EARTH‘s career, like its music, has always been a slow, deliberate progression. Each record slightly removed from the last, a constant refinement of a singular vision. Dylan Carlson has remained focused throughout on coaxing moments of strange beauty and reflection from “the riff“. This elemental foundation of rock is refracted, in their earliest recordings, through the prism of sheer volume and feedbacking drone or, in the twin Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light set from 2011 and 2012, via a sparse unraveling take on folk.  

Critically-acclaimed, Billboard-charting metal unit, AMON AMARTH, will be reconquering North America this Fall. This time around, the band will bring fellow Swedes, Sabaton, along for the ride. Additionally, Skeletonwitch will once again be opening the show, with the exception of New York City where fans will be treated to the first-ever North American performance from extreme metal supergroup, Vallenfyre as part of the Decibel Magazine 10th anniversary celebrations (which will include additional news and events to be announced soon).  

Swedish death metal collective, ENTRAILS, is pleased to unveil Resurrected From The Grave – Demo Collection, an eighteen-track compilation featuring the band’s Reborn and Human Decay demos.  

The Oakland funeral doom legion, LYCUS, is in the final stages of locking down the second US tour in support of their mammoth 2013-released debut LP, Tempest.  

Kaotoxin Records has announced the recording of what could be dubbed as being “The French Peel Sessions” as, for the first time in France, the state-owned national radio network, Radio France, have started an ongoing series of “live in the studio” recordings for nation-wide broadcasting on their “Le Mouv” channel.  

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!  

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.”  

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.