Gelap Pekat

Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED have signed a new worldwide deal with Century Media Records.

Commented THE HAUNTED frontman Peter Dolving: "So once again we've decided to sign with Century Media Records. It feels good to get continuation, and truly having worked hard on communication on both ends over these last years, has brought us together in ways that I believe a lot of bands/managements/labels only dream of. Long-term goals, open agendas, and a Norse/German stubborn attitude seem so be something we find a mutual trust and strength in and we're really looking forward to a continued cooperation with our friends/partners at Century Media.

"It is a strange thing this, the business of music, but like everything else, it seems to come down to hard work, earnestness, straight talk and respect. So here's to many more years of churning out metal to the masses."

The band's last three albums — "rEVOLVEr", "The Dead Eye" and "Versus" — were released through Century Media.

Dolving recently told the German edition of the Metal Hammer magazine that the band has commenced the songwriting process for a new album. "Looking at the ideas that we're coming up with, looking at the stuff that we're doodling around with, it's gonna be a very heavy and it's gonna be a very strange record," he said. "It's gonna be like a continuation of what we started experimenting with both on 'rEVOLVEr' [2004] and on 'The Dead Eye' [2006], so it'll be eclectic and hard. 'Cause around the time of 'The Dead Eye', we felt that we really needed to do something that we hadn't done that we really wanted to do, and we got a lot of critique for it; a lot of people didn't like it. We loved it, and the songs that we're playing off that record are going over really well with the audience and we're really enjoying to play them. So we figure, why the fuck shouldn't we play and continue to try and evolve as musicians and songwriters?! And that's what we'll do."

THE HAUNTED is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "Versus", which entered the Swedish chart at position No. 14 and the Finnish chart at No. 12.The CD was recorded in part at PUK studio in Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, DARK TRANQUILLITY, MOONSPELL, etc), who previously worked with the group on its two previous LPs, "rEVOLVEr" and "The Dead Eye".

Death metal butchers ABORTED have announce their new lineup, featuring Sven De Caluwé (also of SYSTEM DIVIDE) on vocals, Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK) on drums, Eran Segal (ex-THEY SWARM/WHORECORE) and Ken Sorceron (ABIGAIL WILLIAMS) on guitar and Cole Martinez (SYSTEM DIVIDE) on bass.

This bandhas been working on new material for the past few months and has recorded a brand new five-track EP entitled, "Coronary Reconstruction". The effort will be released digitally before the end of the year via Century Media, and in a limited run of 1,000 copies by the bandmembers themselves exclusively through Indiemerch.

"Coronary Reconstruction" track listing:

01. Coronary Reconstruction
02. From A Tepid Whiff
03. Grime
04. A Cadaverous Dissertation
05. Left Hand Path (ENTOMBED cover)

Commented Sven De Caluwé: "It has been quite a ride so far with ABORTED. The band always had to deal with numerous lineup changes and this time it is no different. Previous drummer Dan left to play for TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED and bass player Svenchi left to focus on his recording studio he just opened.

"After a tough year with major differences in how the band should evolve musically, and the touring plans of the band, I decided working with Peter and BST would simply not work and move along with new people who are thinking in the same direction and are motivated to lift this band up.

"I still do this band for fun and it is intended to be intense, and a hobby to me, and I do not have expectations to make a living solely from playing death metal as I am realistic that touring 10 months a year with a band like ABORTED is simply a financial hazard. Everyone in the new lineup is aware of this and have been personal friends of mine for nearly a decade.

"The material we have excreted is simply shredding and brain-melting and takes the band back to the 'Goremageddon' and 'Archaic' era with some new twists, which is exactly what I wanted to do.

"I could not be more thrilled to welcome Dirk again in the band, who had a big part in the signature sound of 'Goremageddon'. It has been a blast to work back together on what I think is without a doubt the most exciting ABORTED release since 'The Archaic Abattoir'. Everyone in the band poured heart and soul into the material and you will undoubtedly hear it, THE GORE IS BACK, MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!”

Added Dirk Verbeuren: "Let me start off by saying that I had a total blast recording drums for the 'Goremageddon' album and 'The Haematobic' EP back in 2003/2004. Hanging out with those guys was tons of fun and a memorable experience. As for the musical results, they remain some of my favorite death metal ever — and the fact that the band hails from Belgium just like myself only makes it better!

