Studio News
Virginia-based thrash band Municipal Waste will enter the studio in March to begin recording their new, yet untitled album due late August on Earache Records… Forbidden has begun recording several news tracks.

Signings and Discs
Candlelight Records has announced the worldwide signing of Susperia… London-based melodic thrashers, Savage Messiah, have signed a deal with Candlelight Records… Denver thrash band Havok has signed with Candlelight Records and is in the process of putting finishing touches on their debut titled Burn, that’s slated for an early spring release.

Nile frontman Karl Sanders’ second solo album, Saurian Exorcisms, will be released on April 14 through The End Records… Austria’s Belphegor has entered Andy Classen’s studio for the follow up to their 2008 release, Bondage Goat Zombie. The disc will see a street date in early September… West coast thrashers Warbringer have been working diligently on their sophomore Century Media Records effort with Exodus guitarist Gary Holt at the controls. They’re looking at a May 19 release date.

Obituary is currently recording their yet untitled album with a summer release date through Candlelight Records… American ‘drone metal’ act SUNN O))) will release its new CD, Monoliths & Dimensions, on May 5 via Southern Lord… Dark Funeral’s new one will be produced by Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy/Pain). The last time Tägtgren worked with Dark Funeral was eight years ago on the Diabolis Interium…

There’s a May 19 North American release date for Norwegian melodic black metal masters Old Man’s Child’s Slaves Of The World.

Rotting Christ will release their long-awaited 2DVD + 2CD digipack, Non Serviam - A 20 Year Apocryphal Story, in Europe on February 23 and in the U.S. on May 5 via Season of Mist…

Tours
Candlelight has announced its third, label-packaged tour for North America. Set to kick off on June 6, CIII will feature the talents of U.S. black metal legends ABSU, with support coming from France’s Glorior Bell, Austin-based Averse Sefira and Los Angeles-based Sothis. The 22-date tour wraps up at Firewater in Dallas on June 29… German thrash legends Destruction and newbie thrashers Mantic Ritual stop by Lola’s in Fort Worth on March 30…

Young Houston thrashers Metavenge have landed two dates on the upcoming Michael Schenker tour, March 26 in Dallas and March 29 in Houston. Keep an eye on this band; they’re turning lots of heads. Metavenge will also make their first appearance in Fort Worth at the Ridglea Theater on April 17… Amon Amarth undertakes the second part of the North American Twilight Of The Thunder God Tour in April/May with a stop in Dallas in April. Support on the trek will come from Goatwhore, Skeletonwitch and Lazarus A.D…

Norway’s Mayhem will celebrate their 25th anniversary by teaming up with some of the strongest extreme metal acts in May and June. The North American tour, dubbed Blackenedfest, the trek will feature Mayhem alongside Marduk, Cephalic Carnage and several others. Unfortunately, there are only two dates, May 26 in Houston and May 27 in San Antonio. Looks like a perfect time for a road trip.

On the Cover
Plano’s own ABSU is gracing the cover of the latest issue of Metal Maniacs. Grab a copy, since there’s word circulating that the magazine, along with sister publication Metal Edge, maybe in their final days…

Strain’s Vincent Bennett Photo: Travis Travis

The Acacia Strain - Ridglea Theater, 2/20/09
What do you do when your singer develops laryngitis only a week into a six-week tour? Most bands would throw in the towel, but The Acacia Strain had other plans. They enlisted the help of vocalist Brook Reeves from opening band, Impending Doom, and invited ”anyone” who knew the words to jump and stage and help them out. The Ridglea turned into a madhouse, as kids crawled, climbed and surfed their way up to the stage to lend their pipes on tracks like “JFC,” “4x4” and “Angry Mob Justice.” DL (guitar), Jack Strong (bass) and Kevin Boutot (drums) served up the punishing sounds, while TAS’s vocalist Vincent Bennett roamed the stage with mic in hand looking for those ready to deliver the goods. You knew he’d rather be belting out the words himself, but you could see he was really enjoying the mayhem and mad love from the DFW faithful.

Darkane - Demonic Art, Nuclear Blast
Demonic Art is a crushing, relentless modern thrash beat down. There are hints of vintage Testament on tracks like “Execution 44” and “Wrong Grave,” which feature stunning guitar work by Christofer Malmstrom and Klas Ideberg. They’re not afraid to show their shredding skills on this disc. Jorgen Lofberg (bass) and Peter Wildoer (drums) show speed kills on “Impetious Constant Chaos,” or that they can bludgeon you with heavy pounding on “Wrath Connection.” Demonic Art marks the debut of vocalist Jens Broman, and he definitely shines throughout, as he works between blistering shouts and harmony on “Demigod” and “Soul Survivor.” Darkane proves they’re force to be reckoned with. Make sure to catch them at Lola’s Sixth in Fort Worth on March 15 with Soilwork. KKKKK (Travis Tutwiler)

(hed)p.e. - New World Orphans, Suburban Noize
Nothing has changed on New World Orphans, as (hed)p.e. continues to meld their sound of thrash, hardcore, hip-hop and punk into the ears of those who will listen. NWO is a politically intense barrage of tunes but nothing special to grasp. A lot of bands get bashed for changing their style, and others get bashed for staying the same. (hed)p.e. continues down the same path they started but, unfortunately, they never paved it with anything substantial. K (Travis Tutwiler)

Ground Of Ruin - Cloaked In Doctrine, Self Release
Ireland’s Ground Of Ruin serves up black metal the way it should be on this well-crafted EP. Dave Hynes delivers aggressive, menacing vocals, while guitarists Rob Chanders and Dom Brennan switch gears between dreary, sinister chord progressions, chugging riffs and constantly moving leads. Just take a listen to “Beneath Contempt.” It captures all of these elements with Derek Gibson (bass) and Francis Moran (drums) supplying the frantic and somber rhythms as needed. “Burning Olive Branch” and “Cloaked In Doctrine” are just as strong and show Ground Of Ruin has what it takes to keep you coming back for more - and hoping for a full-length CD to satisfy your metal craving. KKKK (Travis Tutwiler)