We’re now a full four months into 2010, and it’s time for our fourth update to the list of forthcoming new albums we posted on January 1. (See the original list here, the first update here, the second update here, and the third 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 three updates (or that we’ve found updated information about) — 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).

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS: “Abigail Williams have completed recording of individual performances for their still untitled second full-length. Captured at Conquistador Studios in Cleveland, Ohio, eight new songs were laid down with vocalist/guitarist Ken Sorceron and engineer Cole Martinez controlling the audio takes. The songs are currently being mixed by Peter Tagtgren (Dimmu Borgir, Immortal, Celtic Frost) and are expected to be completed later this month.”

ABYSMAL DAWN: “Los Angeles-based metallers ABYSMAL DAWN will enter Trench Studio in Corona, California in May with producer John Haddad (PHOBIA, INTRONAUT, HIRAX) to begin recording their new album for a tentative fall release via Relapse Records. The follow-up to Programmed To Consume will be mixed by Erik Rutan (HATE ETERNAL, VITAL REMAINS, CANNIBAL CORPSE) at his Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida.”  (the list continues after the jump .  .)

ALL THAT REMAINS: “All That Remains fans can rejoice. The band is set to begin recording the follow up to 2008′s Overcome, their biggest-selling release to date. Pre-production begins this week at Zing Recording Studios in Westfield, MA on the as-yet-untitled album. Returning to the producer’s chair is Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, who previously helmed the band’s 2006 release The Fall Of Ideals as well as 2004′s This Darkened Heart.”

ANTAGONIST: “Southern California’s Antagonist has completed preproduction for their new album and will enter Buzzbomb Studios in Orange, CA on May 12th, with producer Paul Miner, who has worked on past efforts from Terror, New Found Glory, Thrice, Throwdown, among others. The band will be tracking ten songs for the as-of-yet untitled follow-up to 2008′s Exist. This will be the first recording featuring new members, guitarist Roland Leonard and bassist Nick Reyes.”

ARMAGEDON: “ARMAGEDON, one of the most recognizable Polish death metal acts of the early Nineties, will release its new album, Death Then Nothing, outside the band’s home country on May 17 via Mystic Production. The CD was recorded at Studio X (ANTIGAMA, VESANIA) in Olsztyn and it contains ’10 tracks of classic death metal with a fresh, up-to-date sound,’ according to a press release.”

AUGUST BURNS RED: “The band will be performing at hometown (Lancaster, PA) venue Warehouse 54 on June 4th, with the concert being recorded and filmed for a live CD/DVD to be released later this year through longtime label home Solid State Records.”

BLACK TUSK: “Embrace The Madness, a brand new track from Savannah, Georgia’s BLACK TUSK, is avaialble for streaming on the band’s MySpace page. The song comes off the band’s forthcoming album, Taste The Sin, which is scheduled for release on May 25 via Relapse Records.”

BLEED FROM WITHIN: “Hamilton, Scotland-based metal quintet BLEED FROM WITHIN will release its sophomore album, Empire, on May 4 via Rising Records. The CD was mixed at Outhouse Studios and ‘it has captured our sound entirely,’ according to the band.”

BLINDED BY FAITH: “BLINDED BY FAITH recently entered the studio to record three new songs (“The Pace Of The Race”, “Dead End” and “Drastic Medicine”), to be used to procure a new record deal. During the process, the band was working with Antoine Baril (ex-AUGURY drummer), Yannick St-Amand (DESPISED ICON, BENEATH THE MASSACRE) and Pierre Rémillard (ANONYMUS, MISERY INDEX, MARTYR).”

CRIPPLE BASTARDS: “Italy’s Cripple Bastards will release a new 7″ EP through Relapse Records this fall. The band is also writing for a brand new full-length that is expected to see a 2011 release date. Cripple Bastards has previously released four full-length albums and a number of split releases. The band’s latest release, Variante alla morte, was released in 2008 via Shane Embury’s FETO Records.”

DEATH ANGEL: “DEATH ANGEL recently entered Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, WHITECHAPEL,DEVILDRIVER) to begin recording its new album for a tentative September release via Nuclear Blast Records.”

DECREPIT BIRTH: “Oakland CA’s tech-death masters, Decrepit Birth, have completed work on their new album Polarity to be released on July 27th in North America. Drums were recorded at Sharkbite Studios (Exodus) with producer Zack Ohren (All Shall Perish, Suffocation, Immolation) while all other tracking was handled by Matt Sotelo before being mixed by Ohren at Castle Ultimate Studios.”

DEGRADEAD: “Stockholm, Sweden-based melodic death metallers DEGRADEAD have entered Peter Tägtgren‘s (HYPOCRISY, PAIN) Abyss studios in Pärlby, outside Ludvika, Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, CENTINEX, WORLD BELOW) to begin recording their third album for a late 2010 release.”

