BLACKMETAL.COM News BLOG

METAL NEWS (weeks 35 and 36)

~ Heavy Metal Cinema Series: Rock, Shock And Schlock ~
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Screening Room in San Francisco, California is presenting a series of films under the banner "Heavy Metal Cinema: Rock, Shock and Schlock" on September 9, 14, 16, 23 and 30. The following is a brief description of the series, as posted at SFStation.com: "Heavy metal rock music has always offered a form of rebellion against authority to young people. This series examines this phenomenon, examining its nihilistic dark aspects, its craftsmanship, as well as its campy, histrionic tendencies." Movies slated to be shown during the series are as follows: "Stunt Rock" (featuring early '80s Metal pioneers SORCERY), "Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare" (about Canadian legend THOR), "Metal Storm: The Scandinavian Black Metal Wars", "Extreme Metal Underground Music Videos - The State of the Headbanger Cult" hosted by CYBERTZARA/BlackMetal.com Records, and "Good to See You Again, Alice Cooper". Ticket info is currently available at the Yerba Buena Center website at: www.ybca.org
And more information is also available at SFStation.com :
http://www.sfstation.com/event.php?eventId=9818
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~ IBEX THRONE Sign With GOATAWA REX RECORDS ~
Utah-based black metallers IBEX THRONE have inked a two-album deal with Australia's Goatawa Rex Records. The group's second album, "Total Inversion", will be recorded late September/early October for an early 2006 release on CD/LP format. The album will include "nine new tracks of black hateful metal," according to a press release. "Expect nothing but the ugliest and intense chaos to be recorded." Extensive touring in the U.S. will follow, featuring "some of the more underground and sickest of the American Underground extreme metal scene." More information will be made available soon.
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~ KEEP OF KALESSIN: New Album Delayed ~
Norwegian black metallers KEEP OF KALESSIN, featuring Obsidian C. (a.k.a. Arnt Grønbech, also a touring guitarist for SATYRICON) on guitars/bass/synth, have posted the following message on their official web site:

"KEEP OF KALESSIN have been working on their new opus, 'Armada', since May now. Unfortunately things haven't actually gone smooth for the band. Two blown amps, a broken bassamp and alot of frustration is the result of the recording so far.

"The band has just started recording again after a long summer vacation and are now working on the first single from the album. A video will be shot for this song in October.

"'Armada' will be postponed until the New Year, but the band is working to set up a warm-up tour just before Christmas."

KEEP OF KALESSIN's new album, "Armada", will be released via the Norwegian label Tabu Recordings, a division of Tuba Records. Vyl will be playing the drums on the album and a new bass player, Wizziac, will be introduced. MAYHEM / TORMENTOR singer Attila Chisar will be doing some additional vocals, but he will not be the frontman anymore. The band will try out different vocalists in the studio to find the one who matches the music best. The group's complete lineup will be revealed when the recording sessions are completed.

KEEP OF KALESSIN's most recent mini-album, "Reclaim", was released in December 2003 through FaceFront Records. The group's first release since 1999's "Agnen: A Journey through the Dark" (Avantgarde), "Reclaim" has been described as a new milestone in Norwegian black metal by the Norwegian press. *[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ Former CANCER Guitarist Pays Tribute To VOIVOD's PIGGY ~
Former CANCER guitarist Rob Engvikson (currently in DANELAW) has issued the following statement regarding the passing of VOIVOD guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour:

"I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Denis 'Piggy' D'Amour from VOIVOD. VOIVOD is a band I've always loved from the early days of 'Rrroooaaarrr' and right through to 'Voivod', especially Piggy's awesome guitar playing style. With them 'dischords,' as I call them, he really did have a style of his own. I could recognise his playing instantly. I was really looking forward to the next VOIVOD epic. Hopefully we will still get to hear his latest recordings, as a tribute to the great man himself. Sadly, I never got to see the band live. They were due to play at a thrash festival in Leeds back in the '80s, but sadly they got held up in customs and never made the gig.

