Trail Of Tears' 7th Album Nears North American Release

Following its recent European release, Oscillation, the grand seventh studio full-length from Norwegian Gothic/dark metal masters TRAIL OF TEARS, is set for North American release via Massacre Records on June 11th.

After experimenting under the moniker Natt for several years, TRAIL OF TEARS was officially born in 1997, immediately took root in the European circuit and has infiltrated audiences internationally more and more with each album. Over a decade the band released six powerful full-length albums boasting their premier style of foreboding but beautiful melodic metal, the debut album released via DSFA Records, and the following five through Napalm Records. They’ve continued to tour heavily and steadily for their entire career thus far, not only spanning the European continent several times with Tristania, Sins Of Thy Beloved, Cradle Of Filth, Biohazard and others, but also two tours of Mexico and a full tour of Canada and the United States, not to mention the endless list of European festivals the band has performed at.

Having signed with Germany’s Massacre Records to handle the release of their newest album, the band began the writing process in 2011, and as with previous efforts, returned to Sound Suite Studio in Marseille, France to once again record with Terje Refsnes. After a long and torturous recording session and a pristine mastering job by Mika Jussila at Finnvox (Nightwish, Sonata Arctica, Children Of Bodom, Eternal Tears Of Sorrow), TRAIL OF TEARS now proudly unveils their most magnificent album to date, with the mighty hour-long masterpiece, Oscillate.

Listen to the album’s massive title track and view the cover artwork by Jan Yrlund of Darkgrove Design (Apocalyptica, Manowar, Legion Of The Damned, Korpiklaani, Impaled Nazarene, Stratovarius) and more TRAIL OF TEARS goods HERE.

Oscillate Track Listing:

1. Waves Of Existence

2. Scream Out Loud

3. Crimson Leads On The Trail Of Tears

4. Oscillation

5. Path Of Destruction

6. Vultures Guard My Shadow

7. The Dawning

8. Room 306

9. Our Grave Philosophy

10. Lost In Life

11. Eradicate

12. Sleep Forever [bonus track]

13. Quick Fix Of Shame [bonus track]

TRAIL OF TEARS Lineup:

Ronny Thorsen - vocals

Cathrine Paulsen - vocals

Bjørn Erik Næss - guitars

Endre Moe - bass

Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow - drums

http://www.trailoftears.no

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trail-of-Tears-Official/109476819087800

http://www.massacre-records.com

https://www.facebook.com/massacrerecordseurope

Lightning Swords Of Death Announces North American Tour

LA-based black metal legion, LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH, are emerging for a North American tour this June. They will be supporting Melechesh alongside Vreid and Reign of Lies. The tour begins on June 16th in Los Angeles at The Joint and will wrap up on June 30th in Brooklyn.

LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH's "caustic yet otherworldly approach" (Decibel Magazine) has earned the band high praise from fans and critics worldwide with their most recent album, Baphometic Chaosium. Additionally, the band recently released their first ever music video for the title track. Directed by co-founder and lead vocalist, Autarch (aka metal illustrator, Farron Loathing), the project, which also marks Autarch's directorial debut, is the result of a partnership between Farron Loathing and Mortichrome Films. It is described by its creator as "a psycho-dramatic interpretation of the Mass of Chaos and the invocation of Baphomet as performed by a collective of ritual performance artists." Watch the video now at THIS LOCATION.

LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH
w/ Melechesh, Vreid, Reign of Lies
6/16/2013 The Joint – Los Angeles, CA
6/17/2013 DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA
6/18/2013 Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
6/19/2013 Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
6/20/2013 TBA – Vancouver, BC
6/21/2013 Pawn Shop – Edmonton, AB
6/22/2013 The Exchange – Regina, SK
6/23/2013 The Zoo – Winnipeg, MB
6/24/2013 Station 4 -  St. Paul, MN
6/25/2013 Mojoe’s – Joliet, IL
6/27/2013 Wreck Room – Toronto, ON
6/28/2013 Foufounes Electriques – Montreal, QC
6/29/2013 Railroad Tavern -  Keene, NH
6/30/2013 Europa – New York, NY
w/ Valdur
07/01/2013 Montage Music Hall - Rochester, NY
07/03/2013 Riot Room - Kansas City, MO
07/05/2013 Joe’s Grotto - Phoenix, AZ
07/06/2013 Cheyenne Saloon - Las Vegas, NV


http://www.metalblade.com/lightningswordsofdeath
http://www.facebook.com/lightningswordsofdeath
http://twitter.com/lsodtemple

Autopsy "The Headless Ritual" Pre-Orders Now Available

July 2 will mark the return of Autopsy, the U.S. master of brutality, with the band's sixth studio opus of horror and all-out madness, The Headless Ritual, on Peaceville Records. The new masterpiece from the death metal legend is now available for pre-order via the Peaceville web-store on CD and vinyl, plus bundles including an exclusive Autopsy shirt design, at: https://www.burningshed.com/store/peaceville/collection/225/. All pre-orders also include a special free Autopsy patch featuring the album cover artwork (while supplies last).

