UPCOMING RELEASE DATES
02.08.10 FLESHWROUGHT-’Dementia/Dyslexia’ (CD)
02.08.10 HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE-The Bastard (Reissue CD)
02.08.10 HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE-’The August Engine’ (Reissue CD)
02.08.10 HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE-’The Locust Years’ (Reissue CD)
02.08.10 HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE-’Fields/Church Of Broken Glass’ (Reissue CD)
16.08.10 KING OF ASGARD-’Fi´mbulvintr’ (CD)
16.08.10 RETURN TO EARTH-’Automata’ (CD)
30.08.10 NIGHTFALL-’Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants’ (CD)
13.09.10 DAWN OF ASHES-’Genocide Chapters’ (CD)
13.09.10 SYSTEM DIVIDE-’The Conscious Sedation’ (CD)
13.09.10 THE ABSENCE-’Enemy Unbound’ (CD)
27.09.10 CATARACT-’Killing The Eternal’

Swiss Thrashers CATARACT finish recordings on new album and announce title!
Swiss raging Thrashers CATARACT have finished the recordings of their new album at the Antfarm studios in Aarhus, Denmark under the direction of long-time band producer Tue Madsen.

CATARACT’s new effort will be entitled ‘Killing The Eternal’ and is set for release September 24/27 via Metal Blade Records in Europe!

Comments singer Fedi: “We’re more than happy to announce that after almost one incredible month at the Antfarm studio in Denmark our next full length is finally ready! Recording, mixing and mastering is done and we can’t wait for the record to be released! Once again we had the honor and great pleasure to work with our longtime companion and mastermind Tue Madsen in the beautiful city of Aarhus. We spent awesome and creative days in a small house at the beach near Aarhus, watching football, eating and recording our new songs.
We also shot some pics and small clips of our work at the Antfarm, which you will soon be able to see online on our facebook and myspace site. This is definitely the most heavy, intense and brutal stuff that ever erupted out of Cataract!”

More details on the new CATARACT album ‘Killing The Eternal’ will be announced shortly. There will be a limited edition as well, more info soon!

http://www.cataract.cc
http://www.myspace.com/cataract



FLESHWROUGHT landing page now available; includes music, preorders, and more!
Metal Blade Records has just launched a landing page for experimental death metal act FLESHWROUGHT’s upcoming album Dementia/Dyslexia. The landing page provides metalers with music, specially low-priced offers available for preorder. The first single, Mental Illness, is currently streaming with more tracks to come before the album is released on July 30 / August 2!

Dementia/Dyslexia was finished by June 2009 and was recorded at Navene’s studio, Death Midi Soundlab, in San Francisco. Navene played all of the instruments, did all the tracking, mixing, and editing, with mastering handled by Dustin Miller at Audio Aggregate Recordings in Des Moines Iowa.

About the band: FLESHWROUGHT was born in 2003 when death/grind drummer Navene Kopperweis (former drummer of San Francisco Bay area grind band Animosity and drummer for Animals as Leaders), paired up with Nic Gauthier and made a demo at their friend’s house. A live lineup formed shortly after the demo was recorded and consisted of Nic, Navene and fellow Animosity band mate Chase Fraser. FLESHWROUGHT played a few local shows in Santa Cruz California (where the band called home), one of which was a New Year’s house party with Decrepit Birth. As time went on, the guys jammed less and less due to Animosity’s high frequency tour schedule and Navene moving an hour and a half away to San Francisco. However, Navene’s writing for FLESHWROUGHT never slowed down and in fact his productivity was increasing exponentially as Navene had acquired amazing musical tools such as 7-string guitars, computers, and recording software; all components necessary to make his own album.

While Animosity was on the “Steers and Beers” tour supporting the band’s Blackmarket Activities debut Empires, the band played a show in Phoenix AZ with a local band called JOB FOR A COWBOY. During JFAC’s set Navene thought to himself “dang! That singer is brutal!” All of the guys became great friends and even went on to tour the United States and Europe together. “I knew Jonny Davy was the only guy for my CD,” comments Navene. So at this point, Navene and Jonny decided to join forces began working hard to perfect the band’s debut full-length album titled Dementia/Dyslexia.

