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Carcass guitarist Bill Steer wants to write another album

Posted in News with tags Andy Sneap, Bill Steer, Carcass, Extreme Metal, Metalshrine, Nuclear Blast on 16th December 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Bill Steer, guitarist for the legendary Carcass, recently stated in an interview that he’d like to write and release another studio album. Bill Steer said in the aforementioned interview with Metalshrine the following:

Yeah. There’s a mutual agreement between us that we’d like to do one. There’s an awareness that if we can get through the next seven months of touring and festivals and still like each other and feel good about this, we definitely want to do a record. There’s loads of lessons we learnt on this one and while I’ve still got it fresh in my head, I want to build on that. It’s fun, but it’s a really challenging thing to do because I haven’t done anything creatively in this genre of music for so long, but it suddenly felt very fresh. I had escaped it because it was too limited in my mind and after a few years of doing other styles of music, I found there were new limitations with that and I wanted to go back and do extreme music again. [laughs] You can never be 100% happy, but right now this is what I like doing. As I said, it’s a challenge and probably more so now than ever, because it’s hard to be innovative in this music. There’s a lot of incredible players out there. Especially the American guys, they’re treating it like a sport and the drummers especially and you have to admire the dedication and tenacity, but I also think this music has to have a little bit of soul and maybe some swing.

In the interview, he also stated that Andy Sneap would definitely be the producer for the next album. The full interview with Metalshrine can be read here.

Carcass online:

http://facebook.com/OfficialCarcass

Carcass talk about “Surgical Steel” artwork (valkyrianmusic.com)
Andy Sneap, Kev Bower and Bill Steer discuss ultimate tour line-up (valkyrianmusic.com)
Carcass post third track-by-track trailer (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Andy Sneap, Kev Bower and Bill Steer discuss ultimate tour line-up

Posted in News with tags Amon Amarth, Andy Sneap, Carcass, Glasgow, Hell, London, Nuclear Blast, Viking on 12th November 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Legendary British metal acts Hell and Carcass kick off their UK tour with none other than Swedish Viking death metal maestros Amon Amarth today. As such, the bands’ label Nuclear Blast decided to get Carcass’s Bill Steer and Hell’s Andy Sneap and Kev Bower together to discuss their ultimate tour line-up and why they want to see those bands on the same line-up. The discussion can be viewed below.

Catch Carcass, Hell, Amon Amarth and Bleed Within in the cities below:

Nov 12 – Birmingham o2 Academy
Nov 13 – Manchester o2 Academy
Nov 14 – Glasgow Barrowland
Nov 15 – Bristol o2 Academy
Nov 17 – London Forum

Damnation 2013: Bands you must see! (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Hell – The Age of Nefarious

Posted in Uncategorized with tags Andy Sneap, Dante, Divine Comedy, Extended play, Heavy metal music, Hell, Human Remains, Motörhead, New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Nuclear Blast, On Earth As It Is In Hell, The Age, The Age of Nefarious, The Divine Comedy on 3rd November 2013 by Paul

Hell
The Age of Nefarious
Released October 25^th2013
NWOBHM
Released via Nuclear Blast

Hell are one of the greatest success stories in the recent renaissance of NWOBHM. Of all the bands that have come back from the dead to play the oldest style of Heavy Metal, Hell has been one of the most successful. This EP, The Age of Nefarious offers a new song as well as three live performances from their Human Remains album. Hell have a style that goes beyond the simple punk rock/Motorhead formula that typifies NWOBHM, being more theatrical and epic, like Dante’s Divine Comedy played through a Heavy Metal filter. I managed to catch the end of Hell’s set at Bloodstock 2011, and it was clear that the band are very talented performers, the recordings here sound just about as good as they do in the studio, however the problem is that the audience is very quiet in the mix here, so it doesn’t feel like there is all that much point in listening to these over the album versions from Human Remains. It’s a good release though and a good, though short preview of what is to come on the next album. The Age of Nefarious doesn’t deviate much from the sounds on Human Remains, which is largely a good thing. It sounds like Hell are getting ready to release a great album, and I look forward to hearing it.

3/5

Paul Gibbins

Hell online:

http://facebook.com/hellofficial

HELL – ‘The Age Of Nefarious’ Single Streaming (bravewords.com)
HELL stream title track from upcoming EP (wyrdwaysnews.wordpress.com)

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Hell announce new EP; The Age of Nefarious

Posted in News with tags Age Of Nefarious, Andy Sneap, Curse And Chapter, David Bower, Extended play, London Forum, Nuclear Blast, Tim Bowler on 12th September 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

British occult metal legends Hell who saw a revival a few years ago have finally unveiled details about the lead single to be released from their upcoming album Curse And Chapter. the band’s current incarnation which features Andy Sneap and David Bower alongside original members Kev Bower, Tony Speakman and Tim Bowler will release their follow-up to the 2011 release Human Remains on 25^th November, later this year through Nuclear Blast.

