So we now know who the winners of the GMA Awards 2021 were, but to wrap up the event in it's entirety and bid farewell to 2021 and usher in 2022, we must turn to the last bunch of awards - 'Metal Release By Country / Area'.

     Usually these would include the flag of the band's nation, but given the events in Afghanistan this year among other political turmoil, I felt it would be prudent to forgo any flags and just list the winners.... so without further ado here are the....

Slovenian black metal duo Snøgg embodies a perpetual experimental journey through the otherworldly creative thoughts. After a few Eastern European tours and EP releases, the duo has finally unleashed the debut album, Chhinnamasta, today on CD format. 

     "Chhinnamasta is forty-two minutes of time-devouring, mind-expanding experimental blackened post-metal that requires several deep listens to fully understand," comments Decibel Magazine on their advance full album stream feature. 

Ulv, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist and vocalist explains:

     "‘Chhinnamasta’ is the next step in ever evolving journey of Snøgg. This time our experiments took us into more post-metal sphere, while lyrics discuss the lust and power of modern human beings, their ability to overcome difficulties that they face on a regular basis, and the way they internalize self-restrictions to move forward. The title ‘Chinnamasta does not depict the story of the self-decapitated Hindu goddess, but we borrowed concepts from other religions and stories outside Hinduism to illustrate Chhinnamasta."

Stream Chhinnamasta in its full via Decibel Magazine RIGHT HERE

Crawled out of Velenje in the late 2013, Snøgg categorizes its style as “Freeride Black Metal” that incorporates various dark, extreme and unusual sonic elements. Each of the releases was followed by a supporting Eastern European tour. The band, led by Ulv and Mørke, has so far appeared in more than a total of 60 local and international concerts all together. Snøgg’s aesthetic live shows and records both feature guest members who partake in experimentation and improvisation on stage and studio. Every live performance of Snøgg differs from the previous shows, and not even two shows of the band can be placed under the same category.  

After churning out a demo and three short releases, the ever surprising Snøgg's debut full length, Chhinnamasta, is finally available. Replacing the previously used Norwegian black metal elements with more powerful, hammer-wielding riffs (in the vein of Ulv’s former band Entheogen), the duo bends mostly towards melody oriented post-black metal direction in this record. Nevertheless, Snøgg recycled its idiosyncratic weird noisescapes and dirty vibes form the previous releases.

The songwriting process of Chhinnamasta was originally begun around the time when Qivitoq (2ndEP) was released, but was interrupted due to the creation and the recording of Abeloth (3rd EP), so the songs had the time to develop in the minds of the band members. The recording crew got a little smaller this time, comprising only of Ulv, Mørke and Azbuka. This time, Rok Kugonič took the wand as the main producer.

Chinnamasta is the Hindu goddess who cut her own head to control her lust. The album does not include any original Hindu story about the self-decapitated nude goddess, merely portrays the band members’ vision of what Chhinnamasta represents, focusing on the problems of ever-repeating life circles that try to direct us on the wrong path by manipulating and enslaving us. However, the band borrowed ideas from other religions and stories outside Hinduism to illustrate Chhinnamasta.

Order: - https://snogg.bandcamp.com/album/chhinnamasta 

https://www.facebook.com/Snoggband

Finnish Folk Metal Superstars Korpiklaani don't seem to need any rest! After playing an extensive European tour with Turisas and Trollfest in support of their latest studio album 'Kulkija' ('Wanderer'), the band is about to kick off an 8-show Australian & New Zealand run (w/ Troldhaugen) tomorrow. But before the sextet continues their current touring cycle with a North American co-headline tour with their label mates in Eluveitie in September/October, Korpiklaani will perform a string of European festival gigs. In anticipation of these upcoming summer dates - starting at Metalfest Open Air, Pilsen (CZ) on June 2nd - the band has unleashed a brand new lyric video for the Czech version of their all-time favourite 'Beer Beer', which can also be found on the tour edition of 'Kulkija'. Check out 'Bír Bír' [ft. Fleret] over on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4drIAMzV7qg

Fleret comments:-

      "The cooperation with Korpiklaani on the Czech version of their hit song 'Beer Beer (Bír Bír)' convinced us that even folk metal superstars like them can be nice guys with stellar manners. Not only did they prove this during the rehearsal at the Masters Of Rock Café in Zlín but also on the Masters Of Rock 2018 festival stage where we played with them after only one rehearsal of their song 'Vodka', our song 'Vizovice' and then - we believe we can say - our common song 'Beer Beer (Bír Bír)' with the Czech lyrics of our lyricist Jan Mrlík. That was a remarkable and exciting experience for us and hopefully for Korpiklaani as well. Korpiklaani, thanks to all of you!"

