ANVIL’s 2023 U.S. tour dates with MIDNITE HELLION:
Apr. 06 – Albany, NY @ Empire Live Apr. 07 – Garwood, NJ @ Crossroads Apr. 08 – Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus Bar Apr. 13 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar Apr. 14 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall Apr. 15 – Wilmington, NC @ Reggie’s 42nd St. Tavern Apr. 16 – West Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern Apr. 20 – Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits Apr. 21 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Respectable Street Apr. 22 – Orlando, FL @ The Conduit Apr. 23 – Gainesville, FL @ Loosey’s Apr. 27 – Houston, TX @ Secret Group Apr. 28 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada Apr. 29 – Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live May 04 – Tulsa, OK @ The Vanguard May 05 – Wichita, KS @ Barleycorn’s May 06 – Des Moines, IA @ Lefty’s Live Music May 07 – Madison, WI @ Crucible May 11 – St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag May 12 – Cincinnati, OH @ Legends Bar & Venue May 13 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
VIDEOS: Check out ‘Ghost Shadow’ video HERE Check out ‘Take A Lesson’ video HERE Check out ‘Legal At Last’ video HERE
Originally formed in 1984, Old school Florida Death Metal Legends HELLWITCH are back with their unique brand of highly energetic, incisive, Thrashing Death Metal. The band has always sounded insanely catchy, always balancing technicality to a great measure, HELLWITCH have drafted some genuine classic songs over the years and their new album is a culmination of all such works and experience.
Band leader Pat Ranieri comments about the artwork for ‘Annihilational Intercention’: ” The cover of “Annihilational Intercention” is what is coming in the future of mankind on this wretched planet. The Judge is in the final stages of administering punishment to our race, eradicating every last being. Having biologically and supernaturally evolved to possess otherworldly powers, his psychic assault is manifested in spears of burning energy and levitational force. His apocalyptic “Horsemen” look on with hatred, aiding the cause. The poisoned, decimated world that surrounds tells the tale of man left to his own devices.”
HELLWITCH’s new album ‘Annihilational Intercention’ will be released digitally on the 2nd of June , and physically on the 30th of June 2023. The band will also release a new video for the song ‘Delegated Disruption’ on April 19. More details shortly.
HELLWITCH line up: Pat Ranieri:Guitars, Vocals J.P. Brown:Guitars Brian Wilson:Drums
HELLWITCH tour dates (to be updated) Monday, June 5 The Milestone Club, Charlotte NC Tuesday, June 6 Powers BMX Shop, Richmond VA Wednesday, June 7 The Kennel at West York Inn, York PA Thursday, June 8 The Fire, Philadelphia PA Friday, June 9 Pie Shop, Washington DC Saturday, June 10 Lurking Class Skate Shop, Salisbury MD Sunday, June 11 Saint Vitus Bar, Brooklyn NY November 3/4/5 Mass Destruction fest ,the Loft, Atlanta
w/ RAZOR, WHIPLASH, SKULL FIST, WARSENAL, DROWNING IN BLOOD
This coming May 12th, Montreal, QC will be host to this city’s first-ever Piranha Pit Fest presented by Loudtrax, the one-stop online shop for everything swag from the biggest names in Loud Music.
Piranha Pit Fest will feature headliners RAZOR, the Canadian thrash legends who have been recognized as one of the country’s pioneers of the metal genre. RAZOR released their ninth studio album Cycle of Contempt this past September, making it their first album in 25 years. RAZOR will also be supported by another legendary thrash band, New Jersey’s WHIPLASH, one of the first American East Coast thrash metal bands of the 1980s to inspire many who followed in their footsteps. Also joining the lineup is the 2023 Juno nominated (Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year) and international tour de force, Toronto’s high-flying heavy metal shredders SKULL FIST along with local Montreal moshers Warsenal and Drowning In Blood.
Piranha Pit Fest will be held at Piranha Bar 680 Sainte-Catherine St W, one of the city’s metal strongholds for extreme music events.
