Rocking Horse Records

Metal News

Greeetings my minions. Crawl forth from the darkness and revel in the glory of all things metal.

Any thoughts? Questions? Email me at rakkel@rockinghorse.net

(June 26th)
Heaps of titles have been marked down to as little as $4.95! Soulfly, Summoning, Marduk, Darkthrone, Mayhem and stacks more. Come in and check it out! \m/

(May 17th)

(March 13th)
7th April (Saturday)
Gospel of the Horns, Carbon, The Dead + TBA. 18+ only
Venue - Club Phoenix [city]

19th April (Thursday)
Slayer, Mastodon
Venue - Brisbane Riverstage.

26th April (Thursday)
Vader, Defamer. 18+
Venue - Club Phoenix

5th May (Saturday)
Sunn O)))), Boris. 18+
Venue - The Columbian

10th May (Thursday)
Dragonforce.
ALL AGES and 18+
Venue - The Arena

18th May (Friday)
Obituary. 18+
Venue - Club Phoenix

22nd May (Tuesday)
Sodom. 18+
Venue - Club Phoenix

26th May (Saturday)
Nile, Decapitated. 18+
Venue - The Arena

7th July (Saturday)
Defiled, Stargazer, Excruciate, The Dead, Defamer. 18+
Venue - Club Phoenix

11th October (Thursday)
Enslaved, Minus Life. 18+
Venue - Club Phoenix

(February 27th)
Nile and Decapitated, Arcturus, Lamb of God, Obituary, Overcranked, Vader and Sunn 0))) + Boris tickets are all on sale now and are available to book online from our ticket page.

According to an online posting by NILE drummer George Kollias, the band will enter the studio tomorrow (Monday, February 26) to begin recording the follow-up to 2005's "Annihilation of the Wicked", due later in the year via Nuclear Blast Records.Said Kollias: "There is a lot of work to be done. The new songs sound REALLY great and tight. I can't wait to record!"
NILE's last album, "Annihilation of the Wicked" album, was released in May 2005 via Relapse Records. A video for the album track "Sacrifice Unto Sebek" was shot on location in Atlanta, GA by director Chad Rullman (MASTODON's "March of the Fire Ants", THE AGONY SCENE) for Supercollider Films.
NILE will embark on a headlining tour of Australia in May. Support at the shows will come from Polish technical death metal sensations DECAPITATED.

England's THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL and THUS DEFILED will join forces for a split CD later in the year. Both bands will include an exclusive new recording on the effort as well as several cover versions.

(February 20th)
OBITUARY frontman John Tardy has posted the following message on the band's official web site:
"All is going well with the new DVD and we really appreciate all the support! 'Frozen Alive' [DVD] has sparked a bunch of new shows that we have set up! Here they all are and we are really looking forward to all of them. Some of the newer shows are in France, Mexico with Sadus and believe it or not we are finally going to make it to Australia! We have had offers in the past, but they just never worked out. This will be our first time in Australia, so for all of you that have emailed over the years about coming there, we finally will have a chance to meet! We also have some South American dates we are working on and as soon as I find out for sure I will let you know.
Dates are as follows:

May 16 - The Manning Bar - Sydney, Australia
May 17 - The Prince Of Wales Hotel - Melbourne, Australia
May 18 - Club Phoenix - Brisbane, Australia

(February 8th)
Having crushed Australian audiences in November 2005, one of the most innovative and extreme death metal bands on the face of the earth in NILE, return to our shores to tear us apart with their blasting extremities and epic arrangements in the lead up to the release of their new upcoming full length album.
Having just signed to Nuclear Blast, Nile combine their interest in Egyptian history, culture and lore with the ferocity of modern death metal. Joining NILE, will be Polish technical death metal sensations DECAPITATED, on what will be their first appearances in Australia. DECAPITATED blasted onto the death metal scene in 1997 with ‘Winds Of Creation’ at the average age of 17 & were heralded as the future of death metal. On the back of their latest release ‘Organic Hallucantions’, DECAPITATED are set to thrill us with their brand of Polish technical death metal. Touring Australia & New Zealand in May 2007.

