January ended four days ago, so it’s past time for our usual monthly round-up of news about forthcoming albums. I have to confess that this list is even more spotty and sporadically assembled than usual — which is saying something. Various distractions prevented me from keeping a sharp eye out for news about new releases, so I have no doubt this list is incomplete.

Here’s how this round-up usually works: In these METAL IN THE FORGE posts, I collect news blurbs and press releases I’ve seen over the last month about forthcoming new albums from bands we know and like at NCS (including occasional updates about releases we’ve included in previous installments of this series), or from bands that look interesting, even though we don’t know their music yet. In this series, I cut and paste those announcements and compile them in alphabetical order.

Remember — THIS ISN’T A CUMULATIVE LIST. If we found out about a new forthcoming album earlier than the last 30 days, we probably wrote about it in previous installments of this series. So, be sure to check the Category link called “Forthcoming Albums” on the right side of this page to see forecasted releases we reported earlier. For example, on this list you won’t see such notable releases as the forthcoming albums from Meshuggah, Enthroned, Unleashed, Psycroptic, Goatwhore, Asphyx, Naglfar, or Autopsy, because we’ve mentioned them elsewhere. Or at least I think we did.

Having said all that, please feel free to leave Comments and tell all of us what I missed when I put this list together. Let us know about albums on the way that  you’re stoked about, even if you don’t see them here!

7 HORNS 7 EYES: “Progressive, atmospheric, death-metallers 7 HORNS 7 EYES will be releasing their debut full-length album, Throes Of Absolution, on April 23rd, 2012 throughout Europe via Basick Records. Featuring a guest appearance by Jeff Loomis (ex-NEVERMORE) and already named one of Metal Sucks’ “Albums That Will Fuck Your Face Off In 2012”, this highly anticipated album has been many months in the making, but worth the wait!”

ANTIGAMA: “Warsaw, Poland’s revolutionary grind/metal assassins ANTIGAMA announce their return to Selfmadegod Records! Following two full-length releases via Relapse Records over recent years, ANTIGAMA have re-signed with their longtime friends at Selfmadegod and are currently locked away in Warsaw’s Progresja Studio with sound engineer Pawel “Janos” Grabowski. The band are in the process of recording several brand new tracks for two different upcoming releases — a 3-way split with Noisear (USA, Relapse) and  The Kill (Australia), as well as a MCD tentatively entitled Stop The Chaos. The session started on February 1st 2012, and final mixes and mastering duties will be completed by none other than the band’s long time friend and famous Polish music producer Szymon Czech (Nyia, Third Degree). Both releases are due this Spring via Selfmadegod Records, and plan on recording a new full-length for the label later in the year as well.”

BENEATH THE MASSACRE: “The lyric video for “Left Hand”, a new song from Montreal’s monsters of tech-death mayhem BENEATH THE MASSACRE, has been released. The track comes off the band’s new album, “Incongruous”, which will be released in the U.S. on February 14, in the U.K. on February 20, in mainland Europe on February 24 and in Canada on February 28 via Prosthetic Records. The CD was produced and mixed by Chris Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY) and mastered by Alan Douches (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL, CONVERGE).”

BORKNAGAR: “Norwegian avantgarde metallers BORKNAGAR have completed work on their new studio album with Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA) in Örebro, Sweden. Entitled“Urd”, the CD will be released on March 26 in Europe and March 27 in North America via Century Media Records.”

CANNIBAL CORPSE: “Florida-based death metal veterans CANNIBAL CORPSE will release their twelfth studio album, “Torture”, on March 13 via Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2009′s “Evisceration Plague” offers up 12 tracks of maniacally precise, soul-searing death metal.”

DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT: From a DT Facebook post on Jan. 15: “Just finished writing track one for Z2! (Ziltoid 2) It’s about a year and half away now… scary! ”

ENSHADOWED: “Greek misanthropic blackmongers ENSHADOWED have inked a deal with Pulverised Records. Due later in the year, the band’s third full-length effort, entitled “Magic Chaos Psychedelia”, is “the ultimate combination of orthodox black metal with experimental grotesquery parts. Chaos, ritualism, paranoia — the formulas of how it can be harmonized with the chaos and the utter,” according to a press release.”

GENERAL SURGERY: “A Collection of Depravation, a compilation of 30 GENERAL SURGERYchoice cuts will see its official release via Relapse on March 27th and is available for pre-order now.  The collection was digitally remastered by Pig Destroyer’s Scott Hull and contains a 24 page booklet with extensive liner notes from the band.”

GOROD: “French progressive technical death metal act GOROD has officially joined the LISTENABLE RECORDS roster. Fall 2011 the band entered the studio with talented french metal producer Frederic “Elmobo” Motte. Their fourth full-length A Perfect Absolution will be released  in March 2012. The lyrical concept of this album is based on the history of Kievan Rus during the 10th century. Heavier, more progressive, catchy songs, awesome guest solos by Christian Muenzner (Obscura) and Mike Keene (The Faceless).”

HOODED MENACE: “Finnish death / doom bringers HOODED MENACE have entered the studio to record their highly anticipated new album and first for Relapse Records. The new record, entitled Effigies of Evil, is being self-recorded by the band at their very own Horrisound Studios, the group’s personal compound of stench and decay. Drums are being tracked at SF Sound and the band plans to complete recording in mid February for a Summer 2012 release.”

HOUR OF PENANCE: “Italian death metal band HOUR OF PENANCE has set “Sedition” as the title of its fifth album, due on March 27 in North America, April 2 in the U.K. and April 6 in mainland Europe via Prosthetic Records. The follow-up to 2010′s “Paradogma” (Unique Leader) was recorded at Cellar Studio in Rome with producer Stefano Morabito.”

