The promoters of Tucson, Arizona’s SOUTHWEST TERROR FEST have finalized the massive lineup for the 2014 installment of the event, unveiling an incredible listing of bands that takes this now annual extreme metal gathering up to an entirely new level. Behold, SOUTHWEST TERROR FEST III: THE WESTERN FRONT!  

This June, go deeper into the secrets of the Marvel Universe in ORIGINAL SINS #2 – the next epic chapter in the 5-issue companion series exploring the mysteries and sins of your favorite Marvel Universe characters! Featuring some of our most requested characters of all-time, each issue of Original Sins shines a revealing light on the most wanted characters courtesy of the industry’s top creators!  

Ok, so who do you feel is the MOST METAL of them all? Ozzy the Prince of Darkness and Grandfather of MEtal, Lemmy of Motorhead, Dio (May he rest in the halls of which he sang), maybe even Billy from Testament or Randy Blythe from LoG? All of these frontmen are brutal and vicious singers in their own ways, and I am not saying none are contenders, but I submit this name to you, oh questioning readers: Christopher Lee  

This week, having survived some Memorial Day havoc, let us celebrate with some new releases from Relapse Records, Housecore Records, Armory, and The Compound! and let me sayeth unto you, o lucky reader, that having listened to the advanced copies, you shalt carry the Riff and Grind deep within your hearts!  

Improvisational and Aleatory-inspired Black Metal from the Hills of Central Texas, The Dark Emperor of the Shadow Realm will be released June 21 by HUMUT TABAL.  

USBM extremists HELGARDH have released the official music video for its newest single, “The Aberration Scars.”  

  With the recent release of X-Men: Days of Future Past looking like a home run for the “X – Franchise”, many are wondering where the franchise will now be heading. And with the timeline changed, how do the events in DOFP affect the first three X films?  

The new PRONG album “Ruining Lives” entered the US Billboard Charts at #16 Heatseekers/Top New Artists, #28 Hard Rock, #28 Current Hard Music, #58Top Hard Music and #74 Indie while “Ruining Lives” also continues to be #1 at CMJ Loud Rock Radio.  

Century Media Records are proud to announce stunning reissues of the classic MARDUK albums “La Grande Danse Macabre” (2001) and “World Funeral” (2003) set for release on June 23, 2014 in Europe and June 24, 2014 in the US. Both albums have been out of print for quite a while and will now be released in revamped editions featuring new covers by Maelstrom (MLSTRM.com), vocalist in label mates & MARDUK-related act DEATH WOLF, liner notes, rare photos from the band’s archive and bonus tracks on the CDs / digital albums.  

Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples’ multiple Eisner and Hugo award-winning New York Times bestseller SAGA returned with the beginning of its fourth arc this week and has instantly sold out at the distribution level. To meet demand, Image Comics is sending SAGA #19 back to press for a one-time-only second printing.  

Under the full moon on a quiet yet treacherous mountain pass, a single headlight pierces the inky darkness. An engine roars. Tires squeal. A solitary figure speeds past; all the girls want him, all the guys want to be him, and one scientist wants him to get back to the lab ASAP. He is the; Rebel Frankenstein  

As I am want to do at my job, I peruse the ol’ iTunes to kill some time and maybe find some sweet tunes to whittle the day away to. So, I thought I’d share some of the more noteworthy finds for you to wring your hands in wait to!