Saturday May 19th, Auckland, The Studio
Tuesday May 22nd, Perth, Club Capitol
Wednesday May 23rd, Adelaide, Uni Bar
Thursday May 24th, Melbourne, The Hifi Bar
Friday May 25th, Sydney, Manning Bar
Saturday May 26th, Brisbane, The Arena

(January 30th)
Psychedelic brutal death metal masters MITHRAS have posted a new song, entitled "To Where the Sun Never Leaves", at www.myspace.com/candlelightrecords. The track comes off the group's new album, "Behind the Shadows Lie Madness", due on May 28 through Candlelight Records. The CD will feature cover art by Dan Seagrave, who is known for his work with MORBID ANGEL, ENTOMBED, SUFFOCATION and many others.
MITHRAS' last album, "Worlds Beyond The Veil", was reissued via Candlelight Records in the Europe in March 2004 and in the U.S. through Candlelight in September 2004. The album was originally released in September 2003 via Golden Lake Productions.

PIG DESTROYER has entered Omega Studios (BAD BRAINS) in Rockville, MD to begin recording its new full-length album, titled "Phantom Limb". The follow-up to 2004's "Terrifyer" will feature 14 all-new songs from the heralded grindcore troupe and artwork by John Baizley (BARONESS, TORCHE). Advance songtitles include: "Cemetery Road", "Rotten Yellow", "Jupiter's Eye", "Heathen Temple" and "The Machete Twins".

Veteran Florida-based extreme metallers MALEVOLENT CREATION are putting the finishing touches on their tenth full-length album, "Doomsday X", tentatively due early summer via Nuclear Blast Records. "Just bass and vocals remain to be finished and then mixed while we are on tour," the band writes in a press release.

Italian/german gothic black metal band GRAVEWORM have completed work on their sixth album at Stage One studios in Borgentreich, Germany with producer Andy Classen (DEW-SCENTED, CALLENISH CIRCLE, TANKARD, OCCULT). The follow-up to 2005's "(N)utopia" contains 10 songs features guest appearances by Maurizio Iacono from KATAKLYSM and Matze from THE SORROW. A May 11 release via Nuclear Blast Records is expected.

British black metal pioneers VENOM have parted ways with guitarist Mykvs (a.k.a. Mike Hickey; ex-CARCASS, CATHEDRAL). "Personal unavoidable commitments in the U.S. have forced Mykvs to announce that he cannot commit 100% to VENOM's 2007 schedule," the band writes in a statement. A new guitarist by the name of Rage has already been drafted in to replace Mykvs and is currently working in the studio with the rest of the group on demos for their next album.

Bassist Nils Eriksson of the Swedish melodic metallers NOCTURNAL RITES has issued the following update:
"We will start mixing our as-yet-untitled album on Monday! "Honestly, this album feels really different, fresh and new. Still it sounds like us, in some weird way. Guess we can't escape the NOCTURNAL RITES ghost. However, we have some REALLY cool songs on the way. Be patient." NOCTURNAL RITES' latest album, "Grand Illusion", was released in September 2005 via Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2004's "New World Messiah" was recorded and mixed at Toontrack Studio in Umeå, Sweden and features guest appearances by Stefan Elmgren (HAMMERFALL), Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIUS), Henrik Danhage (EVERGREY), Kristoffer W. Olivius (NAGLFAR) and the Swedish cross-country skiing world champion, Per Elofsson.

A brand new DØDHEIMSGARD (DHG) track, entitled "Vendetta Assassin", has been posted online on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the Norwegian band's forthcoming album, "Supervillain Outcast", due in Norway on March 26 and the rest of the world in April via Moonfog Records.

(January 18th)
Veteran Florida-based extreme metallers MALEVOLENT CREATION have commenced the recording sessions for their tenth full-length album, "Doomsday X". "Dave [Culross] finished tracking the drums and arrived home this evening," the band writes in an update. "They recorded 12 songs and Dave is very happy with the natural feel they achieved, without sounding overly mechanical. The ProTools at their disposal were not used to alter the drum sounds. Dave wanted to give everone a real feel for his power and style, without the over use of recording technology. They are taking about a week break and then the guitar tracking starts. Dave and the band are very pleased with the progress so far and can't wait for the upcoming tours."

OBITUARY frontman John Tardy has posted the following message on the group's official web site:
"The new DVD is out worldwide and we have been getting nothing but good e-mails from everyone and we really appreciate the suppport! I told [you] it was heavy!
"We had a great weekend of practice and have a new album just about finished. We have studio timed booked in March and we are working on having it ready for a release in mid-July!

Norwegian metal band OCTAVIA SPERATI is putting the finishing touches on its new album, tentatively due in May via Candlelight Records. "Two of the songs are originally from our first EP, called 'Guilty', released in 2002," the group previously stated. "This EP was released by OCTAVIA, and in a very limited edition. We really liked the songs then, and have now rearranged them for a new birth. The new versions kick ass and we can't wait to get this stuff out!"

