MORE 2010 SICKNESS (Part 11)

November is now in our rear-view mirror. December lies ahead of us: A perfectly good stretch of road marred by the speed bumps of the cataclysm that is Christmas. And on the other side of those speed bumps is the end of the year – the roadkill that is New Year’s Eve. And you know what the run-up to year-end brings — year-end lists. It’s already started, but the coming weeks will bring us a slew of Best of 2010 album lists. We’ll probably do our own Best of 2010 list — not the best albums of the year, but, as we did last year, the most infectious extreme metal songs of the year.

But we’re not quite ready to launch that list. Instead, we’re looking off into the future, not backward at the music that’s rattled our skulls over the past year. Yes, it’s time for another monthly installment of METAL IN THE FORGE, in which we cobble together a list of forthcoming new albums, cribbing like rag-gatherers and lint-pickers from PR releases and metal news sites like Blabbermouth in order to construct a line-up of new music that we’re interested in hearing.

All of our previous monthly updates can be found via the “Forthcoming Albums” category link on the right side of our pages, and because we’re not keeping a cumulative list, you might want to check the last couple months of these posts if you want to get a full picture of what’s coming. The list that follows, in alphabetical order, are albums we didn’t know about at the time of our last installment, or updated info about albums we’d previously heard were on the way. After the jump, of course . . .

ADVENT OF BEDLAM: “Costa Rica-based metallers ADVENT OF BEDLAM (formerly DECEMBER’S COLD WINTER) have inked a deal with the Dutch record label Miceli Records. A ‘new version’ of the band’s latest album, Behold The Chaos, will be made available via Miceli in the near future. The CD was recorded at Cavan Studio with producer Gutierrez while the artwork was created by Alex Hoffman of Cypher Visual (BEHEMOTH, PSYCROPTIC, SUFFOCATION, ARSIS, BENEATH THE MASSACRE).”

ALIASES: “ALIASES, the new U.K.-based metal band featuring ex-SIKTH guitarist Pin, guitarist Leah Woodward, drummer Darren Pugh, bassist Joe Heaton and vocalist Jay Berast, has inked a deal with Basick Records. Formed in April 2010, ALIASES set to work on its debut six-track EP and in July put out the rough demo track “We Should Never Have Met”, which was received with an overwhelmingly positive response online. . . . ALIASES‘ as-yet-untitled debut six-track EP will be released on Basick Records in 2011.”

AMON: “Former DEICIDE members Eric Hoffmann (guitar) and Brian Hoffman (guitar) have resurrected their pre-DEICIDE band AMON with Jesse “Jecheal” Jolly (PROMETHEAN HORDE, DIABOLIC, SUCCESS WILL WRITE APOCALYPSE ACROSS THE SKY, AFTER DEATH) on vocals/bass and and Mike Petrak (LEPROSY, SUCCESS WILL WRITE APOCALYPSE ACROSS THE SKY) on drums. The Florida-based quartet will enter RedRoom Recorders in Tampa on December 10 with producer Mark Prator to begin recording its new album, entitled Liar In Wait. The CD will consist of nine songs and will be made available in early 2011 via AMON‘s own record label.”

AMON AMARTH: “Kings of Swedish death metal AMON AMARTH have just announced the title of the their forthcoming album as Surtur Rising. Due out in the spring of 2011, Surtur Rising marks the group’s eighth full-length studio release and undoubtedly one of 2011’s most anticipated albums by fans and critics alike. Surtur Rising is the follow-up to the highly acclaimed 2008 release, Twilight Of The Thunder God, which landed the #7 spot in Revolver Magazine’s Top 20 Albums of 2008.”

ASPHYX: “Reformed Dutch death metal outfit ASPHYX recently entered Sonic Assault studio to record two new songs — a cover version of the MAJESTYclassic “Bestial Vomit” and the new song “We Doom You To Death”. The MAJESTY cover will appear on the upcoming split seven-inch with Dutch death/thrash band THANATOS and will feature lyrics in Dutch dialect while “We Doom You To Death” will be included on a split seven-inch single with Finnish doom/deathsters HOODED MENACE.”

CROWBAR: “Sever The Wicked Hand, the new album from CROWBAR, will be released in Europe on February 14, 2011 via Century Media Records. The CD will be made available in the U.S. on February 8, 2011 through E1 Music. A pre-order is now available on iTunes along with audio samples.”

THE DAMNED THINGS: “THE DAMNED THINGS — the new band featuring members of FALL OUT BOY (Joe Trohman, Andy Hurley), ANTHRAX (Scott Ian, Rob Caggiano) and EVERY TIME I DIE (Keith Buckley, Josh Newton) — will release its debut album, Ironiclast, in North America on December 14 (one day earlier internationally) via Island/Def Jam.”

