Masterful Magazine - News

Behemoth - Evangelion certified gold in Poland

"Evangelion", the new opus by polish death / black tank BEHEMOTH just received gold status in the band's home country, selling more than15.000 copies since the date of release back on August 7, 2009. The album debuted on the second place of the Polish charts. During the following 3 weeks the album was located at no. 1 in Poland. Commented mainman Nergal: "Wow... big fuckin' WOW! What else can I say? This is a HUGE day for BEHEMOTH. From the bottom of our hearts we'd like thank all the people who bought the record and made it happen! You are more than awesome! Now we are stuck somewhere in Austrian mountains, the tour is doing great even though most of us are battling with the flu. I'm on antibiotics and steroids so I can't even celebrate tonight with the bottle of Jack D. in my hands... I just hope some of you can do it for me? Haha...Once again, thank you for all the support! Cheerz!" BEHEMOTH are currently on an European co-headlining run with DEVILDRIVER. Other bands to appear at the Neckbreakers Ball tour are SCAR SYMMETRY and ARSIS! http://www.nuclearblast.de/
source: Nuclear Blast Records
2009-11-08

Troll - sign w/ Napalm Records

Napalm Records proudly announces the signing of cult band Troll! The legendary Norwegian Black Metal band is behind such classics of pitch-black art like “Drep De Kristne”. Lead by frontman Nagash, Troll create an inferno of bestial blastbeats, piercing guitar riffs and possessed vocals that seem the emerge right from the depths of hell itself. The band promises to make no compromises when it comes to the new material, hence a lesson in Black Metal will soon be unleashed! A new opus of satanic art is tentatively scheduled for winter 2009. Nagash: ”The basic foundation and inspiration for Troll besides the Devil, has always been the Underground. And what soldier doesn’t like the smell of Napalm in the morning?! Our choice was obvious.” http://www.napalmrecords.com/
source: Napalm Records
2009-11-08

Iron Maiden - new album

Guitarist Janick Gers of British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN revealed to BBC News that the band has already started writing songs for its 15th studio album. "We're going to Paris for three weeks to work on some new stuff," Gers said at the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Awards 2009 on November 2 at the Park Lane Hotel in London, England. "The most important thing for a band is to create new music, otherwise you're not valid — you become a parody." http://www.ironmaiden.com/
source: blabbermouth.net
2009-11-08

Be'Lakor - sign w/ Kolony Records

Australian metallers BE’LAKOR have inked a deal with Italy’s Kolony Records for the European release of their second album Stone’s Reach. The release of the album will be November 30. Quickly come to be regarded as one of Australia’s most promising and creative metal acts, Be’lakor has recently ventured across Australia for the first time, taking in performances in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney. Be’lakor can be described as melancholic and epic melodic death metal done in right Scandinavian fashion. Stone’s Reach tracklisting: 'Venator' 'From Scythe To Sceptre' 'Outlive The Hand' 'Sun's Delusion' 'Held In Hollows' 'Husks' 'Aspect' 'Countless Skies' For further information visit www.myspace.com/belakor http://www.kolonyrecords.com/
source: bravewords.com
2009-11-06

Divine Eve and Vex on 7'' split

Recently reformed Texas death metal veterans DIVINE EVE will be releasing a split 7" with VEX through Horror Pain Gore Death Productions in January of 2010. Below is the official press release: One of the most crushing Death/Doom Metal bands ever to emerge, Divine Eve have returned with their first new material since 1994! Musically influenced by BLACK SABBATH, CELTIC FROST, HELLHAMMER, SODOM, VENOM, BATHORY, ENTOMBED's Left Hand Path album and CATHEDRAL’s Forest Of Equilibrium album, Divine Eve have been often imitated but never duplicated. Lyrically they draw inspiration from pure visions of ancient Pagan history, novel heretical ideologies and dismal shrouded dreams. Divine Eve's impact can be heard in many current acts today but no one can hold a candle to the originators who are finally resurrected from the grave! Vex play a unique brand of death metal with their fusion of atavistic aggression and dark melody. Taking influence from artists such as THE CHASM, THE CROWN, CELTIC FROST and DISSECTION, the occasional sonic and rhythmic exploration harkens back to the age of progressive acts like VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR, URIAH HEEP and MAGMA. This combination acts as a background to vocal landscapes that portray the most desolate side of the human experience with lyrical influence from writers such as Jorge Luis Borges, W.B. Yeats and T.S. Eliot. Pressed on Mixed Marble vinyl and packaged in a glue pocket jacket with full color insert. For ordering details visit this location: http://hpgd.comoj.com/store/hpgd018.html www.horrorpaingoredeath.tk
source: bravewords.com
2009-11-06

Eluveitie - new album detailed

Swiss pagan horde ELUVEITIE will release its third album, "Everything Remains", in early 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The band's mainman, Chrigel Glanzmann, recently attending the mixing sessions at Nott-In Pill studios in Wales with Colin Richardson (SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD, KREATOR, BEHEMOTH) and Martyn "Ginge" Ford. "Everything Remains" track listing: 01. Otherworld 02. Everything Remains As It Never Was 03. Thousandfold 04. Nil 05. The Essence Of Ashes 06. Isara 07. Kingdom Come Undone 08. Quoth The Raven 09. (Do)minion 10. Setlon 11. Sempiternal Embers 12. Lugdunon 13. The Liminal Passage Commented Glanzmann: "We can look back at two extremely intense months of working our asses off recording the album. It has been an intense, exhausting, but also satisfying time with all of us giving 150% in. Many things developed very spontaneously and songs became very authentic, pure and genuine." "Everything Remains" will be the follow-up to the acoustic/folk masterpiece "Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion", which was released in April via Nuclear Blast Records. It contained 15 folk songs, most of them written in ancient gaulish language. ELUVEITIE last year announced the addition of Paede Kistler (bagpipes, whistles, acoustic guitars) and Kay Brem (bass) to the group's ranks. http://www.nuclearblast.de/
source: blabbermouth.net
2009-11-06

Beissert - sign w/ Agonia Records

Latest update from Agonia Records (www.agoniarecords.com): "BEISSERT is our new signing. German, Saxonian Rock/Metal/Sludge band having one full lenght album under their belt already. Darkness is present in their music as well as various inspirations. From classic Rock/Metal/Sludge to some 70's prog and psychodelic rock, black metal and folk. Their new album will be recorded shoortly and is planned to be released in early 2010." www.myspace.com/beissert.
source: agoniarecords.com
2009-11-06

Morbus Chron - sign w/ Pulverised Records

Stockholm, Sweden-based death metallers MORBUS CHRON have inked a deal with Pulverised Records. The band is preparing to enter the studio to record its full-length debut for an early 2010 release. MORBUS CHRON previously released a self-titled four-track demo tape, which garnered favorable reviews everywhere. Commented Pulverised label manager Roy Yeo: "I was amazed by MORBUS CHRON when I first heard them; it was almost unbelievable that the band is so young and they could capture the essence of the old death metal style. Influences like AUTOPSY and early ENTOMBED are easily spotted in the songs, but there is just a certain fire and enthusiasm coming from MORBUS CHRON that cannot be described and we are very much looking forward to the debut album!" http://www.pulverised.net/
source: blabbermouth.net
2009-11-06

Grave Ritual - sign w/ Razorback Records

Razorback Recordings has announced that GRAVE RITUAL will release their debut CD on the label in early 2010. Formerly known as MEATHOLE INFECTION, Grave Ritual play twisted death metal with an emphasis on catchy song writing, dark passages, and heavy doom-laden riffs... like a mixture of IMPETIGO's Horror Of The Zombies album crossed over with INCANTATION's Onward To Golgotha, but also keeping their own sound and approach. The band have a healthy DIY way of doing things, which goes perfect with Razorback's attitude, and the label looks forward to unleashing this debut CD with diabolic enthusiasm. http://www.razorbackrecords.com/
source: bravewords.com
2009-11-06

Ptahil release "Ortus" MCD via Stronghold Records

Indiana black metal project PTAHIL recently released debut MCD Ortus via Stronghold Records. "Formed in the year MMIX, Anno Domini, by multi-instruimentalist, J. Mhaghnuis, the project was created out of studies and meditations of Gnosticism and Satanic Illumination and inspired musically by doom, avant-garde black metal and the complete unwillingness to follow any type of practical theory, musical or otherwise. PTAHIL is black metal charged with adversarial ritual and spirituality, sworn to the Anti-Cosmic Chaos and the perpetuation towards the death of all life, lyrically manuscripted from Satanic introspection and musically composed from dissonant flagellation. The EP is limited to 300 copies, exclusively packaged in a digi-wallet", Tracklisting: 1. "The Infinite Truth Of The Word Of God Is Translated By Corrupt Fallen Man" 2. "Dies Irae! Dies Illa! Solvet Saeclum In Favilla!" Check out sample tracks on the official PTAHIL MySpace page: www.myspace.com/ptahil In addition, three songs have been recorded for a split CD release with Satanik. The release is due out sometime in 2010. Details TBA. www.strongholdrecords.net
source: Liz Ciavarella-Brenner / Earsplit PR
2009-11-05