(January 10th)
According to PyroMusic.net, Australia's renowned blackened death/thrash outfit GOSPEL OF THE HORNS has once again disbanded. The news comes just as the group's highly anticipated second full-length album, "Realm of the Damned", is due for release.

Peter Beste of Vice Films is currently in Norway making a documentary about vocalist Gaahl of the black metal band GORGOROTH. The resulting footage will appear on a Vice DVD with several other related segments. The first pressing of this DVD is 100,000 units, and will be distributed in all major music retailers in the U.S. and most in Europe.

Sanctuary Records will re-release VENOM's 2000 album, "Resurrection", later in the year. The CD, which was originally issued in 2000 on the Steamhammer label, was the first VENOM album to feature Antony "Antton" Lant (brother of VENOM frontman Conrad "Cronos" Lant) on the drums. An exact release date has not yet been announced.

(January 8th)
Australian fans have waited a long time for Slayer's return. Everyone knows you don't need two reasons to go to this show, but here's another one anyway, Mastodon are coming out with them!

Tour dates are:

Thursday 12th April Metro City Perth
Saturday 14th April Thebarton Theatre Adelaide
Sunday 15th April Vodafone Arena Melbourne
Tuesday 17th April Hordern Pavilion Sydney
Thursday 19th April Riverstage Brisbane

Tickets onsale soon!

(December 19th)
From the Ashes of HMB comes Club Phoenix - 'Brisbane's New Home for Heavy Music!'. It is located on Rowes Lane, corner 235 Edward St in the club formerly known as The Underground. Opening night is January 6th with The Day Everthing Became Nothing (featuring Tony from Blood Duster on vox), Empyrean, The Daylight Curse, The Dead, Hotel 44, Severed Link, Razorhurst & Malaclypse. Doors open at 5pm with DJ Hoops spinning tunes all night long (open till 5am) Pre-sold tickets are $10 + booking fee. They can be bought online from our ticket page and from instore. TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST!!!

(November 28th)
Tuesday 27th March 2007 Adelaide- HQ Complex
Thursday 29th March 2007 Brisbane- Her Majesty's Basement
Friday 30th March 2007 Sydney- Gaelic Club
Saturday 31th March 2007 Melbourne- The Espy

So far this is all I know. I will keep you updated with more information as it becomes available.

(November 21st)
Long-running New York death metallers IMMOLATION will enter Millbrook Sound Studios in Millbrook, NY with producer with Paul Orofino any day now to begin work on their seventh full-length CD. The new material is described in a press release as "very aggressive and much more intense" than the band's past work. "The songs are shorter, but pack more of a punch; definitely a darker, meaner album."
Commented guitarist Robert Vigna: "We are really excited about the new material. It is really a powerful bunch of songs. They kick you hard right from the start and leave you pummeled by the end! I think the fans are going to go apeshit when they hear these tracks!"
Added vocalist/bassist Ross Dolan: "The new stuff definitely has a very dark feel, but does not let up on the heaviness or intensity at all. There is a hint of both the last two records, 'Unholy Cult' and 'Harnessing Ruin', in the new songs, but they are coming from a completely different approach. They are going to knock you on your ass!"
IMMOLATION will head out to Holland directly after the studio to play the Arnhem Metal Meeting festival with ARCH ENEMY before traveling to Paris to shoot a video for the upcoming album.
Listenable Records will release an IMMOLATION EP in February — the band's first ever — which will also contain a live DVD, a complete show from one of the group's most recent performances at the B.B. King club in New York City. The video was shot by Evil Eye Productions and really captures the feeling of the night. "The way they shot it was great — really cool angles and camera work,…you will feel like you're in the front row!" the band said.
IMMOLATION's new full-length album will be out in April through Century Media and Listenable Records in the U.S. and Europe respectively. Look out for the band to hit Europe for an extensive tour in May 2007.

Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR have finished mixing their new album at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producers Fredrik Nordström and Patrik J. Sten for an early 2007 release via Nuclear Blast Records.

Reunited Oakland, California thrashers DEFIANCE, best known for their seminal late '80s/early '90s Roadrunner releases "Void Terra Firma" and "Beyond Recognition", have issued the following statement:
"It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of our dear friend, bandmate, and Corporate Punishment Records artist, DEFIANCE guitarist Doug Harrington. At his request, and for the privacy of his family, we did not make his condition known, but Doug had been quietly battling cancer for much of this year, until Tuesday night [Nov. 14] when he finally succumbed to it. He went peacefully and in the presence of his wife and family. Doug was, however, able to participate in several of the writing and recording sessions for the new DEFIANCE record, including one just three days before he passed.

