Russian black-metal band SERPENS has just released their debut album “Nox Irae” (Night of Rage, Latin) via MUSICA Production. The group from Saint-Petersburg was formed in 1996. New album was recorded, mixed and mastered at Black Studio, Saint-Petersburg with engineer Denis Devichenskiy. Track-list:

1. V Vechnost (Into the Eternity) 04:57 
2. Initsiatsiya Smertyu (Initiation by Death) 05:23 
3. Namestnik Vselennoy (Deputy of Universe) 04:29 
4. Nox Irae 05:13 
5. Sumerki (Twilight) 04:21 
6. Na Koster (To the Fire) 04:00 
7. Proklinayuschiy (Damnator) 04:30 
8. V Obraze Zmeya (In Image of Serpent) 06:54

Two songs may be downloaded from Musica.mustdie.ru: http://musica.mustdie.ru/ru/band/serpens/15249/

From press-release: “You can hear natural-born true black-metal performing all horrors of our life”.

Apokefale & Devoid Of Grace split-album online release

"Where Devil Will Seem Saintly" is a joint release by APOKEFALE and DEVOID OF GRACE. 8 tracks by two of the brightest bands on the Russian extreme metal scene will stun even hardened listeners, let alone their unsuspecting neighbours.

APOKEFALE blow up all stereotypes with their original style called blackcore by many. Their music combines furious black/death and metalcore with depression of sludge, ambience of post-metal and experiments of progressive rock.

DEVOID OF GRACE play murderous death metal that blends old-school traditions with modern approach to sound. Staying true to their roots, the band enriches their music with a large dose of fresh ideas that will be loved by fans of Decapitated, Gojira, Chimaira.

You can download the split and order the CD on the official websites of the bands:

http://apokefale.com
http://devoidofgrace.ru

Musica.mustdie.ru has arranged an interview with Siberian black-metal band THEOSOPHY. The band has stated that they will not release debut longplay til' 2010. "We will record all new songs for our debut album", - said The Phantom, leader of the band. "Tracks from our recent split with BIZARREKULT will not appear on a new CD. We will record both fast and groove songs for this album, but don't afraid, there will be old school black-metal on this CD". 

MUSICA PRODUCTION presents:

Long-awaited debut album "Mir V Ogne (World in Flames)" of heavy-metal band TROYA.

Excellent melodic material in a vein of the best bands of Russian heavy-metal like CATHARSIS, ARIYA and EPIDEMIYA. TROYA's debut album is for all fans of this style. Breathtaking melodies, heartfelt ballads, heaviness of material. "World in Flames" had to release half year ago, but despite of delay, labum's music didn't suffer. The band give many gigs, they achieved final of russian "To Launch!" contest last year. Group already work on new CD. Track-list:

1. Mir V Ogne (World in Flames)
2. Zvezda Nadezhdy (Star of Hope)
3. Posle Nas (After us)
4. Imperiya (Empire)
5. Krivoe Ozero (Crooked Lake)
6. Prizrak v Pustote (Ghost in the Emptiness)
7. Protiv Gordyh Bogov (Against the Proud Gods)
8. Vspominay Obo Mne (Remeber Me)
9. Troya (Troy)

Labelsite: http://mp.musica.mustdie.ru

Bandsite: http://troy-band.ru

MP3: http://musica.mustdie.ru/en/band/troja/14158/

Southrussian black-metal band RAGOR are working on a new album. The CD was recorded in Grindhous Studio (St. Peterburg). Workname of this album "Za Gran'yu Sveta" (After Edge of the Light). Track-list (no particular order):

1. Krugom Lish' Mrak (Only Dark is Around)
2. Sgoraet Vremya (The Time is Burning)
3. Otchaenie (Despairation)
4. Za Gran'yu Sveta (After the Edge of the Light)
5. Zima Idyot (The Winter is Going)
6. Pogrebal'nym Kostrom (Of Funeral Fire)
7. Stonet Pechal' (The Grief is Groaning)
8. Prosnuvshis' v nedrah iskoriozhennoy zemli (Awaked in the Depths of Broken Earth)

Actual Line-Up:

GOR - bass, vocal
HAVROG - guitar
AFTER DEATH - guitar
STYM - drums

The debut CD of RAGOR "Zakat Krovavym Mechom" was released in 2006 via MUSICA Production. Members of highly acclaimed black-metal band DRAMA were in the line-up, recording first CD.

