After an exciting and busy start to 2013, Progressive Metallers Scythia are heading out on the Western Canadian Tour “Waking From Hibernation Tour” which is starting on 18th April.

This year started out with a bang and only keeps getting better with Scythia nominated for best metal group / duo at the 13th Annual Canadian Independent Music Awards – “The SiriusXM Indies”. Even though Devin Townsend won the award the band was honored to even be nominated with such amazing and high profile artists. The good news does not stop there!

Scythia just completed their IndieGogo Campaign to raise money for their upcoming fantasy music video “Bear Claw Tavern” with renowned director Richard Olak (The Battle of Burgledorf and It Haunts Me). With a goal of $2100 Canadian Dollars, Scythia surpassed it by hitting a total of $2645. The money will be going towards filming the video, costumes, CGI and to make Scythia's music come alive.  

“We would like to thank everyone who promoted our campaign and especially a special thank you to those who donated - no matter how much or how little. Scythia can’t wait to create this imaginative video and share it with our fans and followers. As a band we are so very thankful for all the positive things happening and most of all the support that so many have given us! Can’t wait to see some of our fans, both familiar and new, in person on our upcoming tour!“

Until then Scythia hits the road across mountains and plains to perform for their fans in a Western Canadian Tour  starting at Filthy McNasty's in Edmonton, AB with dates all across British Columbia and Alberta.  Fans can follow the band while on tour on facebook – Who knows what will happen!

18.04 - Edmonton, AB - Filthy McNasty's
19.04 - Vancouver, BC - Funky Winkerbeans
20.04 - Maple Ridge, BC - Sniper's Pool Hall
21.04 - Kamloops, BC - Bailey's (Jam Night)
22.04 - Vernon, BC - The Green
23.04 - Calgary, AB - Dicken's Pub
24.04 - Edmonton, AB - DV8
25.04 - Devon, AB - The Legion
27.04 - Lethbridge, AB - U of L Ballroom

When Scythia return from their tour they will be off to make their music video “Bear Claw Tavern” and work on their next album! 

http://www.scythia.ca/
https://www.facebook.com/scythiametal
http://scythia.bandcamp.com/
https://twitter.com/scythiametal
http://www.youtube.com/scythiaband

Karhu have just announced their 2013 tour, a string of 17 dates will see them performing across the UK from 10th to 26th May. London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Sheffield, Bristol and Gloucester are just a few of the UK cities and towns that will be experiencing 'The Karhu Groove'.

Following on from the enthusiastic reception of their 2012 tour, the band have changed the management team and gone full steam ahead into the tasks of band promotion. The first album "Survival of the Richest" has been polished up with improved vocal and guitar parts, remixed and mastered, with a DVD including a couple of bonus tracks and a documentary to accompany the CD.

The UK element of the band which now includes Hampshire based Jake Archer is rehearsing through March and April. Finnish guitarist and growling vocal, Osku Kinnunen, flies in the week before the tour to polish up the performance.

Karhu's Manager 'The Glove' wants to:

"Thank all the Promoters and Agents that have been involved in the setting up of the 'Reality 2.0 Tour 2013'. Due to the costs involved in flying Osku in from Finland, the band has not been able to make use of the Battle of the Bands route to recognition within the British Metal Music Industry. We are grateful that some of the UK's Promoters have taken a chance on Karhu and given the band a fantastic opportunity to play to the Metal Heads of this great Island."

The band have also put together their own record label 'The Karhu Groove Ltd' and a sister company 'Great Bear Promotions Ltd' for the touring side of the business. Joseph Parry, clean vocalist and guitar, said "The response from the fans is one of pure enthusiasm. We had a great time touring in 2012 and aim to take the band and it's music to anywhere the fans want it."

Various bands will be joining the shows including, Tyrant, Disfracture, Headstone Down, Forbear and Italian hard rock Easter Before Christmas will be teaming up for a couple of dates, to name a few.

The gig will be streamed live from the Snooty Fox on the 22nd May, check out http://www.snootyfoxlive.com/

http://www.facebook.com/TheKarhuGroove
http://www.thekarhugroove.com/tour.html
http://greatbearpromos.com/KarhuMay.html

_Swedish guitar sensation “Stefan Lindholm” of Vindictiv and Raven Lord joins the ranks with VGS Guitars. Stefan uses the VGS E-Gitarre Pro Series Screech – Model “VG507.305 Faded Transparent Black”

Stefan says: “I’m very happy to be part of the VGS family and I wish to thank VGS for granting me the privilege to play this axe.”

