 Hot off the heels of their critically acclaimed debut demo, Englaryk, Iceland's Endalok strike again - and quickly - with their debut mini-album, Úr Draumheimi Viðurstyggðar, set for international release on January 20th, 2017 via Signal Rex. While they still may bear some of the same immersive traits as their established countrymen, Endalok here present a bold assertion of their own, unique identity. Across its 24-minute runtime, the five tracks that comprise Úr Draumheimi Viðurstyggðar explode with a weirder, wilder, and more winding distillation of everything that made Englaryk so immediately engrossing - and entrancing. Within its sound-world, Endalok dwell within a ritualistic sort of womb that hauntingly gestates, pulsing with a distant-yet-overwhelming cadence that subtly shape-shifts. It's a similarly shadowy dance as Englaryk - that sense of slow-motion vertigo, as different beyond-the-shade textures come into focus, only to wither away again - but given grim, hideous purpose as the band's confidence in their vision grows. Still young, Endalok are weaving sorcery like masters on Úr Draumheimi Viðurstyggðar. As a bonus on the vinyl edition, the B-side will feature the entire Englaryk demo. In the meantime, hear the opening track to Úr Draumheimi Viðurstyggðar, "Afskræming holds og sálar," exclusively HERE. Cover and track-listing are as follows:
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 US black metallers Orationem (pronounced Oh-Ray-Shun-Em) have released their fourth full-length "Your Presence and Strength" through Vision of God Records. Featuring seven tracks of harsh black metal with symphonic attacks and lyrics from Christian prayers, it has a total running time of 48 minutes, this new release can be purchased at orationem.com and visionofgodrecords.com. The album will also be available for streaming on the band's official YouTube channel.  After cracking the one million views mark on YouTube with their video for “Eye Of Chaos”, the first single to be taken from their upcoming sophomore album "Evolution", Once Human release their new single “Gravity” today. The video, directed by Ron Thunderwood, can be viewed on earMUSIC’s official YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/KOvAP_Hd7xg “Gravity” is available as iTunes Instant Grat as part of the pre-order of their new album “Evolution” and on all streaming platforms. “Evolution” is to be released on February 10th, 2017 via earMUSIC. Evolution is not just the title of Once Human’s sophomore release, it’s an armour-plated declaration. Having made waves with their 2015 debut, The Life I Remember, the band have dramatically progressed beyond the melodic death metal sound of that release into something more complex, emotional, distinct, and devastatingly heavy. “Having been focused on recording, producing and developing bands, I had not picked up the guitar out of passion for twelve years but as soon as I started writing with Lauren (Hart, vocals) I fell in love with what we were making, and I wanted to play in the band and get back on stage,” states guitarist Logan Mader, whose name will be familiar to metalheads not only for his production and/or mixing work on records from the likes of Gojira, Fear Factory and DevilDriver, but also as the original guitarist in Machine Head, and his late 90s stint in Soulfly. With the line-up rounded out by drummer Dillon Trollope, bassist Damien Rainaud and guitarists Skyler Howren and recent recruit Max Karon, everything about Evolution makes it clear that this is a band pushing itself to deliver something that truly stands apart. “Our first record was getting the ball rolling, but now it’s as if we’re a totally different band. We really found our sound and our identity, it’s quite unique and I think what we’re doing is really on fire.” With the intensity and range of Hart’s roar having drastically increased, she unleashes it across complex and constantly shifting time signatures, and thick, contorted riffs that land with sledgehammer force. However, this is not only about bludgeoning the listener into submission, the violence often juxtaposed with eerie atmospherics and dark melodies to create something with great depth.
 Hungarian female fronted metallers Ann My Guard have signed a record deal with German based label Rock'N'Growl Records. The band's forthcoming second album 'Ourania' to be released worldwide as CD and digital on January 13, 2017. Singer Eszter Anna Baumann says: "It's a great honour to be a part of Rock'N'Growl Records. Our album couldn't be in better hands than Axel's. I've been following his company/label for many years and I know that he's very professional in managing and promoting his bands. I am sure that our collaboration will help Ann my Guard to reach more fans internationally. This is a huge step for the band and we are really excited about the future." Axel of Rock'N'Growl adds: "We are proud to welcome Ann My Guard to the Rock'N'Growl family! This band is really dedicated and hard working. That's what it makes to get them on our roster."
