Friday the 14th of November is the start of the Hammer Battalion tour of Europe ! We are looking forward to meeting you all again and forming a number of local Hammer Battalions all over Europe just like we did in North America only a month ago. Get ready for a crushing new setlist with a few surprises from the old days as well as a good number of songs from the brand new album. Songs like "Warriors of Midgard", "Your Childern will burn", "In victory or defeat", and "Midvinterblot" are on the list to name just a few.
Join the battalion !!! Johnny & The Boys
Full details on all shows unleashed will be playing can be found here. Make sure you get out to see this incredible band live!
Since their formation in 1989 by front-man, vocalist and bassist Johnny Hedlund, Swedish death metal band Unleashed have released 9 albums and one EP in total, ranging in different styles of death metal. Since then they've come a long way in their 19 year history, after a hiatus in 1997, lasting until 2001, when they announced their return returned with the epic album Hells Unleashed (released in 1992), and then since, some of their best material was recorded and released in form of another 3 albums, the latest of which being Hammer Battalion, released in June of this year (2008, for those who have forgotten).
This album marks a high point in the career of Unleashed within the metal ranks, continuing their themes of pre-christian worlds and viking mythology, amongst others. This band is not afraid to 'talk' about some of the most controversial topics in the world today, most notably their extreme anti-christian themes, present throughout pretty much all albums, with songs from the early days such as "I Am God" from their 1993 album Across The Open Sea which boasts the lyrics "I am God, I kill people just for pleasure", amongst other, possibly more graphic subjects included in the package. Basically, they say what they want to say, and aren't afraid of saying it. Hammer Battalion opens with such theme, in the song "The Greatest of All Lies", which speaks of 'the passion of the christ', with the themes continuing into the next song "Long Before Winters Call". " Your Children Will Burn" being the title of the third track, in which serves as a warning of the consequences of blind faith. It's obvious now that Unleashed don't care for what they'd call organized religion, blind faith and so forth, which is, on some sence what the band is all about - voicing against what they believe to be false.
Unleashed certainly are influenced by Nordic and viking culture, aswell as battle themes present in songs such as "This Day Belongs To Me", which represents a soldier in battle calling to Odin to set him free and "Warriors of Midgard". This war theme is also a constantly used topic throughout Unleashed's history as a band. Their albums also feature songs about political matters, mass genocide (see "Triumph of Genocide" on the Midvinterblot album), partying hard and... The lord of The Rings.
Hammer Battalion is a solid addition to the Unleashed discography, with all their trademarks, and more! The album promises pure death metal, no compromise, and delivers! As Johnny says in an interview regarding new material, "We feel very strongly that Hammer Battalion is likely our best album so far, so we don't see new material opting towards a major change. We don't want to walk away from Hammer Battalion's concept, at least not a lot."
Hammer Battalion is now available through SPV records. I recommend you getting yourself a copy. Now if only they'd tour Australia...
To ease the wait for the new Unleashed album, Hammer Battalion, the band have put up two full songs and a few 1 minute samples for lstening on their official website, www.unleashed.se. The Greatest of Our Lies and Long Before Winter's Fall are the two full songs you will hear, and from what I can tell, this album will most likely follow the same direction as Midvinterblot and Sworn Allegiance, which is great!
Unleashed have also confirmed a bunch of tourdates throughout the US with metal legends Obituary. The info on when and where can also be found on Unleashed's official website.
The death metal viking from Sweden have revealed their release dates for their new album Hammer Battalion. It will be released on the 6th of June for Germany, 9th of June for UK & Europe and finally 10th of June for USA/Canada and presumably the rest of the world. The album will consist of 13 songs.
You can also catch Unleashed at the following dates: 30 May 2008 Zagreb Metalfest, Zagreb, Croatia 31 May 2008 Legacy Festival, Belgrade, Serbia 13 Jun 2008 Death Feast Open Air, Hünxe, Germany (Headline) 25 Jul 2008 Eisenwahnfestival, Obersinn, Germany (Headline)
Along with the release of the new (very highly anticipated by me) Opeth album around the same time, lets just say it's going to be some great listening!!
Greetings to all, hope everyone is doing well. Here's some news from a few bands from around the globe, that some of you out there may be interested in.
Unleashed
Unleashed have revealed some new info in light of their upcoming release Hammer Battalion. From their Myspace blog:
Warriors !!!
Unleashed are currently hard at work in the studio to record their 9th studio album, Hammer Battalion.