Initial tracking for Dementia/Dyslexia began in November 2008. Due to Navene living in San Francisco, Jonny living in Phoenix, and both musicians having very busy schedules, FLESHWROUGHT did not take the typical approach to writing their debut full-length album. “I would send Jonny songs when they were complete on my end. Jonny only sent me back one song with vocals before coming to track the vocals for the entire CD at my studio. I was blown away!” divulges Navene. In terms of the lyrical content on Dementia/Dyslexia there is a very direct theme throughout the entire album.

Vocalist Jonny Davy comments: “Before even thinking about writing anything in particular when it comes to the lyrical content of Dementia/Dyslexia I sat and impatiently waited for every song to be entirely complete. Once done I literally sat and analyzed every note, every beat and every nanosecond of the album until it drove me to the brink of insanity. Personally, I’ve gone through a bizarre year and the album triggered a lot of inner anxiety. At first concentrative listen to the record you realize that it is strenuous to decode and comprehend. The record illustrates every human emotion and buildup response to the starting point of dementia, becoming utterly crazed and just all around unbalanced: Wallowing in depression, alcoholism, anger, frustration, to even self-destruction.”

Influences for FLESHWROUGHT span from the obvious like death metal to the not so easily assumed influences like electronic, progressive, and experimental styles of music, including bands. Some of these influences include bands like Necrophagist, Decrepit Birth, Origin, Mats/Morgan Band, Special Defects, Frank Zappa, Squarepusher, Corneilius, and Siriusmo. Definitely all over the musical spectrum! Navene comments:

“I’m not that 17 year old kid who exclusively listens to death metal anymore. I’m 25 years old and have gone through many phases throughout my musical quest. In turn, my influences always seem to shine through and manifest in my music because the one rule I have followed would be that there are no rules. In conclusion I’m as honored and proud as a parent to an honor roll student to present Fleshwrought’s Dementia/Dyslexia to the world. Jonny and I hope you enjoy.” Navene Kopperweis

FLESHWROUGHT is:
Navene Kopperweis – guitars, drums, bass
Jonny Davy – vocals

http://www.myspace.com/fleshwrought

HAIL OF BULLETS finish recordings for second studio album!
Dutch Death Metal Masters HAIL OF BULLETS have finished the recordings for their long-anticipated second longplayer to be released October, 8/11 via Metal Blade Records in Europe and on October, 12 in North America!

Comments drummer Ed Warby: “I don’t think I’ve ever worked this hard on anything in my entire life, but it sure has paid off! Although ‘Of Frost And War’ is a tough act to follow, my ringing ears tell me we’ve succeeded in besting it on every level: songs, playing, production… at the moment Dan Swanö is putting the final touches on a mix that could squash a tank, and then it’s off to the pressing plant! All the main ingredients of our blood ‘n’ guts style death metal have remained intact and I honestly can’t imagine anyone that liked our previous work is going to be the least bit disappointed, on the contrary!”

The yet untitled album was produced by Ed Warby and like before the monstrous mix was in the capable hands of Mr Dan Swanö.

HAIL OF BULLETS nailed down 11 songs plus intro.

The limited edition of the CD will be released as a Digibook including a bonus-dvd. More details on this and the stunning new album will be posted soon!

http://www.hailofbullets.com
http://www.myspace.com/hailoffuckenbullets

Slovenian Thrash Kings NEGLIGENCE complete work on new album ‘Coordinates Of Confusion’! Release date set!
Slovenian Kings of Thrash NEGLIGENCE have completed the work on their upcoming new album Coordinates Of Confusion.

The album was mixed by Ruzz (drums) in their own Negligence studio in late spring of 2010 and has just been mastered at West West Side Music in New York by Alan Douches.

“We’re stunned by the result of the mixing and mastering and can´t wait for you metalheads to hear it!”, comments the band.

Coordinates Of Confusion will be released the 8th/11th of October 2010 via Metal Blade Records in Europe!

NEGLIGENCE was formed in 2000 by Dyz and Jey, two excellent Slovenian guitarists who shared the same passion for music and decided to start working together. They soon found a proper and stable line-up and played lots of shows in their homeland Slovenia including a gig at the infamous Metal Camp festival. Between 2003 and 2005 they also released three unnamed demos.

2005 marks a turning point in the history of NEGLIGENCE when they parted ways with their old singer and presented the 15-year old Alex as their new frontman. The band gathered a bigger fanbase and in 2007 NEGLIGENCE independently released their debut album Options Of A Trapped Mind. The album opened many new doors for the group and got a good reception amongst metal fans and received great reviews worldwide. Following the release, the band went on to promote their album supporting some of the biggest acts in metal, such as Exodus, Forbidden, Heathen, Sadus and Death Angel among others.

