Avstralski progresivni metalci Teramaze predstavljajo video za prvi single Standing Ovation s prihajajočega albuma Eli – A Wonderful Fall From Grace, katerega izid je napovedan za 24. maj pri založbi Wells Music.

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.«

Švedsko-kanadski death metalci Darkened bodo 14. junija pri Edged Circle Productions na zgoščenki, vinilu, kaseti in digitalno izdali tretji album Defilers of the Light. Ta prinaša enajst komadov:

Waves of Desolation
Defilers of the Light
Those Who Dwell Below
In Praise of Shadows
Just Close Your Eyes
Echoes of Solitude
On We Slaughter
Dead Inside
Masses of Vain Observance
As Apocalypse Dawns
Final Sanctuary

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.«

Sullen Light of Expired Stars je naslov novega singla progresivnih death metalcev Swelling Repulsion, ki ga boste lahko našli za prihajajočem dolgometražcu Fatally Misguided. Ta izide 7. junija pri Transcending Obscurity Records.

Thomas Eriksen, ki stoji za imenom Mork, je pred kratkim razkril, da se v njem skriva tudi Udåd. Na to ime sliši njegov najnovejši black metal projekt, ki bo z istoimenskim albumom razkril drugo plat Eriksena. Izid je napovedan za 15. marec pri Peaceville Records. Kako zveni Udåd, pa lahko preverite prvi singel Avgudsdyrker, ki ga najdete spodaj.

»It is satisfying to unveil the first track from the first Udåd creation. It was both painful and rewarding to get this out of my being and onto tape. Pure atmospheric darkness straight into your soul. "Avgudsdyrker" was chosen as the first single as it represents the different elements of the album well. Take some minutes out of your everyday life, light a candle, cover the windows, turn off the lights and just take it in.«

Minuli mesec smo poročali, da so italijanski moderni melodični death metalci Ancient Settlers podpisali za Scarlet Records, kjer naj bi maja izšel nov album. Zdaj je band razkril, da bo album izšel 17. maja, nosil naslov Oblivion's Legacy in prinesel deset komadov:

The Circle of Misanthropy
Oblivions Legacy
Stardust Odyssey
Wounded Heart
Subversive
Coven Garden
The Mechanical Threats Paradox
The Last Battle in the Earth
Cosmic Farewell
Redemption

Lloyd Hektoen, bolj poznan pod psevdonimom Mannevond (Koldbrann), se je pridružil švedski black metal zasedbi Craft.

»Today we officially welcome Mannevond as the new lead vocalist of Craft! Mannevond should be a familiar face to most, as he is the devestating voice for our brothers in Koldbrann as well – and we are extremely satisfied that he has agreed to join the chaos and destruction that is Craft. Mannevond will make his live debut with us in July at Metal Theatre Festival in Kalmar and has already begun recording vocals for the new album.

The next era has begun…«

Kanadska heavy metal zasedba Withering Scorn, katere člana sta tudi brata Shawn in Glen Drover, pripravlja material za drugi celovečerec, ki bo nasledil prvenec Prophets Of Demise iz leta 2023. Shawn Drover o novem materialu:

»At this point, this is where we're at. I've got three songs done for drums completed, and we started working on song four today; Glen and I started working on this intro piece to song four, where it's got this whole intro thing and stuff. And so we worked that out. And that's where we're at in terms of music as well. We just started song four. Glen still has a couple of songs to do for keeper guitars and so does Joe for bass. We haven't even approached the lyric process or the singing yet. Once we get far enough ahead, that's when we'll start to tackle that. Once I hear keeper guitars, then I start to assemble lyrics. I need to kind of hear the finished product of certainly the drums and guitars, if not bass as well, so I get inspired to write lyrics. That's kind of how I work with that.«

Italijanski black/death metalci Pyra so minuli petek izdali prvenec Those Who Dwell in the Fire, ki ga lahko naročite tukaj, poslušate pa spodaj.

Italijanski black/death metalci Pyra so minuli teden objavili video za pesem Summit of Existence s prihajajočega prvenca Those Who Dwell in the Fire.

Ameriški tehnični death metalci Replicant so objavili besedilni video za komad Orgasm of Bereavement s tretjega studijskega albuma Infinite Mortality, ki bo izšel 12. aprila pri Transcending Obscurity Records in obsega te naslove:

Acid Mirror
Shrine to the Incomprehensible
Orgasm of Bereavement
Reciprocal Abandonment
SCN9A
Pain Enduring
Nekrotunnel
Dwelling on the Threshold
Planet of Skin

Simfonični black metalci Vesperian Sorrow bodo 26. aprila pri Black Lion Records izdali šesti album Awaken the Greylight. Tracklista:

As the Pillars Were Raised
Antediluvian – Proceeding the Unshaping
An Epistle to the Prime Vivified
Traverse the Vorthonian Passage
A Dire Flight for the Black Fragment
Seek the Last Priestess of Tyyk
They Beheld the Chainbreaker's Crowning Defiance
Who Dwells Whithin the Blight Moon
The Excillion Ontogenesis
Awaken the Greylight

Grški (black) metal velikani Rotting Christ so razkrili, da bo njihov novi album nosil naslov Pro Xristou, da bo izšel 24. maja in bo prinesel dvanajst komadov:

Pro Xristou (Προ Χριστού)
The Apostate
Like Father, Like Son
The Sixth Day
La Lettera Del Diavolo
The Farewell
Pix Lax Dax
Pretty World, Pretty Dies
Yggdrasil
Saoirse
Primal Resurrection (bonus)
All For One (bonus)

Pri snemanju albnuma so kot gostujoči glasbeniki sodelovali:

Amdroniki Skoula – vokal (za pesem La Letra Del Diavolo)
Nikos Kerkiras – klaviature
Christina Alexiou – zbor
Maria Tsironi – zbor
Alexandros Loyziotis – zbor
Vasilis Karatzas – zbor

Tik pred izidom novega ploščka Hell, Fire And Damnation legende Saxon predstavljajo še en single s tega albuma. Za komad There's Something In Roswell je band posnel tudi video, ki ga najdete spodaj, album pa izide ta petek, torej 19. januarja pri Silver Lining Music.