The Age of Nefarious EP will be released on 28th October via Nuclear Blast. It will be released as as a 10″ vinyl, in several different colours and one exclusive colour for the UK. The EP will include the title track, The Age Of Nefarious, plus three live tracks from the band’s recent performance at this year’s Bloodstock Festival.

The tracklist of The Age Of Nefarious reads as follows:

Side A:
1. The Age Of Nefarious
2. On Earth As It Is In Hell (live)
Side B:
1. Blasphemy And The Master (live)
2. The Oppressors (live)

String and keyman Kev Bower commented:

In a world dominated by conflict, disease, corruption, poverty, disaster and crime – much of which has religion at its source – this is truly the dawning of The Age Of Nefarious. The song was always going to be the perfect opener for the new Curse And Chapter album since it lays the foundation for everything which follows, but when we were approached by our friends at Nuclear Blast with the idea of producing a lead-off EP, we also decided that out of four possible EP album track candidates – this song should also be the one. It represents everything which Hell represents – it powers along in awe-inspiring majesty, but takes lots of unexpected twists and turns before reaching its inevitable conclusion. The artwork is once again the result of our collaboration with Dan Goldsworthy, and it shows just a tiny fraction of the artwork he has created for Curse And Chapter. With regard to the additional live tracks – where better to have recorded these than from the main stage at Bloodstock Open Air 2013 – the spiritual home of UK metal, during one of the best shows we have ever played, and in front of 10,000 of the most dedicated metal heads in the world. We are proud to be giving you a glimpse into the second Chapter……

Hell will also be touring with their label mates Carcass this coming November as well as Amon Amarth on the Metal Hammer: Defenders Of The Faith tour. Tour dates are as follow:

12.11.13 Birmingham – Academy
13.11.13 Manchester – Academy
14.11.13 Glasgow – Barrowlands
15.11.13 Bristol – Academy
17.11.13 London – Forum

Hell online:

http://hell-metal-band.com
http://facebook.com/hellofficial

Hell unveil details on their new offering Curse And Chapter (valkyrianmusic.com)
HELL unveil details of their upcoming new record, ‘Curse And Chapter’ – out November 25th (wyrdwaysnews.wordpress.com)
Equilibrium – Waldschrein EP (valkyrianmusic.com)
Bloodstock Open Air 2013: The Year of Thrash (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Carcass – Surgical Steel second part of track-by-track now online

Posted in News with tags Andy Sneap, ASTM International, Bill Steer, Carcass, Dan Wilding, Ken Owen, Master Butcher, Steel, Surgical Steel on 4th September 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

British extreme legends Carcass have now made their second track-by-track for Surgical Steel available for viewing online. Watch guitarist Bill Steer and drummer Dan Wilding explain the songwriting process for The Master Butcher’s Apron, Noncompliance to ASTM F 899-12 Standard and The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills below.

Surgical Steel will be released on 16^th September in the UK, the rest of Europe on 13^th September and 17^th September in North America.

Carcass online:

http://facebook.com/officialcarcass

Carcass post Part 1 of Track-By-Track Videos (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Hell unveil details on their new offering Curse And Chapter

Posted in News with tags Amon Amarth, Andy Sneap, Curse And Chapter, DVD, Hell, London Forum, Nuclear Blast, NWOBHM, On Earth As It Is In Hell, The Age Of Nerfarious, Tim Bowler on 28th August 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Risen from their own sinister legacy and having disbanded in 1987, Hell were reincarnated only two years ago with the addition of Andy Sneap to guitars and David Bower on vocals, joining original members guitarist and keyboardist Kev Bower, bassist Tony Speakman and drum machine Tim Bowler. Now the British quintet are about to release their follow up to their 2011 release Human Remains which was released via Nuclear Blast. The sophomore offering, titled Curse And Chapter, will also be released via Nuclear Blast on 25^th November, later this year.

Curse And Chapter will also include a bonus DVD offering six songs from the band’s show at The Darwin Assembly Suite Rooms in Derby on 23^rd February 2013. As the first lead-off single, Hell will release the Age Of Nefarious. Guitarist Sneap commented on the upcoming release:

We’ve been working solid on the album for the last couple of months between gigs, although we’ve been demoing to a good standard over the last year or so. This time around the album consists of around 50% old material 50% new. We really see this as a band that’s moving forward rather than a nostalgia trip, obviously there’s a lot of history within the band, but there’s also a whole world of ideas we want to get out. We have this week left tracking, 4 more vocals and bass to get down, 2 more songs of guitar and then mix. I’m super happy with how things are shaping up, it feels more like a band on this record to me than the first, which I guess is just a natural progression of everyone playing together a lot more over the last couple of years.

Vocalist David Bower added in, regarding the lyrical content:

Alongside some of our favourite themes of historical, political and religious persecution, intolerance and prejudice, you will find some good old fashioned myths and legends being invoked and reinterpreted in our own inimitable way. We also have some songs in which the listener will be implicitly invited to solve the clues contained in the lyrics in order to find the meaning of the stories for themselves. Being completely aware that many people interpret things in ways that writers do not expect as a matter of course, it seemed logical to take that idea a little further.

Adding on from that, Bower explains the album title:

It’s a hellish play on words of the English saying chapter and verse, and also a reference to a song lyric in The Age Of Nefarious, the opening track on the record.

Hell will also be playing the Metal Hammer ‘Defenders Of The Faith’ Tour alongside label mates Carcass and also Amon Amarth and Bleed From Within. Dates are as follow:

Nov 12 Birmingham o2 Academy

Nov 13 Manchester o2 Academy

Nov 14 Glasgow Barrowland

Nov 15 Bristol o2 Academy

Nov 17 London Forum

Hell online:

http://hell-metal-band.com
http://facebook.com/hellofficial

Sepultura reveal artwork and tracklisting for new album (valkyrianmusic.com)
Ashes Of Ares unveil track by track of upcoming album (valkyrianmusic.com)
Carnifex ink deal with Nuclear Blast; Plans for new album announced (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Amon Amarth release final segment of mini-doctumentary: Forging Mjölnir

Posted in News with tags Amon Amarth, Andy Sneap, Arch Enemy, Candlemass, Cradle Of Filth, Luke Daley, Messiah Marcolin, Metal Blade Records on 11th June 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

The final segment of Amon Amarth’s Forging Mjölnir mini documentary premiered today! The intimate three-part account comes in celebration of their forthcoming new studio offering, Deceiver of the Gods, set for worldwide release later this month. Directed by Luke Daley, the striking black and white film offers candid commentary with each member on a host of subjects.

Watch the concluding clip where the Amon Amarth collective discuss the struggles of tour life, recording and their hopes for the future via their microsite at this location.

Having blasted onto the Swedish melodic death metal scene with 1998’s Once Sent from the Golden Hall, every Amon Amarth album has arrived bursting at the seams with power, melody and immersive storytelling centred around the richness of Norse mythology. Deceiver of the Gods captures the quintet at the peak of their powers.

Their ninth epic was recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, UK and produced, mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap, a man whose résumé includes seminal albums from the likes of Cathedral, Arch Enemy, and Cradle Of Filth. Vocalist Johan Hegg explains:

We wanted more of a live feeling to the recording and we felt that Andy’s style of producing could definitely help us with that. At the same time, knowing the records he worked on previously we felt he could probably help develop our sound so it became a little bit more angry and dangerous, without that polished sheen of our recent records.

Guitarist Olavi Mikkonen concurs, and credits Sneap with playing a pivotal role in just how aggressive the finished product is. Olavi comments:

It’s rougher, and like a punch in the face, which is what we wanted it to be. Though adding more thrash elements into a few of the songs helps the whole album sound more hostile, it’s ultimately the production that makes them sound more aggressive. On the last few records it didn’t matter how aggressive the riffs we wrote were, whenever we went into the studio at the end they just didn’t sound as intense.

In tracking the record at Sneap’s UK studio, as much as possible the band recorded long takes rather than clinically piecing things together, determined to give the album as much life as they could. Vocalist Johan continues:

Fredrik [Andersson] recorded all the drums live, with the guys playing guitars and bass along with him to get the groove of it, and that makes for the energy that you don’t get when everyone records separately, and I think that really comes across. I think that was a very good way to record for us, it gave everyone a better feel of each song, and it was a good time being in the studio and laying it all down.

Deceiver of the Gods boasts another exceptional Tom Thiel-created cover depicting a mythical battle between the Norse figures Loki and Thor. As an added bonus, Messiah Marcolin (Candlemass) makes an appearance as guest vocalist on eighth track, Hel.

For special Deceiver of the Gods pre-order packages as well as a stream of the title track, go to this location. Additionally, you can still check out Shape Shifter currently streaming via Stereogum HERE.

Deceiver of the Gods will be released in North America via Metal Blade Records 25^th June, in Europe 21^st/24^th June and Japan on June 26^th.

Following a run of European festival dates already underway, Amon Amarth will be opening the main stage of this year’s edition of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest set to commence June 29 in San Bernardino.

Amon Amarth online:

http://www.amonamarth.com
http://www.facebook.com/OfficialAmonAmarth
http://twitter.com/amonamarthband
http://deceiver.amonamarth.com

Second part of Amon Amarth’s three-part mini-documentary, Forging Mjölnir, now online (valkyrianmusic.com)
Amon Amarth release trailer for threee-part documentary; Forgining Mjölnir (valkyrianmusic.com)
Amon Amarth post first part of mini-documentary: Forging Mjölnir (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Second part of Amon Amarth’s three-part mini-documentary, Forging Mjölnir, now online

Posted in News with tags Amon Amarth, Andy Sneap, Blood Eagle, Deceiver of the Gods, Deciever of the Gods, Killswitch Engage, Luke Daley, Messiah Marcolin, Metal Blade Records, Norse on 4th June 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

In anticipation of the release of their ninth studio offering, Deceiver of the Gods, Swedish death metal tyrants Amon Amarth today unleash the second of their special three-part mini documentary. Fittingly titled Forging Mjölnir, the crisp black and white film was directed by Luke Daley and offers up intimate interviews with the band.

Watch the latest fifteen-minute segment where the Amon Amarth collective recall their earliest metal memories as well as the band’s primitive beginnings via their microsite at this location. Having blasted onto the Swedish melodic death metal scene with 1998’s Once Sent from the Golden Hall, every Amon Amarth album has arrived bursting at the seams with power, melody and immersive storytelling centered around the richness of Norse mythology. Deceiver of the Gods captures the quintet at the peak of their powers.

From the moment the title track explodes in a haze of thrash-flavoured aggression to the final mournful passages of epic closer Warriors Of The North there is not a wasted moment, the band bombarding the listener with ten tracks of compulsive and electrifying metallic fury. Whether they’re attempting to remove your face and separate your vertebrae with the deranged attack of Blood Eagle or carrying you on the back of the mammoth grooves driving We Shall Destroyand Father Of The Wolf they hit with decimating force, all the while unleashing ruthlessly captivating melodies. With the aforementioned thrash elements creeping in, as well as the old school metal and doom accents lending added depth and scale to standout track Hel, guitarist Olavi Mikkonen admits this time out the band were not afraid to wear their influences on their collective sleeve:

We decided fairly early that we should go all-in on the song writing for this album. If we had ideas or riffs that were perhaps a little too thrash oriented or traditional-metal sounding for Amon– or that were maybe too Amon or perhaps similar to what we had done in the past – we would still keep them as long as we really liked them. A few years back we would pass on those ideas and riffs, while now we feel it was right to just go with it. I think the result is that the songs are wider, they have stronger melodies, they are better composed with lots of dynamics in them, and there are no fillers or blanks on there. Everything is as good as it can possibly be, and reflects just how driven we were to make this a great record.

Deceiver of the Gods was recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, UK, produced, mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap (Opeth, Megadeth, Exodus, Arch Enemy, Killswitch Engage) and comes adorned with another outstanding Tom Thiel-created cover portraying a mythical battle between the Norse figures Loki and Thor. As an added bonus, Messiah Marcolin (Candlemass) makes an appearance as guest vocalist on eighth track, Hel.
Deceiver of the Gods will be released in the UK via Metal Blade Records 24^th June.

Catch Amon Amarth at Download 2013 on Sunday 16th June, 2013.

http://www.amonamarth.com
http://www.facebook.com/OfficialAmonAmarth
http://twitter.com/amonamarthband
http://deceiver.amonamarth.com

Amon Amarth release trailer for threee-part documentary; Forgining Mjölnir (valkyrianmusic.com)
Amon Amarth post first part of mini-documentary: Forging Mjölnir (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Amon Amarth post first part of mini-documentary: Forging Mjölnir

Posted in News with tags Amon Amarth, Andy Sneap, Candlemass, Killswitch Engage, Luke Daley, Messiah Marcolin, Norse, Surtur Rising on 29th May 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

As previously announced, today Amon Amarth unveil the first of their special three-part mini documentary titled Forging Mjölnir. Filmed and directed by Luke Daley, the up-close-and-personal clip – which includes stunning black and white nature footage and Norse artwork – celebrates the imminent release of the band’s ninth studio offering, Deceiver of the Gods.

