Swedish metal overlords AMON AMARTH have announced the dates for their US Berserker World Tour 2019 with fellow Swedish warlords ARCH ENEMY, AT THE GATES and GRAND MAGUS. 

Amon Amarth comments: "Berserkers! We will lead a Swedish metal invasion of North America this September and October along with our friends Arch Enemy, At The Gates and Grand Magus. Come fight and feast with us and earn your seat in the great golden hall. This raid is pure heavy fucking metal and not to be missed!"

Michael Amott of Arch Enemy adds, "Arch Enemy is very much looking forward to invading North America together with Swedish Viking kings Amon Amarth and our metal brothers in At The Gates and Grand Magus! Miss this Swedish heavy metal apocalypse at your own peril!"

Finally, JB of Grand Magus continues, "I would say that ‘epic’ is the most fitting word to describe this happening. It’s an honour to be part of this gathering of metal giants and we will do our damnedest to make it a memory for life for all who will bang their heads with us during this adventure!"

09.26.2019 - Showbox SODO, Seattle, WA
09.27.2019 - Roseland Theater, Portland, OR
09.28.2019 - PNE Forum, Vancouver, BC
09.30.2019 - Edmonton Convetion Centre, Edmonton, AB
10.01.2019 - Grey Eagle, Calgary, AB
10.03.2019 - The Complex, Salt Lake City, UT
10.04.2019 - Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO
10.06.2019 - Skyway Theater, Minneapolis, MN
10.07.2019 - The Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL
10.09.2019 - Rebel, Toronto, ON
10.10.2019 - M-Telus, Montreal, QC
10.11.2019 - M-Telus, Montreal, QC
10.12.2019 - Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, NY
10.15.2019 - The Fillmore, Charlotte, NC
10.16.2019 - Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
10.18.2019 - The Fillmore, New Orleans, LA
10.19.2019 - House of Blues, Houston, TX
10.20.2019 - The Aztec Theatre, San Antonio, TX
10.22.2019 - The Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ
10.23.2019 - House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV
10.25.2019 - The Warfield, San Francisco, CA
10.26.2019 - The Palladium, Los Angeles, CA

The Chasm have announced their final A Conscious Termination of an Era US tour for this summer, featuring support from UK's Cruciamentum and Mexican Infernal Conjuration.

Here's an official statement from The Chasm:

"Here it is, we proudly and officially announce our first and final Tour here in the USA, 24 Dates starting on June 22nd in Columbus, OH and wrapping up in Los Angeles on July 16th. Our sincere appreciation to Metal Threat Booking for making this possible.

We sincerely invite and encourage all of you supporters of The Chasm to attend (if possible) any of this shows, since it definitely looks that this is it for us here in the US, no need to write all the reasons that made us take this difficult decision, bottom line is that we need to concentrate in playing in as many countries as possible before more time passes by, this plan will take some time to accomplish and we definitely don’t know if in the coming years after we are done with this new venture we’ll be in an optimal mental and physical state to continue playing live.

So, we are not quitting/disbanding, we are just moving on looking to play live in front of people from around the world, it may or may not happen, but surely we will go down in flames trying….

Finally…on the other hand nobody knows what the future will bring, but for now, this is the path we choose…Thanx for reading and we’ll see you soon on the road…"

On July 19th war metal machine CULT OF EXTINCTION will release the band's striking debut album, Ritual in the Absolute Absence of Light, via Iron Bonehead Productions but today we are honored to host the premiere of the full album stream giving you an early taste of this merciless onslaught of pitch-black war metal with a mystical and eerie atmosphere.

I have often summoned the thought of encountering a "musical" effort that would not only be ripe with fury but also boast a decent level of fright. Something that would be different from what I have already encountered yet still have the recognizable traits of the genre. Cult of Extinction has danced with that which I speak of, in delivering a bone chilling, yet bellicose escapade, Ritual in the Absolute Absence of Light. Though not as potent as I would like it to be, it surely makes a confident stride towards achieving exhilaration, fear and belligerence in one run. This 32-minute process of spiritual cruelty in the shape of Ritual in the Absolute Absence of Light, does not exclude atmosphere when trying to encompass the listener whilst conjuring nightmarish images of parasitic spiritual warfare.

Ritual in the Absolute Absence of Light excites and arouses the listener/s thoughts and its bestial nature is mantled by unsettling musicianship in all aspects. This is an evil, unnerving piece of material, a record that not only accomplishes a fearful atmosphere, but is not reluctant to spar viciously with black/death metal bestiality, therefore, displaying a combative drum, guitar and inhuman vocal performance. It is bathed in spiritual warfare, the vocalist sounds as though multiple numinous forces are at war with each other, with aim of acquiring a human vessel. Like multiple diabolic entities forcing their way into one existing body, Ritual in the Absolute Absence of Light channels indiscreet hostility from beginning to end even during slower moments, no compromises! I'm impressed with the drumming to a great degree, hence it is arguably the key to making Ritual in the Absolute Absence of Light a rancorous awakening, along with the barbarous vocal exhibition. The eruptive snare and cymbal throbbing, screeching guitar riffs and possessed-sounding throats all have the characteristics of the bestial "war metal" genre; however, it's the atmosphere that makes this a terrifying experience. Thing is, alongside the furious galloping frenzy, lies an uneasiness manifesting on all sessions. An uneasiness that would meet a sinister climax half-way through the recordings; Ritual in the Absolute Absence of Light jumps out, bringing to life a potent feeling of trepidation with an almost surreal and visceral sample in machinating with "Possessed by a Servant of Iblis".  

NB: The opening power-chords on "Possessed by a Servant of Iblis"; hearing it on a second instance when knowing what follows, raises the frightening effect of the exorcism sample.  

I've encountered a fair deal of that kind of thing back home in South America by both frequent word of mouth and as a witness; yes some of it was a load of antics used by the "holy" church to amplify fear among the sheeple congregations; however, there was one instance I recall which proved to be troubling for a short period (in retrospect), though seemingly lengthy at the time; unlike other occurrences that appeared scripted, this event was agitating. 

"Possessed by a Servant of Iblis" captures the surrealism of seeing an occurrence of such nature. Don't know where they got that sample from, but does it raise hairs. Sounds like an exorcism is taking place just next door. It builds an uneasiness, a looming air of discomfort that coats the record. And speaking of discomfort, "The Descent" appears heavily influenced by black metal in the likes of Pa Vesh En; yet, still accompanying the interlude of sorts, is an unyielding weight of aggression and fear, further enforcing the bestiality already dominant on Ritual in the Absolute Absence of Light. As a warning, the album cover is enough, looks like a congregation of malefic entities swarming, whilst awaiting the entrance-opening leading to the nucleus of a physical vessel. Or thousands of morbid souls already existing within one shell fighting for permanent control; either way, much credit to the artist responsible in being able to portray this chaotic scene as a representation of the music. 

I understand the driving force behind Cult of Extinction; 'Void', is involved in numerous metal projects, thus Ritual in the Absolute Absence of Light has risen my eagerness to hear what other workings he has developed within them. Ritual in the Absolute Absence of Light is both a spiritual and militant transmission, one that awakens to the challenge of bestial metal transcendence.

MORE INFO AND PRE-ORDERS:
http://cultofextinction.bandcamp.com/releases
http://www.ironbonehead.de
http://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions