Deathcorovci Chelsea Grin sporočajo, da je vrzel na bobnarskem stolčku zapolnil Josh Miller. Zasedba se je pred kratkim razšla z bobnarjem Pablom Viverosom in tako je nov polnopravni član zasedbe postal Josh. Izjava banda:

»We hope everyone has been doing well; we have some updates. We have parted ways with our fill-in drummer, Nathan Pearson. We sincerely value his friendship, as well as his devotion to furthering his craft and bringing his all to the stage. We truly look forward to watching his drumming career continue to blossom and advance, and value his time with us.

Furthermore, the band and Pablo have mutually agreed to separate. Pablo is one of our oldest friends, the life of the party, a masterful player, and a powerful creative. After Pablo spent some years away from the band, we all came together and realized that personal visions had diverged through time. We will always wish the very best for him, and seriously value all that he brought not only to the band, but to our lives. Nothing but tremendous love for him, always. We also encourage everyone to show support for him, Jaek and Alex’s new band, Ameonna.

Moving forward, we are proud and excited to announce that Josh Miller will be joining Chelsea Grin. It goes without saying that the future is bright – you will hear it in our music and witness it in our performances.

We keep very much to ourselves at this stage in our lives, but when we check in we want each of you to know that you are deeply and sincerely valued – we are so grateful for the opportunity to do what we love. We cannot wait to bring more of our vision to you all. Thank you for the years of support and love, and we will see you on our current tour supporting Fit For A King.«

Kot smo januarja poročali, je v 78. letu starosti umrl Tony Clarkin, kitarist, ustanovitelj britanskih veteranov Magnum. Že takrat se je šušljalo, da to pomeni tudi konec za zasedbo, ki je to zdaj tudi uradno potrdila. Izjava vokalista Boba Catleyja:

»Hello, everybody. Bob here. All right. I wish I didn't have to tell you this, but I really can't carry on with Tony not here anymore. Please forgive me, and I hope you can understand how I feel. I've been thinking about it a lot lately.
Since we lost Tone, we lost our guiding light, the magnum force behind the band, our songwriter, our producer, our guitar player. He was everything to the band. He was everything to me. For the last 50 years, we never went anywhere without each other. On tour, in the studio, I was at his side constantly, working on stuff with him. I had a wonderful life with Tony. But now it's all too much for me, people. I can't carry on without Tony.
I may pop up in some other shape or form in the near future – you never know – but I can't keep going on like this. It's far too sad; it's all too sad.
So, I hope you understand. You've been fantastic – the best audience ever. You kept this band going year after year, album after album, and we thank you for that.
So, be good. Keep Tony's music in your heart always. I know I will. I will always carry MAGNUM inside me. And I will always have Tony Clarkin beside me wherever I go.
I love you. You've been brilliant. But it's time for me to bow out now. It's my last curtain call, okay? I'll see you sometime. Be good. Cheers. Bye-bye.«

Tehnični brutal death metalci Hideous Divinity so prejšnji petek pri Century Media Records izdali album Unextinct in videospot za komad More than Many, Never One.

Legendarni brazilski power/progressive metalci Angra so posneli video za skladbo Here in the Now. Komad najdete na aktualnem albumu Cycles of Pain iz lanskega leta.

Lansko poletje smo že poročali, da se francoski post metal/shoegaze dvojec Alcest mudi v studiu. Zdaj pa je odjeknila novica, da bo band 21. junija pri založbi Nuclear Blast izdal sedmi album Les Chants de l’Aurore. Za naslovnico albuma je poskrbela nadarjena francoska umetnica Yoann Lossel. Seznam skladb:

Komorebi
L’Envol
Améthyste
Flamme Jumelle
Réminiscence
L’Enfant de la Lune (月の子）
L’Adieu

Srbska heavy metal zasedba Claymorean predstavlja najnovejši live video za komad Battle in the Sky. Posnetek je nastal na lanskoletnem festivalu Metaleros Vol. 4.

Norveški hardcore stonerji Bokassa bodo ta petek izdali album All Out of Dreams. Tracklista:

The Ending Starts Today
Garden of Heathen (feat. Lou Koller)
Straight Edgelord
All Out of Dreams
Bradford Death Squadron (feat. Aaron Beam)
Let's Storm the Capitol
Everyone Fails in the End
Gung Ho
No More Good Days
Crush (All Heretics)

Projekt Crosses, ki ga vodita Chino Moreno in Shaun Lopez, se bo junija mudil po Evropi. Nam najbliže se bodo ustavili 11. junija v Zagrebu (Tvornica), dan prej pa bodo tudi v avstrijskem Linzu.