They also wanted to take this opportunity to reveal the song titles on Hammer Battalion....
1. The Greatest Of All Lies 2. Long Before Winter's Call 3. Your Children Will Burn 4. Hammer Battalion 5. This Day Belongs To Me 6. Marching Off To War 7. Entering The Hall Of The Slain 8. Black Horizon 9. Carved In Stone 10. Warriors Of Midgard 11. Midsummer Solstice 12. Home Of The Brave 13. I Want You Dead
Bloodbath
Taken from their official Myspace:
We now have t-shirts for our new CD "UNBLESSING THE PURITY" which are shipping immediately. Available in a variety of sizes. Order from Bloodbath.biz.
We also will have another big announcement on Friday at our official web site (bloodbath.biz), so stay tuned.. '
Photos of the shirts:
I'm excited to hear this big news. I'm sure one of us will post it when it's revealed.
Morbid Angel
I hear that Morbid Angel are auditioning guitarists to accompany them on their upcoming tour! worldentertainment@comcast.net is where to contact them if you feel you have what it takes.
The band is also currentlyworking on material for a new release, the first since Heretic was released 5 years ago!! And the first to feature the vocals of the one and only David Vincent, who was on their 1995 release, and one of my favourite records, Domination.
Cryptopsy
The band is currently in the creative mood, working in a new album which should be out soon. To quote band vocalist Matt McGachy, "The studio process has been very fulfilling. We have just recently finished all of the vocal tracks and the samples are in the process of being completed. The songs are just as brutal as on the previous albums while being far more concise. We have even brought in Ex-Ion Dissonance vocalist Gabriel McCaughry to add some vocals to a track called 'Anoint the Dead'. Some of the other tracks on the album are called 'Worship Your Demons', 'The Headsmen' and 'Bemoan the Martyr'."
Cavalera Conspiracy
Those who already know some about these guys need not know more, other than they are touring Europe!
Here are the dates:
May 30 - Electric Weekend Festival - Madrid, Spain Jun. 01 -Pinkpop Festival - Landgraf, Netherlands Jun. 02 - Rockhal - Luxembourg, Luxembourg Jun. 03 - Osnabrueck Hyde Park - Osnabrueck, Germany Jun. 05 - Bataclan - Paris, France Jun. 06 - Rock Am Ring - Nurburgring, Germany Jun. 07 - Rock Im Park - Nurnberg, Germany Jun. 09 - Stodola - Warsaw, Poland Jun. 13 - Nova Rock - Austria Jun. 18 - Paradiso - Amsterdam, Netherlands Jun. 20 - Kobetasonik Festival - Bilboa, Spain Jun. 21 - Hellfest - Nantes, France Jun. 22 - Fields Of Rock - Biddinghuizen, Netherlands Jun. 23 - Docks - Hamburg, Germany Jun. 24 - Vega - Copenhagen, Denmark Jun. 26 - Hove Festival - Norway Jun. 27 - MetalTown Festival - Sweden Jun. 28 - Graspop Metal Meeting - Belgium Jul. 01 - Castle Fest - Belgrade, Serbia Jul. 02 - Dom Sportova - Zagreb, Croatia Jul. 03 - Lieberec Arena - Czech Republic Jul. 04 - Hohenems Event Centre - Austria Jul. 05 - Eurockéenness - Belfort, France Jul. 06 - With Full Force Festival - Germany Jul. 06 - WeisbadenSchlachtoe - Germany Jul. 11 - Evolution Festival - Milan, Italy Jul. 12 - Zurich XtraLimmathaus – Switzerland
Black Asylum
Aussie MetallersBlack Asylum have released a few new songs on their Myspace page. These guys are good, and after seeing them live myself I can say that someone out there will like them. They are also playing at Australia'sMetalstock show. Checkout the Metalstock blog further down for more details on that.
Empyrean
Another local of Australia, has just released a video for their song Pleasure of Another's Pain. Check it out below and see More of the band at www.myspace.com/empyreanband.
Blatherskite
Sydney based Industrial Metal band, bloody amazing live act and awesome guys, are "getting ready to smash out the next album on 28th of April, set for a September release". I am personally really looking forward to this, since I got their mini album Three World, I've been hanging out for more! Check them out at www.myspace.com/blatherskite.
The band is also seeking a new bassist, so if you are Sydney based and can rock out, or know someone who can get in touch with them through myspace.
I could go on, but I'm sure that anything else I'd tell you you'd already know. Keep it heavy, and loud!
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