UNLEASHED
"THE HUNT FOR WHITE CHRIST"
Viking Death Metal
Year:2018
(NAPALM RECORDS)

When it comes to Swedish Death Metal, the traditional Stockholm way and death metal per se, there is one band you have to mention: Unleashed! Formed in 1989 by vocalist / bass player Johnny Hedlund, Unleashed have been delivering supreme death metal from day one. Dealing with Viking traditions and values, and honing their craft, they have become extreme metal pioneers, musically and lyrically, inspiring legions of other bands with their sound. The Hunt for White Christ is the fourth album in the continued story line of the World of Odalheim and their Midgard warriors – a story authored by Johnny Hedlund himself, comprising of the past, present, and what Hedlund’s deems as the future of the Viking traditions and values. The album was recorded in the Winter of...

SIRENIA
"ARCANE ASTRAL AEONS"
Symphonic/ Metal
Year:2018
(NAPALM RECORDS)

Two years after Dim Days Of Dolor mastermind Morten Veland presents the ninth Sirenia album: Arcane Astral Aeons once more reflects the Norwegian`s love for title alliterations and succeeds in infusing the darkest night with the brightest colors. Who could resist a symphonic, unbridled opener like ‘In Styx Embrace‘? Singer Emmanuelle Zoldan`s ethereal mezzo-soprano voice connects all 11 varied and spirited compositions: the insanely melodic ‘Into The Night‘ impressively showcases her abilities and flows into the catchy ‘Love Like Cyanide‘ that`s not even afraid to employ a small handful of black metal trademarks. Danish producer legend Jacob Hansen managed to harmonize Sirenia`s more soothing side with edgy metal sounds and delivers a perfectly balanc...

NORTHWARD
"NORTHWARD"
Hard Rock/ Melodic Heavy Metal
Year:2018
(NUCLEAR BLAST)

- NORTHWARD RELEASE THEIR LONG-AWAITED DEBUT [!]It was during the ‘All Star Jam’ at Progpower USA Festival in 2007, when current NIGHTWISH singer Floor Jansen and PAGAN’S MIND guitarist Jørn Viggo Lofstad spontaneously joined forces on stage for some cover songs and noticed the creative magic between them. Although the two musicians had never met before, they soon discovered their mutual love for stripped down hard rock and decided to write some songs together. In 2008 still barely knowing each other, they composed an entire album’s worth of material in next to no time. But due to their tight schedules with their main bands, their new project named NORTHWARD never found its way into the spotlight - until this day!In 2017, the year o...

ARION
"LIFE IS NOT BEAUTIFUL"
Symphonic Melodic Power Metal
Year:2018
(AFM RECORDS)

- Finnish melodic/power metal shooting stars with their incredible new albu priority release for AFM! Up-to-date and fresh sound, rooted in traditional Scandinavian melodic metal. Duet with Amaranthe vocalist Elize Ryd on the single “At The Break Of Dawn” (2.8 million Spotify streams so far (Elize also appears in the recently filmed music video). Mixed and mastered by Stratovarius guitarist Matias Kupiainen [!]The idea for symphonic metal band ARION was hatched in the fall of 2011 in the famed music school Sibelius Lukio in Helsinki, where drummer Topias Kupiainen and keyboardist Arttu Vauhkonen got together with guitar whiz kid Iivo Kaipainen. In short order, the threesome found bass player Georgi Velinov and vocalist Viljami Holopainen to...

V. A.
"DEATH… IS JUST THE BEGINNING MXVIII"
Death Metal
Year:2018
(NUCLEAR BLAST)

On “Death… Is Just The Beginning MXVIII” you will find new demo songs from BENEDICTION and POSSESSED, and if these tracks are an indicator of what to expect on their new albums, every death metal fan will be in for a head-crushing treat! Besides these demo songs, you will also find rare tracks of IMMOLATION, KATAKLYSM, HYPOCRISY, BRUJERIA and PARADISE LOST to name but a few and new tracks of AENIMUS and INSIDIOUS DISEASE! It wasn’t always easy, but I believe that we’ve come up with a sampler that will appeal to every fan of death metal.CD:01. Benediction - Tear Off These FuckingWings (demo)02. Kataklysm - The Awakener(re-recorded)03. Hypocrisy - They Lie(The Exploited cover)04. The Spirit - Illumi...

