There are your standard heavy metal festivals – and there is 70000TONS OF METAL. Just imagine: You’ve just returned from a beautiful island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean after spending hours enjoying the sun and white sand on a wonderful Caribbean beach. Feeling the warm wind blowing in your face, you are now sitting in a hot tub on a giant cruise ship, up close to a large stage, headbanging to your favourite band. You are watching from one of six whirlpools with a direct view of the stage on the pool deck, which is the biggest open air stage structure to sail the seas. It’s loud. It’s full of metalheads from all over the world. Sounds perfect? Well, it is ......

It’s been more than a week now since most fans have returned home from a more than successful 70000TONS OF METAL 2018 - round 8, more than a few of them still suffering from a serious case of PCD (post cruise depression) following four incredible days on board the Independence Of The Seas. More than 3,000 metalheads boarded the ship together with 61 bands, each of which was going to perform at least two shows (124 shows on 4 stages in total) during this unique event at sea. Some fans spent the shore day in Turks and Caicos with their favourite band during one of the various artist-led shore excursions. Picture yourself swimming with Meshuggah in the awe inspiring presence of majestic stingrays, or snorkeling with Aborted and Exhumed by your side to make you feel safe. Wolves on a safari? Sure, go on a coast-to-coast island tour with Wolfchant!

On top came the one of a kind All-Star performance “Jamming With Waters in International Waters” featuring members e.g. from Kreator, Sabaton, Cannibal Corpse, Destruction, Sonata Arctica, Meshuggah, Enslaved, Primal Fear, Dark Tranquility, Voivod, Seven Spires and many more, playing all time heavy metal and hard rock classics together on stage for the first time ever.

And there was another premiere, a record rather, that no one expected to be broken after last year’s peak of 74 different nationalities represented on board: 2018 beat 2017 by one more nation and proved once again that 70000TONS OF METAL is the most global cruise, uniting 75 nations on board this year. Germany, USA and Canada were among the top five of the most represented nations aboard. The youngest sailor was only 1 year old, the oldest turned 79 on the ship.

Coming up: Round 9

So watch out, Sailors: After the cruise is before the cruise. Fans can already look forward to round 9 of 70000TONS OF METAL, THE original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise sailing from Miami/Ft. Lauderdale to Labadee, Haiti and back, January 31 – February 4, 2019.

Marko Cipaktli (Drums / Harsh vocals)
Pat Cuikani (Vocals / Ocarinas)
Paul Belmar (Guitar)
Nakuset Gould (Bass)
Alex Navarro (Guitar)

Mexican symphonic folk metallers Cabrakaän will be hitting the road with Quebec's Valfreya and Alberta's Forsaken Rite for this year's "March Of The Frozen Western Canadian Tour". The tour will see the Mexican transplants whom now call Canada home and residing in Calgary, AB perform in three provinces during the month of February. During the tour, Cabrakaän will showcase new tracks from their upcoming 2018 full length "Cem Anahuac" due out in spring 2018 to follow their 2014 debut EP "Songs From Anahuac". 

Staying true to their roots, Cabrakaän's music combines elements of metal orchestrated with Mexican folklore along with a wide variety of instruments such as strings, acoustic guitars, Jarocha harp, marimba, ocarinas, Huehuetl, and Teponaztle. Their lyrics are in English, Spanish, Zapoteco, Nahuatl and other ancient Mexican languages. The band's name is based on a character from the Mayan sacred book known as the Popol Vuh, where Cabrakaän was the god of mountains and earthquakes. 

     "We are proud our roots and our culture and we want to share it with the world through our music. When we are on stage, we try to give our fans a great experience by creating an atmosphere from the time of the Aztecs, using costumes and make up. The purpose of our sets too is to give fans more of our culture visually and musically so they can connect with us and enjoy the performance even more." says drummer Marko Cipaktli.

Tour Dates:

Feb 15 - Kelowna, BC - Muninn's Post - info
Feb 16 - Calgary, AB - Distortion - info
Feb 17 - Edmonton, AB - The Forge On Whyte - info
Feb 18 - Regina, SK - Cloud 9 - info

Cabrakaän was formed in Toluca, Mexico in 2012 and have been calling Canada home since first performing in the country at the 2017 Metalocalypstick fest in Lone Butte, BC where the beauty of the North won them over and encouraged them make the grand decision to relocate.Their debut EP "Songs From Anahuac" was unleashed in 2014 and displayed a mix of death, folk, and symphonic European influences with Prehispanic instruments along with storytelling of Mesoamerican mythologies (Aztec, Mayan, Tlaxcaltecan, Olmecan) plus Mexican folklore such as La llorona, La Bruja, Day of The Dead.

