ROB ZOMBIE has released the second installment of the animated interview series titled Zombie Interviews Zombie, where Sheri Moon Zombie talks to Rob about his new album. The second episode on the journey of The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy is live here. The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy is ROB ZOMBIE’s first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart. The multi platinum singer and filmmaker’s first album with Nuclear Blast cracked the top 10 in several countries, including Germany, Canada, Scotland, and Australia. In the United States, it’s Rob Zombie’s seventh consecutive Top 10 album since his first solo outing in 1998.

Legendary thrash metallers FLOTSAM AND JETSAM have unveiled the first single of their upcoming studio album “Blood in the Water” out 24th June on AFM Records via the official music video for the pummeling track “Burn the Sky”!

“While we were in the process of selecting which songs we would use for the album’s videos, ‘Burn the Sky’ was the only one that was on everyone’s lists consistently” – commented front-man Eric A.K. during a full-band video interview aired this past Friday via Bravewords and Sonic Perspectives – “This track has some guitar work by Mike and Steve that are second to none.”

“We really had a hell of a time figuring out which songs actually include in this album, because we don’t feel we have any fillers” – added guitarist Michael Gilbert. When asked about why the band’s sound have evolved throughout the last albums to a much heavier output, he said:  “I don’t want anyone feeling we are getting fuck**g old. As long as we continue doing this, we are gonna bring it. Our sound changed through the years influenced by many factors, but what you are listening to now is who we are and will continue to be”

“The recording of this album was very much a natural process, we really worked together as a team to make sure that everything that needed to be on the record, was indeed on it. I haven’t listened to it for a while and I went back and listened recently, and it really gives the impression that we are really angry” commented drummer Ken Mary

“Blood In The Water,” which is set to be released on June 4th via AFM Records, was once again mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (U.D.O., Volbeat, Amaranthe, Powerwolf), who also worked on the band’s previous record “The End of Chaos,” released on January 18th, 2019. “Blood In The Water,” is complete musical mayhem with a crushing, rolling, and aggressive attack that will knock you down. The new music delivers the finest fast and hard metal for new and old-school thrashers alike. The album artwork and track-listing can be seen below, and pre-orders for physical/digital version of the album are underway.

San Diego deathcore pioneers, CARNIFEX, are proud to release their cover of KORN’s “Dead Bodies Everywhere” single off 2009’s Follow The Leader. CARNIFEX comments, “KORN was one of our original influences and inspired us greatly as young musicians. Each time we do a cover, it’s our way of saying thank you to the musicians that came before us, and just maybe we added our touch of brutality! Enjoy!”

The cover was recorded earlier this year at Back Lounge Studios in San Diego, CA. It was produced by the band & Mick Kenney (ANAAL NATHRAKH, BLEEDING THROUGH) who along with Shawn Cameron engineered the single. Mick was also responsible for the mixing and mastering of the “Dead Bodies Everywhere” cover. CARNIFEX recruited Dylan Gould to create the artwork for the single.

Order your copy of the latest Carnifex full length album, World War X here:  www.nuclearblast.com/carnifex-wwx

World War X was produced by CARNIFEX and Jason Suecof (DEATH ANGEL, CHELSEA GRIN, JOB FOR A COWBOY). The album was recorded and mixed by Jason at AudioHammer Studio in Sanford, Florida. Vocals for the album were tracked by Mick Kenney (ANAAL NATHRAKH, BLEEDING THROUGH) at The Barracks Studio in Huntington Beach, CA. The album artwork was created by Blake Armstrong.

May 21, 2021, will see Herman Frank, iconic guitarist of bands such as ACCEPT and VICTORY, release his fifth solo- album, entitled “Two For A Lie”, through powerhouse label AFM Records.

Frank has been an integral part of the German metal scene since the early 80s. Starting with ACCEPT to VICTORY to his solo project, which was launched in 2009, the Hanoverian has proved a receipe for uncompromising heavy metal. With his highly acclaimed solo- records “Loyal To None”, “Right In The Guts”, “The Devils Ride Out” and “Fight The Fear” Frank and his comrades-in-arms are causing storms of enthusiasm in both the press and the fans. Without any doubt, his new album “Two For A Lie” will seamlessly follow on from this. True to the motto “Never change a winning team”, Herman Frank has once again put his faith in the collaboration with MASTERPLAN front vocalist Rick Altzi and JADED HEART bassist Michael “Mülli” Müller, newly hired were guitarist Mike Pesin and drummer Kevin Kott on board of the battleship. Like its predecessors, “Two For A Lie” impresses through Frank’s characteristic guitar play, in which razor-sharp riffs meet rousing solos, Alchi’s brilliant vocals and the rhythm section grooving like clockwork provide the rest.

