A roundup of the latest news from Metal Blade Records artists including updates from Six Feet Under, Evocation, Ensiferum, Trial and Harlott.
SIX FEET UNDER
Welcome Jack Owen (Ex-Cannibal Corpse) As Second Guitarist; Issues Band Update
Last week, Six Feet Under released their 12th studio album, Torment, to critical acclaim.
As a new leap in intensity, Torment gives fans plenty of classic Six Feet Under groove, with a much more aggressive approach and blast beats throughout.
This is a cantankerous Six Feet Under with absolutely nothing to prove. This is Six Feet Under at their most deadly.
With the release of their new album, the band also welcomes Jack Owen (ex-Cannibal Corpse) to their ranks, as the second guitarist. Front-man Chris Barnes comments:
“Hello, hello! First of all, I would like to thank all the fans that pre-ordered and purchased our new album ‘Torment’, and everyone that is enjoying our new work! Thank you very much! Much appreciated!!
And now, without further ado, it is with great pleasure that I announce and introduce to you our new second guitarist, Jack Owen.
As you all know, Jack and I started off together helping form one of the greatest Death Metal bands of all time. Jack and I began talking a few months ago, after his departure from his previous band about joining forces.
From my side of things, it’s going to be amazing to work with Jack again!! We had some intense adventures, to say the least hahaha…and it’s gonna be killer to step on stage with Jack for the first time in over 22 years!!
Jack will be joining SFU for the entire cycle of touring for the new album and beyond!
As you can imagine Six Feet Under is planning a very exciting live set list for you all to freak out over!!!
More info and tour dates coming soon!
Hang on to your skeleton!!
-Barnes”
Jack Owen adds: “I’m super excited to work with my metal brother Chris Barnes and the mighty Six Feet Under! We’ve been talking about writing original material for years, and I hope it gets to that point. It would be amazing. For now, I’m looking forward to touring our asses off. I miss Europe, Canada, South America – hell, I just miss touring! It will be an honor jamming with Chris and his current SFU lineup of talented musicians…and performing with Chris will be like reliving our youth. I can’t wait to see all the SFU and old school Cannibal Corpse fans across the globe!”
Torment is out now!
www.nervegas.com.au/six-feet-under
EVOCATION
Launch Video For Condemned To The Grave
Next week, Evocation will celebrate their return to death metal with the stunning new full-length, The Shadow Archetype!
While honoring their Swedish death metal roots, The Shadow Archetype also adds thrash metal elements to their addictive, heavy sound.
Check out the new video for the track “Condemned To The Grave” here
www.nervegas.com.au/evocation-shadow-archetype-cd
TRIAL
Reveal Details For New Album, Motherless; Launches First Single, Cold Comes The Night
On April 7th, Swedish heavy metallers Trial (swe) will release their new album, Motherless, worldwide via Metal Blade Records!
Trial (swe) comments: “‘Motherless’ is a multifaceted album, a creation of many different elements, yet coherently crafted to perfectly represent the entity that is Trial (swe).
The first single that we’ve chosen from the album is ‘Cold Comes The Night’. A ferocious, fast-paced track which displays the aggressive and more straight-forward side of the album.”
To hear “Cold Comes The Night”, head to:
metalblade.com/trial
In 2010, Trial (swe) wrote and recorded The Primordial Temple, which became a stepping stone from where the band was to where they wanted to be. After earning acclaimed reviews for Malicious Arts (EP, 2010) and Vessel (album, 2015), Trial (swe)‘s popularity continued to grow, and it wasn’t long before Metal Blade Records signed the band. With plans to re-invent themselves once again, Motherless promises to be another step forward in their career.
Motherless track-listing:
- Motherless
2. In Empyrean Labour
3. Cold Comes The Night
4. Juxtaposed
5. Aligerous Architect
6. Birth
7. Embodiment
8. Rebirth
Pre orders available now
HARLOTT
Reveal Details For New Album, Extinction
Launches First Single, First World Solutions
On April 7th, Australian thrashers Harlott will release their new album, Extinction, worldwide via Metal Blade Records!
Harlott returns with a harrowing offering of thrash metal, and a bleak interpretation of mankind’s future. A blistering assault of speed and aggression awaits those who endure Extinction,
as well as a reverent journey into the power and force that is metal.