The track will be available digitally from Friday, May 24!

KORPIKLAANI live:

'The Wayfarers Australia & New Zealand Tour 2019' w/ TROLDHAUGEN

18.05. NZ Wellington - Valhalla *SOLD OUT*
19.05. NZ Auckland - Whammy Bar
21.05. AUS Brisbane - The Triffid
22.05. AUS Sydney - Manning Bar
23.05. AUS Canberra - The Basement
24.05. AUS Melbourne - Max Watt's
25.05. AUS Adelaide - Enigma Bar
26.05. AUS Perth - Amplifier

02.06. CZ Pilsen - Metalfest Open Air
21. - 23.06.  LT Varniai - Kilkim Žaibu
05.07. F Colombier-Saugnieu - Plane ‘R Fest
06.07. D Ballenstedt - Rockharz Open Air
12.07. UA Kiev - Atlas Weekend
26.07. SLO Tolmin - MetalDays
01. - 04.08. RO Rasnov - Rockstadt Extreme Fest
02. - 03.08. FIN Tampere - SaariHelvetti
17.08. F St. Nolff - Motocultor Festival

'Wanderers Towards Rebirth - Kulkija Ad Ategnatos' w/ ELUVEITIE, GONE IN APRIL

19.09. USA Tampa, FL - The Orpheum
20.09. USA Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
21.09. USA New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
22.09. USA Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall
23.09. USA Austin, TX - Come and Take It Live
24.09. USA Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill
26.09. USA Mesa, AZ - Club Red

27.09. USA Los Angeles, CA - Regent Theater
28.09. USA Oakland, CA - Metro Operahouse
29.09. USA Portland, OR - The Bossanova Ballroom
30.09. CDN Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre
01.10. USA Seattle, WA - El Corazon
03.10. USA Denver, CO - Summit
04.10. USA Lincoln, NE - The Royal Grove

05.10. USA Minneapolis, MN - The Cabooze
06.10. USA Chicago, IL - Concord Music Hall
07.10. CDN Toronto, ON - The Opera House
08.10. CDN Ottawa, ON - Brass Monkey
09.10. CDN Montréal, QC - Théâtre Corona
10.10. CDN Québec, QC - Impérial Bell
11.10. USA Worcester, MA - Palladium

12.10. USA Reading, PA - Reverb
13.10. USA Baltimore, MD - Soundstage
14.10. USA New York, NY - PlayStation Theater

Are you a traveller or a wanderer? Be part of Korpiklaani's journey around the world! Use the hashtag  #KorpiklaaniWayfarers on Twitter and Instagram, and your photos will appear here:
http://nblast.de/KorpiklaaniWayfarers

www.korpiklaani.com
www.facebook.com/korpiklaani
www.nuclearblast.de/korpiklaani

Alien Weaponry have released the music video for their new single, "Ahi Kā", which premiered last week over at Billboard. The song represents the first new material from the New Zealand based metal trio since releasing their 2018 debut album, Tū. Fans can check out the music video for "Ahi Kā" via the link below. The track is also featured on Adult Swim's new, streaming-only compilation record Metal Swim 2.

Alien Weaponry's singer-guitarist Lewis de Jong talks about "Ahi Ka" (Which, like many of the band's songs, is sung in New Zealand's indigenous language of Te Reo Māori):-

     "Ahi Kā was inspired by the Auckland city council's decision to burn down what was considered to be the unsightly indigenous Maori village of Okahu Bay in advance of Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 visit. The eviction sparked a 40-year battle for the native Ngati Whatua to reclaim their land, including protests and battles with the police. Amid worldwide criticism, a small portion of the original land was ultimately returned with an apology and some compensation."

Watch "Ahi Ka" HERE

"Ahi Kā" is available for streaming and purchase through Spotify and iTunes (respectively) over HERE!

Fans and music critics alike have applauded the band's approach to unifying Te Reo Māori (the native language of New Zealand) with thrash metal sensibilities; ultimately creating a sound that is driven by emotionally and politically charged conflict while boasting youthful, warrior-like resilience.