At the end of 2009, long-time member Dyz parted ways with the band but was still part of the production for the second album. NEGLIGENCE have recently found a second guitar player – his name is Aljo - who will help increasing the sheer power the band is able to deliver on stage!

NEGLIGENCE:
Alex - vocals
Jey – guitars
Aljo - guitars
Lipnik - bass
Ruzz - drums

http://www.myspace.com/negligence

NIGHTFALL in cooperation with Metal Hammer Greece launch online player with two songs of stunning new album ‘Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants’!
Greek Metal Gods NIGHTFALL in cooperation with Metal Hammer Greece have launched an online player where you can stream two songs off the stunning new album Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants.

Click HERE and check out the player with the two new songs Astron Black and Astronomica/Saturnian Moon!

Pompous, grandiose, savvy – the album attracts names from people who have been enjoying an earlier audition, offering satisfaction to the whole team involved in the genesis of it.

The band claims Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants the best NIGHTFALL album so far, raising expectations to the maximum. “We have worked hard and we’ve put lots energy and effort in the details of the production. The outcome is massive and believe can attract any metal fan’s attention.”

The powerful Athenian act is now running on an ingenious combustible engine made of Greek, American and German blend and is aiming high. Dare to join!

The album’s artwork has been created by Travis Smith (Opeth, Death, Nevermore, Katatonia a.o.). It is unique and beyond Mr. Smith’s typical patterns. “The front cover depicts the sea, the grand opposite of the sky-cum-space, and the means we humans are inventing to explore the unexplored. We are part of this universe and we use its planets to navigate, to tune our lives through the “time” set by their motion, and who knows, may be to escape to some day in the future.”

The album was recorded in various places with Soundlodge (Germany) being the main studio. It has been produced by Efthimis Karadimas (’Athenian Echoes’) and co produced by Jorg Uken (known from his work with God Dethroned, Dew Scented, and Sinister).

‘Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants’ will be released on August 27/30 in Europe and on August 31 in North America.

Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants will be released August 27/30.

http://www.myspace.com/nightfallgr
http://www.nightfallstar.com/

Metal Blade Records launches RETURN TO EARTH landing page! Video clip in the works!
In conjunction with the upcoming release Automata from the alternative metal act RETURN TO EARTH, Metal Blade Records has launched a landing page where fans can go to check out music, two teaser videos that showcase music from the upcoming album, specially low priced preorder packages, an in-the-studio-video, and video footage of Chris Pennie (ex-Dillinger/current Coheed drummer) at the 2010 Modern Drummer Festival. The first single currently streaming is for the track Back of My Hand with more tracks to come before the album is released on August 13/16!

A music video for the title track Automata is currently in the works with the team that brought you the two trailers for the album, Damien Serban and Yann Bertrand from Absinthe Studio in France. Stay tuned to RETURN TO EARTH’s and Metal Blade Records’ sites for further details on when and where the music video will be premiered.

About the band:
RETURN TO EARTH is the amalgamation of the musical talents of Ron Scalzo, Brett Aveni, and Chris Pennie; three veteran and visionary musicians whose material can’t be pigeonholed to one genre or easily classified. You’ll hear bits and pieces of their influences and other projects and those bits and pieces come together to form the unique whole that is RETURN TO EARTH.

All three members of RTE sport impressive musical resumes - Pennie, in particular, hones his craft as one of the most heralded drummers working today. His groundbreaking drum style provides the backbone for RTE’s aggressive brand of rock. Pennie also wrote a lot of the material & contributed in the form of synth & loop programming. “Brett & I have been itching to work with Chris for years,” admits Scalzo. “He’s one of those prodigies that make the rest of wonder why we even bother trying to make music.”

Brooklyn native Scalzo is no slouch in the music-making department, having achieved moderate success as electro-rock singer/songwriter Q*Ball. With three self-released critically-acclaimed albums under his belt, Scalzo has purveyed that moderate success – and a lot of long hours – into an underground DIY label, Bald Freak Music. The upstart’s growing roster includes Guns N’ Roses guitarist Bumblefoot, who releases his impressive solo work on the label, and buzz-worthy pirate metal band Swashbuckle.