"My condolences to his family, friends, and fellow bandmembers. May he roam the stars, and haunt President X-D."
*[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ ABORTED Prepare For North American Tour ~
Belgium's ABORTED are preparing for their first full North American invasion. Their formidable new album, "The Archaic Abattoir", won the band considerable praise. Founder and vocalist Sven De Caluwe commented on the upcoming tour and lineup changes: "Things are really starting to move fast for us, and we're fully preparing ourselves for the upcoming U.S. tour with CRYPTOPSY, SUFFOCATION and DESPISED ICON. Needless to say, we're all extremely psyched about this tour and can't wait to spread our own little brand of death-fucking-metal to all our fans. To the people who have been waiting to see us over there; the wait is over, and we'll make sure none of you will have any regrets. Some news on the band, we're also very happy with the way the new line-up is working out. Guitarist Stephane Souteyrand has been in the band since June and has been more than great. He's not only a great musician but also a very cool guy to work with, and we can't wait to start writing the next album with him by our side. See you guys in a month!”

The video for "Dead Wreckoning" will premier on MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball" Saturday night (September 3). Produced by Darren Doane (SHADOWS FALL, NILE) and filmed in downtown L.A. the clip was shot "in the basement of an old meat factory," De Caluwe said. "Scary fact is that there was blood everywhere, fresh blood, which neither Darren nor the band put there. Weird part is the factory has been out of business for quite some time…"
*[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ GOD AMONG INSECTS Announce New Album Title ~
GOD AMONG INSECTS, the Swedish "old-school" death metal band featuring vocalist Emperor Magus Caligula (DARK FUNERAL), guitarist Lord K (a.k.a. Kenth Philipson; THE PROJECT HATE), bassist Tomas Elofsson (SANCTIFICATION) and drummer Tobias Gustafsson (VOMITORY), have set "Zombienomicon" as the title of their sophomore album, tentatively due late 2005/early 2006 via Threeman Recordings. "We can tell you that we have created one insane 35-minute piece of completely fucked up death metal," the band write on their web site. "10 tracks of crushing brutality/blast/crust and groove with some insane lyrical-work by Caligula. Hence the title of the album... When you get the album you'll understand a bit more, but yer in for a treat for sure.

"As we mentioned before we will hand out a song or something when we see fit, but first we need to get a date for the mastering of the damn thing.

"The cover will once again be designed by Sebastian Boström who created the astonishingly ugly cover for 'World Wide Death'. That guy knows what we want for sure."

GOD AMONG INSECTS' sophomore album was recorded at Abyss Studios with producer Tommy Tägtgren. The group's debut CD, "World Wide Death", is available now on Threeman Recordings.
*[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ DESTRUCTION touring with CANDLEMASS ~
The tentative dates have been released for the upcoming European tour featuring German thrashers DESTRUCTION, Swedish doom legends CANDLEMASS and Finnish deathrashers DEATHCHAIN.

"I know some thrashers may think the doom metal legend doesn't really fit with a thrash band. Bullshit! We have had the pleasure [to tour with CANDLEMASS] in the Eighties already and it was a great package. Those who had the pleasure [to see the show] back then can surely confirm this, I think!

"We are lookin' forward to meet you all on the road again..."
*[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ THYRFING To Support GORGOROTH, 1349 In Sweden ~
Sweden's THYRFING will support GORGOROTH and 1349 on December 3 at The Shrine in Stockholm, Sweden.

THYRFING entered EMI Studio in Stockholm this past April with producer Henrik Edenhed (LAMBRETTA, THE SOUNDS) to record their fifth, as-yet-untitled album. The follow-up to 2002's "Vansinnesvisor" (Hammerheart Records, r.i.p.) will be mixed later this summer for a fall release via Regain Records.
*[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ Norway Gears Up For Brand New Metal Show On National Radio ~
NRK's trend-setting radio channel P3 goes back to wearing black every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. from September 7 during "Tinitus" — a two-hour program featuring music to crush your eardrums to. From SLAYER and SLIPKNOT, METALLICA and MESHUGGAH to SLOGSTORM and SCUM, "Tinitus" is the show that doesn't turn the other cheek. Interviews with underground acts will feature next to the biggest stars, with the genre's latest releases being put through their paces as the celebrity "officer of the week" decides their fate — will they top or flop? Furthermore, there will be objectionable prizes, a special section for unsigned bands where "talent scout extraordinaire," Fenriz from DARKTHRONE, will regularly put forward his suggestions on the subject.

Created by producer Patrizia Mazzuoccolo and host Kirsti Thisland Eggum — and developed with award-winning media production company, Bådeog Drama — "Tinitus" is P3's first out-of-house production for the Norwegian state radio channel.

The "Tinitus" team have also arranged "Not Just Another Launch Party" to take place at Betong, Slemdalsveien in Oslo on Friday, September 9. The celebrations will start at 8:00 p.m. on the dot and will feature, among other things, showcases by three bands:

* FUNERAL: in their first concert in five years, the band will showcase fresh material from their soon-to-be-released album "From These Wounds". Now featuring a new lineup, with vocalist Frode Forsmo (from progressive doomsters MINAS TIRITH), this is "music to slash your wrists to."

* KHOLD will perform brand-new material from their as-yet-unreleased album, "Krek" (due out on October 10).

* Headliners FIREBIRD (featuring ex-NAPALM DEATH/CARCASS founder, Bill Steer) will provide those good, old-fashioned, ass-kicking stoner grooves.
*[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ Drummer DIEGO 'GROM' MERAVIGLIA Quits ANCIENT ~
Drummer Diego "Grom" Meraviglia (HORTUS ANIMAE, ex-DOOMSWORD) has officially quit ANCIENT. As of today, Meraviglia is no longer part of the cult extreme metal band's lineup. "I decided to end my official envolvement with ANCIENT for a number of reasons," Diego said in a statement. "It has been a nice and rewarding five years, full of great experiences and I wish to thank all the other guys in the band and all the great fans, but I have reached a point in my career where I simply feel I need to move on. There were profound professional differences as well between me and the rest of the band and that convinced me it was time to quit."

Grom's collaboration with ANCIENT may continue, both live and in studio, but only on a "session" basis. Meraviglia will be concentrating on his "session drummer" career as well as his numerous other projects, including extreme-metal-gothic-prog band HORTUS ANIMAE. Grom is also evaluating several offers for an eventual new "main band."
*[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ FREDIABLO Quits NECROPHAGIA ~
*[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]

Norwegian guitarist/vocalist Frediablo (NECROPHAGIA, GRIMFIST, GORELORD, HEMNUR) has issued the following statement:

"I have decided quit all my musical engagements except my role as singer in GRIMFIST.

"[I am done with] NECROPHAGIA, GORELORD, WURDULAK, CHAMBER OF STRENGTH etc... I'm done!! I desperately need to distance myself from a large portion of this scene in order to maintain any love at all for metal music. I either stop, or I work myself into a state of mental and physical misery. I will continue to raise hell in GRIMFIST, and will be seeing some of you fuckers on tour next year.

"Thanks to all the fans, press and people that have believed in me and supported me and my work over the years. You have my respect, and you all kick fucking ass!!"
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~ INSANITY To Release Compilation Of Early Material ~
The old-school death metal pioneers INSANITY are back home, having completed a tour of California with EXHUMED, ABSCESS and SKARP. INSANITY will be releasing a compilation of their earllier material on Parasitic Twin Productions, the same label EXHUMED's "Garbage Daze Re-Regurgitated" is on.
*[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ WITHIN TEMPTATION Honored As 'Best Selling Dutch Artist' At WORLD MUSIC AWARDS ~
Holland's WITHIN TEMPTATION were honored with the "Best Selling Dutch Artist" award at the World Music Awards, held at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on August 31. The band received the prestigious award on the basis of their success in continental Europe.

The World Music Award is another milestone in the band's international career. WITHIN TEMPTATION received numerous industry awards at home earlier in the year, such the Edison Award (Best National Group), TMF Award (Best National Rock Band) and the Dutch Music Export Award.

