My, how time flies. Another month is in the history books. However much time you have on earth, you now have 31 days less of it since since the last installment of this post. Drink up!

But have no fear. You’re headed for a better place. That’s right, basically the same existence you had a month ago, but with more new metal ahead of you. Drink up!

And all those physical processes that are inexorably decaying your bodies on the rocky road to your demise, they’re still there and they’re still working on you like termites that have found a rotting log. But hey, you can still bang your head, so . . . Drink up!

Yes, we’re now a full seven months into 2010, and so it’s time for another monthly update to the list of forthcoming new albums we first posted on January 1. (All the other updates can be found via the “Forthcoming Albums” category link on the right side of our pages.) Below is a list of still more projected new releases we didn’t know about at the time of our previous updates, or updated info about some of the previously noted releases.

Once again, we’ve cobbled together news blurbs about bands whose past work we’ve liked, or who look interesting for other reasons. Perhaps needless to say, these are bands that mostly fit the profile of music we cover on this site — the kind that would like to tear your head off.

So, in alphabetical order, here’s our list of cut-and-pasted items from various sources since our last update about forthcoming new releases. Look for the bands you like and put reminders on your calendar. Or if you’re like us, just stick post-it notes on your forehead. Of course, if your foreheads are the low, sloping kind, you may only have room for a few, so be choosy.

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS: “Candlelight Records today confirms September 28 as the North American release date for In the Absence of Light, the second full-length album from black metallers Abigail Williams. Recorded at Conquistador Studios in Cleveland, Ohio, the album was mixed by Peter Tagtgren (Dimmu Borgir, Immortal, Celtic Frost) and features artwork by Farron Kerzner (Nachtmystium, Lightning Swords of Death). In The Absence of Light is true to the rules of black metal. . . .”

ARCKANUM: “Swedish black metallers ARCKANUM will release their new album, Sviga Læ, later in the year via Regain Records. . . . Commented Shamaatae (all instruments): ‘The new ARCKANUM album, Sviga Læ, is a dedication to Surtr; Giant and Ruler of the world of flames Múspellzheimr, and Loki; the Flaming Giant and Archenemy of the worlds. Sviga Læ is a manifestation of the blazing Chaos and the burning of the gods.’”

AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK: “A full 4 years after their deathcore masterpiece, Allegience, As Blood Runs Black are finishing up work on their sophomore album. . . . A statement from the band reads: ‘Our first single for our new album is finally being mixed!! Sounds fucking awesome!! Can’t wait to put it up. “Instinct” COMING SOON.’ The album is expected to drop before the end of the year.”

AUTOPSY: “U.S. gore legends AUTOPSY have completed the recording of their first tracks since officially reforming last year. The Tomb Within consists of five new tunes of gore and depravity and will be released on September 13 through Peaceville Records on CD and 12-inch vinyl, with general release set for September 27. Cover art is supplied by renowned fantasy/horror artist Matt Cavotta.”

THE AUTUMN OFFERING: “A seven-minute trailer/teaser for THE AUTUMN OFFERING‘s new, self-titled album [has been released]. Due on August 31 via Victory Records, the new CD is ‘the band’s most crushing release to date’ and is ‘chock-full of blast beats and twin guitar wizardry’ while ‘vocalist Matt McChesney sounds as if he is being burned at the stake,’ according to a press release.”

BAD RELIGION: “Celebrating three decades of influential, thought-provoking and groundbreaking punk rock, BAD RELIGION will release its fifteenth studio album, The Dissent Of Man, on September 28.”

BENEATH THE MASSACRE: “Montreal masters of tech death brutality, Beneath The Massacre, have announced they will be releasing an EP, featuring five brand new tracks, in the coming months. This will be the band’s first release since 2008′s Dystopia.”

CITY OF FIRE: “CITY OF FIRE, the new band featuring vocalist Burton C. Bell, bassist Byron Stroud, guitarist Terry Murray, guitarist Ian White, and drummer Bob Wagner, made a surprise live appearance last weekend opening for FEAR FACTORY at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. The performance marked the first live appearance for the band this year as they ready themselves for the anticipated release of their self-titled debut album on August 24.”

THE CROWN: “‘Blood O.D.’, a brand new song from the reunited Swedish death/thrash metal act THE CROWN, is available for streaming on the band’s MySpace page. The track comes off the group’s new album, Doomsday King, which is scheduled for release on September 27 via Century Media Records.”

DAGOBA: “‘Black Smokers’, a brand new song from French metallers DAGOBA, can be streamed on the band’s MySpace page. The track comes off the group’s fourth album, “Poseidon”, which will be released on August 30 via the French label XIII Bis Records. The CD was recorded at Hyperion Studioin Marseille, France with ‘Brew’ Varea and was mixed by Dave Chang at Philia Studio in the U.K.”