About Ourania: "I wanted to make a record that fully represents what Ann my Guard is: I really like mixing the ethereal feminine vocals with heavy guitar riffs and dark melodies. I like contrasts. Moreover, I love to use mythical metaphors: while on the debut record, Innocence Descent I used the Moon representing the maturing of a woman, by Ourania I expressed more universal themes. As the lyrics of Asteria say: I just want to elevate you, underneath my starlit sky, I'll be set free... The aim of rock music for me is to elevate the listeners into another dimensions, not to pull them down. I think that's what we all need from music nowadays, right?" The album was produced by Gabor Vari, at Black Hole Sound Studio. Ann My Guard is: Eszter Anna Baumann (vocals, bass) Krisztián Varga (guitars) Benjamin Bárkányi (guitars) Norbert Tobola (drums) Ann My Guard was formed in 2007 by singer-bassist Eszter Anna Baumann. Their first EP, Cinderella’s syndrome was released in 2010. The second song from the EP, ‘Gone’, was featured on an US promotional sampler ‘Kill City series‘. Their popularity in Hungary was fast grown by the broadcasting of a report within the Hungarian X Factor, in which Ann My Guard‘s lead singer Anna had been invited to introduce the band. In the summer of 2011 they recorded their second EP: Doll Metal with rock producer Zoltan Varga at Supersize Recordings. Ann My Guard‘s first album Innocence Descent was released in April 2014 produced by Gabor Vari at Black Hole Sound. Beginning 2015 they started to work with UK-based indie label Shamanize Records. After additional mixing by Dark Moon Audio in the UK the album got mastered by Pete Maher for Shamanize Records. Ann my Guard was touring almost two months in Europe promoting the debut album. The second album entitled Ourania will be out due on January 13, 2017 via Rock'N'Growl Records. www.facebook.com/annmyguard  As A Conceit is a five-piece progressive metalcore band based in Venice, Italy. It's 2016, and the band is back with a vengeance: after releasing their last single in 2015 the band huddled up into the studio to craft their debut full length, out December 2nd. "Boneheads" was the first track taken from "Frown Upon Us", and premiered via Lambgoat, followed by "Idle Hands", which saw Philip Strand of Normandie on guest vocals, via CaliberTV. Now, the band has teamed up with Prog Sphere to drop a third and final single, "Running Tired", which hooks in the listener right from the beginning, when vocalist Fabio screams to the audience "Can you face death in a life without purpose?". Stream it here. The quintet also shed some light on the concept of the track, and what it means to them: "The lyrics of 'Running Tired' are about the burden of life we all are carrying, dealing with the feeling of having lost all hopes and letting ourselves go down in a spiral of self-abandonment and detachment from this reality as we're living it, with a nihilist point of view based on the disillusion we get once we realize we exist without any superior purpose and that our lives are all going to end the same, no matter what we do or achieve during the span of our short existence.!" Coming from the north east of Italy, As A Conceit is a 5 piece Metalcore band based in Venice, Italy. Established in 2012 from the breakup of previous projects, As A Conceit released the single 'Live Up To The Hype' in early 2013, whilst sharing the stage with several bands around Italy. In late 2013 the first music video for the single 'Living Entities' hit the web, granting a wider acquaintance and laying the foundation for a more elaborate project. On June 2014, the band released an EP entitled 'Ebb / Flow', with an advanced and improved heavier and more emotional new sound, getting the opportunity to further spread the word about their music by sharing many stages with many bands. On March 2015 As A Conceit released a new single with a music video, 'Transient', an experimentation of the evolution of the band's new sound. In 2015 Q3 the band announced they started the writing process for their new album, scheduled to be released December 2, 2016. iTunes - Google Play - Amazon - Merch Follow As A Conceit On Facebook  'Y Proffwyd Dwyll’ the second album from Welsh doom crew Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard was released earlier this year just 9 months after their debut ‘Noeth Ac Anoeth. Once again produced by Chris (Conan) Fielding, it was without doubt a whopping great slab of heaviness. Those who’ve investigated beyond the name, have already discovered that both the band and their music are deadly serious, and though