After the recent, first single for the thunderous track “Eye Of The Storm”, Frank has just unleashed a brand new lyric video for the second album song “Venom”. Heavy as hell riffs underline a catchy and epic ride, one that will most likely become a timeless metal anthem! Sing along and watch the new clip for “Venom” right here.

“Two For A Lie” was produced by Herman Frank himself together with co-producer Arne Neurand, recorded and mixed in the venerable Horus Sound Studios in Hannover (Guano Apes, LDC, Revolverheld, Emil Bulls, Subway To Sally), and was mastered by Robin Schmidt (Placebo, Callejon, Beatsteaks & many more). Kai Swillus from “Gestaltungskommando Buntmetall”, who already worked with bands such as Saxon, Motörhead or Annihilator, created the cover design and artwork.

MERCURY CIRCLE (feat. members of CHILDREN OF BODOM and SWALLOW THE SUN) share epic music video for “You Open Up The Earth”! In support of their upcoming album, slated for a release in the Fall of 2021 on Noble Demon, Finland’s “New Doom” – collective Mercury Cirlce has unleashed a brand new video clip for the track “You Open Up The Earth”!

Labeled as “a band you need to watch out for in 2021”, by Metal Hammer UK, and featuring members of Swallow The Sun and Children Of Bodom, Mercury Circle is creating a diverse offering of atmospheric and dark music where the songs differ wildly in expression and sonic aesthetics. Dark metal infused soundscapes with powerful synth and electro waves are the breeding ground for a unique journey filled with painful departures to new beginnings, a spectacle in which hope and promises echoing loss and regret.

Following their latest, critically acclaimed EP “The Dawn Of Vitriol” ( August 14th, Noble Demon / The Vinyl Division), Mercury Circle is about to get ready for the release of their highly anticipated debut studio album, due out in September via powerhouse label Noble Demon. To shorten your wait for Mercury Circle’s first full- length, the band has just released a first and enthralling album single, one that will most likely leave you with a hunger for more! Watch the epic, new music video for “You Open Up The Earth” here

“This song is a reflection of how things take seat in our lives uninvitedly and change our fate forever“, the band explains and continues: “Especially during these times of incredible adversity we hope to give a voice to the feelings those situations elicit while they oftentimes leave us speechless.”

With a versatile arrangement of sounds, and a message that couldn’t have been more fitting in these days, it almost seems as if it’s no surprise that this track has become the first harbinger to the album, as founder and mastermind Jaani Peuhu reveals: “At a pretty early stage in the writing process I started feeling that You Open Up The Earth had to be the opening single of the album. Not only made the message of the song sense considering the state the world has been in for more than a year now, but it also seemed like a good introduction to the record: Combining heavy, dark and melodic elements with a little piece of our unearthly atmosphere and a big chorus. We had more than 20 songs to choose from for the album and most of the tracks were about to be dropped from the record at some point, but this one felt like an important piece of our debut the whole time since I wrote it.” He continues: “There was a funny situation during the recordings of You Open Up The Earth when I was working on the string arrangements and realized that we need violins to compliment Teemu Mastovaara’s super cool cellos. I mentioned it in our band chat and then our guitar player Jussi casually answered that he could play them… Although he hadn’t played in years he recorded the most beautiful violin tracks for this special song. My bandmates keep on surprising me with their talent! We have this mentality that everybody can do everything and there are no bad ideas. We try out every idea and even if it doesn’t work it might lead us to something that actually does and sounds amazing. We don’t want to play safe. Been there, done that. Never again. Not with this band.”

LIGHT THE TORCH — Howard Jones [vocals], Francesco Artusato [guitar], and Ryan Wombacher [bass] — will release their new album and second full length You Will Be the Death of Me on June 25 via Nuclear Blast.