Garden of Exile Records will release the vinyl version of the new ANAAL NATHRAKH album, "Eschaton", on January 8, 2007. The LP version will be packaged in a deluxe gatefold sleeve and be pressed on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl in the colors black, red and black/red. Pre-orders are being taken in the label's webstore and the LPs will be shipped around Christmas time.
Pressing info:
Red/black (marble) vinyl - 100 copies
Red vinyl - 200 copies
Black vinyl - 300 copies
"Eschaton" includes guest appearances by Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH) and Attila Csihar (MAYHEM).
For more information, visit www.gardenofexile.nl.

(November 1st)
SOUNDWORKS TOURING presents...
SUFFOCATION is, simply stated, one of the most influential and emulated bands in the history of extreme metal. The original crushing grind/death mixture from New York will administer a death metal lesson to true Australian & New Zealand metal maniacs for the first time in February 2007.
In death metal history, SUFFOCATION stands unique for fusing the technical with the percussive, "older" styles of death metal as well as for being emulated more than any other band. SUFFOCATION integrated the style with the sharp, often percussive down stroke rhythms of speed metal and far more complex song structures, a variety of influences, and bizarre, often-contrasting lead guitar.
2006: The legendary SUFFOCATION have come blasting back to the forefront of the genre they helped to create with their new, self-titled full-length. Universally regarded as the best live death metal band in the world, SUFFOCATION captures the intensity of their concert juggernaut and administers a savage, eleven-track beating. It's all here; the relentless speed, the surgical precision, the crushing brutality, and the inhuman, genre-defining vocals that have made SUFFOCATION the most influential band in death metal, period. The gods of death metal are back!

Touring Australia & New Zealand in February 2007.
Tuesday 13th, Perth , Amplifier Bar
Wednesday 14th, Adelaide , Fowlers Live
Thursday 15th, Melbourne , The Hifi Bar
Friday 16th, Sydney, The Gaelic Club
Saturday 16th, Auckland , The Studio
Sunday 17th, Brisbane, HMB

(October 31st)
Profound Lore Records will release the third installment of ISIS' limited live series on vinyl.
Throughout the past year or so, ISIS has come out with a set of very limited CDs (four in total) that were sold during their recent tour jaunts all over the world. These CDs were a collection of ISIS in the raw, captured in that special sporadic moment that displayed a purity and intimacy that surrounded such a luminous act. Nevertheless these CDs pretty much sold out immediately, are now out of print (along with the first two vinyl chapters of this series which are also sold out), and now Profound Lore will re-release "Live 3" in the vinyl format for the die-hard collector/purist ISIS fan. "Live 3" was captured in New Mexico on the band's "Panopticon" tour and is expected to surface soon.

Floridian death metallers DEICIDE have just completed filming of live concert footage in Chicago for their forthcoming DVD, slated for a February 2007 release in the U.S. and January 2007 in Europe. The upcoming disc will mark the band's first live DVD release with guitar-shredding duo Jack Owen (ex-CANNIBAL CORPSE) and Ralph Santolla (ex-ICED EARTH, DEATH).

Guitarist Tony Lazaro of VITAL REMAINS has issued the following update:
"So our tour with the Swedes... DISMEMBER and GRAVE came to an end. We had a killer time out there and want to thank all the bands we shared the stage with... DISMEMBER, GRAVE, DEMIRICOUS and WITHERED. Thanks to all the metal fans that came out in support!! It was great to go out on one more tour before we lock ourselves up in the practice space and finish witting the album.
"St. Pete's [St. Petersburg, Florida] was a great stop. Got to hang out with Trey from MORBID ANGEL. Thanks for coming out to the show and hanging out all night at the Hard Rock Cafe Casino drinking until the sun came up. And then realizing I had to drive with no sleep, aaahhh the road, you got love it! Hahaha. Also Erik Rutan [HATE ETERNAL, MORBID ANGEL] came to pick Dave and I up to visit his studio Mana Recording. This place is so nice and the board and gear they have is awesome! We can't wait to record this album down there, it's going to be sick! With Rutan, Benton, Suzuki and me locked in a studio for a month there's not enough holy water to wash away the mess we are going to make! Christ better be wearing depends..." VITAL REMAINS this past spring re-released its "Horrors of Hell" compilation which contains the band's early demo recordings.

ABIGOR's "Orkblut - The Retaliation" mini-CD, which was originally issued in 1994 via Napalm Records, will be released on vinyl and as a limited-edition picture disc in early November through France's Chaos Sacrum Records. The vinyl is currently being pressed so it won't take much longer until it is available. Pre-orders are currently accepted at csr.mystic-arts.info