Both Lewis and Henry are of Ngati Pikiāo and Ngati Raukawa (Māori tribal) descent, and began their schooling at a kura kaupapa Māori (full immersion Māori language school) where singing waiata (songs) and performing haka were a daily routine. Also ingrained in their early education were stories of New Zealand history told to them by their father, who would also introduce them to the music of Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, Anthrax, Ministry, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many others.

Alien Weaponry was formed in 2010 by brothers Lewis (vocals & guitar) and Henry de Jong (drums), who were 8 and 10 years old at the time. The two would later move to the small town of Waipu in 2012, and went on to meet Ethan Trembath (bass) there in 2013. The de Jong brothers came up with the name Alien Weaponry after watching the film District 9.

Alien Weaponry have also been nominated for "Best International Breakthrough Band" at the 2019 Heavy Music Awards (UK). The event takes place on August 22nd at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London. Fan voting is now open at https://vote.heavymusicawards.com/  until June 27th.

ALIEN WEAPONRY On Tour:

North American Headlining Tour

11.05.2019 US - Rockingham, NC / Epicenter*
12.05.2019 US - Washington, DC / DC9
13.05.2019 US - Boston, MA / Middle East
15.05.2019 US - New York, NY / Saint Vitus
16.05.2019 CA - Montreal, QC / L'Esco
17.05.2019 CA - Toronto, ON / Velvet Underground
19.05.2019 US - Chicago, IL / Chicago Open Air*

22.05.2019 US - Minneapolis, MN / 7th St Entry
24.05.2019 US - Pryor, OK / Rocklahoma*
26.05.2019 US - Denver, CO / Bluebird Theater
28.05.2019 US - San Francisco, CA / Bottom of the Hill
29.05.2019 US - Los Angeles, CA / The Roxy
 

TOUR DATES EU

07.06.2019 DE - Berlin / Musik & Frieden
08.06.2019 DE - Frankfurt / Batschkapp
10.06.2019 UK - Cardiff / Fuel Rock Club
11.06.2019 UK - Bristol / The Exchange
12.06.2019 UK - Dublin / Vodoo Lounge
13.06.2019 UK - Glasgow / Audio Glasgow
15.06.2019 UK - Donington / DE74 2RP Castle Donington

16.06.2019 UK - London / The Underground Camden
18.06.2019 LX - Belval / Rockhal 
19.06.2019 DE - Köln / Luxor
20.06.2019 DE - Hamburg / Uebel & Gefährlich
21.06.2019 DK - Kobenhavn / Copenhell Festival 2019
23.03.2019 FR - Clisson / Hellfest Open Air 2019
25.06.2019 DE - Saarbrücken / Garage

26.06.2019 DE - Hannover / Capitol
28.06.2019 FI - Helsinki / Tuska Festival 2019
03.07.2019 FR - Paris / Les Etoiles 61 rue du Chateau d´Eu
04.07.2019 FR - Toulouse / Rue Louis Bonin
06.07.2019 ES - Galicia / Resurrection Fest 2019
07.07.2019 PT - Lisbon / RCA Club
09.07.2019 ES - Sevilla / Sala Even

10.07.2019 ES - Madrid / Nasca Music Live
12.07.2019 ES - Barcelona / Sala Boveda
15.07.2019 IT - Milan / Circolo Magnolia
16.07.2019 IT - Padova / Parco Della Musica
20.07.2019 NL - Eindhoven / Dynamo Metalfest 2019
22.07.2019 SL - Tolmin / MetalDays Festival 2019
24.07.2019 HU - Budapest / Dürer Kert

27.07.2019 PL - Warsaw / klub Stodola Batorego
03.08.2019 DE - Stuttgart / Hanns-Matin-Schleyer-halle
06.08.2019 DE - München / Backstage Werk
07.08.2019 DE - Dresden / Alter Schlachthof
08.08.2019 CZ - Josefov / Brutal Assault 2019
10.08.2019 NL - Leewarden / Into The Grave Festival 2019
11.08.2019 BE - Kortrijk / Alcatraz 2019
16.08.2019 AT - Graz / Metal On The Hill Festival 2019
 
Official Website: www.alienweaponry.com    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlienWeaponry
Instagram: www.instagram.com/alienweaponry
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alienweaponry

Slovenian heavy metal band Skyeye have announced their next shows! See the details below:

April 28th - w/ THE IRON MAIDENS - Kino Siska - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1976306132406935/

May 10th - MC Postojna - Slovenia
May 11th - Piston Riot #15 - Slovenia
May 17th - Mosh Till You Drop V - Klub eMCe Plac - Velenje, Slovenia
July 6th - GoatHell Metal Fest - Pula, Croatia

More TBA.