More information and MP3 here: http://musica.mustdie.ru/ru/band/ragor/13005/

Turkmenian RELICTS has just released their third album via MUSICA Production. That is first pro-released CD of this talented oriental techno-death-metal band. Oriental motives meet with difficult progressive techno-death-metal in their music. Hardly to remember one more metal band from Turkmenistan, one of Middle Asia countryies of ex-USSR. Track-list:

1. Vendidad
2. Anthill
3. Desert
4. Haoma
5. Sacred Fire
6. Underside of Truth
7. Stratosphere
8. Asphyxy
9. End of Times
10. 12 on the Richter Scale

Bandsite: http://www.relicts.org

MP3 (2 full songs): http://musica.mustdie.ru/ru/band/relicts/14023/

MUSICA Production has just released first Split-CD in their history. There are two original black-metal bands from Siberia on this album. THEOSOPHY - black-metal band in a vein of IMMORTAL. They perfectly combined nordic black-metal sound with interesting melodies and harmonies. BIZARREKULT - this project of main DRYADOS member Roman. This original piece of ancient black-thrash-metal. The first time in black-metal music lyrics was written in Tatar language. Words in this strange language give to the music shamaniac touches. Track-list:

THEOSOPHY
1. Damnation Of Northern Lands
2. For Cold
3. Forest Legion
4. Our Dark Fears
5. Fight In Darkness Sky

BIZARREKULT
1. Ãûíàhàëå
2. Êûÿôàòñûç
3. Îçûëåï
4. Êûë Ûñòåíäå
5. Òåëñåç Áóøëûê
6. Ìàòûðëûê Êóëýãýäý

MP3: http://musica.mustdie.ru/ru/band/theosophy_bizarrekult/14024/

On this Friday 29th of August IMMORTAL played in 'Shadow' club in Moscow. Our photo-gallery can be viewed here: http://musica.mustdie.ru/ru/galleries/1/244/

Russian Black-metal bands RAGOR and DRAMA to support GORGOROTH in St. Petersburg, Russia on 20th of October. GORGOROTH will play two shows in Moscow and St. Petersburg in October.

In other news, DRAMA have posted new live-video "Assault by Chaos Hysteria" from Minsk, Belarus on their MySpace page.

Link: http://www.myspace.com/dramastorm

Kiev christian black-death-metal band HOLY BLOOD has changed their line-up. All musicians except band's mastermind Fedor Buzilevich left the group. HOLY BLOOD already has new instrumentalists: Vera on keyboard (has participated in recordings of two first albums "Waves Are Dancing" and "Wanderer"), Irina Klesh on bass and Olexander Omelchenko on drums.

HOLY BLOOD's new album "Patriot" has just released via American label Bombworks. Agreement about releasing this album in Russia and CIS is in the works. First two albums of Ukrainian band was released in Russia by MUSICA Production. 

MUSICA Production have signed contract with Turkmenistani oriental black-metal band RELICTS. The band plays dark and heavy black-metal with folk influences. Debut CD "12 on the Richter Scale" will be released this fall. Samples will be available soon. Track-list:

1. Vendidad
2. Anthill
3. Desert
4. Haoma
5. Sacred Fire
6. Underside of Truth
7. Stratosphere
8. Asphyxy
9. End of Times
10. 12 on the Richter Scale

BRUTAL ASSAULT, vol. 13
3 DAYS – 2 STAGES – 70 BANDS

Thursday August 14th – Saturday August 16th, 2008
Jaromer – Old Army Fortress (130 km. east of Prague), Czech Republic

Brutal Assault Festival vol. 13 is coming! Check out the Czech prime metal meeting, this time with such bands as CARCASS, CRADLE OF FILTH, ARCH ENEMY, SIX FEET UNDER, NEUROSIS, PARADISE LOST and many others! Again in unique Old Army Fortress in Jaromer (130km from Prague) in the Czech Republic.