As previously reported, WITHIN TEMPTATION's latest album, "The Silent Force", has been certified gold in Finland for sales in excess of 15,000 copies. The band were presented with the gold plaques by their record company during an appearance at the Ankkarock 2005 festival in Finland last month. Finland is the first country in Scandinavia where WITHIN TEMPTATION have received a sales award.

Formed in 1996, WITHIN TEMPTATION has released three albums including the platinum album "Mother Earth" — selling over 800,000 albums in their career to date. "The Silent Force", originally released in November 2004, crashed into the Netherlands official chart at No. 1, and was certified gold a mere three weeks later. Further Top 5 positions followed in Germany (gold), Belgium (also gold), and Finland, with Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, France, and Norway all also placing the album high in the Top 30.
*[ News source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ PILEDRIVER Replace EXCITER At Toronto's GATES OF HELL Festival ~
Reunited classic Canadian metallers PILEDRIVER will be replacing EXCITER on the billing of the Gates of Hell 2005 festival, set to take place Saturday, September 17 at the Reverb/Kathedral club (651 Queen St.) in Toronto, Ontario.

The complete lineup for the festival is as follows:
NUCLEAR ASSAULT
ANVIL
RAZOR
DREAMS OF DAMNATION
PILEDRIVER
ESCHATUS
ECLIPSE ETERNAL
DEAD OF WINTER

Doors for the all-ages event are scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
For more information, visit Toronto Undead at:
http://www.angelfire.com/music4/toronto/
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~ VOIVOD Guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour Passes Away ~

According to VOIVOD vocalist Denis "Snake" Belanger:

"Yesterday, Friday 26th at 23:45, Piggy passed away.

I would like to thank all of you for all the good words and encouragments you gave Denis during his battle. I will keep you posted for funeral details."

Former Voivod bassist Jean-Yves (Blacky) Theriault has issued the following statement:

"Life does not always turn out the way you expect. Mine and the lives of many of my friends from Jonquiere were certainly influenced by one specific person, Denis D'Amour. He was a mentor and a hero for many of us. He was my best friend.

"I have dreaded the arrival of this day for a while now. My old bandmate is gone. He passed away last night at peace with himself and without pain. Until the very end he was both a sweetheart and a real rocker, without compromise.

"I am so grateful that I had the chance to let him know how much he meant to me and how much I loved him. Denis did not live to see his last artistic effort released but the rest of us will appreciate it all the more.

"Long live Denis D'Amour. Long live Piggy."

Voivod guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour had been battling advanced colon cancer which spread to his liver. Denis was 45 years old.

Get more band news and info on VOIVOD at:
http://www.metalunderground.com/bands/details.cfm?bandid=190
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~ VOIVOD Guitarist DENIS 'PIGGY' D'AMOUR Dead Of Colon Cancer ~
VOIVOD guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour passed away Friday night (August 26) at approximately 11:45 p.m. due to complications from advanced colon cancer — so advanced that the disease had spread to his liver. D'Amour slipped into a coma Thursday night and died less than 24 hours later in the palliative care unit of a Montreal hospital, surrounded by family and friends. He was 45 years old.

Quebec City newspaper Le Soleil reported yesterday that D'Amour — who was diagnosed with colon cancer earlier in the summer — first entered the hospital for a routine operation, but several complications led his doctors to suspect more problems. Then the grim verdict was revealed: the cancer, already too advanced, was inoperable.

Only two months ago, D'Amour was in the studio working on the 14th album from the Canadian thrash-metal pioneers VOIVOD. More than two dozen tracks are believed to have been demoed for the CD, for which the group recently inked a deal with The End Records. However, the band were forced to put studio work on hold while bassist Jason Newsted (ex-METALLICA) was treated for tendonitis.

In a recent interview with Billboard.com, Newsted spoke about the material slated to appear on the group's next CD. "It's the most complete demos I've ever been involved in," he said. "[VOIVOD singer] Snake has already chosen his effects — exact timing of milliseconds for delay. We've had a long time to develop the demos, so there's about 23 or 25 songs that are absolutely listenable right now."