Skyeye's latest album "Digital God" came out on November 9, 2018. Just recently the band revealed: 

     "We are already working on new material and it looks like we are going to step up technical and arrangement abilities even further. We are all evolving our skills as we write new songs. Writing new material is really an uplifting experience for all of us."

Slovenian heavy metal band SkyEye was founded in 2014 by guitarist Grega Stalowsky, bassist Primož Lovšin and singer Jan Lešcanec. SkyEye got its current line-up in 2016 when guitarist Marko Kavcnik and drummer Jurij Nograšek joined the band. Unique and powerful vocals combined with raw and melodic guitar riffs give the band its signature heavy metal sound, reminiscent of other major representatives of the genre, like Iron Maiden, Saxon or Judas Priest. The band made its debut appearance in June 2017, and only four months later brought out its first EP under the title "Run for Your Life". The overwhelmingly positive response and strong support at their performances drove the Skyeye back into the studio to record their debut album "Digital God", which was released on November 9, 2018.

Stated the band:

     "The way we see it, there are no obstacles, there are only challenges. Right now we are happy that we successfully launched our debut album and this is the ticket to get opportunities to play bigger and bigger shows."

The album cover of "Digital God" represents humanity, which is already almost entirely enslaved by its digital god. Yet, a sliver of hope remains for us to free ourselves from the digital shackles and hear the beating of our hearts again. The brute, fast and uncompromising title track speaks of how humanity’s vanity, greed and unrestrained abuse of technology is inadvertently creating an entity that is greater and more powerful than its creator. The day when we completely enslave ourselves is no longer far. Digital God is a warning against the downfall of the human race. The album features nine other original tracks in English that the band has written in the past four years, including three epic songs—Galactic Wind, Tsunami and Jerusalem—whose combined duration of 30 minutes by far exceeds today’s trends of instant music.

http://skyeyeband.com
https://www.facebook.com/SkyEyeBand

Dying Victims Productions announces April 23rd as the international release date for the highly anticipated fourth album of Slovenia's Vigilance, Enter the Endless Abyss.

Born from the cavernous depths of Adelsberg, Slovenia, Vigilance have been unleashing their own brand of heavy metal since Walpurgisnacht 2010. Inspired both by the harmonic arts of the original NWOBHM wave and the sepulchral elements of the first wave of black metal, Vigilance possess a unique crossover appeal to fans of early Iron Maiden and Mercyful Fate, but will also hook in anyone who's into Bathory, Venom, and everything else with a goat on the cover artwork.

Over the years, Vigilance released numerous demos, an EP, and three increasingly well-received albums, firmly fortifying their place in the European underground. No strangers on the live front, they've shared the stage with many bands such as Raven, Archgoat, and Grave Desecrator across the whole of Europe, frequently playing in Germany, Belgium, and Austria. Of the many gigs played, Vigilance have made appearances at such cult festivals as Heavy Sound Festival (Belgium), Raging Death Date (Germany), Old Grave Festival (Romania), a 10-day tour across Europe with Körgull the Exterminator and Wildhunt, and an appearance at the esteemed Party.San Open Air festival in 2017.

With all that experience under the bulletbelts, Vigilance are poised to make their grandest strike yet with Enter the Endless Abyss. Aptly titled, Enter the Endless Abyss is indeed a dark and dynamic plunge into the beyond, but galloping gloriously with the eternal luminescence of HEAVY METAL might! Here, Vigilance make their boldest strides forward in songwriting, expertly working with light and shade to create immediately memorable and yet simultaneously mysterious anthems, epic yet judiciously compact sonic storytelling where head/fistbanging takes center stage and full ensemble playing colors each of those eight tales with finesse and fire. Throughout it all, the dual-guitar work dazzles - truly, intensely DAZZLES - and the lithe, contrapuntal rhythm section supports with equally important panache.

