Artist

Earache announces the release of an explosive collection of tracks from the growing legion of New-School Thrash Crossover bands, set to appear instores in UK and Europe on 21 January 2008 February 5th in USA.

The compilation entitled Thrashing Like A Maniac brings together the very best of the new crop of bands who are revelling in re-awakening the long lost genre, and building on the work of the past thrash masters. It will surely please old and new fans of the genre alike, if razor-sharp riffs, blistering drum speeds and shredding guitar solos are what you crave.

To find out more about the release head over to www.myspace.com/thrashinglikeamaniac.

For many of the acts this collection brings together their very first recordings. Bands include Earache's Evile and Bonded By Blood, plus the debut of recent Earache signees, Irish Thrashers Gama Bomb, as well as the leaders of the current thrash-pack—Municipal Waste. Hand-picked tracks from Dekapitator, Warbringer, Fueled By Fire, Toxic Holocaust, SSS, Mutant, Brasil's Violator, Merciless Death, UK's Deadfall, Lazarus, Send More Paramedics and Sweden's Decadence also appear.

Thrashing Like A Maniac comes at a time where thrash is once again making its mark on the world of heavy metal. Featuring bands drawing on old school thrash's no-frills aggression and injecting a healthy dosage of energy and fun back into the scene.

Thrashing Like A Maniac is released on CD and Vinyl LP, both formats also come with a bonus FREE 24 page Xeroxed B/W zine entitled Speed Merchants which contains exclusive interviews with all the bands featured.

The tracklisting is as follows:

01. BONDED BY BLOOD - 'Immortal Life'
02. EVILE - 'Thrasher'
03. MUNICIPAL WASTE - 'The Art of Partying'
04. DEKAPITATOR - 'Deathstrike Command'
05. FUELED BY FIRE - 'Massive Execution'
06. DECADENCE - 'Corrosion'
07. WARBRINGER - 'Total War'
08. SSS - 'Overload'
09. GAMA BOMB - 'Zombi Brew'
10. MERCILESS DEATH - 'Exumer'
11. DEADFALL - 'Resistance Is Futile'
12. LAZARUS - 'Last Breath'
13. TOXIC HOLOCAUST - 'War is Hell'
14. MUTANT - 'Psycho Therapy'
15. VIOLATOR - 'Atomic Nightmare'
16. SEND MORE PARAMEDICS - 'Twilight of the Flies'

On November 8, 2007, MetalKult and a roomful of metal fans at the BB Kings venue in New York had were on hand to witness the Norwegian metal act Enslaved deliver an impassioned and brutal set.

In the video below, see the progressive black metallers perform "Fusion of Sense and Earth" from Enslaved's 2006 full-length Ruun:

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On August 21, 2007, when South Carolina's Nile played an Ozzfest one-off date at BB King's, in support of their new album Ithyphallic (Nuclear Blast), we invited guitarist/vocalists Karl Sanders and Dallas Toler-Wade to stop by MetalKult's Manhattan headquarters for an in-depth Q&A and riff lesson.

The two technical death metal shredders accepted, and, stopped by our New York offices to discuss their exotic gear, Egyptian themes and why they believe Nile's music is more important than their image.

Check out the clips below:

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Photo by Selena Salfen.

Relapse Records has announced the signing of Jamey Jasta and Kirk Windstein's KINGDOM OF SORROW.

Jasta (HATEBREED, ICEPICK) and Windstein (DOWN, CROWBAR) came together some three years ago to create KINGDOM OF SORROW, and in that time put together an album's worth of crushing American metal. Relapse will give the band's long-awaited debut album its proper worldwide release this coming February.

Upon signing, Jasta comments: "I can't even begin to explain how excited I am about Kingdom Of Sorrow! There's been 2 and a half years of questions, rumors and speculation surrounding this and now we can finally move forward! We've signed a worldwide deal with Relapse Records!!! It's an honor. Kirk and I could not be happier, I've always been a big fan of the label."

Jasta continues: "I can't wait for the world to hear this record. It crushes!! I pushed myself to become a better vocalist and wrote and expressed myself lyrically in a totally different way than I have before. Kirk has never sounded better! His tone is like a 747 filled with tar crashing into a lead mountain. We should press this CD on plutonium because it really is that HEAVY. It was so much fun working on this record. There was no other motive than to have fun and make a unique and different record for the both of us while keeping it heavy, mean and rockin! I think everyone is going to be really surprised!"

