Zodiac Premiere New Album, ‘A Bit Of Devil’

German classic-minded rockers ZODIAC are streaming their acclaimed debut album “A Bit of Devil,” out Monday, at REVOLVERMAG.com. Head HERE now to listen to the album in full!

“A Bit of Devil,” which includes a cover of ZZ Top’s “Blue Jean Blues,” is currently available for pre-order through the PROSTHETIC webstore HERE. The North American version of the album includes the instrumental bonus track “Dying Done,” while a deluxe digital edition featuring “Dying Done” and the band’s entire first self-released EP will be available soon.

ZODIAC was originally formed by Long Distance Calling drummer Janosch Rathmer and guitarist Nick van Delft in 2010 after joining forces with Rocketchief members Stephen Gall and Robert Kahr. The band, who have been compared to the likes of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden, have created a unique sound that can best be described as blues-driven, classic rock-inspired, and even psychedelic.

Following the release of “A Bit of Devil,” ZODIAC — who have recently performed alongside Graveyard and Church of Misery — will promote the album by touring in and around their native country, including a performance at the Hammer of Doom festival alongside Pentagram and The Skull (ex-Trouble). Dates can be found below.

Pentagram Auditioning Guitarists; European Tour Starts On Halloween In Bristol UK!

Agoura Hills, CA - October 25, 2012 – Legendary heavy metal pioneers and doom metal innovators PENTAGRAM are auditioning new guitar players. As previously announced, the revered guitarist Victor Griffin is performing his farewell shows during the Oct/Nov European Relentless Tour. He'll be focusing on his solo career from this point on and the band and fans wish him all the best. Victor will forever be an important part of the "Ram Family."

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. Tone, chops, appearance, tour experience & availability (US and abroad so a passport is required), song writing skills, and sobriety are all important factors. The band will be writing/recording their follow up to the acclaimed Metal Blade release, Last Rites this coming December and January.

Someone who is close to the Washington, DC area is preferred but exceptions will be made for the perfect player.

For songs and video of the band, visit: www.reverbnation.com/pentagramofficial

Please submit a short bio, a photo, and audio or video of you playing. PENTAGRAM song covers are preferred and the following songs are suggested:

"Wolf's Blood"
"All Your Sins"
"Treat Me Right"
"When the Screams Come"
"Forever My Queen"
"20 Buck Spin"

Please send submissions to: PentagramAuditions@gmail.com

In other news, PENTAGRAM is gearing up to tour Europe and the dates will commence with the band's first ever UK tour. In a celebration of Victor Griffin's time with the band, PENTAGRAM will be playing the Decibel Magazine Hall of Fame album, Relentless, in its entirety. After the doom pioneers first-ever UK show in London in 2011, Bobby Leibling and the boys return for four shows with Gentlemans Pistols as support, kicking off in Bristol at The Fleece.

PENTAGRAM
Tour w/ Gentlemans Pistols
10/31 Bristol, UK The Fleece
11/01 London, UK Garage
11/02 Manchester, UK Academy 3
11/04 Glasgow, UK Ivory Black
End Tour
11/06 Kopenhagen, DK Loppen
11/07 Gothenburg, SE Truckstop Alaska
11/08 Oslo, NO John Dee
11/09 Stockholm, SE Slakthuset
11/10 Würzburg, DE Hammer Of Doom Festival

GRAVEYARD: VIDEO FOR "ENDLESS NIGHT" DEBUTS ONLINE

The video for “Endless Night,” a track off the third studio album by Swedish blues-based psychedelic rockers GRAVEYARD, is now available for viewing...

GRAVEYARD - Endless Night (Official video) from Papercut Film on Vimeo.

Lights Out will roar its engine in North America on November 6th.

Check out the interactive video about the Lights Out album cover below.  (Click on one of the lamps and see what happens.)


If you haven’t heard it already, go to Billboard.com to listen to the album track “Goliath.”

Watch the “Goliath” video..

GRAVEYARD’s 2011 release, Hisingen Blues, won a Swedish Grammy, entered the Swedish album chart at No. 1 and debuted at #48 on the American Billboard Heatseekers chart.  The band’s first headlining U.S. tour earlier this year resulted in multiple sold-out shows across the country.  A 2013 return to American shores for repeat sold-out performances is expected.

GOLD: Dutch Rock Act Drops Video From Debut LP On Ván Records

Germany’s cult label Ván Records is proud to unleash the opening track to Interbellum, the debut album from Dutch rock outfit, GOLD, confirmed for worldwide release on the edge of the Mayan calendar, December 7th, 2012.

Recorded at the Amsterdam Recording Company, Interbellum offers nine hard-rocking pop songs that will enrich the contemporary rock landscape with its fresh vocals, catchy riffing, its driving rhythms and refreshing songwriting. A world in crisis needs a rock album full of urgency, anger and hope. 

The opening track to Interbellum, "One Of Us,” was shot on a gloomy Autumn afternoon at GOLD's rehearsal space at Studio SanteBoutique, Rotterdam.