Ameriški tehnični death metalci Revocation so objavili videospot za komad The Grip Tightens z mini albuma Teratogenesis iz leta 2012, ki so ga v ponedeljek znova izdali pri Relapse Records. Na omenjenem izidu so še štiri bonus skladbe, in sicer priredbe skladb Dyer's Eve (Metallica), Surprise! You're Dead! (Faith No More), Pull the Plug (Death) in Death in Vain (Exhorder).

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.«

Ameriška progressive/alternative rock zasedba Nothing More predstavlja videospot za novo pesem If It Doesn’t Hurt.

Nemška zasedba Paradox se vrača z napovedjo novega albuma Mysterium. Album naj bi izšel še letos pri založbi AFM Records, točen datum izida pa še ni znan. Spodaj pa si lahko preberete izjavo Charlyja Steinhauerja:

»Friends and fans,
I had a dream. I wanted to start together with AXEL BLAHA, with whom I founded PARADOX in 1981, and end together again at some point. Unfortunately, that is no longer possible because he has said goodbye to this world.
In all these years, AXEL was the only musician who worked with me the way you have to, to achieve a goal. We never danced around at multiple weddings and were always loyal to one band. PARADOX! This was the only way the two classics “PRODUCT OF IMAGINATION” and “HERESY” were possible.
I miss him very much and it is very difficult for me to move on without him, but anyone who knows me knows that giving up is not an option for me.
Not even after 43 years and that's why I can tell you, that I have composed a new PARADOX album, which will hopefully be released worldwide this year via AFM RECORDS. The album will be called “MYSTERIUM” and will contain all the trademarks a Paradox fan wants.
The special thing about “MYSTERIUM” is that I composed all the songs and played all the instruments myself, because I will never again work with project-hungry musician whores who play a few notes on an album but otherwise have nothing to do with PARADOX, or none maintain contact with his colleagues. Unfortunately, this runs like a common thread through the entire career and is the main reason why PARADOX was never able to really get off the ground. To do this you need musicians who work together and pursue a common goal.
It should also be a warning to all young musicians and new bands who want to achieve something with their band. You can find out more about this in the numerous interviews for the new album. You should definitely read this!
I will also be responsible for the mix and the entire production.
The lyrics are written by ACHIM “DAXX” HOEMERLEIN (ex-Vendetta), who also wrote the lyrics for “TALES OF THE WEIRD” and “PANGEA”.
TRAVIS SMITH (Opeth/Nevermore etc) is currently working on the artwork.
“MYSTERIUM” is a very heavy album and contains 10 songs with a playing time of 51 minutes. Dedicated to AXEL BLAHA, my best friend and co-founder of PARADOX!
Cheerz!
Charly«

Švedski death metalci Puteraeon so z videospotom za Graverobber napovedali prihajajoči EP z naslovom Quindecennial Horror, ki izide 8. marca pri Emanzipation Productions in prinaša pet komadov:

The Plague
Whispers Of The Dead
Graverobber
Dead Once More
Storms Over Devil’s Reef

Domači moderni metalci From Ashes so včeraj razkrili besedilni videospot za naslovni komad prihajajočega albuma z naslovom Not Afraid. Album, ki bo izšel 8. februarja, je bil posnet v studiu La Casetta Gialla Studio v Trstu pod budnim ušesom priznanega producenta Cristiana Norbeda, prinaša pa deset komadov:

The Game
Demise
Brother
Not Afraid
No More
Deamons
Live Your Life Again
I - M
II - A
III - P

Nizozemska enočlanska black metal zasedba Helleruin, ki smo jo lani decembra ujeli v Eindhovnu, se je odpravila v studio in že pripravlja material za nov dolgometražec, ki naj bi izšel že letos:

»2024 has officially started with a new studio session.

Upped the game with more cymbals, more toms and more microphones. Going from 6 to 14 channels to record. As I’m trying different ways to challenge myself, I’m recording for the first time to a Clicktrack. So yes, obviously new music coming this year.«

Avtor fotografije je Žiga Grubelnik.