IMPENDING DOOM: “IMPENDING DOOM will release their brand new full length album entitled Baptized in Filth on March 13, 2012. Produced by Andreas Magnusson (The Black Dahlia Murder) and Machine, this is the band’s fourth full length and most ferocious effort to date.”

KREATOR: “German thrash metal veterans KREATOR have set “Phantom Antichrist” as the title of their new album, due on June 1 in Europe and June 5 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD is currently being recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with renowned producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, SOILWORK,DEVIN TOWNSEND, AMON AMARTH). ”

LECHEROUS NOCTURNE: “South Carolina-based extreme metal band LECHEROUS NOCTURNE has set “Behold Almighty Doctrine” as the title of its third album, due later in the year via Unique Leader Records. The CD was recorded at SoundLab Studio in Lexington, South Carolina with longtime engineer Bob Moore.”

MASTER: “Legendary death metallers MASTER have set “The New Elite” as the title of their eleventh album, due later in the year via Pulverised Records. The CD, which was once again recorded, mixed and mastered at Shaark Studios, contains “11 tracks of unambiguous death metal in its wretched form, in perfect coalition with the offensive Paul Speckmann-spewed lyrical shitstorm,” according to a press release.”

NEPHELIUM: “Nephelium, the Dubai death metallers whom now reside in Toronto, Canada are now exclusively streaming their highly anticipated debut album “Coils of Entropy” on MetalRecusants.com at the following link here. “Coils of Entropy” is set for release next week on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 and a free download of their first single “Merciless Annihilation” is available here.”

NIGHTFALL: “Greek metallers NIGHTFALL have commenced work on a new album for a late 2012 release. The follow-up to 2010′s “Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants” will contain 11 tracks.”

OUTCAST: “Listenable Records has set April 4th, 2012 as the North American release date for Awaken the Reason, the third album from French brutal djent metal mongers OUTCAST. Awaken the Reason is the band’s strongest and most solid recording to date and it genuinely captured the band’s musical madness. Expect a modern sounding, yet organic production spiced up by a frenzy of extreme guitar and drums assaults. Awaken the Reason was recorded between January and September 2010 at The Artist The Office Studio. It was mixed at SplitSecond Sound Studio By Jochem Jacobs (Textures) in October /November 2010 and then mastered at West West Side Music by Alan Douches (Mastodon, Dillinger Escape Plan).”

PALLBEARER: ” By encompassing the more traditional metal style of their brand of doom, PALLBEARER’s sound takes cue from such legendary doom metal bands as Candlemass, Trouble, and Warning along with a ‘70s prog influence and some influence taken from “Gothic” era Paradise Lost that finds its way into the band’s epic yet sorrowful odes. PALLBEARER’s debut album Sorrow and Extinction will be released by Profound Lore on February 21 in the U.S. and February 28 in Europe.”

PELICAN: “Thunderous post-instrumental outfit PELICAN have announced the long awaited follow-up to their sprawling 2009 full length What We All Come To Need, a new four song EP Ataraxia/Taraxis to be released via Southern Lord on April 10. With members now residing in separate cities, the EP represents a new chapter in the band’s evolution with a reenergized focus on composition and the utilization of the recording studio as a creative tool in the songwriting process, yielding one of the most diverse efforts in the band’s prolific discography.”

PUTERAEON: “The Death Metal platoon, PUTERAEON, hailing from Sweden which released the incredibly acclaimed debut album “THE ESOTERIC ORDER” (Cyclone Empire) in January 2011, wants to inform you that they will lock themselves up in the studio “RZA Mobile Recording” on the 30th of January 2012. Together with sound engineer Kristian “Risza” Isaksson (Evergrey, Hardcore Superstar, Psycore, Reclusion, Notre Dame, Snowy Shaw) they will record the follow up entitled “CULT CTHULHU”. 
The album will have 11 tracks and, as the debut, will be mixed by none other than super guitarist Andy LaRocque (King Diamond, Death, At The Gates) at Sonic Train Studios and the album is planned to be released in May 2012 via the German label Cyclone Empire.”

SECRETS OF THE MOON: “Prophecy Productions has announced that SEVEN BELLS, the new SECRETS OF THE MOON album, will be out on March 16th, 2012.”

SIX FEET UNDER: “Florida-based death metallers SIX FEET UNDER are currently mixing their new album at Audiohammer studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM). The band’s frontman, Chris Barnes, writes on Twitter, “The new SIX FEET UNDER CD is sounding fucking unbelievable!! [The] mix [is] almost done!!”

VEIL OF MAYA: “Chicago’s VEIL OF MAYA are back to lead the charge of the American progressive-deathcore assault, with the release of their mind-blowing third album, “Eclipse”, out via Sumerian on 27 February. Produced by djent hero Misha Mansoor of Periphery, ”Eclipse” is a stunningly concise yet diverse metal record, packed full of death-metal chops, tech-metal grooves, progressive arrangements and hardcore rip-yer-throat-out attitude.”

WRETCHED: “Wretched has entered the studio to record their third full-length album, Son of Perdition.  The forthcoming effort is set for a March 27 release and will be produced by Jamie King (Between The Buried And Me, He Is Legend, For Today) at The Basement Studio in Winston Salem, North Carolina.”

WYKKED WYTCH: “Female-fronted extreme metal band WYKKED WYTCH and Goomba Music have teamed up with HailsandHorns.com for an exclusive premier of the song “Despised Existence” off the band’s forthcoming album. The Ultimate Deception. The Ultimate Deception is set to be released on February 14th and is currently available for pre-order through Goomba Music.”