Featuring the returning quartet of Chris Reifert, Eric Cutler, Danny Coralles, and Joe Trevisano, The Headless Ritual is a relentless monster of violent and brutal death metal mastery delivered in the unmistakable Autopsy style of chaotic riffing, insane solos and doom-filled interludes, all served with the band's unhinged brand of vocal sickness.

 

The album was recorded and mixed April 2013 at Fantasy Studios, San Francisco, Calif. with Adam Munoz, and features cover artwork by renowned artist Joe Petagno (Motörhead, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin).

 

Said drummer/vocalist Chris Reifert, "Expect nothing less than the monstrous brutality that Autopsy has been known to offer. Laurels will not be rested upon, trends will not be followed and mercy will not be shown. Mark your calendars for June and pick out a coffin to lie down and die in. Darkness and death await..."
 

01. SLAUGHTER AT BEAST HOUSE
02. MANGLED FAR BELOW
03. SHE IS A FUNERAL
04. COFFIN CRAWLERS
05. WHEN HAMMER MEETS BONE
06. THORNS AND ASHES
07. ARCH CADAVER
08. FLESH TURNS TO DUST
09. RUNNING FROM THE GOATHEAD
10. THE HEADLESS RITUAL

 

Among the early breed of U.S. death metal pioneers, Autopsy formed in 1987 in the San Francisco Bay Area and released four albums on Peaceville Records. Beginning with the classic debut Severed Survival in 1989, the group disbanded in 1995 with members going on to form Abscess. Autopsy triumphantly and officially returned from the grave after a 15 year hiatus with the 2010 EP, 'The Tomb Within,' followed by the release of the band's widely acclaimed fifth studio album, Macabre Eternal in 2011.

 

Stay tuned for more information on Autopsy and The Headless Ritual.

Autopsy is...

Chris Reifert - drums/vocals

Danny Coralles - guitar

Eric Cutler - guitar

Joe Trevisano - bass

 

For more info...

www.autopsydeathmetal.com

www.facebook.com/pages/Autopsy-Official/162194133792668

www.peaceville.com/autopsy

www.peaceville.com

Drunk Dad: New Brew From Portland Sludge Squad On Tap

As Portland’s bastardized brew crew DRUNK DAD prepares to belt the public right in the mouth with their Morbid Reality 12” via Eolian Empire on June 11th, today the enablers over at Pitchfork want you to start off the week with a total bender, cracking open a new track from the EP.

Bail early, drink on the job or do whatever you gotta’ do, but be prepared to pay DRUNK DAD the “Scum Fee” RIGHT HERE.

The band recently spilled “S.O.U.” from Eolian’s massive KEEP OUR HEADS comp available HERE.

If they weren't such dirty fuckers they'd be one of the town's shining success stories of unrelenting hard work and dedication: in a surprisingly short time DRUNK DAD went from favorite-band-shirts-on-their-hearts-on-their-sleeves to a unique and dynamic fusion of the heavy, the noisy, and the aggro, with a healthy dose of high drama, as they consistently churn out some of the most devastating live sets Portland has seen in years. Complex but in-your-face arrangements, push-pull duel-guitar interplay, searing behind-the-head leads, heavy motherfucking bass, and hard-hitting, tight, technical traps with dynamic, disturbing vocals to hold it all together evolves to ethical scumbaggery at its finest. Their first vinyl release, Morbid Reality merges off-kilter sludge/noise the Pacific Northwest perpetuates so well into a drugged-out but aggro vibe; elements of scathing crust-ish degenerate punk brutality are cold-filtered with slow-motion acerbic sludge basslines and noxious riffage with a post-Melvins experimental vibe.

DRUNK DAD is currently getting their shit together for a July tour with local brethren Big Black Cloud, and in the meantime plan on meandering around Pacific Northwest dive bars, with several June gigs locked and more shows coming together.

DRUNK DAD June Pub Crawl:

6/07/2013 Ash Street Saloon - Portland, OR w/ Rohit, Diesto, Redneck

6/21/2013 Victory Lounge - Seattle, WA w/ Terminal Fuzz Terror, Same Sex Dictator

6/22/2013 East End - Portland, OR w/ R.I.P., Terminal Fuzz Terror

http://drunkdad.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/drunkdadsagainstmothers

http://eolianempire.com

http://facebook.com/eolianempire

http://twitter.com/eolianempire

Amon Amarth: Three-Part Mini Documentary Trailer Revealed

Today melodic death metal legion AMON AMARTH reveals a trailer for their forthcoming mini documentary which can be viewed at http://www.metalblade.com/amonamarth . Fittingly titled Forging Mjölnir, the short film will appear as a three-part series with each official segment slated to premiere via the band’s microsite at http://deceiver.amonamarth.com.