OBSCURA
"DILUVIUM"
Progressive Death Metal
Year:2018
(RELAPSE RECORDS)

- Legendary German metallers 5th full length, and final in a four-album concept! “Diluvium” was recorded with producer  V. Santura (Triptykon, Pestilence) at Woodshed Studios in Landshut, Germany [!]Germany’s progressive death metal masters OBSCURA complete their long-running, four-album conceptual circle with the release of Diluvium (defined as a great oceanic flood), their most evocative, diverse and vibrant release to date. Recorded with longtime producer V. Santura (Triptykon, Pestilence) at Woodshed Studios in Landshut, Germany, Diluvium is a stunning achievement for the illustrious quartet and a landmark release for progressive metal as a whole. Complete with all the band's signature elements plus groundbreaking polyrh...

BEHEMOTH
"I LOVED YOU AT YOUR DARKEST"
Blackened Death Metal
Year:2018
(NUCLEAR BLAST)

BEHEMOTH FROM THEIR DARKEST SIDE!“It doesn’t get more blasphemous than this.”That’s BEHEMOTH mastermind Nergal talking about the title of the band’s 11th and latest album, »I Loved You At Your Darkest«. While it certainly seems an unlikely title for a black metal band - especially one that called their last album »The Satanist« - its origin might surprise you even more than the words themselves. “It’s a verse from the Bible”, Nergal reveals. “It’s actually a quote from Jesus Christ himself. For BEHEMOTH to use it as the basis of our record, it’s sacrilege to the extreme.”Unlike »The Satanist«, which was primarily recorded in one studio, »I Loved...

MAYAN
"DHYANA"
Symphonic Death Metal
Year:2018
(NUCLEAR BLAST)

“MAYAN introduces a new level of bombast in symphonic death metal!”METALFAN (NL), Tonnie Westerbeke“Amazing and breathtaking album - heavy but also full of a light that goes straight to the heart.”MYROCK (F), Laura MinichinoMaYaN was conceived in early 2010 by versatile musician and EPICA mastermind Mark Jansen and old friend, ex-AFTER FOREVER keyboardist Jack Driessen with the aim to write an album in the style they always really wanted. Mark asked guitarist Frank Schiphorst (SYMMETRY, CHRISTMAS METAL SYMPHON...

TERROR
"TOTAL RETALITATION"
Hardcore/ Extreme Metal
Year:2018
(NUCLEAR BLAST)

“TERROR are back this fall with one of their most powerful works yet: »Total Retaliation« is a wall of abrassive energetic sounds that push the boundaries of hardcore music to its limits during half an hour of authentic and pure musical violence. Be prepared to experience one of the highlights of the year. Brace yourselves for the TERROR attack.”LA HEAVY (ES) / Víctor Vallespir - TERROR ARE HUNGRY FOR REVENGE – ARE YOU TOO?The new album which is penned for a September 28th release date features FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY’s Will Putney (THY ART IS MURDER, BODY COUNT, KNOCKED LOOSE) in the producers chair and is the band’s first new material since last years »The Walls Will ...

JOE BONAMASSA
"REDEMPTION"
Rock/ Blues
Year:2018
(MASCOT LABEL GROUP)

- Joe Bonamassa has sold well over 3 million records worldwide and has twenty #1 Billboard Blues Albums, more than any artist. His most recent studio album, Blues of Desperation, released in March of 2016 landed #5 on the Billboard Top Album Sales, his highest charting yet in the US. In Europe it charted in 15 countries and has sold over 130.000 copies. His latest collaborative album with vocal ”powerhouse” Beth Hart called ‘Black Coffee’ debuted at #1 in the Dutch album charts. Other chart positions include a #4 in Germany and #7 in the UK [!]Two-time GRAMMY-nominated blues-rock titan Joe Bonamassa returns with a brand new studio album, ‘Redemption’, which will be released on 21st September 2018 via Provogue/Mascot Label Group in Eu...

