Alternative-Zine.com - News

Jeff Walker to guest in Cypher

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:23:06 +0300

Carcass vocalist/bassist Jeff Walker will be making a guest appearance on the new upcoming album by Dutch death/thrash metal band Cypher. Walker will feature in a vocal battle with Cypher's frontman, known as T, on the track: "The Plague Race". Currently the band is in pre-production mode and completing the new material for their sophomore album which will likely surface fall/winter 2008.

Related Link(s):
Cypher official website
Rusty Cage Records

Virgin Steele sign to Dockyard 1

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:34:22 +0300

Dockyard1 has announced the signing of legendary American Heavy Metal band Virgin Steele! After the collaboration on the re-releases of "Age Of Consent" and "Noble Savage" which made those legendary albums available again, Virgin Steele now signed a new recording contract!
"This took quite awhile to conclude, as it was a difficult decision to make in regards to who to sign with, as we were offered several very good agreements from various labels, but in the end we decided to go with DOCKYARD 1, as we have a very long history with several of the key members of the team there and have always enjoyed working with them", said David DeFeis, the Virgin Steele's vocalist.

A brand new album is expected for about January 2009. DeFeis claims:
"If all goes well we should be able to issue a new album sometime between January and March."

Related Link(s):
Virgin Steele – official website
Dockyard1 Records

Mayhem – The end of an era

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:11:11 +0300

We're really sorry to announce that Mayhem guitarist/songwriter Blasphemer has decided to leave the band. Here's the musician's comment:
"It is with these written words that I hereby retract myself from my position as the guitar player of Mayhem.
The main reason behind this conclusion lies in the fact that I simply don't see any future for me in the band anymore, at least not a future I'd like to participate in over the coming years. I've been playing my part in the band now for more than 13 years already, having composed, produced and released several albums with great vision, dedication and craftsmanship, to arrive at this crossroad of opposites. Sooner or later, all things comes to an end, and in my case, this circle is complete.

For some of you this might not come as the biggest surprise, as I've clearly stated in several interviews that I was not sure what the next step would be. These "hints" were partly rooted in the fact that our latest album fulfilled all of the expectations, visions and aspects of negativity that I felt I wanted to express with this band, and also, of similar importance, that I felt tired of both the touring aspects, amidst its turbulence and personal differences, and also my role in the band.

It has been a dark, devoted and spellbinding journey, and as some beings and entities develop, others remain the same. I've developed my essence. No questions. However, the legacy of MAYHEM will/must always remain what it always has been, and I wish to thank all parts involved and to wish them all the best for the future. I also would like to thank my followers over the years, from "Wolf's Lair..." to "Ordo...", my vision has been clear. I'm also sure the band will continue with a respectful formation, and that an eventual album will be placed "up there", where it (should) belong.

I have now personally chosen to focus on other paths in terms of creativity and vision. My "child of heart" AVA INFERI has already a busy schedule for the future and our third album is being crafted as we speak. I will also re-surface with new will and blood in a future extreme project. You have not heard the last of me, on the contrary. It's all about to begin.
Note that the few already scheduled shows will go on as planned WITH me.

Rune Eriksen/Blasphemer".

Blasphemer was a member of Mayhem since their re-formation in 1995, and has established himself a reputation as a talented extreme music writer. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Related Link(s):
Mayhem official website
Season Of Mist

Arkan sign to Season Of Mist

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:51:08 +0300

France's Season of Mist is proud to introduce melo-death metal newcomers Arkan, led by ex-The Old Dead Tree drummer Foued Moukid.
Here is the man's comment on the band's signing to the label:
"Season of Mist is a label well known for the variety and the prestige of its catalogue. Arkan's first album "Hilal" is a mix of tones and moods, a journey between the magic of the south and the power of the north. It was obvious for us to sign with such a record company. What's more, working with such enthusiast people about music is more than sharing a professional relationship, it is a human adventure. For all these reasons, we are very proud to work with Season of Mist."

The band's first album is entitled "Hilal" and will hit the stores on June 16th and July 8th in the US.

Related Link(s):
Season Of Mist
Arkan – official website
Arkan @ MySpace

Season Of Mist – D/L MP3's from upcoming May releases

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:43:13 +0300

Season Of Mist have posted MP3's for the label's upcoming releases – You can now listen to a song from both Dead Shape Figure and Naer Mataron albums, to be released May 19th. You can read what the bands can say about the songs as well…

Dead Shape Figure
Upcoming release: "The grand Karoshi"
Release date: May 19th, US Jun. 24th
MP3 - DEAD SHAPE FIGURE - The Grand Karoshi - Blithering Icon

Juhani (guitar): "Musically, "Blithering Icon" represents the fastest bits of the "The grand Karoshi" album. The song is a big hail to old thrash bands like Dark Angel and Annihilator. It's all about going fast and not stopping to take a breath while doing it."
Galzi (vocals): "I started to write "Blithering Icon" about a crooked salesman selling bad products, making fast money and letting people down constantly. I guess the song is about false saviors and misled disciples as well. As soon as I realized the song was also about a man encountering a savior, I just had to check out Dismember's "Hate Campaign" and take some feelings from there also."

