20 Buck Spin begins confirming the label’s massive 2015 release schedule with the announcement of Cessation, the anticipated upcoming debut full-length from mysterious entity, DEAD IN THE MANGER.  

West Virginia instrumental stoner rock legends, KARMA TO BURN, will bring their bong-ripping riffery and glassy-eyed grooves to the stage on a mammoth live expedition. Scheduled to launch on January 7th, 2015 in Ohio, the band will crumble thirty-three stages across the US and Canada, coming to a close in their home state on February 13th, 2015.  

After a successful debut, the Kaotoxin Fest will return in 2015 for a second edition that will take place in Lille, France on December 5.  

Two generations of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes rise to the challenge and come face-to-face with the Avengers greatest villain in AVENGERS: RAGE OF ULTRON, the can’t miss original graphic novel coming to comic shops and book stores this April! New York Times bestselling writer Rick Remender (Uncanny Avengers, Uncanny X-Force) re-teams with critically acclaimed artists and frequent collaborator Jerome Opeña (Avengers, Uncanny X-Force) to take heroes old and new to the brink of destruction in a story that will redefine Ultron and have long reaching effects for the Avengers!  

Finnish melodic death metallers INSOMNIUM will be kicking off the new year with a special North American tour alongside label-mates DARK TRANQUILLITY! See below for all upcoming dates.  

One of the coolest collaborations is about to drop this February, the split between Le Betre of Sweden and King Buffalo of New York will drop exclusively from DIY vinyl label giant, STB Records! If you love that retro style blues and rock, with an aftertaste of spacey, laidback doom, you have found Nirvana!  

In my search for that gritty, dirty heavy stuff that I crave oh so much, I find some cool shit. A band that was brought to my attention on IG (@anthonyvongrimm for the tip), and it did not disappoint! THe band in question is called Yanomamo, which is hard to say in a rush, hard to type correctly the first time, every time, and fun to say. THis band has all the necessary ingredients I seek, and a review is forthwith! After yon jump!  

Czech Death Metallers HEAVING EARTH will release Denouncing the Holy Throne February 6 on Czech label Lavadome Productions. Artwork and track listing can be found below.  

Twin Cities mosh purveyors, IN DEFENCE, have just wrapped up the mayhem-infiltrated recording process of the act’s fourth full-length for unveiling by mid-2015, and being the road hounds they are, have already booked a full Southern US tour in advance of its release.  

This month, one of the biggest metal acts drops a new record into our laps, the new darker, sexier, sicker Black Widow by In This Moment. The visually stunning act has returned with an album dripping with a dark energy, wanting to sidle up close, whisper somethings into your ear, then make you fall in love while it bleeds you dry from the fangs in your neck. It’s catchy, and sees a fair return to their earlier offerings like Beautiful Tragedy. The beauty of the Black Widow pales to its deadly grace…  

So the holidays are over, the whiskey bottles and cookie crumbs have been swept off the tables, and we are restocking the cabinets for the New Years Eve parties. All is well. Except, hold on, its really not! One only needs to turn on the radio to a “rock station” to know that something sinister has happened. But what, you ask between holiday induced food strokes, could that be??? All I hear is that top 40 R’n’R and some metal! AND THAT’S WHAT’S WRONG. Its not metal. Its… FAKE METAL. (More after the link, so hurry the hell up)  

Another exciting newcomer will make its debut on Cruz Del Sur Music: KING HEAVY from Chile!