MWWB may share sonic alliances with likes of Conan, Windhand and Yob, the many who tuned into their debut have discovered that MWWB don’t stick to the usual tropes, and are a unique proposition, with a sound all their own. The guitars are down-tuned to ‘Z,’ the guitar tone is tar thick and the riffs massive and full of hooks ... of course. But with the soaring, angelic, multi textured vocals of Jessica Ball, MWWB have added an extra dimension to what’s considered doom. Not your normal melodramatic dark chanteuse here pilgrims, more like MWWB’s secret weapon, a vein of crystal in the rock. In fact it’s a combination, which sounds both startling and often beautiful. Like if Liz Fraser had fronted Kyuss or Sleep ... though that’s too simplistic a comparison. Now the band are set to tour the UK in February 2017 with fellow expansive doom enthusiasts OHHMS. Thursday, 9th February Club Ifor Bach - Cardiff* Saturday, 11th February, The Phoenix - Coventry Sunday,12th February, The Sanctuary - Basingstoke Monday, 13th February, The Cellar - Oxford Tuesday, 14th February, The Northumberland Arms - Newcastle* Wednesday, 15th February, The Stag & Hounds - Bristol Thursday, 16th February, The Anvil - Bournemouth Friday, 17th February, The Scene Club - Swansea Saturday, 18th February, Sticky Mike's Frog Bar - Brighton *Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard only http://www.newheavysounds.com/ https://mammothweedwizardbastard.bandcamp.com/  My Kingdom Music is extremely proud to announce the latest signing, the skilful, intense and delirious extreme metallers, 5rand! They signed a multi-album deal and "Sacred / Scared" debut of the band will see the light on February 2017. 5rand, headed by the talented, versatile and amazing Julia’s voice, without any doubt a great promise of the Italian Modern Metal movement, have decided that My Kingdom Music is the right home for their music. They will stand at the deep heart of each listener with the alienating extreme sound of their proposal in the best Arch Enemy, In Flames, Gojira tradition. "I'm really excited to be signing 5rand to My Kingdom Music" commented Julia. "We’ve put all ourselves in our album working very hard for months on it and at the end we are really satisfied of the final result. "Sacred / Scared" is not an album like others and we are sure the listeners will feel its pulsating energy and passion. We really think that the deal 5rand makes today with My Kingdom Music will be a significant step towards our quest to present people a different way to play Extreme Metal through originality, intensity and devotion!" The managerial and booking activity of the band will be followed by Rock On Agency and it confirms the high expectations 5rand have. Keep your eyes peeled for more news heading your way soon! www.mykingdommusic.net www.facebook.com/mykingdommusic.label www.facebook.com/5randofficial  Webzine Transcending Obscurity streams the entirety of Master of Cruelty's highly anticipated second album, Archaic Visions of the Underworld. Set for international release on November 25th, Blood Harvest Records will release the album on vinyl LP format. In 2012, Blood Harvest released the vinyl edition of this Paraguayan black/death cult's debut album, Spit on the Holy Grail, a rabid 'n' ripping assault of bestial, deathly Black / Thrash. Now, with Archaic Visions of the Underworld, Master of Cruelty have surpassed that shockingly strong debut. Stream it in its entirety exclusively HERE. Taking all the same elements that made Spit on the Holy Grail such a hot commodity with underground diehards - stutter 'n' surge battery, tortured-tonsil exhortations, and a ceaselessly swirling carnage of riff 'n' rhythm - and amplifying them further, Master of Cruelty render Archaic Visions of the Underworld a study in what makes death and black metal from South America so special, and so enduring. Like an unholy marriage of early Morbid Angel, Vulcano, and Chile's Pentagram, Archaic Visions of the Underworld explodes forth in a sulphurous haze of tangible evil and otherworldly vibration; it is both mercilessly violent and also equally atmospheric. And yet, through it all, Master of Cruelty never forget the metal aspect of the black / death cult, and command obeisance to possessed headbanging, claw-raising, and air-riffing. It's a wild ride into the very underworld itself. A statement from the band reads as thus: "Archaic Visions of the Underworld is deeply submerged in the unholy spine of Mantos, which represents what Master of Cruelty bleeds and kills for. Our sonic evil universe has been expanded into a much more profound, obscure atmosphere where restless violence and doomish paraphernalia shall always prevail. We invite only the sick demons of the underground to enter the realm of savage Paraguayan madness with the eight unedited tracks craving from the entity maestro de la crueldad." Deathrash Armageddon will handle the CD version while Warfukk Records will handle the tape version. Stream Archaic Visions of the Underworld in its entirety exclusively HERE, courtesy of Transcending Obscurity, as well as read an in-depth interview. Pre-order info can be found HERE. Cover and track-listing are as follows:
 Catalonian Black / Death cult Insulters premiere the new track "Bastard Soldiers" at Decibel magazine's website. The track hails from the band's highly anticipated second album, Metal Still Means Danger, set for international release on January 1st, 2017 as a joint release between Unholy Prophecies and Equinox Discos. Hear Insulters' "Bastard Soldiers" exclusively HERE. Aptly fucking titled, Metal Still Means Danger is a literal statement of intent from these rude 'n' crude Catalonian bastards. Unrepentantly ugly since the beginning (and to the bitter end, we'd wager), Insulters formed in 2008 with the apparent aim to defile and then destroy all in their path. A couple demos and a split came before they accomplished exactly that with their debut album, the also-aptly-titled We Are the Plague. Released in 2013 by Unholy Prophecies and Equinox Discos, We Are the Plague became something of a "sleeper hit" with those lucky few who heard it: Insulters offered a refreshingly ribald and gleefully gut-busting hybrid of Black / Thrash and old-school death metal, with a pinch of rock 'n' roll and even D-beat to be found. Now, with the imminent release of Metal Still Means Danger, Insulters are set to eclipse that feat and truly lead a crusade worth fighting for. Right from the very first second, Metal Still Means Danger explodes with an evil sort of excitement, where devilish joy in dangerous deeds collides head on with deathly serious intent and execution. From there, the hits just keep on coming, one galloping right after another, headbanging and hell-raising all but guaranteed. After all, how could you NOT want to raid & pillage with a band whose members include Nuclear Cummer, Bourbon Devastator, Blasphemic Vomitor, and Skeleton Grinder? It may sound absurd and over-the-top on paper, but give the album one minute of your time and you'll be possessed! Indeed, Metal Still Means Danger exudes tangible, terrible DANGER at every turn, and equally breathes the essence of fucking METAL through every gnarled note. It might have a catchiness that's absolutely addicting and may even be a bit "fun" if you allow it to, but the record is a red-hot weapon whose churn 'n' spurn simply cannot be denied. Putting the finishing touches on all this (fun) filth and fury is an absolutely devastating mix & mastering by Javi Felez at his Moontower Studios; he's the guitarist of Spain's cult Graveyard and Körgull the Exterminator, among others. Equally awesome is Metal Still Means Danger's packaging: the CD will be housed in a giant 7"-sized sleeve with four panels, with the CD itself completely black with an authentically vinyl look. A gatefold vinyl LP version will follow in January/February 2017. In the meantime, join Insulters in their crusade and sound off if you believe Metal Still Means Danger! The crusade continues HERE, courtesy of Decibel, North America's only monthly metal magazine. And the crusade began HERE with the revealing of the album's title track. Since 2013, Unholy Prophecies has been supporting unholy metal exclusively. Across a wide variety of formats, be it vinyl or CD or cassette tape, Unholy Prophecies is committed to delivering pure filth and ugliness, the underground way. Insulters' Metal Still Means Danger is the label's 16th release to date. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
 After Rudra, we have Ilemazuar from Singapore playing their own style of vicious Black / Death metal. Asian talent has long been overlooked but with their signing to a regional exclusive sub-label, Transcending Obscurity Asia, for their new album, Ilemauzar hope to spread their wings wider, especially in the Western world. The music is most reminiscent of Behemoth and their recent exploits, but the band have their own way of concocting music, invariably using their country's lineage as a form of influence. Hard-hitting, driven and memorable, 'The Ascension' paves the way for the band's much anticipated new album that's due next year.
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