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Manos Spanos

CYNIC: ‘Kindly Bent To Free Us’ Title Track Available For Streaming

Manos Spanos
Legendary progressive rock innovators CYNIC — consisting of guitarist/vocalist Paul Masvidal, drummer Sean Reinert and bassist Sean Malone — will release their new album, "Kindly Bent To Free Us", on February 14, 2014 via Season Of Mist. The CD was produced by CYNIC at L.A.'s Perfect Sound Studios. The effort was engineered by Jason Donaghy (BAND OF HORSES, FEIST, ROB ZOMBIE, RYAN ADAMS), mixed by R. Walt Vincent (PETE YORN, LIZ PHAIR, TOMMY KEENE) and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (FATES WARNING, SEPULTURA, CATHEDRAL, INQUISITION, HALFORD). The artwork for "Kindly Bent To Free Us" was created by longtime and sadly late CYNIC artist Robert Venosa. "Kindly Bent To Free Us" track listing: 01. True Hallucination Speak 02. The Lion's Roar 03. Kindly Bent To Free Us 04. Infinite Shapes 05. Moon Heart Sun Head 06. Gitanjali 07. Holy Fallout 08. Endlessly Bountiful 09. Earth Is My Witness (deluxe CD book exclusive bonus track) The "Kindly Bent To Free Us" title track can be streamed below. About the new material, Reinert said: "It's a bold new sound for CYNIC and marks a gigantic leap in the band's progression. We've had a lot of time to let this material develop and gestate, and it finally feels ready to be unleashed on the world. I've been in trio mode with Malone and Masvidal flushing out a zillion and one details, and couldn't be happier about what's happening with these songs. They are truly alive!" In a February 2012 interview with Ireland's Molten magazine, Masvidal described the band's new music in the following way: "It's almost like, I don't know how to explain it, but if I had to put it in a box it's more sci-fi, futuristic and alien but at the same time very song-driven. It's kind of like, to me, coming into CYNIC's body more. It feels very modern and at the same time it just feels really cool. I'm big in the space. It's definitely new. It's not like anything we've done before. It's a new color, a new space. I think people will really take note of even the guitar stuff. I'm really shifting gears, I'm trying things in a different way and the way stuff is played. It's a new space for CYNIC, for sure. It definitely sounds like us, except completely new." CYNIC's latest EP, "Carbon-Based Anatomy", was released in November 2011 via Season Of Mist. The CD artwork was designed by the great Robert Venosa, the artist behind the covers of CYNIC's previous releases "Focus", "Traced in Air" and "Re-Traced". CYNIC was joined by Brandon Giffin on bass and Max Phelps on guitar and vocals during the group's North American and European tours in support of "Carbon-Based Anatomy".Legendary progressive rock innovators CYNIC — consisting of guitarist/vocalist Paul Masvidal, drummer Sean Reinert and bassist Sean Malone — will release their new album, "Kindly Bent To Free Us", on February 14, 2014 via Season Of Mist. The CD was produced by CYNIC at L.A.'s Perfect Sound Studios. The effort was engineered by Jason Donaghy (BAND OF HORSES, FEIST, ROB ZOMBIE, RYAN ADAMS), mixed by R. Walt Vincent (PETE YORN, LIZ PHAIR, TOMMY KEENE) and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (FATES WARNING, SEPULTURA, CATHEDRAL, INQUISITION, HALFORD). The artwork for "Kindly Bent To Free Us" was created by longtime and sadly late CYNIC artist Robert Venosa. "Kindly Bent To Free Us" track listing: 01. True Hallucination Speak 02. The Lion's Roar 03. Kindly Bent To Free Us 04. Infinite Shapes 05. Moon Heart Sun Head 06. Gitanjali 07. Holy Fallout 08. Endlessly Bountiful 09. Earth Is My Witness (deluxe CD book exclusive bonus track) The "Kindly Bent To Free Us" title track can be streamed below. About the new material, Reinert said: "It's a bold new sound for CYNIC and marks a gigantic leap in the band's progression. We've had a lot of time to let this material develop and gestate, and it finally feels ready to be unleashed on the world. I've been in trio mode with Malone and Masvidal flushing out a zillion and one details, and couldn't be happier about what's happening with these songs. They are truly alive!" In a February 2012 interview with Ireland's Molten magazine, Masvidal described the band's new music in the following way: "It's almost like, I don't know how to explain it, but if I had to put it in a box it's more sci-fi, futuristic and alien but at the same time very song-driven. It's kind of like, to me, coming into CYNIC's body more. It feels very modern and at the same time it just feels really cool. I'm big in the space. It's definitely new. It's not like anything we've done before. It's a new color, a new space. I think people will really take note of even the guitar stuff. I'm really shifting gears, I'm trying things in a different way and the way stuff is played. It's a new space for CYNIC, for sure. It definitely sounds like us, except completely new." CYNIC's latest EP, "Carbon-Based Anatomy", was released in November 2011 via Season Of Mist. The CD artwork was designed by the great Robert Venosa, the artist behind the covers of CYNIC's previous releases "Focus", "Traced in Air" and "Re-Traced". CYNIC was joined by Brandon Giffin on bass and Max Phelps on guitar and vocals during the group's North American and European tours in support of "Carbon-Based Anatomy".
03 min read