DIABOLICAL: “Swedish death metal masters DIABOLICAL have signed with Abyss Records for the worldwide release of their upcoming full-length album, Ars Vitae. Due out in February 2011, the CD consists of 17 tracks of both new studio recordings produced earlier this year at Necromorbus Studio (WATAIN, UNANIMATED, DESTRÖYER 666) in Alvik, Sweden and previously unreleased recordings.”

THE FAMINE: “THE FAMINE recently finished recording their new release titled THE ARCHITECTS OF GUILT, with  D. Braxton Henry (Ex- Devourment) and mixed by Jason Suecof (The Black Dahlia Murder, Trivium). The Architects of Guilt is set for a Fall 2010 release through SolidState Records.”

FUCK THE FACTS: “Fuck The Facts have been working on their new full-length and follow-up to their Disgorge, Mexico album and self-released Unnamed EP. The album, titled Die Miserable, is expected to be 9 tracks and roughly 40 minutes in length. Fuck The Facts self-recorded the album that is currently being mixed by Craig Boychuk. Die Miserable will see a spring 2011 release date with additional album details and in-studio footage to be posted soon.”

FULL BLOWN CHAOS: “The new song ‘The Walking Dead’ from the upcoming self-titled release by Full Blown Chaos is now available for streaming at www.myspace.com/fullblownchaos. The album is due out on Ironclad Recordings/Metal Blade Records on February 1, 2011 in North America. The 13 track hard-hitting assault, Full Blown Chaos, will also see releases in Europe on Plastic Head and in Japan on Howling Bull.”

IN FLAMES: “Swedish metallers IN FLAMES have entered their own IF studios in Gothenburg, Sweden with engineer Roberto Laghi (HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, LOK, SONIC SYNDICATE) to begin recording their new album for a tentative May/June 2011 release.”

THE INIQUITY DESCENT: “THE INIQUITY DESCENT, the new extreme-metal project featuring vocalist Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns of Finnish folk metallers FINNTROLL, will release its debut EP, Trust The Serpent, on November 29. The CD was mastered at Nordic Audio Labs by Sami “Hannu” Koivisto and contains four songs (out of 11 that were recently tracked).”

KORPIKLAANI: “Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI will release their new album, Ukon Wacka, in Europe on February 4, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. According to the band, ‘Ukon Wacka’, or ‘Ukon Vakat’, is a pagan sacrificial feast from ancient times, on which a special made beer richly flowed. As can be expected from the title, this album has an ancient and very folky feel and is totally in Finnish.'”

KRIEG: “KRIEG has partnered with Inferna Profundus Records to reissue Patrick Bateman, the band’s definitive black/noise statement from 2003. Based on Bret Easton Ellis‘ nihilistic novel “American Psycho”, Patrick Bateman is close to fifteen minutes of the harshest and most feral material KRIEG ever set to tape. . . . A December 2010 release is expected.”

LIVING SACRIFICE: “Veteran Christian metal act LIVING SACRIFICE has set a November 30 release date for a special iTunes-exclusive deluxe edition of the band’s latest full-length album, The Infinite Order (Solid State Records). The newly expanded version of the CD will contain a 30-minute, eight-song DVD-quality video and three bonus tracks, including the unreleased song“Glasshouses”.”

MACABRE: “Celebrarating their 25th Anniversary of all original members, Chicago’s murder metal pioneers Macabre unleash their brand new studio album entitled Grim Scary Tales in Europe on January 31st, 2011 by Hammerheart Records and in North America on February 8th, 2011 by Willowtip Records. The album explores the history of murder from the earliest times and proceeds forward through the ages.”

MARDUK: “Swedish black metallers MARDUK will celebrate their 20th anniversary by releasing a strictly limited-edition, ‘marvellous box set’ in early 2011. According to the band, ‘This fabulous release will be a monument of the first two decades of MARDUK.'”

OBSCURA: “Obscura has recently completed work on their brand new album Omnivium and has revealed its tracklisting as: “Septuagint”, “Vortex Omnivium”, “Ocean Gateways”, “Euclidean Elements”, “Prismal Dawn”, “Celestial Spheres”, “Velocity”, “A Transcendental Serenade”, and “Aevum”. Omnivium was recorded at Woodshed Studio in southern Germany with engineer V. Santura (Triptykon, Dark Fortress) and is expected to see a March 2011 release date. Additional album details will be announced shortly.”

ONSLAUGHT: “U.K. thrash metal veterans ONSLAUGHT will release a double single, ‘The Sound of Violence’ / ‘Bomber’, on December 17 through AFM Records. The single will include one track from the band’s forthcoming fifth album, Sounds Of Violence, backed with a cover version of the MOTÖRHEAD classic ‘Bomber’.”