DEMIURG: “DEMIURG — the Sweden-based band featuring Rogga Johansson (RIBSPREADER, PAGANIZER) on vocals and guitars, Johan Berglund (THIS HAVEN) on bass, Ed Warby (GOREFEST, AYREON, HAIL OF BULLETS) on drums and Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, BLOODBATH) on lead guitar and keyboards — will release its third album, Slakthus Gamleby, on July 30 via Cyclone Empire Records.”

DEVILDRIVER: “DEVILDRIVER recently finished recording its fifth album at Sonic Ranch studios in Tornillo, Texas with producer Mark Lewis (TRIVIUM,CHIMAIRA, ALL THAT REMAINS) for a tentative early 2011 release through Roadrunner Records. According to drummer John Boecklin, acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, MACHINE HEAD, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY) will mix the effort in late July at Andy‘s Backstage studio in Derbyshire, England.”

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA: “The Devil Wears Prada will release their previously announced EP on August 24th via Ferret Music [entitled] Zombie . . . .  Both a teaser and a track (“Outnumbered”) from the EP can be found via www.tdwpslays.com.”

DEVOID/ALBATROSS: “Demonstealer Records has announced the signing of two of India’s most promising young bands: DEVOID (MySpace page), a thrash metal act from Mumbai, and ALBATROSS (MySpace page), a group that likes to mix horror and metal. Both bands’ debut efforts — ALBATROSS‘ Dinner Is You EP and DEVOID‘s A God’s Lie album — are scheduled for a worldwide release in September. ALBATROSS‘ Dinner Is You EP was mastered by acclaimed Swedish producer Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND, DEATH, ILLWILL, X-WORLD/5).”

ENSLAVED: “Norwegian psychedelic post-black metal band ENSLAVED will release its new album, Axioma Ethica Odini, in Europe on September 27 and in North America on September 28. The CD’s cover artwork was created by the Norwegian artist Truls Espedal, who has painted every ENSLAVED album cover since 2001′s Monumension.”

GHOST MACHINERY: “Finnish melodic metallers GHOST MACHINERY will release their second album, Out For Blood, in Europe on August 27 and in North America on October 5 via Germany’s Limb Music.”

GOAT THE HEAD: “Norwegian death metallers GOAT THE HEAD will release their second full-length album, Doppelgängers, on September 13 via Aftermath Music. The CD was mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (HALFORD, BEHEMOTH,KATAKLYSM, THE HAUNTED) at his Antfarm Studio in Århus , Denmark and it ‘boasts 10 furious tracks exerting about every color of the metal palette,’ according to a press release.”

GRAVE DIGGER: “German power metallers GRAVE DIGGER have set The Clans Will Rise Again as the title of their new album, due in Europe on October 1 via Napalm Records. . . .The Clans Will Rise Again is a loose sequel of the Tunes Of War album, but this time not a concept album about the Scottish history, rather a work about Scotland, its mysticism and its people.”

IMMORTAL: “The Seventh Date Of Blashyrkh, the band’s first official live DVD and live CD release in the history of their existence, features songs that span IMMORTAL‘s timeless discography and includes three back-to-back-to-back selections from their most acclaimed release to date. The leather and spikes, the “war paint,” the bursting pyrotechnics, the essential anthems, Abbath‘s on-stage acrobatics, and an audience that drew upwards of 70,000 people… the magic’s all there, ready to be absorbed into your consciousness. . . .  The Seventh Date Of Blashyrkh will be released in Europe on August 6 and in North America on September 14 via Nuclear Blast.”

INFERNAEON: ““Ziasudra”, a brand new song from Floridian extreme metallers INFERNAEON, is available for streaming on the band’s MySpace page. According to a press release, the track tells the story of the Sumerian king of the same name from which the story of Noah is derived. “Ziasudra” comes off INFERNAEON‘s new album, Genesis To Nemesis, which is scheduled for release on August 31 via Prosthetic Records. The CD was recorded at Erik Rutan‘s Mana Recording Studios (GOATWHORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, HATE ETERNAL) in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer Brian Elliott.”

IRON MAIDEN: “IRON MAIDEN‘s 15th studio LP, The Final Frontier, will be released in North America on August 17 (one day earlier internationally) via Universal Music Enterprises (UMe). The band reunited with long-time MAIDEN producer Kevin “Caveman” Shirley in early 2010 at Compass Point Studios, Nassau to record the album and then moved to The Cave Studios in Malibu, California to finish the recording and do the mixing.”

THE MAN-EATING TREE: “THE MAN-EATING TREE — the new atmospheric metal band featuring former SENTENCED drummer Vesa Ranta alongside current/former members of POISONBLACK, REFLEXION and EMBRAZE — will release its debut album, Vine, in Finland on September 22 via Cobra Records and in other territories through Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at Mastervox Studio in Oulu, Finland with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, SENTENCED, AMORPHIS).”

MUSHROOMHEAD: “Ohio’s MUSHROOMHEAD has changed the title of its new album to Beautiful Stories For Ugly Children from the previously announced Slaughterhouse Road. Due on September 28 via Filthy Hands/Megaforce Records, the CD was mastered by Roger Lian at Masterdisk in New York City.”

