Bad news emerge from Jotunheimen: The release of Glittertind's Napalm Records debut has been postponed until early 2009 due to the delayed recordings of the orchestra, choir, and folk-instruments, which had to be re-scheduled for September. Folk Metal fans must be patient a little longer, but main man Torbjorn Sandvik promises to deliver an album that will be worth the wait. Something big is coming our way!

"The Healing" is more than just a sign of life by ARTAS - it's a statement and an outlook on things to come. Their innovative Modern Metal combines brutal double bass attacks, chilling melodies, and destructive neckbreakers to a killing force , that leaves the listener gasping for air. The disparate vocal styles add to this effect and set the scene for the English, German and Spanish lyrics. "The Healing" was mixed by sound wiz Jacob Hansen and the finishing touches were provided by artist Dennis Dibeijin's (Job for a Cowboy, Chimaira) dark and ominous artwork. Napalm Records will unleash "The Healing" on 26 September.

For the fifth time, Finnish fellowship BATTLELORE embarks on a journey through J.R.R. Tolkien's mythic world of Middle-Earth. "The Last Alliance" is no less than a masterpiece once again delivering the band's unique brand of Epic Fantasy Metal. The versatile yet catchy songs are crowned by the interplay of brutal Uruk-Hai screams and sweet elven vocals. The limited edition 8-panel digipack will include a bonus DVD featuring the band's live performance at the 2007 Female Voices Festival. Napalm Records will unleash "The Last Alliance" on 26 September.

First in the list of three is the legendary Norwegian band KAMPFAR, who will add yet another glorious release to their discography. Led by the charismatic frontman Dolk, KAMPFAR delivers raw Pagan Folklore Metal that will send shivers down the spine of old school Metal fans. "Heimgang" was caught on tape by Rune Joergensen of Silverstone Studio, Norway. His production emphasizes the dark and majestic atmosphere of KAMPFAR's latest offering. Napalm Records will unleash "Heimgang" on 26 September.

Relapse Records is proud to announce a deal with Noisehead Records for exclusive distribution and direct sales of Noisehead releases and catalog for North America.

Noisehead Records, since its formation in 2006, has become the leading underground metal label in Austria. The label has released critically acclaimed albums by homegrown acts such as ARCANUM, DARKSIDE, and COLLAPSE 7, as well as Italy's NEPTUNE and Germany's ERBEN DES ZORNS.

Noisehead Records founder Uschi Jezik says of the partnership: "It´s a privilege to work with Relapse Records, and we count ourselves lucky for getting this deal. We want to thank Relapse Records for the confidence they’ve shown in us and we want the best success for our team-work."

In addition to a catalog of over a dozen and a half releases, Noisehead has several new releases on the horizon. In late October, Madrid’s ENEMY OF MYSELF will release The Fury and Germany’s PARSIFALL will see the release of their Tears Of Wine EP. Additional releases include records from PRIORITY, ROZENHILL, NOCTEM, and more. A listing of releases currently available and additional information on Noisehead artists can be found here.

All Noisehead Records releases will be available through Relapse Mail Order and Relapse Wholesale. Noisehead Records is the latest addition to a growing list of labels distributed through Relapse Records including Black Mark Productions and Cogumelo Records.

Relapse Records is proud to announce the signing of Geneva, Switzerland’s MUMAKIL.

MUMAKIL are currently writing the follow-up album to their debut full-length Customized Warfare. MUMAKIL’s Sebastien Schacher says of the signing and new album; “We're all really excited here since the signature with Relapse Records. This means a lot of work for us. We are really motivated in recording the most brutal grind CD we're able to. We'll start the recording in the end of August / early September 2008, in Geneva, and will work full-time on it. Our guitarist (Jerome Pellegrini) will carry about all the recording and mixing, and we'll do the mastering in Sweden, at Cutting Room studios.”

MUMAKIL also have a number of shows lined up including a performance at the ‘Grind The Nazi Scum’ Festival in Torgau, Germany this weekend. A listing of confirmed dates and cities can be found here with more to be announced soon.

