The Ocean Release Special 'Pelagial' Clip Video

With the official release of THE OCEAN's anticipated Pelagial less than a week away, today Invisible Oranges offers up a special video sampler featuring 30-second clips of each track with accompanying artwork.

Immeasurably heavy both sonically and thematically, Pelagial was written, recorded, mixed and to-be-performed-live as one single 53-minute piece of music. Easily their most profoundly sophisticated work to date, Pelagial is an aquatic-themed audio adventure that quite literally submerses listeners as they journey with the band, beginning at the surface of the ocean and plunging through all five pelagic depth zones.

Said Spin Magazine: "The sixth album from German post-metal doombringers THE OCEAN is huge… In the course of the record, tender piano interludes get stomped on by Mastodon-shaped footprints, lush strings work next to bulldozing double-kick work, and, at the end, the submarine crashes at Melvins tempos." Craveonline notes that, "Pelagial is brilliantly written, expertly executed and filled with the kind of songwriting most bands can only dream of," while MetalSucks opines in a perfect 5/5 rating, "Pelagial resonates so deeply because its sonic continuity is matched with shifting, unified composition. The album viscerally depicts the spectrum of submersion while highlighting the musicians' versatility and cohesion. The band has never written more intriguing music, and The Ocean Collective has never been a more apt name."

Sink further into Pelagial HERE.

Mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Witchcraft) at Fascination Street Studios in Örebrö, Sweden, Pelagial will be released as a double CD, which includes a vocal and an instrumental version of the album and is scheduled for release on April 26th/29th (Europe) and April 30th (North America/world) through Metal Blade Records.

THE OCEAN will return to North America as part of the 7th annual Summer Slaughter Tour, presented by Indie Merch Store, ESP and Guitar World. Set to run from July 19th through August 24th, the band will appear alongside The Dillinger Escape Plan, Animals As Leaders, Periphery, Norma Jean, Cattle Decapitation, Revocation, Aeon and more. Official tour dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

"…a journey within itself…" — Metal Insider

http://www.theoceancollective.com/pelagial
http://www.facebook.com/theoceancollective
http://www.metalblade.com/theocean

Ensiferum Sign Worldwide Deal With Metal Blade Records

Finland's ENSIFERUM have spent the past 18 years honing the steel of their folk-infused battle metal auditory attack. Their albums are further bolstered by a live show that has become one of the most entertaining in all of metal. Proof of ENSIFERUM's status as one of the most vital bands in modern metal was made apparent through their headlining slot on this year's Paganfest USA tour. To further spread the band's music to a worldwide audience, ENSIFERUM has forged a deal with Metal Blade Records! The band inked the deal with Metal Blade CEO Brian Slagel during the Paganfest USA tour, and all parties are enthusiastic about new music and new possibilities.

Photo by Stephanie Cabral

Bassist/backing vocalist Sami Hinkka comments: "We are really looking forward to our co-operation with such a great and legendary label as Metal Blade. The next full length album should be out in early 2015. We have already started working with the new songs and it's obvious that the next album will be another step ahead for Ensiferum. And now that we have united forces with mighty Metal Blade nothing can stop us! The next album is going to be something that will rock the very foundations of folk metal genre.

We also would like to thank Spinefarm Records for all these 13 years, it's been as blast but now it is time for us to move on and head bravely towards new challenges.

The future looks bright for Sword Bearers!"

ENSIFERUM will be touring throughout Europe and South America this summer as they continue their live campaign in support of their most recent album, Unsung Heroes. Confirmed dates can be seen below, as well as on ensiferum.com and facebook.com/Ensiferum. ENSIFERUM merch is available now at http://shop.ensiferum.com.

