Technically, we should have posted this yesterday, but yesterday was April Fool’s Day, and people might have thought we were making up some of this shit. But it’s all true, and nothing happens on April 2 to plant doubt about truth. Except for what causes doubt to be planted about truth on any other day of the year.

Here we are at the beginning of the second quarter of 2011 — the time when for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, spring is supposed to spring.  Where I live, spring has apparently been victimized by a brutal street mugging and is hospitalized at the moment.  A few plants have been deluded into thinking it’s spring, but for the rest of our local world, it’s still fucking winter.

Fortunately, the change of the seasons have fuck all to do with the release of metal. What we do with these installments of METAL IN THE FORGE is collect news blurbs and press releases we’ve seen over the last 30 days (or in this case, the last 31 days) about forthcoming new albums from bands we know and like (including updates about releases we’ve included in previous installments of this series), or from bands that look interesting, even though we don’t know them yet. And in this post, we cut and paste the announcements and compile them in alphabetical order.

This isn’t a cumulative list, so be sure to check the Category link called “Forthcoming New Albums” on the right side of this page to see forecasted releases we reported in previous installments. This month’s list begins right after the jump. Look for your favorite bands, or get intrigued about some new ones. There’s some awesome shit on the way. Dive in after the jump.

ABSOLUTE POWER: “ABSOLUTE POWER, the U.K.-based classic metal band featuring former/current members of NAPALM DEATH and BENEDICTION as well as producers behind albums for such acts as PARADISE LOST, EVILE and CROWBAR, will release its long-awaited, self-titled album on May 9. The NWOBHM-inspired, fist-pumping warriors have been sitting on the finished product for some time, but are now ready to unleash the solos, the riffs… and the power.”

AGNOSTIC FRONT: “New York hardcore legends AGNOSTIC FRONT are less than three weeks away from releasing their latest album, My Life, My Way, in North America.”

ANAAL NATHRAKH: UK extremists Anaal Nathrakh will release their latest album, Passion, via Candlelight Records on May 17.”

ARKAN: “ARKAN — the band featuring drummer Foued Moukid (THE OLD DEAD TREE), vocalist Abder Abdellahoum (DAWN OF DECLINE), guitarists Samir Ramila and Mus Elkamal (WORTH), and growler Florent Jannier (WHISPER-X) — will release its sophomore album, Salam, on April 18 via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at Studio Fredman in Västra Frölunda, Sweden.”

ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS: “Santa Cruz, California-based progressive hardcore/death metallers ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS have set Motherland as the title of their fourth album, due on May 17 via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at Castle Ultimate studios in Fremont, California with producer Zack Ohren (AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK, ALL SHALL PERISH).”

BENEATH: “Icelandic death metallers BENEATH are putting the finishing touches on their new album, Enslaved By Fear. The CD will contain nine songs and will be mixed by Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, BEHEMOTH,IN FLAMES, DARK FUNERAL). The artwork will be created by Raymond Swanland (DEEDS OF FLESH, PSYCROPTIC).”

BLACK: “Vocalist Tony Martin (BLACK SABBATH), bassist Magnus Rosén (HAMMERFALL), guitarist Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND) and drummer Danny ‘Danté’ Needham (VENOM, TONY MARTIN) have joined forces in a new ‘supergroup’ which is presently going under the working band name BLACK. . . . BLACK is currently working on music at La Rocque‘s Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden as well as in England.”

BLOODBATH: “Swedish death metal ‘supergroup’ BLOODBATH will release of an all-new live DVD, Bloodbath Over Bloodstock, on April 25 via Peaceville Records. The deluxe mediabook-packaged set will feature BLOODBATH’s August 2010 performance from the Bloodstock festival— one of the U.K.’s leading metal events — consisting of songs from the critically acclaimed The Fathomless Mastery (2008) album, as well as other classics and fan favorites.”

CATALEPSY: “Central Florida-based metal band CATALEPSY will release its second album, Bleed, on May 10 via Eulogy Recordings. The CD was produced by Matt Johnson (THE AUTUMN OFFERING) and contains the track “Goliath”, which features guest vocals by Matt Bruso (BURY YOUR DEAD).”