Newsted was a huge fan of VOIVOD before he was invited to join and he remains a great admirer to this day. "They created something a long, long time ago that may have been emulated many, many times since — but nobody can do it like the original," he offered.

Prior to his hospitalization, D'Amour laid down guitar tracks for a reunion CD from the legendary AUT'CHOSE, a '70s band from Montreal. That album is expected to surface next summer.
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~ Guitarist ALLEN WEST Quits OBITUARY ~
Guitarist Allen West has announced his departure from OBITUARY. West's exit from the group comes on the eve of OBITUARY's U.S. tour with NAPALM DEATH and Allen feels that the fans deserve no surprises when they don't see the band that they were expecting. Allen will concentrate fully on LOWBROW, whose revamped lineup consists of founding members West, Curtis Beeson (NASTY SAVAGE) and Richard Hornberger, along with new bassist Jon Fronza. LOWBROW will continue without former members Ben Meyer (NASTY SAVAGE, ACHERON) and Richard Bateman (AGENT STEEL, NASTY SAVAGE).

LOWBROW are currently preparing material for a new recording to follow 2001's "Sex. Violence.Death". More information will be made available soon.

Although OBITUARY have yet to comment on West's departure, singer John Tardy posted the following message on the band's official message board in response to a fan who complained about West being too "wasted" during the group's appearance at the Hole In The Sky festival in Norway this past weekend (Aug. 28):

"First, I would like to apologize for Allen and that is all I can do. We (OBITUARY) did what we could and just could not control Allen that day...he was a mess! You were at the show and could see that we tried our best and Allen was just too drunk to play a good show. You hear stories like this all the time (with all bands) and just like me you have to wonder why someone just can't be professional with what they are doing! We have all the time in the world to party as much as we want after the show and you would think you could show up ready to play and give your fans 100%! In this case Allen failed us! We are not happy and have talked with him about this and I am not sure what we are going to do! He has to make up his mind as to what he wants to do! Once again I can only apologize and and tell you that where the rest of the band gives it 100% everyshow no matter what and one weak link (Allen) can bring all that down! I also realize that his perfomance is a reflection on the whole band and that is what hurts the most when I look at how hard the rest of the band works to be the very best that we can! We can only hope that Allen gets his priorities straight!" *[ Source: blabbermouth.net ]
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~ DEINONYCHUS Prepare To Record New Album ~
Dutch doomsters DEINONYCHUS are currently working on their seventh full-length album with Juergen Bartsch from the German band BETHLEHEM on bass and William Sarginson (ex-THE BLOOD DIVINE) from the U.K. on drums. Tentatively titled "Morphium Replacement", the follow-up to 2004's "Insomnia" will be recorded and released by late 2006 via Italy's My Kingdom Music.

For more information, visit DEINONYCHUS' new webpage at www.deinonychus.net.
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~ VOIVOD To Complete New Album As A Tribute To Fallen Guitarist ~
VOIVOD drummer Michel "Away" Langevin has told Montreal's La Presse that the group are planning on releasing an album of new material written prior to the passing of VOIVOD guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour. "Denis asked us to utilize the tracks he had recorded [during the pre-production process for the new CD]," Langevin said. "He wanted us to complete the album as a tribute to him."

Only two months ago, D'Amour was in the studio working on VOIVOD's 14th album. More than two dozen tracks are believed to have been demoed for the CD. However, the band were forced to put studio work on hold while bassist Jason Newsted (ex-METALLICA) was treated for tendonitis.

In a recent interview with Billboard.com, Newsted spoke about the material slated to appear on the group's next CD. "It's the most complete demos I've ever been involved in," he said. "[VOIVOD singer] Snake has already chosen his effects — exact timing of milliseconds for delay. We've had a long time to develop the demos, so there's about 23 or 25 songs that are absolutely listenable right now."