European Festivals
04/26 Oulu , FI Teatria
04/27 Helsinki, FI Virgin Oil
04/28 Losheim Am See, DE Hexentanz Festival
05/05 Istanbul, TR Headbangers Weekend Istanbul
05/18 Gelsenkirchen, DE Rock Hard Festival
05/20 Leipzig, DE Wave Gothic Treffen
06/07 Espoo, FI Kivenlahti Rock
06/20-22 Nummijärvi, FI Nummirock
06/26-30 Tokaj-Rakamaz, HU Hegyalka Festival
07/11-13 Ballenstedt, DE Rockharz Open Air
07/22-26 Tolmin, SL Metaldays
08/07-10 Jaromer, CZ Brutal Assault
08/09-10 Villena, ES Leyendas del Rock Festival
08/15-17 Dinkelsbühl, DE Summer Breeze
08/15-17 Falun, SE Rockstad Falun

South American Tour
05/28 Bogota, CO Teatro Las Vegas Nevada
05/30 Santiago, CL Blondie Club
05/31 Buenos Aires, AR Teatro Vorterix
06/01 Sao Paulo, BR Carioca Club
06/02 Rio De Janeiro, BR Teatro Odisséia

ENSIFERUM is:
Petri Lindroos - vocals/guitar
Markus Toivonen - guitar/backing vocals
Sami Hinkka - bass/backing vocals
Janne Parviainen - drums
Emmi Silvennoinen - keys/backing vocals

For more information on ENSIFERUM, which in latin means "sword bearer", view their complete history at ensiferum.com.

http://twitter.com/EnsiferumMetal
http://www.facebook.com/Ensiferum

Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats Premiere New Song

Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, one of the most talked about rock bands currently in existence, and an enigma in the international underground scene, are preparing to release their third full length album. Mind Control is set for release on May 14th via Metal Blade Records/Rise Above Records in North America. Within its blood soaked grooves you will hear shocking tales of bizarre desert ceremonies, religious brainwashing and drug inspired mass slaughter! Fans can order the album and listen to Poison Apple now at metalblade.com/uncleacid.

Today, the band has teamed up with NPR for an exclusive premiere of a new track from Mind Control.  Check out the stream of "Valley of the Dolls" HERE.

Imagine the original Alice Cooper band jamming in a cell with early Black Sabbath and the Stooges, whilst sitting on murder charges and you may get a glimpse into their fuzzed up world of exploding tube amps and cymbal smashing mayhem. However, this enticing act of musical manipulation is merely the icing upon a very sick cake.

Mind Control is a concept album with a theme that makes the acts and intentions of the likes of Charles Manson and Jim Jones seem like petty crimes. What makes Mind Control scarier than most albums is that it doesn't seem as sinister on the surface as it really is deep down, within the core of its black acid-drenched world of pain and torture.

Recorded at the legendary Chapel Studios over an autumnal full moon using the finest western electrical technology, engineer Jim Spencer (Bert Jansch, Robert Wyatt) has captured perfectly the bands live sound of saturated fuzz, mind-bending riffs and 60's vocal harmonies.

http://www.metalblade.com/uncleacid
http://www.facebook.com/uncleacid

Pentagram Announce New Guitarist

After months of searching and reviewing literally hundreds of applicants from around the world, Pentagram is excited to announce Matt Goldborough as their new guitarist. Matt is a Philadelphia based musician, composer and riff aficionado. Versed in many genres of music, Matt's experience outside of the heavy metal world brings a fresh yet classic approach to this genre-defining band. His style hearkens back to the very origins of "heavy metal" itself when heavy blues and psychedelic rock guitarists pioneered the genre in an attempt to harden rock and roll. This of course is exactly what Bobby Liebling and the original Pentagram line up did back in 1971.

Having played in a bevy of bands on the East coast, Goldsborough is most recently known as part of the acclaimed Philadelphia rock band, THE GREAT UNKNOWN.

His debut with the Ram Family, rounded out by Bobby Liebling on vocals, Greg Turley on bass guitar and Sean Saley on drums, was on April 16th, 2013  at the sold out show at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, NY. If that gig wasn't special enough, the band performed songs not heard live in over 40 years! Inspired by a demand from the fans, Liebling and company pulled out rare gems, including "Be Forewarned". This track and more can be viewed now at metalinjection.net.

Welcome Matt Goldsborough and Pentagram throughout the summer at the following appearances:

PENTAGRAM
04/25 Berlin, DE Astra Desertfest 2013
04/26 Barroselas, PT Barrosela Metalfest XVI
04/28 London, UK Electric Ballroom Desertfest 2013
05/26 Baltimore, MD Former Sonar Compound - Maryland Deathfest 2013
07/25-28 TBA, Montana Farmageddon Records Music Festival

https://www.facebook.com/pentagramusa
http://metalblade.com/pentagram/

Blood Ceremony Announce "The Eldritch Dark"

In late 2012/early 2013, Blood Ceremony enclosed themselves within a dank, tomb-like chamber to begin preparations for their third album. After a mind-numbing spell in the analogue womb of Toronto's ProGold Studios, the band is now ready to unveil their newest, and most accomplished, musical offering: The Eldritch Dark. The debut single, "Goodbye Gemini", can be heard now at metalblade.com/bloodceremony.

Recorded and mixed by producer Ian Blurton (Cauldron, Cursed) and mastered by Canadian recording legend Nick Blagona (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Crazy World of Arthur Brown), The Eldritch Dark is a full-length paean to the darker corners of folklore and legend. Containing eight tracks of black magic rock 'n' roll, the album crackles with the excitement of a nocturnal ritual.

Tales of witch-cult gatherings in wooded glens, pacts made in torch-lit abbeys and Victorian magic are accompanied by vintage-style hard rock riffs, snaking bass lines and stirring flute melodies. The Eldritch Dark also sees the band exploring a more folksier side of their sound; most evident in the hymn-like "Lord Summerisle" and the murderous folk-rock epic, "Ballad of the Weird Sisters". Nineteenth century sorcerer, Oliver Haddo, makes a return appearance in the riff-hypnotic album closer, "The Magician".

The Eldritch Dark will be released via Metal Blade Records/Rise Above Records in North America on May 28th, 2013. BLOOD CEREMONY will be joining Kylesa on tour in North America throughout May and June.

"Only at a Blood Ceremony show are devil horns the correct response to a triumphantly raised flute." - NOW MAGAZINE

Since the release of their sophomore album, Living With The Ancients, Blood Ceremony has worked hard to solidify their reputation as a worthy live act. Beginning with a well-received showcase at the prestigious Roadburn Festival, the band capped-off a series of 2011 European dates with Sweden's GHOST, playing a sold-out, headline show in London, UK. In the fall of 2011, they completed their first headlining tour of Europe, which saw the band received enthusiastically by fans in Scandinavia and Central Europe. This tour culminated in a performance at the Hammer of Doom VI Festival in Wurzburg, Germany. In 2012 they were direct support for GHOST on the highly successful "13 Dates of Doom" North American tour. Later in 2012, Blood Ceremony performed at Calgary's celebrated NOCTIS V Metal Festival.

Alia O'Brien - Vocals, Flute, Organ
Sean Kennedy - Guitars
Lucas Gadke - Bass
Michael Carrillo - Drums

BLOOD CEREMONY
w/ Kylesa, White Hills, Lazer/Wulf
05/10 Gainesville, FL High Dive
05/11 Orlando, FL Backbooth
05/12 Miami, FL Churchhill's
05/13 Tampa, FL The Orpheum
05/15 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jack's
05/16 Houston, TX Walters
05/17 Dallas, TX Trees
05/18 Austin, TX Mohawk
05/20 Albuquerque, NM Blackwater
05/21 Denver, CO Marquis Theater
05/22 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
05/24 Santa Cruz, CA Catalyst
05/25 San Francisco, CA Slim's
05/27 Portland, OR Star Theater
05/28 Seattle, WA Chop Suey
05/29 Vancouver, BC Electric Owl
05/31 Calgary, AB Dickens
06/01 Regina, SK The Exchange
06/02 Winnipeg, MB The Pyramid
06/03 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock Social Club
06/04 Iowa City, IA Gabe's Oasis
06/05 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge
06/06 Grand Rapids, MI Pyramid Scheme
06/07 St. Louis, MO The Firebird
06/08 Columbus, OH Ace of Cups
06/09 Lexington, KY Cosmic Charlies
06/11 Toronto, ON Lee's Palace
06/12 Ottawa, ON Maverick's
06/13 Montreal, QC Il Motore
06/14 Brooklyn NY Northside Fest (Music Hall of Williamsburg)
06/15 Albany, NY Bogie's
06/16 Boston, MA Middle East Downstairs
06/18 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts
06/19 Washington, DC Rock & Roll Hotel
06/20 Asheville, NC Asheville Music Hall
06/21 Atlanta, GA The Earl
06/22 Savannah, GA The Jinx

http://www.metalblade.com/bloodceremony
http://www.facebook.com/bloodceremonyrock