OVERKILL: New Album Pushed Back To July; Tour Dates Postponed

Manos Spanos
New Jersey thrash metal veterans OVERKILL have pushed back the projected release date of their new album to July from the previously announced March. As a result, the band has postponed all shows originally scheduled for March (except for the U.K. dates) to the fall. Said OVERKILL in a statement: "We are still working on the new record, but this is gonna be worth the wait, with more old-school, face-melting thrash!" OVERKILL's new CD will be released in North America via eOne Music and in Europe through Nuclear Blast Records. Speaking to Steppin' Out magazine, OVERKILL vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth stated about the band's upcoming album: "The new record has a blend of what we've done over the past half decade. I'm noticing it's a more punchy heavy metal record with more dimension than the last record had. Where is it going to end up on the food chain? I really don't know. But my feeling is it's an eclectic collection of moments from us. 'The Electric Age' came across, to me, as kind of a two-dimensional thrash record. This one is punchy but has a whole different bunch of ways to go and things to hear on it." OVERKILL released a very special limited tour edition of its latest album, "The Electric Age", in Europe on April 19, 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records. The limited 2CD tour edition included the regular album as well as a four additional live tracks on a bonus CD, recorded at The Metro in Sidney, Australia on September 25, 2010. "The Electric Age" sold 6,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 77 on The Billboard 200 chart.
01 min read

SUICIDE SILENCE: ‘Unanswered’ Performance Clip Featuring PHIL BOZEMAN

Manos Spanos
On December 21, 2012, the metal community came together in an amazing way to celebrate the life of SUICIDE SILENCE singer Mitch Lucker and raise money for his daughter's future education (with an unforgettable evening of collaborative performances between past/present SUICIDE SILENCE members and elite heavy vocalists that created a defining emotional event forever captured on video and audio. "Suicide Silence - Ending Is The Beginning: The Mitch Lucker Memorial Show" will be released on February 18, 2014 in North America and March 17, 2014 In Europe as a CD/DVD digipack and CD/Blu-ray combo pack. The set was directed by Jeremy Schott of MentalSuplex Productions and Zafer Ulkucu of Backseat Conceptions. Throughout the historic event, SUICIDE SILENCE band members played as guest vocalists covered their songs. "Mitchell was born on October 20, 1984," says Mitch's mother, Denise Haddad. "He came out literally screaming and it ended up being his legacy." "Mitchell was given that talent and that gift [of connecting with people through music] and even though he's not here today, those gifts are gonna continue to be shared because those young teens are going to tell their own children. That's how the legacy is gonna be able to be passed on." The official "Suicide Silence - Ending Is The Beginning: The Mitch Lucker Memorial Show" listing is as follows: 01. Destruction Of A Statue (with Jonny Davy) 02. Distorted Thought Of Addiction (with Greg Wilburn) 03. Ending Is The Beginning (with Brook Reeves) 04. Bludgeoned To Death (with Ricky Hoover) 05. Unanswered (with Phil Bozeman) 06. Girl Of Glass (with Myke Terry) 07. Price Of Beauty (with Danny Worsnop) 08. No Pity For A Coward (with Johnny Plague) 09. Disengage (with Cameron "Big Chocolate" Argon) 10. No Time To Bleed (with Burke VanRaalte) 11. Smoke (with Anthony Notarmaso) 12. Wake Up (with Tim Lambesis) 13. March To The Black Crown 14. Slaves To Substance (with Eddie Hermida) 15. OCD (with Austin Carlile) 16. Fuck Everything (with Chad Gray) 17. Die Young (with Robb Flynn) 18. Roots Bloody Roots (with Max Cavalera) 19. Engine #9 (with Mitch Lucker) 20. You Only Live Once (with Randy Blythe) The "Unanswered" performance clip featuring Phil Bozeman can be seen below. Mitch Lucker died November 1, 2012 after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle crash in Huntington Beach on Halloween night. According to the Los Angeles Times, Lucker struck a light pole near the intersection of Main and 13th streets and was thrown from his 2013 Harley Davidson. The motorcycle continued sliding south on Main Street and struck a northbound 2007 Nissan Titan pickup. SUICIDE SILENCE recently entered the studio to begin recording its new album with producer Steve Evetts (SEPULTURA, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, WARBRINGER). The group's first CD with new vocalist Eddie Hermida (ex-ALL SHALL PERISH) will be released next summer via Nuclear Blast Entertainment, a division of Nuclear Blast Records formed by Nuclear Blast owner Markus Staiger and former Roadrunner A&R chief Monte Conner. "Unanswered" performance:
03 min read

TERRORIZER To Play ‘World Downfall’ Set On European Tour

Manos Spanos
Founding TERRORIZER member and legendary drummer Pete Sandoval (MORBID ANGEL) will be joined by Lee Harrison (MONSTROSITY) on guitar and Sam Molina on bass and vocals for a European TERRORIZER tour this spring and summer. The trek is being booked by Mariusz Kmiolek at Massive Music Agency, based out of Poland. The band is planning many headline shows and festivals to perform the full classic "World Downfall" set and possibly add more surprises. Plans for further worldwide shows in 2014 and 2015 are also in the works. Video footage of TERRORIZER's November 8, 2013 concert at the Brass Mug in Tampa, Florida can be seen below (video filmed by Tjandra of www.tpametalreview.com). TERRORIZER celebrated the 24th anniversary of its classic album "World Downfall" with a lineup featuring Sandoval, Harrison and Molina. TERRORIZER's latest album, "Hordes Of Zombies", was released on February 28, 2012 via the French label Season Of Mist. Asked about the status of Sandoval — who in 2010 underwent surgery after a prolapsed disc — MORBID ANGEL bassist/vocalist David Vincent told Capital Chaos TV: "Pete is no longer in MORBID ANGEL. Pete's concentrating on TERRORIZER. And Timothy Yeung is the drummer for MORBID ANGEL and he's a doing a great job. And we're pressing forward." Vincent also spoke about his guest appearance on the latest TERRORIZER album, "Hordes Of Zombies", and his continued working relationship with Sandoval. "It was a lot of fun [laying down the bass tracks on the CD]. He asked me if I'd be willing to play on the record, and of course I said yes. It's a good record. It's obviously a different style to MORBID ANGEL, and that's OK. We like all kinds of music. So I'm glad that he's actually out touring again and making his way. This is what he does — he plays drums and he's damn good at it. So I'm glad that he has found his place and that he's feeling good about it. And he's getting a lot of support, obviously, from the fans, so everyone wins." Guitarist Jesse Pintado, a founding member and guitarist of TERRORIZER, died at Holland's Erasmus MC hospital on August 27, 2006 due to liver failure, only less than a week after the release of TERRORIZER's second album "Darker Days Ahead". His death effectively put TERRORIZER's future in question.
02 min read

LEGION OF THE DAMNED’s ‘Ravenous Plague’ Lands On German Chart

Manos Spanos
"Ravenous Plague", the new album from Dutch thrashers LEGION OF THE DAMNED, has entered the official German chart at position No. 21. Dutch thrashers LEGION OF THE DAMNED will release their new album, "Ravenous Plague", on January 7, 2014 via Napalm Records. The CD was produced by Andy Classen (TANKARD, KRISIUN, HOLY MOSES) at the Stage One Studio in Germany. "Ravenous Plague" track listing: 01. Intro: The Apocalyptic Surge (by Jo Blankenburg) 02. Howling For Armageddon 03. Black Baron 04. Mountain Wolves Under A Crescent Moon 05. Ravenous Abominations 06. Doom Priest 07. Summon All Hate 08. Morbid Death 09. Bury Me In A Nameless Grave 10. Armalite Assassin 11. Strike Of The Apocalypse The official video for the song "Doom Priest" can be seen below. "Ravenous Plague" will be LEGION OF THE DAMNED's first album with new guitar player Twan van Geel who joined the band two years ago following the departure of Richard Ebisch. The CD's intro was created by Jo Blankenburg, whose tracks have been used in advertising campaigns of major Hollywood feature films such as "The Hunger Games", "Harry Potter", "X-Men", "Lincoln", "Hitchcock", "The Wolfman" and "How To Train Your Dragon".
02 min read

