-- Sanctification's new album preview

Swedish death metallers consisting of former and current members of bands like God Among Insects and In Battle are looking for a drummer right now. Though it's not the reason a history [of violence] entering this news item to the page. They also have just made the title track (aptly titled Black Reign) from their new album available at their myspace profile. With this addition you can listen to 3 brand new tracks from the upcoming full-length. Sanctification also have video series of their recording sessions online. Black Reign was produced by Peter and Tommy Tägtgren at infamous Abyss studios and also features guest appearence on various tracks from Peter. Dan Swano was the man behind the mastering process. With all these references it's hard not to lookk forward to hear the album which will be out via Pulverised Records.

Sanctification @ myspace

-- Ashent: Italians now more Deconstructive!

Metallers hailing from Italian shores, Ashent, have announced that their upcoming album will be released by Lion Music and be out on March '09.
here is the Lion Music's definition of what Ashent's music is all about:
"Deconstructive is a potent progressive experience with many techno-thrash elements, some melodic death references and gothic atmospheres. Each song has its own distinct style with a mix of huge riffs, great variety of tempo, persuasive harmonies, great melodies and shredding arrangements. Essentially Ashent represents the darkest and heaviest side of progressive metal, sharing dramatic and intense emotions with the intimacy of an inner journey, all wrapped in a modern musical and lyrical language."
click here to check Ashent if Lion Music's statement hasn't convinced you :]

-- E-FORCE announces the new line up

With two critically acclaimed full-lengths under their belts ex-Voivod man Eric Forrest's E-Force has just announced a new line up. Forrest stated: "I would like to thank all the ex-members for their participation and good luck! Looking forward to some festival appearances later this year and some new E-FORCE creations". The new line up consists of Forrest on bass & vocals (as predicted), Vincent Agar on lead guitar duties, with addition of ex-Enthroned drummer Alsvid and Julian on rhythm guitar.
click here to check out up to date news about the band.

SYMPHORCE - Godspeed [2005]

Symphorce
Godspeed
Metal Blade Records
2005

Symphorce can be considered as one of the most underrated bands of European scene. Although they release albums since 1999, they are never mentioned amongst the leading acts of european power metal genre. Godspeed is the band’s fifth full-length and as usual, they deliver a solid effort of modern power metal. They are injecting small doses of modern sounds and approaches to their music for years. And this latest effort is again in some ways sound very traditional and in some ways very modern (and quite American sometimes). Andy B. Franck is a great singer, there’s no doubt about it. But he has a quite busy schedule with his two bands(Brainstorm and Symphorce)and i think, this makes him a little bit exhausted in terms of creativity. You can hear the signs quite obviously through out the album, Godspeed. The vocal lines he wrote, will sound really familiar if you have listened to the older releases of his two bands. Cedric C. Dupond and Markus Pohl, the two axemen, are in top form. They play very tight and ..... click here to read the rest of the review

ROB ZOMBIE - Educated Horses [2006]

Rob Zombie
Educated Horses
Geffen Records
2006

White Zombie was one of the few bands that had its own unique identity. Then they called it off and the man behind the whole idea of the White Zombie concept started a solo career. He eventually rose from the ashes of White Zombie and built himself an excellent career with the help of the trend obsessed American Music Industry. After satisfying himself with some Hollywood extravaganza, he re-turned his face towards more familiar shores and decided to do what he does best, writing top quality industrial hard rock songs and recorded a new album with his long-time collaborator Scott Humphrey (worked with Mötley Crüe, Fleetwood Mac, The Cult before) called “Educated Horses”. The album kicks off with an intro named “Sawdust In The Blood”..... click here to read the rest of the review

-- Suidakra ready to shatter some swords!!

Germany's one of the finest folk influenced melodic death metallers Suidakra is releasing their brand new full-length titled Crógacht in February.
Click here to view the cover artwork.

and here is the first video from the album surfaced for the song Shattering Swords

-- Criminal arrives back with White Hell

Since the day Criminal moved to England from Chile, the band releasing one helluva good album after another. Now, it seems, a new installment of Criminal's high energy charged metal has come. February 27th is the day new record White Hell will be hitting the shelves via Massacre Records. The album will be released with bonus DVD in European territories though the contents of the DVD yet to be announced.
21st Century Paranoia from White Hell can be heard right now at the band's myspace page. Click on the song title to check it out now!

-- Wardruna?

Debut album by ex-drummer of Gorgoroth, Kvitrafn's new project called Wardruna is about the see the daylight (light may not be the right word in these circumstances though ;)). Indie Recordings will be releasing Runaljod - Gap Var Ginnunga on January 19, 2009. Hagal, a new tune from the release can be listened right now at Wardruna's myspace page.

click here to get an idea.

-- Blakkheim's comments about the upcoming Katatonia album

According to Blabbermouth's news entry, Katatonia's Anders Blakkheim Nyström has stated the following comment about the upcoming full-length expected to be out early 2009.
"Bits and pieces have been collected ever since 'The Great Cold Distance' came out. It's just that we’ve been trying too hard, been thinking too much about the sound and direction. How can we top this and how can we change that? We've been stumbling around off-road looking for the answers and it ended up being a long walk. We don't find it meaningful to trace your own footsteps back from where you came, but we rather find the first nearest exit to the same road up ahead where we're at to get back on the map again."
He also adds "I won't give away any hints just yet about how it will sound, but we hope to give you more light on the progress of this untitled embryo as we get closer. What's certain is that we’ve found a good equation to work with now and that my friends is that it's all about the eighth studio album."

-- John Kempainen leaves Black Dahlia Murder

According to vocalist Trevor Strnad's announcement, guitar player John Kempainen of the Black Dahlia Murder has left the band on the eve of the band's tour with Soilent Green and Misery Index starting in December.
here's Trevor's statement taken from Blabbermouth:
"On the eve of our December tour with friends MISERY INDEX and SOILENT GREEN, we in THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER are faced with a heartbreaking dilemma: John [Kempainen; guitar] has abruptly left the fold and refuses to accompany us on the tour. We are left with no choice but to carry on with the dates as a four-piece. The remaining members of the band apologize for these unprofessional circumstances, but we feel that it is best to go through with the tour and not disappoint the other bands as well as the fans who are looking forward to these shows. Please come out and show some BLACK DAHLIA love in our hour of need."

-- Slaotvean : 2 new songs online

Melodic Black Metallers hailing from Quebec, Canada have just posted two brand new songs to their myspace profile from their upcoming album titled "Hell Inside". Hell Inside will probably be out early next year but by the mean time you can download Slaotvean's previous releases for free from their myspace profile.

Click here for the details and to check out the new tunes.

5to1: 5 Q&A with Echoes Of Silence

Here we are back with a newest installment of 5to1 series...
Echoes Of Silence, a one man project of Sir Leviticai Mortus hailing from US has replied [of violence]'s questions...
The next full-length release of Echoes of Silence is titled Beyond The Crimson Gates and will be out January 6th. So right before that a small appetizer for your darkest tastes.

-For those who are still unaware of Echoes Of Silence, could you please give us a brief introduction? Why should we check out your music?
Hails, I am Leviticai and Echoes of Silence is my solo Symphonic Black Metal project which I started in 1999. People should listen since the music is not just lyrics and instruments but it is true feelings and emotion poured into sound.
-You are under the official banner of USBMS… Can you tell us what is it all about this US Black Metal sect?
USBMS is the United States Black Metal Sect which is the main supporter behind the movement of American black metal. Many assume that good black metal just comes from Scandinavia but it is not just there where the black metal scene has a major following.
-Black Metal genre, although is being performed all around the world, is stil mostly associated with Scandinavian Countries (Norway in particular for sure). Do you think this is a disadvantage for all the other bands/projects hailing from different regions of the world?
I do not see it as a disadvantage since if the band is good, it will get true fans that will listen. I have heard many great bands from all over. The great Taiwanese Symphonic Black Metal act Chthonic is getting some notoriety and they come from a country we'd least expect to hear black metal.
-So Far So Good.. whats the biggest thing you think Echoes Of Silence have managed to accomplished up ‘til today?
Echoes of Silence is solely a one-man project. I have accomplished many, many things within the almost ten years as a project from sound-wise to member problems. "Stormbringer" will be the first album in three years to have all real instruments so that is a big accomplishment to me. Just being a project this long is an accomplishment in itself.
-As you’ve just uploaded a brand new tune titled Twilightning, to your myspace profile, its kind of a "must" to ask about the plans for the year 2009?

My plans are to keep writing new material. "Beyond the Crimson Gates" and "She is the Night" are to be released early 2009 since both were supposed to be released this year but due to complications, the albums will be released on Hypnotic Dirge Records. "Beyond the Crimson Gates" will be released January 6th so pick up a copy!

click on the advert to check out Echoes Of Silence myspace page!