“You Will Be the Death of Me has been a journey — even without the pandemic,” says Jones. “This album has been emotional and rewarding in every way, and we couldn’t be more excited to finally release it. Maybe there was a bit of desperation writing and recording these songs.”He shares, “Going through personal turmoil and watching Francesco deal with injuries, we knew this could change things drastically for us. The album was a welcome distraction, and we dumped every emotion we had into YWBTDOM. To watch Fran heal and become an even more complete artist in front of my eyes has been amazing to watch. Everything we went through individually and together with this album drew Fran, Ryan, and I together. I couldn’t be more proud of this album knowing I made it with my family.”

Artusato opens up about his experiences, saying, “This record is special to me in a different way. From writing the music during one of the toughest times of my life while dealing with a bad injury due to a car accident to being obsessively involved with every aspect of its production, recording, and creating the artwork. It’s hard to describe how I feel, and to finally see this record getting ready to be released.” He continues about the redemptive power of the album, offering, “We are all very satisfied with how this record showcases the evolution of our band and our evolution as individuals. Without our brotherhood, this music could not have happened. Music is what kept us strong together during our toughest times. There’s nothing like art that expresses pure and deep emotions, and that’s what I feel when I listen to Howard’s performance on this record.”

Wombacher concurs, “I think this album shows the growth the band has experienced after years on the road together, and a friendship that has continued to thrive doing what we love together.”

The guys returned to Sparrow Sound in Glendale, California to once again work with the production team of Josh Gilbert and Joseph McQueen [Bullet for My Valentine, As I Lay Dying, Suicide Silence]. This time around, they also welcomed Whitechapel’s Alex Rudinger on drums. “He’s incredible,” says Artusato. “He was exactly what we needed.”

Today (April 8th), War Curse has released a new digital single, “Only” – a cover version of the Anthrax classic!

Justin Roth (guitar) comments: “Murphy and I have always been big John Bush fans, for his work in both Armored Saint and Anthrax. When we were approached to do a ‘Slay At Home’ performance for Metal Injection, we wanted to do something a little unexpected, but something that thrash metal fans would still recognize. After kicking around a few ideas, ‘Only’ seemed like a great choice for Blaine’s voice and a fun song to learn. The response to the initial performance was overwhelmingly positive, including a nod of approval from Charlie Benante himself, which was pretty damn cool (even if he leaked it a day early, oops). We hope we did the song justice and hope everyone enjoys it.”

Formed in 2013 in Cincinnati, OH, War Curse is forged in tradition and unconcerned with industry trends, walking a path blazed by thrash metal titans of yesteryear while creating a distinct imprint of their own. The band unleashed their debut full-length Final Days (Static Tension Recordings / Iron Mouth) in 2015, with media hailing it as “catchy, quick to the point, precisely executed with plenty of shredding solos, and enough punk/hardcore grit to give it a snarling edge” (NineCircles.co). Their sophomore record – 2019’s Eradication (Svart Records) – saw the band “confidently mesh their old school values with modern sensibilities, addictively crunchy riffs and infectious song-writing” (TeethOfTheDivine.com). High energy shows across the world garnered War Curse the reputation of being a must-see live act, captivating fans young and old with their thoughtfully written, no-holds-barred brand of metal. The band’s true-to-roots Bay Area sound has resonated with crowds and media alike, giving War Curse the ability to transcend genre lines and appeal to everyone from diehards to casuals. Simply put, War Curse is a sleeping giant ready to emerge as the next torchbearer.

War Curse’s upcoming album – and Blacklight Media Records / Metal Blade Records debut – will surely please fans and critics once again upon its release in 2021. Stay tuned for more news about War Curse coming soon!

BOKASSA is one of Norway’s most exciting up-and-coming exports when it comes to hard-hitting, groovy and catchy rock music. With millions of streams on their last full-length album, Crimson Riders, as well as supporting tours with METALLICA, BOKASSA is ready to take on the next chapter of their already buzzing story! On the new single “So Long, Idiots!”, BOKASSA comes through with a tight, dense rock banger, displaying the band’s undeniable energy while seamlessly transitioning into melodic choruses and tasteful guitar solos. BOKASSA is a serious rock’n’roll powerhouse to be reckoned with in 2021!

Singer/Guitarist Jørn Kaarstad on the new single: “We are beyond excited to finally release ‘So Long, Idiots!’ to the world! A hook ridden rock anthem that’s made for singing along to live! We, as all bands, are eagerly awaiting to play live again and can’t wait to play this one on tour in September.”