"Sven and I stayed in touch over the years, and many of you may not know this, but during a common gig with SCARVE somewhere in France, then-ABORTED drummer Gilles and I actually traded places for a live rendition of 'Sanguine Verses'! (In turn, Gilles performed an ENTOMBED cover with SCARVE). A total blast yet again, and in my mind also my swansong with ABORTED...

"Fast forward to October 2009. A common friend tells me the band may be looking for a drummer to help them out on an upcoming recording, so I drop Sven an email. Turns out half the new lineup lives right by my house, and just over a month later, here I am yet again tracking drums for a brand new batch of face-ripping death metal the way it was meant to be made!

"I know it may sound cliché, but the 'Coronary Reconstruction' EP is a true return to form. It has the reckless speed, intensity and creativity (plus another classic ENTOMBED cover!) that ABORTED became known for in the first place, as well as horrifying artwork and odious poetry such as only Sven's insane brain could conjure. I'm very proud and happy to be a part of this extremely talented line-up and I know we're gonna deliver the gory goods on the upcoming album, which I promise WILL be 100% pure brutal ABORTED! ALL HAIL BELGIAN DEATH METAL!!!"

Stated Ken Sorceron: "I'm very pleased to have joined forces with ABORTED as I have long thought of them as one of the best at what they do. I think we are all very dedicated to deliver some of the most brutal ABORTED material yet while staying true to the classic ABORTED sound."

Said Eran Segal: "Having the opportunity to join ABORTED has been one hell of an honor for me. I have been a fan of the band ever since 'Engineering The Dead' and still loved it even after getting to know Sven around 2002. (I know, weird, right?) So in a way I feel like Chris Cole when he joined STEEL DRAGON.

"So far the work with the band has been flat-out wicked. Everybody was being extremely professional and creative which isn't surprising when you look at their impressive credentials.

"Our aim was to revisit the bands earlier brutality while keeping the modern approach presented in its latter era, and if I may say so myself I do believe we hit the target dead on. I'm totally stoked about all of this and can't wait to hit the road."

The artwork for "Coronary Reconstruction" was created by Justin Osbourn from Slasher design and comprises the most gruesome and disgusting art the band ever had.

The cover artwork for "The Underworld Regime", the forthcoming debut album from OV HELL, the new black metal project featuring DIMMU BORGIR vocalist Shagrath and ex-GORGOROTH bassist King, can be viewed below. The cover was created by the Brazilian graphic designer Marcelo Vasco, who has previously worked with such bands as SATYRICON, ENSLAVED, KEEP OF KALESSIN, BORKNAGAR, GORGOROTH, BELPHEGOR and JOB FOR A COWBOY.

"The Underworld Regime" is scheduled for a February 8, 2010 release via Indie Recordings. The CD was recorded at Earshot Studio and features Shagrath on vocals, King on bass, Frost (SATYRICON) on drums, Ice Dale (ENSLAVED) on guitar and Teloch (NIDINGR, GOD SEED) on guitar. The album was produced by Herbrand Larsen and mastered at the Livingroom studios by Espen Berg and Shagrath in November 2009. King composed all of the music for "The Underworld Regime", while Shagrath wrote all lyrics, with contributions from Silenoz and Sarah Owens.

"The Underworld Regime" track listing:

01. Devil's Harlot
02. Post Modern Sadist
03. Invoker
04. Perpetual Night
05. Ghosting
06. Acts of Sin
07. Krigsatte Faner
08. Hill Norge

Commented Shagrath: "The majestic OV HELL has become a band that reflects our roots — raw, ugly, arrogantly blasphemous — with uncompromising truth from two influential Norwegian musicians needing to express our primitive side, straight out OV HELL."

Added King: "It's been a little hell to actually see this music form into a band, but when I'm now listening to the final result, it has been worth the hard work we have put into this album!"

Two rough-mix sample tracks from "The Underworld Regime" can be heard on the band's MySpace page.

Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY have been confirmed for next year's edition the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 5-7, 2010 in Wacken, Germany.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

ARCH ENEMY
CORVUS CORAX
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER
IMMORTAL
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD
U.D.O.

In 2008, Wacken Open Air festival was honored with a Live Entertainment Award in the "Festival Of The Year" category. This award recognizes distinguished achievements in live entertainment and is given out by Live Entertainment Award (LEA) committee. The winners were announced on March 11, 2008.