NEAERA: “The first in a series of webisodes featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the recording sessions for Forging The Eclipse, the fifth album from German extreme metallers NEAERA, [have been released]. Forging The Eclipse is scheduled for an October 22 release via Metal Blade Records. . . . The mixing/mastering will be handled by Tue Madsen (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, DARK TRANQUILLITY, MOONSPELL).”

NIGHTFALL: “The cover artwork for Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants, the new album from reformed Greek metallers NIGHTFALL — featuring frontman and lyricist Efthimis Karadimas alongside Evan Hensley on guitar, Stathis Kassios on keyboards and Jörg Uken on drums — [has been released]. The CD is scheduled for release on August 31 (one day earlier internationally) via Metal Blade Records. The cover artwork was created by Travis Smith (OPETH, DEATH, NEVERMORE, KATATONIA).”

OBSCURA: “Progressive death metal act OBSCURA has entered Woodshed Studio in southern Germany with engineer V. Santura (TRIPTYKON, DARK FORTRESS) to begin recording its new album for an early 2011 release via Relapse Records.”

ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET: “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 in early 2011.Lindstrand states, ‘We will enter Black Lounge studio in October and together with Jonas Kjellgren we will try to create the best possible ARMYalbum ever. If we succeed or not is up to you to judge, but all I can say is that for the first time all songs feels like keepers.’”

PANTERA: “PANTERA found its growl and groove on Cowboys From Hell, a landmark album whose bone-powdering intensity, razor-sharp riffing and pummeling rhythmic assault represented a turning point in modern metal when it was released in 1990. . . . To celebrate the 20-year anniversary of Cowboys From Hell, Rhino rounds up a three-disc “Ultimate Edition,” a three-disc “Deluxe Edition,” and a two-disc “Expanded Edition.” All three editions include a newly remastered version of the original album along with unreleased and rare live performances from the “Cowboys From Hell” tour. The “Ultimate” and “Deluxe” editions will also feature a disc of unreleased demos for nearly every album track, plus, “The Will To Survive”, a previously unreleased song recorded during the album’s sessions.The “Deluxe” and “Expanded” editions of “Cowboys From Hell” will be released September 14 at all retail outlets, including www.pantera.com and www.rhino.com .”

PRO-PAIN: “Absolute Power, the thirteenth full-length album from PRO-PAIN, will be released in North America on August 10 via Regain Records. According to a press release, the CD ‘explores several sides to the tried-and-true American unit’s somewhat patented sound. While a vast chunk of the album immediately recalls standard PRO-PAIN New York City-style metal/hardcore crossover attacks, many elements at play on Absolute Power infiltrate totally new ground for the band.’”

THE SHOWDOWN: “‘Heavy Lies The Crown’, a brand new song from the Tennessee’s riff-tastic southern metal outfit THE SHOWDOWN, can be streamed on the band’s MySpace page. The track comes off the group’s fourth album, Blood in the Gears, which is scheduled for release on August 24 via Solid State Records.”

THERION: “THERION will release its new album, Sitra Ahra, in North America on October 26 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was mixed at the legendary Polar Studios in Stockholm by Lennart Östlund (LED ZEPPELIN, ABBA). The cover artwork was created by Thomas Ewerhard, who worked on all of the band’s most recent releases in addition to collaborating with EDGUY,AVANTASIA, RAGE and HAMMERFALL, among others.”

WINDS OF PLAGUE: “Los Angeles metallers WINDS OF PLAGUE will enter the studio later this summer with producer Matt Hyde (SLAYER, HATEBREED) to begin recording their third album for an early 2011 release via Century Media Records.”

WITHIN THE RUINS: “Western Massachusetts own Within The Ruins prepares for the release of their second full-length album Invade, follow-up of the band’s 2009 release Creature. Invade is set to hit stores officially on August 31st through Victory Records.”

We’re now a full three months into 2010, and it’s time for our third update to the list of forthcoming new albums we posted on January 1.  (See the original list here, the first update here, and the second update here.) Below is a list of still more projected new releases that we didn’t know about on January 1 or at the time of our last two updates — and the new sickness is still spreading in epidemic proportions.

Once again, we’ve cobbled together news blurbs about 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 mostly fit the profile of music we cover on this site.

So, in alphabetical order, here’s our list of cut-and-pasted blurbs from various sources since our last update about forthcoming new releases. Look for the bands you like and put reminders on your calendar. Or if you’re old school like us, just get em tattooed someplace you can see without a mirror (because reading stuff backwards is hard).

ANAAL NATHRAKH: “U.K. extreme metallers ANAAL NATHRAKH have commenced work on material for a new album, tentatively due before the end of the year.”

ANNIHILATOR: “Canadian thrash metal veterans ANNIHILATOR will release their 13th, self-titled album in Europe on May 17 via Earache Records, in Japan through Marquee and in Australia via Riot Entertainment.”

