ARTIZAN New Album Ancestral Energy Streaming in Full on GuitarWorld.com

Jacksonville Florida's melodic metal quartet ARTIZAN will release theier sophomore effort Ancestral Energy May 10th via Pure Steel Records.Founded in 2008 by drummer Ty Tammeus, ARTIZAN have established themselves as one of the premier acts in their genre. 

Today the band has teamed up with GuitarWorld.com the online home of Guitar World Magazine for an exclusive full album stream of Ancestral Energy. Check out the album in its entirety HERE.

Although they have created a truly unique sound for themselves, many comparisons to classic Iron Maiden, Queensryche and Fates Warning have been made. Clean, multi-octave vocals, classic riffing, spirited melodies and a touch of progressive elements are woven into the seven tracks on the new album. Matt Barlow (Ex-Iced Earth) is a special guest on the epic 10 minute title track. The album illustration was created by Berlin based artist Eliran Kantor (Testament,Evile,Hatebreed,Atheist,Sigh)

Ancestral Energy will be released on May 10th via Pure Steel Records.
Pre-order in North America here.
European orders are availble here.

DEW-SCENTED RELEASE NEW TRACK FROM UPCOMING ANNIVERSARY RELEASE

DEW-SCENTED celebrates 20 years of deadly thrash metal with their upcoming anniversary release, "Insurgent," due May 28 via Prosthetic Records in North America and available now for pre-order. "Insurgent" features a mix of new originals, live tracks and rare covers -- 19 songs and 76 minutes in all. One brand new track, "Confronting Entropy," is now available for streaming on Soundcloud HERE.

The cover art for "Insurgent," seen above, was completed by Björn Gooßes (Killustrations.net). The complete track listing is as follows:

1. Confronting Entropy (5:36)
2. Guided By The Dead Light (5:19)
3. Sadistic Sinner (4:54) * Originally by Incubus (Brazil)
4. Sworn To Obey (Live 2012) (4:05)
5. Turn To Ash (Live 2012) (3:02)
6. Soul Poison (Live 2012) (3:58)
7. Storm Within (Live 2012) (4:02)
8. Cities Of The Dead (Live 2012) (4:44)
9. Never To Return (Live 2012) (4:13)
10. Acts Of Rage (Live 2012) (4:21)
11. In Dying Mode (4:20)
12. Steady Decline (4:32) * Originally by Prong
13. No Spiritual Surrender (2:48) * Originally by Inside Out
14. Good Day For A Hanging (4:28) * Originally by Wasted Youth
15. The Storm (3:23) * Originally by Judge
16. Recall The Pain (1:06)
17. The Death Of Common Sense (3:44)
18. Slaughterhouse (4:31) * Originally by Powermad
19. Superstar Destroyer (2:55) * Originally by Genocide Superstars
-------
1-3: new songs, 2013
4-10: live songs, 2012
11-15: Recorded during the “Icarus” sessions, 2012
16-19: Recorded during the “Invocation” sessions, 2010

Currently on tour throughout Europe with thrash legends Testament, DEW-SCENTED will appear on several high profile festivals in the coming months in addition to participating in the Full Metal Cruise alongside acts such as Doro, Kreator and Sabaton.

See DEW-SCENTED live:
3/26 Prague, CR- Nova Chmelnice #
3/27 Krakow, PL – Studio Clun #
3/28 Berlin, DE – Huxley’s Neue Welt #
3/30 Chaulnes, FR – Chaulnes Metalfest 2013
3/31 Paris,FR - La Machine #
4/5 Paderborn, DE – Metal Inferno Festival @ Kulturwerkstatt
4/6 Neuss, DE – Battles Festival @ Pier 1
4/7 Den Haag, NL – Trojan Metal Fest
5/5-5/12 Hamburg, DE – Full Metal Cruise 2013
6/7 Hauptmannsgrunn, DE – Chronical Moshers Open Air
7/25 Munich, DE – Backstage Halle – Free & Easy Festival
7/26 Magdeburg, DE – Rock Unter Den Eichen Open Air
7/27 Obersinn, DE – Eisenwahn Festival
8/1 – 8/3 Wacken,DE – Wacken Open Air 2013
# with Testament

HEATHEN SIGNS WITH NUCLEAR BLAST

The ink has finally dried and Nuclear Blast Records is proud to announce the worldwide signing of the Bay Area’s indomitable thrash metal band HEATHEN!

Founding member & guitarist Lee Altus comments on the new alliance: 

“I'm really happy and couldn't think of a better label for HEATHEN. I've known people at Nuclear Blast, some of whom have been fans of the band going as far back as the early demo days, and have been friends with them for many years. It's amazing for me to think that throughout this band’s career, every album we recorded has been released on a different label. I can finally say that we have found home. Nuclear Blast has become a mecca for Bay Area thrash bands and we are happy to join our friends and partners in crime Exodus, Death Angel, Testament and Forbidden. Now it's time to get to work on the new album!”