In addition to Customized Warfare, MUMAKIL has also released a number of split releases including a split with now label-mates MISERY INDEX, a split with INHUME that was released as part of the Relapse Records Slimewave Series, and an upcoming split with BLOCKHEADS coming via Bones Brigade. Audio samples taken from these releases and more can be heard now via the band’s MySpace: MySpace.com/Mumakil.

EARACHE is proud to announce the signing of British technical metallers THE BOY WILL DROWN to a multi-album, worldwide recording deal.

THE BOY WILL DROWN are a four-piece band based in Norwich/Colchester in the UK who formed in late 2006. Currently regarded as one of the most flamboyant and intense bands in the UK, they play a vicious blend of technical and experimental music based around grindcore and death metal. Refusing to play "sugar-coated" metal like so many other bands, THE BOY WILL DROWN do everything in their power to mesmerise and pulverise the listener, whilst simultaneously injecting an element of humour, fun and youth into the otherwise serious face of the extreme metal genre. Drawing influence from such bands as DECAPITATED, NECROPHAGIST and PSYOPUS, THE BOY WILL DROWN create music that's technically breathtaking, with punishing metal riffage, yet still retains that "groove" factor.

Check out some tracks from THE BOY WILL DROWN at www.myspace.com/tbwd

With an ever-growing fanbase eagerly awaiting their first full-length release, THE BOY WILL DROWN are set to follow in the path of their idols DECAPITATED and enter Hertz Studios in Poland this October to record their debut album.

On the limited edition of "Licht", the brand new album of Germany ´s DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER you will find the first official REITER game called "Monsterball". The idea behind it is the following: Chose the band member that you always wanted to be and go with him/her through seven different levels. You are equipped with so-called energy balls that you have to shoot monsters with. Each time you hit one, the monster will turn from an ugly, bad one to a nice and happy one. If you make it until the end you join the give away competition of the unique REITER iPod. While you are playing the game, you are able to hear a collection of the best REITER songs from the last couple of years.

Bassist Randy Butman of PATHS OF POSSESSION — the Florida-based band fronted by CANNIBAL CORPSE vocalist George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher — has issued the following update:

"We are gearing up for the new disc. We enter Mana studios in September to record the first half, and we will do the second half in November. The reason for the split is because CANNIBAL CORPSE will be recording at the same time as us, and there is not enough of old George to go around. We are looking at a March release probably.”

German avant-garde metallers DISILLUSION are busy writing the follow-up to 'Gloria' with a new, full line-up. The band plans to complete the writing sessions before the end of the year. Long-time drummer Jens Maluschka is back in the fold after a 12-month absence. New on bass is Matthias Becker from fellow Leipzig band Safi.

The group has yet to deliver a statement regarding the musical direction of the new material. "There's a lot still up in the air, and it's too early to be closing any doors, but we feel more energy-laden than ever before", comments the four-piece.

DISILLUSION are herewith putting an end to a self-imposed hiatus that began last summer, during which they were busy building their own KickTheFlame studio and setting up a publishing company.

Tension. Nerves. Hunger.

U.S. Militant Black Death Metal act ACHERON signs with Displeased Records !
Expect the new full length, 'The final conflict: Last days of God' early 2009 !

The band is currently finalizing the new material, to be recorded within the coming months. Expect nothing less than fierce, brutal and intolerant Satanic Black Death as it is meant to be played!

Let the Sin begin ! Hail the New Age of Power !

Obsidian has booked itself in the Excess Studio's to record the drum tracks for the follow up to 2007's 'Emerging'. The recordings will take place in the middle of August. The new album will feature nine brand new tracks. Titles and more info concerning the album will follow later. There will be a studio log kept through the band's MySpace page , so you'll be able to keep up by simply subscribing to it.

The Brazilian heavy/folk metallers of LOTHLÖRYEN signed a contract with Die Hard Records, which will release the band's second album, "Some Ways Back No More", in Brazil.

Die Hard was founded as a store in 1996 by André and Fausto, and actually work with the best metal labels and distros. As a label they work with great Brazilian and worldwide acts like IMPELLITTERI, U.D.O., ANNIHILATOR, IMAGO MORTIS, TNT, MAGICIAN, and Chris Caffery, and now they also have Lothlöryen in their cast.

"Some Ways Back No More" shall be released in a few months, meanwhile the fans can download the band's two singles which are available on Lothlöryen's MySpace page at www.myspace.com/lothloryenband.

