Funeral Rain Press Corps

Artwork, Track Listing And First Single Unveiled

America’s reigning kings of brutality, Cannibal Corpse, will unleash their twelfth studio offering this March via Metal Blade Records. Aptly titled Torture, the follow-up to 2009′s Evisceration Plague offers up 12 tracks of maniacally precise, soul-searing death metal. Torture was again produced by Hate Eternal‘s Erik Rutan at his own Mana Recording Studio in St. Petersburg, Florida as well as Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, and features the maniacal cover art by longtime Cannibal Corpse artist, Vincent Locke.

While Torture marks the latest progression in the band’s sound, it also witnesses a return to what drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz accurately terms “the frenzied attack of Butchered At Birth (1991) or Tomb Of The Mutilated (1992),” infusing the band’s advanced musicianship with the raw savagery that haunted their earlier releases, and in the process conceiving the definitive Cannibal Corpse record. Adds bassist Alex Webster on the outcome of the record: “We’re extremely happy with how Torture turned out. Erik Rutan did an amazing job with the production, and the songwriting and performances may be our strongest yet. We can’t wait until our fans get to hear the whole thing!”

Witness the gutting sounds of “Demented Aggression,” the band’s first single, as well as studio footage, at the official Cannibal Corpse landing page, at THIS LOCATION.

Torture Tracklisting:
01. Demented Aggression
02. Sarcophagic Frenzy
03. Scourge of Iron
04. Encased in Concrete
05. As Deep As the Knife Will Go
06. Intestinal Crank
07. Followed Home Then Killed
08. The Strangulation Chair
09. Caged…Contorted
10. Crucifier Avenged
11. Rabid
12. Torn Through

As a precursor to the release, Cannibal Corpse will perform a special one-off show at the Culture Room in West Palm Beach, Florida on January 22nd then head to the seas to take part in this year’s edition of the 70,000 Tons Of Metal Cruise. The band will get a short break before a near month-long march through Europe on the Full Of Hate 2012 tour with labelmates Behemoth.

Torture will be released in North America on March 13, 2012.

Cannibal Corpse:
Alex Webster – Bass
Paul Mazurkiewicz – Drums
Rob Barrett – Guitar
Patrick O’Brien – Guitar
George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher – Vocals

French vanguard Alcest, responsible for the influential Souvenirs d’un Autre Monde and its masterful follow-up Écailles De Lune, are set to tour North America once again beginning later this month. Opening as direct support for Enslaved, Alcest begin the 19-date trek on September 23rd in Springfield, Virginia and conclude it on October 14th in West Hollywood, California, extensively traveling through Canada in between. Ghost were originally slated to be among the tour package, but unfortunately had to drop off recently due to visa complications. Here are the confirmed dates/venues:

September 23 – Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
September 24 – Millvale, PA @ Mr. Small’s Theatre
September 25 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre
September 26 – Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East
September 27 – Québec City, QC @ Impérial
September 29 – Montreal, QC @ Café Campus
September 30 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
October 1 – Columbus, OH @ Outland Live
October 2 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
October 3 – St. Paul, MN @ Station 4
October 5 – Winnipeg, MB @ WECC
October 6 – Regina, SK @ The Exchange
October 7 – Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite Room
October 8 – Calgary, AB @ Dickens
October 10 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
October 11 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
October 12 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
October 13 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
October 14 – West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour

As announced earlier, Alcest have revealed the title to their third album as Les voyages de l’âme (English: “The journeys of the soul“). The record is tentatively scheduled for early 2012 release through Prophecy Productions, with further release news to announced shortly. Alcest are widely credited with bringing in a dreamier, more shoegazing element into extreme metal the past few years, influencing many others to follow in their wake. Surely, Les voyages de l’âme will be yet another monumental release for the band, cemeting their modern legendry that much more.

In support of their latest masterpiece, Erebos, Polish extremists Hate are set to take North America by storm with a massive tour that kicks off in two days (March 9th) at Jaxx in Springfield, VA. For the first leg of the tour, Hate will team up with Rotting Christ, Melechesh, Abigail Williams and Lecherous Nocturne for 30 shows. For the second tour, which begins on April 18th, Hate will support Sepultura, Belphegor and, on select shows Nevermore, during a 38-show run covering the US and Canada. The band has also been confirmed to play some extra concerts between the mentioned tours. The Hate North America invasion will contain altogether 76 shows in the period of three months! Bandleader ATF Sinner comments,

“We’ve been looking for such an opportunity for years. It’s going to be the biggest and most prestigious tour we’ve taken part in, and we just can’t wait to be there to spew Erebos songs on the crowds! I know such a long tour is a challenge, but I’m sure we’re well prepare for it. It’s gonna be our second tour in North America after last year’s raid with Hypocrisy which was a great experience for us.”

Hate North American Tour Dates

with Rotting Christ, Melechesh, Abigail Williams and Lecherous Nocturne:
March 9 @ Jaxx – W. Springfield, VA
March 10 @ Championship Bar & Grill – Trenton, NJ
March 11 @ Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY
March 12 @ Rocko’s – Manchester, NH
March 13 @ The Webster Theater – Hartford, CT
March 14 @ Crazy Donkey – Farmingdale, NY
March 15 @ Petit Campus – Montreal, QC – CANADA
March 16 @ Mod Club – Toronto, ON – CANADA
March 17 @ Blondie’s – Detroit, MI
March 18 @ Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH
March 19 @ Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL
March 20 @ Station 4 – St. Paul, MN
March 22 @ The Republik – Calgary, AB – CANADA
March 23 @ Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB – CANADA
March 25 @ El Corazon – Seattle, WA
March 26 @ Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
March 27 @ DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA
March 28 @ Chain Reaction – Anaheim, CA
March 29 @ The Key Club – Hollywood, CA
March 30 @ Brick by Brick – San Diego, CA
March 31 @ UB’s Restaurant & Bar – Mesa, AZ
April 1 @ The Nat Ballroom – Amarillo, TX
April 2 @ The Marquee – Tulsa, OK
April 3 @ Rail Club – Ft. Worth, TX
April 4 @ Emo’s – Austin, TX
April 5 @ Walter’s – Houston, TX
April 7 @ Brass Mug – Tampa, FL
April 8 @ The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
April 9 @ Volume 11 – Raleigh, NC
April 10 @ The Casbah – Charlotte, NC

with Sepultura, Belphegor, Keep of Kalessin, Neuraxis and Bonded by Blood:
April 18 @ The Opera House – Toronto, ON
April 19 @ Imperial de Quebec – Quebec City, QC
April 20 @ Club Soda – Montreal, QC
April 22 @ The Palladium – Worcester, MA
April 23 @ Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ
April 24 @ The Trocadero – Philadelphia, PA
April 25 @ The Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
April 26 @ Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC
April 27 @ The Club At Firestone – Orlando, FL
April 28 @ Culture Room – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
April 29 @ The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
May 1 @ Clicks – Tyler, TX
May 2 @ Scout Bar – Houston, TX
May 3 @ Trees – Dallas, TX
May 5 @ Jake’s – Lubbock, TX
May 6 @ Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
May 7 @ The Clubhouse (feat. D.R.I.) – Tempe, AZ
May 8 @ Club DV8 (feat. D.R.I.) – Tucson, AZ
May 9 @ House Of Blues – San Diego, CA
May 10 @ The Knitting Factory – Reno, NV
May 11 @ The Grand Ballroom At Regency Center – San Francisco, CA
May 12 @ Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
May 13 @ El Corazon – Seattle, WA
May 14 @ The Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA
May 16 @ Gothic Theater – Englewood, CO
May 18 @ Station 4 – St. Paul, MN
May 19 @ Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL
May 20 @ Blondie’s – Detroit, MI
May 21 @ Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY
May 22 @ Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH

w/ Nevermore, Keep of Kalessin, Neuraxis, and Bonded by Blood:
May 23 @ Expo Five – Louisville, KY
May 24 @ The Rave – Milwaukee, WI
May 26 @ The Zoo – Winnipeg, MB
May 27 @ The Exchange – Regina, SK
May 28 @ Dickens – Calgary, AB
May 29 @ Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB
May 31 @ Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, BC

Notice to the reader: there’s two shows in Edmonton, one in March, one in May. Expect two show reviews from myself, with tons of photos.