Yeah, it’s kinda late in the day for another post, but I just saw a press release about a new tour running from March 15 through April 21 of next year that I thought was worth talking about. This tour had been forecast previously, but now we have a concrete schedule. Here’s the line-up:

DevilDriver
The Faceless
Dying Fetus
Job For A Cowboy
3 Inches of Blood
Impending Doom
Wretched

Why is this interesting? Well, first of all, it should be loaded with new music. The Faceless is currently putting the finishing touches on its third album for a tentative February release on Sumerian. Stands to reason that they’ll be performing songs from that album. I’ll be curious to hear it, because guitarist Michael Keene has described the CD as “the most musical and progressive record we’ve made” and says the songs will be more focused “on musicality and making an expressive, unique, moody and expansive record.”

On top of that, Dying Fetus is currently recording a new album. It’s not projected for release until the middle of next year on Relapse, but they will clearly be finished with the recording before hitting the road on this tour, and so we can expect new songs from them, too. And that’s not all.

Job For A Cowboy has also recently finished recording their next album for an early 2012 release on Metal Blade. So yes, we can expect to hear new songs from them, too. I thought the Gloom EP released this year was a step ahead for this band, and their next full-length is something I definitely want to hear.

And 3 Inches of Blood? They’re currently recording their next album as we speak.

What about Wretched? According to their facebook posts, they’ve been writing new songs and plan to play new music on their tours this winter, pointing toward a new album next year.

Impending Doom is also planning to release a new record in 2012, though whether the songwriting is sufficiently advanced for road-testing of new music I don’t know. Still, I’ve never been disappointed in one of their live shows.

Probably nothing new from DevilDriver, but I know from experience that they kick plenty of ass in a live performance — as do all of these bands. So even if there were no new music coming, this would still be a tour worth checking out. But getting new music from almost all of these bands in a live setting? Bonus!

Here are the dates and places:

Mar. 15 – Austin, TX @ SXSW / Scoot Inn
Mar. 16 – New Orleans, LA @ The Hangar
Mar. 17 – St Petersburg, FL @ State Theater
Mar. 18 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos’ Southend
Mar. 20 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
Mar. 21 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater
Mar. 22 – Danvers, MA @ Palace Ballroom
Mar. 23 – Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
Mar. 24 – Toronto, ON @ Opera House
Mar. 25 – Columbus, OH @ Alrosa Villa
Mar. 26 – Joliet, IL @ Mojoe’s
Mar. 27 – St Paul, MN @ Station 4
Mar. 28 – Winnipeg, MB @ Garrick Centre
Mar. 29 – Regina, SK @ Riddell Centre
Mar. 30 – Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Events Centre
Mar. 31 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater
Apr. 01 – Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
Apr. 03 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
Apr. 05 – Oakland, CA @ The Pound
Apr. 06 – Pomona, CA @ Fox Theater
Apr. 07 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theater
Apr. 09 – Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall
Apr. 10 – Omaha, NE @ Sokol Auditorium
Apr. 11 – Des Moines, IA @ 7 Flags Event Center
Apr. 13 – Memphis, TN @ New Daisy Theater
Apr. 15 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater
Apr. 16 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
Apr. 19 – Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues
Apr. 20 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s East
Apr. 21 – Houston, TX @ House Of Blues

I just wanted to use my favorite word in a post title today. Actually, that’s only part of the reason for this. The other part is that I saw Chimaira last night, headlining a show in Seattle that included Impending Doom and Revocation. Chimaira played “Power Trip” and about 10 other songs.

After full audio immersion in the music of those three bands, my neck muscles were so destroyed when I woke up this morning that I had to strap on the custom-designed NCS neck brace, the one with the heated gel packs on the inside and the drinking straw attached to a pouch of chilled Stoli.

Chimaira had the strobe lights flashing and the smoke machine pumping and Sean Z (Daath) on keyboards, carpet-bombing the crowd with more bass drops than I’ve ever heard before and growling backing vox, and it was fucking glorious. A packed crowd on the floor was in non-stop mosh mode, and the Chimaira dudes looked like they were having the time of their lives on stage. And speaking of glorious . . .

Revocation. Glorious. Dave Davidson said this was the band’s fifth performance in Seattle, and I’ve been to four of them. I never get tired of watching and listening to this band. Immaculate musicianship. Usually, I’m so transfixed by what Dave Davidson is doing with his guitar that I don’t pay enough attention to what else is going on, but last night I got a good look at drummer Phil Dubois-Coyne. Dude is a goddamned machine.

One reason I got such a good look was because he sat in behind the kit with Impending Doom, whose own drummer is out of commission. The style of drumming on Impending Doom’s more-deathcore-oriented songs is totally different from what Phil normally does with Revocation, but he killed it.

And speaking of killing it, that’s what Impending Doom did. Heavy as the heaviest fuck. Bludgeoning as a Teutonic mace to the back of your skull. Getting covered over in the bridge-collapsing sound was yet another reminder that this kind of music is 10 times better when experienced live than on recordings (and I like Impending Doom’s records, too, mind you). They played a new song from an album that’s due sometime early next year, and it’s one of their best yet. I’m pretty sure that’s when I tore the first of my neck ligaments.