DAWN OF DISEASE: “German death metallers DAWN OF DISEASE will release their debut album, Legends Of Brutality, on April 29 via Noise Art Records. The CD was recorded at Soundlodge Studio (GOD DETHRONED, DEW-SCENTED, SINISTER) with producer Jörg Uken.”

DEMONAZ: “Demonaz Occulta (real name: Harald Nævdal), the once-guitarist and chief lyricist for the Norwegian black metal veterans IMMORTAL, will release his first solo album, March Of The Norse, on April 1 in Europe and May 17 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records.”

DESCEND: “”The Life Delusion”, the new single from Swedish progressive death metallers DESCEND, is available for streaming. The single artwork was created by Emil Maxén . . . . “The Life Delusion” comes off the band’s debut album, Through The Eyes Of The Burdened, which will be released this spring/summer via Supernova Records.”

THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT: “Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, STEVE VAI, LAMB OF GOD, DARKEST HOUR, GWAR) will release Deconstruction and Ghost — the third and fourth in a series of albums to be made available under THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT moniker — in Europe on June 20 via InsideOut Music. . . . According to Devin, ‘Ghost is the mellowest (by far) and prettiest record I’ve done so far’ with a ‘very wonderful vibe.’ . . . Devin previously described Deconstruction as ‘brutal in a lot of parts, but pretty glorious in others. It rides the fence of negativity but ultimately ends supremely positive.’”

DEVOLVED: “Australian/Los Angeles tech-metal masters DEVOLVED will release their new full-length album, Oblivion, on May 24 via Unique Leader Records. According to a press release, the CD will contain “’10 songs of unrelenting modern metal which combines uncompromising intensity, chaotic timing signitures, insane musicianship and a futuristic soundscape blended to create an epic and totally crushing listening experience from start to stop!’”

DIM MAK: “One of the greatest technical death metal bands ever assembled, New Jersey’s DIM MAK is working on its new album, Emergence Of Reptilian Altar, for a late 2011 release. The band recently finished tracking the bass and drums for the follow-up to 2006′s Knives Of Ice and is scheduled to begin laying down the guitars the first week of April.”

EAST OF THE WALL: “EAST OF THE WALL is extremely excited to announce that they will enter the studio on May 8th to begin work on their next record, The Apologist. The New Jersey-based technical metal unit will be recording at Translator Audio in Brooklyn, New York with Andrew Schneider, renowned for his work with Cave In, Pelican, Keelhaul, Unsane, Rosetta, City of Ships, Made Out of Babies and many others.”

EVILE: “British thrashers EVILE will enter the studio this weekend to begin recording their third album. . . . Commented EVILE lead guitarist Ol Drake: ‘This has been one hell of a 2011 already. We’ve been working non-stop on the material for EVILE‘s third album since early last year, and the past few months saw the workload pile up drastically. We’re on top of it though.’”

FALLUJAH: “Unique Leader Records has announced the signing of northern California act FALLUJAH. The band will enter the studio later this month to begin recording the follow-up to 2009 s Leper Colony EP, entitled The Harvest Wombs.”

THE GATES OF SLUMBER: “Doom lords THE GATES OF SLUMBER will unleash their hotly-anticipated fifth full-length album, The Wretch, on May 10 via Rise Above Records/Metal Blade. Featuring eight slabs of punishing metal, the CD boils doom down to its purest form, resulting in the Indianapolis trio’s finest work to date.”

GIGAN: “GIGAN, the Chicago-based band formed by guitarist Eric Hersemann (ex-DIABOLIC, HATE ETERNAL), will release its sophomore album, Quasi-Hallucinogenic Sonic Landscapes, on June 7 via Willowtip Records.”

GRAVEYARD: “Hisingen Blues, the second full-length album from the Gothenburg, Sweden-based psychedelic doom rock band GRAVEYARD, will be released in Europe on March 25 and in North America on April 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was produced, recorded, and mixed in 100 percent analog by Don Alsterberg (JOSÉ GONZALES, JUNIP, SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES, THE INTERNATIONAL NOISE CONSPIRACY) at Don Pierre Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden.”

HACKNEYED: “After releasing two albums on the Nuclear Blast label, German death metal lunatics HACKNEYED have inked a new deal with Lifeforce Records. The band is currently in the studio working on its third album for an August release.”

