Nemški simfoničarji Xandria predstavljajo najnovejši video za komad Universal. Gre za popolnoma svežo stvaritev, ki je na nek način tudi posledica dobrega odziva oboževalcev na prejšnjo ploščo The Wonders Still Awaiting, ki je izšla pred enim letom.

Perujski heavy metalci Ladrón del Fuego in bobnar Klemen Markelj so posneli pesem Miedo. Sodelovali so še: Jorge Revoredo (komponist), Airin Chávez Zárate (vokal), Sebastián Palma Castillo (vokal), John Peña (kitara), Gianmarco Magnani (ilustracija) in Armando Alva (mastering in animacija).

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.«

Italijanske simfonične death metalce Fleshgod Apocalypse, ki so nedolgo nazaj nastopili v Ljubljani, je zapustil ustanovni član/basist Paolo Rossi. Paolo je bil kot mnogi drugi glasbeniki v času koronavirusne pandemije namreč primoran poiskati službo zunaj glasbenega sektorja. Ko pa je življenje počasi stopalo v normalne tirnice, je Paolo skušal usklajevati novo službo z bandom, kar pa se je žal izkazalo za nemogoče. Prevladala je nova kariera, in Rossi se je odločil zapustiti zasedbo. Fleshgod Apocalypse bodo nadaljevali kot kvintet, Francesco Paoli, trenutni kitarist zasedbe, bo prevzel dolžnosti basista, Veronica Bordacchini (klaviaturistka in back vokalistka), pa bo prevzela še clean vokale. Pripeta fotografija je zadnje darilo oboževalcem zasedbe, gre pa za delo vizionarskega fotografa Francesca Esposita.

Italijani Neid so priredili komad Rebels Today…, ki ga v originalu izvajajo Comrades. Priredba je del prihajajočega EP-ja Still Offensive.

Znana je časovnica jutrišnjega koncerta Kataklysm, Fleshgod Apocalypse in Stillbirth v Kinu Šiška. Ta zgleda takole:

19.00 vrata/blagajna
19.45 Stillbirth
20.40 Fleshgod Apocalypse
21.45 Kataklysm

Ženevski progressive/blackened death metalci Dyssebeia so posneli videospot za skladbo Hatch s prvenca Garden of Stillborn Idols, ki so ga jeseni izdali pri založbi Transcending Obscurity Records.

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.«

Kataklysm so objavili video za komad Goliath z aktualnega samonaslovljenega albuma iz lanskega leta.

Drugi mesec, natančneje 15. februarja, pa jih lahko ujamete v živo, kjer bodo skupaj s Fleshgod Apocalypse in Stillbirth nastopili v Kinu Šiška, ki bo tudi začetek evropske turneje Europe Vs Goliath Tour 2024.

Znani so še zadnji nastopajoči na letošnji izvedbi festivala Tolminator, ki se bo odvijal med 24. in 28. julijem v Tolminu. Kot četrti in zadnji headliner so potrjeni Electric Wizard! Na glavnem odru bodo nastopili Jungle Rot in Dödsrit, na underground odru pa Stillbirth, Dust Bolt, Monochromatic Black, Mezzrow, Nemesis, Infest, Dusk in Dezaztre.

Poleg že omenjenih na festivalu igrajo še zasedbe Natural, Battlesword, Public Grave, False Crown, Carrion, Patroness, Behind Bars, Astral Paralysis, Chronic Hate, Nekrodeus, Total Annihilation, Contractkiller, Slave To Sirens, Thy Legion in Eternal Struggle, od domačih bandov pa Kamra, Samperium, Dethrone The Corrupted in Sovrag.

Znan je tudi že razpored nastopajočih po dnevih in naslednji teden gre v prodajo omejeno število dnevnih vstopnic. Festivalske vstopnice so na voljo na tej povezavi.

Nemški heavy metalci The Night Eternal sporočajo, da je band iz osebnih razlogov zapustil Jones Nühlen.

»Unfortunately we have to inform you that Jones decided to part ways with The Night Eternal due to personal reasons. We‘re still good friends, so there‘s no bad blood and we respect his decision. Being a founding member, Jones was notorious for his catchy bass lines through all of our releases so far and we want to thank him sincerely for the great times we had.
There‘s a last chance to catch The Night Eternal with its original line-up on stage at Endzeit Festival on January 27th, so give Jones the honor and get your tickets!
For THE SATANIC PANIC TOUR starting on February 1st, our good friend Jannik will take over the bass duties.«

Italijanska grindcore zasedba Neid je lani konec leta podpisala z založbo Time To Kill Records za izdajo EP-ja Still Offensive. Zdaj je poleg naslovnice znano, da bo EP, ki je posvečen hardcore sceni 90-ih, izšel 15. marca in bo obsegal osem komadov:

Intro 90s
Rebels Today... (Comrades cover)
Bandiera Nera (Affluente cover)
Ho Sempre Sbagliato (Kafka cover)
Colpire (Contrasto cover)
Noi Due Tagliati In Due (Frammenti cover)
Prodotto Dal Terrore / Sostenuto Dalla Speranza (Flopdown cover)
V x Cambiamento (XcaracoX cover)

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!«

Znani so vsi nastopajoči bandi za bavarski festival ekstremne glasbe Dark Easter Metal Meeting 2024, ki se bo odvijal 30. in 31. marca 2024. Na novo potrjeni so med drugim bili Endstille, Imha Tarikat, Mortem, Phantom Winter, Sur Austru in Sylvaine.

Celoten seznam zgleda tako: Sodom, Tiamat, Benediction, Kampfar, Taake, Bewitched, Cult Of Fire, Mortem, Endstille, Hellbutcher, Sylvaine, Thy Catafalque, Psychonaut, Mork, Chapel Of Disease, Grand Cadaver, Abysmal Grief, Nordjevel, Eïs, Nocte Obducta, Perchta, Theotoxin, Deathrite, Dymna Lotva, Imha Tarikat, Phantom Winter, Asphagor, Sur Austru, Angstskríg, Ciemra, Jesajah, Fair Of The Forgotten.

Italijanska grindcore zasedba Neid je podpisala s Time To Kill Records, pri kateri bo izšel EP z naslovom Still Offensive.