HAMMERCULT: ‘Steelcrusher’ Video Released

Manos Spanos
The video for "Steelcrusher", the title track of the second album from Tel Aviv-based neo-thrashers HAMMERCULT, can be seen below. Comments HAMMERCULT singer Yakir Shochat: "This is a live video of the band performing the song 'Steelcrusher' live for the first time, which is truly capturing the raw power and unstoppable energy of HAMMERCULT live stage show. It clearly can be seen that the mania raged well within the crowd and the band to one big extreme metal party! "We have chosen to kickstart 'Steelcrusher' with the self-titled video and a live video because it old the real essence of us as a live band, without any filtering, editing and over-hyped budget or scripted stuff — just pure metal onslaught, and making the fans roar, which is what we do best." "Steelcrusher" will be released on CD and colored vinyl on January 27 in Europe and February 4 in North America via Sonic Attack/SPV. The effort was produced by Tal Vaisman and mixed and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris. "Steelcrusher" track listing: 01. Hymn To The Steel (intro) 02. Steelcrusher 03. Metal Rules Tonight 04. Into Hell 05. We Are The People 06. Burning The Road 07. Ironbound 08. Unholy Art 09. Satanic Lust 10. Liar 11. Damnation Arise 12. Heading For War 13. In The Name Of The Fallen Check out a teaser for "Steelcrusher" below. The song "We Are The People" includes a guest guitar solo by SEPULTURA's Andreas Kisser. The "Steelcrusher" cover artwork was created by Andreas Marshall, the Berlin-based artist who has previously worked with BLIND GUARDIAN, IN FLAMES, RUNNING WILD and HAMMERFALL, among others. "We definitely have European influences and have grown up with bands like KREATOR, DESTRUCTION and SODOM," says HAMMERCULT frontman Yakir Shochat. "Lots of important groups signed with Noise Records in their early days. That's why we're particularly happy that 'Steelcrusher' will be out on Sonic Attack, Noise founder Karl Walterbach's current label. So as fans of that great Noise era, we've come full circle in that respect."
02 min read

GUS G. Releases ‘My Will Be Done’ Solo Video

Manos Spanos
Guitar virtuoso Gus G., well known in rock and metal circles for his work as Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist and as leader of his own band FIREWIND, has set a March 18, 2014 release date for his debut solo album, "I Am The Fire", in North America. The CD will be released internationally on Century Media Records, and will come out March 17 in Europe. A first song from the album can now be heard via the video for the album's opening track, "My Will Be Done" (featuring Mats Levén), which was produced by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others. Says Gus G. of the song and album: "I hope you all enjoy the first taste of things to come. "'My Will Be Done' is a cool rock track with a modern edge to it... "Looking back, I can't believe all the great musicians that got on board for this album. Everybody brought in their unmistakable style and talent and they really lifted the songs! Check it out and enjoy the music!" Gus G. will attend the 2014 NAMM convention, which runs January 23-26 in Anaheim, California. In addition to signing sessions at ESP Guitars (January 24 at 2 p.m.) and Blackstar Amps (January 25, 1 p.m.), Gus will also appear as guest at the Randy Rhoads Remembered tribute concert at The Observatory in Santa Ana on January 25. Other guests include Nuno Bettencourt (EXTREME, RIHANNA), Phil Demmel (MACHINE HEAD), Marty Friedman, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (GUNS N' ROSES) and more. Gus handles all guitar, bass and keyboards on "I Am The Fire", and is joined by a roster of friends and guests that help bring his vision to fruition: drummers Jeff Friedl (A PERFECT CIRCLE, PUSCIFER, DEVO) and Daniel Erlandsson (ARCH ENEMY), bassists David Ellefson (MEGADETH), Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG, DAVID LEE ROTH) and Marty O'Brien (TOMMY LEE, WE ARE THE FALLEN, LITA FORD), and vocalists Mats Levén (CANDLEMASS, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THERION), Blake Allison (DEVOUR THE DAY), Michael Starr (STEEL PANTHER), Alexia Rodriguez (EYES SET TO KILL), Tom S. Englund (EVERGREY), Jacob Bunton (ADLER) and Jeff Scott Soto (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, TALISMAN, ex-JOURNEY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN). "I Am The Fire" was mixed by Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STONE SOUR, STEEL PANTHER) and was recorded between Los Angeles and Gus' home country of Greece through the latter half of 2013. A few of the album's tracks include "Eyes Wide Open", "Redemption", "End Of The Line" and "Blame It On Me". The album showcases a well-balanced mix of active rock, classic hard rock, traditional metal and guitar-driven instrumentals, taking listeners on a diverse journey and opening doors to Gus G.'s soulful playing. The album's first commercial single — title track, "I Am The Fire" — will be released digitally February 25 in North America. Gus G. has had an amazing rise within the worldwide rock and metal scenes and has amassed an impressive body of work, both in studio and touring. He emerged as an up-and-coming talent with the groups DREAM EVIL (Sweden), MYSTIC PROPHECY (Germany) and NIGHTRAGE (Greece), but it is his work with his own band FIREWIND (who have released seven studio albums and two live releases) and as a member of Ozzy Osbourne's band that have helped him emerge as one of the world's top metal and rock guitarists. His work on Ozzy's "Scream" album led to a Grammy nomination in 2010, and his list of accolades includes Guitar Player magazine's "Best Metal Guitarist," the "Dimebag Darrell Shredder" award at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards, and Metal Hammer Greece "Best Guitarist" on four separate occasions.
04 min read