IMPENDING DOOM: “California-based Christian death metallers IMPENDING DOOM have inked a worldwide deal with eOne Music. The band is currently working on new material, to be released later this year.”

INFESTUS: “German black metal heathens INFESTUS will release their new album, E x | I s t, on May 19 in North America (one day earlier internationally) via Debemur Morti Productions. The impressive front cover drawing was executed by French artist Eric Lacombe.”

IN FLAMES: “Swedish metallers IN FLAMES have inked a deal with Century Media Records. The band’s tenth album, Sounds Of A Playground Fading, will be released on the following dates: Sweden – June 15; Germany – June 17; Rest Of Europe – June 20; North America – June 21″

IN SOLITUDE: “Swedish occult heavy metallers IN SOLITUDE will release their new album,The World. The Flesh. The Devil, in Europe on May 23 via Metal Blade Records. The eight-song, 58-minute CD was recorded in Nicke Andersson‘s (HELLACOPTERS, ENTOMBED, IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC) brand new studio Gutterview Recorders in Stockholm, Sweden with producer Fred Estby (DISMEMBER, DEATH BREATH).”

INSOMNIUM: “Finnish melodic death metallers INSOMNIUM have issued the following update: ‘The fifth INSOMNIUM studio album is beginning to take shape. We had a three-day training and songwriting session last week and we can now say that we have about eight songs more or less ready. We are entering the studio in April so we should have enough time to finish everything.’”

INTENSUS: “Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of INTENSUS, an exciting and unique recording project masterminded by multi-instrumentalist Eli Litwin, drummer of KNIFE THE GLITTER, BURDEN, NORMAL LOVE and others. . . . The first, self-titled INTENSUS album features vocals from Tommy Rogers (BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME), Robert Meadows (A LIFE ONCE LOST), Jesse Korman (THE NUMBER TWELVE LOOKS LIKE YOU),Chris Alfano (EAST OF THE WALL, POSTMAN SYNDROME), Jerry Jones(TROPHY SCARS), Travis Weinand (BURDEN, TETSUO), Evan Moore(GYPSY WIG, BIRTH SCREAMS), and Ruston Grosse. Also featured on the album, Alex Nagle (SATANIZED, ex-NORMAL LOVE) and Jason Herrmann (BURDEN, TETSUO) lend their guitar shredding skills for two incredible solos.”

IWRESTLEDABEARONCE: “IWRESTLEDABEARONCE — the Shreveport, Louisiana quintet now transplanted to Los Angeles, California — recently completed work on its second album at the band’s former house in Birmingham, Alabama. IWRESTLEDABEARONCE’s new album is due this summer via Century Media Records.”

JUNIUS: “Prosthetic Records has announced the signing of Boston’s JUNIUS, described by Rolling Stone magazine as “a perfect hybrid of NEUROSIS and THE SMITHS.” The band, formed in 2003, has previously released material on Radar Recordings and The Mylene Sheath, amongst others, and will begin work on its third full-length this spring.”

KILL DEVIL HILL: “KILL DEVIL HILL, the new band featuring Vinny Appice (HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, DIO) on drums, Rex Brown (DOWN, PANTERA) on bass, Mark Zavon (RATT, W.A.S.P., 40 CYCLE HUM) on guitar and Dewey Bragg on vocals, recently finished demoed around 10 songs, which, according to Appice, sound ‘like a cross between BLACK SABBATH, ALICE IN CHAINS and a little bit of LED ZEPPELIN thrown in. It’s heavy, but with a lot of cool hooks and melodic overtones, too.’”

LAKE OF TEARS: “Swedish metallers LAKE Of TEARS will release their new album, Illwill, on April 29 via AFM Records.”

LOST DREAMS: “Austria-based melodic death/dark metallers LOST DREAMS have set Blinded By Rage as the title of their fifth album, tentatively due late spring.”

MALFEITOR: “Reactivated Swedish death metallers MALFEITOR have issued the following update: ’17 years of waiting is finally over! MALFEITOR are finally working on new material for release during 2011!’”

