The long-awaited debut albums of two of Australia's premier extreme acts bands will be released through Blacktalon Media on Mon 14 July. 'Renascent Misanthropy', nine tracks of melodic grandeur from black metal terror squadron Astriaal pushes the boundaries of extreme art; while Portal's debut 'Seepia' features eight tracks of twisted and suffocating death metal which invokes visions of Beherit and Immolation, fused with an abstract tinge of antique horror. Both bands are also due to play in Adelaide later this year - Portal are scheduled to play the Adelaide Armageddon in August, while Astriaal will perform at Metalsurge IV in October.
In one of the most anticipated Australian metal tours in a long while, the mighty Damaged will play Adelaide for the first time in two years. National support guests for the whole tour are Sydney's rising stars of melodic metal Daysend and Brisbane's masters of melodic death Sakkuth. The local support for the Adelaide show at Le Rox on Fri 18 July will come from Omnium Gatherum. Diatribe were also due to play, but the band's guitarist unfortunately cut the end of his finger off while at work and now has to wait 2-6 months for the skin grafts to heal.
Diatribe have also been forced to pull out of the Alchemist/Daysend show on Fri 27 June, and have been replaced by Skintilla. The support also coincides with the release of Skintilla's new EP 'Shedding Skin', which is in stores now. An official launch will follow in August.
The same night that Alchemist launch their fifth CD 'Austral Alien', there is also a big all ages show at Le Rox featuring Another Fall, Abuse Ritual, Blind Defeat, Officer Down, Star Ten Hash, Later That Night and 12 Guage.
Then the following weekend, Melbourne's Down To Size will be in Adelaide to launch their new CD 'Lowest of the Lows'. Kicking off at 7pm on Fri 4 July, other bands on the night include Tidal, Ungkas, Error, Dominian, Equal Minded, plus others tba.
US death metal band Vital Remains have returned with a new album entitled 'Dechristianize'. The band developed a cult following during the '80s and '90s with albums like 'Let Us Pray', but in 2001 revamped their line-up, adding to Glen Benton of Deicide to the original line-up of Tony Lazaro (guitars) and Dave Suzuki (bass, drums, lead guitar). 'Dechristianize' is the first album they have released since. The recording combines melody with evil atmosphere and a traditional metal feel and, of course, no shortage of satanic verses guaranteed to inflame the religious right.
Melbourne's very unsavoury grind act Vaginal Carnage will play Adelaide for the first time in support of their debut full length 'Dildo Detention'. They will play O2 Nightclub on Fri 4 July with Slaughter Thou, Omnium Gatherum and *10#, and then the Land of Promise Hotel the following night with Nihilism and Whoregasm who will also be launching their own CD.
Guitarist Bart Vandereycken is back within the ranks of Ancient Rites. Disillusioned with the music industry, Vandereycken left the band seven years ago and has since turned down numerous offers from others bands (including Cradle of Filth). Now that he is back with Ancient Rites, his influence will see a combination of the heavier style of the earlier material with the more progressive/melodic course of the recent albums.
Full Frontal Lobotomy's CD launch on Sun 8 June has been declared a resounding success, with over 600 people witnessing the premiere of 'Far From Light'. In other FFL news, negotiations are currently under way for a two week East Coast tour later this year.
Marduk are currently working on material for their next studio album, tentatively due in early 2004. Four songs have already been written and are being described as "the most violent creations the band have ever done," according to Marduk's official website. Meanwhile, the band are also gearing up for their Australian live debut at the Destruction of Oz festival in Melbourne in August.
German thrash metal pioneers Kreator have recently completed work on their 'Live Kreation - Revisioned Glory' DVD, which will be available next month. The DVD includes a 55-minute year-by-year video history of the band, all of their video clips, unreleased interview footage, TV appearances, live footage, plus other bonus features. In addition to the DVD, Kreator will also be unleashing their first ever live album, 'Live Kreation', featuring 24 tracks recorded around the world. A 2-CD set featuring over 100 minutes of music, the full track listing for the live CD (as well as for the DVD) is available on Kreator's official website.