How ’bout one more Chimaira tune? Another one of my favorite Chimaira tracks from last night’s show:

“Nothing Remains”

It’s Labor Day Weekend, August is a thing of the past, and as some people count it, summer is over. School is on the verge of resuming for people still attempting to educate themselves, and a ton of new metal tours are looming on the horizon for the fall. And of course, the fall will be filled with new album releases, too. Which brings us to the latest monthly edition of METAL IN THE FORGE.

You know the drill:  In these posts, we collect news blurbs and press releases we’ve seen over the last month about forthcoming new albums from bands we know and like (including occasional updates about releases we’ve included in previous installments of this series), or from bands that look interesting, even though we don’t know their music yet. In this series, we cut and paste those announcements and compile them in alphabetical order.

Remember — this isn’t a cumulative list. If we found out about a new album before August, we wrote about it in previous installments of this series. So, be sure to check the Category link called “Forthcoming Albums” on the right side of this page to see forecasted releases we reported earlier. This month’s list begins right after the jump. Look for your favorite bands, or get intrigued about some new ones. And feel free to tell us about how we fucked up by omitting releases that you’re stoked about.

ABSU: “ABSU’s forthcoming sixth full-length opus, Abzu, is set for North American release on October 4. The band’s second album for international heavyweight Candlelight Records, Abzu is the second part of a trilogy of recordings from the band.”

THE AGONIST: “Mixed by Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, DARK TRANQUILLITY, SUICIDE SILENCE), THE AGONIST‘s new full-length album is slated for an early 2012 release via Century Media Records.”

AMEBIX: “Cult British underground heavyweights AMEBIX recently parted company with Alternative Tentacles Records after 26 years. The band has decided to step up to the challenge of releasing its own work and has founded Amebix Records in conjunction with Easyaction. They are releasing the new album and back catalogue under the new label while Profane Existence will continue to manufacture and sell the band’s work as high-quality vinyl releases, with global distribution through Cargo Records. AMEBIX‘s new album, “Sonic Mass”, will be made available on September 23 as a CD and gatefold vinyl LP, as well as a digital download.”

BRUTAL TRUTH: “BRUTAL TRUTH’S new full-length album, “End Time”, will be released on September 27 in North America via Relapse Records. The CD was recorded with Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, New York and was mixed by Jason P.C. at Goatsound Studios. Mastering duties were handled by Scott Hull at Visceral Sound.”

COLDWORKER: “COLDWORKER — the Örebro, Sweden-based “blasting” death metal band consisting of current and former/current members of such acts as NASUM, RELENTLESS, RUIN and PHOBOS — has inked a deal with Listenable Records. The group’s third album, “The Doomsayer’s Call”, will be released this winter.”

CONDEMNED: “San Diego, California-based death metallers CONDEMNED will release their second album, “Realms Of The Ungodly”, on November 8 via Unique Leader Records.”

DARKTHRONE: “Peaceville Records has set a September 5 release date for the reissue of DARKTHRONE‘s seventh album of primitive black metal, “Ravishing Grimness”, featuring new artwork selected by the band, plus a bonus commentary disc with Fenriz and Nocturno describing their inspirations, as well as memories from the time of recording.”

ELUVEITIE: “Swiss melodic-folk-death-metallers, ELUVEITIE, has just launched a brand new and completely redesigned website and has taken the occasion to announce the title and production status of their upcoming album Helvetios.”

ENTRAILS: “You’ve been waiting for this one! If you thought Entrails’ Tales from the Morgue was one of the best old school Swedish death metal releases of 2010 (and many of you did), then be prepared to crown The Tomb Awaits king for 2011. The album is set for a September 9th release on Dark Descent Records in North America and on FDA Rekotz in Europe. Once again mixed and mastered by the legendary Dan Swano, The Tomb Awaits also features guest vocals by Swano and cover art by Daniel Devilish. Expect nothing less than festering, rotten death metal.”

FALLUJAH: “Northern California’s FALLUJAH will release its new album, “The Harvest Wombs”, on November 22 via Unique Leader Records.”

FESTER: “Norwegian black/death metallers FESTER have completed work on their first studio album in 17 years, “A Celebration Of Death”, for a late 2011/early 2012 release via Abyss Records. Original member Bjørn “Tiger” Mathisen has recruited Thomas Andresen (ALGOL) on vocals, Jon Bakker (KAMPFAR) on bass, and jazz musician Audun Kleive on session drums.”

FUCK THE FACTS: “FUCK THE FACTS has recently completed work on their brand new full-length, Die Miserable. Die Miserable was recorded in-between touring at the band’s home studio and has been set for an October 11th North American release date.”

HATESPHERE: “The infamous Danish institution responsible for delivering the heaviest of riffs unleashes its latest album “The Great Bludgeoning”: a merciless and brutal inferno that will leave a trail of destruction in its wake. Guitarist and mastermind Peter “Pepe” Hansen and his accomplices confirm the band’s supremacy and reach new heights with blistering tracks, such as “Venom”, “Need to Kill”, and “Smell of Death”. High-speed riffs, furious solos, and grueling drums are the foundation of HateSphere’s sound, in which technical prowess and appeal brilliantly unite. Esben “Esse” Hansen, the new man on the mic, emerges as a driving force, using his aggressive vocals to push the band even further. As a result of this perfectly balanced cooperation, HateSphere delivers a compact and uncompromising album that will outflank even the band’s previous classic releases. “The Great Bludgeoning” is scheduled for release on September 27 in North America and a day earlier in Europe.”

HULL: “Hailing from the streets of Brooklyn, New York, HULL has yet again emerged with a creation to outlive the ages. Hard at work since the release of their 2009 debut, Sole Lord, ideas were envisioned and the mighty wind of creativity brought upon this Earth the latest saga, Beyond The Lightless Sky. Beyond The Lightless Sky will be released on October 11, 2011 via The End Records.”

