Blog author:  Alex Stojanovic

It's the moment the rest of us thrashers in North America have been waiting for.  With the Bay Strikes Back Tour, featuring Testament, Exodus and Death Angel in full swing right now across the U.S on the first leg, many cities were left off the list, not to mention all of Canada.  However, that has changed now, as the three bands have announced a second leg of the tour that will take place in the fall.

The second leg will hit a bunch of cities across the U.S, and they include a bunch of Canadian cities finally.  Set to begin on September 9 in Phoenix, the second leg will run for 25 shows before wrapping up on October 15 in San Jose.  Not only is this a tour not to be missed because of the three legendary Bay Area thrash names on the bill, but also because Dave Lombardo is back in Testament now.  Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 29 at 10 AM local time.  See the dates below.

Sep 09 - Phoenix, AZ @ Van Buren
Sep 10 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theatre
Sep 12 - Wichita, KS @ Cotillion Ballroom
Sep 13 - Kansas City, MO @ Truman Theatre
Sep 15 - St. Louis, MO @ Pageant
Sep 16 - Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl
Sep 18 - St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
Sep 19 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
Sep 21 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
Sep 22 - Silver Spring, MD @ Fillmore
Sep 23 - Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theatre
Sep 26 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
Sep 27 - Albany, NY @ Empire Live
Sep 28 - Portland, ME @ State Theatre
Sep 30 - Montreal, QC @ MTelus
Oct 01 - London, ON @ London Music Hall
Oct 03 - Ft. Wayne, IN @ Piere's
Oct 04 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
Oct 06 - Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre
Oct 08 - Calgary, AB @ Palace Theatre
Oct 10 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
Oct 12 - Ventura, CA @ Ventura Theatre
Oct 13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre
Oct 14 - Reno, NV @ Cargo
Oct 15 - San Jose, CA @ Civic Theatre

Blog author:  Alex Stojanovic

AVE SATANAS!  After many tour dates, delays, a pandemic, and even a very brief journey beyond the grave, Venom Inc. are finally ready to unleash their sophomore album.  The follow-up to 2017's Ave will be titled There's Only Black, and will be released September 23rd on Nuclear Blast Records.  The album will be their first to feature Jeramie Kling on drums, replacing Abbadon (who didn't even appear on the last album, as the drums were all programmed).  You can check out the track listing and the album artwork below.

There's Only Black track listing:

01.  How Many Can Die
02.  Infinitium
03.  Come To Me
04.  There's Only Black
05.  Tyrant
06.  Don't Feed Me Your Lies
07.  Man As God
08.  Burn Liar Burn
09.  Nine
10.  Rampant
11.  The Dance
12.  Inferno

The band have also offered the first taste of the new album with the opening track "How Many Can Die", which you can watch the lyric video for down below.  The track is fast and driving, just what you'd expect from a Venom track.

On top of that, it's also Mantas' birthday today, so let's all wish a Happy Birthday to the legend himself, and the creator of all things black and extreme in metal:  Mantas!

Blog author:  Alex Stojanovic

Usually in the summer time, many bands are overseas in Europe playing the festivals.  However, with uncertainty still lurking around in some European countries regarding gatherings, bands are making their ways across North America, because touring over here is back in full swing.  Speaking of which, a brand new co-headline tour between Anthrax and Black Label Society has just been announced.  The 24-date summer jaunt will begin on July 26 in Phoenix, and run through August 28 in Philadelphia, and it will also see Hatebreed serving as special guests.

Anthrax are continuing to work on the follow-up to For All Kings due for release sometime later this year or next year, but also continuing to celebrate their 40th anniversary, while Black Label Society are continuing to tour in support of their latest release Doom Crew Inc.  Tickets for the tour go on sale this Friday, April 22 at 10 AM local time.  You can see the full routing for the tour down below.

Jul 26 - Phoenix, AZ @ Van Buren
Jul 28 - Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl
Jul 29 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
Jul 30 - Sacramento, CA @ Heart Health Park
Aug 01 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
Aug 02 - Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre
Aug 04 - Gary, IN @ Hard Rock Live
Aug 05 - Oshkosh, WI @ Oshkosh Arena
Aug 06 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fillmore
Aug 08 - Dallas, TX @ Southside Ballroom *
Aug 09 - Austin, TX @ Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheatre
Aug 11 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle

Aug 12 - Orlando, FL @ House Of Blues
Aug 13 - Charlotte, NC @ Fillmore
Aug 15 - Cincinnati, OH @ Andrew J Brady Music Centre
Aug 16 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
Aug 18 - Silver Spring, MD @ Fillmore
Aug 19 - Rochester, NY @ Main Street Armory
Aug 20 - Detroit, MI @ Fillmore *
Aug 22 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE (Outside)
Aug 23 - Toronto, ON @ History
Aug 24 - Montreal, QC @ Cogeco Amphitheatre
Aug 26 - Brooklyn, NY @ Coney Island Amphitheatre
Aug 28 - Philadelphia, PA @ Fillmore *

Blog author:  Alex Stojanovic

It's the moment Head Cases around the globe have been waiting for!  After the last four years brought them major lineup changes, the 25th anniversary tour of Burn My Eyes, cancelling shows due to the pandemic, releasing standalone singles and an EP, Machine Head have announced the details regarding their much-anticipated 10th studio album.  However, it's not just a studio album; it's a concept album.

The new album titled Of Kingdom & Crown, will be released on August 26th via Nuclear Blast Records and Imperium Recordings.  The 13-track album tells the story of two characters names Ares and Eros who both experience big losses of loved ones and how their lives intertwine.  The album will also contain 4 of the singles that were released in the last year: the three tracks from Arrows In Words From The Sky EP, as well as "My Hands Are Empty".

Of Kingdom & Crown track listing:

01.  Slaughter The Martyr
02.  Choke On The Ashes Of Your Hate
03.  Become The Firestorm
04.  Overdose
05.  My Hands Are Empty
06.  Unhallowed
07.  Assimilate
08.  Kill Thy Enemies
09.  No Gods, No Masters
10.  Bloodshot
11.  Rotten
12.  Terminus
13.  Arrows In Words From The Sky
14.  Exteroception *
15.  Arrows In Words From The Sky (Acoustic) *

* Digipack bonus track

You can get a preview of the new album with the first single "Choke On The Ashes Of Your Hate", which you can watch the music video for down below.  If you were disappointed in Catharsis, which was most of us, you'll be happy to know that this new song is one hell of a crusher, and it looks like this album will serve as a huge redemption.

This is a huge album in the history of Machine Head, because it's the first to feature the new lineup of Vogg Kieltyka (Decapitated) on guitars and Matt Alston (Devilment) on drums.  Machine Head will kick off the touring cycle for the album with a European Vikings & Lionhearts co-headline tour with Amon Amarth and special guests The Halo Effect in September and run through October.  This definitely sounds like it's going to be Machine Head's year!

Blog author:  Alex Stojanovic

After announcing their brand new album Hate Uber Alles a couple of months ago, and giving a brutal first taste of the album with the title track, Kreator have now premiered the second single from the album with "Strongest Of The Strong", which is more mid-paced with more melody, but it's still an absolute banger.  The music video for the track can be streamed down below.

Hate Uber Alles will be released on June 3 via Nuclear Blast Records, and will be the first to feature former DragonForce bassist Frederic Leclercq, who replaced longtime bassist Christian "Speesy" Giesler in 2019.