PENTAGRAM Still Looking For A New Guitarist

Doom legends PENTAGRAM, who recently parted ways with guitarist Victor Griffin, check in with the following update:

“We’re still accepting submissions… spread the word! Pentagram is now searching for the perfect player who can easily play the blazing, early blues-based, hard rock, proto-metal of the late Vincent McAllister as well as the doom metal mastery of the one and only Victor Griffin.”

(via The Gauntlet)

SHADOWSIDE To Support HELLOWEEN And GAMMA RAY In Europe

Brazilian female-fronted metallers SHADOWSIDE will support legendary German bands HELLOWEEN and GAMMA RAY on the “Hellish Rock Tour Pt. II“.

The 37-date trek will kick off on February 28 in Barcelona, Spain and will make stops in Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, France, Belgium and United Kingdom before wrapping on April 21 in Schwandorf, Germany.

“Hellish Rock Tour Pt. II” dates are as follows:

Feb. 28 – Razzmatazz 1 – Barcelona, Spain Mar. 01 – La Riviera – Madri, Spain Mar. 02 – Santana 27 – Bilbao, Spain Mar. 04 – Z7 – Pratteln, Switzerland Mar. 05 – Alcatraz – Milão, Italy Mar. 06 – Estragon – Bologna, Italy Mar. 09 – [to be announced]- Athens, Greece Mar. 10 – Principal – Thessaloniki, Greece Mar. 12 – Refresh the Venue – Istanbul, Turkey Mar. 15 – Arena Armeec – Sofia, Bulgaria Mar. 16 – Arenele Romane – Bucharest, Romania Mar. 18 – Media Park Club – Ljubljana, Slovenia Mar. 19 – Pesca Music Hall – Budapeste, Hungary Mar. 21 – Sport Hall – Bratislava, Slovakia Mar. 22 – Tesla Aréna – Praga, Czech Republic Mar. 23 – Hala Euronics – Zlín, Czech Republic Mar. 24 – Sport Hall – Brezno, Slovakia Mar. 26 – Studio – Krakow, Poland Mar. 27 – Stodola – Warsaw, Poland Mar. 29 – The Circus – Helsinki, Finland Mar. 30 – Pakkahuone – Tampere, Finland Mar. 31 – Teatria – Oulu, Finland Apr. 02 – Rockefeller – Oslo, Norway Apr. 04 – Arenan – Stockholm, Sweden Apr. 05 – Nöjesfabriken – Karlstad, Sweden Apr. 06 – Lisebergshallen – Gothenburg, Sweden Apr. 08 – Olympia – Paris, France Apr. 09 – Garage – Saarbrücken, Germany Apr. 10 – Neue Stadthalle – Langen, Germany Apr. 12 – Allgäu Event Center – Kaufbeuren, Germany Apr. 13 – Ruhrcongress – Bochum, Germany Apr. 14 – PPM Fest – Mons, Belgium Apr. 16 – HMV Forum – London, UK Apr. 18 – Docks – Hamburg, Germany Apr. 19 – Music Hall – Geiselwind, Germany Apr. 20 – Volksbankmesse – Balingen, Germany Apr. 21 – Oberpfalzhalle – Schwandorf, Germany

(via Blabbermouth)

CEREBRAL BORE Frontwoman Quits

Vocalist Simone “Som” Pluijmers has left Scottish death metallers CEREBRAL BORE and has been temporarily replaced by Shawn Whitaker.

Commented the band: “Som walked out on us less than 24 hours before the U.S. tour, and we were forced to either cancel or go ahead with it as an instrumental, if need be. We didn’t want to let our U.S. fans down, so we went ahead with our buddy Shawn Whitaker on vocals for the tour. Show us your support and make Shawn feel at home; he saved us from a disaster.”

(via Blistering)

NIGHTWISH With Rare Signed Original Artwork Up For Grabs Via Nuclear Blast Poker Game On Facebook

Nuclear Blast has issued the following announcement:

“Join Nuclear Blast Poker and take your chance to win an exclusive signed NIGHTWISH artwork!

Win an unique and extremely rare original Nightwish artwork signed by the band plus a 50 euro gift certificate for the Nuclear Blast online shop. Simply sign up for Nuclear Blast Poker to be in with a chance. And note: every login boosts your chance to win these great prizes, so keep coming back.”

(via Bravewords)

ANTHRAX Featuring Drummer JON DETTE

ANTHRAX has tapped former TESTAMENT/SLAYER and current ANIMETAL USA drummer Jon Dette to sit behind the kit for the veteran thrash metal band’s European tour as the support act for MOTÖRHEAD, which kicked off on November 5 in Wolverhampton, England.

Dette is “kicking ass” as a temporary replacement for longtime ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante, who “is home taking care of personal stuff,” according to ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian.

(via Blabbermouth)

MPIRE OF EVIL With ‘Crucified’ Audio Samples Available

A two-minute YouTube clip containing audio samples of the tracks that will appear on “Crucified“, the forthcoming album from MPIRE OF EVIL — the band formed in 2010 by ex-VENOM members Jeff “Mantas” Dunn (guitar) and Tony “The Demolition Man” Dolan (bass, vocals) — can be found above.

The effort will contain re-recorded versions of VENOM tracks from Dolan’s time with the group.

“Crucified” track listing:

01. Temples Of Ice 02. Parasite 03. Kissing The Beast 04. Blackened Are The Priests 05. Carnivorous 06. Black Legions 07. Need To Kill 08. Wolverine 09. Crucified 10. Demone

(via Blistering)

EPICA Post Video Announcement For Upcoming UK Tour

Dutch symphonic rockers EPICA have posted a video announcement for their upcoming UK tour, which takes place in December.

The schedule is as follows:

December 11 – Rescue Rooms – Nottingham, United Kingdom 12 – Corporation – Sheffield, United Kingdom 14 – O2 Academy 2 – Newcastle, United Kingdom 15 – Classic Grand – Glasgow, United Kingdom 16 – Manchester HMV Ritz -Manchester, United Kingdom 18 – Robin 2 – Wolverhampton, United Kingdom 19 – Electric Ballroom – London, United Kingdom

STREAM OF PASSION were recently confirmed as direct support for the duration of the tour.

(via Bravewords)

POWERWOLF Preparing To Enter Studio

Multinational metallers POWERWOLF have completed “most of the songwriting” for their next album, which they plan to begin recording in early January for a summer release via Napalm Records.

According to the band, “There will be fast stuff, heavy stuff and epic stuff as well as some unholy little surprises — and all of that in the most typical, powerwolfish way you can imagine. [We] can’t wait to bring these songs to life.”

POWERWOLF‘s first live album, “Alive In The Night“, was recorded exclusively for Metal Hammer, Germany’s leading metal magazine.

The CD was only available with the April 2012 issue of Metal Hammer.

(via Blistering)