IMPENDING DOOM: “California-based Christian death metallers IMPENDING DOOM will enter the studio this week to begin recording their as-yet-untitled new album. The CD will be produced by Andreas Magnusson (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, THE FAMINE) and will be mixed by Machine, who has previously worked with LAMB OF GOD, SUICIDE SILENCE and DEMON HUNTER, among others.”

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE: “Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE are preparing to enter the studio to begin working on the follow-up to their 2009 self-titled album. Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz writes on the band’s Facebook page, “YO! It’s Adam D! We’re about to begin writing our new record. Thanks to all of our fans for waiting so friggin’ patiently … now let’s turn on the ‘riff faucet’ and RAGE.”"

MARTYR: “Metal Blade Records has set a November 8 North American release date for “Circle Of 8″, the long-awaited new album from Dutch metal veterans MARTYR.”

MORS SUBITA: “The Oulu, Finland- based MORS SUBITA have inked a deal with Violent Journey Records. The band’s highly anticipated debut titled ”Human Waste Compression” is scheduled to be released on 21. of September.”

PAGAN RITES: “Swedish black metal veterans PAGAN RITES have completed work on a new mini-album, “Preachers From Hell”. The CD was recorded in Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden with Stefan Karlsson (ex-SOUL REAPER) and was mastered by Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND). “Preachers From Hell” will be released later in the year via Unexploded Records.”

REDSCREAM: “Three members of the legendary Swedish death metal band GRAVE have joined forces with Florida-based guitarist Ralph Santolla (OBITUARY,DEICIDE) in a brand new group called REDSCREAM. The project is currently writing material in Stockholm while seeking a lead singer to complete the band’s lineup.”

SVARTTJERN: “Norwegian black metal outfit SVARTTJERN — featuring vocalist HansFyrste from RAGNAROK, and guitarist Haan and bassist Terror from BLOODSPAWN — will release its new album, “Towards The Ultimate”, on September 27 in Europe and October 25 in North America via Agonia Records.”

TEXTURES: “A six-minute YouTube featuring audio samples of all the tracks that will appear on “Dualism”, the new album from the Dutch progressive technical metal band TEXTURES, can now be heard. Due on September 23 in Europe, South America, Asia and Australia and September 27 in North America, the “Dualism” CD can be pre-ordered from Nuclear Blast USA‘s webshop.”

THREAT SIGNAL: “Canadian modern metal masters THREAT SIGNAL will release their third, self-titled album on October 7 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Planet Z studios in Hadley, Massachusetts with producer Chris “Zeuss” Harris (CHIMAIRA, HATEBREED, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE ACACIA STRAIN, BORN OF OSIRIS, SHADOWS FALL).”

THRONE OF KATARSIS: “Norwegian black metal act THRONE OF KATARSIS will release its new album, “Ved Graven”, on October 24 in Europe and November 1 in the U.S. via Candlelight Records. According to a press release, “the album title ‘Ved Graven’ can be translated to ‘At the Grave’, and is by far the darkest material written by the band to this date.”

THULCANDRA: “Obscura mastermind Steffen Kummerer continues his musical journey through time by taking Thulcandra’s latest album, “Under a Frozen Sun”, back to the Sweden of the early 90s. The entire band is deeply rooted in the infamous sound of Sweden’s black death metal, which combines scorching riffs, anthemic melodies, delicate solos supported by driving drums, and intense vocal renditions. Thulcandra is able to find a balance between ice-cold heaviness and melodic appeal. “Under A Frozen Sun” is scheduled for release later this fall on Napalm Records.”

VALLENFYRE: “Century Media Records has revealed more details about its latest signing, the U.K. death metal band VALLENFYRE. The group is the brainchild of Gregor Mackintosh, songwriter and guitarist of PARADISE LOST, and features members of MY DYING BRIDE, AT THE GATES andDOOM. . . . “A Fragile King” will be released on October 31 in Europe and on November 1 inNorth America.”

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM: “Today, Pitchfork Media are hosting a stream of “Thuja Magus Imperium,” the opening track from the WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM clans’ new astral black metal document, Celestial Lineage. Weighing in at over eleven and a half minutes, the anthem beholds some of the band’s most elemental blackened prowess, their signature cavalcade of percussion, and the contrast between both scathing and beautiful clean vocals, the track also boasts some of the most epic guitar leads the band has ever put to tape. Hear the mammoth hymn at this location. With Celestial Lineage set for release via Southern Lord in less than two weeks, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM have already embarked on their latest tour to promote the new material.”

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.”

You learn something new every day. You may not think you do, but you do.

Like on Friday, I learned that the German word for emptiness is “leere”. On Saturday, I learned that if you live in the Pacific Northwest and forgetfully leave your car window down overnight, spiders will move in and later drop on your arm while you’re driving, causing unexpected vehicular fun ‘n games. And yesterday, I learned the secrets of how extreme metal vocalists can shriek and growl really low without requiring hospitalization.

I’ve always wondered, and finally, after years of listening to non-clean singing, it now all becomes clear to me. It’s like some trade secret that finally leaked. And it turns out to be something that is easily duplicated. It just takes the right preparation and the right record producer (like Chris “Zeuss” Harris).

I’m not making this up. I learned it from a dude who ought to know — Adam Warren, who happens to be the frontman for deathcore heavyweights Oceano. It’s all in that video at the top of this post. It just takes sleeping ’til noon, some microwaved elixir, a little Lion King chord-stretching, and someone who can tell you which buttons to push.