Wasting no time in Canada, Cabrakaän are currently completing production on their follow up full length album entitled "Cem Anahuac" set for release in spring 2018. The album will be an expression of pride for their roots, history and traditions along with their love for metal and traditional music from their home country of Mexico.

http://www.facebook.com/cabrakaan  
http://www.twitter.com/cabrakaan 
http://www.youtube.com/cabrakaan  

Mexican metal hardcore group, Thell Barrio, embark on their “I Want You In The Pit”, (Eye for an Eye) European summer tour from 6th July to 9th August. This is a massive 28 concert trek, covering over 10 European countries which gives a great opportunity for fans of the unique Latin influenced band to see their heroes in the flesh.

Thell Barrio, was formed in late 2005 with the basic idea to make the voices of those who have always been oppressed by every kind and form of power and have their chance to say what they felt. They also grew-up in the neighbourhoods of Mexico, where all kinds of problems are experienced. So with an idea and a firm conviction that “once starting there was no turning back”, the band was originally formed. Thell Barrio play what they call Latin Core, a hybrid of their diverse influences. It’s an exciting mix of metal, hardcore, hip hop and Latin rhythms. Don’t miss it!

Thell Barrio are:
Gallero – Vocals | El Patron – Guitar | El Charro – Guitar | Marlon – Drums | El Chicano – Bass | Solin – Percussions

Band links: Official Website | Facebook | Youtube

Tour dates:

06.07 – Novi Sad, BE | Exit Festival 2017
07.07 – Postojna, SL | Trnje Fest 2017
08.07 – Carpi, IT | TSC Skatepark Carpi
09.07 – Ajdovščina, SL | Klub Baza Ajdovščina
11.07 – Banska Brystica, SK | Tartaros Rock Rock
12.07 – Danube, HU | Rockmaraton Fesztivál
13.07 – Chodov, CZ | Oáza

14.07 – Leipzig, DE | Tractor
16.07 – Freiburg, DE | White Rabbit Club
18.07 – Břeclav, CZ | Market Music Bar
19.07 – Bratislava, SK | British Rock Stars
20.07 – Velke Míeziříč, CZ | FAJTFEST
21.07 – Pobershau, DE | Rock Auf Dem Berg
22.07 – Ostrava, CZ | Barrák Music Club

23.07 – Prague, CZ | Musicclub Modrá Vopice
25.07 – Milan, IT | Blue Rose Club
26.07 – Montpellier, FR | Secret Place (Home Of Underground Rock)
27.07 – Barcelona, ES | TBA
28.07 – Bienne, CH | Eldorado Bar
29.07 – Namur, BE | Belvedere
30.07 – Rotterdam, NL | De Baroeg

31.07 – Volmerage Mines, FR | No Man’s Land
01.08 – Strasbourg, FR | Mudd Club
02.08 – Dresden, DE | Konk KLUB
03.08 – Jirkov, CZ | Rock Klub U Kanára
04.08 – Budapest, HU | Dürer Kert
05.08 – Castle old beauty, CZ | Skull Fest Open Air
06.08 – Marburg, DE | Szenario

UK’s Grindcore pioneers Napalm Death never slow down and are excited to announce a next headlining run across European together with Brujeria and Power Trip for April/May under the very suitable banner "Campaign For Musical Destruction”.
 
Napalm Death’s Mark 'Barney' Greenway checked in with the following comment: “It's been absurdly long since we did anything resembling a proper European tour. To make up for it, it's nice then that we can bring along a box of crazies like Brujeria - certainly not run-of-the-mill. And Power Trip are, like, the good bits of that crossover thing from back in the day. And for our part we'll be digging out a few sweet treats from the annals of Napalm Death. We are officially as excited as small children.”
 
Here is a list of all upcoming dates for Napalm Death:
 
Napalm Death , “Campaign For Music Destruction” Europe Tour w/ Brujeria, Power Trip

25.04. Copenhagen (Denmark) – Amager Bio
26.04. Gothenburg (Sweden) – Pustervik
27.04. Stockholm (Sweden) – Kraken STHLM
28.04. Flensburg (Germany) – Roxy
29.04. Magdeburg (Germany) – Factory
30.04. Haarlem (The Netherlands) – Patronaat
01.05. Köln (Germany) – Underground

02.05. Berlin (Germany) – SO36
04.05. Krakow (Poland) – Kwadrat Klub
05.05. Brno (Czech Republic) – Klub Fléda
06.05. Kassel (Germany) – K19
07.05. Saarbrücken (Germany) – Garage
09.05. Birmingham (UK) – O2 Institute
10.05. Glasgow (UK) – Classic Grand