Windstein adds: "We're just so happy to have this come out…finally! We had a great time putting it together and we're just so proud of it. Its super heavy, man, it just crushes! Everyone I play it for, their jaws drop. And after three years, it feels good to know now everyone can hear it."

The KINGDOM OF SORROW album was recorded at Planet Z Studios in Massachusetts with producer Zeuss (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL) and will include 11 tracks. KINGDOM OF SORROW preview tracks can be heard now via the band's official MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/KingdomOfSorrow.

On September 20th, 2007, when Ulver vocalist Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg came to the states to promote his band's latest release, Shadows of the Sun (The End Records), with a DJ set at Europa Night Club in Brooklyn, MetalKult seized the opportunity to sit with the frontman and talk about his band's progressive take on Norwegian black metal.

In the interview that follows, Garm discusses Ulver's formative years in Norway's notorious black metal scene, his relationship with Emperor, his forays into electronic music and why he feels Ulver's music and philosophy is as true as it's ever been.

[playlist:mk-qa-ulver]

Photo by Jauhien Sasnou

Finally available on DVD for the first time, New Door Records/UMe are proud to announce the eagerly awaited release of the two-disc DVD of Live After Death, the legendary recording of Maiden's four-night stand at Long Beach Arena, California, in 1984. In the stores February 5, 2008, the release will coincide with the start of the band's Somewhere Back in Time World Tour, during which they will recreate many of the aspects of this original and spectacular show.

Disc one contains the recording of this full 90-minute concert. Originally filmed on 35mm, the footage comes alive on DVD resulting in a visually stunning film that far outstrips the usual live video of the Eighties. The disc carries two sound options: the original concert audio specially mixed into 5.1 Surround Sound by Kevin Shirley, Maiden's producer since 1999, plus the original stereo sound track by Martin Birch, the band's producer from 1981 to 1993. Originally released on video in 1985, this has been largely unavailable for the past 20 years.

Disc two has Part 2 of the "History of Iron Maiden," continuing on the Maiden story from the Early Days DVD, along with rare and unseen bonus footage in the form of Behind the Iron Curtain, Rock in Rio '85 and 'Ello Texas, all in all giving a total running time of well over three hours. Also included will be photo galleries, relevant promo videos, artwork galleries, tour dates, tour program and other features which all combine to make the two-disc set a very special and utterly comprehensive treat for their fans.

Check out the disc contents and a live video of Maiden's "The Trooper" below:

FULL LIST OF CONTENTS:

Disc 1 - LIVE AFTER DEATH

Live After Death concert with Stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio (90 minutes)

Set list -

Churchill Speech/Aces High
2 Minutes to Midnight
The Trooper
Revelations
Flight of Icarus
Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Powerslave
Number of the Beast
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Iron Maiden
Run to the Hills
Running Free
Sanctuary

Disc 2 DOCUMENTARY / BONUS CONCERT FOOTAGE

1) The History of Iron Maiden - Part 2 (60 min.) - Documentary.
Band members, crew, friends and associates talk about the period in the band's career which saw the writing, recording and release of the Powerslave album, and later Live After Death, and the subsequent massive touring.

2) Behind the Iron Curtain ( 57 min. approx) Documentary and Live - shot during Maiden's historic tour of Poland and other parts to the Eastern Bloc in 1984 featuring interviews, live and offstage footage capturing the atmosphere of this remarkable journey behind the Wall at the height of the Cold War.

3) Live Footage - Rock in Rio '85 (50 min. approx) The full Maiden set supporting Queen on the first day of the first Rock in Rio in front of 300,000 fans.

Songs performed include:

Aces High
2 Minutes to Midnight
The Trooper
Revelations
Powerslave
Iron Maiden
Run to the Hills
Running Free

4) Ello Texas - 15 minutes - Interview and live. Caught by a film crew in 1983 at the Alamo and sound checking their show in San Antonio.

5) Artwork Gallery, Tour Program, Tour dates and photo gallery

6) Promotional clips for Aces High and 2 Minutes to Midnight

Genghis Tron have completed work on their brand new full-length album and Relapse debut, Board Up The House.