Go ahead, see for yourself. The secrets are out. We won’t even charge you to watch. In the video, you can also see some spirited debate over whether “Contagion” is the kind of album title people will have to look up, as compared to a common street-word like, uh, “harbinger”.

Truly, Adam Warren is an engaging dude, and we can pretty much guarantee this thing will make you smile, even if you’re not an Oceano fan.  And while we’re on the subject of deathcore, word of a Whitechapel-Impending Doom-Miss May I-Oceano-I Declare War tour has leaked out. Details about that breaking news, plus an Oceano video, follow after the jump. Wonder what I’ll learn today?

According to Lambgoat, Whitechapel will be headlining a fall tour with support from Impending Doom, Miss May I, Oceano, and our Seattle homies I Declare War. Lambgoat reported that the tour hasn’t been officially announced yet, but we did a little poking around and found a fresh Whitechapel announcement. It will be called THE CORRUPTOUR and here are the dates and places:

10/01 Macon, GA The 567
10/02 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
10/03 St. Petersburg, FL State Theatre
10/04 Jacksonville, FL Rain
10/05 Spartanburg, SC Ground Zero
10/06 Charlotte, NC Tremont Music Hall
10/07 Raleigh, NC Volume 11 Tavern
10/08 Norfolk, VA Norva
10/09 Jermyn, PA Eleanor Rigby’s
10/10 Boston, MA Harper’s Ferry
10/12 Hartford, CT Webster Theatre
10/13 Poughkeepsie, NY The Loft
10/14 Syracuse, NY Lost Horizon
10/15 Toledo, OH Headliner’s
10/16 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection
10/17 Elgin, IL Mad Maggies
10/19 Milwaukee, WI The Rave
10/20 St. Louis, MO Pop’s
10/21 Louisville, KY Headliners Music Hall
10/22 Birmingham, AL Zydeco
10/23 Nashville, TN Rocketown

Unfortunately, unless this thing gets expanded, there are no West Coast dates, which blows, because that’s a killer line-up.

And now here’s Adam Warren’s charismatic self growling and shrieking in an official Oceano vid for “District of Misery” off their last album.  Break yourself down:

Oceano has also been participating in the OVER THE LIMIT tour with this line-up of bands:

As Blood Runs Black
Oceano
Arsonist Get All the Girls
The Tony Danza Tapdance extravaganza
Thick As Blood
Burning The Masses
Circle of Contempt
Blind Witness
Sons of Aruleus (Select dates)
This or The Apocalypse (Select dates)

The following dates remain on that tour:

8/16 Amarillo, TX @ The War Legion
8/17 Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep
8/19 El Paso, TX @ Club 101
8/20 Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
8/21 Pomona, CA @ Glasshouse (Summerslam Fest)

Earlier today we posted an album review without naming the band or any of the songs. Standing alone, that was a pretty useless act. What good is a review if readers don’t know who the fuck we’re talking about? But we did have a reason.

The band whose album we reviewed is Impending Doom, and some people tend to love them or dismiss them not because of the music but because they’re a Christian metal band — not just a band whose members happen to be Christians, but a band whose songs are inspired by their faith and who tour in order to spread the message.

The consequence is that you can’t read a review of their music without half the review being about the fact that they’re an unabashed Christian metal band — which is probably just fine with them.

But here at NCS, we don’t love em or detest ‘em because of that fact. We focus on the music and the performances, and we happen to dig both. So we thought, just for the hell of it, we’d see what kind of reactions you had from our review without having those reactions influenced by the fact that this is Impending Doom.

Now that the mystery has been resolved, we’ll run our review again with all the camouflage removed. If you read the earlier review with the identity concealed and aren’t interested in reading it again, even with some details revealed, we’ve added something new at the end of the post (after the jump) under the heading “NEW STUFF”.  As always, feel free to flame or praise or yawn in the comments . . .

The three perpetrators of this site first saw Impending Doom as the headline act in a small, crappy little club in Portland that hadn’t been cleaned since Ronald Reagan was president. The whole place was scarred, and every surface was sticky. It was pretty full, which didn’t take a lot. There was hardly any room to move. That night, Impending Doom owned the place. The performance was explosive, and the performers had magnetic stage presence.

We saw ‘em again on another national tour the next year in Seattle at a much larger, nicer club where they weren’t the headline act. They played again with explosive energy, just blew the crowd away. The other bands (August Burns Red and The Acacia Strain) were bigger names, but Impending Doom damn-near stole the show. It was like some big muscle car going full-throttle, with the tachometer in the red zone.

They’ve just released a new album, There Will Be Violence — their third, and it’s a step ahead, and a slight step sideways, from the band’s previous work. It’s brutal, it’s catchy, it’s unusually melodic, and most of it is a flat-out headbanging barrage of full-force fury.

Somewhere along the way, Impending Doom got tagged by some people with the “deathcore” label. The label wasn’t entirely unfair, because (particularly on the last album) the band has been partial to massively down-tuned, clanging riffs, large doses of double-bass, and the general rhythmic pattern of deathcore, including mammoth breakdowns.

But the band’s two previous releases have also included some unexpected variation from the pattern, and a healthy dose of honest, straight-ahead death metal.

Fans familiar with the band’s previous albums will certainly recognize the third one. It’s still loaded with down-tuned, jackhammer riffing, frenetic drumwork full-forward in the mix, and an assortment of roof-collapsing breakdowns (there’s a doozy on “The Great Fear”).