DEMIRICIOUS: “Indiana death/thrash metal outfit Demiricous recently started tracking a new demo, which the band will self-release in limited quantities. The demo will be comprised of four songs, clocking in at 22 minutes of music. Meanwhile, the group continues to search for a new label (Demiricous and Metal Blade parted ways in early-2009).”

THE DEMONSTRATION: “North Carolina’s The Demonstration are hard at work on their third studio album, the followup to 2008′s Accidents With Intelligence. The band is planning to record the currently untitled album this summer that is tentatively slated for a fall release.”

EQUILIBRIUM: “German pagan metallers EQUILIBRIUM will release their new album, Rekreatur, on June 18 via Nuclear Blast Records.”

THE HAUNTED: “Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED will release a live DVD/CD, Road Kill, in North America on June 8 via Century Media. This crushing live release, which was issued in Europe on April 19, will be available as a DVD+CD as well as a stand-alone CD and digital download. The audio-only release contains the full live-show as well as five previously unreleased or rare studio tracks from the “Versus” recording sessions.”

HEAVEN SHALL BURN: “German death metal and hardcore fusionists HEAVEN SHALL BURN will release their new album, Invictus, via Century Media Records on the following dates: Germany, Austria, Switzerland: Friday, May 21; Spain, Italy : Tuesday, May 25; Sweden, Finland, Hungary: Wednesday, May 26; Rest Of Europe: Monday, May 24; North America: Tuesday, June 8.”

KNUT: “Swiss experimental rock/hardcore hybrid Knut will release a new full-length this summer. The album, titled Wonder, was recorded in January at Rec Studio in Geneva, Switzerland with Serge Morattel (Brazen) at the helm and will hit stores on June 29th via Hydra Head Records (Conspiracy Records in Europe). Isis frontman (and Hydra Head owner) Aaron Turner will provide artwork for the release.”

KYLESA: “Savannah, Georgia’s Kylesa has joined the Season of Mist roster following several releases with Prosthetic Records. . . . Next month [May] Kylesa will enter Jam Room Recording Studio (Baroness) in Columbia, SC to begin tracking their next album.”

MALEVOLENT CREATION: “Florida death metal veterans MALEVOLENT CREATION have completed work on their eleventh album, Invidious Dominion, for an August 27 European release via Germany’s Massacre Records. The effort will made available as a regular CD; digipack with bonus material; and vinyl LP.”

MISERY INDEX: “A brand new MISERY INDEX track, “Carrion Call”, is available for streaming on the band’s MySpace page. The song comes off the group’s new album, Heirs To Thievery, which is set for a May 11 North American release via Relapse Records.”

MUSICA DIABLO: “MUSICA DIABLO — the São Paulo, Brazil-based thrash metal project featuring SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green, guitarist André L.A. (NITROMINDS), bassist Ricardo Brigas, guitarist André Germani Curci (KORZUS, THREAT) and drummer Edu Nicollini (NITROMINDS) — will release its self-titled debut album on May 28 via SAOL / H’Art /Zebralution.”

NEURAXIS: “Montreal-based death metallers Neuraxis have confirmed producer Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy, The Last Felony, The Agonist) to record and mix their new album. Neuraxis will enter Wildsound Studio on June 3rd to begin the recording for a fall release through Prosthetic Records. The as of yet untitled album is the follow-up to 2008′s The Thin Line Between, and will be their sixth album, overall.”

NORMA JEAN: “Fans of Norma Jean won’t have to wait much longer to hear the bands’ fifth album Meridional, which will be released July 13th on Razor & Tie. Meridional revisits the abrasive and chaotic roots of classic Norma Jean while offering fans a dark experimental side – the band stretching out on moody, slow-burn jams. It is an album that finds the band comfortable in its legacy but progressive and bold in its creativity.”

PATHOLOGY: “American brutal death metal masters, Pathology, make their return from the studio with a perfected encompassment of musical extremities entitled, Legacy of the Ancients. The upcoming Victory Records debut, slated for release on July 6th, was engineered by Jeff Forest (As I Lay Dying, Bleeding Through) at Doubletime Studios in the band’s home base of San Diego, CA and was mixed and mastered by Erik Rutan (Cannibal Corpse, Malevolent Creation) at Mana Recording Studios in Tampa, FL.”

RUSH TRIBUTE COMPILATION: “The Magna Carta tribute to RUSH, New World Man, features performances by members of COHEED AND CAMBRIA, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, THE MARS VOLTA, KORN, DREAM THEATER, TESTAMENT, SEPULTURA, SKID ROW and more. . . . New World Man will be available worldwide on May 18.”

