Arkona and Sirenia have just started out a month long North American tour together, beginning their journey in NYC’s Webster Hall. This is a very special run for both bands, as it’s not only Arkona’s 15th Anniversary, but Sirenia’s first time ever touring North America. Arkona also has a new album in the works, and they’ll be slipping some yet-to-be-recorded tracks into the setlist for their 15th Anniversary show audiences. Mindmaze, Graveshadow, and Sicosis are supporting.

A seventh studio LP is coming up for technical death metallers Origin this summer. Unparalleled Universe is set for a June 30^th release on Nuclear Blast Records, but a 360º visualizer of the first single “Accident and Error” is already available: https://youtu.be/FmhcNVUa8Xs. Further details on the album, including track listings and various formats of pre-order bundles, can be found at https://www.originofficial.com/.

Unleash The Archers have “unleashed” a brand-new single, plus a video to go with it, this week. “The Matriarch” is the title of the track off the band’s tenth anniversary album Apex that’s set to be released via Napalm Records on June 2^nd.

Frontwoman Brittney Slayes has released a statement telling fans all about the new song: “This track is chapter three in the story, and in it we are introduced to our antagonist “The Matriarch” in all her malevolent glory.  We call this one our “quick banger” because it’s fast, catchy, and fun, and hopefully it won’t take long to learn the words!  It is sung from an omniscient point of view, drawing the listener in with tales of The Matriarch’s depravity.  The best part is the bridge, because the song is so dark, and then it launches into this flowing wraithlike guitar melody that is so memorable, I sing along to it every time and I think the fans will too!  Absolutely cannot wait to play this one live  ;)”

Bravewords has the exclusive premiere of this new music video, which can be streamed through their site here. “The Matriarch” is not the first single to be revealed off the upcoming Apex – “Cleanse The Bloodlines” debuted recently, and Invisible Oranges had the exclusive premiere for that track about a month ago. Pre-orders for Apex are also available here: http://www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/store/unleashthearchers.

Swedish Death Metallers Firespawn have been brewing a new record in the form of The Reprobate. Formed in 2012 by a few of Stockholm’s best, the band signed to Century Media for a debut album in 2015, and now a brand new album is all set for a release this week. A video for the opening track “Serpent Of The Ocean” gives a look in-studio and on stage with the band – you can see it below via Century Media Records’ YouTube Channel. April 28th marks the release of The Reprobate and it can be preordered in many forms here: http://smarturl.it/FirespawnTR.

Enslaved just celebrated their 25th Anniversary last year right after hitting on the lucky number 13 with their critically acclaimed studio album In Times about two years back. That makes it about time to shoot for an even luckier number 14. The Norwegian Progressive Metal band has got plenty in the works but it’s under the radar for the time being – the most we know so far is they’ll be recording in Duper & Solslottet Studios in Bergen all through the month of April before it’s handed over to Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios for mixing and mastering, then at last released on Nuclear Blast. Here’s some of what founding member Ivar Bjørnson has to say about the yet-untitled upcoming record: “…I have never worked this hard to put together music for an album before, and that intensity continues into the studio where everybody is giving their everything, every hour of every day. We are a tighter unit than ever before, which is obvious sonically”. 

Enslaved also has a joint release between Norse Music and Burning World Records of their first ever live album, Roadburn Live, that came out on April 22nd – record store day – in every format including limited edition colored vinyl. Further info on the new record to come in the near future at http://enslaved.no.

Kataklysm has announced some new U.S. dates, topping off their recent touring in support of their record Of Ghosts And Gods, for which they received a “Heavy Metal Album Of The Year” award at the 45th annual JUNO Awards (Canadian Grammy Equivalent). In Flames will hit the road with them, headlining for these dates which kick off in New York and finish up in Louisiana. 

Kataklysm frontman Maurizio Iacono says of the tour, “We are excited to return to the US for a short run with In Flames, coupled with a few headlining gigs and close off another chapter of our story. Right before this we will be hitting Latin America for a tour and visiting countries we have never played before such as Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia and more. We look forward to these last two tours in support of the Ghosts… album. Catch us live and don’t miss the destructive power!” 

All the dates can be found at Kataklysm’s official website: http://kataklysm.ca/

L.A.’s own Witherfall made their debut late last year, with their self-released record Nocturnes and Requiems. Produced by the band and boasting credits like Chris “Zeuss” Harris (Queensrÿche, Hatebreed, Rob Zombie) mixing and artwork by Kristian Wåhlin (King Diamond, Dissection, Bathory), the appearance of the Power Metal-esque album has been making ripples on the metal scene, and now the band has released a track-by-track breakdown of the whole record with guitarist Jake Dreyer and vocalist Joseph Michael. You can find it right here: http://geargods.net/behind-the-scenes/witherfall-track-by-track-breakdown-of-debut-album-nocturnes-and-requiems/, and Nocturnes and Requiems along with other merch is available to order on Witherfall’s website.