ARISE: “A two-minute video trailer for The Reckoning, the fourth album from Swedish death/thrashers ARISE, can be viewed below. Due on March 22 through Regain Records, the CD features guest appearances by Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, ex-CARNAL FORGE), Mikael Stanne (DARK TRANQUILLITY) and Jake Fredém (NOSTRADAMEUS).” [NOTE: the album is now scheduled for release on April 6.]

(more after the jump . . .)

BLACK THOUGHTS BLEEDING: “German metallers BLACK THOUGHTS BLEEDING will release their debut album, Stomachion, on March 26 via Silverwolf Productions. . . . According to a press release, ‘BLACK THOUGHTS BLEEDING play their own brand of heavy melodic thrash metal and will appeal to fans of SCAR SYMMETRY, MESHUGGAH, IN FLAMES, and SEPULTURA.’” [NOTE: the album is supposed to be out now, but we can't find it.]

BRAIN DRILL: “Santa Cruz, CA technical death metallers BRAIN DRILL have just released the track listing for their upcoming sophomore release, Quantum Catastrophe, which hits streets on May 11.”

BRING ME THE HORIZON: “Sheffield, U.K. metallers BRING ME THE HORIZON have entered Studio Fredman in Västra Frölunda, Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordström (DIMMU BORGIR, IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL) to begin recording their third album for an August release via Visible Noise.”

CLINGING TO THE TREES OF A FOREST FIRE: “Prosthetic Records has signed Denver, Colorado’s CLINGING TO THE TREES OF A FOREST FIRE. The band’s new album is slated for a late spring/early summer release. . . . The band’s sound has been referred to as “funeral grind,” as it’s “too slow for grindcore, too fast for doom,” and has been compared to the likes of BRUTAL TRUTH, PIG DESTROYER, DISCORDANCE AXIS, EYEHATEGOD and NAPALM DEATH.”

THE CONTORTIONIST: “Indianapolis, Indiana’s THE CONTORTIONIST has inked a deal withGood Fight Music. The band will enter the studio this spring with producer Ken Susi (UNEARTH guitarist) to begin recording its full-length debut for a late mid-to-late-summer release.”

THE CRINN: “St. Paul, Minnesota-based progressive/experimental metallers THE CRINN have posted a new song, “Meat Eating Machines”, on their MySpace page. The track comes off the band’s full-length debut, Dreaming Saturn, which is scheduled for release on May 14 via Nuclear Blast Records. . . . Technical riffs, off-time grooves and jarring transitions are only a few of the focal points used when writing. These experiments have been labeled as mathcore, techmetal, techgrind, jazzmetal and even noodlegrind!”

CYNIC: “On May 17, reunited progressive rock/metal band CYNIC will release a brand new EP entitled Re-Traced, featuring reinterpretations of four songs from the group’s critically acclaimed Traced In Air album as well as a previously unreleased song. ‘Re-Traced is an experiment for us — an opportunity to turn four songs from Traced in Air inside out and to share something new,’ comments frontman Paul Masvidal.”

DAGOBA: “French metallers DAGOBA have entered Hyperion Studio in Marseille, France with “Brew” Varea to begin recording their fourth album for a late 2010 release. The CD will be mixed by Dave Chang at Philia Studio in the U.K.”

DEW SCENTED: “PROSTHETIC RECORDS is proud to announce they will be releasing German thrash stalwarts, DEW SCENTED‘s new album in North America. The effort entitled, Invocation, which was recorded by Jörg Uken at Soundlodge Studios (God Dethroned, Sinister, Despondency), is due out on May 25th. Invocation also marks the first appearance of drummer Marc-Andree Dieken (ex-Obscenity), and guitar team Michael Borchers and Martin Walczak, alongside long term members, vocalist Leif Jensen and bassist Alexander Pahl.”

DRYLL: “DRYLL, the U.K.-based metal band featuring legendary ex-VENOM guitarist Jeff “Mantas” Dunn and former VENOM drummer Antony “Antton” Lant (brother of VENOM frontman Conrad “Cronos” Lant), will enter the studio next week to begin recording its as-yet-untitled debut album. The group has been rehearsing and writing material since adding Lant and former DEF-CON-ONE bassist Craig Elliott to its lineup in October.”

EVIL AMIDST: “South Florida death metallers EVIL AMIDST will enter the studio in March to record their debut album, entitled Of Ice And Skin. The band’s all-star lineup includes the following musicians: Steve Asheim (DEICIDE) – Drums; Xaphan (KULT OF AZAZEL) – Bass; Gio Geraca (MALEVOLENT CREATION, WYKKED WYTCH) – Guitar, Vocals; Lenny Warmbrandt – Vocals. EVIL AMIDST is currently seeking a suitable label to release the CD.”

FORBIDDEN: “Reactivated San Francisco Bay Area metallers FORBIDDEN have inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The band entered the studio on March 1 to begin recording its new album for a late 2010 release. . . . FORBIDDEN‘s last studio LP, Green, was released in 1997 on the G.U.N. label.”