The main drive of GOLD’s songwriting takes place between vocalist Milena Eva and guitarist Thomas Sciarone (ex-The Devil’s Blood). Longtime friends, drummer Igor Wouters and bassist Harm Haverman provide a steady yet adventurous foundation and guitarist Nick Polak completes the bunch with his talent for harmony and melody. Each song on Interbellum is a well-crafted piece of music and a story on its own, and overall is a monument to our time and to a civilization in decline. It deals with instability and the fear of things to come, yet offers a spark of love and hope in an attempt to give meaning to life in modern times. The album’s authentic tone and warmth completes the richness of GOLD’s sound, produced by Igor Wouters and Vanderbuyst main man Willem Verbuyst.

GOLD will be performing live by the end of 2012, delivering their songs to every soul that cares to listen.

Interbellum Track Listing:

1. One Of Us
2. Antebellum
3. Love, The Magician
4. Gone Under
5. Dreams
6. North
7. Medicine Man
8. The Hunt
9. Ruby

SUNN O))) Confirms West Coast Tour With Dead In The Dirt, Loincloth

Following their performances at the third annual The Power Of The Riff West in Los Angeles this August, followed by the first edition of The Power Of The Riff East in Brooklyn amidst a September East Coast tour, SUNN O))) announces a cluster of West Coast live ceremonies for December.

 With support for SUNN O))) being provide by Loincloth and Dead In The Dirt, the shows will begin in Portland on December 14th, and plow through Bellingham, Seattle, San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Los Angeles, the Bellingham show to also boast support from Black Breath, and the Seattle show to feature a special guest performance to be announced shortly. The finale will take place at the newly confirmed The Power Of The Riff Presents year-end bash at LA’s Fonda Theatre on December 20th, where SUNN O))), Loincloth and Dead In The Dirt will all celebrate the end of the Mayan calendar with High On Fire, Corrosion Of Conformity, Black Breath and Void Ov Voices.

 SUNN O))) West Coast Tour 2012 w/ Dead In The Dirt, Loincloth:

12/14/2012 Roseland/Peter’s Room - Portland, OR [info]
12/15/2012 The Wild Buffalo - Bellingham, WA w/ Black Breath
12/16/2012 The Neptune Theatre - Seattle, WA
12/18/2012 The Mezzanine - San Francisco, CA
12/19/2012 The Rio Theatre - Santa Cruz, CA
12/20/2012 The Fonda Theatre - Los Angeles, CA @ The Power of the Riff Presents w/ High On Fire, Corrosion Of Conformity, Black Breath, Void Ov Voices

WHAT'S HIDING IN GRAVEYARD’S NEW COVER ART?

When Swedish demigods of bluesy, psychedelic rock GRAVEYARD released the artwork to their third studio album Lights Out online, a lot of people were left scratching their heads and asking, “What in the hell…?”

Some of you reported seeing prehistoric hunters & now extinct bison, others saw the Milky Way; some saw Aleister Crowley, Marilyn Monroe, sabre-toothed dolphins, and giant ferns.  And no, we won’t even bother asking what you were smoking when you saw what you saw; go ahead and own your own reality.

Thankfully, the members of GRAVEYARD are taking us into their rehearsal space to show us what they’ve been hiding in the darkness of their album cover.  Head on over to YouTube and click on one of the lamps.  A light will turn on and you’ll get some answers… plus you’ll get a taste of new music from the Lights Out album.  (This is best viewed on a computer and not on a mobile phone.)  Even if you don’t click on any of the lamps, you’ll hear some entertaining banter between the band members.

If you didn’t know it already, Lights Out drops in North America on November 6th.

GRAVEYARD’s 2011 release, Hisingen Blues, won a Swedish Grammy, entered the Swedish album chart at No. 1 and debuted at #48 on the American Billboard Heatseekers chart.  The band’s first headlining U.S. tour earlier this year resulted in multiple sold-out shows across the country.  A 2013 return to American shores for repeat sold-out performances is expected.

Castle “Storm Below The Mountain” [Music Video]

CASTLE have posted their video for “Storm Below The Mountain”. The track appears on the band’s latest album Blacklands, which is available now. So many great tracks on that album!

Issue #2 Underway!

The fall issue of Occult Rock is currently being stitched together! Interviews with Blood Ceremony, Witchcraft, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Horisont, Lord Vicar, Black Pyramid... and more!

Griffin to Leave PENTAGRAM

 Via Blabbermouth - 

Guitarist Victor Griffin has announced that he will leave the legendary cult rock act PENTAGRAM after the completion of the band's upcoming European in October/November. He says, "Of course, the future is always uncertain… but for now, it's time to move on with my new band's album and tour plans for 2013."

PENTAGRAM's European tour will see the band perform its Decibel magazine "Hall Of Fame" album, "Relentless", in its entirety for the first time since the early 1980s. PENTAGRAM will also play other beloved songs spanning the group's career, including tracks from their most recent album, "Last Rites".

Groan "Atomic Prophets" [Music Video]