The 80’s were a magical time for the growth of heavy metal, but I believe Operation: Mindcrime is one of the prime examples of why that era still is fondly remembered. Alongside Melissa by Mercyful Fate and Ride the Lightning by Metallica, Operation: Mindcrime made waves for the bands that followed, creating a waves of influence felt through the next few decades. It was also imperative to progressive metal as a whole, and while being a conceptual album and debatably what we call “prog metal” today, it still remains the middle ground between traditional heavy metal and what Dream Theater would solidify in the following year. So with Geoff Tate and friends getting together to celebrate 30 years of this timeless... 

Metal Blade Records is happy to announce the signing of Skull Pit, a new band featuring the talents of Mem V. Stein (Exumer) and Tatsu Mikami (Church Of Misery)!  

MACHINE MAN RECORDS is pleased to announce the 18-track remix album from CHMCL STR8JCKT, appropriately titled “RMX”. Available on CD and Name Your Own Price digital download via MACHINE MAN RECORDS’ Bandcamp site.  

Portland doom quartet USNEA announce Fall 2018 tour dates throughout North America. The band continues to tour in support of their recent full-length album Portals Into Futility. The tour commences September 9 in Boston, MA, ends September 21 in Washington D.C and includes two dates with Monolord plus a performance at Basilica Soundscape. A full list of tour dates is available below.  

Yob’s latest album, Our Raw Heart, has been receiving high marks all across the metal community. I myself chimed in last week with nothing but praise for this accomplishment, and the hype is absolutely real for this beast of an album. With a North American tour with Bell Witch recently underway, things are looking great for the Oregon doom trio. Before heading out, I was able to catch up with bassist Aaron Rieseberg, who was able to give us some insighto n the going ons with the band, the new album, and the upcoming tour.  

Sheesh, are we already seven albums deep into Wisdom In Chains’ discography? So long as I’ve enjoyed hardcore punk, the Pennsylvania band has been a steady and reliable force in the genre for putting out a constant stream of tried and true hardcore, epitomizing it for the modern landscape. Nothing In Nature Respects Weakness keeps the band going into 2018, following up 2015’s The God Rhythm, and while bands typically fall into a groove of comfort by this point, Wisdom In Chains are still playing in the full spectrum of their respective genre instead of pigeon-holing themselves into a corner. Refreshing? Enjoyable? You bet.  

Portland doom quartet USNEA announce Fall 2018 tour dates throughout North America. The band continues to tour in support of their recent full-length album Portals Into Futility. The tour commences September 9 in Boston, MA, ends September 21 in Washington D.C and includes two dates with Monolord plus a performance at Basilica Soundscape. A full list of tour dates is available below.  

Germany’s progressive death metal masters OBSCURA have shared the second single from their highly anticipated impending full-length album Diluvium.  

You know his name…you know his face…and you know the flaming woolly mammoth that he rides into battle. Last year, MARVEL LEGACY introduced Odin and his Prehistoric Avengers to critical acclaim, with their story becoming the number one comic in the industry—and now, Marvel invites you to witness the origin of the very first Ghost Rider! Superstar artist Sara Pichelli (Fantastic Four, FCBD Avengers) joins Avengers writer Jason Aaron for this special “one and done” story that takes you back in time to 1,000,000 BC!  

LIFE OF AGONY is thrilled to announce that BILLYBIO, the new solo band from Billy Graziadei(Biohazard/Powerflo) will be main support on the LOA’s upcoming ‘Rise of the Underground‘ European tour. Billy’s set will include brand-new music from his first-ever solo album along with a couple of Biohazard favorites(perhaps with appearances by LOA?!).  

No bullshit compromises of any kind whatsoever. That’s what Siege Of Power is all about! Siege Of Power started in 2013 as a project without any expectations. Shortly after releasing a split album it was left for dead, buried and almost forgotten until the rotten corpse was exhumed in 2017.  

June 6 in the year of the King (2018): Citizens! Today is a great day for Avatar Country and therefore the world as His Royal Majesty once again claims the title of not only King of our glorious nation but also King of the road.