GOD.FEAR.NONE:  “Greek death metallers GOD.FEAR.NONE will release their new album, Over Black Clouds, later in the year. The CD contains 11 new songs of technical and melodic death metal, plus three re-recordings of songs taken from the Vultures album, which was released in 2007 (available only through iTunes and Uppercut Music). Over Black Clouds features international guest musicians such as Ahrue Luster (guitar; ILL NINO, ex-MACHINE HEAD), Steve Smyth (guitar; FORBIDDEN, ex-NEVERMORE, TESTAMENT), Rob Arnold (guitar; CHIMAIRA) and Thomas Englund (vocals; EVERGREY).”

THE HAUNTED: “Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED are putting the finishing touches on a new concert DVD/CD, Road Kill, to be released later in the year via Century Media. The band is also working on material for a new studio album and is preparing to hit the road in Europe as the support act for SLAYER. In addition, the group will make several festival appearances this summer.”

HELMET: “HELMET has set Seeing Eye Dog as the title of its new album, due on June 22 via Work Song, the label imprint shared by singer/songwriter Joe Henry and HELMET mainman Page Hamilton‘s manager.”

THE HIGH CONFESSIONS: “Relapse Records has announced the signing of the newly formed THE HIGH CONFESSIONS. The band features in its ranks Chris Connelly (MINISTRY, REVOLTING COCKS, KILLING JOKE), Steve Shelley (SONIC YOUTH), Sanford Parker (MINSK, NACHTMYSTIUM, BURIED AT SEA), and noted recording engineer Jeremy Lemos (SMOG, STEREOLAB, JIM O’ROURKE). THE HIGH CONFESSIONS will release its Relapse debut, Turning Lead Into Gold With The High Confessions, this summer. Audio samples will be made available shortly, with more information to be announced soon.”

I DECLARE WAR: “Seattle, Washington-based death metallers I DECLARE WAR have inked a deal with Artery Recordings, the new joint venture between The Artery Foundation and Razor & Tie. The band’s self-produced new album, Malevolence, will be released on June 1.”

THE JASSER ARAFATS: “THE JASSER ARAFATS, a five-piece ‘deathrash machine’ from Tampere, Finland, will release its debut album, Condemnation, on April 14 via Violent Journey Records.”

KINGDOM OF SORROW: “KINGDOM OF SORROW, the metal project created by Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) and Kirk Windstein (DOWN, CROWBAR), has completed work on its second album for a tentative June release via Relapse Records. The CD was mixed by Chris “Zeuss” Harris at Planet Z Recordings in Hadley, Massachusetts.”

KNIGHTS OF THE ABYSS: “After several months spent writing material for their third album, Knights Of The Abyss will enter the studio on April first to begin tracking the effort. Recording will take place at Dreadcore Productions in Michigan with Joshua Wickman (And Hell Followed With) at the helm, who the band says will ‘help us make this the heaviest KOTA record to date.’  Titled The Culling of Wolves, the album should see a late-summer release via Ferret Music.”

THE LAST FELONY: “Lifeforce Records is proud to announce the signing of one of the most exciting young death metal acts, The Last Felony from Montreal, Canada. . . . Having released their debut Aeon Of Suffering with well-respected label Galy Records, who already introduced bands like Despised Icon and Beneath The Massacre to the metal world, The Last Felony is now ready to take the world by storm with their new album Too Many Humans to be released this summer on Lifeforce Records.”

LEGEND: “The Bury Your Dead/Legend/For The Fallen Dreams musical chairs routine continues as Legend has added former Bury Your Dead bass player Aaron “Bubble” Patrick to their line-up on second guitar. According to frontman Chad Ruhlig, ‘We’re excited to have Bubble aboard. He’s a good friend and an amazing performer. He fits in the puzzle perfectly.’ Meanwhile, the group recently completed recording for their full-length debut with Zeuss (Hatebreed) at Planet Z in Hadley, MA. Titled Valediction, the effort will hit stores on May 25th via Rise Records.”

MELECHESH: “Sumerian thrashing black metal act MELECHESH will enter Babajim Studios in Istanbul, Turkey on April 10 to begin recording its as-yet-untitled fifth album for a summer release via Nuclear Blast Records.”

MONUMENT TO THIEVES: “Monument to Thieves may be new to the game, but with members like Keith Barney (Throwdown, Eighteen Visions) on vocals, Matt Horwitz (Adamantium, The Agony Scene), Marc Jackson (Force of Change, Throwdown) on guitar, Dave Itow (The Mistake, Amendment 18) on bass and Chris Dinicola on guitar it’s obvious they are veterans to the scene.” Monument to Thieves will release their new self-titled album on March 30 on No Sleep Records.

NEAERA: “German metal outfit Neaera is currently finishing up the writing process for their next Metal Blade Records release. The group will enter the studio this summer to record the effort, with production from Andy Classen (Belphegor) and Alexander Dietz (Burning Skies), and mixing/mastering from Tue Madsen (The Haunted). A fall release is expected.”