"The grand Karoshi" - tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Blades
3. Lesser the Man
4. Bend the Weak
5. Remington Lucifer
6. Fight against, lie behalf
7. Blithering Icon
8. Karõshi / From Contempt to Oblivion
9. 6 x 9
10. Perinde Ac Cadaver

Dead Shape Figure - official website
Dead Shape Figure @ MySpace

Naer Mataron
Upcoming release: "Praetorians"
Release date: May 19th, US May 27th
MP3 - NAER MATARON - Praetorians - Death cast a Shadow over you

Kaiadas (bass, vocals): "Brutality engages feeling. Even if it is a rather fast song it combines all those elements that compose the distinguish sound of Naer Mataron. Violence with the epic parts and with the Hellenic vocals bond together and reveal an exotic breeze of war, triumph and death."

"Praetorians" - tracklist:
1. Anti-Celestial Campaign
2. Ostara
3. Sun Wheel
4. Death cast a Shadow over you
5. Secret Heritage
6. Astral Anthology
7. Sol Invictus
8. Incarcerating Gallantry
9. The eternal Pest
10. Eagle's Nest
11. Praetorians

Naer Mataron – official website

Naem Mataron @ MySpace

New Soul Embraced songs online

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:21:26 +0300

Soul Embraced have posted two new songs online called "The Devil's Reflection" and "Breaking Point". These songs come off of the band's upcoming album, "Dead Alive" which is available in stores and online April 29th!

Related Link(s):
Soul Embraced official website
Solid State Records

Elysia debut song from upcoming album

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:05:07 +0300

Sacramento based, Elysia are dropping their full-length Lion Of Judas on Ferret on June 10th. The band just debuted the song Box Of Need(les) on their myspace page.

Recorded with Kurt Ballou (Converge) vocalist Zak Vargas says of the album: “The sound of the album is very offbeat and weird compared to what is going on in the scene right now, still very heavy but we played around with a lot of with the instruments, and we even threw a tambourine in the mix.”

Known for their excessively brutal but socially conscious hardcore/metal mix, Elysia are currently touring as part of the "Ferret Young Guns Tour" alongside The Banner, See You Next Tuesday, A Girl A Gun A Ghost and Knights Of The Abyss.

Lion Of Judas - tracklist:
1. Lack Of Culture
2. Flood Of Kings
3. Box Of Need(les)
4. Crown Of Thorns
5. Plague Of Insects
6. Pride Of Lions
7. Curse Of God (Part 1)
8. Fountain Of Life (Part 2)
9. Lion Of Judas

Related Link(s):
Elysia's official website (@Blogspot)
Elysia's MySpace page
Ferret Music

Christoffer Johnsson, Therion main man parts ways with Therion band members

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:26:08 +0300

The following message was posted today at Therion official website:

Dear Fans,

Today we have an announcement that will come as a shock to all of you. The four permanent members of the band have had some discussions and it is clear that we have different goals and visions for the future. Therefore it is best for the band, our selves as
individuals and for the fans that we go separate ways now when there is still plenty of time before the next Therion album and World Tour.

This means that Christofer will continue with Therion and the others will perform their music in other projects and bands.
We're all still friends, no one is disappointed and there's still some work we have left to do together in terms of editing of materials we have recorded for future DVD's.

Best regards to all of you and thank you so much for the wonderful support you have given the band during the time we have played together.

Christofer, Kristian, Johan and Petter.

Emmure – two songs from upcoming album available

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:39:27 +0300

Kicking off the campaign for new album "The Respect Issue", Connecticut's kings of aural brutality Emmure have released "False Love In Real Life" and "Tales From The Burg", the first tracks from the new album on their re-designed MySpace page!

The Respect Issue – tracklist:
1. "Young, Rich, And Out Of Control" -1:14
2. "Sound Wave Superior" - 2:42
3. "I Only Mean Half Of What I Don't Say" - 2:38
4. "False Love In Real Life" - 3:39
5. "Chicago's Finest" - 2:46
6. "Tales From The Burg" - 2:06
7. "Rough Justice" - 3:10
8. "Snuff 2- The Resurrection"- 3:08
9. "Dry Ice" - 3:04
10. "You're More Like Friend Without The 'R'"- 3:00

Related Link(s):
Emmure official website
Victory Records

New Video for The Chariot's "They Drew Their Swords"

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:16:01 +0300

Christian metalcore outfit The Chariot have posted their latest video for "They Drew Their Swords" on their MySpace video page. Their album "The Fiancée", the one the video is taken from, was released just a year ago and the band is currently touring Canada and the US.

They Drew Their Swords

Related Link(s):
The Chariot's official website
Solid State Records