Detroit (MI) – Melodic Power Thrashers AMONG THESE ASHES have revealed the artwork for forthcoming single “The Enemy In I.” Jayson Cessna of Prosthetic Records artists, Astralborne, is responsible for the visual stunner!
“The Enemy In I” will be released on April 21, packaged with b-side track “Sirens,” a cover of the Savatagegem. A lyric video for “Sirens” is available now at youtu.be/WQe52VAHb5Y!
Regarding “Sirens,” the band had this to say: “Among These Ashes pays homage to one of the best bands to ever do it, Savatage, with a cover of the band’s classic song, Sirens. This cover is deliberately made with ATA sonic trademarks, rather than being a carbon copy of the original. Thank you Savatage for being a continuous source of inspiration.
The band released the following statement concerning the forthcoming single package:
“A year after releasing our debut album, Dominion Enthroned, we return with our newest track, The Enemy in I. This track lyrically chronicles the woes of self-destruction. We worship at the altar of those who paved this musical path for us, and in that spirit, we’ve included a cover of a Savatageclassic, Sirens, as a B-side track to this release. Both tracks display our signature attributes with pummeling aggression contrasted by thematic melodies and harmony. We cannot wait to bring these cacophonous offerings to the ravenous metal hordes.”
In other news, the band recently released a lyric video for a reworked version of “A Veil of Black,” a track from Dominion Enthroned, at youtu.be/Dt8CsNn7QdQ.
The new version of “A Veil of Black” features Brooke Rousseau of Lady Luna and the Devil on vocals with AMONG THESE ASHES lead vocalist, JP Abboud. The video was created by Ross Morgan. The song is included as a bonus track on Alone Records’ CD reissue of DominionEnthroned, which is available to purchase at this location.
Dominion Enthroned, which was released in early 2022, is available to stream in its entirety at the following locations:
BIO: Among These Ashes is a melodic power/thrash metal band hailing from Detroit, MI. The central focus of this band is creating stellar, highly-memorable metal songs. The band’s sound is crushingly heavy and punctuated by cerebral arrangements, thought-provoking lyrics, and dynamic shifts in tempo and aggression. The band’s debut musical offering, Dominion Enthroned, is a conceptual tour de force inspired by modern societal parallels and struggles.
I went with my buddy Troy to see Cro-Mags and Ringworm, down in Covington Kentucky, at Madison Live!, on March 17, 2023. Both of these bands have been on my bucket list for many years. Suffice to say I had an amazing time seeing and hearing these bands, up close!
The line-up for Cro-Mags has changed over the years; however, the legendary band founder Harley Flanagan has once again proved to his fans he is still at his very best in performing live. With a mixed crowd of both younger and older fans, the Hardcore stage diving and insane pit of yesteryear was non-existent; save for a pit that was more congenial than over aggressive.
Photo Credit: Stone/Metal Odyssey
Two or three scuffles broke out in the crowd and Harley Flanagan was very quick to diffuse the scuffles. Harley made it clear his lack of tolerance for fighting. Harley also let his feelings be known for unity, brotherhood and being grateful for your loved ones. I couldn’t agree more. There were parents that took their little kids to this show. As for the music, I couldn’t stop moving; with my cane and screwed up knees. We’ve all gotten older and Harley doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. He’s forever immortalized in Metal and Hardcore history.
Photo Credit: Stone/Metal OdysseyPhoto credit: Stone/Metal Odyssey – above: Human Furnace of Ringworm
Cleveland Ohio’s Ringworm didn’t hold back nothing. They blazed and thundered through their set of songs like killer hornets. Human Furnace led his band like the Metal titan he is, vocally menacing. Opening for Cro-Mags, Ringworm set the Metal vibe on course. I always have more energy in the first half of any concert; thus I went into the pit with my cane and enjoyed every second of it. My fellow Metal brethren joined me in the pit, to cheer me on and make certain I didn’t fall down. It was more a nostalgic ceremony of yesteryear than anything else. I was so grateful to the brother/sisterhood that graciously joined me in celebration. My knees hurt so bad out there and the love and support I received from that Metal gathering brought me close to tears. I’ll never forget that night. God Bless them all and both bands. – Stone
Photo Credit: Stone/Metal OfysseyHuman Furnace and me!