The six-and-a-half minute segment; where vocalist Johan Hegg and bassist Ted Lundström elaborate on the mythological themes found within their latest epic; can be found on the band’s microsite at this location. Not many bands can claim their ninth album as the most powerful, dynamic, and plainly aggressive of their career, but then Amon Amarth have consistently upped their game with every successive release. Having exploded onto the Swedish melodic death metal scene with 1998’s Once Sent from the Golden Hall, every album has arrived bursting at the seams with power, melody and immersive storytelling centred around the richness of Norse mythology. Deceiver of the Gods captures the quintet at the peak of their powers. Vocalist Johan states:

Every time we start working on new music we begin with the idea that we’re going to write the best album ever. We knew we wanted a more aggressive, live feeling to this record but there’s no formula behind what we do. We just try to write something that takes us a step further than the last record, and is something that will excite us and our fans. Deceiver Of The Gods is the result.

Sample the album’s fourth track, Shape Shifter now streaming here, at this location.

Deceiver of the Gods was recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, UK, and produced, mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap (Opeth, Megadeth, Exodus, Arch Enemy, Killswitch Engage). The follow-up to the band’s critically adored 2011 Surtur Rising full-length offers up ten maniacally heavy battle hymns rife with the band’s absorbing harmonies and Hegg‘s commanding Viking roar. Deceiver of the Gods comes adorned with another outstanding Tom Thiel created cover portraying a mythical battle between the Norse figures Loki and Thor. As an added bonus, Messiah Marcolin (Candlemass) makes an appearance as guest vocalist on eighth track, Hel.

For special Deceiver of the Gods pre-order packages as well as a stream of the title track, go to this location. Deceiver of the Gods will be released in North America via Metal Blade in the UK on June 24^th.

Amon Amarth Summer 2013 European Festival Tour:

06/01 Forta Rock Festival ˆ Nijmegen, NL
06/06 Sweden Rock Festival ˆ Solvesborg, SE
06/07 Rock Am Ring ˆ Nurburgring, DE
06/08 Sonisphere ˆ Sonisphere, FR
06/09 Rock Im Park ˆ Nurenberg, DE
06/11 MeetFactory ˆ Prauge, CZ
06/12 Eter Club ˆ Wroclaw, PL
06/14 Copenhell ˆ Copenhagen, DK
06/15 Noval Rock ˆ Nickelsdorf, AT
06/16 Download Festival ˆ Donington, UK
06/21 Nummirock ˆ Nummijarvi, FI

Amon Amarth

http://www.amonamarth.com
http://www.facebook.com/OfficialAmonAmarth
http://twitter.com/amonamarthband
http://deceiver.amonamarth.com

Amon Amarth release trailer for threee-part documentary; Forgining Mjölnir (valkyrianmusic.com)
Amon Amarth release details about ninth studio album (valkyrianmusic.com)

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UK metal legends Carcass sign to Nuclear Blast for worldwide deal

Posted in Featured, News with tags Andy Sneap, Bolt Thrower, Carcass, Jeff Walker, Jeffrey Walker, Ken Owen, Nuclear Blast, Surgical Steel on 23rd May 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Disinterred British extreme metal legends Carcass have signed to Nuclear Blast Records for the world – excluding Japan. Surgical Steel, the band’s first studio release since their 1996 LP Swansong, was produced by Colin Richardson (Naplam Death, Bolt Thrower, Gorefest, Cannibal Corpse) and mixed/mastered by Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Accept, Exodus, Testament). Joining guitarist Bill Steer and bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker in the band’s current incarnation are new drummer Dan Wilding (Aborted, Trigger The Bloodshed) and guitarist Ben Ash (Pig Iron, Desolation, Liguefied Skeleton). Expect some guest vocals from original sticksman Ken Owen as well, when Surgical Steel is released world-wide this Autumn.

Carcass has released the following statement regarding their new found partners in medical deviancy:

We are pleased to announce that we have found the perfect home for Surgical Steel, the first Carcass album for, what, eighteen years?! We’ve inked a deal with Nuclear Blast for our new baby.

We have to thank Markus Staiger for his enthusiasm and belief in what he heard, but mostly his ability to take advantage of Jeff with a bad hangover when he visited the office in Stuttgart to let him be the first to hear the rough mixes. Nuclear Blast has managed to secure this release despite interest from all the main players in what remains of the metal ‘music industry’.

We’re also looking forward to working with our pals in the US Office, who have done favours for us behind the scenes over the last few years. On a personal note, Jeff looks forward to his and label manager Gerardo Martinez‘ friendship to come crashing down in flames and tears in a few months.