MARDUK: “Swedish black metallers MARDUK have finished recording three songs for a new EP, Iron Dawn, that will be released in North America on the same day as the band’s appearance at the Maryland Deathfest on May 27 (May 30 in the rest of the world via Regain Records).”

MAYLENE AND THE SONS OF DISASTER: “MAYLENE & THE SONS OF DISASTER spent much of the last couple of months in the studio working on a new album. Due out this summer on Ferret, the CD was produced by Brian Virtue (ALL THAT REMAINS, 30 SECONDS TO MARS, CHEVELLE) and Rob Graves (RED, PILLAR, ALL THAT REMAINS).”

MEMORIAL: “Danish metallers MEMORIAL will release their sophomore album, Shatter The Art, on April 25 via the British label Copro Records/Casket Music. According to a press release, the new CD “shows MEMORIAL taking on a more groove-heavy sound, as well as keeping their passion for brutal and speedy metal intact.’”

MORBID ANGEL: “Florida-based death metal veterans MORBID ANGEL have set Illud Divinum Insanus as the title of their eagerly awaited new album, due on June 7 (one day earlier internationally) via Season Of Mist. Prior to the release of the album, a single for the song “Nevermore” will be out on May 16 as seven-inch vinyl and digital download. The B side will be another song from the album, remixed by COMBICHRIST.”

NECROPHAGIA: “Legendary gore metal pioneers NECROPHAGIA will release their new album, Deathtrip 69, on May 17 (one day earlier internationally) via Season Of Mist.”

NIGHTRAGE: “Multi-national thrashers NIGHTRAGE have completed work on 15 songs during the pre-production phase for their as-yet-untitled fifth album, which the band plans to start recording in June. ”

NORTHER: NORTHER‘s new album, Circle Regenerated, will be released globally on staggered dates, beginning March 30 in Japan and ending with the album’s April 19 release in the U.S.

REVOCATION: “REVOCATION are also putting the finishing touches on their new as-yet-untitled full-length album. The band recently recorded tracks at Damage Studios in Southbridge, Massachusetts with engineer Pete Rutcho. The follow-up to the band’s break-through Relapse debut Existence Is Futile is expected to see its release in summer 2011. REVOCATION (David Davidson: guitar / vocals, Anthony Buda: bass / vocals, Phil Dubois: drums, Dan Gargiulo: guitar / vocals) began the tracking process after their fall tour with DESPISED ICON and MISERY INDEX.”

SEPULTURA: “Brazilian/American thrashers SEPULTURA have set Kairos (an ancient Greek word signifying a time in between, a moment of undetermined period of time in which something special happens) as the title of their new album, tentatively due late spring/early summer via Nuclear Blast Records.”

SHEAR: “SHEAR, the new Helsinki, Finland-based six-piece metal act featuring former/current members of AMORAL, OMNIUM GATHERUM, IMPERANON, ELENIUM and CRYSTAL BLAZE, has entered Sonic Pump studios to begin recording its debut album for a late 2011 release.”

SHINING: “SHINING‘s seventh album, VII / Född Förlorare (English translation: “Born Loser”), will be released later in the year via Indie Recordings. . . . Making guest appearances on the album are Erik Danielsson (WATAIN), Peter Bjargo (ARCANA) and NORDMAN.”

SKINDRED: “Welsh ‘ragga metal’ act SKINDRED will release its fourth album, Union Black, on April 25 via BMG/7pm Records. The CD was recorded at Britannia Row Studios in London with producer James Loughrey.”

STORM CORROSION: “The much-anticipated collaboration project between OPETH‘s Mikael Åkerfeldt and PORCUPINE TREE‘s Steven Wilson, tentatively dubbed ‘Storm Corrosion’, has completed writing material for its debut album.Wilson says, ‘There’s still a lot of recording work to do, but this should definitely be out in early 2012.’”

TESSERACT: “”Eden”, brand new song from U.K. progressive metal hopefuls TESSERACT, is available for streaming on the band’s Facebook page. The track comes off the group’s debut album, One, which is scheduled for release on March 22 via Century Media Records.”

TOMBS: “Brooklyn, New York trio TOMBS has completed work on its brand new album, Path Of Totality, for a June 7 North American release via Relapse Records. The follow-up to Winter Hours“ was recorded atElmwood Recording studios in Dallas, Texas with engineer John Congleton (BARONESS, EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, BLACK MOUNTAIN, ST. VINCENT).”

