Thunderous post-instrumental outfit PELICAN have announced the long awaited follow-up to their sprawling 2009 full length What We All Come To Need, a new four song EP Ataraxia/Taraxis to be released via Southern Lord on April 10. With members now residing in separate cities, the EP represents a new chapter in the band’s evolution with a reenergized focus on composition and the utilization of the recording studio as a creative tool in the songwriting process, yielding one of the most diverse efforts in the band’s prolific discography.  

God Forbid has announced two northeast area headlining shows to celebrate completion of their forthcoming album.  

Inferion to Release Long Awaited Album The Desolate Digitally on January 15th Hell will finally arrive on earth on the Lord’s Day, January 15, 2012 in the form of INFERION’s The Desolate. A face melting assault of traditional black metal, The Desolate is the result of many years of writing and recording in fits in starts and in myriad locations, including Iraq when main man guitarist/drummer/vocalist/composer Nick Reyes was deployed with his U.S.  

A long overdue split release, Sri Lanka’s psychotic auditory terrorists and the legionaries of the 666th battalion of the Raavan cult have congregated to create, manifest and aid world spiritual warfare. Released on limited edition vinyl by Dunkelheit Produktionen in December 2011, the seven deranged and trance inducing hymns of tantric mantras – collectively known as Astral Mantras of Dyslexia – are now being released by Dunkelheit on Digipak CD on February 25th with different artwork and a huge booklet!  

News has just been released that Guitar legend Tony Iommi has been Diagnosed with Cancer. Read the statement below.  

Singaporean grindcore trio WORMROT were arrested in the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the night of New Year’s Eve, following a successful performance at the Rumah Api venue with ASILENT.  

FDA Rekotz is set to release Death Strike, the new full-length album from Dutch killer-squad MASSIVE ASSAULT in the Spring of 2012. The album’s artwork and tracklist are featured below. Stay tuned for more details.  

Irving Plaza was full of 80’s hair metal fans, hairspray, and spandex on Wednesday night for a sold out Steel Panther show. The packed crowd were entertained by a medley of Iron Maiden, Guns N’ Roses, and Metallica as they waited for the comedic band to take the stage. Two hours after doors the lights finally dimmed as fans drowned out Black Sabbath with chants of “Steel Pan-ther!” The Vegas hair metal band started out with ‘Supersonic Sex Machine’ from their 2011 release, ‘Balls Out’. Their set was mixed with stand up comedy as vocalist Michael Starr joked about the other band members, girls in the audience, and drugs. They had the audience laughing constantly during... 

Following their first ever trek through Brazil with Aborted, California goregrind ministers EXHUMED will spray their blood overseas next month on the Grind Over Europe Tour 2012. Set to kick off on February 24 in Barcelona, Spain, the band will mercilessly tear through 16 cities. Speakers will blow, ears will bleed, villages will crumble. You have been warned. The band will be joined by label-mates Rotten Sound and Magrudergrind.  

      Warriors Of Metal Fest Open Air is honored to announce that the Baltimore based Progressive Power Metal band MYSTIC-FORCE will be participating in our 5th anniversary show on June 29th & 30th, 2012 at the Frontier Ranch, 8836 York Road in Pataskala, Ohio in 2012.  

DARK NEW DAY–Clint Lowery (guitarist from Sevendust), Will Hunt (drummer from Evanescence), Troy McLawhorn (guitarist from Evanescence), Brett Hestla (lead singer/guitarist from Virgos Merlot) and Corey Lowery (bassist from Stereomud and Eye Empire)—will release their highly anticipated sophomore album, NEW TRADITION, February 28 on Goomba Music (distributed by eOne Music). The first single, “New Tradition” is currently being serviced to radio stations nationwide.  

So, it has finally happened. All the rumors, missed shows and cancelations have come to a head…lead singer Howard Jones has departed Killswitch Engage. Reason for his leaving isn’t being released as of yet, and by the looks of it, seems that the band is keeping it close to the vest on the reason. Howard missed several shows last year while the band was on a stateside tour, with All That Remains singer Phil Labonte steping in to fill some dates. The band also performed with former lead singer Jesse Lynch in New York city in 2010. The band has issued the following statement…