But changes are also in evidence. The band’s distinctive vocalist Brook Reeves has shifted to a much more pronounced hardcore style of testosterone-injected howling, reminiscent (at least to us) of Darkest Hour‘s vocalist, John Henry. The deep gutturals aren’t gone, but they’re used more sparingly.

The band’s music has always been a fusion of hardcore and death metal with a healthy dose of thrash, but perhaps as a result of the altered vocal style, several of the songs on this album have a more pronounced hardcore vibe than we remember from the previous albums (particularly “The Son Is Mine” and “Children of Wrath”).

As compared to previous efforts, the songs on the new album also reflect greater tempo dynamics and more frequent use of melodic guitar leads and solos, and indeed, the tracks that work best are those that change course in unexpected ways, whether it be the slower-paced instrumental in the middle of “The Great Fear” or the swirling guitar leads that carry the mid-tempo “Sweating Blood” or the start-stop, techie hammering that infuses “Peace Illusion”.

The album also includes a haunting instrumental (“Love Has Risen”) that starts with an almost sludgy opening riff and includes an almost bluesy dual guitar lead in the middle (with the drumming backed down), and a soaring guitar anthem at the end.

Two well-known frontmen from other bands — Tim Lambesis (As I Lay Dying) and Vincent Bennett (The Acacia Strain) make guest appearances on two songs (“Orphans” and “The Great Fear”, respectively) and they add some new colors in their contributions.

But what pervades all the tracks except for that instrumental is a flood of passionate fury — the same kind of emotional onslaught that made those live performances we saw so riveting. These dudes aren’t posers. They’re invested heart and soul in what they’re doing, and that passion enlivens the music.

Here’s a track from the new album for you to stream:

Impending Doom: Peace Illusion

NEW STUFF

More thoughts on why we hid the ball in our first review:

Ideas, beliefs, and feelings — whether wise or foolish, profound or mundane, malicious or beneficial — have inspired the creation of music since pre-history. Frankly, we’d rather listen to music that has its genesis in strongly held feelings of any kind than in a soulless calculation of how to generate cash or achieve popular notoriety.

But in the end, it’s the music that must stand or fall on its merits, regardless of where it came from. That’s why we tried in our first review to take all the controversy that surrounds Impending Doom in the metal community right out of the equation. We could have done that with many other bands. Just didn’t occur to us until now.

You can catch Impending Doom on this summer’s THRASH AND BURN tour (which has been the subject of a spirited debate in the comments on our original post about the tour at this location).

And now here’s a an official performance video of “More Than Conquerors”, a song from the band’s last album. It will give you an idea of the intensity that Impending Doom brings to a live show, from start to finish. IOHO, the song is hot shit too:

Why do people read album reviews? In an extremely rare moment of logical thought, I decided that was a question worth considering when I started writing them myself. Just seemed to me that if I really wanted anyone to give a fuck about what I wrote, it might make sense to figure out what people were looking for. Here are the answers I came up with:

First, some people are looking for advice in deciding whether to spend their time (and maybe their money) on the music.

Second, even if readers already know the band and have their own opinions about the album, they’re curious about how the particular writer has reacted to it, and why — maybe as validation for their own opinions, maybe as a test about whether their own musical taste has finally fallen all the way into the shitter.

And/or third, they want to be entertained by the writing — even if they don’t really give a crap about the album itself.

I read album reviews for all three of those reasons, and I try to keep those reasons in mind when I write my own, even though I know full well that (a) anyone who looks to me for advice is scraping rock-bottom; (b) no one in their right mind would use my opinion as a standard by which to judge their own; and (c) my best shot at being entertaining depends on using words like “shitter,” “crap,” “fuck,” and “anus” as often as possible.

For me, the best reviews are those that satisfy all three of the criteria listed above. But I confess that, more and more, I read reviews for the third reason — to be entertained. I still read reviews to find new music, though the truth is that I already have so much new music to hear that I need more like I need a second anus. And I figured out a long time ago that I like so much of what I hear that testing my opinions against those of respected critics would just make me feel even more retarded than I already feel.

So, realizing that the desire to be entertained is a big part of why I gravitate to particular reviews, I decided to sample for you some of the best lines I found in music reviews over the past week. Why? Because it’s fucking entertaining.  (so, if you want to be fucking entertained, continue reading past the fucking jump . . .)

From the writer “Empty Hell” at Baroque, Bleak, Brutal, reviewing Watain‘s new album:

Watain’s “Lawless Darkness”, released June 7th,  is the musical equivalent of the Gulf spill. Totally relentless, life killing, and a thing you can see from space.

From a review by “non-metal fan” Aimee at MetalSucks about Impending Doom‘s forthcoming album, There Will Be Violence:

[I]t’s impressive that the singer can scream for that long without getting a sore throat. And the drummer can play very fast! I bet he practices a lot. In fact, all of these guys can play fast. Good for them!

From Cosmo Lee at Invisible Oranges, reviewing Nightbringer‘s new album:

Apocalypse Sun sounds expensive: clean and compressed, with much separation between instruments. For mainstream metal, the sound would be appropriate, but for underground black metal, it is problematic. The incessant kick drums suggest a sewing machine, and the relentless tremolo picking is too clearly defined. The result is tense and neurotic, like the spotless home of an OCD sufferer.

From Steff Metal (one of our own occasional guest contributors), reviewing Blackjazz by Shining on her own site:

It’s like the soundtrack from some future science-fiction jungle jazzhall, space-junkie Fear and Loathing in Los Vagas. It’s not headbanging music . . . it’s almost fit for a dance club. A dance club of your nightmares.

