French extremists Kaotoxin Records will release a six band grindcore split entitled Monsters! (Six of a Kind) on April 15. Featuring tracks from TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION, C.O.A.G., MISERABLE FAILURE, UNSU, and INFECTED SOCIETY, the team effort offers a cornucopia of grindcore madness sure to melt faces! The limited edition – 1,000 copies with no repress – Deluxe DigiSleeve CD was mastered by Dan O’Hare (BRUTAL TRUTH, XXX MANIAK) and also includes bonus music videos from TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION, INFECTED SOCIETY, and UNSU.  

Chicago metal trio DIAMOND PLATE have confirmed a US tour with Bay Area thrashers HATCHET. The “America Under Plague” tour kicks off in Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 11th, just days after DIAMOND PLATE wrap up their current five-week US tour with EAST OF THE WALL. Also appearing on the America Under Plague tour are Colorado power metallers CELLADOR.  

After the newest announcement from the ongoing Lambesis case, I was not expecting a new album to drop from my favorite Arnold-themed band! SURPRISE! its happening.  

I have professed my love for stoner/fuzz/doom/acid rock and metal before, with bands such as Dead Earth Politics, The Sword, Baroness, and the recent releases from Orchid, naming but a few of my picks. Falling in line with the absolute heavy, fuzzed out tones of these spectacular bands is the group called Truckfighters. Just the name alone made me want to give them a listen, and no disappointment was to be found. Beginning to end, these boys know exactly how a fuzz pedal works, and make theirs work overtime on Universe.  

Relapse Records is extremely proud to announce the signing of Richmond, Virginia hardcore thrash supergroup, IRON REAGAN. Consisting of current and former members of Municipal Waste, Cannabis Corpse, Darkest Hour, Mammoth Grinder, Suppression and a thousand other killer bands, IRON REAGAN formed in 2012 and consists of vocalist Tony Foresta, guitarists Phil Hall and Mark Bronzino, bassist Rob Skotis and drummer Ryan Parrish.  

SWORN ENEMY, fronted by Sal LoCoco, established itself in 2000 with the release of Negative Outlook on Jamey Jasta’s Stillborn Records. The record was a mix of old school hardcore punk and new school breakdowns, and quickly gained the band attention in the underground scene.  

In honor of their upcoming Brainsqueeze II Fest, the volume-gremlins at Oakland-based Tankcrimes Records are pleased to offer up the fabulously fest-centric Have You Seen My Mind compilation. A FREE for all free-for-all, the mammoth collection features an exclusive re-recording of Municipal Waste‘s “Insurance Fraud” from their split with Crucial Unit, new hymns from The Shrine and Fucked Up, a remastered version of Final Conflict‘s “Crucifixion,” a bonus tune from Obsessor, sexy numbers from Ghoul, Iron Reagan, BAT, Cannabis Corpse, a bonus bonus track for downloaders and so much MORE!  

Northern California’s death metal juggernauts EMBRYONIC DEVOURMENT will hit the road next month as part of The Brutal Alliance Tour 2014 in support of their newest release, Reptilian Agenda. The band will join ABOLISHMENT OF FLESH and THE OPAQUE on a two-week outing that threatens to lay waste to the West, Southwest and Midwestern United States.  

Three years after the release of Khaos Legions and their most successful world tour to-date, extreme metal icons ARCH ENEMY have started mixing their 9th studio album with Jens Bogren (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, KREATOR) at Fascination Street in Sweden.  

Swedish metal pioneers THE HAUNTED have started recording their 8th studio album at Antfarm Studio in Denmark with their revamped band line-up, featuring founding members Jonas Björler (Bass) and Jensen (Guitars), returning members Adrian Erlandsson (Drums) and Marco Aro (Vocals), and the newest member Ola Englund (Guitars). This currently untitled full-length will be produced by Tue Madsen, who has already worked with the band on their latest albums, in addition to heavyweights such as DARK TRANQUILLITY, HEAVEN SHALL BURN, and SICK OF IT ALL.  

Portland’s celestial space sludge trio, PRIZEHOG this week celebrates the release of their mammoth third full-length as outsider horde, Eolian Empire, unveils the supernova of creativity that is Re-Unvent the Whool. Stated The Obelisk, an underground metal haven online, “The bass-less trio – you’ll note no lack of low end in the record – run a spectrum of effects-laden churning, mashing together bright ambient echoes and deep, dank tonality. I wouldn’t be the first person to compare them to the Melvins, but that doesn’t really do complete justice to the psychedelic side of their sound, which shows up quickly,”  

A new slab of metallic goodness is about to drop on Tuesday March 4th! This one is made of chugging goodness, chainsaws, spiked hammers masquerading as drum pedals, and barbed wire liberally sown into a man’s throat to scrape all that is human from his guttural voice! I am, of course, talking about the new Metallica/My Little Pony collab! Of course I’m not! I kid… if only though… Just imagine Hetfield and Ulrich prancing in neon colored horse outfits!