TESTAMENT Parts Ways With Bassist GREG CHRISTIAN, Announces Return Of STEVE DIGIORGIO

Manos Spanos
San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans TESTAMENT have released the following statement: "It is with much respect that we announce our mutual parting with bassist Greg Christian. Metal fretless bass pioneer Steve DiGiorgio will be returning to TESTAMENT. "Steve previously was a member of TESTAMENT on 'The Gathering' (1999) as well as 'First Strike Still Deadly' (2001). He will be joining TESTAMENT on their upcoming shows in Australia on the Soundwave Festival, Japan and Mexico City. Steve will also be taking part in the new TESTAMENT album. "We are looking forward to continuing the momentum you, the fans, have made possible." Christian was forced to leave the band's North American tour with LAMB OF GOD and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE in November for "personal reasons." Filling in for him was EXODUS bassist Jack Gibson. "Dark Roots Of Thrash", a DVD/2CD release documenting TESTAMENT's sold-out headlining performance at the Paramount in Huntington, New York this past February, was made available on October 18, 2013 (Europe) and October 29, 2013 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records. "Dark Roots Of Thrash" was produced by Get Hammered Productions, directed by Tommy Jones (DEATH ANGEL, KATAKLYSM, SOILWORK) and mixed by Juan Urteaga (VILE, EXODUS, SADUS, MACHINE HEAD). It captures a total of 19 live tracks with countless cams onstage and high above the audience, plus a special moshpit cam that makes you feel like you're a part of the show.
01 min read

LACUNA COIL Announces ‘Broken Crown Halo’ Album, ‘Hottest Chicks In Hard Rock’ Tour