11.05. Manchester (UK) – Rebellion
12.05. London (UK) – The Electric Ballroom
13.05. Paris (France) – Le Glazart
14.05. Antwerpen (Belgium) – Zappa
16.05. Six-Fours-Les-Plages (France) – Espace André Malraux
17.05. Geneva (Switzerland) – L'Usine
18.05. Bologna (Italy) – Zona Roveri
19.05. Karlsruhe (Germany) – NCO Club
20.05. München (Germany) – Backstage
21.05. Eindhoven (The Netherlands) – Effenaar
 

Other NAPALM DEATH tour dates 2017

17.03. Limerick (Ireland) – Dolans Warehouse
18.03. Dublin (Ireland) – Voodoo Lounge
19.03. Belfast (Northern Ireland) – Limelight 2
24.03. Haven (UK) – Hammerfest
31.03. Moita/Lisboa (Portugal) – Moita Metal Fest
08.04. Erica (The Netherlands) – Pitfest
10.04. Kiev (Ukraine) – Monte Ray

11.04. Vilnius (Lithuania) – Legendos Club
12.04. Riga (Latvia) – Melna Piektdiena
13.04. Tallin (Estonia) – Club Tapper
14.04. St. Petersburg (Russia) – Opera Club
15.04. Kaliningrad (Russia) – Yalta Club
16.04. Moscow (Russia) – Volta Club

17.04. Yekaterinburg (Russia) – TeleClub
19.04. Tbilisi (Georgia) – Night Office
20.04. Erevan (Armenia) – Vitamin Club
07.07. Viveiro (Spain) – Resurrection Fest
03.08. Wacken (Germany) – Wacken Open Air

http://www.napalmdeath.org
http://www.facebook.com/officialnapalmdeath
https://twitter.com/officialND

Today, San Diego deathgrind unit Cattle Decapitation will head back out on the road for a nine-date North American headlining tour before joining Mexico's Brujeria for a trek across the US in October. The entire stretch will run from September 22nd through October 21st and includes support from Eternal Sleep and Piñata Protest on select dates. See all confirmed dates below.


9/22/2016 The Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM
9/23/2016 Sidewinder - Austin, TX
9/24/2016 18th Street Pier Bar And Grill (BTDF TXDM Assembly) - San Leon, TX
9/25/2016 The Rail Club - Fort Worth, TX
9/26/2016 Pop's - Sauget, IL w/ Eternal Sleep
9/27/2016 5th Quarter - Indianapolis, IN w/ Eternal Sleep
9/28/2016 The Token Lounge - Westland, MI w/ Eternal Sleep
9/29/2016 Montage Music Hall - Rochester, NY w/ Eternal Sleep
9/30/2016 Sneaky Dee's - Toronto, ON w/ Eternal Sleep


w/ Brujeria, Piñata Protest:

10/01/2016  Soundstage - Baltimore, MD
10/02/2016  Brighton Music Hall - Boston, MA
10/03/2016  Gramercy Theatre - New York, NY
10/04/2016  Voltage - Philadelphia, PA
10/06/2016  Agora Ballroom - Cleveland, OH
10/07/2016  Reggie's-  Chicago, IL
10/08/2016  Cabooze - Minneapolis, MN

10/09/2016  Riot Room - Kansas City, MO
10/10/2016  Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
10/12/2016  Studio Seven - Seattle, WA
10/13/2016  Hawthorne Theater - Portland, OR
10/17/2016  The Roxy - Los Angeles, CA
10/18/2016  Brick By Brick - San Diego, CA
10/19/2016 Club Red - Phoenix, AZ
10/20/2016 LVCS - Las Vegas, NV
10/21/2016 Strummers - Fresno, CA


Cattle Decapitation will be touring in support of their seventh full-length, The Anthropocene Extinction. Hailed as, "another stroke of genius by one of the best heavy bands of all time" by Exclaim, "the best Cattle Decapitation album so far," by Metal Injection, and, "a furious blast of noise that takes absolutely no prisoners. It not only pounds its listeners into pulp, it also seems to be pounding its own concept of music as well," by No Clean Singing, The Anthropocene Extinction is the most sonically and thematically engrossing record of Cattle Decapitation's maniacal discography. For their efforts, the album landed at #41 on the Top 200 Current Albums Chart, in addition to earning Album Of The Year accolades from Loudwire.com, MetalSucks.net, and MetalInjection.net, among many others.

To preview and purchase the acclaimed The Anthropocene Extinction, visit: metalblade.com/cattledecapitation.
 

http://www.facebook.com/cattledecapitation
http://twitter.com/cattledecap
http://www.youtube.com/officialcattledecap