“You blink your eyes these days & the industry has already shifted another 30 degrees to the left,” says Scalzo. “I was tired of playing ‘the game’ – trying to fashion an image, a look, a musical style that would impress all the wrong people. I wanted to make music that I wanted to make, and the only way I was going to do that on my own terms was to release it myself.”

RETURN TO EARTH is:
Ron Scalzo - Vocals
Brett Aveni - Guitars
Chris Pennie – Drums

Automata will be released August, 13/16 via Metal Blade Records in Europe!

http://www.returntoearthmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/returntoearththeband

THE ABSENCE: Track-listing, cover art, first single for ‘Enemy Unbound’ now available! Original drummer Jeramie Kling officially back in the band!
In conjunction with the upcoming release Enemy Unbound from Tampa, FL area natives THE ABSENCE, Metal Blade Records is pleased to release the track-listing, cover art, and the first single from Enemy Unbound. The title track can be heard on metalblade.com/theabsence.

Enemy Unbound, available in Europe September 10/13!

In other news; original drummer and one of the founding members of THE ABSENCE, Jeramie Kling, has rejoined the band. Jeramie Kling and THE ABSENCE parted ways after a completing a heavy touring schedule for the band’s first release From Your Grave. Guitarist Patrick Pintavalle comments; “we’re so glad to have Jeramie back in the band. It feels right again.” Vocalist Jamie Stewart adds; “in spite of everything that’s been said and done, I’m glad to have my brother back. I look forward to having our collective magic restored.”

Jeramie had this to say about once again stepping behind the kit for the band that has been called Testament for the 21st Century. “It’s great to be back, I missed all my old friends. I can’t wait to play the new songs on tour; they are going to blow the roof off. I missed the road and I can’t wait to see all our fans out on tour. I am so pumped; it’s just great to back.”

About the band:
Tampa, FL area natives THE ABSENCE laid waste to an unsuspecting metal community with their debut Metal Blade Records album, From Your Grave, and after nearly two years of touring the guys returned in 2007 with their fan and critic acclaimed release Riders of the Plague. Riders of the Plague was recorded at Erik Rutan’s Mana Studios in February / March 2007 with Swedish producer Jonas Kjellgren (Scar Symmetry, Carnal Forge). THE ABSENCE has returned to the metal scene heavier than ever with their third full-length album, Enemy Unbound; a metal masterpiece full of the band’s brand of high flying guitar histrionics and melodies fans and critics alike have grown to love.

Vocalist Jamie Stewart continues to push himself vocally, spewing forth his grim lyrics with more force and violence than ever before. Guitarists Peter Joseph and Patrick Pintavalle deliver blistering solos, harmony-filled leads, and a level of technicality that is off the charts, growing as musicians with every album they deliver. Original drummer, and one of the founding members of THE ABSENCE, Jeramie Kling is back behind the kit and will be joining the band on the road as they tour in support of Enemy Unbound. Jeramie will undoubtedly continue where he left off, acting as the tight backbone needed to hold together the band’s speedy melodic onslaught. With their latest offering, Enemy Unbound, THE ABSENCE deliver a stylish and flavored melodic death/thrash metal album that is sure to please both fans and critics alike.

Enemy Unbound was once again recorded at the famed, Erik Rutan-owned, Mana Studios in St. Petersburg, FL in November 2009 with Brian Elliott engineering and Peter Joseph and Patrick Pintavalle producing the album. Going along with the saying ‘if it’s not broke, don’t fix it,’ the band went to Sweden’s Jonas Kjellgren (Scar Symmetry, Carnal Forge) of Black Lounge Studios who handled both mixing and mastering on Enemy Unbound. Guest musicians on the album include Tom Englund of Evergrey and Andy Wood.

The Absence have toured with the likes Cannibal Corpse, The Black Dahlia Murder, Vital Remains, Goatwhore, The Red Chord, Vader, Kataklysm, Grave, Nuclear Assault, Destruction, Through the Eyes of the Dead, Entombed, Dismember, Vivisec, Unmerciful, Dead to Fall, and Ion Dissonance just to name a few. Each stop on every tour has earned THE ABSENCE legions of new fans, which is something that will surely continue through the release of Enemy Unbound as the band tours through the states, Canada, and Europe in support of their highly anticipated release.

The Absence is:Jamie Stewart – vocals
Peter Joseph – guitar
Patrick Pintavalle – guitar
Jeramie Kling – drums
Mike Leon – bass

http://www.myspace.com/theabsence