SEPTICFLESH: “According to Metalzone.gr, Greek extreme metallers SEPTICFLESH are hard at work on material for their new album, tentatively due before the end of the year. The recording process is scheduled to begin mid-summer at the band’s own newly built Devasoundz studios in Athens. Once again the orchestral parts will be recorded in Prague under the guidance of Chris Antoniou (CHAOSTAR).”

SEVERE TORTURE: “Dutch death metallers SEVERE TORTURE will release their fifth full-length album, Slaughtered, on June 29 (one day earlier internationally) via Season of Mist. The CD was recorded at Split Second Sound Studios in Amsterdam with producer Jochem Jacobs.”

SKYFORGER: “Kurbads, the new album from Latvian pagan metal kings SKYFORGER, is scheduled for release in Europe on April 26 and in North America on May 11 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at the Latvian studio Lauska with the group’s own bagpipe player, Kaspars Barbals, handling engineering duties. The bandmembers also produced the album themselves to make sure the recording sounds authentic and ’100% like SKYFORGER.’”

BRENDON SMALL-GENE HOGLUND: “Brendon Small, co-creator of ‘Metalocalypse’, the smash hit animated series on Adult Swim featuring the fictitious metal band DETHKLOK, told Metal Injection at the the Revolver Golden Gods Awards that he is working on a new side project with Gene Hoglan (FEAR FACTORY, DETHKLOK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, TESTAMENT, DEATH, DARK ANGEL). He said: ‘I’m finishing the season then I’m going into the studio and I’m finishing a solo record that me and Gene Hoglan, and the same DETHKLOK producer did, so if you like DETHKLOK, it’ll be the same thing, and it’ll come out this fall.’”

SONIC SYNDICATE: “The European release date for We Rule The Night, the new album from Swedish/British modern metallers SONIC SYNDICATE, has once again been pushed back — this time to August 27 (via Nuclear Blast Records).”

SWASHBUCKLE: “New Jersey’s thrashing pirates SWASHBUCKLE have entered the studio to begin recording their new album, Crime Always Pays, due later in the year via Nuclear Blast Records. The group states, ‘That’s right, jerks, the thrash band with a pirate problem is back in action crafting malicious metal jams with tales of piratical shenannigans. It’s gonna be a heavy record, so expect to beat the shit out of your siblings and parental units whilst ye get caught in a mosh. . . Let me assure you that it’ll thrash your fucking brains into your butthole.’”

TERROR: “Terror has entered the studio to begin recording their new full-length, Keepers of the Faith. The effort is being produced by New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert and engineered by Paul Miner (Thrice, Atreyu). A late-summer release via Century Media Records is expected. The band has set up a blog to document their time in the studio.”

THULCANDRA: “THULCANDRA — the reactivated German black/death metal band featuring members of OBSCURA, DARK FORTRESS and HELFAHRT — will release its new album, Fallen Angels Dominion, on June 2 in Europe and June 8 in North America via Napalm Records.”

TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED: “British death/grind band TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED has completed work on its third album, Degenerate, for a May 24 European release via Metal Blade Records (Rising Records in the U.K.). The cover artwork was created by Collin Marks (WHITECHAPEL, ABORTED, SUICIDE SILENCE).”

VANISHER: “No, [Zero System] didn’t break-up; the band – which features members of Bloodjinn and Glass Casket – has just changed their name to Vanisher. They’ve also announced an August 10 release date for their new full-length, The History of Saints.”

WATAIN: “Swedish black metallers WATAIN will release their fourth album, Lawless Darkness, on June 7 via Season Of Mist. . . . The digipak version will include a cover of the DEATH SS song “Chains of Death” as a bonus track. The song can also be heard on the “Reaping Death” picture seven-inch single, due April 30 and available for pre-order on Season of Mist‘s e-shop.”

WHITECHAPEL: “Knoxville, Tennessee’s Whitechapel is pleased to release the cover art and track listing for their third full-length release, A New Era of Corruption, due out June 8th via Metal Blade Records. ‘The album is finally 100% complete and we couldn’t be more excited. I think this record truly represents where we are as musicians at this point in our career. A New Era of Corruption is the heaviest and most aggressive material we have written to date,’ comments guitarist and founding member Alex Wade.”

WITCHERY: “Sweden’s WITCHERY will release a new album, Witchkrieg, on July 18 via Century Media Records. The CD will mark the recording debut of the band’s new vocalist, Legion (MARDUK, DEVIAN).”

YAKUZA: “Avant-garde progressive experimental metal band YAKUZA will release its new album, Of Seismic Consequence, on June 8 via Profound Lore Records. The CD was recorded at Semaphore Recording Studios in Chicago, Illinois with producer Sanford Parker (PELICAN, MINSK).”