After the last year’s successful edition, which was visited by 10 000 metalheads from all over the world, the next volume is coming and promises next impressive experiences. From year to year is the festival’s program more and more manifold and promises more and more foreign metal crowd-pullers for the fans of promiscuous extremely genres.
We are still in unique festival ground in Jaromer, in the Old Army Fortress called Josefov. Imagine the festival will be held at an old army fortress! This place has a huge history and unique atmosphere. There are many parts of the fortress and one of courtyard will be used as the festival ground. The fortress was built 1780 - 1789 for the Emperor Josef II. It comprises ramparts (in the form of octagonal bastions), extensive casemates (to a length of some 45km, of which 5km are open to the public), the headquarters building, a hospital, barracks, the armory, the Church of the Ascension and houses.
Jaromer is situated 130 km east of Prague, 20km north from Hradec Kralove.

As usual at the festival are gonna be more than 70 bands from all over the world!  Check the actual line-up:

CARCASS – CRADLE OF FILTH – ARCH ENEMY – SIX FEET UNDER – NEUROSIS – PARADISE LOST – AGNOSTIC FRONT – BEHEMOTH – SODOM – MAYHEM – ENTOMBED – FINNTROLL -  KATAKLYSM – EXODUS - SOILWORK
SAMAEL – SEPTICFLESH – CEPHALIC CARNAGE – ALL SHALL PERISH – NOVEMBRE – TEXTURES – 1349 – ANAAL NATHRAKH – SWALLOW THE SUN – GENERAL SURGERY – PRIMORDIAL – DESPISED ICON – HOLLENTHON – SWORN ENEMY – GLOOMY GRIM – ILLIDIANCE – RASTA – GRENOUER – HATE – CODE – ARKONA – BEHEADED – INVERACITY – WARBRINGER – INHERIT DISEASE + many more T.B.A.
The entrance fee at the door is only 46 EUR for 3 orgasmic days! For more info regarding pre-sales check out www.brutalassault.cz. The ticket price includes 2 EUR garbage deposit (if you bring back a full garbage bag you will get 2 EUR back).
The festival is starting on Thursday the 14th at 3pm. Camping and parking nearby the festival ground is free of charge, open on Wednesday the 13th. We will play again on 2 stages!
For more info check out www.brutalassault.cz, www.myspace.com/brutalassaultcz or get in touch with us : infoassault@centrum.cz or call directly hotline +420242483020.

Magic Circle Music
Proudly Presents

The Magic Circle Festival 2008
“The Kings Of Metal 20th Anniversary Event” Bad Arolsen, Germany

• 4 days of unlimited metal madness
• 20,000 free beers
• 20,000 free copies of the new MANOWAR single
• 4 Custom Built Choppers owned by MANOWAR band members given away
• 6 classic MANOWAR albums performed live in their entirety

What more could anyone ask for? Maybe the real question is, what more could there be?

After the incredible success of the first-ever Magic Circle Festival in 2007, with an attendance of over 25,000 fans, Magic Circle
Music and MANOWAR are pleased to bring true metal fans a bigger, better and of course louder Magic Circle Festival in 2008.

Over four days a HUGE lineup of the greatest metal bands on earth, including MANOWAR, Alice Cooper, Whitesnake, Ted Nugent, Def Leppard, WASP, Doro, Gotthard, MSG and others will make this year's edition twice as good as the original.

As year 2008 will mark the 20th anniversary of the classic MANOWAR album "Kings Of Metal" MANOWAR will commemorate this momentous occasion by performing two different sets on Friday and Saturday performing their first six albums in their entirety.

Beginning on July 9th a very special opening ceremony hosted by the reining Mr. Metal will take place at the festival campground. This is when the party will begin. On a side stage the "Battle Of The Metal Bands Contest" will feature talented bands from all over
the world that have submitted their songs and videos through www.youtube.com. This battle will last over two days and the winning band  will  play  on  the  main  festival  stage  and  be  awarded  a  recording  contract  from  Magic  Circle  Music.  Also  from  July  9th  on,
20,000 free beers will be given away to fans in attendance.