West coast metal veterans Metal Church will release their 13thstudio album, Congregation of Annihilation, on May 26th via Rat Pak Records (America) and Reaper Entertainment (Europe). The new album marks the first release since the tragic death of legendary front man Mike Howe who passed in July of 2021. It also marks the first album with new vocalist Marc Lopes (Ross the Boss / Let Us Prey) who came on board in the summer of 2022 and features the current lineup of founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, guitarist Rick Van Zandt, bassist Steve Unger and drummer Stet Howland. The new songs are a return to the band’s musical roots harkening back to the vibes of the self-titled first album and The Dark.
Of the album Kurdt Vanderhoof comments: “This new album is starting a new chapter in the Metal Church legacy. I really love this album. It’s a fresh approach for us in one way, but also a return to the very beginnings of Metal Church as part of the New American Thrash Metal movement. This record contains some of the most aggressive songs we have recorded. I hope the fans will like it as much as we do.”
Marc Lopes comments, “I am beyond honored to be part of carrying on this legacy into a new era of Metal Church. Working with Kurdt and a band that was a huge influence of mine growing up was a surreal experience to say the least. For me there was no point in trying to imitate what was already done to perfection. So, with respect to the past, we moved forward to a new chapter and here we are!”
Congregation of Annihilationfeatures nine all new tracks from Metal Church and continues to build upon their iconic sound the band established over three decades ago. From the first guitar riff of album opener “Another Judgement Day” through the driving outro of album closer “Salvation,” it is clear Metal Church is back and better than ever. “Pick A God and Prey”, “Children of the Lie”, “Congregation of Annihilation” and “These Violent Thrills” showcase the sonically charged songwriting that made the early Metal Church albums such fan favorites.
Haunting musical opuses “Me the Nothing” and “Making Monsters” each puts the musicianship that Metal Church was known for on full display in 2023. Infused with intelligent lyrical content, thundering guitar riffs, and Marc’s aggressive soaring vocals, Congregation of Annihilation furthers the bands sonic evolution up to the next level and is guaranteed to enthrall metal music fans around the world.
Track List:
(01) Another Judgement Day (02) Congregation of Annihilation (03) Pick A God and Prey (04) Children of the Lie (05) Me the Nothing (06) Making Monsters (07) Say a Prayer with 7 Bullets (08) These Violent Thrills (09) All That We Destroy (10) My Favorite Sin (bonus track) (11) Salvation (bonus track)
VIO-LENCE 2023 tour lineup; Photo by Stephanie Cabral
VIO-LENCE is gearing up for a series of live shows in 2023 that will include the band’s new touring lineup. That lineup features Sean Killian on vocals, Christian Olde Wolbers on bass, Miles Dimitri Baker (Interloper) on guitar, Ira Black on guitar, and Adrian Aguilar (Exmortus) on drums.
While Phil Demmel remains a member of the band, his personal and professional schedule will limit his touring with VIO-LENCE to select festival appearances.
VIO-LENCE kicks things off on March 23rd in Houston, Texas where the band will be playing Hell’s Heroes Pre-Party at the White Oak Music Hall followed by a performance at the highly anticipated Milwaukee Metal Fest on May 26th. The band will head to Europe for an appearance at Motocultor Festival in Carhaix, France on August 18th followed by a series of performances on the Headbangers Boat going from Miami, Florida to Nassau, Bahamas October 31st through November 4th. Stay tuned for more dates and festivals to be announced soon.
VIO-LENCE: 3/23/2023 Hell’s Heroes Pre-Party Show – Houston, TX 5/26/2023 Milwaukee Metal Fest – Milwaukee, WI 8/18/2023 Motocultor Festival – Carhaix, FR 10/31/2023 – 11/04/2023 Headbangers Boat – Miami, FL/Nassau, BS
Formed in 1985, Oakland thrashers VIO-LENCE helped define and refine what came to be known as the Bay Area sound, dropping three seminal albums before splitting in 1993. Leaving behind a heady legacy, they briefly reformed a handful of times in the intervening years before becoming a full-time band once more in 2019. After playing a string of successful shows, the quintet delivered Let The World Burn in 2022, a five-song EP showcasing their first new material in twenty-nine years. Delivering on the classic VIO-LENCE sound, Let The World Burn was tracked in Trident Studios in Pacheco, California by Juan Urteaga (Machine Head, Exodus), mixed by Tue Madsen (Dark Tranquillity, Heaven Shall Burn), and mastered by Ted Jensen (Alice In Chains, Death Angel).
South Carolina’s Narcotic Wasteland founded by guitarist Dallas Toler-Wade announces it will be performing at this year’s Denver DeathFest on April 20th along with Loud As Hell Festival in Canada in August among many others slated for this summer. (dates listed below).
“We are very excited about 2023! We have upcoming shows and new music on the way! We are ready to play some metal!” adds Toler-Wade.
2023 is going to be an exciting year for Narcotic Wasteland, not only is the band hitting the road they are also in the works of releasing their third yet to be titled album via Mega Force Records. So far they have unleashed three singles “Morality and the Wasp”, “The Best Times Have Passed” and “Victims of the Algorithm” to give fans a taste of their forthcoming mosh pit of terror. For their third full-length, the band worked once again with engineer, and producer Erik Schultek who produced the band’s self-titled debut album. The band’s 2023 album will be the follow-up to their sophomore full-length 2017’s “Delirium Tremens”.
Inspired mostly by thrash metal and classic heavy metal, Narcotic Wasteland is becoming more thrash and speed and less death metal and getting better at writing material that is meaningful and powerful. They are recommended for fans of Vader, Death, The Crown, Autopsy, Pestilence, and Nile.
Show Dates: April 20 – The King Room – Denver, CO – Denver DeathFest June 22 – Rubber Gloves – Denton, TX June 23 – The Concert North – Houston, TX June 24 – The Rail Club – Forth Worth, TX June 25 – Boozerz Rock Club – Corpus Christi, TX Aug 5 – Dinosaur Stampede Grounds – Drumheller, AB – Loud As Hell Festival Aug 12 – Zymurgy Brewing – Menomonie, WI – Zymurderfest
L-R: Tommy Wolffe (Bass. Vocals), Bobby Deuce (Guitar), Angus Pike (Drums) Photo Credit: Megan Kay
A blend of hard rock, punk, and metal, Deadwolff set themselves apart from other bands with their take on the New Wave of Heavy Rock and Roll. Recommended for fans of Judas Priest, Motorhead, and W.A.S.P., Deadwolff is a revival of foot-tapping, beer-drinking, headbanging tunes, and more. They are touring across the United States and Canada this May and June in support of their forthcoming debut full-length “Heavy Rock N’ Roll” due out on March 31st via Golden Robot Records.
