Finnish melancholic melodic death metal outfit BEFORE THE DAWN returns after living through a phase of changes and uncertainty – cleansed, renewed and stronger than ever! Leaving pieces of both the musical and personal past behind, mastermind Tuomas Saukkonen, lead guitarist Juho Räihä and their new companions get ready for conquering your ears with the finest blend of northern gloom and harsh melodic death metal.

Their seventh studio album and at the same time second release via Nuclear Blast Records is entitled “Rise Of The Phoenix” and will arise from the ashes on the 27th of April 2012!

The perfectly fitting phoenix symbolism was chosen prudently as main man, vocalist and guitarist Tuomas explains:

"Massive changes in the line-up during 2011 ended an era of great frustration and brought back 110% dedication and professionalism into the band. The newfound energy and motivation steered us into a victorious European tour and made it possible to produce the strongest, fastest, heaviest and definitely the most epic BEFORE THE DAWN album so far!"

Fans and followers can look forward to a 9-song comprising masterpiece, consisting of the following tracks:

Περισσότερα: BEFORE THE DAWN - New Album Details Announced!

KREATOR – reveal album title

German thrash titans KREATOR just revealed the title of the bands upcoming album: „Phantom Antichrist“. The album is currently being produced at the famous Fascination Street Studio with renowned producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, SOILWORK, DEVIN TOWNSEND, AMON AMARTH) in Örebro, Sweden.

„Phantom Antichrist“ marks the bands debut for Nuclear Blast and is set to be released June 1, 2012 (Europe), June 5, 2012 (North America)!

Furthermore, KREATOR will also release an exclusive 7“ single of the titlesong on April 20, 2012. The collector's item will be available in coloured red vinyl (limited to 250 pieces) as well as in clear vinyl (limited to 250 pieces, exclusively available at the Nuclear Blast Mailorder – http://www.nuclearblast.de/suche/kreator%20phantom%20antichrist).

Περισσότερα: KREATOR – reveal album title, release date + announce exclusive 7“ single!

EPICA have released "Storm The Sorrow", the first single from the eagerly awaited 5th album „Requiem For The Indifferent“.

This new album from the Dutch Symphonic Metal giants will be released by Nuclear Blast on the 9th of March (13th of March in the USA).

Commented by the band: The song "Storm the Sorrow" is the obvious choice for us to release as a first single. It has all the Epica ingredients and also a catchy groove but still is a powerful metal-song. Lyrically, Storm the Sorrow deals with criticism and how to handle that on every level. Funny fact: when we were working on this song, the working title was "Signature" because the rhythm which is used in the verse is based on Yves' signature!

Περισσότερα: EPICA: „Storm The Sorrow“ - Digital single release!

The new album of the band Luca Turilli’S RHAPSODY is entitled "ASCENDING TO INFINITY" and will be released on JUNE 29, 2012 by Nuclear Blast.

The songs included on the new release are:

QUANTUM X

ASCENDING TO INFINITY

DANTE’S INFERNO

EXCALIBUR

TORMENTO E PASSIONE

DARK FATE OF ATLANTIS

FANTASIA GOTICA

CLASH OF THE TITANS

OF MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL AND LUCIFER’S FALL

I. ALMA MUNDI

II. FATUM MORTALIS

III. IGNIS DIVINUS

The length of the album will be around 65 minutes.

Περισσότερα: LT’S RHAPSODY: NEW ALBUM TITLE AND TRACKLIST

Tasmanian technical death metal outfit PSYCROPTIC are now streaming the brand new track “The Throne of Kings” from their upcoming album The Inherited Repression here.

You can now check out the third “making-of” video for the highly anticipated follow-up to their 2008 release, Ob(Servant), &feature=channel_video_title" target="_blank">here.

Head over to the official PSYCROPTIC Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/psycroptic to hear the brand new track, “Carriers of the Plague.”

Περισσότερα: PSYCROPTIC: 2nd New Song Available for Streaming!

The Night Flight Orchestra, the new "Classic Rock" project with Björn "Speed" Strid from Soilwork and Sharlee D'Angelo from Arch Enemy, signs with Coroner Records for the worldwide release of its debut album.

The band is currently recording the album which will be released in June 2012.

"The Night Flight Orchestra" started like so many others as an innocent yet serious drunken idea when Björn Strid (Soilwork) and David Andersson (Mean Streak, Soilwork session player) were on the road together somewhere in North America in 2007.
Björn and David were bonding over what they considered "classic" or not, from rock'n'roll conspiracies to being arrested in a lobby with nothing but leather pants on.

Περισσότερα: The Night Flight Orchestra: a classic rock project for Soilwork and Arch Enemy members‏

The debut album of THE GREAT OLD ONES will be released on the 27th of April, 2012.

Hailing from France, these newcomers manage to create in their first attempt a very strong and personal atmosphere meant as a tribute to Lovecraft's cosmogony. Expect a ritualistic, slow-paced black metal in the vein of ALTAR OF PLAGUES, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, FEN. Some tracks can be listened at this address.

Recorded and mixed by Cyrille Gachet from France ( Year of No Light, ...) and mastered by Alan Douches from New York (Tombs, Dillinger Escape Plan, ...), the French Ambient / Post Black Metal band « THE GREAT OLD ONES » will release his incredible debut album “Al Azif” on 27th April 2012 on Les Acteurs De L’Ombre productions. Expect a ritualistic, slow-paced black metal.

Περισσότερα: THE GREAT OLD ONES album

Mastodon/Opeth/Ghost US Tour

Mastodon and Opeth will head out on a co-headlining US tour with Ghost opening all dates, starting May 4th. General ticket sales have begun on February 3rd and 4th.

Check out the dates below!

Περισσότερα: Dates announced for Mastodon/Opeth/Ghost US tour‏

THE FLOWER KINGS - Back in the studio, new album planned for June, official re-union gig at Sweden Rock Festival 2012

Legendary progressive, iconic, symphonic rockband "The Flower Kings",  formed in 1995 by guitarist, singer, composer Roine Stolt ( Transatlantic ) , announce their immediate return to service in 2012 after an almost 5  years well earned hiatus.

The band consisting of Roine Stolt, bassplayer extraordinaire Jonas Reingold, keyboarder grand deluxe Tomas Bodin, singer & guitarist Hasse Froberg and new 26 year old Berliner dextrous drummer prodigy Felix Lehrmann,  started the recording of  a new album at Varispeed studios in Sweden on January 23rd.

Περισσότερα: THE FLOWER KINGS - Back in the studio, new album planned for June

Artisan News spoke with SLAYER guitarist Kerry King at the first-ever Rock & Roll Roast at The Grove in Anaheim, California last month and asked about the band’s follow-up to 2009's World Painted Blood.

King said "We got back out May 25th in Europe, then we'll be back in the States, of course,". "Hopefully we'll get in the studio to record before then, 'cause it's time-consuming. We're looking to get in March and April, so hopefully be done by the time we're outta here."

Check out the chat HERE:

Περισσότερα: SLAYER Want Recording New Album Before European Tour