As part of the opening day's festivities a torch lit ceremony will happen at night where the 16 meter long Viking ship that appeared onstage  during  MANOWAR's  "Demons,  Dragons  and  Warriors  2007  Tour"  and  was  used  during  last  year's  festival  will  be completely burned and sent to Valhalla.

Thursday night will see the incomparable Alice Cooper and Ted Nugent perform alongside the legendary Michael Schenker Group and newcomers Benedictum. Also during the day, all fans can meet, hang out and get autographs from MANOWAR, HolyHell and other bands that will play the festival.

On Friday legends such as Gotthard, Doro, WASP and others like Brazen Abbot (feat. Ex-Rainbow singer Joe Lynn Turner), Jack Starr's Burning Starr, Germany's Stormwarrior and Kobus from South Africa will perform while the Kings Of Metal will close the day performing their albums "Battle Hymns", "Into Glory Ride" and "Hail To England".

On Saturday, July 12 the day will start with the winner of the "Battle Of The Bands" contest, followed by the young Sixth Sense, the German Mob Rules, the powerful Titanium Black, Beloved Enemy, the female fronted metal powerhouse HolyHell, Germany's true metal stronghold Majesty and spectacular shows of the legendary Def Leppard and Whitesnake. Finally MANOWAR will continue to perform their next 3 albums by playing "Sign Of The Hammer", "Fighting The World" and finally "Kings Of Metal"; All be played from start to finish. This set will also feature a bombastic first-time rendition of "The Crown And The Ring (Lament Of The Kings)", which
will feature the original choir and orchestral performance that has never been seen before.

"It surely will be an event the metal fans will never forget", says Magic Circle Music President Joey DeMaio. "We have started out
our own festival idea to say ‘Thank You' to the greatest fans in the world and we are now proud of the fact that we can continue this great  series:  One  admission,  free  parking,  free  camping,  20.000  free  beers  and,  and,  and.  Don't  miss  out  on  the  biggest  heavy metal experience of 2008. Be sure to attend the Magic Circle Music Festival."

True Metal Shall Reign Forever! Death To False Metal! Hail and Kill!

4-day    tickets    at    80,-    EUR    (+    surcharges)    are    now    available    at    www.nuclearblast.de,    www.magiccirclefestival.com, www.eventim.com, www.tickets-online.com and may other outlets.

For more information, please visit www.magiccirclefestival.com and www.manowar.com.

ROYAL HUNT and John West have decided that at this time (after numerous albums and concert tours) they are no longer able to contribute creatively to each other's future musical development. It's been a hell of a ride, but both parties feel like it is about time to move on and explore different musical paths - therefore, they mutually agreed to part ways as of March 16th, 2007. "We're not ruling out possible future collaborations for a joint venture or a side project" – André and John state - "but it won't be under the RH moniker". John had joined ROYAL HUNT in 1999 during the recording of the "Fear" album and he worked with the band until their latest release – live CD/DVD "Royal Hunt 2006".

MUSICA Production presents:

MELANCHOLY's new album "Nano". Long-awaited album after great responds on EP "Proôet Ver.1" is waited by such success as last album. Russian lyrics, great realisation. Nu-Gothic-metal, which was discovered by the band itself, is in the best form! MELANCHOLY was nominated on RAMP 2006 (Russian Alternative Music Award), as "the best metal act". Promo-video for song "Five" is rotated at A-One channel. This video is on this "Nano" CD as a bonus. Track-list:

1. Cyber-Generation
2. Five
3. Nu-Religion
4. Free
5. My Paradise
6. From Within
7. Emptiness
8. Creep In a shell
9. Next Day's mourning
10. Cryptocode
+ bonus video "Five"

MP3: http://musica.mustdie.ru/ru/band/melancholy/12272/#samples

Label: http://mp.musica.mustdie.ru

Band: http://www.melancholy.ru