Španski thrasherji Holycide, ki jih vodi Dave Rotten od Avulsed, so razkrili prvi komad s prihajajočega albuma Towards Idiocracy. Gre za A.I. Supremacy, ki bo skupaj z ostalimi izšel 6. junija pri Xtreem Music. Tracklista:

A.I. Supremacy
Towards Idiocracy
Remote Control
Lie is the New Truth
Power Corrupts
Technophobia
Angry for Nothing
Chemical Dependency (Atrophy cover)
Pleased to Be Deceived
Flamethrower 'em All

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.«

Death metalci Vaticinal Rites bodo 10. maja izdali debitanski studijski album Cascading Memories Of Immortality. Tukaj lahko že prisluhnete komadu Plead for Termination, ki bo na albumu poleg teh:

Foiled Skirmish
Plead for Termination
Asphyxiation of Ecstasy
Bowels of Gargantua
Siphoning Plasma from the Gods
Unhinged Cataclysm
Corporeal Affliction
Eroding Planetesimal (Interlude)
Cascading Memories of Immortality

Alexey Polyansky se je po desetih letih vrnil k domačim progresivcem Seventh Station. Tako pravi band: »Please give a warm welcome-back shout-out to Alexey for coming back to the band after 10 years of absence. Alexey is a very gifted musician and he will fill up the missing gap in the band in the bass guitar role. Alexey was also the co-founder of Seventh Station and we are so happy to see him come home.«

Avtor fotografije je Valeriy Lapshov.

Norveški death metalci Blood Red Throne so nedavno razkrili Seeking to Pierce, še tretji komad s prihajajočega albuma Nonagon, ki izide 26. januarja. Seznam pesmi:

Epitaph Inscribed
Ode To The Obscene
Seeking To Pierce
Tempest Sculptor
Every Silent Plea
Nonagon
Split Tongue Sermon
Blade Eulogy
Fleshrend

Sporočamo, da je umrl basist Mike »M. S.«, član nemške black metal zasedbe Groza. Mike je bil njen član od leta 2018. Naj počiva v miru. Izjava banda:

»With the heaviest of hearts we announce the passing of our brother and bass player, Mike "M.S." after a prolonged battle with illness. We will forever remain greatful for his friendship, passion and commitment for the band as well as all the great times we had spent with him. He will always be part of the collective.

Our hearts are with his family, friends and everyone who had the privilege to know him. Please respect our wish to be able to grieve in privacy during these incredibly difficult times.«

Veljaki norveškega black metala Satyricon sporočajo, da se po petih letih zatišja naslednje leto končno vračajo na koncertne odre. Poleg koncertnih aktivnosti, ki bodo sicer osredotočene na festivale širom Evrope, zasedba že pripravlja material za novo ploščo, ki bo nasledil zadnjo izdajo Satyricon & Munch. Izjavo banda si lahko preberete spodaj:

»We are pleased to confirm that we will return to the stage for the first time in five years in the summer of 2024. We will be focusing on the European festival run and have no touring plans outside of that currently. At the moment, we are working on a new album scheduled for a May 2024 release. The art exhibition and album “Satyricon & Munch”, was an intense and all-consuming project for the record books, but it is history now and we have been working on all these new things behind closed doors for almost a year. We’re delighted to soon share it, we really look forward to playing both brand new and old songs for you, and once again being able to hear you sing, scream and chant as the army you are. We will publish all dates once they have been confirmed and approved to publish. This will be great!«

Avtor fotografije je Marko Faletič.

Založba Bitter Loss Records je s 1. septembrom nehala z delovanjem. Tukaj uradna izjava za javnost:

»Bitter Loss is Dead!

All open orders will be refunded. No social media including messenger will be monitored. Email (bitterloss.records@outlook.com) will remain open only until the last refund is processed. Support the bands direct, some will receive the remaining stock.