Genghis Tron recorded Board Up The House at Godcity Studios in Salem, MA with producer Kurt Ballou. The album's artwork can be previewed HERE and the complete tracklisting is as follows: "Board Up The House", "Endless Teeth", "Things Don't Look Good", "Recursion", "I Won't Come Back Alive", "City On A Hill", "The Whips Blow Back", "Colony Collapse", "The Feast", "Ergot", and "Relief". Board Up The House will see a February '08 international release through Relapse.

Genghis Tron says of the album and recording process; "After well over a year of very hard work, we're incredibly happy and relieved to announce that we've finally finished our second album, Board Up the House. We finished tracking and mixing at Godcity Studio (Salem, MA) in late September, but we just completed the mastering process a few days ago. The album sounds...huge. I'll leave it at that. We've never been prouder. However, in lieu of spouting some self-serving hyperbole about achieving our twisted vision and/or making the best and most unique GT album to date, we'll let the tunes speak for themselves. Keep your eyes and ears open for a preview track in the near future. "

Genghis Tron will begin touring in support of Board Up The House as early as December when they join labelmates The Dillinger Escape Plan on

their first North American Ire Works tour. This tour will kick off on December 1st in London, Ontario and will also include A Life Once Lost and Stolen Babies. A listing of Genghis Tron tour dates can be found below. The band alludes to much more touring in the new year; "Once our album comes out in February, we'll be spending the rest of the year bringing these new tunes to audiences everywhere. In addition to many North American tours, we're making plans to return to the U.K. and also to embark on first mainland European tour. Get excited about it. More from us soon..."

For more information on Genghis Tron, check out http://www.genghistron.com/.

Genghis Tron Tour Dates:

***All Dates from October 4 thru October 28 w/ The Dillinger Escape Plan, A Life Once Lost, Stolen Babies***

December 1 London, ON Call The Office
December 2 Toronto, ON Opera House
December 3 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
December 4 Cleveland, OH Peabody's
December 5 Pittsburgh, PA Rex Theater
December 6 Louisville, KY Headliners
December 7 Atlanta, GA Masquerade
December 8 Orlando, FL Back Booth
December 9 St. Petersburg, FL State Theatre
December 11 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
December 13 Baltimore, MD Otto Bar
December 14 Asbury Park, NJ Stone Pony
December 15 Philadelphia, PA The Starlight Ballroom
December 16 New York, NY Blender Theatre @ Gramercy
December 18 Cambridge, MA The Middle East
December 19 Poughkeepsie, NY The Chance
December 20 Portland, ME The Station
December 21 Montreal, QC Le National
December 22 Williamsville, NY Club Infinity

The following message was posted on DECAPITATED's official web site:

"Witold 'Vitek' Kieltyka — our brother and dearest friend — succumbed to head injuries sustained after a bad van accident while on tour in Russia. He was 23.

"One of the youngest and most promising drummers in the genre, together with DECAPITATED he has consistently released albums both crushing and invigorating in their musicianship. Extremely talented — he has been involved in other side projects: DIES IRAE, PANZER X. He will be missed and cannot be replaced.

"The metal scene will be much sorrier with his passing…"

On October 18th, 2007, when Swedish doom rockers Witchcraft played the Luna Lounge in Brooklyn for the Kemado Records CMJ Showcase, MetalKult staked out a prime spot to catch all the heavy tones and neo-psychedelic jams.

Below, check out the band as they play "Witchcraft," from their 2004 debut of the same name. Also, take notice of lead singer Magnus Pelander's wicked MetalKult t-shirt, designed by Baroness' John Baizley!

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On October 6, 2007, when the Melvins' fall tour with Big Business hit the Luna Lounge in Brooklyn, NY, MetalKult dropped by to spend a few minutes chatting with singer/guitarist Buzz Osborne about his live gear setup.

In the interview that followed, the ever-opinionated and fascinating frontman opened up a range of topics including the importance of drugs, song dynamics and how the addition of the Big Business rhythm section affects the Melvins' sound.

Check out the clips below:

[playlist:mk-gear-melvins]

Photo by Jimmy Hubbard.