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.«

Ameriška progressive/alternative rock zasedba Nothing More predstavlja videospot za novo pesem If It Doesn’t Hurt.

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«

Švedski death metalci Puteraeon so z videospotom za Graverobber napovedali prihajajoči EP z naslovom Quindecennial Horror, ki izide 8. marca pri Emanzipation Productions in prinaša pet komadov:

The Plague
Whispers Of The Dead
Graverobber
Dead Once More
Storms Over Devil’s Reef

Domači moderni metalci From Ashes so včeraj razkrili besedilni videospot za naslovni komad prihajajočega albuma z naslovom Not Afraid. Album, ki bo izšel 8. februarja, je bil posnet v studiu La Casetta Gialla Studio v Trstu pod budnim ušesom priznanega producenta Cristiana Norbeda, prinaša pa deset komadov:

The Game
Demise
Brother
Not Afraid
No More
Deamons
Live Your Life Again
I - M
II - A
III - P

Nizozemska enočlanska black metal zasedba Helleruin, ki smo jo lani decembra ujeli v Eindhovnu, se je odpravila v studio in že pripravlja material za nov dolgometražec, ki naj bi izšel že letos:

»2024 has officially started with a new studio session.

Upped the game with more cymbals, more toms and more microphones. Going from 6 to 14 channels to record. As I’m trying different ways to challenge myself, I’m recording for the first time to a Clicktrack. So yes, obviously new music coming this year.«

Avtor fotografije je Žiga Grubelnik.

Progresivni death metal duet Iapetus sporoča, da je podpisal pogodbo z založbo Willowtip Records. Band je trenutno v fazi priprave materiala za tretji album, spodaj pa lahko preberete izjavo banda ob začetku sodelovanja z novo založbo:

»We are honored, humbled, and thrilled to announce our partnership with Willowtip Records - to join their incomparable roster, both past and present, and to stand alongside so many incredible bands that we have long admired both as fans and peers.Willowtip is and has always been dedicated to pushing the boundaries of metal - to championing the off-beat and the unfamiliar - and so we feel resolutely at home beneath their legendary, ever-innovative banner. This partnership is, for us - and in so many ways - a perfect fit. We could not be more excited for the endeavors ahead.

Writing for our next album has been ongoing for years, and is still well underway - while it's still too far-off for specific details, we can promise that it will be our darkest record yet - an 80+ minute conceptual rumination on hopelessness, mortality, and meaning in an uncaring cosmos. More news will become available as the album progresses.

And, as always, our unending gratitude for the continual support of our fans across the globe - if you haven't already, check out some of our new, outstanding labelmates - An Abstract Illusion, Countless Skies, Hath, Slugdge, The Anchoret, and more!

Cheers, and Happy New Year!«

Švedska progresivna death metal zasedba Carnosus sporoča, da je sklenila sodelovanje z Willowtip Records. Poleg naznanitve nove založbe band še sporoča, da bo kmalu začel z delom na tretjem albumu:

»As the year ends we are buckling up and getting ready to record our third album. We are happy to announce that this time we are working with Willowtip Records and joining their roster of amazing bands!

Expect more ‘Visions’ as we venture into our third installment, with tales of the vicious majesty and the world it lives in. This project comes with some of our finest riffs to date and is a bit more progressive than our last album. We will, once again, team up with the trustworthy and excellent producer Robert Kukla at Obsidian Recording Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden. We are beyond stoked to let this material come to life, and we hit the studio early 2024! Giddy up!«

Organizatorji češkega festival Brutal Assault so najavili sedem ameriških thrash metal bandov, ki bodo nastopili na naslednji ediciji. To so: Testament, Exodus, Armored Saint, Sadus, Havok, Toxic Holocaust in Laid to Waste.

Poslušate lahko tudi Brand New Way, četrti dolgometražec brazilskih power metalcev Armored Dawn.

Konec septembra smo že poročali, da bodo ameriški heavy/power metal veterani Riot V izdali nov album. Zdaj je znano, da bo ta nosil naslov Mean Streets, da bo izšel 16. februarja in da bo prinesel 12 novih klomadov:

Hail To The Warriors
Feel The Fire
Love Beyond The Grave
High Noon
Before This Time
Higher
Mean Streets
Open Road
Mortal Eyes
Lost Dreams
Lean Into It
No More

Na predvečer Prešernovega dne se bo nad kranjski TrainStation Subart zgrnil black/death metal prepad, ki sliši na ime Abyssal. Britansko zasedbo, ki poredko nastopa v živo in je letos izdala split z Ellorsith, bodo spremljali italijanski kolegi Aphotic, ki so spomladi izdali prvenec Abyssgazer. Gre za projekt članov bivših Ekypirosis in Fuoco Fatuo. Večer bo odprla domača death metal zasedba Siderean, ki trenutno snema naslednika prvenca Lost on Void's Horizon.

Vabljeni torej 7. februarja v TrainStation SubArt na verjetno black/death metal koncert leta. Za več informacij lahko spremljate dogodek na Facebooku.

Legendarni britanski thrasherji Xentrix so podpisali s francosko založbo Listenable Records. Spodaj si lahko preberete izjavo kitarista Kristiana Havarda:

»Xentrix are extremely excited to continue our relationship with Listenable Records by signing with them once again. Listenable is a label that is run by people who are incredibly focused, knowledgeable and more importantly, massively passionate about metal music. And it’s these differences that made it a no brainer when it came time to for the band to choose a label for new music.«

Projekt Me And That Man je včeraj razkril datume spomladanske evropske turneje. V naši neposredni bližini žal ne bo nastopil, tako da bo morebiten obisk koncerta terjal izlet do Poljske, Nemčije ali katere od skandinavskih držav. Vse datume lahko preverite na priloženi fotografiji.

Nemški power metal veljaki Freedom Call se trenutno nahajajo v Soundart Recording Studio, kjer poteka snemanje njihovega enajstega studijskega albuma. Več podrobnosti sledi kmalu, spodaj pa lahko preberete izjavo banda iz studia:

»Hello to everyone from Freedom Call and big cheers from the Soundart Recording Studio. The recordings for their new studio album have started. Fantastic work of Ramy Ali - drums - (artist page) on the drums & Alexander Lysiakov on the sound machine. More infos will be revealed soon!«