Lead singer David White adds: “I want to thank all the fans for their amazing support; we do not take any of this lightly! Now we move forward with a true Metal record company that really understands what we're all about, 2012 and beyond!!!”

Jaap Wagemaker of the A&R Department at Nuclear Blast Germany shares the following:

“It is no secret that the staff of Nuclear Blast has a soft spot for thrash metal. We all grew up here with classics such as Breaking The Silence and Victims Of Deception, and who doesn’t remember that legendary tour from 1991 with SEPULTURA, SACRED REICH and HEATHEN destroying the stages night after night! We are totally stoked to announce that these legendary Bay Area Thrashers have inked a deal with us and are now labelmates with EXODUS, DEATH ANGEL,TESTAMENT, FORBIDDEN, ANTHRAX, SEPULTURA, OVERKILL, KREATOR, DESTRUCTION and TANKARD!!! Since HEATHEN’s reunion for Thrash of the Titans, we had been following the band very closely over the last couple of years with first-hand information from Lee Altus - who is also swinging the axe in EXODUS - and what we heard from him made us very curious! After seeing HEATHEN play an amazing show at Rock Hard and their release of another classic album with The Evolution of Chaos, it was very clear to us that the band needed to become part of the Nuclear family as well. Seeing the band play several times at last year’s Thrashfest Classics, we were finally able to make this work!! With the signing of HEATHEN, another thrash dream has came true!! Welcome home guys!!!”

Forged in the fertile breeding ground of the Bay Area’s thrash scene in 1984 and debuting onto the worldwide tape-trading scene in 1986 with their six-song “Pray For Death” demo, HEATHEN went on to create the now classic Breaking The Silence in 1987 (whose opening track “Death By Hanging” quickly became a live staple) and 1991’s Victims Of Deception, which included the nine-and-a-half minute opus “Heathen’s Song.” 

Reunited in 2001 for San Francisco’s Thrash of the Titans benefit for Testament’s Chuck Billy and Death’s Chuck Schuldiner, HEATHEN reemerged in full force after a 19-year absence with stellar reviews for 2010’s The Evolution Of Chaos and will begin recording their fourth studio album later this year.

HEATHEN has performed their brand of guitar-driven, fuel-injected thrash metal in Europe at numerous summer festivals, on the Thrash Fest Classics tour with co-headliners Exodus & Sepultura, and the Killfest tour with Overkill, in North America on last year’s spring tour with Destruction, and most recently at the “Bonded By Baloff: A Decade Of Remembrance” memorial in Oakland in February. Their live sets continually test the endurance of headbanging audiences everywhere.

Check out the video for “Dying Season” from The Evolution Of Chaos on YouTube.

HEATHEN 2012 is David White on vocals; Lee Altus on guitar; Kragen Lum on guitar; Jason Viebrooks on bass; and Darren Minter on drums.

James Murphy Has Brain Tumor Relapse; Donations Welcome

James Murphy, former guitarist of both Death and Testament, As well as founding member of the death metal band Disincarnate, has had a relapse of the brain tumor that sidelined him back in 2001. Murphy stated that the tumor had returned but that it was a non malignant and that it was being treated pharmacologically. Unfortunately, those medications have serious side effects that have left him unable to work. The option for different medications is available, but at a cost of over $1000 a month, and he needs a minimum of 6 months of medication for treatment to be effective. With his medical expenses extremely high and James not being able to work due to the side effects of the current medications, the metal community is being asked to come together and help one of their brothers and donate to help him beat this once and for all.

In August 2001, Murphy was discovered to have a massive tumor growth near the base of his brain (on the pituitary gland) and was quickly scheduled for an urgent life-saving operation. James underwent surgery on September 17, 2001, involving a Maxillary Swing procedure that made entry through the left side of the face. An incision was made underneath the left eye, along the side of the nose, and finally through the middle of the upper lip. The facial tissue was then pulled back and the cheekbone removed. They then cut through James' sinus and made entry below the orbit of the eye to remove a portion of the growth. More was removed through an incision made in the soft pallet inside the mouth. About 70% of the tumor was removed, the remainder being too close to vital structures to risk further damage. The sinus was then packed with fat tissue taken from the lower abdomen via an incision below the navel and reattached. The cheekbone was set back in place and held with two small titanium plates. The facial tissue was then sutured closed along with the soft pallet. His mouth was fitted with prosthesis to protect the pallet tissue while it healed. The remaining 30% of the tumor was treated with a medication called Parlodel (Bromocriptine) to shrink it called which James was told he would have to take for the rest of his life. This treatment was more or less successful for 9 years.