NECRONOMICON: “Quebec’s black/death metal trio NECRONOMICON will release its new album, The Return Of The Witch, via Austria’s Napalm Records on the following dates: June 8 (USA/Canada). . . . The Return Of The Witch features guest appearances by Arianne Fleury (ex-AUGURY) and Roxanne Constantin (NEGATIVA, QUO VADIS), among others.”

NEVERMORE: “Century Media Records has set a June 8 North American release date for The Obsidian Conspiracy, the long-awaited new album from Seattle metallers NEVERMORE. The drum tracks for The Obsidian Conspiracy were completed in the group’s hometown of Seattle with SOILWORK guitarist Peter Wichers, who previously worked with Dane on the singer’s solo debut, “Praises to the War Machine”. Longtime friend and collaborator Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ARCH ENEMY, EXODUS, MACHINE HEAD) once again handled mixing duties.”

OCTOBER FILE: “OCTOBER FILE will release its long-awaited third album, Our Souls To You, on April 5 via Candlelight Records. The CD is described in a press release as ‘a raging assault of post-apocalypse sonic heaviness on the senses from start to finish. . . Dark, aggressive, angular and downright angry are the closest descriptions. Musically, OCTOBER FILE deliver an even heavier and direct approach than the highly rated last album, Holy Armour From The Jaws Of God.’”

PANTERA: “A new PANTERA greatest-hits collection will be made available on March 30, titled 1990-2000: A Decade Of Domination, according to The Pulse of Radio. No details of what will be included on the release have been announced yet.”

PARKWAY DRIVE: “Australian metalcore band Parkway Drive will enter the studio this month to begin recording a new full-length. Written during the past six months, the effort will be recorded in Los Angeles, California with producer Joe Barresi (Queens Of The Stone Age, Melvins) at the helm. A mid-2010 release via Epitaph Records is expected.”

PERIPHERY: “Combining the complex atypical rhythms and technical precision of math rock with the sensational brutality of progressive metal, Washington D.C.’s PERIPHERY will unleash its self-titled debut on April 20 through Sumerian Records.”

RED SPAROWES: “Los Angeles epic, heavy quintet RED SPAROWES has announced North American headlining tour dates this spring supporting its forthcoming third album. The disc, titled The Fear Is Excruciating, But Therein Lies The Answer, will be released via Sargent House on April 6, 2010. RED SPAROWES will be supported on sections of the tour by Doomriders, Caspian and Fang Island.”

ROTTEN SOUND: “Finland’s ROTTEN SOUND has posted two tracks — “Mindkill” and“Missing Link” (NAPALM DEATH cover) — from the band’s forthcoming Napalm EP. . . . Napalm will be released on March 30 in North America and April 5 internationally via Relapse Records.”

SAEL: “SAEL, the French black metal band which features in its ranks members of ASMODEE, REVERENCE, OFFENDING and ACARUS SARCOPT, will release its debut album, The Sixth Extinction, on April 30, 2010 via Pictonian Records.”

SONIC SYNDICATE: “Swedish/British modern metallers SONIC SYNDICATE have set We Rule The Night as the title of their new album, due in Europe on May 28 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Bohus Sound studios in Kungälv, Sweden with producer Toby Wright, who has previously worked with KORN, SLAYER, MÖTLEY CRÜE, KISS, FEAR FACTORY, IN FLAMES, STONE SOUR and OZZY OSBOURNE, among others.”

SORROWS: “BLEEDING THROUGH‘s Brandan Schieppatti has joined forces with musical polymath Mick Kenney (ANAAL NATHRAKH) to create SORROWS. The two musically minded neighbors met up in Huntington Beach, California in October 2009 to collaborate on this new musical project. The resulting album is, in Mick‘s own words, ‘a mixture of hardcore crustpunk, black metal, electronic beats and super heavy riffage.’ The album has been written and produced by Mick, with Brandan taking on the vocalist mantle once again. Although still recruiting members for the live lineup, they have already drafted in Trevor Friedrich (formerly of EIGHTEEN VISIONS, and now of industrialists COMBICHRIST), on drums, while Mick will play guitar. SORROWS is seeking a suitable label to release the band’s already completed debut CD. Audio samples from SORROWS are available for streaming on the band’s MySpace page.”

SOULFLY: “The release date of SOULFLY‘s seventh album, Omen, has been pushed back to May 25 from the previously announced May 4 (via Roadrunner Records).”

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS: “SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, the Swedish band featuring ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott, has entered the studio to begin recording its new album for a late 2010 release. According to Amott, Sharlee D’Angelo finished up his bass tracks in two days. ‘It’s very heavy and with a groove and swagger that only the D’Angelo/[Ludwig] Witt [drums] combo can deliver!’ he added.”

SYMPHONY X: “North America’s progressive metal gods SYMPHONY X are putting the finishing touches on the material for their next studio album, tentatively due mid-2010 via their new record label, Nuclear Blast Records.”

THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE: “Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE recently entered Spin Studios in New York with Josh Wilbur (ATREYU, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) and Chris Adler (of LAMB OF GOD) to begin recording the follow-up to the band’s 2008 album, Monuments. A spring release via Good Fight Music is expected.”

UNLEASHED: “The title track of As Yggdrasil Trembles, the tenth full-length album from Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED, is available for streaming on the band’s MySpace page. Due on March 19 in Europe and April 6 in the U.S. via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD was recorded at guitarist Fredrik Folkare‘s Chrome studio, and is ‘the logical continuation from Midvinterblot [2006] and Hammer Battalion [2008],’ according to the group.”

WARBEAST: “WARBEAST (formerly TEXAS METAL ALLIANCE), the band featuring RIGOR MORTIS vocalist Bruce Corbitt, GAMMACIDE guitarists Rick Perry and Scott Shelby, GAMMACIDE/DEVILFIST bassist Alan Bovee and DEMONSEED drummer Joe Gonzalez, will release its debut album, Krush The Enemy, in late April via Philip Anselmo‘s (DOWN,PANTERA) Housecore Records.”

WITHIN THE RUINS: “Massachusetts’ Within The Ruins is now in the process of writing their sophomore release for Victory Records. The group currently plans to enter the studio on May 1st with engineer/producer Josh Wichman (And Hell Followed With) to begin tracking the effort.”

I try to stay grymm. This is an extreme metal blog, after all. Brooding and scowling are the order of the day, except when we take a break for attempts at humor — which necessarily have to be tasteless or sarcastic. Problem is, I have a weakness for cats. I have a cat — or to be more accurate, I share a cat. He’s about 17 years old and a big part of my day. That makes me a little insecure, because as pets go, I have this nagging worry that cats aren’t considered metal, not like a Doberman or a pit bull or a wolfhound.

I got a little bit of an ego boost when I read Issue #62 (Dec 2009) of Decibel. It included an article called “The Cutest Kitties in Metal.” The article consisted of seven pages of dudes from metal bands with their cats, with photos and affectionate commentary from the dudes about their cats. That made me feel a little more metal about my own cat thing.

But that was a couple months ago, and I’ve started feeling insecure again about my metalness. Like when I saw the photo above and started laughing. I don’t even know why I’m making that confession.  Lolcats are not metal. I know that. I don’t even know why I’m putting this post together. Trying to justify my cat weakness I guess, at the risk that you readers will think this post is a complete, bullshit waste of space and time.

But fuck it, the die is cast. In for a dime, in for a dollar. Tomorrow we’ll have a post ready on some divergently awesome new music, but today, I’m afraid it’s all catz.

So, the cat above isn’t metal.  But what about this?  (after the jump . . .)

That one’s more metal, don’t you think? How’d you like to wake up every morning with this monster sitting on your chest, giving you that look? On the bright side, you probably wouldn’t feel like falling back asleep. You’d probably jump out of the rack like you were shot from a gun.

Still not convinced that cats can be metal?  How about this one:

Shit! That one makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I like cats and all, but the owners of this one must have found a pet store in Hell. Not sure I could come home to that every day. Pretty fucking metal, though.

What about this next one?

Yeah, now that’s more like it! Definitely a metal cat, right? I can guess what happened here. Cat was sleeping, like they do about 90% of the day and night. And then the human in the room decided it would be a good time to crank up some Napalm Death at full blast.

Let’s not stop now.  Check out this one:

Also metal, right?  I’m starting to feel more masculine about my cat weakness already. But I’m still not quite where I need to be. I got an idea! Let’s shift gears. Stay with cats, but think about bigger cats — cats that prey on more than mice, birds, and canned tuna.

What about this?

Yeah, you’re right.  It’s definitely a bigger cat, and it’s regally beautiful. But the photo is not really metal.

But what about this?

Yeah, that’s more like it! That’s a br00tal creature right there. Definitely metal. Regally beautiful AND scary as shit.

While we’re on the subject of scary-as-shit tigers, how about this:

Fuck! And I had this delusional idea that if I were ever being chased by a tiger, all I’d have to do is head for deep water. Not that I really spend a lot of time thinking about what I’d do if I were ever being chased by a tiger.  I’m just sayin’.  Heading for deep water is out.

Best plan is probably what’s suggested by the punchline to the old joke about the two missionaries running from a charging lion. One says to the other, “We’ll never outrun it!” The other says, “I don’t have to outrun it.  I just have to outrun you.”

Now that we’re on the subject of lions, is this metal?

Nah, you’re right. Not metal. The regally beautiful thing again.

But what about this?

Nope. That’s not the kind of headbanging I was looking for. Not metal.

But you and I know that lions can definitely be metal, especially if you’re a gazelle and it’s dinner time on the savannah.

Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!! Somebody at the zoo just cranked up some Behemoth! You can imagine what he’s thinking: “Where’s the fuckin’ mosh pit?!? And are there any scenesters trying to hardcore dance? I could use me a nice soft scenester appetizer!”

Lions and tigers are good feline metal candidates for sure. But let’s not stop there.  What about this?

Yeah, not so much. This one, you’d almost want to pet.

Until you realize that he’s probably just dozing off a big meal of fat tourist sashimi. And then you think what he probably looked like just before chowing down.

Uh-huh. Black metal. If that’s not TRVE and KVLT, what is?  Or how about the other obvious choice (wait for it) — Pantera!

One more member of the big feline family awaits.  Check out this spotted specimen:

Not metal, you say? Well, maybe not right at this moment.  He or she is probably just sleeping off a sweaty, beer-soaked night in the pit at an Exodus show.

But leopards can definitely be metal.  Voila:

Slash and burn, baby! That’s some brutal death metal right there, am I right?

SO, I think I’m startin’ to make my case that cats can be metal. I’m feeling better about my feline affinity. I may be ready to move out of the animal kingdom and consider people. Not people who like cats, but people who pretend they are cats. How would that make me feel?

Shit.  What was Heidi Klum on when she decided this would be a good idea? Definitely the non-metal side of feline couture. But not even the sex-kitten side. Just cringingly, embarrassingly absurd.

Come on Heidi, get into it! Channel your internal vicious cat! Show us that cat people can be metal, even when they’re wearing ridiculous, Andrew Lloyd Weber-ish costumes.

Uh, no. Not what I had in mind. Even the black fingernails don’t help. You’re really lettin’ me down here. I’m trying to convince myself that cats are metal, and this is the best you can do?

Let’s give this one more shot. One more person who looks like a cat, but in a metal sort of way. Who would that be?

Shit! Not what I had in mind either, though it’s plenty fuckin’ scary. This broad needs to feed her plastic surgeon to one of those big cats higher up the page. In small pieces.

Oh man, I wish I’d never seen this. It’s put me completely off my train of thought. I think it’s a sign I need to just wrap this up and find another way to deal with my cat/metal issues.

Maybe this music will help. It’s not about cats, but I like to think of it as big-cat metal. And it’s a shitload better than more pictures like that last one. Listen to Pantera.  I’m outta here.  Gotta feed the cat.

Pantera: Walk

Your NCS Authors are big Unearth fans, and fans of Pantera too. You may have heard that to commemorate the 5th anniversary of Dime’s death, Metal Hammer magazine brought together a group of well-known artists to record covers of Pantera songs for a CD that ships with the mag. Unearth was enlisted to cover “Sandblasted Skin,” and the band has just now put that song up on their MySpace site for public consumption. “Sandblasted Skin” captures a lot of what Pantera was all about, and Unearth’s cover does it complete justice. Don’t know about the rest of the covers on the Metal Hammer collection, but this one slays.

So, down below, after the photo of Dime, check out a 1996 live Pantera performance of “Sandblasted Skin” and then run over to Unearth’s site and listen to what they do with the song.

I’m not really sure this post is metal.  You can be the judge.

The Seattle Times reminded me this morning that actor and martial arts icon Bruce Lee would have turned 69 yesterday but for his untimely death in 1973 at the age of 32.  He was born in San Francisco and grew up in Hong Kong, but he moved to Seattle in 1959 and spent 3 years at the University of Washington where he met his wife.  He’s buried in Seattle’s Lake View Cemetery on Capitol Hill.

Next to his grave is the grave of his son Brandon Lee.  Brandon died in 1993 at the age of 28 from an accidental shooting during the filming of The Crow, in which he starred as an undead rock musician bent on revenging his own death and that of his fiancee.  (The Crow is a cool movie, by the way, and featured songs from bands like Pantera, Helmet, Nine Inch Nails, and Rage Against the Machine.) Brandon was to be married 17 days after he died.  His tombstone is inscribed with a quote he liked from the writer Paul Bowles, which had been printed on the wedding invitations:

“Because we don’t know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. And yet everything happens only a certain number of times, and a very small number really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, an afternoon that is so deeply a part of your being that you can’t even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four, or five times more? Perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless…”

After the Burial, Arch Enemy, Arcturus, August Burns Red, Between the Buried and Me, Book of Black Earth, Born of Osiris, Cephalic Carnage, Children of Bodom, Converge, The Crown, Daath, Dark Tranquility, Darkane, Decrepit Birth, Devin Townsend, Disarmonia Mundi, Emperor, The Faceless, Fear Factory, Glass Casket, Goatwhore, God Forbid, Gorod, Heaven Shall Burn, In Flames, Lamb of God, Lesbian, A Life Once Lost, Light This City, Mastodon, Meshuggah, Moonspell, Mors Principium Est, Necrophagist, Nervecell, Nightrage, Nile, Norma Jean, Opeth, Pantera, Pelican, Porcupine Tree, The Red Shore, Revocation, Rotting Christ, Scale the Summit, Skarp, Soilent Green, Soilwork, Strapping Young Lad, Suffocation, Swallow the Sun, Textures, Unearth, Veil of Maya, Wintersun, Xerath