May 8 – Outer Limits Lounge – Hamtramck, MI 9 – Liars Club – Chicago, IL 11 – Whittier – Tulsa, OK 12 – Double Wide – Dallas, TX 13 – Black Magic Social Club – Houston, TX 14 – Valhalla Tavern – Austin. TX 15 – Faust Tavern – San Antonio, TX 17 – The Edge – Tuscon, AZ 18 – The Blooze Bar – Pheonix, AZ 19 – Tower Bar – San Diego, CA 20 – Red Dwarf – Las Vegas, NV 23 – Destructive Warehouse – Fresno, CA 24 – The Knockout – San Francisco, CA 25 – On the y- Sacramento, CA 26 – Shea’s Tavern – Reno, NV 27 – Knucklehead – Los Angeles, CA 30 – High Water Mark – Portland, OR 31 – The Cherry Pit – Seattle, WA
June 1 – Sunny Chibas – Squamish, BC 2 – The Cambie – Vancouver, BC 3 – Kami Inn – Kamloops, BC 4 – Canmore Hotel – Canmore, AB 6 – The Palamind – Calgary, AB 7 – Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB 9 – Bulldog – Winnipeg, MB 10 – Atmos – Thunder Bay, ON
Crossover thrash titans TOXIC HOLOCAUST will return to the road this Summer on a month-long US co-headlining tour with Havok! The journey begins July 7th in Denver, Colorado and runs through August 11th in Lincoln, Nebraska. Support will be provided by Hammerhedd and MNRK Heavy labelmates, I Am.
Comments TOXIC HOLOCAUST mastermind Joel Grind, “We are stoked to be hitting the road this Summer with Havok. We are all looking forward to playing all over the country…finally. It feels like it’s been forever since we hit these places, but now we are locked and loaded and ready to bring a night of thrash to the masses!”
Venue presales begin Thursday, March 16th at 10:00am local time. General on sale date is Friday, March 17th at 10:00am local time. See all confirmed dates below.
TOXIC HOLOCAUST w/ Havok, I Am, Hammerhedd: 7/07/2023 Summit – Denver, CO 7/08/2023 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT 7/10/2023 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 7/11/2023 Dante’s – Portland, OR 7/13/2023 Cornerstone – Berkley, CA 7/14/2023 Goldfield – Roseville, CA 7/15/2023 The Regent – Los Angeles, CA 7/16/2023 Observatory – Santa Ana, CA 7/18/2023 Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ 7/19/2023 Rockhouse Bar & Grill – El Paso, TX 7/20/2023 Jake’s Backroom – Lubbock, TX 7/21/2023 The Echo Lounge & Music Hall – Dallas, TX 7/22/2023 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX 7/23/2023 Warehouse Live – Houston, TX 7/24/2023 House Of Blues – New Orleans, LA 7/26/2023 Gramps – Miami, FL 7/28/2023 Masquerade (Hell) – Atlanta, GA 7/29/2023 The Basement East – Nashville, TN 7/30/2023 Hanger 1819 – Greensboro, NC 7/31/2023 Canal Club – Richmond, VA 8/01/2023 Warehouse On Watts – Philadelphia, PA 8/02/2023 Soundstage – Baltimore, MD 8/03/2023 Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY 8/04/2023 Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA 8/05/2023 The Monarch – Brooklyn, NY 8/07/2023 The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH 8/08/2023 The Shelter – Detroit, MI 8/09/2023 Reggies Rock Club – Chicago, IL 8/10/2023 Fine Line Music Hall – St. Paul, MN 8/11/2023 The Royal – Lincoln, NE
TOXIC HOLOCAUST’s most recent studio album, Primal Future: 2019, is out now on MNRK Heavy. A dystopian technological takeover drives the album thematically, but the passionately delivered music is vintage TOXIC HOLOCAUST, taking things all the way back to the band’s early origins.
TOXIC HOLOCAUST began kicking out the corrosive jams in basements and bedrooms over twenty years ago, building a punishing legacy of mutant thrash and filthy street punk that’s outlasted the heydays of the genres that spawned them; founder Joel Grind, the headband-wearing headbanger whose dedication to the one-man-band ethos gives the late Quorthon a run for his money, melting down the greatest punk metal crossover riff collection imaginable into nuclear ooze. With each successive release, Grind repurposes the most visceral strengths of speed, thrash, and punk through his own unique vision, making for new metal anthems that consistently reignite a circle-pitting feeding frenzy in the scene.
TOXIC HOLOCAUST’s Primal Future: 2019 is available on CD, digital, and vinyl formats. Preview and purchase the record at THIS LOCATION.
Camping & Extreme Music In Alberta’s Badlands – August 4th – 6th, 2023
Alberta, Canada’s LOUD AS HELL is ready to unveil its most stacked lineup to date with its 2023 edition featuring JUNGLE ROT, NARCOTIC WASTELAND, INCITE, NECRONOMICON, THE CONVALESCENCE, ARRIVAL OF AUTUMN and lots more (full lineup listed below).
Being held from August 4th to 6th at the Dinosaur Downs Stampede Grounds in Drumheller, AB, this year’s festivities see the return of American and Mexican bands joining the lineup along with artists from across Canada performing for the three-day open-air event.
Highlights for this year’s lineup witness the return of groovy death metal AmericansJUNGLE ROT to Canadian soil to headline the closing night on August 6th in support of their latest album “A Call to Arms” released last year on Unique Leader Records.
Toledo, OH’s THE CONVALESCENCE is one of the USA’s unstoppable tour de force, touring Europe in 2022 with Chelsea Grin, and Carnifex plus an upcoming tour in Japan in 2023 with Exhumed and Defiled along with their latest single “No Survivors” ft. Scott Ian Lewis of Carnifex that has fans demanding more and more.
North Carolina’s Narcotic Wasteland’s (founded by ex-Nile guitarist Dallas Toler-Wade) festival appearance comes as part of the band’s first cross-Canada tour as they will be supporting their forthcoming third studio album in 2023 on Mega Force Records.
Phoenix, AZ’s INCITE, now close to 20 years into a career where everything was earned and nothing was taken for granted, the band bridges the gap between multiple crowds across various metal sub-genres. As renegade disciples of trailblazing architects like Pantera, Slayer, Sepultura, and Machine Head, INCITE raise the torch for trend-killing and hipster-smashing metal. The band’s fifth album, Built to Destroy released in 2019 (Minus Head Records), is a visceral, urgent, voracious distillation of modern metal, with reverence for the past, produced by Steve Evetts (The Dillinger Escape Plan, Suicide Silence) and mastered by Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Hatebreed).
One of Canada’s longest-running blackened death metal bands hailing from Montreal, Quebec, NECRONOMICON‘s career spans over 30 years since it was first formed in 1988 by founding guitarist and singer Rob “The Witch” in the deep, northern part of Quebec’s Fjord of Saguenay. Since then, the band has carefully released each full-length without haste, allowing them to perfect every nuance before unleashing their sonic assaults upon the masses.
Canadian metalcore titans, ARRIVAL OF AUTUMN, hailing from Grande Prairie, AB, are LOUD AS HELL alumni and return to co-headline opening night on August 4th in support of their new album “Kingdom Undone” being released on Nuclear Blast this coming May.
LOUD AS HELL 2023 LINEUP: Thursday, August 3rd – Kick Off Party EYE OF HORUS SKEPSIS BALROGATH KILL WITCH Friday, August 4th INCITE ARRIVAL OF AUTUMN OSYRON LOST NEBULA WHORRIFY SILENT LINE ASHES OF YGGDRASIL Saturday, August 5th NARCOTIC WASTELAND NECRONOMICON KYLE PULLAN UNTIMELY DEMISE HAZZARDOUS MATERIAL (Burlesque) GORGATRON JULIET RUIN VAPOR KING DYLAN ENVEILED SOL RUNNER SIONIS NECHT DIE ANOTHER DAY HOOKER SPIT Sunday, August 6th JUNGLE ROT THE CONVALESCENCE KYLE PULLAN POUND HAZZARDOUS MATERIAL (Burlesque) WORMWITCH W.O.R. LEGACY ROXXIE COTTON WITCHMAYNE EYES OF PERDITION NOMAD FALL OF EARTH VOLT BRAIN STEM
Blake Ibanez of Power Trip returns with a new band, FUGITIVE, and their Maniac debut EP – his first output since the untimely passing of legendary Power Trip vocalist Riley Gale – delivering the aggressive pit detonation thrash he’s known for in Power Trip with an even rawer and looser ferocity.
Joined by Seth Gilmore (Skourge), Lincoln Mullins (Creeping Death), Victor Gutierrez, and Andy Messer, Ibanez and crew cohere in intensely violent crossover fashion with FUGITIVE; a product of long earned experience in the studio and on the stage. A savage death metal vocal style, like Power Trip passed through an Obituary meatgrinder, solidifies Maniac with the heaviness of a head hitting concrete. A short, sharp, shock of an EP, Maniac is a fierce introduction across its seventeen-minute runtime to a future that FUGITIVE is just beginning to write and a reminder that Texas heat remains a steadily potent force in underground metal and hardcore. The record features four original tracks, with a cover of the legendary Bathory’s “Raise The Dead” rounding out the succinctly serrated five-track debut.
Maniac was produced by Blake Ibanez, was engineered and mixed by Rubio N. with the drums engineered by Drew LeClair and additional drum production by Slade Williams, and mastered by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air. The cover art was handled by Jack Bruce with additional art assistance by Erick Cruz, the logo by Daniel Porta, and photography by Will Mecca and Sydney Lane. This is a must-hear release for fans of Power Trip, Enforced, Obituary, Iron Age, and Creeping Death.
Following its surprise digital release and subsequent cassette release last year, 20 Buck Spin now presents Maniac on 12” vinyl and MCD, set for worldwide release on April 28th. Find preorders HERE.
Maniac – Track Listing:
The Javelin
Maniac
Hell’s Half Acre
Neutralized
Raise The Dead (Bathory cover)
FUGITIVE has been taking their ripping anthems to audiences live over the past year, and is booking new tour dates for this year. March 17th sees them taking part in the mighty LDB fest in Louisville alongside Terror, No Pressure, Knocked Loose, Drug Church, and many more over the multi-day fest. March 23rd, they play the Hell’s Heroes V Preparty in Houston with Triumph Of Death, Vio-lence, Spectral Wound, Necrofier, and more. Watch for additional dates and tour announcements to post throughout the months ahead.
Formidable Thrash Metal pioneers, OVERKILL, will be releasing their 20th studio album, Scorched, via Nuclear Blast Records on April 14th. This is phenomenal Metal news! Long live OVERKILL!!
Years ago, I posted my “Metal Pick Of the Day“ on a frequent schedule. I’ve decided to return with writing for this fun topic again. I’ve chosen the first live album from Slayer, Live Undead, as my Metal Pick Of The Day for February 25th.
Live Undead was released back in 1984, via Metal Blade Records. I was a senior in high school back in 1984. Unreal, I know. I was a first-class smartass back in 1984; I still am, only not first-class. Anyhow, I originally bought Live Undead on cassette. Decades later, I sold that cassette with other vintage 80s Metal cassettes. Ouch. Long story short, I needed the money.
Fast forward to January 2023 and I purchased Live Undead on CD. Finally. I was so elated to own this slice of Slayer history once again! The music critics that have written lousy reviews over the years for Live Undead can simply kiss my ass. The controversy over the years regarding if a true live audience was present for this recording means donkey shit to me. I. Don’t. Care.
Listening to Live Undead is equal to comfort food for me. The early years of Slayer songs brings back such good memories. This album is raw, vicious and showcases how Thrash is supposed to sound like then and even now. An undisputed live Thrash Metal classic is this album, in my opinion. My favorite song on LiveUndead is The Antichrist. Hell, this entire album is an enduring slice of Metal history. Metal be thy name. – Stone.
SLAYER – Tom Araya – lead vocals and bass ~ Jeff Hanneman – guitarist ~ Kerry King – guitarist ~ Dave Lombardo – drums
Legendary multinational thrash metallers EXUMER will return to US stages this Spring for four special performances from April 13th through April 16th. The North American Hostilities 2023 run includes shows in Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Houston, and finally Lombard, Illinois where the band will play Metal Threat Fest. Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
EXUMER – North American Hostilities 2023: 4/13/2023 Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA 4/14/2023 Saint Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY 4/15/2023 The White Swan – Houston, TX 4/16/2023 Metal Threat Fest @ Brauer House – Lombard, IL
EXUMER released their fifth full-length, Hostile Defiance, via Metal Blade Records in 2019. The album hit the German album charts on position 42, marking the highest chart entry in the band’s storied history. Hostile Defiance is exactly what its title suggests: a forty-two-minute full-on attack. The thrash faction hold nothing back as they unleash hell as only they can, yet with more variety and dynamics than ever before.
Detroit (MI) – Melodic Power Thrashers AMONG THESE ASHES will release their new single “The Enemy in I” on April 21, packaged with b-side track “Sirens,” a cover of the Savatage classic. Artwork for the new single will be revealed on social media in a series of fragments March 22-27, culminating in the full reveal on March 28, along with the release of a lyric video for “Sirens.”
The band released the following statement concerning the forthcoming single package:
“A year after releasing our debut album, Dominion Enthroned, we return with our newest track, The Enemy in I. This track lyrically chronicles the woes of self-destruction. We worship at the altar of those who paved this musical path for us, and in that spirit, we’ve included a cover of a Savatage classic Sirens, as a B-side track to this release. Both tracks display our signature attributes with pummeling aggression contrasted by thematic melodies and harmony. We cannot wait to bring these cacophonous offerings to the ravenous metal hordes.”
In other news, the band just released a lyric video for a reworked version of”A Veil of Black,” a track from Dominion Enthroned, at youtu.be/Dt8CsNn7QdQ.
The new version of “A Veil of Black” features Brooke Rousseau of Lady Luna and the Devil on vocals with AMONG THESE ASHES lead vocalist, JP Abboud. The video was created by Ross Morgan. The song is included as a bonus track on Alone Records’ February 28 CD reissue of Dominion Enthroned. Pre-orders are available at this location.
Dominion Enthroned, which was released in early 2022, is available to stream in its entirety at the following locations:
BIO: Among These Ashes is a melodic power/thrash metal band hailing from Detroit, MI. The central focus of this band is creating stellar, highly-memorable metal songs. The band’s sound is crushingly heavy and punctuated by cerebral arrangements, thought-provoking lyrics, and dynamic shifts in tempo and aggression. The band’s debut musical offering, Dominion Enthroned, is a conceptual tour de force inspired by modern societal parallels and struggles.
For the first time in more than 23 years, Megadeth alumni Marty Friedman will join Megadeth on stage as the special guest for our one-off global livestream from the legendary Budokan Arena in Tokyo, Japan on February 27!
“Marty and I have remained friends over 23 years, since we last played together. However, I hear his music every night, and he still is among the top guitar players I’ve ever heard. This is an amazing treat for the fans, as well as myself. To be honest, I may drift off while listening to Kiko and Marty play together!” -Dave Mustaine
MEGADETH announce ‘They Only Come Out at Night’ – Live at Budokan – A Global Livestream Event on February 27, 2023 + on-demand for 2 days!
Metal icons MEGADETH will perform live at the legendary Budokan arena in Tokyo, Japan for a special global livestream event on 27th February.
Fans will be treated to virtual VIP access to the band pre-show, with an exclusive behind-the-scenes video capturing their trip through Japan. All leading into the band’s first-ever live performance at the world-famous Budokan where they will be performing classic tracks, as well as tracks from their current album, The Sick, The Dying…And The Dead!, including the GRAMMY® nominated single “We’ll Be Back”.
EUROPE… 2023! Most dates on sale now. Poland, Estonia, Sweden & Czech Republic on-sale Friday, 3 February. France on-sale Thursday, 2 February. Tickets & info at megadeth.com/tour
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