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.”  

  With the recent release of X-Men: Days of Future Past looking like a home run for the “X – Franchise”, many are wondering where the franchise will now be heading. And with the timeline changed, how do the events in DOFP affect the first three X films?  

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.  

Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples’ multiple Eisner and Hugo award-winning New York Times bestseller SAGA returned with the beginning of its fourth arc this week and has instantly sold out at the distribution level. To meet demand, Image Comics is sending SAGA #19 back to press for a one-time-only second printing.  

Under the full moon on a quiet yet treacherous mountain pass, a single headlight pierces the inky darkness. An engine roars. Tires squeal. A solitary figure speeds past; all the girls want him, all the guys want to be him, and one scientist wants him to get back to the lab ASAP. He is the; Rebel Frankenstein  

As I am want to do at my job, I peruse the ol’ iTunes to kill some time and maybe find some sweet tunes to whittle the day away to. So, I thought I’d share some of the more noteworthy finds for you to wring your hands in wait to!  

South Philly punk/hardcore activists COP PROBLEM will raid Brooklyn for a one-off show providing support for NYHC legends, Sheer Terror, this Friday, May 23rd. The FREE gig will take place at the Brooklyn Night Bazaar in Greenpoint, Brooklyn with additional support from NYC punks Agitätor and All Torn Up.  

Detroit, MI’s Battlecross just released a new cover of Slayer’s “War Ensemble!“ SiriusXM Liquid Metal’s Jose Mangin will debut the track live today at 5:00 pm EST. It will then repeat every three hours throughout the weekend. Guitarist Hiran Deraniyagala says, “Slayer is obviously one of our biggest influences. Slayer taught me personally to not give a f#@k and throw in attitude in your riffs. War Ensemble is one of my favorite Slayer songs because it embodies the aggression and attitude of Slayer but also is more dynamic than a traditional Slayer song that is all speed. Jeff Hanneman was an underrated player and it’s shame his greatness was only recognized after he passed.... 

ALLEGAEON will be hitting the road this August with Chimaira, The Plot in You, Upon This Dawning and Silence the Messenger as part of “The Artery Metal Tour“. The tour begins August 5th in Joliet, IL and runs through August 30th in Oklahoma City, OK. A complete list of dates can be found below. Tickets for the tour will be available at arterymetal.soundrink.com.  

San Francisco shredders BLACK COBRA will kick off their latest run of tour actions this evening, Thursday, May 22nd, in their hometown, after which they’ll rip through Fresno, Pacifica, Portland and Seattle over the next five days. Support will be provided on all shows by The Cutthroats 9 and Wizard Rifle, the latter of which replaces Norway’s Arabrot who pulled out of the tour due to a medical emergency.