In the ongoing campaign for their newest release, Poetry for the Poisoned, we are extremely pleased to announce that Kamelot have confirmed a full North American Tour to take place late this Summer!

The long-awaited trek, dubbed Pandemonium Over North America 2011, is in support of Kamelot‘s epic, Billboard-charting album Poetry for the Poisoned (peaking at #74 on the US Billboard Top 200!), which was released in September. Along for the ride are Pirate-metallers Alestorm, as well as Blackguard and the The Agonist.

Due to continuing medical and personal issues, Roy Khan will not be able to continue touring in support of Poetry for the Poisoned. To his fans he states: “Hello all. I am here in Norway still recovering from what seems to have been a severe burnout syndrome. I am getting better but still under medical care. My priorities at the moment are my health & family. My future endeavors in Kamelot and music in general are being evaluated, however at this time my focus is on getting back on my feet and spending time with family and friends. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes!”

With the news of Roy’s continued absence, we are pleased to announce that metal icon Fabio Lione (Rhapsody of Fire) will be joining the tour and handling the lead vocal duties.

Fabio Lione is eager to get on the road, stating, “I am excited and pleased to be part of the next Kamelot tour. I always loved the sound of the band, and I think this will be a great experience for me, the band, and for all the fans of great music and Kamelot. See you soon on tour, and let’s rock!”

In addition to Fabio, throughout these shows there will also be special guest and vocal appearances from top artists in the scene, making this is a special and rare tour, not to be missed!

Kamelot – Pandemonium Over North America Tour 2011:
w/ Alestorm, Blackguard, The Agonist
8/26/2011 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
8/27/2011 Jaxx – West Springfield, VA
8/28/2011 The Trocadero – Philadelphia, PA
8/30/2011 The Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
8/31/2011 The Palladium – Worcester , MA
9/02/2011 Club Soda – Montreal, QC
9/03/2011 Imperial De Quebec – Quebec City, QC
9/04/2011 Mod Club – Toronto, ON
9/06/2011 Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH
9/07/2011 Blondie’s – Detroit, MI
9/08/2011 Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
9/09/2011 Station 4 – St. Paul, MN
9/12/2011 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
9/13/2011 Peter’s Room – Portland, OR
9/14/2011 Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
9/15/2011 House Of Blues – West Hollywood, CA
9/16/2011 Clubhouse – Tempe, AZ
9/17/2011 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
9/18/2011 Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO
9/20/2011 Trees – Dallas, TX
9/21/2011 Scout Bar – Houston, TX
9/23/2011 The Club At Firestone – Orlando, FL

US death metal pioneers Incantation have recently been added to the already stacked line up for this year’s Neurotic Deathfest, which runs April 29th & 30th in Tilburg, Netherlands. Drummer Kyle Severn gave the following statement:

“On behalf of myself and Incantation, we would like to announce that we have just been added to the greatest indoor European death metal fest line up that we have ever seen. Yes, I’m talking about this year’s Neurotic Deathfest in Holland. Incantation is honored to share the stage again with the almighty Autopsy, as well as the return of At The Gates, and other metal legends like Obituary, and new metallers of the 2K-era Hail Of Bullets. We plan to play a very obscure set in honor of this amazing line up and for our very supportive fans, old school and new alike. With a well rounded fest lineup bound together with leather and spikes, you will not want to miss this Incantation setlist, which is already a making in the metal history. We are riding the metal storm out with the same line up as we had this time last year when we successfully spread blasphemy across Europe during our headlining tour for the highly respected 7” EP Scapegoat with Alex Bouks (Goreaphobia, Master) guitars, Chuck Sherwood (Blood Storm) bass, John McEntee on guitar and vokills and myself skinsmans Kyle Severn on the drums….Kyle666″

Neurotic Deathfest 2011, featuring the likes of At The Gates, Autopsy, Obituary, Hate Eternal, Incantation and many more, is already shaping up to be the most brutal festival of the year. Keep checking in at www.neuroticdeathfest.com for information and updates.