ORDOG: “Finnish doom metal band ORDOG will release its third album, Remorse, on January 12, 2011 via Violent Journey Records. The seven-song CD contains over 70 minutes of music.”

THE PROJECT HATE MCMXCIX: “THE PROJECT HATE MCMXCIX — the Swedish band featuring Jörgen Sandström (vocals; VICIOUS ART, KRUX, ex-ENTOMBED, GRAVE), Lord K. Philipson (guitar; TORTURE DIVISION, ex-GOD AMONG INSECTS, HOUSE OF USHER, LEUKEMIA), Anders Bertilsson (guitar; COLDWORKER), Tobben Gustafsson (drums; TORTURE DIVISION, VOMITORY) and Portuguese vocalist Ms. Roque (a.k.a. Ruby Roque of WITCHBREED) — has completed work on its seventh album for an early 2011 release via Season of Mist. The CD was mixed and mastered by Swedish producer and multi-intrumentalist Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE) and will contain six songs with a running time of over 60 minutes.”

RINGS OF SATURN: “Northern California extremists RINGS OF SATURN have inked a deal with Unique Leader Records. The band’s debut album, Embryonic Anomaly, which was originally made available by the band earlier this year, will be re-released on March 1, 2011. The CD was produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Bob Swanson at Mayhemenness Studios in Sacramento, California and features artwork by Tony Koehl.”

SEPTICFLESH: “Greek extreme metallers SEPTICFLESH have finished recording the follow-up to 2008’s Communion for an early 2011 release. After a long period of intense work in Athens, Prague and Sweden, the evolution of the band’s symphonic death sound has been achieved with the help of the Filmharmonic Orchestra of Prague and well-known producer and PAIN/HYPOCRISY mainman Peter Tägtgren (AMON AMARTH, MARDUK, THERION, CHILDREN OF BODOM, CELTIC FROST, IMMORTAL). 130 musicians were involved in the recording process. Besides the traditional classic orchestra instruments, this time SEPTICFLESH incorporated harpsichord, some bizarre ethnic instruments and a boy soprano to their sound, pursuing a more “horror soundtrack” approach. The release of the forthcoming 10-song album is expected for the first quarter of 2011. In the meantime, a brand new song will be available worldwide as an exclusive digital download single from December 17.”

SEPULTURA: “Brazilian/American thrashers SEPULTURA have tapped Roy Z. (JUDAS PRIEST, HALFORD, BRUCE DICKINSON, HELLOWEEN) to produce their new album, tentatively due in early 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD will once again be recorded at Trama Studios in São Paulo, Brazil.”

SICKENING: “Italian brutal death metallers SICKENING are currently mixing their second full-length album, Against The Wall Of Pretence, at 16th Cellar Studio in Rome with Stefano Morabito. The CD was recorded in August 2010 at Studio Emme in Florence and is tentatively due in early 2011 via an as-yet-undetermined record label.”

SUIDAKRA: “German melodic folk/death metallers SUIDAKRA will enter Gernhart Studio in Siegburg, Germany on November 30 with producer Martin Buchwalter to begin recording their tenth album, Book Of Dowth, for an early 2011 release. Famous Belgian graphic artist Kris Verwimp will once again be in charge of the cover artwork and lyrical concept.”

THOMAS GILES: “Tommy Rogers, lead vocalist, keyboardist and founding member of the award-winning North Carolina progressive rock band BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, will release his debut solo album, Pulse, on February 1, 2011 via Metal Blade Records. The versatile front man and multi-instrumentalist, who not only self-produced the record, but also arranged, composed and played all instruments on the recording, will use the pseudonym THOMAS GILES (his given middle name) as his moniker for the project.”

TRIVIUM: “Florida metallers TRIVIUM will enter Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida on January 2 with the production/mixing team of Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY) and Martin “Ginge” Ford to begin recording their new album for an early 2011 release via Roadrunner Records.”

ULCERATE: “Ulcerate will release their third full-length album The Destroyers of All on January 25 2011 through Willowtip Records. Ambitious, oppressive and expansive, with a strict adherence to the tradition of total bleakness the band is becoming known for, The Destroyers of All presents the most atmospheric and challenging listen from the band to date.”

UNEARTH: “Massachusetts metallers UNEARTH have tapped KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist and renowned producer Adam Dutkiewicz to helm their next studio album, tentatively due in early 2011 via Metal Blade Records. The pre-production phase of the process officially started last week.”

VARG: “German Viking horde VARG will release its third album, Wolfskult, on February 25, 2011 via NoiseArt Records. The CD was recorded at Andy Classen‘s (LEGION OF THE DAMNED, DEW-SCENTED, NEAERA, ASPHYX) Stage One Studios in Kassel, Germany.”

VREID: “Norwegian band VREID will release its fifth album, simply entitled “V”, on February 7, 2011 via Indie Recordings.”