Swedish Melodic / Progressive metaller Vindictiv and multi national metaller Raven Lord are currently in the studio to record new albums.

Stefan Lindholm was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1973 and picked up the guitar at the age of 15 after his father bought him his first electric guitar, which incidentally was the well known and highly appreciated: “Emperador Strat” from the Kasuga Factory in Japan, which he played through a Squire 15-watt amplifier to his neighbourghs cheerful delight. After two years of intensive playing, he took private tutoring from guitarist Mike Wead, known for his involvement with bands such as: “Candlemass”, “The Haunted”, “King Diamond”, “Momento Mori” and “Hexenhaus”.

Stefan Lindholm is also endorsed by “Manne Guitars” and “Hughes & Kettner AMPS”.

www.stefanlindholm.net
www.vindictiv.com
www.raven-lord.com
www.vgs-guitars.com

_Chilean metallers Six Magics have renewed their deal with Coroner Records for the release of their brand new album "Falling Angels" scheduled for release on July 2nd 2012.

The female fronted quintet presents a new long and intense chapter of classic heavy metal mixed with epic, symphonic, power and progressive influences, for an over 60 minutes trip into Six Magics' world.

The cover artwork was created by Machine Room Deisgn (My Dying Bride, Dawn of Ashes, Dope Stars Inc. and more).

Track List

1. Another Name
2. Falling Angels
3. Rolled
4. Dreamer (B:O:M)
5. Do You Remember?
6. Sick & Tired
7. Icy Lips
8. Start Another War
9. Suicide
10. Why
11. Binsfeld
12. How To Live
13. I Know

The live video of "Another Name" can be seen here

_Progressive metalcore outfit, A Hero A Fake takes fans inside the studio for a sneak peak of their recording process for, 'The Future Again', which releases on July 17, 2012. This album was recorded by Jamie King (Between The Buried and Me, Wretched), who also recorded their two previous Victory Records releases, 'Volatile' (2008) and 'Let Oceans Lie' (2010). Cameron Mizell completed the mixing and Joey Sturgis did the mastering.

The band will be on tour this summer and throughout the year. Pre-order packages for 'The Future Again' are available through the Victory Records Webstore.

BAND LINE-UP

Justin Brown, Vocals
Eric Morgan, Guitar
Patrick Jeffers, Guitar
Chris Rosser, Bass
Evan Kirkley, Drums

Watch the studio footage here.

British Progressive Black / Death metallers De Profundis will be supporting Marduk & Immolation on their forthcoming European and UK tour in September / October 2012. This will be the band's third European tour, having previously toured with the likes of Ragnarok, Rotting Christ & Omnium Gatherum.

The band will also be performing at this year’s RockHarz festival in Ballenstedt, Germany taking place on 12-14 July.  

Band Line-Up

Craig Land – Vocals
Roman Subbotin – Guitar Shoi Sen – Guitar
Arran McSporran - Fretless Bass
Nick Tingle - Drums

www.deprofundistheband.com
www.kolonyrecords.com

French Metal maestro's Betraying The Martyrs comment on their upcoming North American tours: "We're extremely happy and proud to announce that were going to be the very first French band ever to play The Rockstar Mayhem Festival, in July, all over the USA, along with legendary bands such Slipknot, Motörhead, Slayer, Anthrax, As I Lay Dying, The Devil Wears Prada and more... All those bands influenced us since we started listening to metal. It's a huge privilege for us and we're working hard in order to represent the French metal scene the best we can!"  