A spike in the hormone indicator for the tumor, as discovered by a blood test that was followed up by an MRI to confirm, showed that the tumor was again active, and had grown a bit. Luckily not enough to require surgery, but radiation treatment was still on the table. The decision was made to defer the radiation treatment for 6 months, during which time the tumor would be attacked pharmacologically, increasing the dose of the drug used to hinder its growth to a level which leaves James wiped out, overly fatigued, nauseous, and unable to work to earn his living at full capacity. A better drug, one that has less side-effects, and would require a much smaller dosage is available, but considerable vastly more expensive.

Click Here to Donate:

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Forthcoming TESTAMENT Album 'Dark Roots Of Earth' Drummer GENE HOGLAN to Join Upcoming Co-Headliner with Anthrax from October 28th - November 13th

Bay Area thrash kings TESTAMENT are pleased to announce that current Dark Roots Of Earth studio drummer and world-famous percussionist GENE HOGLAN will be joining them on the road for select dates on their upcoming co-headlining run with Anthrax. Gene will join TESTAMENT from October 28^th through November 13^th.

“As many of you know, I just played on the new TESTAMENT record, Dark Roots Of Earth, which went amazingly well,” states Gene Hoglan. “The dudes were kind enough ask me to join them for a couple weeks on this tour with Anthrax and Death Angel. I’m super stoked to do the shows. It’s going to be a great time. Just so everybody knows, I will be selling my Drum Instructional DVD, The Atomic Clock, at the shows (shameless plug). If you can’t make it out to one of the shows, buy it on line!”

TESTAMENT recently announced that they will again be offering special VIP/Meet & Greet Packs on their upcoming co-headlining tour with Anthrax with support from Death Angel. The band is pleased to announce that the cut off time to purchase VIP/Meet & Greet packs before each individual show has been extended to eight (8) days! The VIP/Meet & Greet packs are selling quickly, so make sure to purchase your pack soon! For more information on how to obtain your special VIP/Meet & Greet Pack, head over to www.slotix.com now.

Purchasing a VIP/Meet & Greet Pack allows you the opportunity to spend intimate, quality time with TESTAMENT. TESTAMENT offered these packs on last year’s monumental American Carnage Tour also featuring Megadeth and Slayer, which presented fans with a unique and exclusive chance to spend time with the band before doors opened, take photos and get autographs, throw up the horns, and chat. This year with the VIP/Meet & Greet Packs, fans will have another chance to hang out, sign autographs and take photos with the band, as well as have access to a ticket to their performance, special merchandise hand-picked by the band, and a collectible TESTAMENT laminate to commemorate this ultimate fan experience!

Testament Meet & Greet Package Includes (Full Details):

• One General Admission ticket
• Meet & Greet with select members of Testament
• Photo with select members of Testament
• Autograph opportunity with select members of Testament
• Testament merchandise items*
• T-shirt of your choice from the merch booth (before doors open)
• Opportunity to purchase a second item at half off from the merch booth (before doors open)
• Assorted guitar picks
• Wristband
• Rare, out of print “Live At The Filmore” cassette
• Original printing of “Demonic” CD
• Collectible Testament laminate

“We love connecting with our fans and showing them same the respect and admiration they show us year after year,” states vocalist Chuck Billy. “Hanging out and talking to the fans was a phenomenal experience for everyone last year. It was a first for us as well as the fans. It’s a great way to join us at the shows in celebration of all that is heavy metal and to make a personal connection with us, so come hang out and commemorate this great tour!”

TESTAMENT have been spending time in the studio recording Dark Roots Of Earth, the follow up to their 2008 Golden God 'Album of the Year' award winning album, The Formation of Damnation, released on Nuclear Blast Records to critical acclaim. The album was named SiriusXM Liquid Metal's 'Album of the Year' in 2008, and debuted at #59 on the Billboard Top 200. The Formation of Damnation is TESTAMENT's highest charting release in their 24-year history.

The band has spent the last three years touring the world in support of The Formation of Damnation, and now brings its original, classic lineup back home to the United States with Anthrax and Death Angel. 

TESTAMENT w/ Anthrax & Death Angel:

10/11 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Orbit Room

10/15 Chicago, IL @ Congress Theater

10/16 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue

10/18 Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion

10/19 Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall

10/21 Las Vegas @ LVCS – No Anthrax

10/22 Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theater

10/23 San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield

10/24 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

10/26 Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater

10/28 Dallas, TX @ South Side Music Hall

10/29 Austin, TX @ Emo’s East

10/30 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live

11/1 Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues

11/2 Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution

11/4 Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues

11/5 Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore

11/6 Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore

11/8 Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights

11/10 Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory

11/11 Worcester, MA @ The Palladium

11/12 Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom * NEW

11/13 Huntington, NY @ The Paramount * NEW

11/15 Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom

11/17 Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE

11/18 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues * NEW

11/19 Milwaukee, WI @ Rave Ballroom