Funeral Rain Press Corps

Italian Metal Powerhouse Scarlet Records has announced their second set of releases in the North American Market. They are Bloodshot‘s Murder the World” and The Georgian Skull‘s Mother Armageddon, Healing Apocalypse. Both releases are scheduled for release on March 8, 2011. This is the first time that both albums have been available in North America.

Following the critically acclaimed album Ultimate Hatred, released by Scarlet Records in 2006, and having already shared the stage with renowned acts such as Six Feet Under, Born From Pain, Gojira, Stamping Ground, Heaven Shall Burn, Caliban, Sworn Enemy, Cataract and many more, Belgian hardcore-metal masters Bloodshot are finally ready to release their third full length effort, Murder The World.

Bloodshot‘s new effort, which will once again be released by Scarlet Records, is more vicious and aggressive than ever before, redefining brutality and combining the best elements of metal and hardcore to a perfect war machine crushing everything on its path. Bands like Full Blown Chaos, Sworn Enemy, Hatebreed, Cataract and HateSphere come to mind but yet Bloodshot experiences no difficulties in creating their own well distinctive sound, giving them an original touch in the metalcore scene nowadays. Murder The World will be once again dealing with the acts of another serial killer, Richard Ramirez! Recording sessions took place at Jonathas studio and DeStudio, with Dirk Miers (Do Or Die, Born From Pain) handling the mixing duties. Mastering took place at West West Side Music in New York City.

Bloodshot are ready to take their ambitions to the next level, playing and touring as much as possible, promoting the new CD’s in the most professional way, spreading the Bloodshot madness on the crowds all over the world!!

Inspired by 1970′s Heavy Metal such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Thin Lizzy, Georgian Skull have fused the past with even heavier metal bands like Clutch, Pantera and Entombed. Georgian Skull continues to redefine their sound and presence as one of the most important bands to have come out of Canada. The death of the stoner band Mister Bones brought out the most significant chapter of the band’s life: its afterlife. Which is simply known as Georgian Skull. A revolution is on its way, a great tale is about to be told, and the power of the Doom and Groove that possess this band will set out to unleash a masterful work in their new album, set to be released on Scarlet Records. Georgian Skull is absolutely one of the most crushing live bands around, a real must for any fan of Black Sabbath. Georgian Skull is a four-piece out of Windsor, London and Hamilton, Canada, fronted by vocalist/lead guitarist Al “The Yeti” Bones (also frontman for U.S.A ‘s sludge king’s The Mighty Nimbus). Mother Armageddon, Healing Apocalypse is the confirmed title of the band’s debut full length album: Apocalyptic lyrics meshed with life’s struggle for sanity, crossed with the biggest, baddest riffs around. Georgian Skull command the attention of every audience they’ve played for. Bands they have shared the stage with have been Anvil, Cryptopsy, Today Is The Day, Goatwhore, Trouble, Sons Of Otis, and many, many more. Artwork duties were handled by Vince Locke (well known for his work with death metal legends Cannibal Corpse).

Chicago’s Kommandant has announced that they will be entering the studio early next year to record the follow up to the highly acclaimed Kontakt. Guitarist Jim Bresnahan commented on the upcoming recording:

“Kommandant has confirmed studio dates for February 2011 to begin recording the new album to be titled The Draconian Archetype. This will be the first studio recording featuring new bass player Mike Coniglio and drummer Dave Swanson,who moved over to drums from bass earlier this year. Recording will take place at Bell City Sound in Racine, WI with producer Chris Djuric in the control room. This will be Kommandant‘s sophmore effort at this studio following the Kontakt release earlier this year.”

Genre: Industrial
Label: Alfa-Matrix

Sebastian Komor has been doing this shit for years, and the debut from his eponymous project proves it. This is some of the freshest industrial I’ve heard in awhile, and it’s perfect for either the club or the car.
It reminds me of Skinny Puppy, especially the fourth track “Atrapado”, while also bringing to mind iVardensphere (who are inspired by Komor’s other projects), The Prodigy, and the fathers of industrial rock KMFDM.
Oh wait, did you just say that Sascha from KMFDM is on this record? Well fuck. It goes to prove just how similar to black metal industrial really is: everyone is on everyone’s record and everyone is in everyone’s band.
At the end of the disc, with album closer “Blues ‘N’ Tubes” showcasing some really odd and fun shit, I find myself waiting for it to spin again. It’s definitely something that can be played twice or three times in a row without getting tiring.
If you’re a fan of industrial in general, or Komor’s other projects Icon of Coil, Zombiegirl, Moonitor, and others, you need to get this album when it drops in February 2011.
8.5 out of 10.

Komor Kommando on MySpace.

Paragon Records is proud to announce the release of Return To Abandoned, the long-awaited new full-length from Ukrainian black metal horde Khors. On Return To Abandoned Khors yield harsher, brooding sounds of their earlier work whilst  mixing in the melancholy and spacious atmosphere of 2008′s unsung dark black gem Mysticism. Inarguably the most majestic journey the band has taken its listeners on thus far, Return To Abandoned will appeal to old and new fans alike.

Khors was formed by former Astrofaes bassist, Khorus, in August 2004, with an aim to create gloomy, powerful, atmospheric black metal. Sometime later, guitarist/vocalist Helg (Runes Of Dianceht) and drummer Khaoth (Tessaract, ex-Astrofaes, ex-Hate Forest) joined the fold. The band was later rounded out by guitarist Warth. Contrary to rumors, Khors is not attached to any politically motivated groups or extremists. For fans of  Kampfar, Moonsorrow, Borknagar, etc.

Return To Abandoned Track Listing:
1. The Arrival (Intro)
2. Lost Threads
3. Asgard’s Shining
4. Song of the Void
5. The Fog (…and Grief Still Moans)
6. Mysteries Cosmos
7. The Seas Burn of Omnipotence
8. Sacrament of Buyan

Earlier this Fall, Paragon reissued The Flames Of Eternity’s Decline and Cold, Khors‘ now classic first two full-lengths — originally released in 2005 and 2006 respectively — as a two-CD set with new layout, nine bonus tracks and a rare early video from the band. Though Khors have long progressed musically, these early recordings still brim with the unique atmosphere of pagan black metal the band was built upon.

It’s Geoff Thorpe’s story of power and pain. The quest to change people’s lives with the power of metal music and the fascination of his band in 2011. The guitarist and main songwriter of American power metal act Vicious Rumors says: “The older we get, the more wicked Vicious Rumors sound. We’ve definitely not slowed down – quite the opposite – have even more drive. Our fans won’t see a single Vicious Rumors show where we don’t go to our limits and beyond.” Anybody who has been to one of the group’s gigs during the past two years knows just what he means. Thorpe’s comment not only describes his band’s concerts, but also without reservation Vicious Rumors’ latest album “Razorback Killers”, due out on SPV on 28 March 2011 (Germany: 25 March 2011, US: April 5th.) and featuring ten breathtaking new songs which transport the traditional Vicious Rumors sound perfectly into the present. To cut a long story short: this band has never sounded more dynamic than on “Razorback Killers”.

The reasons for Vicious Rumors’ high-powered performance? Thorpe has a plausible explanation: “The metal is in our blood!!!! Plus we always have an awesome line-up. Larry Howe on drums and vocals, our bassist Stephen Goodwin and guitarist Kiyoshi Morgan, and in Brian Allen we’ve found the best vocalist you could possibly get for these kind of songs.” Brian Allen joined the Vicious Rumors fold one and a half years ago at the recommendation of Matt McCourt (Wild Dogs), a long time friend who Thorpe met up with at the Headbangers Open Air.”Matt had praised Brian, and I thought that he’d be perfect for Vicious Rumors.” His assessment soon proved true: from the beginning, Allen showed his great potential during intense rehearsals. “We immediately noticed this raw, pure quality in him. Like a snowball, something very big developed very quickly out of small beginnings. During our five-week European tour, Brian got nothing but positive reactions from our fans.”

So Brian Allen and Kiyoshi Morgan are – along with Thorpe, Bassist Stephen Goodwin and drummer Larry Howe, of course – two of the elemental parameters which make “Razorback Killers” such a dynamic powerhouse of an album. Three other musicians deserve to be mentioned: the guest guitarists Mark McGee, Eric Peterson and Brad Gillis. “Isn’t it fantastic that Mark returned and contributed those amazing solos on two songs?” McGee was a band member between 1986 and 1995 and has launched veritable guitar solos on ‘Blood Stained Sunday’ and ‘Pearl Of Wisdom’. “Mark and I trading solos just like the old days,” enthuses Thorpe, who also can’t hold back his delight at Eric Peterson’s impassioned solo passages on ‘Murderball’. “Eric has been a friend for many years and is the driving force in Testament. His solo on ‘Murderball’ is a perfect combination of the whole energy of Vicious Rumoursand Testament, merged into one song.” And last but not least: Brad Gillis, who otherwise makes his living as one of the band leaders in Night Ranger, is one of Geoff Thorpe’s close friends and already delivered a number of great solos on Vicious Rumors’ predecessor album, “Warball”. This time around, Gillis contributed a matchless – as Thorpe calls it – “classic tremolo guitar solo” on ‘Deal With The Devil’. “I remember well when he replaced the late Randy Rhoads in Ozzy Osbourne’s band. Brad has my utmost respect as a friend and colleague.”

So the furious “Razorback Killers” marks the next chapter in the career of Vicious Rumors, whose history is paved with countless highlights: the band took the legendary Dynamo Festival in Eindhoven, Netherlands, by storm with their amazing shows in the summers of 1990 and 1994, floored the 2002 Wacken Open Air, rocked the metal fans at the 2007 Bang Your Head Festival and are celebrated frenetically all over the world for their passionate live performances. Vicious Rumors have released ten excellent power metal albums to date, travelled the world over a dozen times – with Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Judas Priest, Aerosmith and many others – and are now ready to present their latest recording to their fans. “We’ll be co- headlining the Keep It True festival in April 2011, one month after the album is released,” Thorpe promises. “We’ll be touring for the rest of the year in the USA, Europe and Japan, hopefully also visiting countries such as South America or Australia, where we’ve never been before.” “Razorback Killers” produced by Geoff Thorpe and Juan Urteaga certainly has the potential!

TRACKS

01 Murderball

02 Black

03 Razorback Blade

04 Blood Stained Sunday

05 Pearl Of Wisdom

06 All I Want Is You

07 Axe To Grind

08 Let The Garden Burn

09 Rite Of Devastation

10 Deal With The Devil

VISIT VICIOUS RUMORS AND SPV ON THE WEB:

http://www.viciousrumors.com

http://www.myspace.com/spvmusic