We'll also stay in the US in August to play the All Stars Tour with prestigious acts such as Suicide Silence, The word Alive, Unearth, Winds of plague... A very hype tour all over USA that we're super stoked to do! The band have also announced a show in Paris on September 28th at La Boule Noire  where the band will play their latest album 'Breathe in Life' in its entirety.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL

Jun 30 San Manuel Amphitheater San Bernardino, CA

Jul 01 Shoreline Amphitheatre Mountain View, CA
Jul 03 White River Amphitheatre Auburn, WA
Jul 04 Idaho Center Amphitheatre Nampa, ID
Jul 06 Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion Phoenix, AZ
Jul 07 Hard Rock Casino Albuquerque Presents The Pavilion Albuquerque, NM
Jul 08 Comfort Dental Amphitheatre Englewood, CO
Jul 10 Gexa Energy Pavilion Dallas, TX
Jul 11 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion The Woodlands, TX
Jul 13 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre Tampa, FL
Jul 14 Aaron's Amphitheater at Lakewood Atlanta, GA
Jul 15 Klipsch Music Center Noblesville, IN
Jul 17 Sandstone Amphitheatre Bonner Springs, KS
Jul 18 Zoo Amphitheatre Oklahoma City, OK
Jul 20 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Maryland Heights, MO
Jul 21 First Midwest Bank Ampitheatre Tinley Park, IL
Jul 22 DTE Energy Music Theatre Clarkston, MI
Jul 24 Riverbend Music Center Cincinnati, OH
Jul 25 Blossom Music Center Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Jul 27 Susquehanna Bank Center Camden, NJ
Jul 28 First Niagara Pavilion Burgettstown, PA
Jul 29 Jiffy Lube Live Bristow, VA
Jul 31 Saratoga Performing Arts Center Saratoga Springs, NY

Aug 03 Comcast Center Mansfield, MA
Aug 04 Toyota Pavilion Scranton, PA
Aug 05 The Comcast Theatre Hartford, CT
   
www.myspace.com/betrayingthemartyrs
www.facebook.com/WeAreBetrayingTheMartyrs

Metal Blade Records is thrilled to announce the signing of German Progressive Death Metallers Over Your Threshold.

Arising from Munich, Germany Over Your Threshold began playing live in 2007. After numerous gigs with renowned Death Metal acts like Obscura, Deadborn and Hokum, the band made a name for itself in the local metal-scene.

The first record, "Progress In Disbelief EP", was self-released in 2008. Over the years the band's concept of Death Metal gained ground and its actual sound is enriched with a great diversity of musical elements. Influenced by different Death Metal bands (reaching from the 80's up to now) Over Your Threshold's _music combines progressive Death Metal with a bit of Thrash and some fusion components.

In 2011, the band entered the Woodshed Studio in Landshut, Germany to record their first full-length album, entitled "Facticity". The sound of the album is not only more blasting but also more technical, interspersed with energetic Death Metal riffing as well as melodic acoustic guitars. It's enriched by brute-force blast beats, Thrash Metal, jazzy harmonics and the distinct tones of smooth, fretless bass. Furthermore, the band recruited guest musicians Steffen Kummerer (Obscura, Thulcandra) and Jonas Fischer (Hokum, Ex-Obscura) to jazz up their debut album.

Ther band comments on the deal with Metal Blade Records: "Metal Blade Records ranges among the highest renowned labels for extreme metal music and we are very glad about the possibility to release our upcoming debut album 'Facticity' via such a strong partner. We are looking forward to work with Metal Blade and the future development!"

"Facticity" will be released August 27th via Metal Blade Records in the UK.

OVER YOUR THRESHOLD is:

Ludwig Walter – vocals
Lukas Spielberger – guitars
Kilian Lau – guitars
Christian Siegmund – bass
Julian Matejka – drums

Catch OVER YOUR THRESHOLD live at the following events: 
16/06/12 – DE – München – 103er Freizeittreff Obergiesing
01/09/12 – DE – Laberweinting – Fistful Of Metal 2012
19/10/12 – DE – Landshut – Poschinger Villa
02/11/12 – DE – Ingolstadt - Ohrakel

http://www.overyourthreshold.de/
http://www.facebook.com/overyourthreshold
http://www.youtube.com/OYTofficial
http://twitter.com/OYTofficial
http://www.reverbnation.com/overyourthreshold
http://www.myspace.com/overyourthreshold

_Internationally-based Symphonic gothic proggers Stream of Passion have been confirmed to headline  the night of Sunday 27th during the Fused Festival 2012 held at Lydney Town Hall, Gloucestershire from 25th to 27th May 2012.

They are joined over the weekend by the likes of Subsignal, Concrete Lake, Leprous, Manticora, Effloresce, Awake, Exoterik, Andromeda, 69 Chambers, Lost In Thought and Order Of Voices.
 
For more info and tickets: www.fusedfestival.com

'Darker Days' is out now via Napalm Records and can be bought here