As long as we don’t mention ‘The War’ we think we’re going to do just fine with our new Teutonic home!

Nuclear Blast owner and founder Markus Staiger commented:

One of my all-time favourite UK Metal Bands signed recently to Nuclear Blast – it feels like a dream come true. When Jeff Walker let me listen to the new record I knew immediately that Carcass made one of their best albums ever! It is a perfect mixture of Heartwork and Necroticism with a massive production to boot. The album is without a doubt just as perfect and lethal as surgical steel itself, and exactly what both old and new fans have waited for eagerly all of these years!
I am very proud to say, Carcass – welcome to the Nuclear family. It is an honour to work with this legendary metal band.

North American label manager Gerardo Martinez adds:

First of all, apologies to the many that were wondering where that signing statement was the other day. Well, we didn’t anticipate the prenuptial agreement to take this long but here we are, and about to release to the world what many people said would never happen: a new Carcass record!

All joking aside, this is a dream come true. All I can say is that even the biggest critic, Señor Walker himself included, will find this to be one of the best Carcass albums. It already sounds like a classic and I can’t wait for people to hear it. ‘Time to die, die in pain’!!!

Carcass has released several classic albums over the years, including Decibel Magazine “Hall of Fame” inductees Heartwork and Necroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious, and their influence has changed the face of extreme metal with every consecutive release. Whether it was inventing gore-grind (i.e. Reek of Putrefaction, Symphonies of Sickness) or creating the template for melodic death metal (i.e. Heartwork), Carcass has always made records by which bars were set and rules were broken. Upon the band’s dismantling in 1996, fans mourned the loss of the seminal act and longed that the group would return again one day. In 2007, the metal world got its wish as Carcass reformed to play several sold-out reunion shows around the globe. Once again re-motivated to administer a shot of cynicism and infectious riffs into the arm of a sickly metal scene, founding members Bill Steer and Jeff Walker began writing what would become the latest output of their highly influential career, Surgical Steel. Only the choicest of cuts were made, and blood sweat and tears were shed to bring us a record worthy of the Carcass legacy. In short, Surgical Steel is just what the doctor ordered.

Carcass festival appearances for 2013:
Maryland Deathfest (USA)
Metaltown (Sweden)
Brutal Assault (Czech)
Party San (Germany)
Damnation (UK)

Carcass online:

http://facebook.com/OfficialCarcass

Hypocrisy – End of Disclosure (valkyrianmusic.com)
Black Star Riders discuss signing to Nuclear Blast (valkyrianmusic.com)
ReVamp announce release dates for second album (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Amon Amarth release trailer for threee-part documentary; Forgining Mjölnir

Posted in News with tags Amon Amarth, Andy Sneap, Arch Enemy, Derbyshire, Killswitch Engage, Messiah Marcolin, Metal Blade Records, Surtur Rising on 21st May 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Yesterday, Swedish Vikings of Death Metal, Amon Amarth revealed a trailer for their forthcoming mini documentary which can be viewed at this location. Fittingly titled Forging Mjölnir, the short film will appear as a three-part series with each official segment slated to premiere via the band’s microsite at this location.

The Forging Mjölnir documentary comes in anticipation of Amon Amarth‘s ninth studio offering, Deceiver of the Gods. Recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, UK, and produced, mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap (Opeth, Megadeth, Exodus, Arch Enemy, Killswitch Engage), the follow-up to the band’s critically acclaimed 2011 Surtur Rising full-length delivers ten fiery battle hymns made of buzzsaw riffs and epic harmonies all driven by vocalist Johan Hegg‘s commanding Viking roar and absorbing accounts of Norse campaigns and treachery. Deceiver of the Gods comes adorned with another outstanding Tom Thiel-created cover portraying a mythical battle between the Norse figures Loki and Thor. As an added bonus, Messiah Marcolin (Candlemass) makes an appearance as guest vocalist on eighth track, Hel.

View the black and white Forging Mjölnir trailer where the band discusses their earliest musical influences, as well as a stream of opening title track and first single, Deceiver of the Gods and special preorder info at this location.

Deceiver of the Gods will be released in the UK via Metal Blade Records June 24th.

Following a run of European festival dates next month, Amon Amarth will be opening the mainstage of this year’s edition of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest set to commence June 29 in San Bernardino.