TORNADO: “TORNADO (formerly NEMESIS DIVINA), the American, Dutch and Finnish metal band featuring members of AMORAL and FUELBLOODED, is preparing to enter Abyss Studio in Pärlby, Sweden under the watchful eye of Swedish producer and HYPOCRISY/PAIN mainman Peter Tägtgren to record its debut album, Amsterdamn, Hellsinki, for release via the French label Listenable Records.”

T.R.A.M.: “T.R.A.M., the new band featuring Adrian Terrazas (THE MARS VOLTA) on saxophone, flute, bass clarinet and percussion, Javier Reyes (ANIMALS AS LEADERS) on guitar, Tosin Abasi (ANIMALS AS LEADERS) on guitar and Eric Moore (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES) on drums, will release its debut album, “Lingua Franca”, in May through Sumerian Records.”

TYR: “Faroese Viking metallers TÝR have set The Lay Of Thrym as the title of their sixth full-length album, due on May 27 via Napalm Records.”

VENOM: “British black metal pioneers VENOM are currently mixing their new album with producer Tom Belton at his London studio. An official release date for the effort has not yet been announced.”

VILE: “Californian brutal death metallers VILE have completed work on their fourth full-length album, Metamorphosis, for a fall 2011 release. According to the band, the CD is “a concept album which contains a wide variety of styles, tempos and lyrical topics with an interlocking philosophical and lyrical concept.”"

VOIVOD: “Canadian metal innovators VOIVOD will release a new live album, Warriors Of Ice, on April 5 via Indica Records. The CD was recorded on December 12, 2009 during the band’s first headlining show in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in ten years.”

VOMITORY: “Swedish death metal veterans VOMITORY will release their eighth studio album, Opus Mortis VIII, in Europe on April 26 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was produced, engineered and mixed by Rikard Löfgren at his Leon Music Studios and is said to be ‘the best-sounding VOMITORY album ever!’”

WINTERUS: “Michigan-based black metallers WINTERUS have set an April 26 release date for their Lifeforce Records debut, “In Carbon Mysticism”. According to a press release, the band is hoping the CD “will push the boundaries of black metal further than ever before, by creating a genre-defying psychedelic landscape built upon pummeling metal textures.”

THE WOLVES OF AVALON: “British pagan metal band THE WOLVES OF AVALON will release its new album, Carrion Crows Over Camlan, in April via Godreah Records. Featuring Metatron (THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL), THE WOLVES OF AVALON is an embodiment of ancient British spirit and pride and not to be confused with any modern interpretation of things long since buried by time and dust. By drafting in JM to create the music and traditional instrumentalist from other bands, Metatron’s vision has finally come to life.”

YGGDRASIL: “Swedish folk metal masters YGGDRASIL will release their new album,Irrbloss (English translation: “Will-o-wisps”) on April 25 via Grand Master Music. The long-awaited follow up to 2008′s Vedergällning was recorded, mixed and mastered at Grand Master Audio in Sweden.”

No, we’re not talking about the swine flu, or the avian flu, or the next animal virus that decides humans would be a nice host environment upgrade. We’re talking about new metal that has the potential to be sick.

On the first day of the New Year, we posted a round-up of new extreme metal albums forecast for release 2010, along with our list of the 21 we most wanted to hear.

One month has now passed, and we’ve discovered some forthcoming releases we didn’t know about on January 1. Seems like a good time for an update! So, we’ve cobbled together news blurbs about forthcoming albums from bands whose past work we’ve liked, or who look interesting for other reasons. Needless to say (but we’ll say it anyway), these are bands that fit the profile of music we cover on this site (with a couple of Exceptions to the Rule).

So, in alphabetical order, here’s our list of cut-and-pasted blurbs from various sources over the last 31 days about forthcoming releases we missed in our January 1 list:

AGALLOCH: “So what can we expect from the band’s long-awaited follow-up to Ashes Against the Grain? According to an interview songwriter John Haughm gave to German TV last May, ‘expect the unexpected.’ Haughm says that the next release will be ‘completely different’ from its predecessors — ‘a bit darker,’ closer to black metal, but with the same kind of dynamics that Agalloch is known for.  As for when we can expect the new album, Haughm said that he hoped it would be out by May 2010.”

