Forbidden Knowledge
Sorcery Through Crystal Eyes In Search Of The Devil
Veneration Of Medieval Mysticism And Cosmological Violence
Lord Of Absolute Darkness And Infinite Light