Kings of the Thrash revival, WARBRINGER, just returned from Europe where they toured with Suffocation and Napalm Death. The band has undergone a little of a face lift, however, and are ready to announce their new members. While the group had just made touring bassist Ben Bennett official after six months of live shows together, since original bass player, Andy Laux, was still in high school, they have also had to replace drummer Ryan Bates. The band is excited to welcome the talented Nic Ritter to the group.

Warbringer are now set for a large amount of touring for the rest of 2008. The band will be playing a few one-off dates leading into their tour with the mighty FINNTROLL and, from there, will head into a tour with thrash legends OVERKILL. Just the same as their album title, the band promises that their shows will be War Without End!

Tasmanian tech-death masters, PSYCROPTIC, have officially announced the title of their follow-up to 2006’s Symbols of Failure. Ob(Servant), the band’s first album for Nuclear Blast Records and fourth overall, will be released sometime in the Fall of 2008.

Ob(Servant) was mixed and mastered by former MACHINE HEAD and SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader (DIVINE HERESY, GOJIRA) and recorded once again by guitarist Joe Haley. Drummer Dave Haley commented on their upcoming release:

“'Ob(Servant)' is definitely our finest hour (well, finest 49 minutes and 49 seconds anyway). It’s of course a cliché of every band to say that their newest album is their best and so on, but we are very proud of what we have done on this album. The writing process was a little different for this album, with Joe (guitarist) writing pretty much all the material. This gives the album a very coheisive and flowing feel, and this album is definatley our most diverse material thus far. The artwork is also amazing, having been completed by Raymand Swanland (DEEDS OF FLESH). Those not familiar with his work should check it out – you will be amazed!

It’s a mixture of everything we have done, as well as adding in new elements to continue the progression we are on as a band. No point releasing the same album twice, right? Like “Symbols of Failure”, Joe engineered the album, but this time we enlisted the help of metal guru Logan Mader to mix and master the album...and that was probably the best decision we have ever made. The album sounds huge! Since we are currently on the amazing Summer Slaughter tour in the US at the moment, we had been receiving mixes while on the road. After our LA show Logan took myself and Joe to his Dirty Icon studio and put the finishing touches on the mix. Huge is one word for the sound he achieved."

Swiss folk metallers ELUVEITIE have issued the following update:

"We welcome two new combatants to the Eluveitie host!

During the last couple of weeks we received many applications for the two vacant positions in our band. We’d like to use this opportunity to thank all musicians who contacted us for their messages, efforts and interest in our band. We read all applications assiduously and thought a lot about the whole thing.

Now we are very pleased to announce that we have decided for two new band members! And we are as confident to have found two awesome musicians and as we’re proud and happy to introduce them to you:

Pade Kistler
Playing diverse kinds of bagpipes, as well as whistles and acoustic guitars, Pade is a multi-instrumentalist and especially an experienced piper!

To some of you (especially the folk interested guys) Pade might not be unfamiliar: He used to proof his abilities as musician and also as disarming performer in the Swiss folk band Brana Keterna, where also Meri and Chrigel used to play. So we esteem Pade since a couple of years, both as great musician as well as a fantastic guy and friend.

Kay Brem
Being a long-time rock’n’roll bastard of the Swiss metal scene, Kay makes a very skilled bass player that will for sure kick your asses as hell. Kay formerly played with the Swiss metal machines Cataract and Tribes Of Caïn and honoured or rather ravaged countless stages all over Europe. As Pade, we also got to know and esteem Kay as a great musician and person quite a while ago.

We are really happy, content and proud to have Pade and Kay on board – both of them being great musicians, as well as just fucking cool people that perfectly fit into our band.

So… we raise our horns and ardently welcome them in the ELUVEITIE camp!"

ELUVEITIE will introduce the new members to audiences all over the world on their upcoming tours in October with KATAKLYSM, DYING FETUS and KEEP OF KALESSIN (Death By Decibels U.S. tour) and in November with FINNTROLL, PRIMORDIAL and EQUILIBRIUM (Heidenfest European tour).

ELUVEITIE is hard at work on its new release, the first part of the band's purely accoustic "Evocation" concept albums.