Season of Misthas signed Norwegian black metal stalwarts 1349 worldwide, after previously signing them for the US. The band says, “We are currently in the early creative stages of our new art offering and we are excited to confirm that we have extended our agreement with partners Season of Mist – this time handling the release worldwide.”
Windswept have just launched The Great Shepherd Rides His Storms, the third song from their forthcoming debut album, The Great Cold Steppe, which hits the streets on Friday March 31.
Last In Line, the supergroup initially formed by members of the original Dio band, has begun writing in preparation for hitting the studio later this year to begin recording their second album. The band consists of guitarist Vivian Campbell (Whitesnake, Def Leppard) and drummer Vinnie Appice (Black Sabbath), with vocalist Andrew Freeman and ex-Ozzy bassist Phil Soussan (who replaces original Dio bass player Jimmy Bain, who passed away last year). Soussan is a hell of a songwriter in his own right (he wrote Shot In The Dark, for crying out loud), so it’ll be great to hear what he and Campbell come up with together.
Six Feet Under released their 12th studio album, Torment, last week. Now the band has welcomed Jack Owen (ex-Cannibal Corpse) to their ranks as second guitarist. More info and world tour dates coming soon.
Finland’s HIM have announced they’re calling it a day and will undertake a final tour, taking in 14 countries across 35 shows. Frontman Ville Valo says “After quarter of a century of Love and Metal intertwined we sincerely feel HIM has run its unnatural course and adieus must be said in order to make way for sights, scents and sounds yet unexplored. We completed the pattern, solved the puzzle and turned the key. Thank you.” Its four years since the band released their last studio album, Tears On Tape.
Evocation will celebrate their return to death metal next week with the stunning new full-length, The Shadow Archetype. While honouring their Swedish death metal roots, The Shadow Archetype also adds thrash metal elements to their addictive, heavy sound. Guitarist Marko Palmen says the new video for the single Condemned To The Grave was shot in a creepy deserted house. “According to villagers the house has been deserted for at least 30 years,” he says. “It’s a beautiful house and the ageing has perhaps added even more character to the house. The day of the video shoot was freezing…But it added a special eerie feeling.”
Australian thrashers Harlott will release their new album, Extinction, worldwide via Metal Blade Records on Friday April 7. The album has been described as a harrowing offering of thrash metal and a bleak interpretation of mankind’s future; a blistering assault of speed and aggression. Awesome. Featuring artwork by Andrei Bouzikov, Extinction is Harlott’s third album and the successor to 2015’s critically acclaimed Proliferation. It was recorded at Monolith Studios (Orpheus Omega, In Malice’s Wake, Bane of Winterstorm) and mastered by Jens Bogren (Kreator, Opeth, Soilwork).