The Norwegian Grammy-nominated band has gripped major attention by fusing polished punk, hardcore and metal riffage, stoner rock grooves and hooky lyricism – forming their own self-proclaimed brand of gritty stoner punk. Upon release, their 2017 debut Divide & Conquer was urgently hailed by critics all over the world and placed prominently on several “Best Of” lists. In 2019, the band set a massive milestone when they were handpicked by Lars Ulrich to support METALLICA alongside GHOST on their summer stadium tour across Europe, the UK and Russia. The legendary drummer hailed them as “his favorite new band” and described them as “Insanely fucking cool” after hearing the first album.

BOKASSA is currently finishing up their upcoming full-length album, set to release in 2021 via Napalm Records!

Catch BOKASSA live in fall/winter 2021:
Sat         04.09.2021          Paaspop Festival, Schijndel (NL)
Fri          10.09.2021          Verket, Moss (NO)
Sat         11.09.2021          Gamlebyen, Fredrikstad (NO)
Thu        16.09.2021          Rockefeller, Oslo (NO)
Sat         18.09.2021          Vårt Hjem, Steikjer (NO)
Fri          24.09.2021          Energimølla (NO)
Sat         25.09.2021          RIP, Porsgrunn (NO)
Tue        05.10.2021          Headcrash, Hamburg (DE)
Wed       06.10.2021          Privatclub, Berlin (DE)
Thu        07.10.2021          Naumanns, Leipzig (DE)
Sat         09.10.2021          Der Cult, Nürnberg (DE)
Sun        10.10.2021          Club Volta, Cologne (DE)
Mon        11.10.2021          Backstage, Paris (F)
Wed       13.10.2021          Engine Rooms, Southampton (UK)
Thu        14.10.2021          Rebellion, Manchester (UK)
Sat         16.10.2021          Grand Social, Dublin (IE)
Sun        17.10.2021          Voodoo, Belfast (UK)
Tue        19.10.2021          Audio, Glasgow (UK)
Wed       20.10.2021          KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton (UK)
Thu        21.10.2021          The Globe, Cardiff (UK)
Fri          22.10.2021          Underworld, London (UK)
Mon       25.10.2021          Metropool, Enschede (NL)
Tue        26.10.2021          Hansa 39, Munich (DE)
Fri          12.11.2021          Odal Rockeklubb, Odal (NO)
Sat         13.11.2021          Odal Rockeklubb, Odal (NO)
Fri          19.11.2021          TOU, Stavanger (NO)
Sat         20.11.2021          Ovenpaa, Kopervik (NO)

Norwegian Extreme metal straight through your cranium: ILLT unleash their new heavy single “Sons of the Northern Lights” today! ILLT is the alter ego of Norwegian composer and guitarist Roy Westad. It’s an uncompromising sandbox and a culmination of decades of passion and love for extreme metal as an art form. His debut album features session musicians from Megadeth, Soilwork, Chrome Division and Nile. The album was mixed by Kurt Ballou @ Godcity and mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Alan Douches.

ILLT has commented on the single: «”Sons Of The Northern Lights” – The third single off “Urhat”, is dedicated to the allied soldiers who were killed during the battle of Narvik in 1940. This was Hitler’s first defeat during the second world war, and serves as a violent and all too relevant reminder on how to welcome nazi scum. The title of the song is a bit misleading, as there was quite a few female allied soldiers serving as well”. “Sons of the Northern Lights” is the third single off ILLT’s upcoming debut album “Urhat”, to be released in Fall 2021.

Trollzorn have set April 23rd 2021 as the new release date for the already announced seventh full-length of Germany’s MINAS MORGUL, entitled “Heimkehr”! MINAS MORGUL stands for expressive and melodic Pagan Black/Death Metal with an own twist and their new album has become a versatile work, which is firmly anchored in the band’s roots on the one hand, but also takes up new facets that were already evident on 2017’s “Kult”. Furthermore, MINAS MORGUL debuts with a revamped line-up on “Heimkehr”, featuring Robse of EQUILIBRIUM on vocals.

Formats: 6 Panel Digi-CD, limited Vinyl (150 Creamwhite + 150 Green), limited Bundle (CD, Metalpin, Backpatch & T-Shirt), Digital (May 7th)