There are wide ranging definitions as to what falls into the genre of Heavy Metal and Blood Of The Black Owl’s newest release, “A Banishing Ritual” can be defined as Black/ Doom Funeral Metal.  

Kraven the Hunter had single-handedly trapped and killed every type of beast that lives, until his obsession with Spider-Man drove him to his grave. Now, his family looks to avenge the great Kravinoff name and in Spider-Man: Origin Of The Hunter #1 (available today),  

  Earache Records artists BONDED BY BLOOD, EVILE and ENFORCER have been confirmed to play at this year’s Bloodstock festival in the UK.  

The Candles are proud to announce the release of their debut album “Between The Sounds,” which is the first album from singer/songwriter Josh Lattanzi.  The songs are based on the experiences and influences he’s picked up while recording and touring with the likes of Ben Kweller, Albert Hammond, Jr. (The Strokes) and Tinted Windows.  

Everyone wants to know who’ll join Earth’s Mightiest Heroes when they assemble in Avengers #1 on May 19th and now Marvel is proud to extend an official offer to join the Avengers! Visit www.IAmAnAvenger.com and submit your photo for a chance to have your picture appear in an upcoming issue of an Avengers comic book. This limited-time invitation is only open to those at least 18 years old and therefore old enough to join the greatest heroes in this universe—or any other!  

Slash made an album and enlisted the talents of various musicians across multiple genres.  

The heavy metal world lost an icon on April 14, 2010 in the death of Peter Steele. Unfortunately for Type O Negative fans that vividly recall the hoax of his death in 2005, this time it’s for real.  

Ratt’s highly anticipated new album Infestation can be streamed in its entirety exclusively on therattpack.com. Infestation is Ratt’s first album in 10 years from these kings of the Sunset Strip, the album finds Ratt tapping their early-day sound for a new generation.  

  MVD Visual is pleased to announce the release of “I Need That Record! The Death (or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store” for North American distribution on April 17 (Record Store Day). It will be offered exclusively to independent record stores for a period of 90 days. Afterwards, it will be available everywhere on July 27.  

Marvel is pleased to announce that, effective September 1, 2010, Marvel books will be sold and distributed into the worldwide book market by the Hachette Book Group. Additionally, Marvel is also pleased to announce an agreement with Diamond Comics Distributor to extend its exclusive Direct Market Service Agreement.  

  Washington, D.C. heavyweights DARKEST HOUR have signed with E1 Music in North America, joining artists such as Hatebreed, High On Fire, Overkill, among others. The band will enter the studio to record new material to be released early next year. “We couldn’t be more excited to announce that Darkest Hour has found a new home with E1 Music,” says founding guitarist Mike Schleibaum.  

Kylesa, whose 2009 album “Static Tensions” was one of the most critically acclaimed metal albums of last year, has signed with Season of Mist with work already underway on the follow-up to the album Revolver awarded 4 stars and Spin referred to as “Midnight in the garden of drop-tuning and evil.”