For a preview of the album, the first single, “First World Solutions”, can be streamed at: metalblade.com/harlott
Featuring artwork by Andrei Bouzikov, Extinction is Harlott‘s third album and the successor to 2015’s critically acclaimed Proliferation. Recorded at Monolith Studios (Orpheus Omega, In Malice’s Wake, Bane of Winterstorm) and mastered by Jens Bogren (Kreator, Opeth, Soilwork), the album seeks to rain pure savagery upon any listener with furious riffs, spitting verses and face melting shred that are blended effortlessly with triumphant melodies and thundering groove to make a diverse and adaptable record which pays tribute to the kings of thrash metal, while making waves in the new dawn of evil. Taking what they had already mastered and pushing the limits of dissonance, evil, and atmosphere, they bring together an offering that will satisfy the bloodlust of their manic legion, and draw in the revelers of a dying breed. Containing 12 songs of pure bedlam, Extinction pauses only for the deafening silence between each blistering track.
Extinction track-listing:
1. Extinction
2. First World Solutions
3. The Penitent
4. Whore
5. No Past
6. Conflict Revelation
7. Better Off Dead
8. Violent Conspirator
9. And Darkness Brings The Light
10. Final Weapon
11. Parasite
12. Epitaph
Pre orders available now
ENSIFERUM
Begin Work On Seventh Full-Length; Issues Album Update
Ensiferum recently entered the Astia studio in Lappeenranta, Finland, where the band recorded a few demo songs for their upcoming seventh full-length, set to be released September 2017 via Metal Blade Records. The quintet will soon return to the Astia studio to begin recording this new album, which will be produced once again by Anssi Kippo (Children Of Bodom, Impaled Nazarene, Entwine etc.).
Sami Hinkka (bass) comments: “Hi Folks! So, as some of you might have already noticed from our social media channels, we are getting ready to go record the next Ensiferum album pretty soon. Just a few weeks ago, we recorded demo versions with Anssi Kippo, who also recorded and produced ‘One Man Army’. The demo session went smoothly, and working with Anssi is always such a pleasure because he is so full of creative ideas and positive attitude. The goal for the new album will be to capture Ensiferum‘s live energy on the songs, and we also plan to use analog recording as much as possible to guarantee the best possible sound.
The song material will include familiar elements, but like we always love to do, we will also take Ensiferum‘s mighty warship to unexplored seas of musical madness. More info later.”
Ensiferum has been flying the flag of epic, folk-infused death metal high and proud for two decades. Commended for being “their most polished album to-date,” by Metal Hammer, “one of folk metal’s finest acts” by Loudwire.com and “warlike and fiery” by MetalSucks.net, their latest album, One Man Army (2015), can be previewed and purchased at: metalblade.com/ensiferum
www.facebook.com/Ensiferum
www.ensiferum.com
In 2011, Below was formed in Sweden after a discussion about how doom bands of today either lack melody or try to sound as retro as possible.
They consequently decided to start a doom band that would pay tribute to the more epic, heavy and dark styles of doom.
Below started writing songs, and in November 2012, a 4-track EP was recorded at Deep Blue Studios in Sweden. The EP received praise from all areas of the industry, with Metal Hammer Germany awarding the EP an almost perfect rating of 9/10.With only one unreleased EP, the band was able to book a 10-day tour through Denmark, Holland and Germany. The final show of that tour was the Hammer of Doom festival in Germany.
Below recorded their debut album in 2013 at Andy LaRocque’s (King Diamond) Sonic Train Studios. This critically acclaimed full-length, Across the Dark River, was released in April 2014 via Metal Blade Records.
In February 2015, Below went on a two-week tour of Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Poland. Since then, Below has also performed at different festivals, including Germany’s Summer Breeze Festival, Athens’ Up the Hammers, Germany’s Hammer of Doom and Norway’s Tons Of Rock festival.
In May 2017, Below will release their sophomore album, Upon A Pale Horse, via Metal Blade Records.The album was recorded at Deep Blue Studios in their hometown of Nykoping, Sweden. While staying true to the core of the music that is Below (heavy riffs, haunting melodies and huge atmospheres), Upon A Pale Horse also offers a broader variety to the songs, with the band’s slowest song to-date, as well as the fastest, the shortest, and the longest. Additionally, the album features several guest appearances, such as backing vocals by Sorcerer‘s Anders Engberg and a speech by Alan Averill of Primordial.
Upon A Pale Horse track-listing
1. The Plague Within
2. Disappearing into Nothing
3. The Coven
4. Upon a Pale Horse
5. Suffer in Silence
6. Hours of Darkness
7. 1000 Broken Bones
8. We Are All Slaves