APOCALYPTICA:  ”Finnish rock cello quartet APOCALYPTICA has entered Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki to begin recording its new album for a spring/summer release.” [This is one of those Exceptions to the Rule.]

APOSTASY: “Four new songs from the Swedish black metal act APOSTASY are available for streaming on the band’s MySpace page. The tracks will appear on the group’s forthcoming third full-length album, Nuclear Messiah, which will be released later in the year.”  (more after the jump . . .)

BARREN EARTH: “Finland’s up-and-coming prog/death supergroup, BARREN EARTH, has revealed the tracklist for their debut full-length record, Curse of the Red River, due out in the US on April 6, courtesy of Peaceville Records. Curse of the Red River is the follow up to BARREN EARTH’s debut EP, Our Twilight, which hit stores last November. . . . [The band] has launched a mini-site in anticipation of their debut full-length record . . . . The new mini-site, which contains audio samples, a video teaser, and more, can be viewed at this location.”

BENEATH: “Icelandic death metallers BENEATH will release their debut EP, Hollow Empty Void, on February 13 via Mordbrann Musikk. The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered by guitarist Johann Ingi Sigurdsson at Fossland Studio in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland.”

BRUTAL TRUTH: (see blurb on LOCK UP below.)

CHILDREN OF BODOM: “Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM will commence the songwriting process for their next album in February. The group hopes to enter the studio in early summer to begin recording the CD for a late 2010/early 2011 release.” [Okay, we're being optimistic about the 2010 release timing. Probably won't happen.]

DAWN OF ASHES: “Metal Blade Records is pleased to announce it has inked a deal with the Los Angeles horror inspired black/death metal band DAWN OF ASHES. DAWN OF ASHES is a band whose passion for intense and macabre imagery, music, and live performances will soon be seen by the metal masses when Genocide Chapters is unleashed in late spring/summer 2010.”

DE PROFUNDIS: “London, U.K.-based progressive extreme metal band DE PROFUNDIS will release its second album, A Bleak Reflection, on February 1, 2010 via Kolony Records. The CD was recorded in June/July 2009 with producer Fernando Pereira Lopes (MISANTHROPE, ORAKLE) and was mastered by Tim Turan (EMPEROR, OPETH, MOTÖRHEAD). One track is available for streaming on the band’s MySpace page.”

ENSLAVED: “Founding member/songwriter/rhythm guitarist Ivar Bjørnson of Norwegian masters of progressive/experimental metal ENSLAVED has issued the following studio update: ‘This is a short blog from the studio where we — ENSLAVED — have started to record our new album. We are doing the drums in Duper Studios here in Bergen; this time around we are recording everything in our hometown, something we last did with [2004's] Isa.’”

HOUR OF PENANCE: “Italian death metallers HOUR OF PENANCE will release their fourth album, Paradogma, on March 30 via Unique Leader Records. The CD cover art was created by Gyula Havancsàk, who has previously worked with such acts as ANNIHILATOR and DESTRUCTION.”

IMPENDING DOOM: “Impending Doom has completed the writing process for their next Facedown Records release. Today the group will enter Lambesis Studios (Winds Of Plague, Austrian Death Machine) in San Marcos, CA to begin tracking the effort with engineers Daniel Castleman and Kelly Cairns. A mid-2010 release is expected.”

KATAKLYSM: “As previously reported, KATAKLYSM has set Heaven’s Venom as the title of the follow-up to 2008′s Prevail, tentatively due in October via Nuclear Blast Records. Commented guitarist Jean-Francois Dagenais: ‘This album will be different than Prevail, but will still have the classic KATAKLYSM trademarks and hooks.’”

KEEP OF KALESSIN: “KEEP OF KALESSIN has set Reptilian as the title of its new album, due in early 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The band’s last CD, Kolossus, was released in June 2008. The album was made available via Indie Recordings and was licensed to Nuclear Blast for the following territories: Germany, Austria, Switzerland and rest of the world outside Europe (except Australia and Russia).”