VOIVOD will be issuing their first DVD in October covering the band's original lineup period (1983-1991). Scheduled for release on October 25 via Music Video Distributors, "DVOD-1" features all the '80s videos, plus rare live and studio performances of classic VOIVOD songs. The band are also tentatively planning on releasing two more DVDs during the coming months. "DVOD-2" will contain footage shot during the Eric Forrest era of the band, while "DVOD-3" will cover the band's most recent lineup, including Newsted (a.k.a. Jasonic).

This past spring, D'Amour laid down guitar tracks for a reunion CD from the legendary AUT'CHOSE, a '70s band from Montreal. That album, "Chansons D'épouvante", was released in May via Disques Artic.
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~ THE LEGION: Studio Update ~
Swedish black/death metallers THE LEGION, featuring current MARDUK drummer Emil Dragutinovic, have posted the following message on their official web site:

"The progress of our new album is coming along fine and we're in the middle of recording the last parts. The vocals on this recording are being done, mainly by bassist Lars [bass] and some additional parts by Emil and David [guitar]. We are still not certain who's going to handle the vocals in the future so if you're interested in trying out for us, please send us a mail with some kind of sample where we can hear you scream."

To facilitate the vocalist-search process, THE LEGION have made available a pre-production sample of a new song called "Virtue of Sin". "On this teaser, which was recorded in our rehearsal room, the vocals are executed by Lars and David," the band write. "[Keep] in mind that this is not representative for the final outcome of the upcoming album."

THE LEGION's debut album, "Unseen To Creation", was released in October 2003 through France's Listenable Records. The CD, which was recorded at Abyss Studios with producer Tommy Tägtgren, features "ten songs of complex and eclectic black/death metal, ranging in style from MORBID ANGEL to SETHERIAL." The cover art was done by Kris Verwimp, who has previously worked with MARDUK, ABSU, VELONNIC SIN, and IMMORTAL, among others.
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~ DESTRUCTION Frontman: PIGGY 'Will Stay In My Metal Heart Forever' ~
DESTRUCTION bassist/vocalist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer has issued the following statement regarding the passing of VOIVOD guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour:

"I feel really sad, empty and distraught about the too early loss of VOIVOD guitar player Denis 'Piggy' D'Amour!

"Another pioneer of metal has left the stage but the legend of Piggy will live forever!

"He was one of the most down-to-earth guys I've ever meet in the music business. He'll stay in my metal heart forever, that's for sure!

"I'm speechless, hard to describe my feelings with some useless words!

"Our very first American show was at the World War III festival in Montreal 1985 together with VOIVOD. I'll never forget those days, we had some great parties together!

"He was one of a kind! A honest personality in a scene where others built their sucess on fake image and scandals!

"R.I.P., Piggy! Brother, initiator, personage — you have set a shining example for many of us!

"Our next shows will be to your dedication, bro, and to the ones of the great VOIVOD!"
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antinome666 on 09.08.05 @ 02:05 AM PST [link]

Blackmetal.com News Blog

LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG (Hammers of Misfortune, Ludicra) "Atavism" VINYL LP

BLACK WIDOW NEW RELEASES & RESTOCKS! RARE ITALIAN IMPORTS!

RARE IMPORTS FROM ITALY - LIMITED QUANTITES - HURRY!

NEW ARRIVALS & RESTOCKS SEPTEMBER 26, 2005

THE RETURN OF DANA DUFFEY CLAYTON'S DEMONIC CHRIST!

NATTEFROST, HORNA, TAAKE, NEGURA BUNGET +MORE!

NEW NSBM IMPORT CDs FROM EWIGES EIS, GERMANY

LUCIFUGUM, NECROCULTUS, BLACK CIRCLE, CHASM +MORE!

METAL NEWS (weeks 35 and 36)

MASSEMORD, SAPTHURAN, BREATH OF SORROWS

BLASPHEMER, DEVASTATOR, HUGI, LUGER, OPEN GRAVE

New EIKENSKADEN CD on BLACKMETAL.COM Record label!

September 2005
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