Or, simply put, Enter the Endless Abyss is the new, Now sound of blackened epic metal...either way, Vigilance have at last arrived as conquering kings! Hear the first march with a special promo video for the new track "Stormblade" HERE at Dying Victims' official YouTube channel.

www.facebook.com/VigilanceAdelsberg

www.dying-victims.de 
www.facebook.com/dyingvictimsproductions 

Slovenia’s legendary Noctiferia are busy in the studio recording their new album “Reforma – Tribute to Laibach”! Today the band unveils the second guest on the album, being (Norway's) SHINING sax player Jørgen Munkeby, read below:

     "We are extremely thrilled to let you all know that Jørgen Munkeby of Shining is joining David Vincent as part of Reforma (tribute to Laibach) project! Jørgen has recorded sax for song titled "Nova akropola" and it is sick! More to come soon!"

As previously announced, Noctiferia, revealed that all the vocals for the song “Now You Will Pay” are recorded by Vltimas' David Vincent (ex Morbid Angel):

     "It was never a secret that we are fond of Laibach, their avant-garde approach to musical and visual art and now we feel it’s the right time for us to pay homage to this artisticly unique and provocative act. Since we are also fans of early Morbid Angel (their collaboration with Laibach in the past is well-known) we invited non other than mr. David Vincent himself to record all the vocals for the song “Now You Will Pay” and the result is simply mind-blowing!"

More info will be revealed soon.

Ljubljana’s underground legends Noctiferia, since the beginning (1997) have been spreading their unique style of the Slovenian Extreme Metal Movement. Few could predict what the band and its members would mean for the whole scene in the years to come. Today, just as it sometimes seems that the artists have drained all genres of originality and that all the new musical styles have already been discovered, here comes Noctiferia, bringing something fresh, a style that is uniquely theirs.

Watch “The Falsifier” Official Video: https://youtu.be/CSJ-dpHvLk8

https://www.noctiferia.net
https://www.facebook.com/noctiferia/

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAlphaOmegaManagement
https://alphaomega-management.com

Edged Circle Productions has set April 5th as the international release date for Teleport's The Expansion on CD format. Originally released on cassette tape during the autumn of 2018 but selling out extremely quickly, The Expansion so impressed Edged Circle that the label simply HAD to release the record on a wider scale - and later this year, will release Teleport's highly anticipated debut album!

One of the most singular bands orbiting the death metal underground in the past decade, Teleport  formed in 2010 in Ljubljana, Slovenia and promptly set course for a prodigious schedule of self-released demos, each one perfecting their slithering, shapeshifting sound. Undoubtedly inspired by Gorguts, Voivod, and Australia's Stargazer and yet finding contemporaries in Blood Incantation and Sacriphyx, Teleport truly hit their stride with last year's The Expansion. As aptly titled as the band's moniker, The Expansion weaves a winding, oft-bewildering path across its three-track/21-minute runtime. Sulfurous to the very end, one could pin tags like "prog" or "tech" or simply "that's crazy, man!" onto Teleport's style of death metal, but within their attacking angularity exist actual hooks - malformed and mesmerizing, of course, but hooks to hold onto as you sink deeper into their maelstrom...

And now, under the aegis of Edged Circle, that maelstrom will open wider and devour more listeners whole with Teleport's imminent debut album for the label. In the meantime, prepare for The Expansion  and get your mind blown!

A full HD stream of The Expansion can be heard HERE. Preorder info for the new Edged Circle edition can be found HERE.

www.facebook.com/teleportofficial
 
www.edgedcircleproductions.com

Slovenian priestesses of doom Mist have released a new song "Disembody Me" from their anticipated debut album "Free Me Of The Sun", which will be released on June 1st, 2018, via Soulseller Records.

Mist - Disembody Me: https://youtu.be/jz7B3sUUAT4 

After a demo and 2 EP's, this year, Mist will release ten brand new songs on their first full-length album titled "Free Me Of The Sun". Staying true to their traditional doom roots the band builds upon strong riffs with bright female vocals and epic guitar solos. The album was recorded in Studio Ork, produced and mixed by Benjamin Kic and mastered by Patrick W. Engel (Candlemass, Pentagram, Darkthrone, Exodus) from Temple Of Disharmony. With this release Mist are starting a new chapter on their path in the depths of doom.

Nina Spruk - lead vocals
Ema Babošek - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Blaž Tanšek - lead guitar
Neža Pečan - bass
Mihaela Žitko - drums 

https://www.facebook.com/mist.doom/
http://mistdoom.bandcamp.com/
http://mistdoom.tumblr.com/

The 'Releases Of The Year' series are albums chosen by myself as the best release from each country / dependency known to have an official release in the year 2017. These are alphabetized in country order so are easy to navigate. Each award has national flag featured alongside the band name, Release Of The Year' and Facebook link (where provided)