Crossover thrash metal zasedba Belushi Speed Ball bo 10. maja izdala nov album Stellkira. Prvi single My Favourite Color Is Pizza je že na voljo za poslušanje, objavili pa so tudi naslove drugih komadov, ki bodo del ploščka:

My Favorite Color Is Pizza
This is the Peak
Eels and Escalators
Get to the Point
Glass Bones and Paper Skin IV
The Adventures of Rick and Mortarion
Garth, Let My Family Go
Griffith Did Literally Everything Wrong
The Hash Slinging Slasher
The Accountant's Due (Stab the Katana)
Tater Tot Eyes

Moderni death metalci Hatefulmurder so objavili videospot za svoj novi single This Is the Final Hour.

Iz tabora finskih metal čelistov Apocalyptica je odjeknila vest, da se je band razšel z dolgoletnim bobnarjem Mikkom Sirénom. Spodaj lahko preberete celotno izjavo banda:

»Some of you may have already seen us playing without our drummer Mikko Siren in Brasil and Mexico earlier this year...or have heard rumors to this effect. We are very sorry to have to inform you that we have amicably parted ways with Mikko after 20 years. Recording our forthcoming album was our last collective achievement. Also, we want to reassure all of you that we – Eicca, Perttu and Paavo – will continue as APOCALYPTICA. We wish Mikko happiness and success in everything he aims for in all his future endeavors!!«

Pred dnevi pa smo tudi poročali, da se Apocalyptica septembra odpravljajo na turnejo po Evropi.

Avtorica fotografije je Saša Krajnc.

Avstrijski black metal šamani Anomalie sporočajo, da so zaključili snemanje novega celovečerca. Kdaj bo album ugledal luč sveta, še ni znano. Izjava banda:

»A few minutes ago we tracked the very last vocal takes for the new Anomalie album which is now ready to get mixed by V. Santura during the upcoming months.
We gave our absolute all and can't wait to share some music with the world later this year!«

V začetku meseca smo poročali, da so francoski black/death metalci ACOD podpisali za založbo Hammerheart Records. Zdaj je znano, da bodo Francozi 26. aprila izdali album z naslovom Versets noir in da bo ta med drugim prinesel eno priredbo:

Habentis Maleficia
The Son of a God (The Heir of Divine Blood)
A Thousand Lives in a Second
May This World Burn
Black Trip (Samael cover)

Blaze Bayley predstavlja nov single Rage s prihajajočega albuma Circle of Stone. Tudi tokrat je Blaze izdajo singla podkrepil z videospotom, ki si ga lahko ogledate spodaj, album pa bo izšel 23. februarja. Znana pa je tudi že tracklista:

Mind Reader
Tears in Rain
Rage
The Year Beyond This Year
Ghost in the Bottle
The Broken Man
The Call of the Ancestors
Circle of Stone (feat. Niklas Stålvind)
Absence
A Day of Reckoning
The Path of the Righteous Man
Until We Meet Again

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 deathcore zasedba Whitechapel je minuli petek izdala live plošček z naslovom Live in the Valley, ki ga lahko v celoti preverite na Bandcampu, in live videospot za komad This is Exile, ki ga lahko vidite spodaj.

Varšavski Armagh s komadom Masters of Time ponujajo v posluh tretji album Exclamation Po!nt, ki ga bodo 15. marca izdali pri založbi Dying Victims Productions. Album sicer prinaša te komade:

Rough Edges
Masters of Time
Aftermath
Between the Sides
The Portal
Rapid Str!de
This !s New A
Enough for Now

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«

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.

Darkwave/gothwave/doom metal zasedba Inver je objavila vizualizer za Tarnished Son, drugi single s prihajajočega albuma On This Earth.

Reckoning, metalcore band iz Srbije, je pri založbi Geenger Records nedavno izdal debitantski EP This Is War, ki je trenutno le v digitalni obliki, v kratkem pa bo na voljo tudi v fizični obliki. Celotnemu EP-ju lahko prisluhnete spodaj.

Progresivni death metal duet Iapetus sporoča, da je podpisal pogodbo z založbo Willowtip Records. Band je trenutno v fazi priprave materiala za tretji album, spodaj pa lahko preberete izjavo banda ob začetku sodelovanja z novo založbo:

»We are honored, humbled, and thrilled to announce our partnership with Willowtip Records - to join their incomparable roster, both past and present, and to stand alongside so many incredible bands that we have long admired both as fans and peers.Willowtip is and has always been dedicated to pushing the boundaries of metal - to championing the off-beat and the unfamiliar - and so we feel resolutely at home beneath their legendary, ever-innovative banner. This partnership is, for us - and in so many ways - a perfect fit. We could not be more excited for the endeavors ahead.

Writing for our next album has been ongoing for years, and is still well underway - while it's still too far-off for specific details, we can promise that it will be our darkest record yet - an 80+ minute conceptual rumination on hopelessness, mortality, and meaning in an uncaring cosmos. More news will become available as the album progresses.

And, as always, our unending gratitude for the continual support of our fans across the globe - if you haven't already, check out some of our new, outstanding labelmates - An Abstract Illusion, Countless Skies, Hath, Slugdge, The Anchoret, and more!

Cheers, and Happy New Year!«

Temačni progresivci Fragment Soul so posneli videospot za svoj nov single This Empty Dream. Ta se nahaja na prihajajočem studijskem albumu Galois Paradox, ki bo izšel 23. februarja pri Wormholedeath Records.