Manos Spanos
Italian heavy rockers LACUNA COIL will release their new studio album, "Broken Crown Halo", in North America on April 1 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded Italy by producer Jay Baumgardner (P.O.D., SEVENDUST, EVANESCENCE, PAPA ROACH) and engineer Kyle Hoffmann (P.O.D., BUSH, ZEBRAHEAD). The effort was mastered by Howie Weinberg, whose credits include RAMMSTEIN, SOUNDGARDEN, NIRVANA, DEFTONES and SHERYL CROW. "Broken Crown Halo" is LACUNA COIL's seventh studio effort, and the highly-anticipated follow-up to "Dark Adrenaline", which was released in January 2012 and saw the band tour with acts including MEGADETH, MOTÖRHEAD, VOLBEAT and SEVENDUST after debuting at No. 15 on The Billboard 200 album chart. LACUNA COIL will return to the road to introduce North America to "Broken Crown Halo" as part of the Revolver Hottest Chicks In Hard Rock Tour, which launches February 20 and features LACUNA COIL sharing a stage with SICK PUPPIES, Century Media Records labelmates EYES SET TO KILL and CILVER. The tour launches in Wilmington, North Carolina, and runs through March 20 in Anaheim, California. See complete itinerary below, and visit www.hottestchickstour.com for additional details and VIP packages. LACUNA COIL had this to say about "Broken Crown Halo": "What conflict could run so deep that it takes you to the deepest corners of your inner world? "Today we are surrounded by a lot of lies, aliases, and people acting like they are wearing an invisible crown — but you better have thick skin if you want to wear this crown! "'Broken Crown Halo' is a cinematic album that could be the soundtrack of our days — it is a dark vision of a near future when survival is second nature, and failure is not something to be avoided, but rather cultivated with lessons learned along the way. "We set the bar pretty high with 'Dark Adrenaline' and it hasn't been easy bringing our sound to the next level, but we have lived, learned and grown through a year full of personal issues and changes. We learned to be strong and get stronger, and we felt an inner vibe in this band that we haven't felt before. We locked ourselves in an age-old studio in Milan, Italy, where history was strong and the past met with our future, vintage gear and the influence of classic Italian horror movies and bands like GOBLIN meeting the fresh and rough sounds of the modern world with unique and invigorating results. "'Broken Crown Halo' is LACUNA COIL introducing a new order, and letting nothing stand in our way..." Revolver Hottest Chicks In Rock Tour featuring LACUNA COIL with SICK PUPPIES, EYES SET TO KILL and CILVER: Feb. 20 - Wilmington, NC - Ziggy's By The Sea Feb. 21 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade Feb. 22 - Lexington, KY - Buster's Feb. 23 - Springfield, VA - Empire Feb. 24 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza Feb. 26 - Worcester, MA - Palladium Feb. 27 - Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club Feb. 28 - Columbus, OH - Alrosa Villa Mar. 01 - Joliet, IL - Mojoe's Mar. 02 - South Bend, IN - Club Fever Mar. 05 - Broussard, LA - The Station Live Mar. 06 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar Mar. 07 - Austin, TX - Infest Mar. 08 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Mar. 10 - Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall Mar. 12 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex Mar. 14 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory Mar. 15 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven Mar. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - House Of Blues Mar. 20 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues
04 min read

Report: Aura Noir + Support Acts – Athens, Greece

Manos Spanos
Saturday night at An Club ready for an extreme metal night to be remembered: After 10 years and one gig cancelling 2 years ago, Aura Noir the hellish originators of Black/Thrash from Norway have come to Greece for a special live show. On their side, the old school of Death/Thrash Death Courier from Patras and the really strong Blacksters Abyssgale, who hit the stage at 9 o clock. With a sound between the Norwegian Black metal style combined with a good amount of Thrash influences deriving from Sodom, Destruction and Celtic Frost, they stomped the stage with emphasis basing their set on "The Coming Plague" EP plus 3 songs of their upcoming album "Hegemon" ("Execution Litany", "Anoint Wounds With Poison", "Hegemon" and "Altar Thane Of Mental Alienation") showing that the best is yet to come for them. We also had the first small circle pits of the night. Then we have the mighty Death Courier, the Death/Thrashers from Patras who came back with their amazing "Perimortem" album ripping it out old school way showing the younger people how things should be done. Unfortunately the crowd wasn't pretty energetic in terms of moshing since everyone awaited for the headliners of the night, yet everyone had a good time and headbanged as much as possible. The set of Death Courier included the entire "Perimortem" record in their set alongside the tracks "Demise", "Copkiller" and a cover of Possessed's classic "The Exorcist"! The band everyone was waiting for finally took the stage and from the first track to the last one the only thing left to say was this: violent moshing, stagediving and Black/Thrash lessons delivered to those unaware. Including material from every album of their career ("Black Thrash Attack", "Dreams Like Desert", "Deep Tracts Of Hell", "The Merciless", "Hades Rise", "Out To Die") they showed everybody how things were done with amazing tracks such as "Sons Of Hades", "Black Thrash Attack" and "Conqueror" whipping the crowd into an absolute frenzy, really paying off the band that celebrates their 10th anniversary of their last show in Greece. Even though their bass player was unlucky with his bass, since his string broke on the first track, no one was really bothered by it chanting "AURA NOIR! AURA NOIR!" as loud as possible and that fired up the band to give in 100% of their capabilities. They included a cover of the Celtic Frost classic "Dethroned Emperor" to finish up any neck left unbroken from furious headbanging. Everybody left satisfied when the lights went on. Wish every one in Metal Defiance that put up this event well and as the band said "We are Aura Noir THE UGLIEST BAND IN THE WORLD!". Let's hope we'll see more of that in the future.
02 min read

Manos Spanos

Manos Spanos (Metalpaths' co-editor-in-chief), eight years in this site but still can't be characterised as a metalhead.