Amon Amarth online:

http://www.amonamarth.com
http://www.facebook.com/OfficialAmonAmarth
http://twitter.com/amonamarthband

Amon Amarth release details about ninth studio album (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Amon Amarth release details about ninth studio album

Posted in Featured, News with tags Amon Amarth, Andy Sneap, Loki, Messiah Marcolin, Metal Blade Records, Norse, Surtur Rising, Viking on 16th April 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Swedish Viking-themed death metallers Amon Amarth recently unveiled the details of their ninth studio album. Titled Deceiver of the Gods, the epic offering of Viking-styled death metal was recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, UK, produced, mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap (Opeth, Megadeth, Exodus, Arch Enemy, Killswitch Engage). The cover art was, once again, completed by Tom Thiel and depicts a mythical battle between the Norse deities Loki and Thor (Editor’s note: The artwork looks partially like a scene from the movie, Thor). Fans will also recognize a special appearance on this album with Messiah Marcolin (Candlemass) providing guest vocals for eighth song, Hel (Whom in Norse mythology is the goddess of the dead and ruler of Helheim). Deceiver of the Gods will be released in the UK via Metal Blade Records 24^th June, along with the rest of Europe and the album will be released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on 21^st June.

The band’s vocalist Johan Hegg comments:

We feel very excited about this new album, and personally I feel that Deceiver of the Gods is the strongest album we’ve ever done. By far! I’m confident that all our fans will enjoy this ‘punch-in-the-face-of-a-record!

Opening title track and first single, Deceiver of the Gods is currently streaming at the band’s official Metal Blade page, where you’ll also find special pre-order info. You can also listen to the track below.

Deceiver of the Gods Track Listing:
^{01. Deceiver of the Gods

02. As Loke Falls

03. Father of the Wolf

04. Shape Shifter

05. Under Siege

06. Blood Eagle

07. We Shall Destroy

08. Hel

09. Coming of the Tide

10. Warriors of the North}

Described as a compelling synthesis of buzzsaw riff work, melodic harmonies and soul-severing rhythms punctuated by vocalist Johan Hegg’s callous Viking roar and gripping accounts of Norse battles and treachery, Deceiver of the Gods is the follow-up to the band’s critically lauded 2011 Surtur Rising full-length. Finding placement on multiple charts worldwide the record is among the band’s fastest-selling albums to date. Surtur Rising sold approximately 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week landing the band at #34 on the Billboard Top 200 and #1 on the Billboard Top Hard Music Albums. Around the world Surtur Rising also charted in Germany at #8 on the Top 100 chart, #19 on Canada’s Top 200 Chart, #12 on Austria’s Top 40 Chart and Switzerland’s Top 100 at #20.

Amon Amarth will be opening the main stage of this year’s edition of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest set to commence June 29^th in San Bernardino . Prior to that they’ll be at the 2013 edition Download, sharing the stage with the likes of Airbourne, Rival Sons and Limp Bizkit!

Amon Amarth’s summer 2013 European festival tour dates are as follow:
^{06/01 Nijmegen, NL Forta Rock Festival

06/06 Solvesborg, SE Sweden Rock Festival

06/07 Nurburgring, DE Rock Am Ring

06/08 Amnéville, FR Sonisphere

06/09 Nurenberg, DE Rock Im Park

06/11 Prague, CZ MeetFactory

06/12 Wroclaw, PL Eter Club

06/14 Copenhagen, DK Copenhell

06/15 Nickelsdorf, AT Nova Rock

06/16 Donington, UK Download Festival}

Amon Amarth online:

http://www.amonamarth.com
http://www.facebook.com/OfficialAmonAmarth
http://twitter.com/amonamarthband

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Amon Amarth ready to pillage Download Festival

Posted in News with tags Amon Amarth, Andy Sneap, Download Festival, Melodic death metal, Metal Blade Records, Surtur Rising on 16th January 2013 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Swedish melo-death metallers Amon Amarth, who are known for the Viking themes throughout their music, have been confirmed for Download Festival later this year. They’re amongst the 37 bands that were announced today on the official Download Festival Facebook page.

Download Festival will take place at Donington Park on 14^th-16^th June. Tickets and further information can be found at this location.

Amon Amarth’s latest album Surtur Rising was released in March 2011 via Metal Blade Records.

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The Greatest Show On Earth–UK legends Hell announce special one-off show for 2013

Posted in News with tags Andy Sneap, Bloodstock, Hell, Winterfylleth on 13th November 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

UK metal legends Hell are putting on one hell of a show, to celebrate the start of the recording of album two.

This special performance coined as The Greatest Show On Earth, will be filled with “fire, brimstone and pyrotechnical madness”, with support coming from the epic Winterfylleth and A Thousand Enemies. The show will also be filmed live and mixed in 5.1 for a special DVD release, later in 2013. Next year, on February 23^rd, the UK will see HELL stage their full ‘Church Of Hell‘ at Derby Assembly Rooms, Darwin Suite.