Thank you to those that contributed, even at the end. You know who you are. Please look after yourself and each other. We all need the support in this fucked up world!«

Heavy metal/hard rock solo projekt High Spirits iz ZDA napoveduje izid petega studijskega albuma z naslovom Safe On The Other Side. Ta naj bi izšel 17. novembra pri založbi High Roller Records in bo obsegal naslednje komade:

In The Moonlight
Til The End Of Time
Lonely Nights
One Day Closer
Anything You Need
(There Will Be) Magic Tonight
Loving You
Please Don’t Leave Me Behind
Memories
Good Night

Ekstremneži Pestilence sporočajo, da jih je zapustil basist Joost van der Graaf. Zasedba trenutno še išče njegovo zamenjavo, spodaj pa si lahko preberete celotno izjavo banda in Joosta.

»First off: family comes first, always!! Too bad this day had to come, because we were a very solid team and we will surely miss our good friend Joost van der Graaf. We respect his decision to spend more time with his family. Awesome he is offering to fill in from time to time, if needed.

Tudi ameriški moderni/progresivni metalci Stellar Circuits so v petek izdali nov album in nov videospot. Sight To Sound je na voljo na različnih glasbenih platformah, vizualizer za pesem Pleasure Cruise pa na YouTubu.

Ameriški black metalci Uada sporočajo, da so se razšli s kitaristom Jamesom Sloanom. Več lahko preberete v uradni izjavi banda:

»Uada has officially parted ways with guitarist James Sloan. After receiving consecutive accounts and admittance of misconduct, we have decided to let James go. It is of utmost importance that we protect ourselves, the band, and most of all, the fans. After recently learning about years of manipulation, lies, deceit, abuse, and sexual harassment towards many different people, we feel that we have made the absolute best decision in moving forward without him.

Our thanks and appreciation go out to everyone who has come forward and provided proof about this situation. Please know that UADA will never stand for this type of behavior and that our only agenda here is music and the spirit of its creation. Unfortunately, due to these circumstances, we are now forced to cancel our appearances in Tasmania and Australia next month, but we hope to make it up to the fans down under as soon as we possibly can.

Thank you for your understanding and our deepest apologies to anyone who may have been hurt because of these actions.

Sincerely,
Jake, Nate, and Josh.«

Blaze Bayley, nekdanji vokalist zasedbe Iron Maiden, je prejšnjo soboto doživel srčni infarkt in bil zaradi tega hospitaliziran. Njegovo stanje je že stabilno, žal pa je zaradi tega moral odpovedati turnejo. Več lahko preberete v uradni izjavi:

»We sincerely regret to announce that Blaze had a heart attack at home yesterday evening & is now in hospital in a stable condition, awaiting news of further surgery/treatment. He is in good spirits in the circumstances but utterly disappointed to have to postpone our imminent shows due in March & April. Ticket refunds will be available at source but we truly hope you will keep your tickets & make it to the new dates which we will be announcing as soon as they are scheduled.

Regarding shows already booked for June-November this year, we understandably have to wait a short while to see how quick Blaze’s recovery will be, so please stay tuned & meanwhile most importantly we're sure you will join us in wishing him a complete & speedy recovery.

Blaze misses you, cannot wait to regain full health & see you all again.

Every Storm Ends… ‘your heart will heal’

Thank you so much everyone for your understanding & support.

Mark Appleton & Christopher Appleton (management / bookings)«

Ameriški moderni/progresivni metalci Stellar Circuits so posneli videospot za komad Witch House s prihajajočega albuma Sight To Sound, ki bo 9. junija izšel pri Nuclear Blast in prinaša naslednje komade:

Catch Your Death
Witch House
Pleasure Cruise
Skull Beneath the Smile
Sight to Sound
Truthseeker
Alchemy
Nightlife
For the Birds
Learning to Sleep
Where Were You?

Grave Pleasures so posneli videospot za skladbo Heart Like A Slaughterhouse s prihajajočega albuma Plagueboys, ki bo izšel 21. aprila pri založbi Century Media.