Legendary New York death metallers SUFFOCATION will release their new album, "Blood Oath", in Germany on Friday, July 3 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD is expected to arrive in the U.S. on Tuesday, July 7.

SUFFOCATION entered the studio on January 31 with Joe Cincotta (who worked on the band's last two releases) to begin recording "Blood Oath". The follow-up to 2006's self-titled record will be mixed by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH) and cover artwork will once again be brought to life by Jon Zig (DEEDS OF FLESH, DISGORGE, GORGASM). Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Mental Hemorrhage", "Dismal Dream", "Undeserving", "Confines of Disillusion", "Blood Oath ...

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Carlos Ramirez of Noisecreep recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist James Malone of the East Coast-based technical death metal outfit ARSIS. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

Noisecreep: You recently released a press release trying to explain all of the cancellations and trouble Arsis has had in the last year. But it raised more questions and started more rumors than anything. Would you like to set the record straight once and for all?

Malone: This is really tough for me to talk about. I don't even know where to begin in all honesty. I just want to start off by saying that I don't have a drug problem of any kind. I know a lot of people were saying ...

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While MINISTRY's studio albums certainly show why the group is widely considered a stylistic trailblazer, it is on the concert stage that MINISTRY takes things to a whole other level. And as evidenced by fans that packed venues to catch the group one final time on their worldwide "C U LaTouR 2008", the Al Jourgensen-led band was slaying crowds up 'till the final note. For those unenlightened souls who don't take our word on this, feast your eyes and ears on the new double-disc DVD set, "Adios…Puta Madres", to be released on May 26, and accompanies the audio release of the same title, out tomorrow, March 31, on Jourgensen's own 13th Planet Records.

The double DVD disc "Adios…Pu ...

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CODE — the British/Norwegian black metal project featuring bassist/backing vocalist Viper (a.k.a. Vicotnik from DHG), guitarist/songwriter Aort, drummer Adrian Erlandsson (AT THE GATES, CRADLE OF FILTH) and vocalist Kvohst (DØDHEIMSGARD) — has issued the following update:

"Due to some serious errors in the printing and pressing of the CD and cover art, we have had to delay the release of [CODE's second album] 'Resplendent Grotesque' until June 1st.

"We apologise profusely that we weren't able to meet our initial scheduled date for the album, but, as well as correcting the errors, this will give us the time to prepare and plan a more thorough and exciting release on ...

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Quebec, Canada-based black/thrash metallers THESYRE have made a new song, "Matérialisme consumériste infectieux", available for streaming via the ReverbNation widget below. The track comes off the band's forthcoming album, "Résistance", which is scheduled for release on April 14 via Osmose Productions. The LP version will follow a short time later on Nightmare/War Arts Productions.

"Résistance" will feature the following track listing:

01. Au présent
02. Hymne au mérite
03. Par une froide nuit d'octobre
04. Laïque et souverain
05. De réalisme et de nihilisme actif
06. L'égalitarisme freine l'excellence
07. Matérialisme consuméris ...

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Guitarist Doc Coyle of New New Jersey metal titans GOD FORBID has released the following statement:

"There have been a barrage of rumors and questions on whether or not Dallas [Coyle, guitar] has left GOD FORBID. It's true that Dallas has left the band [as BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported on Sunday, March 29 — Ed.]. It's taken us a few days to confirm this definitely, and figure out what we were going to do considering the fact that we are starting a very important tour with LAMB OF GOD this week.

"I don't want to go into the hairy details, but all I can say is that there was a mutual disagreement between Dallas and I, and the disagreement became angry on both sides, a ...

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Sometime in March of 1974, RUSH and their management formed their own record company, Moon Records, and released Rush's self-title debut album in Canada. From Wikipedia:

Only 3,500 copies of the original Moon Records LP (catalog number MN-100) were pressed. The first version of the LP has a cream-coloured label with a blue Moon Records logo and black type. The album was soon picked up by WMMS, a radio station in Cleveland, Ohio. Donna Halper, a DJ working at the station, selected 'Working Man' for her regular play list. Copies of the Moon Records album were imported to the Cleveland area and quickly sold out. The song's blue collar theme resonated with hard rock fans.

French technical death metallers GOROD have posted a new song, "Disavow Your God", on their MySpace page. The track comes off the band's upcoming album, "Process Of A New Decline", which is due to be released before the summer on Willowtip Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Leading Vision" will mark the recording debut of GOROD's new drummer, Sam Santiago.

Gorod rehearsal with new drummer

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Vocalist Luke Kenny of Australia's THE BERZERKER has issued the following update:

"At 4:00 a.m. (EST) this morning, our guitarist Tim Aldridge was rushed to hospital. After throwing up more than a pint of blood, with blood pooling in his stomach, he was operated on at 8:00 a.m. (EST), we are now waiting patiently to hear how the operation went. After frantic calls at 5:00 a.m. (EST) to various guitarists looking for someone to fill in, we have been forced to pull the New Zealand [leg of the Industrial Corruption] tour [with THE AMENTA]. The band is deeply saddened by this event. More information will be released as we have it."

THE AMENTA will continue on without THE BE ...

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According to The Pulse of Radio, the family of DEFTONES bassist Chi Cheng has started a web site asking for donations to help pay for his medical costs. Cheng's insurance has reportedly refused to continue coverage for his ongoing treatment. Cheng remains in a coma and in a rehabilitation center following a car crash last November in Santa Clara, California. The site can be found at OneLoveForChi.com and the initial goal is to raise $20,000.

A message at the site reads, "This web site was created to help raise funds for Chi and his medical expenses. Any amount that you can donate is very much appreciated by the Cheng family! All funds raised are sent directly to Chi's mother, Jean ...

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