TRAPPIST
"ANCIENT BREWING TACTICS"
Grindcore/ Hardcore/ Metal
Year:2018
(RELAPSE RECORDS)

Los Angeles craft beer connoisseurs TRAPPIST brew forth their highly-anticipated, debut full-length Ancient Brewing Tactics. Formed in 2014 and consisting of scene legends Chris Dodge (Spazz, ex-Infest, ex-Despise You, etc.), Phil Vera (Crom, Despise You, ex-(16)-) and Ryan Harkins (co-owner of popular heavy metal-themed burger joint Grill Em’ All, ex-Killed In Action), TRAPPIST have one clear mission, to annihilate the listener with a storm of d-beat, crust punk, powerviolence, and hardcore all in the name of BEER. Picture Discharge style punk and Xeroxed WWII photos with bombs replaced by casks, cans, and kegs.Ancient Brewing Tactics is 21 tracks and 33 minutes of booze-induced chaos, bound to knock you on your ass faster than shotgunning a 15% Russian Imperial Stout...

MONSTER TRUCK
"TRUE ROCKERS"
Hard Rock/ Blues
Year:2018
(MASCOT LABEL GROUP)

- Winner of the 2013 Juno Award win for Breakthrough Group of the Year; nominated for the 2014 Juno Award Rock Album of the Year. Monster Truck’s first two releases produced four Top 10 hits in Canada, two of them reached the #1 position. Has earned an excellent live reputation during tours with Slash feat. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, Deep Purple, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Alter Bridge: Slash named Monster Truck one of his favorite bands to tour with [!]It’s been two years since the mighty ‘Sittin’ Heavy’ came out and in the 18 months that followed its release, they played over 150 shows, which included arena tours with Nickelback, Billy Talent and for the final ever European Deep Purple tour - They also pla...

MONSTROSITY
"THE PASSAGE OF EXISTENCE"
Death Metal
Year:2018
(METAL BLADE RECORDS)

MONSTROSITY formed in August 1991 and came crushing on to the scene with their explosive demo "Horror Infinity". After sending the recording throughout the worldwide underground tape trading network the band soon found themselves recording their debut album "Imperial Doom" for Nuclear Blast Records. And now 11 years after the terrific "Spiritual Apocalypse (2007)", the Florida Deather Monstrosity finally settles again. Guitarist Matt Barnes, who joined the band in 2010, makes his recording debut and together with Mark English (meanwhile also Deicide), ensures real virtuoso solo duels.TRACKLIST CD/ LP:1. Cosmic Pandemia2. Kingdom Of Fire3. Radiated4. Solar Vacuum5. The Proselygeist6. Maelstrom7. Eyes Upon The Abyss8. Dark ...

METAL ALLEGIANCE
"VOLUME II: POWER DRUNK MAJESTY"
Heavy Metal
Year:2018
(NUCLEAR BLAST)

It began as a celebration of heavy metal, powered by the almost tribal bond shared between the extreme music community’s most revered trailblazers, armed with a list of contributors onstage (and off) that read like a Wikipedia entry on the genre itself. Now, with their second album, METAL ALLEGIANCE achieves the seemingly impossible once again. Beyond any doubt, the all-star “project” has cemented its position as a true band.An adrenaline-soaked, thrash-worshipping, groove-driven, diverse, yet more sharply focused effort than its no-less-impressive predecessor, the mere existence and urgent brilliance of »Volume II: Power Drunk Majesty« silences any doubt as to the band’s earnest intention, purposeful resolve, and resilient dedication to a...

GRAVE DIGGER
"THE LIVING DEAD"
Heavy Metal
Year:2018
(NAPALM RECORDS)

Almost four decades of Grave Digger – almost four decades of True German Heavy Metal! When you think of pure and unadulterated traditional metal, you will at some point stumble over these German veterans that gave the scene such loveable milestones as Witch Hunter and Tunes Of War. The fivepiece survived trends, ups and downs and simply continued to deliver solid material. The latest example is called The Living Dead and marks the 20th studio longplayer by these old schoolers who once more chose to record at Principal Studios. The Living Dead is a varied and rather catchy affair that reminds of the band`s most brilliant output in the 90s. Grave Digger have incorporated a lot of timeless melodies and even cooperated with Austrian labelmates Russkaja for the rather exotic ‘Zom...