“Over the last year and a half with HELL, we’ve always put on as much of a show as possible, but with limitations due to festival billings, Health and Safety and venue size”, says guitarist Andy Sneap.”We felt it time to unleash the band’s full potential to the UK as it’s something we feel is missing more and more.The theatrics and the bombastic stage productions of old remain with the Monsters of Rock, but is something a lot of the newer breed of bands seem to overlook whilst onstage staring at the floor.”

“The first Headline show I ever saw was ‘Iron Maiden’ on ‘The Beast On The Road Tour’ at Derby Assembly Rooms. It used to be a regular Midlands show on every bands touring schedule when they passed through the UK and anyone frequenting the first couple of indoor Bloodstock festivals will know how great a venue for metal this is. We can’t wait to bring a full on, unashamedly over the top metal show back to the Assembly Rooms on Feb 23rd 2013“.

Tickets can be found here.

Cited as a huge indirect influence, and as one of the true founding fathers of occult metal, Hell formed in 1982 from the carcasses of UK metal bands Race Against Time and Paralex, whose White Lightning EP was listed by Metallica as a favourite, and which was subsequently included on the Lars Ulrich, Geoff Barton ‘NWOBHM ’79 Revisited’ sampler album. Despite over five years of constant touring, the band were cruelly overlooked by the ’80’s music press, who just didn’t get it. Hell were too different, too extreme, too musically intelligent and far too thought-provoking for all but the most enlightened to understand them. A teenage Andy Sneap was a permanent fixture on the front row of almost every show Hell played and went on to form Sabbat and become a renowned metal producer. Upon meeting again, the remaining members of Hell – Kev Bower (guitar/keys), Tony Speakman (bass) and Tim Bowler (drums) talked with Andy about re-recording the old material to release in conjunction with the old demos. With Sneap replacing Halliday on guitar and David Bower on vocals, the band recorded 10 Hell classics from the 80’s that became their 2011 debut ‘Human Remains’.

Damnation 2012: Valkyrian Music recommends… (valkyrianmusic.com)
Damnation Festival 2012 @ Leeds University (valkyrianmusic.com)
Hammerfest IV: The Hammer of Thor review (thebitemagazine.wordpress.com)
Enforcer kick off UK tour tonight with Angel Witch (valkyrianmusic.com)

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Iron Monkey’s Our Problem to be released on vinyl for the first time

Posted in News with tags Andy Sneap, Cradle Of Filth, Firemint, IronMonkey, Machine Head, United States on 17th August 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Our Problem, the classic 1998 album from UK aggro-doomsters Iron Monkey, is due to be released on limited edition vinyl for the first time ever on September 10th.

Our Problem was produced by Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Machine Head, Cradle of Filth, Testament, Exodus, Nevermore) and, along with the band’s self-titled debut album, single-handedly brought the US sludgecore sound to the UK underground.

The release is part of the First Time On Vinyl campaign, which plugs the gaps in the Earache catalogue that have never before been released on LP.

Our Problem will be released on double vinyl housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve, and includes three bonus tracks taken from the deleted We’ve Learned Nothing split with Church Of Misery. All profits will be donated to the UK National Kidney Federation in memory of the band’s late frontman, Johhny Morrow. For more information, click here.

Our Problem is available to pre-order now in these strictly limited colours:

^{100 – Skol Super Gold (SOLD OUT!)

200 – Weed Green (ALMOST GONE!)

300 – Primate Brown

800 – Black}

Pre-order the OUR PROBLEM vinyl now in Europe here or in North America here.

The full track listing for the OUR PROBLEM vinyl is as follows:

SIDE A:
01. Bad Year
02. Supagorgonizer
03. Boss Keloid
04. IRMS

SIDE B:
05. House Anxiety
06. 2 Golden Rules
07. 9 Joint Spiritual Whip

SIDE C:
08. Omi Bozu (Wisdom of Choking)
09. Sleep to Win *

SIDE D:
10. Arsonaut *
11. Kiss of Death *

^{* Bonus tracks}

Iron Monkey‘s self-titled debut album is also available now on limited edition coloured vinyl from the Earache Webstore.

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“Native Blood” now available

Posted in News with tags Andy Sneap, Bay Area thrash metal, Dark Roots Of Earth, Earth, Native Blood, Nuclear Blast, Spanish language, Testament on 20th July 2012 by Nico Solheim-Davidson, the North Sea Poet

Native Blood, the new single by Bay Area thrash gods Testament is available now as digital download as well as on limited 7“ vinyl in various colours!