Northern Ireland-based rock band THE ANSWER embarks on its American conquest on November 11, 2008 with their debut North American release Never Too Late, a 4-song EP bundled with a bonus DVD featuring previously unseen footage and exclusive interviews. The limited edition 2-disc title, which will only be available in North America, comes out on indie label THE END RECORDS, with distribution through Sony RED.
 

Japanese Black Metal band SIGH's A Tribute To Venom was released yesterday via THE END RECORDS. Limited to one pressing, the album is available in three colors in a special collectible packaging that includes a 12" LP etched on side B along with a CD. The six-song tribute to legendary Black Metal band Venom features the bass work of Dan Lilker (Brutal Truth, Nuclear Assault) and Shane Embury (Napalm Death, Venomous Concept).

It is with great regret we announce September 27th's Black Swan Festival, which was to be LORDI's first UK appearance this year, has been canceled.

"It's been way too long since we last played in the UK," says a disappointed Amen. "After the release of the new album, Deadache, there will be a European Tour and if for any reason UK is not on the list, I will pack my guitar and hit the local malls to play private gigs for all the fans out there!"

Montreal space-proggers KOSMOS have been nominated for Metal/Hardcore Album of the Year by the Quebec Indie Music Awards! KOSMOS, featuring members of  VOIVOD, PARADISE, TRICKY WOO, and GRIM SKUNK, released their self-titled debut via THE END RECORDS on September 4th of last year.

Finnish monster-rockers LORDI announced that their fourth studio album, entitled Deadache, will be released in the United States on October 28th, 2008.  A new album cycle calls for a new look – fantastic (in both senses of the word) costumes designed by Mr Lordi will surely fit the bill!

Avant-garde rock quintet TUB RING announced today that they will be joining progressive rock band 3 for a brief stint at the end of September / beginning of October. In related news, unfortunately TUB RING was forced to cancel the remainder of their tour with Creature Feature due to circumstances beyond their control. The final show for TUB RING on that tour will be this Thursday, August 28th at Beat Kitchen in Chicago. 

Post-punk vocalist JARBOE will release her new album on October 14th in the US through eclectic Brooklyn-based label THE END RECORDS. The project, entitled MahaKali, follows on the heels of JARBOE's highly successful J2 collaboration with Justin K Broadrick (Godflesh, Jesu), released earlier this year by THE END.

Los Angeles’ unique and quirky gothic/rock act STOLEN BABIES has been confirmed as the resident band for the 14th Annual Queen Mary's SHIPWRECK Halloween Terrorfest in Long Beach, CA.

Head on over to Headbangers Blog, where Mirai of SIGH has offered a guest blog that may shatter your pre-conceived notions of classical composers.

Read the blog here.

Evil Elvis of Festivals2Go.com conducted an interview with Finnish monster rockers LORDI at this year's Wacken Open Air festival, which was held July 31 - August 2 in Wacken, Germany. Watch the chat below.