KIVIMETSAN DRUIDI: “Finnish symphonic folk metal band KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI is currently mixing its second album for an April release via Century Media Records. The group states, ‘it will most certainly surprise many of [our fans]!’”  [Another Exception to the Rule.]

LENG TCH’E: “Leng Tch’e has finished up work on their next album, which is currently being mastered and will be available in May. The group has issued the following: ‘Regarding the new album, everything is finished and Mr. Russ Russell is finalizing the master as we speak. This is by far the heaviest and most extreme record we’ve ever made, and if that wasn’t enough, the legendary Mr. Barney Greenway [NAPALM DEATH] himself laid down some guest vocals on a little song called “Totalitarian.” Brutal as feck, as they apparently say in the Midlands. . . . We are also close to finalizing a new record deal which I alas cannot yet share with the world. But rest assured it will take Leng Tch’e to places before unseen. All I can say is the new record will be released in May, so prepare for a summer filled with razorgrind mayhem!’”

LOCK UP: “Grindcore supergroup LOCK UP will enter the studio in the next month to record new material to be included on a split seven-inch single with U.S. grind merchants BRUTAL TRUTH. The almost mythical extreme metal behemoth — AT THE GATES frontman Tomas Lindberg, Anton Reisenegger of PENTAGRAM and CRIMINAL on guitar, NAPALM DEATH bassist Shane Embury and ex-DIMMU BORGIR and TESTAMENT drummer Nick Barker — is also busy writing material for an as-yet-untitled new full-length album, due for release later this year.”

ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTER: “ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET, the Swedish band featuring former THE CROWN vocalist Johan Lindstrand, is currently writing material for its fourth album, tentatively due later in the year. . . . [The band's] third album, Grim Tales, was released on October 24, 2008 via Massacre Records.”

RAINTIME: “‘Fire Ants’, a brand new song from Italian melodic metallers RAINTIME, is available for streaming at this location. The track is the first taste of RAINTIME’s third album, Psychromatic, which is scheduled for release in North America on March 16. The follow-up to 2007′s Flies and Lies was recorded at Remaster Studios in Italy and was mixed and mastered by Logan Mader (MACHINE HEAD, SOULFLY, MEDICATION) at Undercity Recordings in Los Angeles, California.” [You got me -- one more Exception to the Rule. I have an inexplicable weakness for this band.]

STIGMA: “Italy’s STIGMA has set Concerto for the Undead as the title for its follow-up to 2008′s When Midnight Strikes!, due on April 30 in Europe (except in the U.K., where it will arrive on May 3) and May 4 in North America via Pivotal Rockordings. Concerto for the Undead features lyrics centered on the cult-classic comic book series Tales From the Crypt and includes guest vocal appearances by Jamie Hope (ex-THE RED SHORE) and Jon Hunt (ex-DEAD TO FALL).”

SWARM OF THE LOTUS: “Swarm Of The Lotus frontman (and guitarist) Pete Maturi has revealed that the group is currently working on material for a new album. Here’s the official word: ‘Things are going well for us and we’ve been productive as of late. We plan to take as much of this year as it will take to write a new album. So YES, a new one is in the works, to answer some of you guys that have been asking. We are already up to 3 songs being worked on simultaneously and are really digging the vibe and direction we are taking it. It’s Swarm for sure, but definitely has some areas that we’ve never really tapped into before.’”

TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED: “Trigger The Bloodshed is currently in the process of recording a new album for Metal Blade Records. According to the group, ‘So far, drums and guitars have been completely finished and are sounding the tits!’ The effort will be mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Heaven Shall Burn, Aborted) and a spring release is expected.”

WOE: “Candlelight has signed Woe, Krieg, and Yaotl Mictlan. These are American black metal bands, which is interesting for a European label known for European acts (e.g., Emperor, 1349, and Blut aus Nord). . . . All of Candlelight’s new signings have new albums out this year. I’m excited for Woe’s, as I’ve been listening a lot to 2008′s A Spell for the Death of Man.”

ZONARIA: “Swedish death/black metal band Zonaria has completed the songwriting process for its new album and will soon enter The Abyss studio in Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgr (Scar Symmetry, Sonic Syndicate, Hypocrisy, Centinex, Carnal Forge) to begin recording the effort for a spring/summer release.”