While they are cruising North along the Swedish East Coast they got word from one of our scouting parties in Germany. When they made it to the city of Herne, they were greeted by three men that are filled with RAGE! 70000TONS OF METAL: The World's Biggest Floating Heavy Metal Festival! 24 out of 40 on board and counting.  Check out The confirmed 24 out of 40 bands after the jump.  For more info on the event check out 70000 Tons of Metal Cruise.

Not long after releasing their 2008 album, The Black Curse, Swedish black-metallers, Lord Belial, called it quits. They cited the main reason for the split was a hearing problem their drummer developed as a result of playing in the band. Despite all this, it looks like Lord Belial is back working on new material.

According to a blog the band posted they have resumed activities and has even inked a deal with U.K.’s Sweden's (thanks, Anders) Dozer Records. Writing and recording has already begun on a new record, expected to drop sometime next year. All reports so far indicate that their previous drummer will, despite his previous medical problems, be returning with the rest of the pack. 

Månegarm announced today they have parted ways with their bassist, Pierre Wilhelmsson. The band further mentions on their MySpace blog that they will not seek out a replacement for Wilhelmsson, instead vocalist Erik Grawsio will take over. 

Grawsio must be one those multi-talented folk given he already records drums for the band, vocals, and will now be filling in the roll as bassist.... More power to him.

You read that right. According to Immortal’s official site, the title track off 2009’s All Shall Fall album, has received the video treatment and will be released on Friday, September 3rd.  The video, the bands first in 15 years, was shot in Norway by Varde Films and will feature Immortal’s full line-up (Abbath, Demonaz, Apollyon and Horgh). 

Look for what the band calls “the exclusive premiere of this majestic piece of art” Friday, 5:00pm CET (that’s 9:00am MST) here: http://www.immortalofficial.com/

[Official statement via MySpace Blog]

Ave!

The dawn of a new dark era has risen, and a new hellish chapter has begun.

Despite the circumstances, I must say that the band and I are extremely motivated and excited to start a new chapter in the saga that is DARK FUNERAL. We've already have some killer plans for the future. And all I can say at this point is that we'll be moving forward with full force and without mercy.

Those of you who've followed Dark Funeral since the beginning in 1993, surly know that this is not the first time we've undergone a major lineup change. And whatever some people may have thought or whined about, no one can deny the fact that I/we've always succeeded in recruiting new and amazing musicians to move forward and reach new heights with the band. There is absolutely no doubt in our mind that this will again be the case.

On August 21st we performed our last show with Emperor Magus Caligula at the Summer Breeze Festival in Germany. Since this was a very special performance in many ways, we not only put on our biggest pyro show ever, we also captured this gig with 10 cameras (including 1 crane). So you can be sure to expect a DVD release from this killer show in the near future. More info regarding the DVD will come in due time…

Since parting ways with E.M.Caligula, it come as no surprise to the rest of us, that B-Force would follow the same path and throw in his towel too. So I wish to thank him for the six fantastic years he'd been with us on bass. It’s been a pleasure indeed working together.

Read More After the Jump »

Alright Slipknot fans, this one is for you. 

Slipknot's drummer, Joey Jordison, spoke to The Des Moines Register recently on the status of the band, dealing with the loss his friend Paul Gray (whom he describes as his musical soulmate) and the general state of things. The gist of the article is Slipknot will return with a new record in time, and they don’t intend to replace Gray, opting instead to have current members of the band fill in on bass. Rejoice, Maggots!

Follow this link to read the full article. 

2010 marks the 20th anniversary of the UK doom titan, My Dying Bride. To commemorate two decades of doom and gloom, the band embarked upon a project to re-work familiar melodies and themes from My Dying Bride’s extensive catalogue into long, flowing symphonic compositions, including new vocals and passages from vocalist, Aaron Stainthorpe. These arrangements have been brought to life, in cooperation with keyboard maestro Johnny Maudling (of Bal Sagoth fame), and will be released as Evinta this fall on Peaceville Records.

The rumor on the street today is that Pantera's unreleased track called "The Will To Survive" will be available online.  On Monday, August 30th Pantera will be releasing it online over the band's Facebook page.   The track will also be released on the "Cowboys From Hell 20th Anniversary" album on disc 3, which is set to release on September 14, 2010.

Grave Digger’s new album The Clans Will Rise Again will be released October 1st in Europe and for some reason feels no closer now than it did a few weeks ago when we first announced it. Still, I have little reason to complain given the band was gracious enough to release that little video you see above featuring the third track off said album, Hammer of the Scots.   

The track is really just alright for me. I’ll need a few more listens to make my mind up. It’s defiantly the Grave Digger I have come to know and love -- I just hope it’s not the ‘best’ song on the record, you know?  Whatever the case may be, it’s done very little to stave off my excitement. The Clans Will Rise Again!

A few weeks ago we brought you rather sad news of Behemoth’s front man, Nergal, having been diagnosed with a serious illness and as a result canceling the rest of the band’s tour dates for the year. At the time no one was sure exactly what was going on with the iconic frontman, it was known that it was serious but it hasn’t been until recent press releases that we found out he has leukemia.

This situation has become even more dire with the announcement that Nergal’s body was not responding to the chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant would be needed. Unfortunately  his fiancee Doda, who readily offered up her bone marrow, does not look to be a close enough match to donate to her husband to be.

Behemoth’s record label, Metal Blade, is encouraging everyone to learn about marrow donation not only to help one of extreme metal’s most popular leaders but to help prevent loss of life for the countless others out there struggling with the same disease.

More information on marrow donation can be obtained here.

For the time being, Nergal, real name Adam Darski, is being treated at the hematology division in Gdansk Medical University Hospital in Poland. Metal Call-Out wishes Nergal, his friends, and family all the best through this trial.