With guitarist Hellfiend (aka Matt Harvey) committed to destroying the European countryside with EXHUMED, Los Angeles-based death metal horde GRAVEHILL have turned to CARDIAC ARREST ax-wielder Tom Knizner to fill-in for the band’s performance at this year’s San Diego Metal  Swap Meet. An official statement from the band reads as follows:  

Requiem U.S. prog/power metal act STILLLIFE is proud to announce the self-release of their debut album Requiem. As if standing defiant against a metal scene often dominated by the death and black metal genres, The Northern Michigan band have emerged as one of the state’s best melodic metal acts.  

  On May 10, 2011, ohGr, the mechanized juggernaut spawned by Skinny Puppy’s Ogre and Mark Walk, will release its new album unDeveloped for Metropolis Records.  

The gathering shall commence…..after the success of the band last and critically acclaimed opus, 2008’s “Communion”, the time has come for “The Great Mass”! The album is a result of intense soul searching and discovery at home in Greece as well as in Athens, Prague and Sweden.  

MAJESTIC DOWNFALL are set to release their upcoming new album via   Chaos Records in the Americas !!!  

Atlantic recording group Shinedown has announced details of their forthcoming live, multi-disc CD/DVD collection.  “SOMEWHERE IN THE STRATOSPHERE” will arrive in stores and at all DSPs on May 3rd.  

Metal Mind Productions is proud to announce a new record deal signed with a young but very promising Polish band J.D. Overdrive. Their debut album entitled “Sex, Whiskey & Southern Blood” will be released in Europe on 6th June and in USA on 12th July (via MVD).  

Columbia, SC rockers Crossfade have signed with Eleven Seven Music.  Home to some of today’s most influential rock groups such as Motley Crue, Papa Roach, Drowning Pool, Buckcherry and more, Crossfade are scheduled to release their latest effort, We All Bleed in June 2011.  

Critically acclaimed atmospheric rock band Anathema are set to release the highly anticipated We’re Here Because We’re Here on June 7th on The End Records.  The album’s release coincides with the band’s first ever North American tour. Dates in support of Blackfield kick off on May 18th in Washington, DC.  

Monsterworks Release Video for “God” / Gear Up For New Albums   Monsterworks’ The God Album Released Today in the U.S. UK Supermetallers MONSTERWORKS have just completed a new DIY video for “God,” the title track from The God Album, released on February 28th through Casket Music. Check it out at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsZjWCEISIU    The song itself is a general commentary on religion and puts the god of the Old Testament in a philosophical headlock.  However, if you find that too deep, just enjoy the METAL.  Most of the lyrics are lost in the screaming and roaring anyway!  

Previously released on vinyl in 2010 by Contagion Releasing and now sold out, Tutti Il Colori Del Buio by Washington, D.C. death crusters ILSA now sees release on CD through Dark Descent Records. Named one of Fenriz’s bands of the week, ILSA deliver nine tracks of blown out, severely down-tuned, crust-injected death-doom.  This rotten slab of vile, crusty filth is now brought to you in a six-panel, UV gloss digipak. HazMat suit not included.    

 “Foresting Wounds”, the debut solo album by Nera, the vocalist of the Polish metal band Darzamat, will be released under the moniker NeraNature.