From Etan at Cerebral Metalhead, reviewing the self-titled EP by Kings Destroy:

Stoner metal should be played by ugly dudes for ugly dudes. . . . Point is, the almighty fuzz riff is best pursued and appreciated when sex is a non-issue, and bliss is the main objective. . . . Soak the band in bong resin for a millennium and they’ll be considered classic.

From Erik Thomas at Teeth of the Divine reviewing the album Spacemaker by Microtia:

I’m not much for gimmicks, but when a CD is sent to me with the ‘jewel case’ cut from a 12-pack of beer, and the track listing is printed on a Camels lights -pack, I’ll admit it: Well played, good sirs!

From Kris Yancey‘s review of Nachtmystium‘s new album, Addicts: Black Meddle Part II, at Teeth of the Divine:

For every step Nachtmystium takes in the right direction, it just veers right off course again. It’s like a dog that, for every new trick it learns, it manages to shit on the rug and completely blow its credibility as a good dog.

From Shelby Cobras‘ review at Illogical Contraption of an album by Medieval Demon:

Medieval Demon can’t seem to play two actual songs in a row, instead choosing to fuck with the cohesive flow of an otherwise solid (if overly “raw”) BM album with a bunch of candle-lit psuedo-classical vampire bullshit. Which isn’t necessarily a BAD thing . . . .

From EvilivE at The Number of the Blog (okay this isn’t from a review, but I can’t help but include it):

Going down like a fat chick’s pants at an ICP show.

From Shawn Macomber‘s review of Ozzy Osbourne‘s Scream in the current issue of Decibel:

If the Prince of Darkness strained more on this record than during his last shit, he’s definitely drinking more prune juice than vodka these days.

From Cosmo Lee (again) and his Decibel review of Dirt Communion‘s latest release, Antique Mechanic:

Perhaps we’ve gotten to a point where bands have become purely technicians. They’re simply executing commands that someone else laid  down, instead of coming up with their own.  How else to reconcile such thunderous musicianship with such thunderous unoriginality? Five percent body fat, bench press of 500 pounds, IQ of 50: a killer package, perhaps, depending on your inclination.

There’s more, but enough for today. By the way, why do you read album reviews? Or do you not bother with them? Leave comments please. And have a nice fucking day.

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.”

Here at NCS, we’re putting a different spin on year-end listmania. Ours isn’t a list of the best metal full-lengths of the year. It’s not even necessarily our list of the best individual extreme metal songs of the year. Ours is a list of the most infectious extreme metal songs we’ve heard this year. We’re talking about songs that produce involuntary physical movement and worm their way into your brain to such an extent you can’t get ‘em out (and wouldn’t want to).

We’re not ranking our list from #10 to #1 because that would be too much fucking work (and your co-Authors would still be arguing about it this time next year). So, our list is in no particular order. We’re also dribbling the songs out one at a time because your lazy Authors are still debating what belongs in the remaining slots. (Yes, still.) Our list heretofore:

1. Asphyx: Sorbutics

2. Mastodon: Crack the Skye

3. Amorphis: Silver Bride

4. Goatwhore: Apocalyptic Havoc

5. August Burns Red: Meridian

6. Pelican: Ephemeral

7. Scale the Summit: Age of the Tide

8. Daath:  Wilting On the Vine

And to see our ninth entry on the list, continue reading after the jump.

Why do so many snooty metalheads shit all over deathcore? Can’t we all just get along? All you people who want to pour a cooler of haterade over deathcore should chill and look on the bright side: it’s music that has provided a sense of belonging and a rallying cry to a new generation of young, pissed off headbangers, and as time passes those dudes and dudettes are going to expand their metal musical horizons and help keep the scene strong and flourishing. And besides, deathcore, when done right, packs a visceral physical punch that’s fucking electric.

Maybe that’s part of the problem with deathcore. Like a lot of punk music in its heyday, it’s a style of music that’s best appreciated live, in loud, dingy, adrenaline-charged venues packed with sweaty bodies moshing to thunderous breakdowns. No CD can capture that experience. Another problem with the genre is that the barriers to entry are low: At a base level, deathcore doesn’t require much instrumental or vocal talent, and shitloads of so-called deathcore bands crank out boring songs that are indistinguishable from each other, using formulaic death vocals and breakdowns to mask a fundamental deficit in ability.

But slamming the whole genre based on its lowest common denominator is just wrong. You can play that game with just about every sub-genre of extreme metal if you want to. The truth is that lots of bands branded with the deathcore label have got great song-writing and technical chops and are putting out some sick shit. We especially liked the 2009 releases from Impending Doom, Despised Icon, Born of Osiris, Oceano, and In the Midst of Lions.  I guess it’s obvious: the genre is definitely a (not so) guilty pleasure for your NCS Co-Authors. Which is why we couldn’t provide an honest list of the songs we found most infectious this year without including a deathcore entry.

Molotov Solution is a Las Vegas-based deathcore band that’s part of the cream of the crop. Your Authors caught the band’s live act at Club Satyricon in Portland earlier this year, and they fucking tore the place up. These bomb-throwers mix politically charged lyrics with a sonic attack that’s both brutal and groove-oriented. The songs are distinctive and definitely infectious — and man, the breakdowns are massively crushing: crank it up in the privacy of your own abode and you’ll feel the urge to mosh with your furniture.

We liked lots of the tracks on the band’s 2009 release, The Harbinger, but our eighth entry on the Most Infectious list is the title track. Have a listen:

The Harbinger

The video below is no substitute for streaming the song via the link above. The audio quality ain’t great (though the breakdowns come thru with force), but it’s still kinda cool to watch: