News: Huntsmen Release Second Single and Tour Dates

HUNTSMEN have today released the second track from their upcoming album, Mandala of Fear. The single, titled A Nameless Dread, is streaming everywhere now (listen on Bandcamp here). Mandala of Fear is released via Prosthetic Records on March 13 - pre-orders are available HERE. Of the new single, guitarist/vocalist, Chris Kang says: "A Nameless Dread is the heaviest and most abrasive song on Mandala of Fear. It tells of an elusive and shadowy cruelty that marauds the desert seeking only to single out, punish, and destroy the weak and wounded. It might be a man, or a memory of unimaginable pain, or both. Either way it was born of pain and was unable to escape its mire, so pain became its legacy - its gift to others. It is the memory of past terror projected outward into the future, wielding boundless power; eternally repleted by those enslaved to it".

Tour Dates: Iron Kingdom European Tour

Inspired by legendary pillars of heavy metal such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, The Scorpions, and Rush, IRON KINGDOM is well known for their energetic and electrifying stage presence, as well as intricate musical melodies that bring listeners back to a time when the genre was in its prime.

This past October, the band unleashed their latest album "On The Hunt" along with kicking off a two-month North American tour in support of the full-length. 

Now recharged after a short break home in Vancouver, BC, the full force DIY Canadian heavy metallers announce they will be crossing the Atlantic for six-show dates in Europe that include performing at Full Metal Osthessen Festival (DE) and Swordbrothers Metal Fest (DE) plus a show date supporting Vicious Rumors (all dates listed below).

Vocalist/guitarist Chris Osterman adds:

“After our last tour of Europe in 2014, we knew that they held heavy metal very close to their hearts, and we knew it was something very special for the genre. Europe was always on our minds, it was always a conversation at rehearsals and band meetings, but for one reason or another, we kept having to delay our return. You know it really is quite strange to think it’s been six whole years since we performed there, We’re so honoured and excited to have been invited back, and we are so thankful to say that now the wait is over, it’s truly been far too long!  We will see you soon!! But until then, just remember to Keep It Steel!” 

Tour Dates: Fools Ghost

Fools Ghost

Recent Prosthetic Records signings FOOL’S GHOST have announced a North American tour supporting Fotocrime. 

The Louisville, KY duo will hit the road starting in March - full dates are below. FOOL’S GHOST will release their untitled debut album in early 2020 - more details are due imminently.

Comprising of Nick Thieneman (Young Widows, Breather Resist) and Amber Thieneman (Liberation Prophecy, Sandpaper Dolls), FOOL’S GHOST are a band small in number but vast in scope. 

ENSIFERUM To Kick Off North American Headlining Tour With Kalmah, Abigail Williams, And Aenimus This Week

ENSIFERUM will kick off their Path To Victory North American headlining tour this week. The band's latest run begins November 14th in Richmond, Virginia and makes its way through nearly two-dozen cities, concluding December 8th in Brooklyn, New York. Support will be provided by Kalmah, Abigail Williams, and Aenimus. See all confirmed dates below.

Standing among the greats of folk-inspired melodic death metal, ENSIFERUM continues to tour in support of their latest album, Two Paths. 

A record that further builds upon the thrilling metallic hybrid honed across six full-lengths, Two Paths is the quintet's most epic and far-reaching collection of songs to date as well as their most organic. 

Tour Dates: Caustic Casanova

Washington DC rockers Caustic Casanova are excited to announce "God How I Envy This Tour," a run of dates in November that will take them from Brooklyn to Texas.  

The tour started on November 2nd at legendary Williamsburg venue Saint Vitus with Magnetic Eye's Day of Doom showcase, the band will travel through Virginia, the Carolinas, Florida, and Lousiana on their way to three final stops in the Lone Star State.

All dates will be in support of their recently released album God How I Envy The Deaf.

Tour Dates

Nov. 8 - Richmond, VA @Wonderland
Nov. 9 - Greensboro, NC @Flat Iron
Nov. 10 - Wilmington, NC @Gravity Records
Nov. 11 - Raleigh, NC @Slims
Nov. 12 - Charleston, SC @The Royal American
Nov. 14 - St. Augustine, FL @Shanghai Nobby's
Nov. 15 - Gainesville, FL @Loosey's
Nov. 16 - St. Petersburg, FL  @The Bends
Nov. 17 - Pompano Beach, FL @Lozer Lounge
Nov. 18 - Orlando, FL @Wills Pub
Nov. 20 - New Orleans, LA @Carnaval Lounge
Nov. 21 - San Antonio, TX @Hi-Tones
Nov. 22 - Denton, TX @Backyard on Bell Block Party III
Nov. 23 - Fort Worth, TX @Lola's Trailer Park Bar

Tour Dates: Cell Kicks Off North American Tour

Winnipeg, MB cosmic black metal trio CELL are preparing to hit the road across the USA and Canada in support of their upcoming album "Ancient Incantations Of Xarbos."

The tour will kick off in Fargo, ND on September 27th and end in their hometown of Winnipeg, MB on October 19th opening for Immolation.

CELL's new album "Ancient Incantations Of Xarbos" continues their dramatic and theatrical storytelling in their conceptual science fiction universe. Following up their debut 2016 album "The Frozen Moon Of Erebath", the next chapter will be available on October 4, 2019.
Taking place on a planet called Xarbos, two races collide over different ways of life. 

The listener can expect to be pummelled with blast beats and speed and put into a hypnotic doomy trance while floating through an atmospheric and cosmic cleans. CELL goes into the details of the story the album follows:

“Each track has its own story in the album that leads to one big ending which is the decimation of the Xarbonite hierarchy. In the story, there are two races of beings on this planet: one race chose to rise with power, tech, money and the lower race is actually the oldest of Xarbos and know the ways of the land and its magic. There are a few side stories within the album that trail off but still, stay within the main story.”

Tour Dates: Necronomicon Announce "A Relentless Onslaught US Tour" w/ Suffocation, Belphegor, Abiotic

NECRONOMICON announce they will be hitting the road for "A Relentless Onslaught US Tour" with Belphegor, Suffocation, and Abiotic. The 26 date tour kicks off on October 24th in Sauget, IL and will end on November 23rd in Reading, PA. 

The Canadian premier blackened death metallers are back this year with their upcoming album "UNUS" due out October 18th via Season of Mist to follow their crushing and cinematic 2016’s "Advent of the Human God". With each record NECRONOMICON has created in the span of their 31-year career, the band has steadily evolved in both sound and power; ‘UNUS’ is no exception to this.

Rob The Witch adds:
"Necronomicon is proud to go on the road with long-time friends Suffocation and of course cult german dark band Belphegor. We shared the stage with both of these bands in the past but only on a 1 off or festivals, so very excited to do all these American dates with them. See you all in October/November US fans."

NECRONOMICON's new album 'UNUS' is a searing cacophony of blistering riffs, machine-like drums, and a symphonic ambiance, culminating in a sound that calls to various metal icons such as DIMMU BORGIR, SEPTICFLESH, BEHEMOTH, and DEICIDE. 

The record combines the furious elements of death metal with the orchestral prowess of black metal, creating the perfect synthesis of both genres. Standout tracks like 'Paradise Lost' and 'Singularis Dominus' only solidify NECRONOMICON’s ability to continuously produce high-quality metal that’s just as dark and brutal as it is elegant.

Tour Dates: Enforced Announces North American Tour

Following the WAR Records summer release of their debut LP, At The Walls, Virginia crossover quintet ENFORCED announces a run of Eastern North American fall tour dates with High Command.

At The Walls features a remixed and remastered version of ENFORCED's2017 demo and their "Retaliation" promo, and introduces two brand new songs. 

All tracks were recorded by Bob Quirk and mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk (Power Trip, Cavalera Conspiracy, Candy), and the album's cover art was created by Dwid Hellion (Integrity, Psywarfare) who makes a guest appearance on the track "Skinned Alive."

Following their East Coast tour with Sacred Reich, Iron Reagan, and Leeway in May, ENFORCED has shared the stage with Accused AD, Red Death, Ekulu, and others on local one-off shows throughout the summer. 

Now, the band announces their next widespread live excursion in support of At The Walls, this time with Massachusetts-based High Command. 

Beginning October 18th in ENFORCED's hometown of Richmond, the At The Walls Of Desolation Tour 2019 will bulldoze northward through the Northeast US and into Canada before coming to a smoldering finale in High Command's hometown of Worcester on November 2nd.

At The Walls is out now through WAR Records on vinyl and digital formats through the label webshop HERE and Bandcamp HERE.

Monte Luna Announce Euro tour

MONTE LUNA ANNOUNCE EUROPEAN TOUR

Austin doom metal band MONTE LUNA  are pleased to announce that they will be embarking on a European tour next month.

The band commented "We are very excited to be heading over to Europe! We are thankful for such an amazing opportunity and we are currently planning a 2020 U.S. tour in support of Drowners' Wives as well. 

It is really a dream come true to do this, this is the reason we play music, to spread the love and to have the opportunity to show people who we are live. Our live experience is really our heart and soul, once you see that, we know you will want more. 

We will lay waste to Europe and have them looking forward to having us back. Our brothers Destroyer of Light and Duel paved the way for our Austin Community and we are proud to be joining the ranks. We are nothing with out the people that believe in us and for that we are thankful. 

We hope to meet plenty of new friends overseas and cant wait to meet our Argonauta Records family in person after all this time!!"

Ape Shifter Announces Tour Dates

German-based progressive-stoner rock trio APE SHIFTER will debut on North American shores this fall, featuring the extraordinary lineup of APE SHIFTER leader/guitarist Jeff Aug, legendary bassist Stu Hamm and drummer Jeremy Colson.

Stu Hamm, whose resume includes performing with Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Caifanes, says, "I have known Jeff and his music for years, and Jeremy and I are going to KICK THE SHIT out of this music on the APE SHIFTER tour!"

APE SHIFTER's second album, Ape Shifter II, was released earlier this year to critical acclaim. Fusing a classic heavy rock sound that arcs in the stoner rock direction with technical musical prowess, APE SHIFTER is dissimilar from any other progressive instrumental band.

"It is instrumental music without sounding like nerd rock," says Jeremy Colson, who also currently drums for Steve Vai and has worked with Billy Idol and Marty Friedman. "It is punk rock mentality with heavy grooves!!!"

Video and Tour Dates: Secret Shame

It's time get a little bit dark and perhaps a bit melancholy. Sometimes that sort of feeling is better than the nonstop anger of all the metal.

Secret Shame has released a video for their track Calm.

See right here.

They're also hitting the road. Check them out if they hit your town.

Upcoming Secret Shame Tour Dates:

9/07 - Raleigh, NC @ Hopscotch Music Festival

9/08 - Richmond, VA @ Hypercube

9/09 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar

9/10 - Montclair, NJ @ The Meat Locker

9/11 - York, PA @ Skid Row Garage

9/13 - Brooklyn, NY @ The Broadway

9/14 - Fredericksburg, VA - Rec Center FXBG

9/15 - Greensboro, NC @ New York Pizza 

9/16 - Asheville, NC @ The Mothlight

Tour Dates: Morbid Angel and Incantation

Legendary death metal titans MORBID ANGEL will blaze US stages this fall on a month-long headlining tour. The 2019 USA Sickness Tour begins November 21st in Houston, Texas and runs through December 21st in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. 

Support will be provided by Swedish black metal practitioners Watain and American death metal veterans Incantation. Ticket go on sale Thursday, August 29th.

Comments MORBID ANGEL's Steve Tucker of the band's latest trek, "We are really stoked to be doing this tour together with our brothers in Watain and Incantation! 

This is a relentless lineup of pure evil and uncompromised dark art! We look forward to melting the faces off of all of you seeking the comfort of the dark!"

MORBID ANGEL will be touring in support of their Kingdoms Disdained full-length released in 2017 via Silver Lining Music. The critically-adored record reunites founding guitarist Trey Azagthoth with bassist/vocalist Steve Tucker. 

Captured at Mana Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida and produced by MORBID ANGEL with Erik Rutan, the record delivers eleven pieces of devastatingly dynamic death metal. Rolling Stone hailed a, "cyclone of blastbeat-driven fury punctuated with Azagthoth's signature heaving, lunging grooves and Eddie Van Halen-on-a-bad-trip solos," while Metal Injection crowned the record, "one of the band's most essential efforts," adding, "the record contains almost wall to wall instant classics, and is not only Steve Tucker's best album as MORBID ANGEL frontman, but by extension the group's most genre-defining effort since 1995's iconic Domination."

Orders for Kingdoms Disdained are currently available at THIS LOCATION.

Tour Dates: Ghost:Hello Announce Tour

GHOST:HELLO ANNOUNCE TOUR

Stoner rock band Ghost:Hello are pleased to announce that they will embark on a short East US tour in September.

The band commented "We are super stoked to hit the road and to get to hang with everyone.  We’re looking forward to a tour full of the cheapest beers and amicable thumb wars!“

All dates will be in support of the band's upcoming album The Sound of Color In Space which will be released on September 20th.

Pre-order the album here: https://ghosthello.bandcamp.com/album/the-sound-of-color-in-space

Tour dates:

9/20 Album release & Tour Kick off party The Rialto Theatre - Akron, Ohio
9/21 Pauli’s Hotel - Albany, New York
9/22 The Flask - Portland, Maine
9/23 Midway Cafe -Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts 
9/24 Dusk - Providence, Rhode Island
9/25 The Depot - Baltimore, Maryland 
9/26 The Empty Glass, Charleston, West Virginia
9/27 Tarot Tattoo StonerDoom Tattoo extravaganza Volume II - Richmond Indiana 

News: Allegaeon Announces Apoptosis Tour Part II

ALLEGAEON will kick off their Apoptosis Tour Pt. II US headlining tour this fall. Set to run from October 15th through November 5th, the trek features support from Inferi and Paladin.

Comments the band, "We're very excited to announce the second leg of headlining shows in support of our new album, Apoptosis. 

This will be the first extensive tour we have done since release and we couldn't be happier to be joined by our friends in Inferi and Paladin for the ride. Check out the dates below - we hope to see you all very soon!" 

ALLEGAEON w/ Inferi, Paladin:

10/15/2019 In The Venue - Salt Lake City, UT

10/17/2019 El Corazon - Seattle, WA

10/18/2019 Bossanova Ballroom - Portland, OR

10/19/2019 The Pin! - Spokane, WA

10/21/2019 Metro Opera House - Oakland, CA

10/22/2019 Hi Hat - Los Angeles, CA

10/23/2019 Club Red - Mesa, AZ

10/25/2019 89th Street Collective - Oklahoma City, OK

10/26/2019 Satellite Bar - Houston, TX

10/28/2019 The Haven - Orlando, FL

News: John 5 Announces Invasion Second Leg

JOHN 5 and the Creatures have announced the second leg of the Invasion Tour 2019. The tour will kick off on October 30 in Michigan and wrap up just before Thanksgiving.

Jared James Nichols, who supported JOHN 5 on the first leg of the Invasion Tour earlier this year, has once again been tapped to open along with additional support from Reverend Jack.

"I'm excited to get back out on the road with The Creatures and play music from the new album," JOHN 5 says. "The response to the first leg of the Invasion Tour earlier this year was amazing and I can't wait to hit even more cities. Jared James Nichols was phenomenal last time around and we are happy to have him join us again."

Released last week, JOHN 5's highly-anticipated Invasion album has received rave reviews all around. Fans were able to get a taste of the album throughout the first half of the year via a series of videos released each month. 

JOHN 5 kicked off the year with the debut video clip from Invasion, the campy animated "Zoinks!", followed by three equally eccentric videos for "Midnight Mass," "I Am John 5" and "Crank It - Living with Ghosts." 

News: Caustic Casanova Announces Tour Dates

CAUSTIC CASANOVA TO EMBARK ON US TOUR

Washington, DC heavy rockers Caustic Casanova are preparing for a late summer tour that will take them across the United States.  Says the band,
"We're so excited to hit the road for our longest North American tour since 2016 (and our new guitarist Jake Kimberley's first coast-to-coast run). We'll be bringing you all the prog, stoner metal, psych, and noise rock you can handle, at irresponsible volumes each night, for nearly 2 months. We'll be playing very new songs, an old song or two, plus tunes off our forthcoming Magnetic Eye Records debut God How I Envy The Deaf, out this October."

Dead Register On Tour This November

A couple of years ago, an album crossed my desk by a band called Dead Register.

That name doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to be honest with you and if you try to google it, you're going to get results featuring conspiracy theories about the dead voting.

Their album, Fiber, is a strange mishmash of styles and genres.

I'm not even sure it's appropriate to just toss them under the label of metal. All that can be said is that it's a damned fine album. The Georgia trio describe themselves as a Gothic Band....perhaps there's a little bit of Southern Gothic there.

Earlier this year, my wish of having this release on vinyl came true and the splatter version is resting comfortably on the vinyl shelf.