The Forging Mjölnir documentary comes in anticipation of AMON AMARTH’s ninth studio offering, Deceiver of the Gods. Recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, UK, and produced, mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap (Opeth, Megadeth, Exodus, Arch Enemy, Killswitch Engage), the follow-up to the band’s critically acclaimed 2011 Surtur Rising full-length delivers ten fiery battle hymns made of buzzsaw riffs and epic harmonies all driven by vocalist Johan Hegg’s commanding Viking roar and absorbing accounts of Norse crusades and treachery. Deceiver of the Gods comes adorned with another outstanding Tom Thiel-created cover portraying a mythical battle between the Norse Gods Loki and Thor. As an added bonus, Messiah Marcolin (Candlemass) makes an appearance as guest vocalist on eighth track, “Hel.”

View the black and white Forging MjöLnir trailer where the band discusses their earliest musical influences,  as well as a stream of opening title track and first single, “Deceiver of the Gods” and special preorder info at this location: http://www.metalblade.com/amonamarth.

Deceiver of the Gods will be released in North America via Metal Blade Records June 25th, in Europe June 21st/24th and Japan on June 26th.

Following a run of European festival dates next month, AMON AMARTH will be opening the mainstage of this year’s edition of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest set to commence June 29 in San Bernardino. See confirmed dates below.

AMON AMARTH Summer 2013 European Festival Tour:
6/01/2013 Forta Rock Festival – Nijmegen, NL
6/06/2013 Sweden Rock Festival – Solvesborg, SE
6/07/2013 Rock Am Ring – Nurburgring, DE
6/08/2013 Sonisphere – Sonisphere, FR
6/09/2013 Rock Im Park – Nurenberg, DE
6/11/2013 MeetFactory – Prauge, CZ
6/12/2013 Eter Club – Wroclaw, PL
6/14/2013 Copenhell – Copenhagen, DK
6/15/2013 Noval Rock – Nickelsdorf, AT
6/16/2013 Download Festival – Donington, UK
6/21/2013 Nummirock – Nummijarvi, FI

AMON AMARTH
Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest 2013
6/29/2013 San Manuel Amphitheater – San Bernardino, CA
6/30/2013 Shoreline Amphitheatre – Mountain View, CA
7/02/2013 Idaho Center Amphitheatre – Nampa, ID
7/03/2013 White River Amphitheatre – Auburn, WA
7/05/2013 Desert Sky Pavilion – Phoenix, AZ
7/06/2013 Isleta Amphitheatre – Albuquerque, NM
7/07/2013 Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre – Englewood, CO
7/09/2013 The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI w/ Children of Bodom, Job for a Cowboy, Battlecross, Huntress
7/10/2013 Molson Canadian Amphitheatre – Toronto, ON
7/12/2013 First Niagara Pavilion – Burgettstown, PA
7/13/2013 Toyota Pavilion – Scranton, PA
7/14/2013 Darien Lake Performing Arts Center – Darien Center, NY
7/16/2013 Comcast Center – Mansfield, MA
7/17/2013 Bangor Waterfront – Bangor, ME
7/19/2013 Susquehanna Bank Center – Camden, NJ
7/20/2013 Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY
7/21/2013 The Comcast Theatre – Hartford, CT
7/23/2013 PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ
7/24/2013 Jiffy Lube Live – Bristow, VA
7/26/2013 Klipsch Music Center – Noblesville, IN
7/27/2013 First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre – Tinley Park, IL
7/28/2013 DTE Energy Music Theatre – Clarkston, MI
7/29/2013 Expo Five – Louisville, KY w/ Children of Bodom, Behemoth, Emmure, Motionless In White, Born of Osiris, Job for a Cowboy, Battlecross, Huntress
7/30/2013 Lakewood Amphitheatre – Atlanta, GA
7/31/2013 Live Nation Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL
8/02/2013 Austin 360 Amphitheatre – Austin, TX
8/03/2013 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – The Woodlands, TX
8/04/2013 Gexa Energy Pavilion – Dallas, TX
8/05/2013 Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre – Kansas City, MO w/ Rob Zombie, Machine Head, Children Of Bodom
8/07/2013 Pop’s – Sauget, IL w/ Children of Bodom, Battlecross, Huntress
8/08/2013 Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN w/ Children of Bodom, Battlecross, Huntress
8/09/2013 Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH w/ Children of Bodom, Battlecross, Huntress
8/11/2013 Heavy MTL Festival – Montreal, QC

http://www.amonamarth.com
http://www.facebook.com/OfficialAmonAmarth
http://twitter.com/amonamarthband